Hey everyone: Thanks all for kind words during this story. I'm not one to answer every review every time, but I really do appreciate that you took the time to read my story and tell me what you thought. As I mentioned before, this story is based in fact, in that a pregnant girl Sandy's age would have likely been forced to give up her child. Maureen's experiences are based loosely on my own – not every adoptee finds a first family so welcoming and a second family so understanding. Both she and I are very lucky.
Epilogue
October 2000
"Maureen! Hey, Maureen!"
Maureen waved at Shayne and started slowly toward him, her progress slightly impeded by her seven-months-pregnant belly. Her husband held her elbow and guided her through the airport passengers.
Shayne met her halfway and hugged her. "Glory be, you are huge," he blurted.
"Thanks so much," Maureen said dryly. "Nice to see you, too."
"Sorry, sorry." Shayne reached by her to shake James's hand and take the carry-on bag from him, then put his arm around the pretty brunette standing next to him. "You guys, this is Annie. Annie, this is my sister and brother-in-law, Maureen and James."
My sister. As it turned out, Pony had been right. When the shock wore off, Shayne discovered he did like having a big sister. In the last four years, the small gestures had turned into a real relationship. While Liz e-mailed and called Maureen asking about make-up and boys, Shayne's notes were both more infrequent and more meaningful. Now, the two of them shared a mutual love and trust, despite the 12 years between them, and Shayne routinely told anyone who asked that he had two sisters, one older, one younger.
"Is the surprise party still a surprise?" Maureen asked.
"So far, so good," Shayne replied. "Dad's been after me to come home this weekend so we could do some sort of family thing. I kept putting him off and finally I called this morning and told him I had this huge chem test I forgot about. I bitched and moaned about how I was going to be studying all this weekend and he fussed at me about putting stuff off until the last minute."
At 20, Shayne had gone to Austin College to play football and study education and sports science, thinking if the football thing didn't work out, maybe he'd become a gym teacher. To his surprise, he found his education courses fascinating and he had spent many a college break discussing curriculum with Ponyboy. He'd also met Annie at freshman orientation, and though the two had been dating for more than a year, this was her first visit to Tulsa with him.
"Did Will make it home?" Maureen asked.
"Yeah, we came together. He drove up from A&M and we took his car from my dorm. We got to Uncle Darry's around midnight." Shayne laughed. "Everyone's here. Dad's going to die."
"So he really thinks you're stuck at school?" James asked.
"Oh, yeah, and he's all bothered," Shayne said. "He keeps complaining that turning 50 is a big deal, and no one paid attention when he turned 40. I was like, 'Dad, I was 10,' and he got all offended. I told him I'd take him out during Thanksgiving break and he actually whined because his birthday is on a Thursday, it was bad enough we had to celebrate the weekend before or after, and he was certainly not born in November." He grinned wickedly. "So, all in all, I'd say he thinks no one gives a damn, which is pretty much what we want."
"Perfect," Maureen said in delight. "We'll just let him think that until tonight."
Soda looped his tie around his neck and knotted it dejectedly. Corinne came into the bathroom behind him, smiling at him in the mirror. "You sure clean up nice," she said.
"I suppose."
"Stop pouting," she admonished, "or I'll stay home too. Is the idea of a romantic dinner with your wife really all that horrible?"
"No, no, 'course not." Soda swept her into his arms and kissed her deeply. "I just thought the kids would be more … I don't know … something. I haven't heard a word from Maureen, and she's never forgotten my birthday."
"Your birthday isn't for five more days," Corinne pointed out.
Soda ignored that. "And I think it was right rude of Lizzy to be all set to come along then blow us off for her friends."
"She's 16, Soda, what do you expect?" Corinne checked her watch. "Come on. The reservation is for seven, let's go."
The restaurant they were headed to was new and Italian, about 20 minutes away from the house. Soda, claiming it was his birthday celebration even if the rest of his family didn't care, made Corinne drive.
Once inside, the hostess led them to the back of the eatery. Corinne was leading the way, but as they came around a half-wall partition, she stepped to the side.
"Cory, what are you --"
"Surprise!"
He stood there with his mouth open. Flashbulbs went off. People were clapping and shouting "Happy birthday!" As the spots began to fade, his guests came into focus, and his head began to whirl.
Ponyboy, you sneak, you told me you were away this weekend. And Zan and the girls and Darry and Will – Will's home? There's Liz, the little liar, and Shayne – Shay! – and that girl, that must be his Annie. Maureen! And James! Oh, my God, look at her belly! And Benjy and Joan from the station and Rich and Patty from across the street and Two-Bit? Two-Bit's here – and Carol and the kids. Lord, is that Mrs. Mathews sitting there, with Mrs. Noland from the old neighborhood?
Corinne squeezed his hand. "You look like you're going to fall over," she said.
"I might," Soda managed weakly, hugging her. "Good Lord. I … good Lord."
"Take a picture, Daddy's speechless," Liz said, thrilled, throwing her arms around her father. "Oh, my God, we've been planning this forever, I can't believe no one blew it."
Soda hugged her back, then went around the room and hugged everyone else, even Two-Bit. "I can't believe you're here," he said to his old friend. "Thanks for coming. And for bringing your mom."
"Are you kiddin' me?" Two-Bit said, raising one eyebrow. "Mama loves you, we wouldn't be able to leave her home if we tried. Besides, she and Miz Noland wanted to catch up." He looked across the room at Maureen, who was chatting with Suzanne and Jill. "I'm pleased to meet your oldest."
"Yeah, I was too," Soda said.
Two-Bit poked him. "Y'all better start mingling and noticing these decorations. Lizzy and Melanie have been here for hours."
Along with streamers and balloons and hubcabs full of fall flowers, there were several collages set up along the perimeter of the room. They were full of pictures – pictures of Soda's whole life, including a few faded shots of him with his brothers and parents. A large card read "Happy birthday, Dad!" and held pictures of the children when they were little. Maureen had sent Corinne some snapshots as well, so her young face mingled in with pictures of Shayne and Liz. There were dozens of pictures, old friends and dear relatives, spaghetti and red wine and beer and lasagna and antipasto, birthday cake and ice cream and lots of laughter and embarrassing stories. It was a perfect party.
Maureen leaned against James. "Thanks for coming here with me," she said.
"Sure. I like your family. All your family."
It had been a long road. Maureen was determined to get to know her birth father and in the first several months, afraid Soda would disappear, had nearly thrown her adoptive family aside to do it. Shayne and Danny, Maureen's older brother, had had the hardest time understanding her burning need to learn all she could about her past. There were tense moments and sometimes, weeks would go by without any contact. But finally, when everyone realized the Curtises were not Maureen's family instead of the Tulls, but in addition to the Tulls, things settled into a more comfortable space. Maureen had spent a few holidays in Tulsa and, with her parents' blessing, Soda, Corinne, Liz and Shayne had gone to Maureen and James' wedding. At the reception, Soda and Maureen danced to "Julia."
"I only have one complaint," James said now.
"What's that?"
"Most guys only have to deal with one father-in-law," he answered wryly.
Maureen kissed him and rose awkwardly, weaving her way through the crowd to pull Pony aside. "Hey," she said quietly. "That essay you let me read? It's amazing."
"Thank you," Pony said. He'd run across his old English theme a few months before and mailed Maureen a copy, thinking it might give her some insight into her father's childhood.
"I can't believe you were only 14 when you wrote it," she said. "It's wonderful. It makes me feel like I knew Johnny and Dally, and it helped me understand you guys, too."
"Johnny was a good friend," Pony said simply. He looked across the room at his daughters. "Abby has his name, did anyone ever tell you that? Abigail Cade Curtis."
"James has a friend who's an editor," Maureen said. "Small press, but a good reputation. Can I pass it on to him?"
Ponyboy started to object, then, all at once, he thought of Johnny, of Sandy's pregnancy with Maureen, of Dallas dying under a street light. He thought of missed opportunities and said, "Sure you can."
"Awesome."
"I'm going to grab a piece of cake, want one?"
"No, I'm good."
Darry and Soda were standing by the cake, which, of course, was chocolate and probably not as sweet as the confections Soda made from scratch. Pony reached around them for a plate.
"Well, that's it," Darry said to Soda. "We have both hit the century mark."
"Man," Ponyboy said, "you guys are old."
"You're right behind us, little brother," Soda said.
Pony licked frosting off his finger. "You know, I think this might mean Darry is officially pushing 60. Senility is about to set in."
Darry snorted. "Me? There were days you couldn't make it home from school with your shoes on. And I can still kick your scrawny ass." He looked sideways at Soda. "Besides, I ain't the one who's about to be a granddaddy."
Soda looked across the room at Maureen, who was chatting with Suzanne, one hand resting comfortably across her swollen belly. "I'm glad to be a granddaddy," he said. "I'm damn lucky to have the chance." He took a bite of cake and said, "They picked out a name, did they tell you? Margaret Mary. Maggie. Margaret was her great-aunt."
"Is the Mary because of Mom?" Ponyboy asked.
"I think so, partly. Her grandmother is Mary, too, she said."
"She's a nice girl, Soda," Darry said.
"Yeah, she is, but I didn't do that," Soda said. "Her mama and daddy did a fine job." He took a deep breath and added abruptly, "Like you did, with us."
Darry reddened. "Wasn't no big thing," he said finally.
"Sure it was," Pony cut in. "You think I'd've gone to college from a boys' home?"
"You did that yourself."
"Not really," Pony said mildly. "I studied my ass off because you scared me to death."
"I did not," Darry blustered. "You did that, that scholarship, you --"
"Darry." Soda cut him off with one hand on his arm. "Hell's bells, shut up, we're just sayin' thank you, that's all."
Darry pulled away, his face softening, his eyes bright. "Ponyboy's right, your age is gettin' to you," he said roughly. "You're goin' soft, Sodapop Curtis."
Soda looked around at everyone he treasured, all in the same room, and smiled lovingly at his brothers. "Yes, sir," he said. "I expect I am."
The End
