New Beginning

by Erinskie

Since the death of her parents, Scout Marie Curtis has stumbled along through life dealing with more drama than any child should. Recent choices in life have brought about changes that she could not have imagined a year ago, and perhaps a new beginning in life is in store for her and her brothers. Story 7 of 7.

14. Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

I opened my eyes to find the sunlight through the closet door had been replaced with the faint glow from the lamp on the table beside my bed. Beneath my cheek, I could feel Owen's warm chest as it raised and lowered with his soft breaths. My eyes adjusted to the low light. I raised my body to look at the boy. It was the first time I had ever seen him asleep. After the last twenty hours it was pleasant to see him so peaceful. I began to lean in to kiss his rested lips when I was startled by the sound of my own name.

"Scout?" Ponyboy said quietly. "You okay?"

I turned around to find Ponyboy sitting just outside of the closet door with a book in his hand. I crawled out of the closet to be by my brother's side. "I'm better. How long have I been asleep?"

"About three hours."

I leaned into my brother and wrapped my arms around his body.

"What's this for?"

"For being here for me. For talking some sense into me, and reminding me that none of this is my fault."

"Just returning the favor."

I frowned and asked, "Did Darry get mad about my tantrum?"

"No, he's real worried about you."

"What's he been saying?"

"When Owen shut the door to be alone with you, Mrs. Ottavi asked him if he thought that was a good idea for you to be alone in your bedroom with a boy. He kinda laughed at her and told her that Owen was more than just some boy, he is family. If being in there with you would make you better that's all that mattered to him. I hope you don't mind, but he also told her about what happened last night at Owen's house. She was pretty shocked to hear all that."

"Nah, people are bound to find out now." I told him.

"When things got quiet up here Darry told me to come up and supervise you two, but you were already asleep when I got here, so I found a book and I've just been supervising." Pony pointed to my bed where Casey was asleep. "I'm surprised loud mouth didn't wake you two up. She came in here a handful of times asking if she could see if you were awake. Then she finally decided to wait for you, but she fell asleep a little while ago."

"Is she alright?"

Ponyboy shook his head no. "Not really. I think she's having a hard time with everything, and she is really missing her mom right now."

"That makes two of us." I sighed.

"For what it's worth, Mrs. Ottavi wants to be there for you like mom would have been. Her heart is in the right place."

"I know. It just … I'm not used to people doting over me." I stood up and walked over to my bed where Casey was still asleep. As soon as I sat down the girl's eyes popped open. Without a word, she sat up and pulled me into her arms. She squeezed me tight. I spoke first. "You okay?"

Casey didn't let go of me to respond. "Honestly? No. I thought I was, but then it hit me all of a sudden. What my dad did to us. How I have been messing up my life by not going to school, not having a great job and chasing any boy I see. But most of all, how much I miss my mom. Scout, I don't want you to be mad at me, but I think I'm going back to New Mexico to be with her."

I pushed my friend back so I could look at her. "Casey, I would never be mad at you for that!"

"I know, but I've been here helping out for so long that I kind of felt like leaving would be hard on you." Casey tucked loose strands of her black hair behind her ear.

"It will be hard on me, and you! I love you. You're one of my best friends, but you have a family that needs you too. You should go and see your mom."

"Mrs. Ottavi let me call my mom this afternoon, long distance, and they paid for it and everything. She says she's doing so much better. She has a job now as a receptionist at a beauty parlor in town. She got an apartment with two bedrooms." Casey paused a moment then her voice cracked she began to tear up. "She told me how much she misses me every day and she begged me to come home to be with her. She said how sorry she was that she fell apart and forgot about me."

I grabbed Casey's hands in mine. "Your mom needs you. You should go!"

"I know, but what about all of you? I feel bad for leaving at a time like this. Aint you ever wanted to be in two places at the same time?"

"Of course I have, but we can write to each other and call once in a while. It's not forever. We'll see each other again."

Casey grabbed me and squeezed harder as she cried. I thought about how this may have been the first time she was able to cry about her father's temper pulling her and her mother apart.

"Everything okay in here?" Mrs. Ottavi asked as she walked into the room to check on all of us. The woman walked over to the bed and rested her hand on Casey's shoulder to comfort her. "Scout, how are you feeling?"

I let go of my friend. "I'm better, and I apologize for screaming and making such a scene in your home."

"Apology accepted, but not needed. You are family and we will take care of you." Mrs. Ottavi looked to the floor where Owen was sitting against the wall next to Ponyboy. "Owen, Darry told me what happened at your home last night. I am sorry to hear about the trouble with your mother. You father called here a little bit ago. Perhaps you should go call him back."

Owen apprehensively answered, "Yes ma'am." Then he and Ponyboy left the room together.

Mrs. Ottavi turned back to me. "Scout, we have been talking downstairs and we think it's best if Casey stay here with us for the night. Do you think that would be helpful?"

"I think that would be good for both of us." I agreed.

Casey wiped her eyes. "I told her I'm going back to New Mexico."

"How do you feel about that?" Mrs. Ottavi asked me.

"It's her mom. She has to go. I'd crawl to New Mexico on my hands and knees if I could see my mom again."

Dorothy frowned and held back feelings of sorrow. "Casey, Art called the bus station for you. The next Greyhound going that way leaves on Thursday. He will buy you a ticket, and we also plan to give you a little money for meals along the way. Okay?"

"Sure! That's more than okay. Thank you so much!" Casey said and hugged the woman.

"I've got dinner in the oven." Dorothy told us. "Why don't we go downstairs and get ready?"

"Who is all down there?" I asked apprehensively.

"Your family, Steve and Two-Bit and our daughter, Eleanor came by to make sure everything is okay." Dorothy told me. "The officers watching the house made your other well-wishers head home so they could keep a better eye on the house. I hope you don't mind."

"I don't mind." I said softly. "I really don't want to see anyone."

"Well, we have a hungry group, so come along now." Mrs. Ottavi instructed me. I was nervous about leaving, so Casey pulled me off the bed and held my hand to keep me from staying in my room. As we headed down the stairs, we heard the front door bell ring. I froze on the stairs as Mrs. Ottavi carelessly put her hand on the door knob and opened the door without checking to see who was there. I pulled backwards from Casey. My hand slipped out of hers and I fell backways onto the step. My eyes widened as the door opened and Mr. Jasper and Detective Berg walked into the house.

The detective saw me and called out my name, "Miss Curtis!" The man walked up the stairs and sat by my side. He put his arm around me and asked with his New York accent. "I heard about everything this morning. How are you doing?" I shrugged my shoulders as the man continued, "That boy got what he deserved, and they rounded up those Northside boys who'll be locked up for a while. That's good news, right?"

"Yes sir." I said quietly, but I didn't truly agree. I still worried about retribution from the Northside Gang members for causing trouble for their boys.

Detective Berg stood up and asked, "Now, where's that football player boyfriend of yours?" He looked down into the foyer and noticed Owen standing in silence next to his father. Detective Berg walked down the stairs and shook his thumb towards the dining room. "Why don't we go in here and have a chat?"

Owen and his father followed the man as he walked into the dining room. I jumped up and crept down the steps. I stood outside the dining room doorway to listen to the conversation. From the living room, Darry motioned for me to come away from my eavesdrop spot. I waved off my brother's suggestion and stayed right where I was.

The Jasper's and the detective sat down at the dining room table. I heard Detective Berg. "I spoke with your father about your version of what happened to your brother, Oliver."

"It's the truth." Owen grumbled.

"It's part of the truth." Mr. Jasper somberly told his son.

Owen looked at his father with agitation. "I witness the whole thing!"

"You were ten years old!" Johnathan snapped back. "You don't know all of what happened that morning!"

My eyes widened as the two men began to bicker with each other. Across the foyer, a hush fell over the people in the living room.

Owen grew more frustrated with his father. "I know it's her fault, and you are always sticking up for her!"

"It's not all her fault!" Johnathon snapped loudly then calmed himself and confessed his guilty conscious. "I sent you boys outside to ride your bikes. I knew she had been drinking, and I was the one who told her to get out of my house. I pushed her into the garage. I threw the keys at her, and told her to leave. Hell, I even opened the garage door. I may not have been behind the wheel of the car, but I killed my son too, and every day of my life; I wake up, and I look at you, and I know there should be two of you! It is my fault too. You can't go on just blaming her.

Owen sat in silence as the tears streamed down his cheeks.

Detective Berg asked. "Owen, are you alright? This is a lot to think about right now."

Owen tightly crossed his arms across his chest to hide the tension that was building up inside of him. He nodded his head yes in hopes that the detective would state his business then leave.

Detective Berg explained. "I came here with your father because a decision has to be made about your mother. Last night, instead of taking her to jail, the officers checked her into the insane ward at the hospital to help her calm down and sober up. We are keeping her there until we determine what happens next, and that's where you come in. The department has consulted with the District Attorney and he would like to offer your mother a deal to avoid any criminal charges for what she did to you last night."

"What about what she did to Scout? Or Olivia?" Owen added through his tears.

The sound of Owen's sorrows brought tears to my eyes.

The detective responded calmly, "Yes, she can be charged with a misdemeanor for assault against Miss Curtis, but the charge she is facing for what she did to you is assault with a weapon. That's a felony, and I am sure if I am forced to investigate further I'll figure out that this isn't the first time this has happened, and that could send your mother to jail for years."

Owen squirmed a little in his seat as he thought about his mother having to be incarcerated.

Detective Berg explained, "We want to offer your mother the chance to rehabilitate herself at the Safe Haven Treatment Facility in Oklahoma City. It is a three-month, residency program to stop drinking, and come to terms with the death of your brother. Because you are the victim, the D.A. is leaving the decision up to you. Felony criminal charge with an investigation and jail time, or the treatment center?"

Mr. Jasper leaned over and pleaded with his son. "Owen, this is our chance to force her to get the help she needs. Please choose the treatment center for your mother. She has been shouldering the blame for years, and she needs help. I need your help!"

Owen bounced his knee nervously as he thought about his options. He looked across the table at the detective and his voice cracked as he asked softly. "What happens if I say no?"

"Then the District Attorney will most likely charge her with aggravated assault with a weapon which would result in jail time."

Owen put his elbow on the table and dropped his head into his hand. "What … what if I choose the treatment center, but she fails?"

"The plea deal will state that if she fails, she goes to jail. If she graduates from treatment, she is placed on probation and if she violates her probation by failing, she goes to jail."

"If she goes to jail, she'll sober up, and probably learn her lesson." Owen said curtly.

"But she doesn't get the help I know she needs." Johnathan noted. "Please son, consider this option for her!"

Owen stood up from his chair. He took a few pacing steps them walked out of the dining room. "Scout!" He yelled my name then immediately caught me eavesdropping at the edge of the doorway.

My eyes grew wide from the shock of being caught.

Owen stepped in from of me. He wiped his eyes and asked, "Have you been standing here the whole time?"

I paused a moment, then answered honestly with a nod.

Owen seemed relieved that he didn't have to repeat everything that had been said in the dining room. He grabbed ahold of me and asked with a break in his voice. "What should I do? I think I want her to have to have both!"

I looked at my love and asked, "Think of what would be best for Oliva."

The mention of his little sister's name broke the boy. He rested his forehead on the top of my head and cried additional tears as he thought about the little girl. Regardless of her mother's actions towards her, Olivia adored her mother. Owen knew that the little girl needed her mother to be healthy and well. His sister needed the chance to feel loved by their mother. Owen sniffled back his emotions. The young man grabbed my hand and pulled me around the corner into the dining room. He looked down at Detective Berg. "I'll agree to treatment as long as the penalty is jail if she fails."

Johnathan breathed an audible sigh of relief.

"Okay, I'll let the D.A. know. I imagine they'll transport her to Oklahoma City sometime in the next few days. I'll find out and be in touch so you can visit her before she leaves." Detective Berg stood up from the table. "I should mention, she will have the opportunity to refuse the offer and choose to go to jail."

"She won't refuse." Johnathan confidently informed us.

Detective Berg walked over to me. He gently squeezed my shoulder with his hand. "You take care. Okay?"

"I will. Thank you." I said.

The detective yelled that he 'would be in touch' as he walked out of the home.

Mr. Jasper wrung his hands together for a moment then looked over at his son. "Owen. I can't thank you enough for helping your mom."

Owen looked at his father when he told him. "I didn't do it for you, or her. I did if for Olivia. She deserves a mother who will treat her with respect."

"I completely agree with you." Johnathon told his son.

The words infuriated Owen. He snapped at his father. "You can show yourself out!" Owen grabbed my hand and squeezed it hard as he pulled me out of the dining room. When he entered the foyer, he looked across at the collection of people in the living room whom he was not ready to be with. He turned and pulled me up the stairs and back into my room where he slammed the door.

Neither of us were able to speak a word to each other before there was a knock at the door. I walked over and opened the door half way to see who it was. Mr. Jasper looked down at me with misery in his eyes.

"Scout, before I see myself out I need to tell you that I am truly sorry for how my wife treated you. Please know that she didn't mean it. She was upset and she has a hard time dealing with her emotions when she has been drinking."

I felt a wave of disbelief rush over me. Owen was 'spot on' in knowing that his father would stick up for his wife no matter the situation. I searched my mind for the appropriate way to react.

"Scout!" Darry called from the top of the stairs where he was supervising the situation. "Is everything okay?"

"Sure, Darry."

Johnathan looked between the two of us. "Is there anything I can do for you to fix things? Anything you may need?"

Darry crossed his arms across his chest. "Owen's friend Pete has his car. I'll make sure Owen is home by ten. Should he go to his house or his grandfather's house?"

"Our home will be fine." The man answered my brother then turned back towards me. "I'm not a fool. I know how hurt Owen is about what happened to his brother, but it was an accident, albeit avoidable, but still a very devastating accident. I don't think Owen will ever see it that way, but maybe you could help him try?"

"Yes sir." I agreed with the man to avoid conflict.

"Thank you," Johnathan said with relief. "And, I am so very relieved to know that you were unharmed today. I know my son and I are at odds right now, but I love him dearly, and I know how much he loves you. We all do. Please know that we would have been devastated if something tragic had happened to you. Also, know that I spoke with the coroner and let them know not to send that boy to any of our mortuaries. I don't want you to ever have to be associated with him again."

"Thank you, Mr. Jasper. I appreciate that." I replied.

Darry lightened up on the father when he overheard the news. "Thank you, Mr. Jasper. That is very thoughtful of you. Let me walk you out to your car."

"Thank you, Darrel." Johnathon replied.

Before he followed the man down the steps, my brother looked at me. "I want you two downstairs, soon."

"Yes, Sir." I shut the door quietly and turned around to find Owen sitting on the edge of my bed with his head hung in dismay. I walked over to the boy and sat down beside him. I grabbed his hand and rested my head on his shoulder to give him comfort.

"I remember them arguing that morning. Maybe deep down I had always felt that my father was a little to blame. I guess I just ignored that fact since he had never lashed out at me like my mother has."

"What do you think she will say about treatment?"

"I can't imagine she'll be too thrilled about being sent away. She probably can't remember anything that happened last night anyway." Owen paused a moment in thought. "I have my doubts, but hopefully, for Olivia's sake, it will work."

"And for your sake."

"I don't know that my relationship with my mother will ever be repaired."

"No, but maybe it can be better."

Owen let out a little snort. "At this point, that's about all it can be."

"I think you did the right thing."

"If this works, she's going to expect me to move on too, but I'm not sure I will be able to."

"All in all, it's what's best for your father and Olivia. She'll get better, and in a year, when you leave for college you won't have to worry about what is going on at home like you have to now."

Owen turned to look at me. "I told you, I'm not going to college. I am staying here to look after you."

"You don't have to. I can hold my own."

Owen half smiled. "I know you can. I just don't want you to have to do that anymore."

"Your friends are right; you're always doing something for someone else rather than yourself."

Owen sighed and thought for a moment. "My dad and I haven't talked about the toys in Ollie's room. It sure felt good to pick them up. I think it has been hard on me to have to see his room stay the same for all these years. Especially when I'm reminded every day that life used to be as simple as Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs." Owen paused then told me. "When I get home tonight, I'm cleaning the rest of it up. That's what I'm going to do for me."

"Scout!" I heard Darry's booming voice call from the foyer. "Dinner! Let's go!"