Fran wanted nothing more than to just make all of this go away, but as she hadn't spoken to Maxwell in over three weeks, it became apparent to her that something had to give. But what, she hadn't figured out quite yet. She missed finding comfort in the arms of the man she'd waited the better part of her life for, but his words had been so harsh, it was even harder to forgive him than it was to love him at that moment.
"A baby? Surely you're joking. A baby is the last thing we need around here!" he'd practically shouted as he started to pace around the room.
"Yes, darling, but it's our baby. We have Niles…"
"Who keeps threatening to retire every other day it seems."
"And we have the kids,… Maggie would love to help out."
"What kind of father would I be, having a child raise a child," He spat out furiously.
"A good father," Fran smiled. "We'd be a real family."
"Are you saying we aren't now?"
"I'm just saying…don't ya wanna be there to hear your baby's heartbeat? Our baby's heartbeat?" Fran tried again.
"I don't want any bloody part of this. I'll be at the theater with CC if you need me."
00000
And that was what hurt Fran the most. Instead of being with her, checking on the well being of their child, Maxwell was with another woman, even if it was only CC. CC no longer threatened her, but then again, Max had made his choices and tonight it was painfully clear where his priorities lay. One thing was for sure…she was no longer his priority.
As she waited for Maxwell to arrive, Fran cried as if she had never cried before. No heartbeat was detected, the doctor had said. It was not a viable pregnancy. But that was a mistake. It was her pregnancy, and so she had to come to terms with the sudden change in her plans.
Fran did call out for Max at one point but he hadn't arrived and the doctors needed to perform an emergency D&C. So by the time he got there it was all over with. No more baby, no more worries, at least not for Max.
That was also the only time Fran let her husband hold her for quite some time. She sobbed into his arms, and he knew that he could not say a word to make her feel better. Her ma was waiting outside, but even Sylvia had the sense to know this was a moment Fran needed to have with Max. This was just the beginning of the end, the end of what, Fran didn't know. But he had been with CC instead of with her, and for that, she did not know if she could ever forgive him.