Chapter 25
January
XXX
"Did he say 'baby'?" Soda looked at me. My expression, I'm sure, matched everyone else's. Flashbacks of Ashley vomiting in my bathroom when she was here in October, looking pale as a ghost... I was so sure it was just her being upset at Pony being lost in the crash. Then, I remembered seeing them in bed together... just sleeping ...and it looked like they were both dressed, but still! What happened before we came home that morning? What's happened since? I hadn't really thought about this until now, but why didn't she come down with him for Christmas? If she were pregnant, how far along is she? What about their wedding? His college? His career? And her.... what about her future?
How could he drop this bomb on us and leave without an explanation! I almost wanted to chase after the train and yank him off it. As it was, I was going to have to wait until -earliest- seven in the morning when his train is scheduled to arrive back in Helena, then another hour for him to get home. And that's only if he went straight home. If Ashley's.....I cant even think it now..... but if she is, he'd certainly go to her parents house first to see her...unless she was thrown out and was living at Pony's house instead....
"Darry....hey, Earth to Darry!" Soda was snapping his fingers at me. I wanted to slug him. Never do that to me. "Did he say 'baby'?"
"Yeah, Soda.... I think he did. Didn't he say he finished getting furniture for his house?" I asked. I looked down the track one last time, knowing the train was long gone by now. We turned and headed for the cars, Steve and Two-Bit still struck dumb.
"He said he got the bedroom furniture and a couch. Why?"
"Wondering, that's all." I didn't want to have put the two words that swirled in my thoughts into actual words. Nursery Furniture. I just knew I wasn't going to sleep tonight and the hour span between seven and eight in the morning would worry me into a damned ulcer.
"Darry, you really think they.....? Come on... Darry! As adamant as Ponyboy has been about keeping his hands off her, do you really think...?"
"He's a Curtis, ain't he?" I said looking down as we got to the cars. "He's got hormones just like the rest of us."
"Yeah, but this is Ponyboy Curtis, Darry. The one and only. He's screwing with us. I'll put a dollar on it. Who's game?" Steve said, pulling a buck out of his wallet.
"I'm in on that action. I say no. That kids still as innocent as he ever was." Two-Bit pulled a dollar out of his pocket to hand to Steve.
"Put that away. No one's betting on Pony's virginity or Ashley's... situation. If she even is, that is. Or isn't. Ah shit. Don't you two have somewhere you need to be?" I was as flustered as ever, and I hated being like this. It was rare for it to happen. The guys were laughing on the inside and Two-Bit was about to piss himself trying to hide it.
"Hell no, Darry. It's Christmas day, or what's left of it. But we'll leave you alone. You and Soda have a lot to talk about. Right, Uncle Soda?"
Two Bit was wise to duck and run when he did. I had already leaned back to deliver another jaw breaking punch when he and Steve scampered over to his fancy Firebird.
"Bye guys!" They called out the windows as they passed us. I got in Soda's car and waited as Soda got going.
"He's still a virgin, Darry. Stop worrying." Soda's voice was much stronger, more assured than ever. He still had that award winning grin on his face, and his eyes were laughing, but he was serious just the same. I could only hope he was right.
XXX
"Final Stop: Helena, Montana."
I gathered my bags and waited for the train to stop moving. I had ridden the train enough to remember the lurch it makes when the final brakes are applied and then the engine is shut down. Not all my fellow riders did, and I grinned while shaking my head as more than a few of the impatient souls stumbled at the door as they fought to keep their balance when it happened. The doors eventually slid open, and we were all allowed out in to the cold morning air.
I wound my way through the station and back out into the cold air, enjoying every bit of it. A car honked and pulled up next to me, the window rolling down as I looked through the glass. "Hey, handsome, want a lift home?" Ashley was grinning ear to ear.
"Don't mind if I do! Morning and belated Merry Christmas, Dr. Benning." I said, looking at her father as he sat grinning behind the wheel.
I put my bags in the trunk and climbed in the back seat. "Thanks again for coming to get me, sir. I know you had to get up early for it."
"Not a problem, Ponyboy. Always glad to help. How's your family?"
"They're fine, sir. Thanks for asking."
The casual banter between the three of us was nothing remarkable, filler talk, mostly. I unloaded my bags from his car into mine once we got to their house.
"Coming inside, Ponyboy?" he asked once I had my car loaded.
"No sir, I really want to get on home and take a shower and get some rest first. I still smell like the train and, well, you understand."
He nodded and went inside, leaving Ashley with me in his driveway. Once he was behind his door, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. "I missed you," I said softly. "Here, a little late, but still just as good. Merry Christmas." I handed her the small jewelry box, which she opened with delight. A pair of pearls looked up at her, and she smiled as she fingered them. "I thought they would look good with your wedding dress."
"They'll go perfectly with the beading. Thank you. I love them." Her face glowed with happiness. Then again, it could just be the cold.
"You better get inside. I need to get on home and call my brothers. I'm sure by now they're ready to kill me," I said laughing.
She looked confused. "Why?"
"Well, let me tell ya..." By the time I was done, she was laughing too.
"So they think I'm pregnant?"
"I have no idea what they're thinking, but whatever it is, I know they'll want to wring my neck when they hear the truth." I looked at her, eyes shining and cheeks pink. I brushed the hair from her face and just stood there. I could feel the heat rising in me and knew that was my cue to leave. I gave her a respectable kiss as I knew her father was probably watching from some window, and got in my car to go home. "Call you later, Ash. Love you." I said as I backed out of the driveway.
XXX
"Morning Darry," Ponyboy said to me when he finally called. I was on pins and needles as the hour passed minute by minute. "Get any sleep?" He asked. I could hear the laughter in his voice. I was ready to strangle him.
"Alright, Ponyboy. What the hell do you mean by saying you're having a baby. How far along is she?"
"According to the doctor, she's at least three and a half months along, give or take a few weeks. She ain't due to foal until late August though, so there's still plenty of time."
"Wait a minute. Not due until when? Foal? What the hell are you talking about Ponyboy?"
"Hera, my mare. She and Zeus got the sha-bangies on and now Hera is pregnant. Zeus is gonna be a daddy. Just goes to show I can't leave those two alone for a second. Why, what did you think I meant?"
I could hear him laughing at me all the way from Montana. I. Was. Gonna. Kill. Him.
"You are a real piece of work, Ponyboy." I said dryly as I rubbed my head. I was gonna need some aspirin when I was done on the phone. "I take it your ride north was uneventful?"
"Same wonderfully boring trip it always is. Got about a foot of snow here and it's colder than ever. I have to get the horses fresh hay and check on their water trough."
"Well, good to know you're okay. A moron, perhaps, but an okay moron. Talk to you soon. Bye."
I put the phone back on the table and got the aspirin, then went back over to my spot on the makeshift bedding.
"So, is he okay?" Shelly asked me, her hands rubbing on my bare chest as I lay back down with her in front of the fireplace wrapped in all the blankets I could find in the house, the reflection of the fire warping in the nearly empty pair of wine glasses sitting on the floor a foot away.
"Yeah. His horse is pregnant, not his fiancée." I pulled her closer to me, feeling her soft skin in my hands.
She lay back, letting my hands explore her again. I wasn't worried anyone would come in. My door was locked – the first time I had locked it in recent memory. Last night, I had reason to lock it. A good reason.
"His horse?" She laughed a little. "Well that should make you feel better." She said. I wasn't thinking of him anymore. My mind had already moved on to other things.
XXX
January 3
Dear Darry,
The spring term started yesterday, although you could hardly call it spring with all the snow on the ground. I can finally see the light at the end of the scholastic tunnel. Not too much longer and I'll finally have a real diploma to hang on the wall in my study. I must admit, I'm a little bummed that you decided to put off college, but I understand too. No point in going if your heart isn't in it. When you're ready... and one day I'm sure you will be, Soda and I will be your biggest cheerleaders. But I ain't wearing the skirt!
I'm working on a new book, seeing as how Hot Tulsa Nights is doing relatively well. It isn't a best seller by any means, but the sales of it have been encouraging. My editor is looking forward to all the punctuation corrections she'll be making! Of course, there's the illustration work to do too. I don't know how I find time to do it all, it just somehow gets done.
Other than than, nothing new going on.
Take care,
Ponyboy
XXX
Jan 14
Hey kid,
Steve and I are gonna have a batc...baci...ah hell, a party for Soda on the 31st. You gonna be able to make it? Lemme know. Say hey to Ashley for us.
Two-Bit
XXX
20 January
Ponyboy, I know the guys are up to something, don't you feel you have to join in. I know you have class and everything, and I'm sure these trips are starting to cost you a small fortune. Of course I want you here, but it's just a simple ceremony. I, well I asked Darry to be my best man... not that I don't want you to be up there with me too. I got a suit to wear for it, Patty went with me to some formal wear store for men and talked to some guy working there, next thing I know I'm trying on all kinds of pants and jackets... getting pulled and tugged on just like when we were little kids and mom had us try on clothes for school. Finally Patty seemed happy and I paid for it. Guess a new dining room table can wait after all.
Well, I best be going. Working a few extra hours overtime tonight.
Soda.
XXX
January 22
Hey Darry, thanks for the call. Of course I'm gonna be there... that was a stupid question. The only problem is.... I have to fly down. I swear, there wont be enough sedatives in the pharmacy to keep me happy. Ashley is coming too. We'll be arriving hopefully at the airport this time... not in Osage, at six in the evening. I have my suit with me, thanks for sending me the information on which one to get. I'm sure he will be surprised.
See you soon.
Ponyboy
XXX
"Ready to go?"
I looked at her, sweat rising on my forehead and streaming down my backside. Why that doorway was so hard to cross into was beyond me. It was only a plane. Just because one hundred percent of all my previous flights had ended in a fiery crash was no reason to think this one would be the same. Ohhh, that thought didn't help.
"Come on, Ponyboy. Hold onto me and close your eyes."
I took her hand and walked with her down the ramp toward the plane. Taking our seats... mine being an isle seat this time, I gripped the arm rests and closed my eyes. I didn't want to open them until the plane was in Tulsa. Ashley pried my fingers off the chair and held my hand. Not even her touch made me relax this time.
"It's gonna be okay." She said softly in my ear.
"Yeah, sure. Wake me when it's over," was my only reply.
Moments later, I felt the lurch of the plane as it moved from the terminal. Terminal.... that word has so many meanings! My stomach turned and my eyes flew open. Suddenly tearing through the seat back, I pulled out a bag Michelle had shown me a long time ago. The barf bag. I made it live up to it's name. The flight was to last about two hours. I wondered, numbly, if I would make it that long.
XXX
Calla Lilly Rose