Chapter Forty Two

Saturday morning I woke up to the commotion of girls getting ready for their weekend visitors and visits home.

I sat up in my bed and picked a sheet of note paper up from my night stand. I looked at Maria's handwritten phone call notes from the night before; Darry testified for the prosecution... Cross Exam will be Monday or Tuesday... Defense can then call their witnesses... Judge had to order recess, big argument between James and his attorney, don't know what about.

I was thankful for Maria being able to talk to Sodapop every night, and it was good to know that the case seemed to be close to an end.

I made myself presentable for the day, met my friends for breakfast in the dining hall, and then we gathered in Heidi's room with a few other girls from the third floor to listen to music on Heidi's eight track player. Three songs into the Magical Mystery Tour tape and our listening party was interrupted by an older girl who pushed open Heidi's door. The girl gleefully yelled to all of us. "You all have got to come and see this! You won't believe your eyes."

"What?" Heidi yelled in question as she pushed stop on her tape player.

"There's a boy standing on the front lawn, with a dozen roses dressed in a black tuxedo and bow tie!"

Immediately the eight girls in Heidi's room darted across the hall to another girl's room to catch a glimpse of the boy outside. I followed behind the group, but when the room proved to be too full I ran down the hall to my room to catch a peek.

Inside, I found Lacey and Rita kneeling on her bed leaning out one window and Tucker and Kristen kneeling on my bed leaning out the other window.

I asked, "What's going on? Is the boy still out there?"

Lacey turned her head to snarl a question at me. "I thought you weren't allowed to have visitors?"

"What?" I questioned and walked towards my bed. As I approached Tucker and Kristen climbed off my bed allowing me full access to the window, and the spectacle outside.

I knelt on my bed and leaned my head outside the window. Looking to my left, I could see that almost every window in the house had a girl looking out, waving and complimenting the visitor.

Then I looked down to the lawn to see the well dressed young man holding a large white box with a thick red satin ribbon tied around it in a bow. He was laughing at the girls leaning out of the Covington House windows as he stood tall with a bouquet of roses in his hand.

At first, due to the excitement that was welling inside me, I could only quietly whisper the visitor's name. "Owen?" Then my joy erupted and I screamed down at the boy from my window, "Owen!"

Immediately, he looked up to my third floor window. His smile grew wider and he yelled, "Scout Curtis! Will you go to Prom with me tonight?"

From a few windows over I heard Heidi's voice yell above the giggling of the other girls. "Scout, you are so lucky! This is way to cool! "

Without answering, I pushed off from the window sill and darted out into the hallway. My feet were moving so fast down the three flights of stairs that I could barely keep my balance. When I hit the main floor I ran through the parlor and pulled open the front door. My eyes adjusted quickly to the warm, bright sunlight as I ran towards Owen.

The boy quickly dropped the items from his arms to catch me as I jumped joyously towards him and wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.

I squeezed him tightly to be sure he was really there and I wasn't dreaming. Owen hugged me back and I could smell the scent of his sweet cologne as he nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck and told me he loved me.

"Miss Curtis!" Ms. Lemon called out to scold me as she approached from across the campus, "That is not lady like behavior. Climb down from that boy this instant!"

From the open windows we heard the girls laugh at the house mother's directions.

I held tightly to my love with my legs as I leaned back, cradled his blond head in my hands and looked into his eyes. The two of us giggled at the situation.

Owen said, "I missed you so much this week."

"I missed you too," I replied.

I let the smile fade from my face as I leaned in, tilted my head, closed my eyes, and my lips met with Owen's lips as we shared a long kiss.

From the open windows above I heard the gazing girls gasp and giggle at the site.

"Miss Curtis this is your last warning! Let go of that young man and act like a lady!" Ms. Lemon said sternly as she approached us, and groups of girls began exiting Covington House and gathering around us on the lawn.

Owen and I let go of each other as requested. I took a step back, stood in front of him and gazed at how amazing he looked in his well tailored tuxedo.

With a smile he pulled an index sized card out of his pocket and playfully waved it in front of my nose.

I attempted to grab the card and asked, "What's this?"

Owen grinned at me and pointed to the piece of paper. "This is a home visit pass for any girl who says she will be my date to Prom."

Immediately, a nearby girl yelled out, "I'll be your date for Prom!"

Owen looked to the girl. "If I can't get my girl to tell me yes, I'll consider taking you."

The gaggle of Ashford girls giggled at the offer.

I looked at the boy in question. "But I am on punishment, how were you able to get me a home visit pass?" I grabbed the card from his hand and read that the visit was authorized on Thursday and approved by the President of the Board of Director.

Owen beamed with pride. "Mr. McGovern thinks the world of me, so I called and asked him to approve it."

A confused look flashed across my face, "Lacey's father did this?"

"Yeah," Owen laughed, "but you still haven't answered my question."

I looked up at my boyfriend. "Of course I will go to Prom with you! How could a girl say no to a dozen roses and a trip home for the night?"

Owen held his smile and looked away quickly as if he was nervous or hiding a secret. That's when he noticed his items on the ground. "That's not all I brought." Owen leaned down and picked the gift box up front the sidewalk. "You didn't think I would ask you to a dance without buying you something nice to wear, did you?"

I blushed. "Owen, you are so amazing!"

I took the large gift box from Owen's grasp and laid it on the nearby bench.

Maria came to my side with the bouquet of roses she had rescued from their landing spot. I shared a giggle with my friend and pulled at the wide red satin ribbon to release its grip on the box. With two hands, I lifted the large top off the box and set it aside to reveal a red satin gown inside. I gently picked the gown up revealing its capped sleeves, empire waist line and built in tulle skirt.

Owen stepped to my side and softly asked, "Do you like it? Charlotte helped me pick it out. She says it should fit you perfectly." Owen pointed into the box. "She picked out the shoes too. She insisted I had them dyed to match the dress."

I looked into the box and saw the two red high healed shoes.

"Owen, it's beautiful!" I felt my emotions begin to well up inside of me. "Thank you! This is all so amazing!"

I hugged the gown close to me, popped up on my tippy toes, leaned in towards Owen and kissed his cheek.

Owen wrapped his arm around my waist to keep me close to him.

I retuned to my feet and looked towards Maria. She was standing with our friends who had come to stand by her side.

I smiled at the girls then looked up to my boyfriend to do introductions. "Owen, these are my new friends, Maria, Karen and Heidi. Girls, this is my boyfriend, Owen Jasper."

Owen shared a look of surprise with me because he hadn't learned of all of my new friendships at Ashford.

Karen stepped forward with a grin and told me, "He is completely adorable!" Then she looked up to Owen, offered her hand and told him, "You are completely adorable!"

Owen smiled at the compliment. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He gently grabbed her hand and kissed her on the cheek.

Karen swooned a little bit, as did Maria and Heidi following Owen's kiss filled greetings upon their cheeks.

Karen looked to me and spoke in a quiet voice. "Now I know why Lacey despises you so. He is an absolute dream!"

I blushed so hard I could feel my ears getting hot and red.

Maria overheard our friend and looked over at me. "You are going to look like an absolute dream in this gown!"

Owen walked over to me and grabbed my hand in his hand as he leaned close to me to give instructions. "We have a full schedule which includes a late lunch at the Ottavi's house, then the gang is meeting at the Club for dinner before the dance and we have a long drive back home, so it might be best if you get ready for Prom here before we leave."

"No problem, we will help her get ready!" Maria said happily to my date.

"Scout, I'll take your dress upstairs and help you do your hair." Heidi added and reached over to grab the dress out of my hands.

Maria gathered up the gift box, shoes and the roses. "Whenever you are ready I can do your make up for you. I also have a necklace and earrings you can borrow that would look stunning with your gown."

"Don't you have jewelry you can wear?" Owen asked me with a look of concern in his eyes. "It probably wouldn't be a good idea to borrow something."

"It's not a big deal, I trust her." Maria said with a giggle that told me she thought Owen was being over protective.

Karen pulled at the arms of Maria and Heidi to get them to follow her back into Covington House as she looked at me with a grin. "Why don't we give Cinderella a little time alone with Prince Charming?"

I thanked my friends as they and the other girls slowly filed back into Covington House.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Ms. Lemon stepping closer to us. I smiled at the lady and remembered my manners. "Ms. Lemon, I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Owen Jasper."

Owen spoke up, "we met this morning."

"Yes," Ms. Lemon agreed and added, "Why don't the three of us go into my office for a moment?"

Owen placed his hand against my lower back and looked down at with me. The smile on his face had dissipated and he gestured for the elder lady to lead the way.

"What's going on?" I asked, but my question went without an answer.

As the three of us entered Covington House a student rang the bell to inform the girls that a man had entered the home.

Once inside Ms. Lemon's office she closed the door behind her. I peered at my house mother and noticed her looking at Owen as if she was waiting for him to tell me something.

Owen grabbed my hand and led me to the davenport underneath the window. He sat down, pulled me towards his side, and reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. He pulled out a folded manila colored envelop, and with an excited grin he handed the item to me.

I unfolded the envelope and read the preprinted return address, Office of the Honorable Judge R. Carlson. My focus darted towards Owen's eyes for clues.

He laughed a little at my discovery then said excitedly, "Open it."

I looked over at Ms. Lemon and noticed the solemn look on her face. I flipped the envelope over and undid the single metal clasp that was holding it shut. I reached in to remove the papers, but a knock at the door drew my attention away from the task.

"Come in," Miss Lemon called out.

I looked to the door as Dean Donaldsen, dressed in casual slacks and a short sleeve button up shirt, entered the room with another manila colored envelop in his hand. He looked at me. "Good morning, Miss Curtis."

I wished him a good morning and noticed his lack of introduction towards Owen. The absence made me wonder if the two had already met because it seemed odd that the Dean would not remember to use his manners.

Immediately my nerves began to fill with anxiety. I looked around the room and asked, "What's going on?"

The Dean looked to everyone in the room and then to the unfolded papers in my hand. "Carry on, Miss Curtis."

Suspicious, I unfolded the papers and immediately recognized the type setting as an official court order. I scanned the document for my full name and read the words following it…

is hereby ordered into the custody of her eldest brother, Darrel Shayne Curtis Junior...

My mouth fell open in shock as I continued to read,

…with the following residential stipulations:

Due to Scout M. Curtis' involvement in the trial of The State of Oklahoma vs James Young there exists the probability of imminent danger at the home of her legal guardian, Darrel S. Curtis Junior. Therefore, following consult with counsel representation for Scout M. Curtis and Darrell S. Curtis Jr. the Honorable Judge R. Carlson hereby orders Scout M. Curtis to reside in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ottavi until one of the following conditions are met;

I looked up at Owen in surprised and asked, "Did you read this?"

He smiled back at me and replied, "Yeah, I know what it says."

I returned to reading the document.

1. In the case that James Young is acquitted of all charges, Scout M. Curtis may return to the home of her legal guardian no sooner than 25 weeks after the day of said acquittal.

2. In the case that James Young is guilty and sentenced with the charges against him, Scout M. Curtis may return to the home of her legal guardian no sooner than 4 weeks following the sentencing hearing.

*Scout M. Curtis may have visitation with her siblings in the home of her legal guardian up to 3 hours per weekday and up to 6 hours per weekend day when Darrel S. Curtis Jr. is present to provide direct supervision.

Per counsel, it is Darrel S. Curtis Jr's direction that Scout M. Curtis return to Tulsa, Oklahoma, effective immediately.

My eyes saw the words, but I still couldn't believe what I had read.

Owen leaned down a little to make eye contact with me and said, "See, I told you to trust me. I know how things work in my neighborhood just as well as you do in yours."

Still stunned I looked up to Owen. "Is this real? Am I really going home to Tulsa?"

"It's the read deal. Judge Carlson signed it yesterday afternoon, and Mr. Ottavi had it delivered right to Darry into the courtroom."

"But, if I have to go home, why did you go to the trouble of getting a visitor's pass for me?"

"Cause I didn't know about this until the end of court on Friday when Darry asked me if I still planned to pick you up for Prom. I told him yeah and he handed me the papers and said to just bring you home for good."

I scanned the document one more time with my eyes and noticed the Judge's official ink pen signature before I asked, "I have to live with the Ottavi family?"

"Yeah," Owen answered quietly. "I heard that was the only way the Judge would allow you to come home, but you should know Mrs. Ottavi is real excited to have you live with them. Plus, Kathryn is done with school for the semester so she will be there this summer to keep you company."

Without a smile I stared down at the legal notice in my hand.

Owen softly asked, "aren't you happy?"

I looked back at my boyfriend. "Yes. Absolutely I'm happy. It's just that I was kind of getting used to this place, and now I have to leave."

Steven Donaldsen spoke up, "Miss Curtis, that is one of the reasons why I'm here. I want you to know that just because you are no longer court ordered to be an Ashford Academy student, we would welcome having you remain enrolled here."

"We most certainly would," Mrs. Lemon agreed. "I recognize I was a bit hard on you when you first arrived, but I was wrong. You are a brilliant young woman and an asset to our school. Ashford would be very fortunate to have you stay."

Dean Donaldsen explained, "We do not want to lose one of our best students, so we are prepared to make you an offer. If you agree to finish your schooling here at Ashford I am prepared to guarantee you a full scholarship to one of the many fine colleges here in Oklahoma."

My mouth dropped open at the mention of the offer. The Dean noticed my disbelief and continued to sell me the idea of remaining with Ashford Academy. "I am guessing you would be the first person to ever go to college from you family. Am I correct?"

I nodded my head.

Dean Donaldsen furthered his cause. "You may even be the first girl from your neighborhood to receive a full college scholarship. It would be an amazing opportunity!"

I looked around at everyone in the room and noticed the look of concern on Owen's face.

"I thought you wanted to come home?" My boyfriend asked.

I quietly spoke to Owen, "but I would be certain to earn a college scholarship. I know that is important to Darry."

"Scout, you are a smart girl. You are bound to get a college scholarship no matter where you go to high school." Owen reassured me then pleaded his case as to why I should return to Tulsa. "Besides, you have your brothers and friends waiting for you there… and I've already been voted School President, so I will need a first lady. Come home."

"What did Darry say about all of this?" I asked.

"He's excited about you coming home. He didn't say anything about letting you stay at Ashford. He just told me to bring you home."

Mr. Donaldsen interjected, "You are more than welcome to stay at Ashford if you choose. I can contact your brother, and I could even look into getting you a new roommate if you would like."

I looked at the Dean and wondered why he was willing to accommodate me as a student now more than before.

Owen voice interrupted my thoughts as the smile on his face grew wide and excited. "Don't stay here! Come home with me, Scout! I've got everything all worked out ... even ... even" Owen fumbled with an item that he pulled out of the inside pocket of his tuxedo coat. "even the part where I promise to ask you to marry me someday."

I blushed and my eyes widened in surprise as I watched Owen present me with a sterling silver cylinder shaped ring box.
I gasped at the present.

"I bought you this 'promise ring' because I can't ever imagine another day of my life without you with me."

I took the gift in my hand and pushed the tiny metal button causing the tiny lid to pop open revealing the ring nestled inside.

"I was going to give it to you tonight at the dance, but now seems like a better time because I want you to come home to Tulsa for good."

The ring had a bright silver band displaying an oval shaped precious opal that shinned with the colors of a rainbow and had two small diamonds on each side.

"It's beautiful!" I sang out.

"I wanted it to remind you of the rainbows we saw on the first day I met you. I had the Jeweler put the two diamonds on each side, one for me and one for you."

I couldn't believe Owen still cherished the day we met and remembered the words of encouragement he gave me. I pulled the ring from its resting place and gazed at its beauty before I giggled and asked, "Which finger am I supposed to wear it on?"

Ms. Lemon smiled with happiness for me and she answered, "Whichever finger you'd like, but if it's a promise for engagement I would recommend the ring finger on your left hand."

With a euphoric grin I easily slid the ring onto the finger my house mother had recommended.

Owen grabbed my left hand and stared at the jewelry piece. "Scout, I don't believe that meeting you that day in the cemetery was a chance encounter. I think Oliver and your parent knew we needed each other. I think they made that sudden rainstorm and at the end when we had found each other, they were those rainbows we saw."

My eyes grew moist with warm, happy tears. "I love you, Owen Jasper, and I'll go anywhere you want me to."

With misty eyes of his own Owen proclaimed, "I promise to take care of you for the rest of my life!"

Swept up in the moment, the two of us leaned towards each other and melted together into a warm, soft kiss.

Dean Donaldsen cleared his throat to distract Owen and me from our personal moment. We separated our lips, but Owen kept a sure grip on my hand.

I looked to the older gentleman. "Dean Donaldsen, I appreciate every opportunity you have given me and planned to give me here at Ashford, but it's just not enough. What I really need is to be with my family and they are back in Tulsa, so that is where I am going to go."

The man frowned at my response, "I am disappointed to hear that, but I wish you only the best for the future. If you ever have a desire to return here please feel free to contact me and I will see what arrangements can be made." The Dean handed me the manila envelope he had been holding. "Here are your final grades for this term. I will contact the Tulsa School District to be sure these grades are recorded, and you are given credit for completion of your classes."

I opened the envelope, and with Owen looking over my shoulder, I read the report to find straight A+'s. "Thank you, Dean Donaldsen."

"As I said before, you are always welcome back, and it was an honor to have you as a student here at Ashford. I know you will continue to achieve excellence in your future endeavors wherever those may be."

"Thank you, Dean Donaldsen." I stood up and gave the man a grateful hug.

The Dean hugged me back. "You be sure to send us a photo of you two at the Prom, okay?"

"Okay. I will." I smiled back.

Dean Donaldsen looked to my house mother. "Miss Lemon, please assist Miss Curtis and Mr. Jasper in gathering her things and preparing for her dance."

Ms. Lemon agreed then looked to me and Owen. "Why don't we head upstairs and get a start on packing your things?"

"That sounds like an agreeable plan." Owen sang out and stood up. He took my hand in his, and we followed Ms. Lemon's lead to my room as the Dean of Ashford Academy exited Covington House.

The three of us entered my dorm room to find Lacey, Tucker and Rita sitting on Lacey's bed engaged in guarded conversation.

I watched the girls turn to stare at me, and their unwelcoming faces warmed up to smile at Owen as he entered.

"Hey O!" Tucker greeted the boy, and struck a slightly provocative pose on the bed.

Owen smiled as he removed his jacket and draped it over the foot board of my bed. "Good morning, ladies. No plans for a visit home this weekend?"

Tucker let out an exasperated sigh. "My parents are enjoying their weekends before they are forced to take me home for the summer."

"Same here." Rita said. "It's not as if they want me home, and it's not as if I want to go!"

"Ladies..." Ms. Lemon interrupted. "There are many interesting things to occupy yourself with here at Ashford. No needed for grumbling."

Owen turned his attention to me and affectionately scratched my back as he asked, "Sweetheart, do you have your suitcases here?"

I couldn't hold back my grin, and I wondered how jealous the members of the Wealthy Bachelor's Club were to see their charity case with one of their top prospects.

"Under the bed," I told Owen.

He knelt down to fetch both of them for me.

Ms. Lemon spoke to the other girls. "Ladies, Miss Curtis will be permanently leaving Ashford today once she has her belongings packed and is ready for her dance. Perhaps you two should head on back to your own rooms until we are done."

"Wait! Why are you leaving?" Lacey asked me and I realized it was the first time she had ever purposely began a conversation with me.

Owen spoke up before I was able to answer her. "Because I want her back in Tulsa with me, and I always get what I want."

I giggled at Owen's response as it echoed sentiments Lacey had shared with me weeks before.

Tucker stood up and rested her hands on her hips as she asked, "But I thought you had to be here cause you are an orphan and had trouble with that boy and all?"

Owen answered again, "Scout's attorney and I spoke with the Judge and he's allowing her to move back to Tulsa. Plus, her coming home is inevitable because I just gave her a promise ring.

Lacey audibly gasped.

Owen seized the opportunity to show off his wealth and allow me to be the recipient of jealousy. "Sweetheart, show them the ring." Then he grabbed my hand and pulled it towards the girls.

"Whoa," Rita quietly gasped. "That's quite the ring!"

"I'll say." Tucker muttered while Lacey stayed silent.

Owen let go of my hand and hoisted both suitcases onto my bed, before opening the latches. "Darling, why don't you show me where your things are and I will help you pack"

I pointed towards my dresser drawers.

Owen stepped over to the furniture piece and pulled the top drawer open to reveal my stockings and undergarments.

Ms. Lemon nervously interjected, "Perhaps it would be best if Miss Curtis packs her personal undergarments and such then you can continue to gather her things."

I lightly blushed upon hearing the lady's words.

Owen playfully turned his bright blue eyes towards the unmarried woman and replied, "my intentions are to marry Miss Curtis, so I might as well begin practicing how to handle her delicate undergarments now."

Suddenly, I blushed bright red as my emotions swelled with giddiness.

Behind me I heard Lacey exhale in disgust as her friends giggled at Owen's response.

I looked to the unmarried Ms. Lemon who was also blushing, and left speechless where she stood.

Hoping to avoid further conversation about my personal items, I hustled over to my dresser drawer. "I can grab them quickly." I said then I gathered up all of my undergarments, and placed them in the nearest suitcase.

Owen laughed and looked at Lacey while he rolled up the sleeves of his tuxedo shirt.

I said, "All of my things are in the dresser, the night stand and on the right hand side of the closet."

"Scout," Owen unexpectedly called out to me. I turned to face him as he stepped towards me, placed his hands on my hips in clear view of the Wealthy Bachelors Club members and said, "You should know, you are the most important person in my world, and I love you." Then Owen leaned down, tilted his head and lovingly kissed my lips.

Miss Lemon gasped, "Mr. Jasper! Have some decency!"

My heart beat fast, and behind me I heard the dorm room door open.

"Ms. Lemon these are the two best boxes I could find." Jackson Wesley informed the house mother as he entered.

Hearing the young man's voice I jumped, pulled out of the kiss, and turned around to confirm it was actually him. Never had I ever considered that Jackson and Owen would ever meet. Internally, I panicked.

"Jackson! Thank you for the boxes." I grabbed them both and acted as if I was sizing them up. "Yep, these should be perfect! Thanks."

"Jackson? Thee Jackson?" Owen asked rhetorically then stepped past me seemingly to confront the young maintenance man.

I held my breath and braced for the inevitable confrontation.

Owen, who was taller and more muscular than Jackson, reached out his right hand and introduced himself, "I'm Owen Jasper. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Jackson's face held a look of suspicion as he reached out his hand to shake with Owen. "Jackson Wesley."

Nervously, I looked at the face of the other ladies in the room to see if they were noticing the tension I was feeling.

My boyfriend continued, "Scout has told me a lot about you, and I want to thank you for helping her and being so kind to her for all these weeks."

Jackson replied apprehensively, "Sure, no problem. I'm always happy to help." Then Jackson turned his attention to me, "So, what do you need the boxes for? Are you moving out? "

"Yeah..." I began to answer, but was cut off by Owen's interruption.

"We are moving her home to Tulsa."

Jackson forced a smiled in my direction, "That's good news, but we look forward to your return in the fall."

Owen said, "She won't be returning to Ashford."

Jackson raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Oh... I bet that makes Miss McGovern mighty happy."

All of us looked to Lacey to find her eyes wide with shock as she replied with a snarky tone, "Sure does."

A devilish grin spread across Owen's face as he looked at the girl and remarked, "Don't worry though, you'll see Scout again." Then Owen looked to Jackson. "My family and I vacation every summer in the Carolinas with the McGoverns and this year I am inviting Miss Curtis to join us."

"Excellent," Jackson said dryly as he was growing agitated with Owen doing all of the talking.

Fed up with the chit chat in room Lacey declared, "Come on girls, its getting stuffy in here. Why don't we get some fresh air?" Then Lacey pushed past me to exit the room with her friends in tow.

Jackson looked towards me. "Listen... I'm going to miss you around here. You were probably the only Ashford girl I ever really liked." He released a little nervous laugh. " You take care, okay?"

"I will. Thank you, Jackson, for everything."

"You bet," Jackson replied. Then he boldly stepped towards me and kissed me on the lips a couple seconds past appropriateness.

I pushed away from him and wiped my lips with the back off my hand.

"Mr. Wesley!" Ms. Lemon called out in shock.

The young man smiled at the lady. "I will miss doing that." Then he winked at Owen before he turned and left the room.

I looked to Owen for his eruption of anger, but he opted to flash a playful smile across his face and call me out, "heart breaker!"