Things Are Rough All Over

Ch. 19: Kasey

Darry's POV

I woke up to the phone ringing from the living room. I groaned and rolled over, looking at the clock beside my bed. Who the hell is calling at two in the morning? I got out of bed and slid on a pair of pajama pants. I quietly walked out of my room and into the living room, picking the phone up. 

(Darry ; Steve)

Hello?

Darry, we have a situation

Steve? What's going on?

Kasey is here. She said Sandy dropped her off and left.

Jesus Christ. Okay, I'll get Soda and we'll be there soon.

I hung the phone up and turned to see Beth Anne leaning against the door frame to the hallway. "What's going on?" she asked, a small yawn escaping her lips. "I'm not really sure. I gotta go wake Soda and head to Steve's." I said, walking down the hall to Soda's door. 

I knocked on the door and it opened a few minutes later, revealing a half asleep Soda. "Darry, it's like two in the morning. What's going on?" he yawned. "Sandy left Kasey at Steve's and drove off." I said, that was enough to wake him up completely.

"I'll get dressed and meet you at the truck." he said, I nodded and he closed the door. I walked back to my room and pulled on a shirt and shoes. "I'm going with you." Beth Anne said, I knew it wouldn't be worth it to try and argue with her, so I didn't even bother. 

Soda' POV

I turned the light on and started getting dressed, Eleanor sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. "Soda, what're you doing? What's wrong?" she asked, I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "Sandy left Kasey at Steve's and left." I said, she got out of bed and slid a pair of leggings on and her shoes. 

We walked out to the truck and got in, Beth Anne was in the front with Darry. The drive to Steve's was quiet. I was trying to process things in my head. I can't believe Sandy left Kasey here. When we got to Steve's we all got out and walked to the door. Darry knocked and Elena opened it a few seconds later. 

We walked in the house and followed Elena to the living room, Kasey jumped off the couch and ran over to me, tears in her eyes. I picked her up and held her on my hip. "Did Sandy say anything?" I asked, turning my attention to Steve.

"I never even saw her. Elena and I were laying in bed talking when Kasey knocked on the door." Steve said, running his hand through his hair. We all sat around the living room and didn't say anything. I looked at Kasey in my lap and smiled sadly at her.

"Did mommy say anything to you Kasey?" I asked, she looked down and nodded. "She told me she was very sick and couldn't take care of me anymore. She made me promise to be good for you and Elnor (Eleanor) and then she told me she loved me. She hugged me and told me to count to slowly count to ten before knocking, and then she ran back to her car." she said softly, her voice breaking slightly.

I pulled her into my chest and sighed. Why would Sandy abandon her own daughter? What did she mean she was sick? None of this made sense and I could tell by the look on everyone else's faces, they were trying to figure it out too.

~~~

After another hour of trying to figure things out, we got Kasey and her bag and went back home. Kasey slept in my room between me and Eleanor that night. She cried until she fell asleep. Eleanor and I on the other hand, didn't get much sleep at all. We were worried about Kasey. 

~~~ A Month Later~~~

I was in the back yard with Eleanor watching Kasey run around and play. Eleanor's baby bump was very visible by now. She's four months into her pregnancy. The back door opened and we turned around to see Ponyboy, he had a letter in his hand. 

"It says it's from Sandy." he said, handing me the closed envelope. I opened and read the letter out loud.

Dear Soda and Eleanor,

I'm so sorry I had to do this. But it was the only way I could leave without any questions. I should have wrote to you sooner, but I've been trying to figure things out. I'm dying... and I knew Kasey would be safest with the two of you and the rest of the gang. I don't know how much time I have left, but I wanted you to know that I'm not coming back for Kasey. I came back to Tulsa, to tell Soda that he had a daughter and I needed him to take care of her from here on out. 

Eleanor, I am so sorry for the things I said to you and for being the reason you and Soda broke up. It was selfish of me and I never should have done it. You're the one that Soda really loves, not me. I hope you're doing well with your pregnancy. 

I'm going to send you some money for Kasey, it should be there a week after this letter arrives. It's all of the money I have saved, I hope it's enough. Take care of my baby girl for me. Tell her I love her and miss her. 

~Sandy

I folded the letter back up and put it back in the envelope. Eleanor and I looked back to Kasey playing, not saying anything for a minute. "What're we going to tell her El?" I said softly. "We tell her what Sandy wants us to. That she loves her more than anything.. and that she can't come back for her." she says, placing her hand on mine. I look up at her and smile softly. 

Kasey came running over, smiling at us. "I'm hungry." she said, sitting in my lap. "Well, let's go to the diner and get lunch." I said, tickling her sides. She giggled and stood up, running into the house. I turned to Eleanor and she nodded, knowing what I was thinking. 

~~~

We got to the diner and ordered our food, eating once it arrived. After the diner, we took Kasey to the park and sat on a bench with her between us. "Kasey, listen.. mommy wrote to us. She wanted us to tell you that she loves you.. but she can't come back for you." I said, slowly so that she could take it all in. She sniffled and a few tears fell down her cheeks. 

"Why isn't she coming back for me?" she asked, her little voice breaking. "She's very sick honey, she can't take care of you anymore... she wants me and your daddy to continue to raise you." Eleanor said, rubbing the back of Kasey's head. Kasey leaned into Eleanor's side and cried silently.

After a few minutes, we got back into my car and headed home. Kasey had fallen asleep on the way home, so I carried her inside and laid her in my bed. I walked out of the room and sat on the couch next to Eleanor, sighing with confusion. 

"What're you guys gonna do?" Beth Anne asked, sitting on the arm of the chair next to Darry. I thought for a minute and shrugged. "She's my daughter, I can't just leave her at some orphanage or girls' home." I said, leaning my head back. 

It was quiet for awhile, no one knew what to say. The tv was off, Two-bit wasn't crackin up. Dally wasn't arguing with anyone. No one did or said anything. Could I really take care of an almost two year old and a newborn baby? I guess we'll just have to find out.