Chapter 14. Surprises
A snowstorm that started late on Friday, March 7, 1941 brought over 18 inches of snow to New York and surrounding area. Accompanied by high winds it was tied at the time with a 1935 blizzard as the second highest snowfall in New York history (now tenth overall). What was worse was that by the following afternoon the temperature had risen enough so that the snow became rain, making a bad situation worse.
—-
Saturday, March 8, 1941
The clock hands above the exit in the Library seemed to move extra slowly on this day as Ariel kept checking them. The heavy snow that started falling the night before didn't let up overnight and with the addition of high winds in the morning made the walk to the Library almost unbearable. Ariel had bundled up well after receiving a phone call from Mrs. Houseman that Mr. Grayson had confirmed the Library was still open for business. She herself wasn't sure she would be there on time as she normally drove and she asked Ariel to take charge until she could get there.
"I don't know why he insists we need to be open," sighed Mrs. Houseman before she hung up. "I've already talked to the assistant managers at several branches and their managers decided not to open today."
Ariel was the first to arrive and gratefully stepped into the vestibule stamping her feet to get the snow off of her galoshes, then brushing off the snow that had attached itself to her coat. She was followed 20 minutes later by Alma who announced that Irina had been at her grandmother's house in the Bronx and the subway lines were down. She would not be coming in.
"Looks like you and I are in charge until Mrs. Houseman gets here," said Ariel. "What's your choice? Circulation Desk or Reference Desk?"
Both laughed, as neither one expected any patrons to make the trudge through the snow to the library. It was another hour before Mrs. Houseman arrived, her cheeks red from the cold wind that still blew. Her husband had driven her as far as he could before he had to turn back then she walked the rest of the way through the snow drifts. When she came in and found the two young women shelving books, she shook her head again at the waste of their time having an open library with no patrons. She commended both women for keeping busy then told them both to relax. About 30 minutes after Mrs. Houseman arrived the phone in Mr. Grayson's office rang and she answered it. The two younger women could hear her speaking politely with whoever was on the other end before she hung up. Then she came out to the Circulation Desk with a big smile.
"That was the Head Librarian for all New York libraries," she said. "We are officially closed. In fact, he was surprised we were open as all managers were called last night and told to expect to be closed today. For coming in under such dire conditions he will make sure we get paid for the entire day. I'll have to wait for Mr. Houseman to drive close enough to pick me up so you two go ahead and bundle up, while I close everything down here."
Ariel phoned Merton to say she would be coming home which suited her fine because it meant she would have time to finish wrapping Bucky's birthday present. There was supposed to be a small party for him at his parents which the snow storm had threatened but even if it was cancelled she wanted the present ready to give him. She put her galoshes on, wrapped her scarf around her head and neck then put her coat and gloves on. With a grim smile she opened the outer door of the vestibule and stepped out into the still blustery day. She had only gone about a block when she had to take cover in a doorway in order to catch her breath. The wind was that strong that it made it difficult to breathe. Just before she was ready to step out again a bundled up man crossed in front of her, seemingly unaware she was there in the doorway.
"Bucky?" she called out and he turned around, then came back to her wrapping his arms around her. "Why are you out in this?"
"Your uncle phoned to say you were being let go from the library early so I offered to come and get you to make sure you got home okay," he replied. "It's really nasty out." Before she could protest he cupped her face in his gloved hands. "I wanted to do this. No one should be out alone in this."
He bent over and kissed her forehead for good measure then took her by the hand and led her out of the doorway, blocking as much of the wind from reaching her as he could. All the way home Ariel could only think of the incredible gesture this man she loved was making. Not once did he complain about the wind or the snow which was likely freezing his face. Nor did he ever let go of her hand, making sure that she stayed close behind him.
After half an hour of trudging through the drifting snow they finally reached the store, which Merton had kept closed. They got inside the stairwell entrance and Ariel looked up at Bucky's face. Pulling her gloves off she placed her palms on his cheeks and realized he likely had frostbite.
"Come upstairs," she said. "You need to thaw out. I think your cheeks have frostbite."
"I'm fine," he replied. "Really."
"James Buchanan Barnes, you come up with me right now," demanded Ariel. "I've seen frostbite in Montana and it's nothing to fool around with."
He smirked at her using his full name but did as he was told and followed her up the stairs. For such a small woman she had authority when she chose to use it. A thought crossed his mind picturing her telling their kids in no uncertain terms to do as they were told. It just made him love her that little bit more. Smiling he followed her into the apartment where Merton was reading while listening to classical music. He looked relieved when Ariel entered and began removing her galoshes and coat.
"I think Bucky has frostbite," she said. "I'm going to get a warm wet facecloth for him. Don't let him leave."
Bucky smirked at him and Merton just smiled back. "She's right," he said from the chair. "You need to take care of it. I can see your face is quite red." Bucky went to rub it. "No, not while it's frozen. Once we've thawed you out you can gently move it."
Talking his cap, scarf and jacket off, as well as his boots Bucky took a seat at the table while Merton came over and gently touched his cheeks, nodding again in agreement with Ariel's assessment.
"I guess you two have more experience with frostbite," said Bucky. "I don't think I've ever had it."
"It's an occupational hazard for outdoor workers in Montana," replied Merton. "I've known people who have lost fingers and toes from it. You just have a touch on your cheeks."
Ariel came back with a couple of face cloths and ran the tap until the water was warm but not hot. She wet the cloths, wrung them out and placed them on Bucky's cheeks while he looked up at her. Then she raised his hands to hold them in place, checking his hands as she did so, satisfied they weren't frost bitten.
"We should have stopped in spots to get out of the wind," she said. "But you were just like a machine, plowing through those snowdrifts. You tell me when those cloths get cool and we'll warm them up again."
"I just wanted to get you home," he mumbled, keeping his eyes on her. "The library should never have opened."
"You're right about that," she replied. "I think Mr. Grayson might be in trouble. The Head Librarian phoned to make sure we were closed and wasn't happy to hear that three of us were there. Apparently Mr. Grayson was told last night to expect all libraries to be closed."
"Well, maybe that old dinosaur will finally retire," said Bucky, peeling the cloths off and handing them to Ariel to warm up again.
He watched her run the tap until it was warm again, holding the cloths under the liquid stream until they were warm and wringing them out. When she applied them to his face he put his hands on her waist and gazed at her before she gently, with a smile, moved his hands back to holding the cloths in place. The look in Bucky's eyes was pure love and it made her smile at him, as she ran her hand over his forehead, pushing a loose strand of hair out of the way.
"I love you," he murmured softly. "Will you marry me?" Ariel blushed, thinking he was joking but he took the cloths off and grasped her hands, speaking clearly and with conviction. "Ariel Black, would you do me the honour of being my wife and making me the happiest man in all of New York?"
"Bucky," she whispered. For several seconds she panicked, not knowing what to say then she looked at Merton who was standing there watching. He nodded his head slightly and she looked back at the face of this man who came through a blizzard for her. "Yes, I'll marry you. I don't know when but I will marry you."
Standing up, Bucky looked lovingly at her and placed his hands on her cheeks before enclosing her in an embrace as he kissed her. Walking over to his jacket he reached inside his inner pocket and took out a small heart shaped box then brought it over to her.
"I've been carrying this around for weeks, trying to get up the courage to ask you for real," he said softly. "I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. No one else has ever made me feel that way."
He opened it and Ariel began to cry, seeing a ring that must have cost Bucky a lot of money. It was a solitaire ring, round cut diamond, in a square setting. Bucky pulled the ring out of the box and slid it gently on the ring finger of her left hand. Then he raised her hand to his lips, kissing the ring tenderly, while keeping his eyes on her.
"Well, congratulations," said Merton, stepping forward with his hand outstretched to shake Bucky's hand. "I'm very happy for you both."
"You don't seem surprised, Uncle," said Ariel, wiping a few tears from her cheeks with Bucky's handkerchief and receiving a kiss on the cheek from Merton.
"He asked for my blessing several weeks ago," said Merton. "Since that day last summer Bucky has been steadfast in his desire to prove himself worthy of you. I think he succeeded. Your parents would be proud to have him as their son."
Ariel looked at Merton with surprise. He never once said anything to her about Bucky being ready to propose. She was glad she wore her recording brooch and hoped Merton had his recording devices going. Now all she had to do was keep Bucky happy with just an engagement for a couple of more years. Easier said than done. Still, there was a part of her that was very happy that this exceptional man wanted a permanent relationship with her. There were all sorts of marriage variations in her time, although monogamous pairs were still popular. She had never really pictured herself in one and found she liked how it felt to be promised to one man, one particular man.
"We should call your parents," said Ariel. "It doesn't look like your birthday party will happen but this will make up for it, won't it?"
A grin spread across Bucky's face. "I'm still having a party," he said. "Merton, do you have that sled in the shop?"
"Yes," replied the older man. "You're not going to pull Ariel on that thing, are you?"
"Why not?" said Bucky. "I'll bundle up my face really well. Ariel can wear trousers to keep her legs warmer. She can even stay the night, sharing Rebecca's room with her. Rebecca would love that. Steve is likely to stay the night as well in my room. He did last night as I picked him up in the car before the roads got too bad."
Merton shook his head but he had a smile on his face. "Well, I'm staying put so I'll give you my present now, if you don't mind." He went into his room and brought out a small package, then offered it to Bucky. "I noticed you looking at it in the store. It might come in handy someday."
Bucky unwrapped it and opened the small box then grinned as he took out a Swiss Army knife. Turning it around in his hand he tried the mechanisms and pulled out all the blades, and assorted parts of it, then folded it back together. His face lit up with gratitude and he put his hand out, shaking Merton's hand enthusiastically.
"Thank you, I love it, and I'll carry it with me always," he said.
"Well, we're not going anywhere until I'm satisfied your cheeks are unfrozen," said Ariel, touching Bucky's cheeks gingerly with her palms. "I think you still need to warm up your cheeks a bit more. Sit."
Bucky obeyed his fiancée and sat in the kitchen chair, placing the knife on the table so he would have his hands free. He watched Ariel warm up the face cloths, applying them to his face again then begin to pull food out to make some lunch. When Merton excused himself to go down to the store and get the sled Bucky put the cloths on the table and ran his arms around Ariel from behind.
"Thank you," he said in his low voice. "I'm so happy."
She turned around and they kissed passionately, before breaking apart when they heard Merton coming up the stairs. He brought the sled inside and Ariel laughed.
"You're not going to pull me on that," she said, almost bent over as she tried to catch her breath.
"I am," insisted Bucky. "I'll pull on the cord, you brace your feet at the bottom there and we'll be at my parent's place in no time."
"Okay, we'll try but I don't see it being a comfortable ride."
"I didn't promise that," he laughed.
After some lunch Ariel and Merton were satisfied that Bucky's cheeks were sufficiently thawed out and he assured them he wasn't feeling any discomfort or pain from them. All the same, Merton lent him one of his scarves and wrapped it around Bucky's face, making sure it was covered well. Then Ariel went to change and came out in ladies trousers with heavy socks on. She put her galoshes on then produced a knapsack with night clothes and a change of clothes for the following day, slipping the straps over her shoulders. Merton followed them down the stairwell and watched with amusement as Bucky put the sled on the ground and helped Ariel sit on it. He had added another cord for her to hold on certain that she would fall backwards any time Bucky pulled her forwards. With a wave they started and he could hear their laughter for some time before he stepped back into the stairwell. Getting the key to the communications room he sent a message to Peri on the console.
—
To: Peri Wayne, Chair, Historian's Guild
On Saturday, March 8, 1941, 11:44 am EST James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes proposed marriage to Ariel Black. She accepted and he gave her a diamond solitaire ring. They are on their way to the Barnes household for his 24th birthday party, which he insisted was still happening. Ariel will spend the night, sharing a bedroom with Rebecca Barnes. I told them that Ariel's parents would be proud to have him as their son. I am, and I hope you are, as well. He is a good man, through and through.
Merton Burnett, Resident Historian, Brooklyn, New York
—
After receiving confirmation of the receipt of the message he turned the set off and returned to the apartment, genuinely happy for the couple. For now, at least, they had just confirmed that Bucky Barnes had a serious relationship. So did Ariel, he reminded himself.
Out on the street they made good time with Ariel on the sled. Other people had been out and Bucky was able to pull the sled through the paths they made in the snow drifts. The scarf he wore helped prevent a reoccurrence of the frostbite he got in the morning. When they arrived at the Barnes brownstone he was out of breath but still exhilarated at the effort. Helping Ariel stand up he pulled their scarves down and kissed her, before picking up the sled and following her up the steps to the door. Rebecca met them in the entryway and laughed when she saw the sled.
"Bucky did you pull Ariel all the way?"
"I did and it helped a lot," he replied. "If it's warmer tomorrow we might be able to use it for fun before we return it to Merton."
He took Ariel's scarf, gloves and coat giving her knapsack to Rebecca to put up in her room. Ariel stopped her and reached inside bringing out a package wrapped in gift wrap. He took his outer clothes off and took Ariel's hand before walking into the parlour, waiting for Rebecca to return. When she did he put his arm around Ariel.
"We're engaged," he said proudly. "After we got back from the Library, Ariel noticed I had a touch of frostbite and began treating it. I looked up at her as she was looking after me and I knew I had to ask right then. She said yes."
Ariel lifted up her left hand to show the ring and felt good when Bucky's parents came forward, hugging and kissing them. Rebecca was excited and wrapped her arms around Ariel.
"You're going to be my sister?" she asked. Ariel nodded, feeling happy at seeing Rebecca's joy.
Then Steve stepped forward and hugged Bucky, then her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Congratulations," he said to them both. "I'm so happy for both of you. I think you'll have a long and happy marriage."
"Thank you," said Ariel, feeling the tears coming to her eyes as she tried to keep a pleasant face. "I don't know when we'll get married but this is a big step for me and I'm really happy."
Mr. Barnes went to the liquor cabinet and poured a scotch for each of the grownups then raised his glass.
"We knew early on that Bucky was sweet on Ariel. It's easy to see why as she's beautiful, inside and out, is accomplished, smart, thoughtful, and kind. When you do set a date we'll be proud to become your parents. To the future Mr. and Mrs. Barnes."
They all took a drink, although Ariel coughed a little bit from the harshness of the liquor. She insisted she was alright, that it had just hit her throat wrong. Mrs. Barnes offered to get her some water and motioned to Ariel to follow her into the kitchen. When they got in there, she took a glass out of the cupboard and turned on the tap to fill it with water. Then she sat at the table and motioned to Ariel to sit with her, pushing the glass towards her.
"You're not ready for marriage yet, are you?" she asked, her face full of concern. Ariel tried to keep her dismay off her face and looked out the window. "It's alright to have doubts but I think this is more than doubts. What's wrong, dear?"
"I love Bucky," said Ariel, her voice trembling. "He's the first man I've ever loved and he wants to get married so badly but I'm afraid. My mother died when I was very young and seeing me brought pain to my father so he sent me away to live in a convent, even though we weren't Catholic. To me, marriage is misery and being left alone. But I love Bucky so much I couldn't say no, not when it makes him so happy."
She took a drink of water and fidgeted with her fingers while Mrs. Barnes processed what Ariel had just told her.
"Does Bucky know this?" she asked. Ariel nodded. "Yet, he still asked you. He is driven sometimes to get what he wants and I'm guessing he bided his time to get you to agree. Do you ever want to marry?"
"Yes, at least I think I do," replied Ariel. "I don't want to give up Bucky. He's everything to me but if he goes off to war, which is looking more and more likely, I'm terrified I'll be left alone with a baby."
"You wouldn't be alone, you know," said Mrs. Barnes gently. "We would be here for you. We already care very much about you."
"I know but I'm so in love with him I don't know if I could survive losing him. That's what terrifies me the most ... that I would do to our child what my father did to me, leaving the care of him or her to someone else. He rejected me...I'm afraid I would reject our child as well."
Ariel covered her face with her hands and wept. Mrs. Barnes came around to her, kneeling beside the young woman and enclosing her in her arms. It made sense to the older woman. Fear of abandonment was a terrible burden as was the fear of rejecting your own child. Winnifred Barnes was compassionate enough to realize it wasn't a character flaw in this exceptional young woman, it was a deep seated fear that she fought constantly. Her son, bless him, loved Ariel so much that he couldn't really understand the fear but Winnifred knew exactly what the young woman felt, having been a new mother herself while George was fighting in France in 1917. The constant worry about her husband had affected her deeply and even after his return it took a long time before she felt secure. Ariel had this fear for much of her life and then had met Bucky, a man she loved with all of her heart. That was plainly evident. Right now the girl, and she was still a girl in many ways, needed love and compassion to accept that even if Bucky died in a war that was probably coming, she would never be alone, not if Winnifred Barnes had her say in it. The older woman took her handkerchief out of her pocket and gently dried the tears from Ariel's cheeks. Then she placed her hands on the young woman's cheeks and gazed at her with love.
"You bear a terrible burden," she said softly. "I have no advice to offer and I'm sure you don't want to hear platitudes that will sound hollow. So understand this, I am your mother, as of this day and if you ever feel the need to speak deeply and honestly about anything I am here and I will listen. If it is meant for you and Bucky to be together you will be and he will be the best of husbands. We both know that in our hearts." Ariel nodded and smiled gratefully at the older woman. "But if he isn't then I will be here to help you through a broken heart. You are not alone, dear Ariel."
They embraced again and both women let the love flow between them. Neither noticed Bucky watching just outside the door. He had heard just enough to know that perhaps he asked Ariel too soon but he loved her so much that he just had to do it, had to know that she felt the same way for real. Slowly he stepped back into the hallway and leaned against the wall. Instead of pressuring Ariel to take the next step he would focus on building a future where she would feel secure. That much he could do, then they could get married and she would be alright.