The life of Sandy Rose

Chapter 16: February 1926

After sitting down for dinner, she wondered if he would let her go home. She gave it thought and knew her brother would despise it if she lied to him. She had told him that she would only be going for the day.
"Please stay," he pulled at her, "I promise that you may have your own space."
She raised a brow, "Are you sure?" she pushed her chest up against him, "You promise?"
He gulped, kissing her lips, "Actually, I can't make any promises."
She chuckled.
"My brother is expecting me home. He will be worried."
"We'll give him a ring shall we? Tell him it'll be too unsafe to go anywhere."
She smirked at this plan.
"It's your fault for keeping me this long," but she put her arms around his neck, giving his lips a seductive lick. He smiled, leading her to the phone in the hallway, handing her the receiver.
She punched out her home number, her brother picking up after the first few rings.
"Yeah?"
"John, it's me," she spoke.
"Sandy? When are you getting back? Wait-. Don't tell me: you want to stay over there for the night?" She smiled but sighed. Her brother was too good at sussing things out.
"Yes John."
"And, if I may: is it too unsafe to get back?" he asked in a patronising tone. She rolled her eyes, but puckered her lips. Ronnie smiled, kissing them.
"John, please? You can invite Olivia over."
"She's seen enough of me. She wants to see you."
"And she will. Just not tonight. I called to make sure you trust me."
Her brother was silent on the other line and she knew he was debating with himself. And she also knew that if he were to command her come home, she would.
Eventually, she heard him sigh, "I trust you. Goodnight Sandy."
She smiled, nodding at Ronnie, "Goodnight Johnny. Thank you."
"And Sandy?" He sounded a tad wary and yet, disappointed.
"Yes, John?"
"Be careful."
She paused, dithering with an answer.
"I will, Johnny, you don't need to worry."
He made a sound, as if he couldn't quite believe her and cut the phone. She looked at the receiver once taking it away from her ear, frowning.
"Everything alright, Sandy?" Ronnie stood over her.
She nodded, even though she now felt guilty. He put his hands on her shoulders, "Good, now, lets get you to bed."

As he had promised, he let her have her space, having Sarah set her up in a guest room, one with rosy wallpaper, roses dancing up and down the walls. It appeared the room of a ballerina, but Sandy found it whimsical, wondering if Mary personally picked out the decor in all the rooms, which were very fashion forward and colour-coordinated. She chuckled at the thought of Ronnie even looking at such colour schemes.
He had, by this time, told her what he did for a living, which impressed her. He had an oil business, and he was proud of it, because he had built and started it himself, without assistance from his equally wealthy father, who he seemed to resent.
He spoke through gritted teeth at the mention of his father, his mother less so.
No matter the situation, it seemed to Sandy, children were always more emotionally leaning on their mother than father. Though Sandy could barely remember a good time she spent with her parents, she and her mother more or less got along rather well, even though the woman was harsh on Sandy.

Sandy put her bag on the bed, pulling out her nightdress. Before closing the door, Ronnie saw this and laughed, "You sneaky girl."
She turned to smile at him, "Leave! Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Sandy."
It appeared he wanted to say something more, but he just closed the door instead, leaving her to change clothes.
She did so, getting into the soft bed, after dimming the lamp. She stretched out, soothed in the clean linen. One that someone else had done. At home, she was the only one to do it. The woman's role.
It didn't bother her as much as it used to, but it fascinated her that there were women like herself who could actually sit with their feet up at any time with no care in the world at all. Only, they were richer than she was.
And she tossed, trying to writhe into a more comfortable position so she could let sleep engulf her. Yet, she couldn't and it took her a few minutes to get why.
She wanted Ronnie's arms around her. She wanted his breath on her neck, and that wonderfully delectable feeling that washed over her earlier. She wanted to be close to him and didn't care what it meant.

She pattered over to the door, opening it silently and closing it again. She just about remembered the way to his room, opening it to enter. She shut it quietly, and once he heard the click, he shot up, calling out, "Who's there?!"
"Shhh! It's me," Sandy hissed, chuckling. She went over to the bed and lifted the covers, slipping in beside him. She heard him chuckle, but he shifted towards her, putting his arm around her. She sighed, hand on his, "I had some trouble sleeping."
"Without me?" he asked, smirking in the darkness.
"Yes," she whispered.
She was restless, unable to sleep, trying to be as close to him as she possibly could. He chuckled, "What would your father say about his little girl cuddling up to a man like me?"
"He wouldn't say much," Sandy answered, "He's dead remember?"
"Oh yes, and your mother too."
Sandy said, "I doubt she'd care what I'd do either."
"Why do you say that?"
"They never seemed to understand me as much as I'd like." He dithered with a response, knowing this probably wasn't her favourite subject.
He kissed her cheek once, then buried his nose in her hair, breathing deeply. Her eyes still remained open, thinking, as she felt the bulge between his legs grow against her behind, "You can have me if you want to," she suspired, to which he chuckled.
"Have you?" he repeated, humoured, "God, I wish to, but you are nineteen, aren't you?"
"Twenty."
"Twenty," He dithered, "I think we should wait a while. I know you aren't ready."
"You barely know a thing about me," she averred.
"I know when a girl isn't ready for this type of thing."
She turned to face him, "I'm ready."
He kissed her nose, "When you turn 21."
She sighed, but smiled at him. He was so sweet to her. He was willing to wait. Not many men these days opted to do the same. She would be twenty-one in June.
"You are willing to wait until June, Ronnie?" she chuckled, and she pushed her chest up against him deliberately. He laughed at her, hand on her cheek.
"We'll see," he uttered. Her hand travelled below the covers, rubbing his bulge. He instantly grabbed her hand, pinning it down, "Stop that," he stared into her eyes, assertive, but couldn't be angry with her, because she had that cheeky, little smirk on her face, knowing she wasn't in the slightest bit sorry for her actions.
He kissed at her chest, cupping her breast. He felt that she wasn't wearing a bra of any sort, and he smiled up at her, "You came here to try and tempt me."
"Is it working?" she questioned, opting him to come back up and hold her closely to his chest.
"To an extent," he muttered, before yawning, "Get some sleep, angel."
She smiled at this. She wanted him to call her more names, but she soon heard his breaths steady. He had fallen asleep. She tried her best to follow suit, studying his face as best as she could in the dark light of the sky illuminating through the balcony doors, the gentle breeze parting the silk curtains, making them dance.

Awaking in the morning, Ronnie smiled at the sleeping girl in his arms, her hair tousled and shielding her face. He gently shifted it, kissing her soft lips. She smiled, pulling at him and their lips met once more.
"You can go and have a shower and I'll go and ask Margaret what's for breakfast."
"I can make my own breakfast," Sandy averred. He just laughed at this.
"As long as you're here, you don't have to lift a finger."
"So you are telling me you don't ever do anything for yourself?"
"Of course I do,"he answered, "When I'm not trying to impress anyone."
"You don't have to impress me," Sandy replied, smoothing his cheek, "It's I that needs to impress you."
"Why do you think that?"
"I need to prove that I'm good enough for you to be with instead of Mary."
"You proved that a long time ago."
"When?"
"When I first met you."
She chuckled, "Really?"
"From the moment I met you, I knew I wanted you in my life. And I didn't care how."
"You're the sweetest man I know, Ronnie," she told him, making him blush. He had never done that before with her and it made her smile wider.
He nodded and shifted the covers, "I'll go and see about that breakfast." He walked to the door, opening it and leaving.
She chuckled to herself. Men never seemed to respond well to such compliments.

She managed to find her way around the shower, dry herself and make her way back to the guest room, where she dressed. It was only a button-up yellow floral dress she had owned for two years, but when Ronnie saw her, he smiled, "You look beautiful."
She chuckled, "Thank you."
He lead her outside so they could eat together. She laughed at all his words, and he held her hand, smoothing the back of her hand with his thumb lovingly.

After, they went back inside, walking around the house, holding hands. They passed the front door when it rang. Sarah came running to get it, but Ronnie held up his hand, "Don't worry Sarah, I'll get it," he assured her, going to the door and twisting the door handle.

And Sandy got the shock of her life, for it was Mary.