The life of Sandy Rose

Chapter 9: December 1925

"Sandy?" Johnathan finally spoke once they set foot back inside their home.
She ignored her brother, removing her coat and putting it on a hook. She wanted to go straight to her room, but her brother stood in her way, holding her in her place, "Sandy, why the change of mood? What happened back there?" he asked of her, "Don't be afraid to tell me."
She shook her head, looking at her feet. She felt ashamed, not afraid. She never felt afraid to tell him anything, it was just, at times, she knew her brother needn't know everything.
It was a con about him: he wanted to know every single detail.

She felt like a shameless whore.
"Johnny..." she sniffed, wiping a tear from her eye, "Just leave it."
"I can't do that Sandy," he uttered.
"John-."
"Sandy," he folded his arms in assertion.
She swallowed, taking a few moments, but then she took his hand and led him to the kitchen, where they sat.
He handed her his handkerchief to wipe her black tears.
"I don't want to get it dirty," she told him.
"Sandy, there are obviously bigger issues to discuss."
She still waited, however, listening to the steady tick of the wall clock.
But then, she knew she didn't have to hide anything from him. It wouldn't help matters.

"Ronald kisses me this evening," she said quietly, but it was close to silent in this room, that her brother couldn't help but hear.
His face slowly contorted into a frown, "What?!" he snapped. She jumped, "How could you let that happen?"
"Johnny, please believe me, I didn't want it to!"
He stood, taking a moment, but turned back to his little sister, "Sandy, what have I told you? There is no man out there in this world that will be truly honest with you! It has been clear from the moment I met the man that his intentions for you are clear," he averred.
"Johnny-."
"Tell me exactly what happened."
She took a deep breath, "I was looking for red wine for Mary, when he came down to the cellar and put mistletoe over my head. Then he-."
"Then he kissed you."
She nodded.
"I-."
"Did he allow you to consent at least?"
"Not really," she sighed.

She knew he would never let her live this down.

He groaned, pacing the kitchen, "He's a married man, for God's sake. Does he have no shame?"
Obviously not, Sandy thought.
"Johnny, I'm sorry," she wept, clutching the handkerchief tightly. He sighed at her, enclosing her in a tight hug.
"No, Sandy, it's not truly your fault. I'm just annoyed."
He pulled away, cupping her face. He used his thumbs to wipe away her tears, looking into her innocent, brown eyes.
And Sandy took another breath, knowing there was no use in keeping her brother from her problems anymore.
"Johnny, I have to tell you something."
Or, some things, she corrected herself.
"What is it? Did that man do anything else?"
"No, it's about something else."
"What?"
"Jasper."
Jasper? He was actually trying to remember who Jasper actually was, but then his eyes widened when he recollected his thoughts.

"Jasper? Your boss Jasper?"
She nodded, "I don't want you to do anything about it-."
"Did he-?"
"He didn't get to, John, that's why I don't want you to do anything."
"Sandy, you can't just tell me your own boss is abusing his power towards you and at the same time ask me to leave it."
"I can, and I will," she told him. He frowned at her.
She put her hands on his arms, "Johnny, I need to keep this job. I'm telling you this because you're my brother and I know you'd hate it if I had never told you and someone else had."
She was correct about that.
"Sandy..." he whispered in disbelief, "I-."
"Johnny, I'm fine," she smiled at him to reassure him, squeezing his arms, "Honest."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He continued to stare at her to see if she'd break, but she didn't.
He sighed, nodding.
"And thank you so much for behaving tonight."
"Anything for you," he promised, sitting down again.
"Are you going to call that Olivia girl?"
"Maybe, I don't know."
"Didn't you like her?" Sandy chuckled, wiping the rest of her tears.
"I don't want to talk about her," Johnathan asserted, nonchalantly.
"Well, I don't want to talk about myself, John," she said to him in a snappy manner, "I said I was fine."
"I just hate how people look at you. I hate how men think they can hurt you like that, is that so wrong of me?" He questioned her.
"No," she smiled, "Of course not. Hold on," she disappeared out of the room for a short moment.
She came back with a small box and thrust it at him.
He furrows his brows, "What's this?"
"A gift," she leaned against the counter, watching him open it, "You got me this lovely dress, you pay most of this rent, you look after me, it's the least I can do."
He opened it and pulled out a Cartier watch. He shook his head and put it back inside, "Why Sandy?"
"Why Sandy?' What do you mean, idiot? It's just a watch!"
"An expensive watch. We're trying to save money, not waste it," he sighed.
She closed her eyes in annoyance, "What's wrong with you? What can't you just stop over thinking things? I got you the very least I can do, I saved up, John, so you can replace that slow, old watch you have now," she explained.
"Dad gave me that watch," Johnny pushed the box back to her.
She scoffed, "And will he haunt you if you cease to wear it? He's DEAD, John!" she snapped at him.
When he remained stoic and unfeeling, she shook her head at him, rolling her eyes, "Why can't you just let me do such a small thing for you?"
He didn't answer her question, "You wanna know what I want?" he asked her.
"Yeah," she said, brow raised, "I do."
"Fine," he stood. He came close to her, his face a mere, few inches away from hers. She held her breath, "Stop being so weak."
Her heart sank as he walked away, hurt. It was as if he had slapped her in the face. And she sat there on her own for a while, thinking: he was right.

She awoke early, tying her dressing gown around her tightly. She padded over to her brother's room, knocking softly.
He didn't answer and she debated on wether to go inside.
She waited, turning her back to the door. She slid to the floor with a sigh.
"Johnny..." she called out to him, "I can't sleep knowing that you're upset with me," she told him.
When there was no reply, she began to cry again. She had cried herself to sleep already, waking with a start, and in a pool of her own sweat.
She called her brother numerous times, but he ceased from answering her.

From the other side of the door, however, her brother had awoken, pressing his ear to it, hearing her sobs.
He didn't enjoy making his sister cry.
He opened it, knowing she had suffered enough.
He wasn't aware, however, that her back had been to the door, and she fell back at his feet.
She looked up at him  and he frowned, "Sorry."
She sat back up, wiping her eyes.
He stood for a few moments before sitting on the floor beside her. She waited for him to scold her again, but he was taking too long.
"Say something, Johnny, please," she whispered.
"Alright," he shrugged, "I don't think you should be in contact with Mary anymore."
"Johnny-."
"And I think you should quit working at that café."
"Johnny-."
"It's not up for discussion, Sandy. You asked me to say something and I am. You're my sister, and it's my job to look out for you. If I don't feel comfortable with you working while a creep like Jasper has his eyeful, then I have a right to say something," he explained to her.
"Yes, but what about Mary? What did she do?"
"I think-."
"You really mean Ronnie?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does. I can handle myself."
"Actually,it doesn't seem like you can,"he retorted.
"I've already told you: Mary's my friend."
"Whose husband kissed you. And let me guess, Sandy: you aren't gonna tell her."
She wasn't actually.
She paused, wanting to make a point, but she shook her head instead, "Besides that, I told you I can't quit my job. Where else would I go? As you've made it very clear, we need the money," she stated to him.
"I'll ask around, Sandy. Look, so you want someone to eventually succeed at taking advantage of you?" He suddenly asked her. She frowned at this.
She didn't. But she also suddenly hated the fact that her brother didn't find she was capable of taking care of herself.
"No one's going to take advantage of me," she claimed, "Why do you think so?" she stood up, "You think you know everything, Johnathan."
"You think so?"
"Yes! I can look after myself. Never you mind or worry about me anymore. I'll keep everything that happens to me to myself then," she flounced back to her room door, "And I'll keep the damn watch."