May 1985
"How'd you like to go to the prom?" Jack asked Abigail.
Abigail glanced up, startled. "I wish you'd asked me that twenty years ago," she said with a sigh.
"I'm serious, Abby." Jack smiled. "I've been a chaperone at the prom every year since...well, for a number of years now. I'd love for you to accompany me this year."
"Chaperone?" Abigail looked doubtful.
"Come on. It'll be fun."
"Well...all right." Abigail smiled.
"That's absolutely ridiculous, a woman of your age going to a prom," Beryl Foster grumbled when Abigail mentioned it to her.
"It's as a chaperone, Mom. Jack goes every year. He says it's a lot of fun."
"Suit yourself then," Beryl said dismissively.
"That's great, Abby!" Joanie said when Abigail told her. "Chachi and I chaperone every year too. I know you'll have a great time."
The night of the prom arrived. Abigail, dressed in the simple but elegant dark blue gown Jack had helped her choose, waited nervously. At last Jack arrived, looking dashing in a rented tuxedo. Abigail was overcome, as she had never seen Jack dressed formally before. Jack noticed the expression on her face and laughed affectionately.
"Oh my God, Jack," was all that she could say.
"You like?" He slowly turned around so that she could see what he looked like from the back as well.
"I love!"
Jack laughed again. "Thank you very much. You look absolutely stunning yourself."
Abigail had spent a long time working to get her make-up just as perfect as she could, and she hoped that Jack liked the affect she had achieved.
The chaperones arrived at the rented hall a little while before the students were expected to start showing up.
"Oh, Abby, you look absolutely gorgeous!"
Abigail turned to see who had spoken. There stood Joanie, smiling and standing with Chachi.
"Thanks, Joanie." Abigail smiled shyly. "Jack helped me pick this out."
"Well, he certainly has good taste, doesn't he?"
The music began to play, and the students began to arrive and move onto the dance floor. Jack taught Abigail the dance moves that went with the music that was still somewhat unfamiliar to her.
'The Search Is Over' by Survivor began to play, and the lights went down as couples began to slow dance. Abigail felt Jack's arms gently encircle and embrace her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Jack listened to the words of the song and thought about how appropriate they seemed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Abigail saw Matthew Holland dancing with Lisa Arcola. Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes, and she had to swallow a lump in her throat. She quickly turned to look into Jack's dark brown eyes and saw that they were gazing back at her in adoration. She felt both happy and sad at the same time.
The night seemed to fly by, and before Abigail realized it, it was time to leave.
"Well, did you have a nice time?" Jack asked her in the car on the way back to his house.
"Tonight I actually felt just like a teenager again," Abigail replied.
"Tonight was incredible," Jack said softly.
They were silent until they were back in the house. Goldie gave Abigail her usual warm welcome, and Abigail affectionately patted the dog's head and stroked her silky fur. Jack opened the door and Goldie ran outside. Then he followed Abigail to the bedroom.
Jack unzipped Abigail's gown, and it fell to the floor. He began placing kisses along her neck and collarbone. At the same time, he unhooked her bra and gently lowered the straps, and it fell to the floor on top of the gown. Jack lifted Abigail, now clad only in her panties, and carried her to the bed. After gently laying her on the bed, he quickly removed her panties. All thoughts of melancholy vanished from Abigail's mind as Jack's tongue quickly elevated her to new heights of ecstasy.