Authors Note: Big thank you once again to TragicTales for helping me write!Go checkout her profile as well!Thanks to everyone who reads you guys are awesome!
Frank and Denise spent the next week at the cabin just laughing and spending time together, but soon it was time for them to head back to Fort Marshall, something Denise wasn't looking forward to but she knew they had to go back some time. While Frank was putting their bags in the car Denise called the babysitter that they had hired to take care of Molly while they were gone to tell her they would be picking her up. Then she helped Frank load up the car but stopped right before the last bag went into the back of the truck "Do we really have to go back today?" she asked, already half knowing what he was going to say, he was deploying in a week and there was a lot to do in that time.
"Denise it's time to try to go back to the way things used to be"
She sighed but smiled "I know" she said and put the last bag in then she and Frank climbed in and drove back to post, they picked up Molly and then the three of them went home. Denise turned her phone back on finally, it had been off since they had been gone, her eyes widened "15 missed called 12 voicemails and 40 text messages" she told her husband as they walked inside with Molly who was babbling in her car seat.
"Who from?" he asked
"Everyone" she replied "Michael even tried to call me"
"Did he?"
She nodded "I don't see why" she said
"He would understand your pain. His daughter died and in a way he mourned like you."
"Yeah I guess" she said avoiding the topic of their son,
Frank knew better than to push and he changed the subject "I need to go to the office for a few hours, will you be okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, take me to Claudia Joys"
He was a little shocked; she hadn't wanted anything to do with them in a week "Really?"
"I need her, to apologize to her."
He nodded "Let's roll momma" he said and she laughed. Frank dropped her off at Claudia Joy's and headed to the office. She went to the door and rang the bell nervously.
Claudia Joy opened the door remembering the flowers she ordered
When she saw Denise she was shocked, but pleasantly surprised "Hey there stranger" she said smiling brightly
Claudia Joy hugged her. "Denise, Come inside."
Denise picked up the car seat and walked inside "How are you Claudia Joy?" she asked
"Fine, dear come on the house. Please"
They walked in the living room and sat on the couch "Claudia Joy listen, I want to apologize" Denise said
"Don't, your son died. You only needed to get away and mourn. I told everyone you and Frank where so distraught."
"Your husband called my phone like 5 times" she said laughing
"We tried to reach u any way we could"
"I know, I'm sorry I didn't return any calls" she said
"It's fine. Now I can prove you weren't running off with men"
"What?" Denise asked shocked
"Denise didn't you hear?"
"No, what are you talking about?" she asked, already getting a sick feeling in her stomach.
"Oh Denise when we were at the bar everyone saw you with that man"
"What man?" she asked, she was so drunk that night she didn't even remember what happened.
"The one you were so in love with."
Then it hit Denise and she covered her face with her hands "I was drunk Claudia Joy" she said "I had never seen him before in my life!"
"I know I know dear" She said hugging her.
"Who started that?" she asked
"Major Williams's wife"
Denise sighed "I knew she was trouble, she's such a Lenore Baker wannabe!" she said getting up and pacing "How far has this rumor gone?"
"Fair enough, but I told people she wasn't she was with Frank, but when he was all over town alone and not answering questions. Well you can imagine."
Denise sighed in frustration "I'll kill her if this get out"
"Oh Denise there is more"
"Oh good Lord" she said "What is it?"
"Until you showed up for the funeral, everyone assumed that Frank put you...put you...away." she stressed on the word 'away'
Denise's eyes practically popped out of her head "Are you kidding me?!"She was mad now; she ran her hands through her hair and paced the room.
"Denise I'm sorry, we did defend you the best we could"
Denise nodded but she was still angry "I know, but this isn't going away, what can I do?"
"Denise forget about them you know you didn't cheat...again."
Denise sighed "Frank doesn't" she said "What if he hears about it"
"He will and you better do something and quickly"
She nodded "I have to call him" she grabbed her phone and called Frank on his cell phone.
"Denise don't give him a phone call"
Denise sighed "He's not answering anyway" she said and hung the phone up "This is such a disaster" she said and before she knew it she was in tears, she cried at the drop of a hat lately.
"Denise, you can tell him tonight"
She nodded "I don't even know why I'm crying, I didn't do anything wrong" she said wiping her eyes
It's fine. Right now you're a big ball of emotions""
She nodded "Thanks for having my back" she said and hugged Claudia Joy.
"Always" She smiled.
The two ladies visited for the rest of the day and before either one knew it their husbands popped through the door while they were laughing and gossiping.
"Frank!" Denise got up and said.
"Hey honey, how was your day?" he asked hugging her as Michael did the same to Claudia Joy.
"I need to speak to you outside"
"Okay" he said, he knew it must be serious if she didn't want to talk about it in front of Claudia Joy. He took her hand and led her outside "Dee, what is it honey?"
"Do you know what their saying about me?"
"Who?" he asked
"Those good for nothing war brats!"
"No I haven't heard, what are they saying?" he asked
"That I'm whoring around, that u didn't care for my son's death, that our son was the only thing keeping us together" She sobbed. "That you put in an asylum, and God knows what else"
Frank pulled her into his arms and held her "Who started it?" he asked
"Major Williams's wife" She leaned on Frank's chest.
"Alright I'll speak to her husband, don't worry about it honey, she's just jealous" he told her trying to calm her down.
"I hate her. Why would she do that?"
"I told you honey, she's jealous" he told her "Don't let her get in your head"
"What is she jealous of?"
"The fact that you are prettier, smarter, and more successful and you have a hell of a better personality" he told her
"Frank, take me home.'
He nodded "Let's tell them we're leaving and we'll go" he said and they walked inside and said goodbye to Michael and Claudia Joy and Frank took her home. She went straight to the couch and lay down. She felt like no matter what she did she couldn't win.
"Denise I going to pick up Molly." Frank said trying not to make a big deal
"Okay" she replied not moving.
"Do you want to come with?"
"No" she replied, Frank was starting to worry once again because she seemed to be getting depressed.
Frank ran to go get Molly in hopes that a little alone time would help Denise. The bouncing little girl hasn't seen her mother in almost two weeks.
Frank put Molly in the car and drove back to the house, when he walked Denise was on the couch and looked like she was sleeping.
"Denise, look whose home!"
Denise opened her eyes and gave a little smile "Bring her to me"
Frank brought her over. The little bundle stretching her arms out
Denise beamed and sat up and held Molly, the little girl cooed and tried to get Denise's hair.
"She missed you." He told her smiling
"I missed her to" she said and kissed Molly's head, but she still seemed sad and Frank was ready to kill the woman responsible.
"Denise don't let her get to you"
"I'm not" she lied and tried to hide the fact that she was hurt and angry.
"Don't lie to me Denise. I know you better than anyone."
"Why? Why hold it all in?"
"I'm not I just don't want to talk about it right now okay" she said her voice breaking and as if Molly knew her mommy was upset she started crying.
"Fine. Fine." Frank took Molly out of her mother's arms
He bounced her gently and she calmed down and smiled up at him, that seemed to make Denise even more upset and before he could say a word she was up off the couch and out of the house.
"Denise come back," he cried after her.
Frank followed Denise with the baby in his arms, she was standing outside in their driveway, it was raining now so she was soaking wet and crying.
"Denise..." he stood at the door
"I can't do this anymore Frank, I do not have the energy to put up with any more" she said turning to look at him but still standing in the rain
"Rumors? Denise please. You know this is childish"
"Yeah well too bad, I'm sorry I can't put on a smile and pretend like I'm okay all the time" she said and got in her car and drove away leaving Frank with an infant who barely knew him since he had only been home a week since she was born.