Porcelain

Chapter 59

As it got even more increasingly obvious how pregnant Estelle was, the whole gang started to get more concerned about her well-being and more protective of her. It was good that they cared, but it was starting to butt into her life to the point of annoyance. Especially Dally. Since he was no longer spending his nights at parties and his days hungover, that left him more time to be concerned about her life.

So one day, she realized that it was high time Dally found something for him to do again.

"Hey Dally? You used to be a horse jockey, and a good one at that, right?"

"Yeah," he grunted in response. "What about it?"

"I was just thinkin,' cause you made such a fuss about losing the horses, and you don't have much you do these days, why don't you do that now?"

"I didn't think you'd want me out at nights mixing with that kind of crowd."

"Oh, don't use me as an excuse, you pretentious fucker! Jockeying is the one thing you do honestly, and even the high ups go to the races. Not to mention, my money ain't gonna last us forever, nor is your pocket cash."

He scowled. "Half of those races Buck fixes anyways."

"But it ain't really you fixing em', it would be better than you sitting here moping all day."

"I ain't moping!"

"Then what do you call sitting around with that scowl on your face like someone shat in your boots before you put em' on?"

"Jesus fuck, sorry for wanting to make sure you were safe."

"Quit using me as an excuse for your problems, and go get the goddamn job, Dally," she commanded.

_____
"Where's Dally?" Darry asked as she walked in before dinner time.

"I told him to fuck off," she said airily.

Darry turned to her. "What brought that on? I know Dally can be a bit much at times, but I thought you of all people, considering that you," he glanced down.

"You shut it right there," she said scowling.

"Quit scowling, you look like Dally when you do that."

She immediately plastered a large smile on her face.

"Now, as I was about to say, he was really getting on my nerves the way he was always around and being miserable, so I told him maybe he should get back into jockeying. Would also mean he'd quit swiping my cash for weed money."

Darry laughed. "Good for you."

"Thank you," she replied smugly, taking a small bow, but really about as big as her large belly allowed. "Need any help with dinner?"

"No, I can get one of the boys to help me, you go sit down."

"So yes, but not from me."

Darry rolled his eyes. "Yes, you're right, now go sit down."

_____
Dally burst in the door as they were all eating.

"Well hello to you too," she said. "You get the job or what?"

"Yeah. Got a race coming up soon, too."

"How soon is soon?"

He shrugged. "Not super soon, in a month, maybe. I gotta get back into racing condition, work with the horse for a while."

She smiled. "Good for you! And that gets you out of the house, too."

"Oh, so you don't like having me around anymore?"

She paused, as if to ponder. "Honestly, no, not really. You're causing me more problems than you're helping, I know how to live by myself, but it's like you forgot how growing up works and suddenly I'm Ponyboy's age."

Both boys glared at her, and she let out a light laugh.

"No, but it's good for you to have something to focus on other than me."

"Whatever," he grumbled, serving himself some meatloaf.

"Aw, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings," she said sarcastically, frowning theatrically.

She held her arms out to him, and he set his plate down as. she pulled his face to hers.

Ponyboy gave the couple a disgusted look, while Two-Bit sighed.

"Young love," he said sappily.

Dally broke the kiss, and threw his portion of food at Two-Bit.

Estelle held back a laugh, as Sodapop, Steve, and Ponyboy all laughed at Two-Bit's disgust, Dally's irrational anger, and Darry's exasperation.

"This child could not ask for any better, or any worse, uncles," she mused.

She pictured a child in the home, growing up around the rowdy gang she was growing to call her family, in a house that reflected the people, rough around the edges, but perfect in its own way. She would have loved to have that childhood, to be surrounded with life and happiness and emotions, with fun uncles who doubled as best friends and bodyguards.

"Everything all right?" Dally asked her after they quieted down a bit.

"Very," she replied. "I would have loved to have the childhood this kid is gonna have. Surrounded by life. It's just so real, and raw. None of the fake perfection I was supposed to put on."

Dally wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"I promise you this, that kid will have a better childhood than you and me combined. By far."

She smiled, turning her head into his shoulder.

"You don't know how much that means, to me, to your kid, from you."

He chuckled. "Nothing it doesn't deserve. And nothing we can't give it."