Things Are Rough All Over

Ch. 14: Sandy

Sodapop's POV

I was leaning on the counter, flipping through a car magazine when the bell above the door rang. I looked up and froze. Sandy walked up to me, a smile spread across her face. "Hi Soda." She smiled, I didn't say anything. "Oh, c'mon Soda. You act like you don't recognize me. It hasn't been that long sense we talked last." she said, a frown appearing on her face. 

"It's been a year Sandy." I said, annoyance in my voice. "Oh, don't be like that baby. I thought maybe we could talk." she said, reaching her hand out to grab mine. I moved my hand and she rolled her eyes. "Look, here's my address if you change your mind. I'll be there all day, I have some more boxes to unpack." she said, handing me the peace of paper.

"Sandy, why did you come back?" I asked, she turned back around with her hand on the door. "Because I thought you should know your daughter." she smiled, turning and walking back out to her car.

I thought you should know your daughter. Those words kept playing over in my head. I didn't even realize Steve and Ponyboy had walked into the store. "Soda!" I snapped out of my daze and looked up. "You okay man?" Steve asked and I shook my head. "Sandy stopped by. She wants me to stop by her place to... meet my daughter." I said, still not believing it. 

I knew I had gotten Sandy pregnant... but I never thought she would come back, bringing the kid with her. "Are you gonna go?" Ponyboy asked, I shrugged and fiddled with the peace of paper she gave me. "I dunno. Part of me wants to never see her again.. but part of me wants to know who my daughter is." I said softly. 

"We'll go with you if you want." Ponyboy offered, Steve nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we'll go after work." he said, I thought for a minute before nodding. 

~~~

We pulled up to the address Sandy gave me and I stared at the house. "You sure you're ready for this?" Steve asked, I took a deep breath and nodded. We walked up to the door and I took a deep breath before knocking. We waited a few minutes before the door opened.

"Soda!" Sandy said, smiling at me. "You brought Steve and Ponyboy.." She said, I slight frown appearing on her face. She welcomed us inside and we followed her to the living room and sat down. "Can I get y'all anything to drink? I have Pepsi, coke, water." she offered. "I'll take a coke." Steve and I said, Sandy nodded and turned to Ponyboy. "Still Pepsi, right?" she asked, Ponyboy nodded. 

Sandy disappeared and I looked around. This house used to me the widder Mason's house until she moved in with her daughter. Sandy walked back in, a little girl on her hip. I felt my heart stop as I looked at the little girl. "Mommy, who's thothes people?" she asked, looking up at Sandy. Sandy walked into the living room and sat next to me. 

"Soda, this is Kasey, your daughter." Sandy said, smiling at Kasey. Kasey looked at me and smiled. "You have a funny name." she giggled, I smiled at her and nodded. "Yeah, kid, I guess I do." I said, Sandy stood up, setting Kasey next to me on the couch. 

"I'll be right back Kase. Be nice and be good." Sandy said, walking off to the kitchen. "Who're yous two?" she asked, tilting her head and Steve and Ponyboy. "That's my best friend Steve and my little brother, your uncle, Ponyboy." I said pointing to each of them. She giggled and crawled over to Ponyboy on the other end of the couch. "You have a funny name too. But I like em." she said, smiling up at Ponyboy. Ponyboy smiled at her and Sandy came back in the room, handing us our drinks.

~~~ 

After a little while of talking, we left Sandy's house. She told me I could stop by and see Kasey anytime I wanted. I didn't say anything on the way to my house. I was too busy thinking. We got out and walked into the house, all eyes landed on us.