I'd Sell My Soul

Chapter 11: What goes around comes back around

ALI MONROE'S POV:

I sat in the drop off line at the high school, tapping my fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. We were barely inching forward and I was rolling my eyes. Sophie had her head leaned back again the headrest and her eyes closed.

"I'm just disappointed in you, kid. I'm trying here Soph. I really am. Your mother would be disappointed too." I shake my head replaying our fight last night. She claimed she had nothing to do with the watered down bottle of vodka but I knew better. I did the same thing and got caught.

"God, you barely even knew her! You never visited us! Stop acting like you know what mom would say." Sophie bites back, finally giving me direct eye contact.

"She was my sister! I grew up with her! I called her all the time, I did know her. And I know you. Well enough to know this isn't you." I hiss at her.

"Just stop here. I don't want to talk to you anymore." Sophie grabs her backpack.

"Fine. I'm picking you up at 2pm sharp. Don't be late." I stomp on the brake and unlock the car door. The Subaru comes to an abrupt halt. Sophie climbs out without another word. I curse out loud and drive out of the parking lot. Feeling lost, I decided to drive north of Colfax up to Rosalia where Aunt Carla now resides in a small two bedroom ranch house with her little dog Skippy. Aunt Carla owned the house Farrah lived in. She was well off, having inherited the ranch after mom and aunt Carla's father passed. Aunt Carla sold the ranch and held onto the money. Once she felt Farrah was old enough she gave her the Colfax property and moved up north.

It took about half an hour to get to Aunt Carla's house. When I pulled into the gravel driveway she was down on her knees digging up weeds in the garden beds. She looked up at me as Skippy ran around my car barking. She recalled him as I stepped out of my car.

"Allison Marie, what are you doing here?" Aunt Carla smiles before embracing me.

"I can't do this anymore." I shake my head. I start crying immediately after.

"Oh Allison...come inside, come on." She puts an arm around me and guides me up the walkway and in the front door. Her home is adorned with the modern farmhouse decor from the shiplap to to the macrame art. I take a seat on her faux leather couch and she brings over a tray with a pitcher of fresh lemonade and two glasses. She sets it on the coffee table in front of me before pouring us both a glass and handing mine to me.

"So do you just always have fresh lemonade on the fly?" I chuckle and wipe my tears away. Suddenly it's like I'm a eight year old girl age in who skinned her knee and Aunt Carla swoops in with her lemonade to make it all better.

"I'm always ready for company. You know me." She smiles before taking a sip of hers. "No what troubles you?"

"Aunt Carla I am not Farrah and it's showing. Sophie is drinking and partying and getting into trouble. I don't know what to do." I sigh. The corner of Aunt Carla's lips twitched slightly.

"You remind me of myself what? Eighteen years ago? Gosh. That's teenage girls for ya. Give you a real run for your money." Aunt Carla chuckles.

"But Farrah and I -" I start.

"Did the same exact thing at her age." She cuts me off. I press my lips into a thin line. She continues. "Allison, Farrah chose you and not me for great reason. You are doing wonderful. Parenting a teen is difficult, let alone one that is not of you. You don't have to tell me that."

"I'm sorry though. I know Farrah and I weren't always easy and we weren't your responsibility. We were mom's and she abandoned you." I set my glass down on the tray.

"Honey, you need not be sorry for your mother's actions. Angelina...God rest her soul. Had a hard life. But you two girls...you were the greatest gifts from her. I regret none of it." She takes my hand in hers. Her eyes glimmer. "And I miss Farrah every day."

"I do too. She's who I would've called you know?" A tear falls from my face onto Aunt Carla's hand.

"You know Allison.... Farrah loved you so much. I mean hell she gave her daughter your name; Sophia Allison Monroe. She trusts you to do right by Sophia, no matter what and you are fulfilling that. Trust yourself, dear," Aunt Carla says.

"I'm trying...Katie Aberdeen and Levi Colt have really been my main supporters recently." I look down at our hands.

"Oh I know, Margie gave me the play by play of the town hall. Boy was it giving me great deja vu to hear Ali and Katie getting into trouble once more." Aunt Carla sighed looking off past me.

"Yeah I appreciate them." I smile thinking of them fondly.

"Levi Colt though let's talk about him for a moment." Aunt Carla winks.

"No." I laugh and shake my head.

"Well don't think I forgot that boy proposed to you before fleeing on the wings of the military." Aunt Carla wags her finger at me.

"There's nothing there other than his supportive friendship." I correct her.

"Back to Sophia, I think the girl is struggling. Twisting in the wind without her mother. You have to remember it was just her and Farrah against the world for the longest time." Aunt Carla reminds me.

"What if I just told her everything? The truth about her mom, about her dad." I think out loud.

"I don't know that's how Farrah would've wanted it." Aunt Carla pondered. She's looking around the room.

"I mean I know she's lost. If I told her the truth it might give her direction." I explain my thought process.

"Or confuse her further. Besides...her father doesn't even live here anymore. What difference would it make?" Aunt Carla asks.

"Wait." I pull away from her. "Aunt Carla...who do you think is Sophie's biological father?"

"Wasn't it Chad Hallet? He was her boyfriend at the time. Yes, I remember that summer well. He and Jenny Colt went on one date and split, Farrah and him dated for a year after that." Aunt Carla points out.

"No...Aunt Carla...Farrah wasn't exclusive with Chad." I sit up straighter. Im preparing myself for the blow.

"Well then who fathered Sophie?" Aunt Carla blinks wildly.

"Aunt Carla...Sophie's father is Levi Colt." I say. She faints, falling backwards and fitting the couch pillow.