“I hope I find someone who will sweep me off my feet,” Daisy saidwistfully.
“You will. Sometimes they’re staring you right in the face and you don’tseeit.”
Daisy flushed and dropped her gaze to the flour sifter. A heated flush worked its way up her cheeks as she thought about Greg. She’d never met someone so self-assured. He didn’t have any of the insecurities of men their age. Most of her hippie friends pretended to love having a life of freedom, but deep down, she suspected they were just as worried about the future as she wassometimes.
“Have you ever been in love?” Bettyasked.
“What? Oh. No. I mean. I liked someone once. But no,” Daisystammered.
“Greg seems to have taken a liking to you. He can’t keep his eyes or his hands off of you,”Bettysaid.
“Oh, that’s nothing. He’s justbeingnice.”
“I don’t know,” Betty said with a grin. “I think he’s sweetonyou.”
“I don’t think his dad would like thatverymuch.”
“When I met Joseph, my parents had a fit.” Betty laughed. “They wanted me to marry a businessman so that I could live in a big house with lots of servants. I couldn’t ever picture life like that. I would have felt trapped. Joseph gives me far more freedom than most men. I’m veryblessed.”
“I grew up in San Francisco. My dad’s a police officer. I’d say we lived in an average house. I also never dreamed about living in a mansion. What would I doallday?”
“Sit with the other old biddies and gossip about who burned their crumpets,” Betty saidsarcastically.
“No way,” Daisy laughed. “My mom dragged me to a few tea parties. I hated every second of it. I prefer to be outdoors. I love fresh air and huge skies. I’ve never seen a sky so big inmylife.”
“Big Sky Country, that’s what we callithere.”
“I’d love to live somewhere like this,”Daisysaid.
“Do you want to have a family?” Bettyasked.
“Of course. Doesn’t every womanwantone?”
“Not everyone,” Betty said. “I think that’s why the women’s movement is gaining ground. They’re not only fighting for equality, but they’re fighting for the right to be equaltomen.”
“Well I’d burn my bra with them, but I don’t have one,” Daisyjoked.
“Another thing my son’snoticed.”
“I’m sorry. But those things are soconstricting.”
“Wait until you have to put on agirdle.”
“Ugh,” Daisy said. “Never.”
“You’re a bit on the curvy side. You might want one on your wedding day to hold everything in,”Bettysaid.
“My wedding day’s a long way away considering I don’t have aboyfriend.”
“You’re beautiful. Men will line up to call on you if you settle down long enough to let them,”Bettysaid.
“Thank you.” Daisy finished sifting the flour. “Whatcomesnext?”
“Butter, salt, and water. Let meshowyou.”
As Betty measured out the other ingredients for the crust, Daisy’s mind wandered back to what she’d said. How was she going to find a husband if she was always running from one Be-In to the next? At some point, she would have to settle down. Even some of her most resolute hippie friends had ended up married and living according to societal norms. Was she destined for thesamefate?
* * *
