Second Chances

Chapter 3: The Getaway

Fran's was in the kitchen cooking dinner when the phone began to ring. She reached for it, putting the phone to her ear, "Hello?"

"Hello stranger," Maxwell responded.

"Max, you shouldn't be calling me on the landline," she hissed. "What if David had answered?"

"Is he home?"

"No," she admitted. "But he could've been."

"Then I would've hung up," he told her. "Besides, you called me at home last week."

"I called your business line," Fran reminded him.

"Still, one of the children could've answered. Or Niles or C.C."

She sighed, "Was there a point to this phone call, or were you just calling to piss me off?"

"No, there was a point to this call," Max chuckled. "More than one, actually. Firstly, I hadn't heard from you in over a week. I was worried."

"I was taking some time to think about everything. Like we talked about," she explained.

"And?"

"And I'm still confused," Fran told him. "This is a big life decision that can't be made in a week."

"I know, I'm just eager to finally be with you," he said. "Assuming that you want to be with me once you're done with your...thinking."

She sighed, before changing the subject, "So, what was the other point of this call?"

"Well, I've also been thinking," he began. "I want to take you on a trip. Somewhere we can actually be together in public without worrying about someone we know seeing us. Do you think we can pull it off without anyone finding out?"

The thought of being all alone with Maxwell somewhere where nobody knew who they were intrigued Fran. They could be a couple for a few days and see if they worked in a real relationship. "Do you have somewhere in mind?" she asked.

"One of the backers for my latest play was telling me about this bed and breakfast he and his wife go to a couple of hours out of the city," he explained. "Very secluded and very romantic. What do you say?"

"David's going to be at a conference in Florida next week," Fran informed him. "Do you think you can take a couple of days off work?"

"For you, of course," Maxwell replied.

She smiled, "Well then I think I can squeeze you in."

"Good," he remarked. "I'll make the arrangements tomorrow and call you with the details."

"Okay," she answered. "This is going to be fun."

"Where are you going?" Grace asked as she watched her father finish packing his overnight bag.

"I told you, I have to go meet a writer about a play that I'm interested in optioning," Maxwell explained. He hated lying to his children, but he couldn't very well tell his youngest daughter he was taking her former nanny to a bed and breakfast for a couple of days.

"Is Miss Babcock going with you?"

"No, she's staying here to hold down the fort while I'm gone," he told her, zipping up his bag. "I'll be back on Friday afternoon. If you need anything, I'll have my cellphone with me."

"Do you really need four whole days to check out this guy's play?" Gracie asked in confusion. "That seems like a lot."

"Well I want to be thorough," Max said. "I'm going to be spending a lot of money on this play, I want to make sure it's good."

She shrugged, "Fair enough."

He gave the teenager a kiss on the cheek, "Behave while I'm gone. No wild parties."

"Niles will be here, do you really think he's gonna let me have a party?" she chuckled.

"Niles can be bought," he remarked with a sigh.

Grace gave him an intrigued look, "Really?"

"Don't get any ideas," Max stated, picking up his bag. "I have to go, I want to beat traffic. I'll see you on Friday." As he left, he ran into Brighton in the hallway. "I'm off Brighton, keep an eye on your sister," he told his son.

"See ya," he waved, watching him leave.

Grace approached her brother and commented, "Something's up with Dad. Since when does he go on four day long business trips without CC?"

"I don't know," Brighton remarked. "Why do you care?"

"Because he's our father and he's acting weird," she rolled her eyes. "Don't you want to know why?"

"Maybe he's got a girlfriend he doesn't want us to know about?" he suggested. "He could be taking her on a trip?"

She grimaced, "Oh my God, you think?" He shrugged. "But Dad's never really dated anyone before. The only woman he's had feelings for since Mom was Fran and we both know how that turned out."

"Yeah he totally screwed it up," he nodded.

"We were this close to having Fran as a stepmother," Grace shook her head sadly. "This is weird. I never thought Dad would actually date anyone else after Fran."

Brighton thought for a moment, before suggesting, "Hey, you don't think..."

"What?"

"Do you think Dad and Fran are...you know?"

"What are you talking about? Fran's married," Grace told him. "He missed his chance with her. There's no way they still have something going on."

"Yeah you're right, Fran would never cheat on David," he agreed. "Would she?"

She thought to herself for a moment, before announcing, "We need to get to the bottom of this. I think we need to do some snooping."

Maxwell checked his watch, shaking his head as he realised Fran was late. That woman could never be on time for anything. He sat listening to the radio for a few more minutes, until he finally saw Fran emerge from the townhouse with an overnight bag over one shoulder, wheeling a large suitcase.

He immediately got out of the car, instinctively going to help her with her bags. As soon as she saw him approaching her, she hissed, "What are you doing? Get back in the car!"

"I was going to help you with your bags," he explained in confusion. "You've packed enough for a month."

"Are you really surprised?" Fran remarked. "Now get in the car, before someone sees us together."

"You get in the car, I've got this," Max insisted, taking the suitcase from her.

"Thank you," she relented, also handing over the overnight bag. She watched for a moment as he made his way to the trunk of the car. She should've known he wouldn't let her put her own suitcase in the car. Maxwell Sheffield was always a gentleman, it was one of the many things she loved about him.

"Aren't you going to get in?" he asked, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"I..." she started, suddenly realising she had been standing on the sidewalk staring at him like an idiot.

He reached over and opened the passenger door with a grin, "M'lady?"

"Why thank you, kind Sir," she responded with a grin of her own, as she got into the car. As soon as he sat down in the driver's seat, Fran leaned over to give him a quick kiss. "Hi."

"Hi," he replied, surprised that she had kissed him in public. "You're not worried about somebody seeing us kissing?"

She shrugged, "The windows are tinted."

"Alright," he chuckled, waiting for her to put her seat belt on. Once she was buckled in, he pulled away from the curb and they were finally on their way to their romantic getaway.

"So what did you tell Niles and the kids?" Fran asked.

"I told them I was going to check out a new play I want to option."

"For four days?"

He took his eyes of the road for a moment to glance at her worriedly, "That's not believable?"

"It's a bit of a stretch, honey," she replied.

"Gracie did seem a little skeptical about that when I left," Maxwell recalled. "I hope she's not getting suspicious."

"Even if she is, there's no way she'll guess who you're really going to be with for the next couple of days," Fran responded. "They have no idea that we're even in contact again, let alone that we've been sleeping together. You haven't said anything to them, have you?"

"No, I typically don't tell my children when I'm sleeping with someone," he commented dryly.

"That's not what I meant," she remarked, rolling her eyes. "Have you told them we've been in contact?"

"I haven't mentioned you to them at all," Max assured her. "Should I have?"

She hesitated, before answering, "Not just yet. We'll tell them when there's something to tell."

He repeated curiously, "When there's something to tell? Does that mean you're done with your thinking?"

"No, I'm still thinking," Fran smirked.

"So you'll still be thinking during this trip?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "But that doesn't mean I can't do other things too..."

"Like what?" Max asked suggestively.

When they pulled up to a red light, Fran turned to him and remarked, "That's for me to know and you to find out." She then kissed him deeply, giving him a little preview of what to expect over the next few days.

Their kiss was soon interrupted by the car behind them beeping their horn, to let them know that the light had turned green. "Stop distracting me," he scolded her playfully, diverting his attention back to the road as he continued driving.

"But I'm such a good distraction," she pouted, reaching over to place a hand on his upper thigh.

He jumped when her hand began to travel between his legs, giving her an incredulous look, "Fran! Are you trying to get us both killed?"

"Fine, I'll keep my hands to myself for the rest of the drive," she promised, placing both her hands back in her lap.

"You don't have to keep them completely to yourself," Maxwell started, reaching over to take one of her hands in his.

She smiled at his gesture, "Good."

"You know, I'm really happy we're doing this," he told her sincerely. "We need this time away."

"We really do," she agreed with a content sigh.

"This is so nice," Fran commented, sitting down on the bed. When Max told her he was taking her to a bed and breakfast, she expected something more quaint. But this was fancy. She really shouldn't have expected anything less from her former boss. They had stayed in a number of beautiful hotels and resorts when she had accompanied him and children on vacation over the years.

He looked up from where he was rummaging through his bag on the other side of the room and smiled at the sight of her sitting at the end of the bed, looking at him expectantly. He immediately abandoned what he was doing and made his way over to her. When he was in her reach, she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him down to sit beside her, kissing him passionately.

Maxwell let himself enjoy the kiss for a moment, before breaking it off and resting his forehead against hers. "For someone who's apparently still doing a lot of thinking, you sure seem like you've made up your mind," he commented.

"What do you mean?"

"That kiss was the kiss of a woman who knows what she wants," he explained, leaning in to kiss her again.

She moaned against his lips, before pulling herself away from him once more to answer, "Of course I want you. The question is, should I leave my husband for you?"

"And the answer to that question is yes," he murmured as he began kissing her neck.

"Max..." she attempted to scold him, sighing in pleasure at the feeling of his lips on her neck. After a moment, she asked breathlessly, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" he muttered, in between kisses.

"You completely overwhelm me when we're close like this," Fran said, causing him to lift his head to look her in the eyes. "All I can think about is you and what I want you to do to me."

"What do you want me to do to you?" Max smirked, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. He then made his way back down to her neck, which she greatly appreciated.

"Oh God, so many things," she moaned, running her fingers through his hair. She let him guide her down to lay on her back and began to enjoy the feeling of him kissing her all over.

They were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a cellphone ringing. "That's me, just ignore it," he told her.

"You should answer it," she told him. "What if it's one of the kids?"

He knew she was right, he was letting his hormones overrule his common sense. He quickly went to answer his phone. Seeing Gracie's name on the caller id, he answered with, "Hello sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Does something have to be wrong for me to call my Daddy?" she asked.

"Usually," Max remarked, sitting back down on the bed beside Fran. She's fine, he mouthed to her so she wouldn't worry.

"So what are you doing?"

"I'm actually about to head into a late meeting," he said, as he and Fran exchanged a knowing look. "Can I call you back in half an hour?" On Fran's frown, he corrected himself, "I mean, one hour?"

"Sure, I'll talk to you then," Grace responded. "I love you."

"Love you too, bye," he hung up, discarding his phone on the bedside table. He looked back to Fran with a smile, "Now, where were we..."

"You could've talked to your daughter for a little while," she told him. "She called to speak to you and you completely blew her off."

"For you," Maxwell pointed out.

"We could've waited ten minutes to make love," she said. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm all yours for the next four days."

"You know, I think I've just figured out the one thing I didn't miss about you over the last four years," he remarked. "You calling me out when I'm being a terrible father."

"I never said you were a terrible father," Fran objected. "Did I point out the little things I thought you could improve on? Sure. But I've always thought you were a good father."

"Really?"

"The best," she confirmed with a grin.

He sighed, "I should call Gracie back."

"Good choice," she nodded.

Grace hung up the phone, before announcing to her brother, "Well he sounds normal. He was a little too eager to get me off the phone when I called, but I guess he really could've been going into a meeting."

"See, there's nothing going on," Brighton told her. "Can we stop with the snooping now?"

"Hm," she started, thinking to herself for a moment. "Maybe I should call Fran?"

"Why?"

"Just to see if she acts weird when I call," she explained. "If she's with Dad, she's probably going to freak out."

"Do whatever you want, but I don't want any part of it," Brighton replied.

"Then why are you still sitting here with me?" Grace asked. "Clearly, you want to take part in this snooping."

"Just call Fran already so I can prove you wrong."

"Fine," she answered, before finding Fran's number in her cellphone and making the call.

Right as Maxwell began to call Grace back, Fran's cellphone began to ring. Finding that Grace's phone was engaged, he hung up, before directing his attention back to Fran who was now rummaging through her purse for her cellphone. She checked the caller id, her eyes widening in surprise. "It's Gracie!" she announced worriedly.

"Why is she calling you?" he asked in confusion.

"Oh God, she knows about us," Fran stated. "She has to. Why else would she call me straight after calling you?"

"Just don't answer."

"I have to answer, I can't just ignore her," she remarked. "Now be quiet," she told him, before answering the phone. "Hi Gracie. How are you, angel?"

"Hey Fran, I'm fine. How are you?" Grace replied calmly.

"I'm good sweetie. What's up?"

"I was just calling to see if you wanted to come over for dinner at the house tonight?" she asked. "Dad won't be there, he's out of town."

"Oh," Fran remarked, trying desperately to think of a good excuse to get out of dinner. "I would love to, but tonight isn't good for me. I already have plans."

"That's okay. How about tomorrow night?"

"I'm busy tomorrow night too," she lied. "Actually this whole week is pretty busy. Can we all get together next week?"

Grace nodded, "Sure, just let me speak to Maggie and Brighton and see when they're available."

"Great, let me know."

"We haven't seen you in forever," she told her former nanny. "I really miss you. We all do."

Fran exchanged a look with Maxwell, before replying, "I miss all of you too. I would really love to see you, it's just this week is a little crazy."

"No problem, I totally understand," Grace answered. "Anyway, I'll give you a call about next week."

"Okay honey," she smiled. "Talk soon. I love you."

"Love you too," she said, before hanging up the phone. She looked to her brother. "So Fran is supposedly busy all week. What do you think about that?"

"Alright, there might be something going on," Brighton relented.

Fran set her cellphone aside, before looking to Maxwell, "She definitely knows something is going on."

"What did she say?" he asked.

"She wanted me to come over for dinner at the house tonight," she told him. "She made sure to mention that you weren't going to be there."

"That doesn't mean she knows about us," he pointed out. "The kids probably thought with me not being there, it would be the perfect time to have you over. They know you've been a bit of a sore spot with me over the years."

"They think you wouldn't want to see me?"

Max sighed, taking her by the hand and leading her to come sit back down with him on the edge of the bed. "They probably just thought it would be awkward if we were both there," he explained. "They don't exactly know that we've been in touch again."

"In touch?" Fran repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's one way of putting it."

He chuckled, causing her to do the same. "Look, the kids don't know about us," he promised her. "Grace calling you straight after me was completely coincidental."

"God, I hope so," she sighed. "I'm really not ready for them to know yet."

"Yet?"

"Well- I mean, if we- if I-"

Max gave her an amused look and interjected, "Fran it's okay, I know you're still thinking. I'm just teasing you."

Fran glared at him playfully, "You shouldn't tease me, it's not very nice."

"I'm sorry," he responded, leaning in to give her a tender kiss.

"Hm, I don't think I can accept your apology just yet," she giggled. "I think you need to do some more apologizing."

"Like this?" he asked, giving her another, more intense kiss.

"Uh huh, only keep going," she told him, their lips meeting once more.

"This is not what I had in mind when I heard you were taking me to a bed and breakfast," Fran grumbled as she followed Maxwell up the mountain the next morning.

"We're going for a romantic walk."

"Look how steep this mountain is. This is a hike, not a walk" she corrected him. "I'm a city girl, I don't hike."

"There's supposed to be an amazing view at the top of this mountain," Max said. "Just trust me."

Fran sighed, "Fine." The walked in silence for a couple of minutes, until she commented, "When you hear bed and breakfast, you don't think of hiking. You've got bed- which implies there will be lots of sleeping and lots of sex. Then you've got breakfast- which implies there will be a lot of eating. All things I love to do. Nowhere in that description does it imply that we'll be hiking."

"You know if you keep up the whining, when we get to the top I'm throwing you off this mountain."

"Shut up," she said, swatting him playfully. "I just don't understand what part of this is supposed to be romantic."

He sighed deeply, before reaching back and extending his hand to her, "Here, take my hand."

"Okay..." she started, grabbing his hand.

"Now it's romantic," Max commented, causing her to roll her eyes.

After a little more hiking, Fran and Maxwell finally reached the top of the mountain. "Thank God, we made it," she remarked dramatically. She was silenced when she saw the beautiful scenery before them. "Wow..."

"I hate to say I told you so..."

"Max, it's beautiful," she smiled as he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close.

He looked to her and asked, "Was it worth the hike?"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far."

He sighed once more, "God, you're a pain."

She giggled, "I'm just kidding, sweetie. It's beautiful, really."

"You're lucky I love you," Maxwell shook his head, a smile creeping onto his face.

"Yes I am," she agreed, giving him a quick kiss. They continued taking in the view in a comfortable silence. Fran secretly wished that everyday could be like this one. Just her and Maxwell together, enjoying each others company. But they had to face reality at some point and she had an important decision to make very soon.

Sorry for the delay in getting this out, I've been extremely busy. Hopefully the next chapter will be up sooner :)