Past Imperfect

Chapter Four

They finished getting ready and headed for Tsunami. Fran hadn't eaten here since she and Max were here together. They found three seats together at the sushi bar, and Sophie quickly got her wasabi and soy sauce ready. Max watched with delight. He could see Fran in her every move, the way her eyes lit up each time a new tray would pass in front of her, the way she giggled when the chef slipped her a free sample. Max laced his fingers through his wife's and whispered in her ear. "Thank you."

Fran turned and looked at him. "For what?" Max nodded towards their daughter. Fran laughed. "No, Honey, thank YOU." She leaned over and kissed him quickly. "I'll be right back, order me some more yellow tail and shrimp, please?" She wandered towards the back of the restaurant to the restrooms, leaving father and daughter sitting together at the bar.

Sophie hugged her father's arm, and laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you! Thanks for bringing me here!"

"Whoa, Max, don't you think this one's a bit young for you?" Max whirled around in his chair and was face to face with his younger brother. He was speechless. How could Nigel assume Sophie was his DATE?

"You are absolutely beautiful, my dear. What are you doing with this old man? What do you say you have a turn around the dance floor with a far more handsome younger man?"

Sophie had no clue who this jerk was, but she took an immediate dislike to him. Who did he think he was, calling her father old? She started to grin as she thought, 'what would mom do?'. She knew exactly what her mother would do. She'd cut this schmuck off at the knees. "Yes, I'd love to dance with a handsome younger man, bring him over; I'm dying to meet him." Max's face turned bright red. Did that just come out of his sweet little girl? Now he had bigger problems. Fran was standing behind Nigel, her hands on her hips. Nigel was toast.

"So, Nigel, I see you've met your niece. Sweetie, say hello to Uncle Nigel." She walked over and kissed Max passionately, caressing his chest. "Darling, I think we've found a way to keep him quiet." Now Sophie was on her feet, with her hands on her hips.

"Wait just one minute, this schmegegi is my UNCLE?" She looked at her parents. "On whose side?"

Max couldn't help but laugh. She was SO like her mother. "Nigel Sheffield, meet Sophie Elizabeth Sheffield. My daughter." Sophie rolled her eyes and extended her hand to her uncle.

"I thought your teenage daughter was named Margaret." Nigel was completely confused.

"That's my other daughter. I have two teenagers. Margaret will be 14 next month, and Sophie will be 15 in May. The girls are ten months apart, to the day."

"Then, who's her..." He stared at Fran. "Wait a minute, I know you. I met you that Christmas Max brought you over." He leaned over to his brother and started to whisper. "I thought you two split up."

"It's not polite to keep secrets, Uncle Nigel. Mom and Dad broke up before anyone knew about me. Then Dad married Sarah, had three more kids, and then he came over here to teach, and found me....and I took him home to Ma."

"I'm still confused."

"I can imagine. Sophie's good at condensing a story. The real story's too long to go into. The bottom line is that I found the two of them three weeks ago, one hell of a birthday present, I can tell you. I moved into Fran's place to get to know my daughter, and Fran and I realized we still love each other. I have to leave Monday morning, so Fran and I decided not to wait, and we got married this afternoon."

"You're married? Oh, I can just hear Mother now. You're not going to see her, are you?"

"No, I'm not. I have one full day with my wife and daughter before going back to New York. I'll let the children know everything, and then in April we'll be back for spring break. Nigel, you'll look after them for me, won't you. They're staying over in West Kensington."

"West Kensington?"

Sophie nodded. "Near the palace.

"You're not going back with him?"

"I have school until June. Then we'll go home. Wait, where will we live?" She'd never considered they'd move off the boat.

"With me, Sweetheart. You and your mother will move into the house."

"But, Ma, what about the boat?"

"We'll move the boat back to Manhattan, and go sailing every chance we get, right, Max?"

"Of course, but I was actually thinking about leaving it where it is. We'll have more of an area to sail there."

"You really want to schlep everyone to Flushing every time we want to sail?"

"I never knew you had a sailboat, Max. When did you get that?"

"I bought it for Fran on her seventeenth birthday."

"I moved onto it when Sophie was three months old, and I haven't been able to get her to move off yet. You ARE coming to your father's with me, aren't you, Sweetie?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Don't gush. You can move back onto the boat when you're eighteen."

But, MA! YOU moved out when YOU were seventeen."

"Sophie Elizabeth Sheffield, don't you even go there. Now, can we please sit down and finish eating?"

"Of course, Darling. Nigel this was supposed to be a celebration dinner. You're welcome to join us."

"No, I'll catch you later, brother. Here's my phone number, Fran. Call me if you need anything."

"Thanks, Nigel." After her brother in law left, Fran turned to Max. "You don't really expect me to have him over for tea, now, do ya? After he was hittin' on our daughter?"

"Fran, it won't happen again. Nigel will be a good ally to have over here, especially if mother gets wind of you or Sophie. I'd rather you not have to face her alone."

"You and me both. Ok, I'll call him if I need him."

They finished their meal and, once home, spent the evening playing cards with Sophie.

"What do you girls want to do tomorrow, take in some sights? A movie?"

"Max, I think I'd just like to sit home and hold you close all day. I'm really not ready to say goodbye." She felt tear stinging her eyes, remembering a goodbye almost 15 years ago.

"Yeah, Daddy, I can make you and mom breakfast in bed, and then we can watch television all day, pop some popcorn, order a pizza?"

Max laughed. "You are so like your mother. She and I used to spend our weekends doing just that." He looked over at Fran, who was busy wiping her tears away. He tapped his lap. "Come here." She got up and sat in his lap, nuzzling his neck.

"Oy, that's MY cue to go to bed. G'night Dad, g'night, Mom!" She kissed each parent on the cheek. "I'll see ya when breakfast is ready."

"Good night, Sweetheart." He kissed his bride on the top of her head. "I've wanted to be alone with you all evening."

"We're alone now."

"Ready for bed?" She nodded and tightened her grip around his neck. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to their room. That night their lovemaking was slow and tender, as if each one was trying to burn the memory into their brain. They were still awake in each other's arms as the first light of day snuck into the room.

"Max, it's morning!"

He looked over at the clock. "It's early; we've got time to sleep before our breakfast arrives. Close your eyes."

She complied with her husband, and was fast asleep when their daughter knocked on their door. "Mom, Dad? Breakfast is ready, are you decent?"

Max made sure they were both covered. "All right, come on in." Their daughter entered with a tray with fresh bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, juice and coffee. "I wasn't sure what to make, so you got a bit of everything."

Fran opened her eyes slowly. "I smell coffee!"

"Breakfast is here, our daughter has outdone herself."

"Mmmm, she sure has. Thanks, Sweetie!"

She smiled. "You're welcome! You go ahead and eat, and I'll go clean the kitchen. Then put on something comfortable, there are some good old movies on today!"

"Funny Girl? Hello Dolly? A Star is Born?" Max was teasing his wife.

Sophie wrinkled her nose. "Ewww, no! She wore a Yellow Ribbon, Rio Bravo, The Quiet Man, The Searchers and McClintock"

"John Wayne?"

She stuck her tongue out at her mother. "WAY better than Barbra!"

Fran put her hand over her heart. "Oy, my baby was switched in the hospital. That is NOT my child!"

Sophie giggled. "Sure I am, I'm just HIS child, too." She pulled the door closed on her way to the kitchen.

"We'd better eat this before it all gets cold. I can't believe she went to so much trouble."

"I can. She wants to impress you. I've been praising her for almost 15 years; she wants to hear it from YOU now."

They sat in the middle of the bed and ate the meal their child had prepared; they could hear her in the kitchen, banging dishes around and singing.

"Has she always been a happy child?"

"Not as happy as she's been in the last three weeks. I wish we were going back with you." She felt tears start to form again.

"Fran, we're not back to that again, are we? This is not going to be like last time, we're married now, and we're not going to let anyone come between us again."

"I know, but it still hurts."

"I'll make some calls when I get home. There's a way to hook up a camera to your computer so we can see each other and talk to each other. I think they call it a video conference. A lot of businesses are using them. I'll see if I can't arrange for us to have one installed."

"But isn't that expensive?"

"I don't bloody care! If there's a way to see my beautiful wife and daughter every day, I'll find it. You know, you can always take the Concorde to New York on Fridays, and come back on Sunday night. We'd have 2 nights together, and the family would be together one full day a week."

"Now, I KNOW that's expensive."

"So I'll produce a new hit play, and you'll write a new article or two to pay for it. It's only 4 months, and I'll be here with the children one week of that time."

"And we won't need to come EVERY weekend, only when we miss each other too much."

They looked at each other and laughed. They knew it would be every weekend.

"I wonder if there's any more coffee."

"I'm sure she's expecting us to have the rest of our coffee in the living room while we watch movies."

They got dressed and gathered up the tray and dishes and took everything to the kitchen. Sophie had been busy; she'd made several snack trays to get them through the day. They moved into the living room, where Sophie had assembled pillows and sofa cushions on the floor.

"Dad, you're in the middle, so Mom and I can both snuggle with you."

Max looked at Fran. "This isn't the first time you two have camped out in front of the set, now is it?"

"Are you kidding? We practically lived out here until you came around. We'd have dinner out here, and watch TV until time for bed. We don't have this kind of space on the boat."

"Yeah, but the main settee converts to a bed, and Mom and I always snuggle up there until I fall asleep, then she goes into the V berth."

"You put a television on the boat?"

Fran laughed. "Oh, we're very 20th century. We have a television, VCR, even a computer and a new stereo."

"And a cool BBQ!" Sophie chimed in.

"She loves the BBQ, we grill a lot in the summer, keeps the boat cooler."

"Yes, how DO you stand the heat, with no air conditioning?"

"Grandma and Grandpa Worthington bought us one." Sophie looked over at her mom. "Sorry."

"It's OK, Honey, he knows. I told him everything."

"Good, I thought I was in trouble." She giggled. She clicked on the television and turned to the channel that was showing the John Wayne marathon.

"Oy, we're really gonna watch this, huh?"

"Oh, come on, Fran, you mean to tell me you never subjected this poor child to a movie she didn't want to watch in the name of 'quality time'?"

"No, never." She grinned and winked at her daughter, who rolled her eyes and laughed as she plopped down next to her father.

They spent the afternoon watching the movies, noshing and just being a family. When dinnertime came, Sophie grabbed the phone and ordered a pizza, then joined her parents in the living room.

"What kind did you order?"

"Half veggie, half supreme."

"Good girl."

The Wayne marathon ended and Sophie started flipping channels. "Oh, look, My Fair Lady! It just started, can we watch this?"

Max looked over at Fran, who had started to cry softly. "I don't know, Sweetheart, it might be a bit too much for your mother. That show has a lot of memories for her."

"That's the show we were doing when you proposed, when we first made, uh, came to London. It's the first show that I practically produced myself. Sophie, Honey, of course we can watch it." She wiped her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder. "Those were the happiest times of my life, these are good memories."

He kissed her head. "You're sure you're all right?"

She suddenly sat up and squealed. "Max, I have a wonderful idea! Let's do a revival of My Fair Lady! Once I get home, I mean. Sophie's been taking the theater production classes, I'm sure I haven't forgotten everything."

"Fran, I don't know."

"Oh, PLEASE, Daddy? I've wanted to start my own production company; this could be my first show!"

"Your own company? You're 14 years old!"

"So? I'm gonna be 15 in 3 months, that's only TWO years younger than you. If you'd had support from your parents, you could've started younger, too."

"You've got school; it's a lot of hard work."

"Mom did it."

"Honey, I did a LOT of things when I was young that I don't want to see you doing, BUT, Max, Honey, I really don't see what's wrong with her trying, and she HAS been working towards this for two years."

Max shook his head. "I can't fight you both. I'll allow it on two conditions. One, your mother or I will have to be present at all times. Two, if I'm going to back you in this, we'll have to include your brother and sisters if they want to be part of it."

"That's it? Sure, no problem!"

"So, Miss Producer, have you thought of a name for your company yet?"

"Yep. SoFine Productions. Get it SOphie Fine. I know my name is Sheffield, but there's already a Sheffield Productions in New York, pretty successful, I hear."

Max looked over at his wife for help. "Hey, don't look at me! I wanted her to be a doctor or a lawyer, but, NO, she wants to be a big macher producer like her father."

The doorbell rang and Sophie ran to answer it. "It's probably the pizza! I need money!" She opened the door. "Hi, Tony!" She looked down at the floor and blushed.

"Hi, Sophie, your hair looks great today. Hi Mrs. Fine."

Max looked at her. "Hi, Tony, honey. Actually, it's Mrs. Sheffield. Fine was my maiden name."

He nodded and looked back at Sophie. "I don't have to work tonight, you wanna catch a movie?"

Max leaned over and whispered to his wife, "Should we worry about this?" Fran shook her head.

"Tony, I can't. My dad's going back to the States tomorrow, and I want to spend as much time with him as I can."

"It must be hard with him over there, and you and your mom here."

"Yeah, it is, but he's coming back during spring break with my sisters and my brother."

"Are your sisters as cute as you?"

She giggled. "Maggie's blond, really pretty, but she's only 13. Grace has dark hair, but not as dark as mine, she's 6."

"What about your brother?"

"He's 10. He's got blond hair, too."

Tony looked over at her parents. "How'd you end up with blond kids?"

"They have different mothers. My parents split up, he re married, then after my step mother died, Mom and Dad got back together."

"Oh. So when they get here, we'll all go get burgers or something, I'm sure your mom will let you go out with me if we take your brother and sisters along to chaperon."

"Oy! They'll love being the nuchschleps!"

Fran laughed. "Hey, better them than me!"

Tony smiled at Sophie. "I love it when you speak Yiddish; it's so cute, especially with your British accent."

Fran got up and walked over to the door. "Ok, Tony, it was good to see you, come back and see us again when my child is 15."

"MA!"

"Ok, you can come back when her brother and sisters are here, and you can all go out for burgers. But I'm making sure Maggie gives me a full report, or better yet, BRIGHTON!"

Max joined his family at the door. "Yes, Brighton is quite good at snooping on his sisters." Max offered his hand to Tony. "Maxwell Sheffield, I'm Sophie's father."

"Tony Marco." He pointed to the pizza box. "I'm Anthony Marco's son."

"How much for the pizza, Tony?" Max was pulling his money clip out.

He looked at Sophie. "This one's on me, Sir." He handed Fran the pizza. "See ya later, Sophie."

"Bye, Tony!" He got in his car and slowly started down the street.

Fran took the pizza into the kitchen and pulled three plates out of the cupboard. "Sophie, I don't mind him coming over when I'm home, but you are NOT going to start going out with him, do you understand, young lady."

"But, Ma..."

"Sophie, I said you have to be 15. That's not that far away. You can hold out until then."

"Daddy?"

"Don't bring me into this. I'd say you can't date until you're 30."

"I don't know what you're so worked up about, anyway. You are going back to New York in June, why get involved with someone across an ocean?"

"Why not, you're married to someone across an ocean!"

"Sophie Elizabeth, I don't know what's gotten into you all of a sudden, but I don't like it one bit."

"I'm sorry. It's just that...I hate it that Dad's leaving us here. I wish I didn't have to finish school here."

"I know, Sweetie. But you're already into your last semester, so you've got to finish. We'll be flying over on the weekends as much as possible, so you won't have to miss him too much."

"We are?"

"Your mother and I discussed it this morning. She's upset that we'll be apart, too. So on Fridays after you get out of school, you'll take the Concorde to New York, and come back here on Sunday evening. You'll just have to make sure you don't have any homework hanging over your head, young lady."

"I love you so much!" She threw her arms around her parents. "Let's eat some pizza! We're missing the movie!"

They finished watching My Fair Lady, and then played some cards before it was time to send Sophie to bed. They tucked her in, and then returned to the living room to clean up the mess. They got the floor cleared, and Fran took Max by the hand. "I'll take care of the rest of this tomorrow after I take you to the airport. It will help take my mind off missing you." They went to the bedroom and spent the night wrapped in each other's arms. The next morning they drove Sophie to school together and said a tearful goodbye. They returned to the house and spent the last two hours before he had to be at the airport in their room making love. Neither one wanted to get up to go to the airport, but they both knew he needed to be at home with his younger children, and to oversee his plays in production. Max checked his luggage, and they stood by the gate, arms wrapped around each other, not wanting to let go.

"I'm going to miss you and Sophie so much, Fran. Promise me you'll try to fly out this weekend."

"You just try to keep me away, Maxwell Sheffield."

"Call your mother; we'll have your parents over for dinner, so they can meet their new grandchildren."

"I'll call her when I get there, when I get home. Oy, I have to get used to calling that place home again."

"You'll probably want to redecorate a bit; your taste differs from Sarah's quite a bit."

"We'll leave it for now. It's going to be an adjustment enough for the kids, having a sister and a mother to deal with. I don't want to come in and start changing the home their mother made for them."

"I love you; do you have any idea just how much?"

"You can remind me on Friday night. Call me when you get home?" She wrapped her arms around him tighter.

"I promise. I'll call you the minute I get in."

She started to cry again. "Damn! I swore I wouldn't cry." She buried her head in his neck as she heard his flight called.

"Sweetheart, I've got to go." He wiped her tears away. "I'll see you Friday. Call me with your flight information, and I'll have Niles pick you up at the airport." He saw the look on her face and changed his mind. "Better yet, I'll have Niles drive all of us to the airport to meet you, how's that?" She didn't look much happier, but he knew the sadness because he was leaving. His flight was called again. "Frannie, Baby, I have to go now. That was second call. I'll talk to you in a few hours."

"I love you, Maxwell."

"I love YOU, Mrs. Sheffield." He gave her one last long kiss before turning and boarding his plane. She stood in the window until she saw it taxi and take off. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath. She had to be strong for her daughter. She'd be home in a couple of hours, and would be lost with her father gone.

When Sophie arrived home, she had exciting news. She had been picked to participate in the International Support Fundraiser for the victims of the World Trade Center bombing. Because of her length of time studying theater production, and her connection to Sheffield Productions, Sophie had been chosen as the producer of the event. She burst in to tears, when she realized her father wasn't here to share the news.

"Honey, he'll call as soon as he gets home, and you can tell him your news then. He'll be so proud of you! So, are you going to use SoFine for this production, or are you going with Sheffield?"

"I'm gonna ask Dad, and see what he thinks. I'd like to use SoFine, but I'd like to be affiliated with Sheffield Productions, too, for the name recognition."

"Listen to you; you're talking like a producer already. When your father was your age, he was working in the theater as a dresser. I'm so proud of you, baby girl."

"Thanks, Mom, I love you. I'm really sorry about last night, I was really a pain."

"Sophie, that's a teenager's JOB, to be a pain in the touchas to their parents. Just ask Bubby Sylvia."

"You forgot to call her yesterday."

"You know, you're the second person today to tell me that. I'll call her from home on Friday, we'll surprise her."

"Cool!"

"Your dad wants to have grandma and grandpa over for dinner, to meet their new grandchildren."

"Really? I can just imagine. I hope Dad warns the kids about them. Grandpa buries his head in the television, and Grandma picks from everyone's plate."

Fran laughed. "Go get your homework done."

"O.K., OH, here, you have to sign this. It's a release for the fund raiser stuff, you know, saying that I can do it, and that I can be interviewed on television and stuff."

Fran froze. "Television?" That would mean Maxwell's family might see her. She needed to talk to Max. "Uh, honey, I need to talk to Daddy about this before I sign it. I don't mind you doing the fundraiser, but on television? You know he hasn't told anyone in his family about us, well, except Nigel."

"I didn't even think of that. What are we gonna do?"

"Daddy was the one that wanted you to use his name, so that won't be a problem. The problem, is do we talk to Nigel, and get him to convince your grandparents that your name is a coincidence, and make sure your father isn't brought into it? Or do we just go with it, and hope for the best?"

"I vote for go with it and hope for the best. I'm tired of all the lying to everyone. Now that you and Dad are married, there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"I don't know, honey, I've never met his mother, but I hear she's a real class oriented person.

"Huh?"

"What I mean, is that I wasn't born into high class, I married into it, and even though I've always given you the best of everything, I still raised you."

"But isn't it what's inside a person that counts? That's what you've always taught me."

"That's what your dad and I believe. He's not ashamed of us, that's not why he hasn't told her. He just doesn't want to deal with her. They don't talk much."

"That's too bad. You and Bubby Sylvia disagree on lots of things, but you still talk."

"Honey, that's entirely different. Now, go do your homework, so you can talk to Daddy when he calls. It might be past your bedtime, so get all ready, and I'll let you stay up to talk."

"Thanks, Ma." She grabbed an apple and headed for her room.

Max called a few hours later and encouraged Sophie to use her SoFine Productions company as the producer for her school project. Sheffield Productions would underwrite all the costs incurred as their way of donating to the project.

"What about Grandma Sheffield?"

"I'll discuss it with your mother, Sweetheart. Is she right there?"

"No, she went to bed; she said she'd talk to you later. She giggled as her mother tried to take the phone from her.

"Sophie Sheffield, tell your daddy good night and get to bed."

"Night, Daddy, I love you."

"I love you, too, Sweetheart. Put your mother on, now, and go to bed."

She laughed as she handed the phone to Fran. "Boy, gang up on a kid!"

Fran kissed her daughter and swatted her playfully. "Night, baby. Go right to sleep, it's late." She watched Sophie run down the hall and heard her door close. "Hi, my love. This bedroom is awfully lonely tonight."

"I miss you already."

"How are the kids? Are they happy to have you home?"

"The children are wonderful. It looked like they'd all grown. I'm not sure how happy they are to have me home. The nanny filled me in on everything, and I've grounded them all. Maggie was sneaking out to meet boys, Brighton...well, he was just Brighton, and Grace has been skipping her therapy sessions."

"Sounds like they missed you."

"No, this is pretty much normal behavior. I just keep hiring new nannies as each one quits. They can only take so much. I hope that Sophie will be a calming effect on them. I've gone through every available nanny at one agency, and just started on a new agency. How's she going to take to having a nanny?"

"Um, Sweetie, we didn't discuss this, but, I don't WANT a nanny when I get home. I want the children being raised by a mother and a father who spend time with them and nurture them."

"Fran, they've had a nanny for four years."

"And before that?"

"Before that they had their mother, you know that as well as I do."

"Uh, huh, and when I get home, they'll have their step mother. I owe it to Sarah to raise her children the way she would want them to be brought up."

"You've got a point. That's annoying."

"Yeah, isn't it?" She giggled softly into the phone. "So, did you tell them, or are you just going to spring us on them Friday?"

"I'm going to tell them tomorrow. Thanks for packing the pictures of you and Sophie with the children and their mother. It will help when I try to explain everything to them."

"You don't have to go into a lot of detail, just hit the basics, and then we can talk to them together, in case they have questions."

"Good idea. I can't wait to see you."

She yawned. "I can't wait either. Your side of the bed is cold."

"You sound tired, it's late."

"I am, a bit. Max, what do you want to do about Sophie and this school project? I'm supposed to sign a release to allow her to be interviewed on television. If your family sees that, you KNOW what will hit the fan."

"I know, but this is important to her. Call Nigel, let him know what's happening."

"Do you want him to tell them the name's a coincidence?"

"No, they'll just have to deal with it. Let Nigel know, so he can prepare them ahead of time. I'm sure Mother will be calling as soon as she hears. Just prepare Sophie for my mother."

"I already have. I know how your mother thinks. I'm low class, I raised your daughter, and therefore she must be low class, too. Sophie's fine with it, she knows it has nothing to do with her."

"Good. I'd better talk to the children in the morning. As soon as her interview hits the wire, I'm sure it will make the news here."

"Sorry, Honey."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm so proud of our daughter; you've raised her so beautifully. I'm sure I'll be interviewed about her, here, as well. You'd better call your parents. I know you wanted to surprise them, but you don't want them to hear this on the news. Especially when they hear her called Sophie Sheffield, and that I'm working with her on this project."

"Oy, I was so worried about YOUR parents, I completely forgot about MINE. I'll call them as soon as we hang up. You may hear from Ma tomorrow, ya know."

"I'm sure I will. Are you going to tell her the whole story?"

"I'd better, or else you'll be getting one hell of a lecture." She yawned again.

"All right, you go call your mother; I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you more! Good night!"

"Good night, my darling. Sleep well."

"I'll dream of you."

You'd better. Good night, Fran." He hung up the phone and picked up the photo of his wife and daughter that was packed for him. He sat the picture on the nightstand and went downstairs to find the children. He'd planned to talk to them tomorrow, but there was no time like the present.

Fran sat in the middle of her bed holding her husband's pillow. She buried her face in it and inhaled deeply. A mixture of his cologne and mousse. She'd make sure not to wash this pillow case until he was due back. She sighed deeply and picked up the phone, then dialed her mother's number. She hadn't talked to her mother all month. This should be good.

"Hello?" It sounded like her mouth was full.

"Hi, Ma. You're eating late."

"Frannie? We're just having dessert. What's new in London?"

"How much time ya got?" She laughed.

"What's going on? You're calling so late."

"I meant to call you all weekend, we just got so busy. A lot's happened this month, Ma. I needed to call you tonight, because I wanted you to hear this from me first."

"What, Honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, Ma. In fact, things couldn't be more right. Three weeks ago, Sophie got a guest teacher in her theater production class at school."

"Oy, she's still taking those classes?"

"Yeah, she IS, and she's good at it, too. Anyway, she brought this teacher home. Ma, it was Maxwell."

"Oh, my GOD. So he knows?"

"She told him everything before she brought him home for dinner."

"I hope you threw him out, for the way he treated you."

"That's just it, Ma. I didn't throw him out. We talked. We learned a LOT about what happened. C.C. was the one to tell you about Max and Sarah, right?"

"Right, and I heard Niles confirm he's seen her at the house."

"But he didn't ever see her there with Max, did he? Ma, Maxwell didn't even MEET Sarah until the night of the play he took her to in October."

"But, C.C. said..."

"She said a lot of things, like she told Max that I was having an affair with some guy that I'd been on the boat with him, during Rosh Hoshana!"

"You never left the house."

"That's RIGHT! She planted underwear and men's cologne on the boat, and told Maxwell she saw me there with him. Then, when he called to talk to me, to see why I was postponing the wedding, YOU told him I was on a date, which confirmed C.C.'s lie."

"Frannie, I'm sorry. I only told him that to get back at him for cheating on you."

"But he WASN'T cheating. Then you sent him that letter saying I never wanted to see him again, and to send my things back. Ma, he thought I'd left him for some other guy. C.C. played both of us, and it broke us up."

"So now what, are you two friends again? What about Sophie?"

"I had him move into my guest room while he was here, so he could get to know his daughter."

"Fran, he hurt you once before, you're opening yourself up to be hurt again."

"Ma, I told ya, he wasn't cheating. C.C. made it up. She brought Sarah over because she knew their picture would make the paper, and I'd see it. While Max was staying here, we got pretty close again."

"Fran, you didn't sleep with him, did you?"

"What if I did? It's OUR business. We found out we still love each other. There was no reason for us to break up in the first place."

"So is he there with you now?"

"No, he flew back to New York this morning. I'm flying over on Friday for the weekend. We want you to come to the house for dinner, you and Daddy, to meet your new grandchildren."

"Our what? Francine, you didn't!"

"Yeah, Ma, we got married last Friday. After everything that happened to us, then the bombing, we decided that life's just too short. So we took Sophie to school, and then got married. We'll have a religious ceremony when Sophie and I move back this June."

"June? What happened to August?"

"She's skipping music camp; she'd rather go home and be with her family."

"So you're going to raise that woman's children, the woman that took your daughter's father away?"

"I don't think Sarah had anything to do with that. She was too sweet, if she knew what C.C. was doing, she'd never have gone along with it. So, yes, I'm going to raise her children. Remember, Sarah was my friend. Some friend I was, lying to her about who I was, I just couldn't hurt her."

"You can be such a doormat sometimes. When are you going to quit letting people walk all over you?"

"She didn't. She never did. She was wonderful, we could talk about the kids, our men...she just never had any idea the man I was talking about missing so much was her husband. Ma, it's gettin' late, I need to tell you about Sophie's school project."

"What's she doing?"

"Her school does International Support Fundraisers, and Sophie has been elected the producer of the event. She's starting her own production company, with the help of her father. She's calling it SoFine Productions. Maxwell is underwriting this project for her."

"Isn't she a bit young to be responsible for something this big?"

"She's a year younger than I was when I was Max's production assistant. And she's had classes to help HER. She'll be fine. OH and when we get to New York, SoFine Productions and Sheffield Productions are going to produce a show together! Isn't that exciting?"

"So, no chance of her changing her mind and becoming a doctor, then?"

"No, Ma. She's Maxwell's daughter. She wants to become a big macher producer like her daddy."

"Well, you see that we get front row tickets. I want to be able to cheer my baby."

"Thanks, Ma. What about Max. Are you gonna give him a chance?"

"I'll go over and see him tomorrow, we'll have a talk."

"He's expecting you. I told him I was gonna call you tonight." She yawned again. "Ma, I need to go, or I'll never get up with Sophie in the morning."

"Isn't she old enough to get herself off for school?"

"Yeah, she is, but I'm still her mother, and I'm fixing my child a hot breakfast and kissing her goodbye every morning."

"Then you'd better get some sleep. You'll call me Friday when you get in?"

"I will Ma, it'll be Friday night, and we'll fly out right after school. Night, Ma. Love you."

"Good night, Darling. I love you."

Fran hung up the phone and smiled. That wasn't so bad. She hoped things were going as well for her husband.

Max gathered his children together and sat them on the sofa. When he sat on the coffee table to face them, they were sure they were in big trouble.

"Dad, we're sorry. We know we were wrong, and we won't do it again, right girls?" Brighton looked hopefully at his sisters.

"Brighton, what gave you the idea you were in trouble?"

"Well, we heard what Nanny told you, and we were sure you'd be mad."

"I was, at first. But then I made a phone call to someone who convinced me that you were just acting out because you missed me so much."

"We miss MOM. We hate having a nanny; she doesn't love us like mom did. And we ALWAYS miss you; you're just never around to see it anymore." Margaret lowered her eyes. She couldn't believe she spoke to her father like that.

"Well, that's all about to change, children. Something happened when I was in London. Something that I hope you will think is as wonderful as I do."

"What happened?" The children all looked at each other. This didn't look like their father, he actually looked happy.

"I ran into an old friend. Someone I hadn't seen since before I met your mother. Actually, she was my girlfriend back then; we were engaged to be married."

"You were married before Mom?"

"No, Sweetheart, we never married. Something happened, and we broke up. A month later I met your mother. Your mother helped me through the pain of losing Fran, and I fell in love with her, and proposed to her. Well, you children know the rest, we got married, had three beautiful children..."

"Then Mommy died." Grace was looking at her shoes.

"Yes, Grace, she did." He ran his hand over his daughter's hair.

"Well, something that I didn't know was that when Fran and I broke up, she was going to have a child. By the time Fran found out, I was with your mother, and Fran wasn't sure if she should tell me. When she tried to tell me, she saw that your mother and I were engaged, and she didn't want to hurt your mother, so she never told me."

"Did you ever find out?"

"Not until I got to London. You know I went to teach a class in theater production. Well, your sister was in my class."

"How old is she?"

"She'll be 15 in May."

"So she's a year older than me."

Actually, Margaret, you and Sophie are exactly ten months apart. Her birthday is May 23."

"That's cool, I have a big sister. What's she like?"

"She's very funny and smart; she looks just like her mother. Actually you children have met her, but you may not remember."

"When?"

"Fran used to bring her to the park, and you played together. Fran wanted Sophie to know her family, so she went to the park, and never told your mother her real name. She wanted to make sure I was still happy, so she'd know she had done the right thing by leaving with Sophie. Margaret, you played with Sophie all the time. Here, look at this picture, see if you remember her." He pulled the picture Fran had sent out of his wallet.

"I remember her! She has the prettiest eyes! And that's Val!"

"That's the name she gave your mother, she didn't want her mother to know who she was. She really came to like your mother, and didn't want to hurt her."

"She was really nice, Daddy, she used to bring us cookies and cakes and things, do you remember, Brighton?"

"No, not really."

"Well, you haven't seen her in over four years."

"So her name's Fran? How is she, are you still mad at each other?"

"What makes you think we were mad?"

"You broke up; most people break up because they had a big fight."

"No, we broke up because someone made up some terrible lies, Fran was very young, and her parents believed those lies and wanted to protect their daughter."

"How old was she?"

"We met when she was fifteen, and we broke up just before she turned eighteen."

"Fifteen? How old were you?"

"I was nineteen when we met. I thought she was much older. She was in a play I was producing, and she said she was eighteen on the application. It wasn't until we started dating that she told me the truth. That was the only lie she ever told me."

"It's too bad you broke up."

"Well, Fran says it's fate. If she and I hadn't broken up, and had married as planned, I never would have met your mother, and never had you children."

"But wasn't Fran sad?"

"Yes, she was. But she looked forward to talking with your mother at the park. They actually became friends, then shopped together, and went to lunches together. She has lots and lots of pictures of you children with your mother that she can't wait to show you."

"But she lives in London."

"She's only there for the school year. Sophie normally attends UNIS, but spent this school year at the American School in London. They will move back in June, but Fran and Sophie will be flying out on weekends, and we're going to London for spring break this year."

"She wants to meet us?"

"That's another thing I have to tell you. While I was in London, Fran and had a lot of time to talk. We realized that we still love each other. I still love your mother, and always will, and Fran accepts that." He chuckled. "Actually, she encourages that. Just before I came home, Fran and I got married."

"You got MARRIED? What about Mom?"

"Brighton, your mother would approve of this. Fran has loved you since you were babies, and she loves your mother, too."

"So, this is what you meant by things were going to change? She's moving in with us?"

"Well, yes, she's my wife; I'll want her to live with us. She and Sophie are coming on Friday for the weekend, but they can't move here permanently until Sophie is out of school in June."

"We've never had to share you."

"Well, think of them. Sophie has had her mother to herself, and now she's got to share her with three other children. And Fran has never had to share Sophie."

"What do we call her?"

"Gracie, you can call her anything that you are comfortable with. You can call her Fran, or you can call her Mom."

"What does Sophie call you?"

"Either Dad or Daddy. But I AM her father. Fran is your step mother, and she wants me to make it clear to you she is NOT trying to take your mother's place."

"I'll bet she's got some cool stories about Mom."

Max laughed. "She does, and she's looking forward to sharing them with you."

"Can we call Mommy to say goodnight?"

Max looked at his watch. He knew Fran would be sleeping. "Grace, she's probably sleeping, it's five hours later in London." He saw the sad look on his youngest daughter's face. "You know, I'm sure she'd love to hear from you, let's give her a call, shall we?" Grace's face lit up, Max hadn't seen her smile like that in months.

He picked up the phone and dialed the house in London. He heard his wife's sleepy voice answer. "Hmm?"

"Fran?"

She was instantly awake. "What's wrong? Are the kids all right?"

"The children are fine, Sweetheart. They just wanted to call and say goodnight."

"Wha? I guess they took the news well?"

"Better than I'd expected. It made it easier that you were friends with their mother. I'm handing the phone to Grace, Darling, she's about to climb up my leg to get the phone."

He handed the phone to his daughter. "Hi, Mommy." Fran's eyes filled with happy tears. Mommy.

"Hi, Angel. Are you happy to have your daddy home?"

"Uh, huh. When are you and my big sister coming home?"

"I'll see you Friday, Sweetie. We'll have the whole weekend to spend together."

"I wish you didn't have to go back."

"Me, too. But Sophie has school here until June."

"I know. Daddy told us. Brighton wants to talk. Good night, Mommy!"

"Good night, Gracie. I love you."

Gracie's face lit up. "I love you too, Mommy!" She handed the phone to Brighton.

"Hi."

"Hi, Brighton."

"Do you like boys?"

"I like you. You were always such a sweet little boy."

"I'm not sweet anymore, just ask Dad."

"Is there anything you'd like me to bring you from London, B?"

"You're bringing presents?"

"If you want one."

He smiled. She wasn't so bad. "You can surprise me. How come you didn't have a boy? There are too many girls in this house already."

"Well, Sophie's a bit of a tomboy; she's on the soccer team at school."

"She is? Cool."

"I'm supposed to hand the phone to Maggie now. Dad says we're keeping you awake."

"My darling, you can call me anytime, day or night. I don't care you wake me up."

"Really? Thanks, uh, Mom."

He handed the phone to Maggie. "Hi, I remember you from the park. I'm glad you're going to be our mom. I think Mom would be happy that her friend is looking out for us."

"Oh, thanks, Honey, that's very sweet to say."

"Dad says you have lots of pictures of her with us from the park."

"I do, they're on my boat. How about when I come in Friday, we stop by and get them?"

"That would be cool. We can look at them together over the weekend. Dad said you might come out every weekend."

"That's the plan, and then your dad is bringing you kids to London during spring break, did he tell you that?"

"Yeah, he did. We don't have to see Grandmother Sheffield, do we?"

"That will probably be up to your father, but as far as I'm concerned, you don't have to see anyone you don't want to."

"Cool, thanks. Is Sophie awake?"

"No, she's in bed. It's after midnight here. She has school early."

"Oh."

"I told your brother you can call any time. If you call right after school tomorrow, she'll be home. You girls can talk and catch up then."

"Dad, Fr... Mom wants to know if I can call Sophie tomorrow after I get home from school?"

"Of course you can. If you're finished, let me talk with her a minute."

"Mom, I gotta go. Dad wants to talk. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Ok, Honey. I love you."

"I love you, too, Mom."

She handed the phone to her father and gave him a hug. "Thanks, Daddy."

"For what, Sweetheart?"

"For making us a family again. I can't wait till they get here."

"Why don't you three go upstairs and get your baths, and get ready for bed, then come down and we'll play cards or watch television together."

The children look at each other, shocked. Was this really their father? At the same time they bolted for the stairs to do as he asked.

Max laughed. "I think they're in shock."

"I'm in shock. Max, did you hear? They called me Mom. Brighton didn't sound too sure of it, but I'm sure he'll come around." She sniffed and wiped her nose.

"Darling, are you crying?"

"I'm O.K., really. Everything's really going to be all right, isn't it?"

"Of course, didn't I promise it would be?"

"Yes, you did." She yawned.

"I'd better let you get back to sleep. I didn't want to wake you, but you should have seen Gracie's face. She's been skipping therapy, so I was concerned. But as soon as she heard your voice, she was smiling. Fran, I haven't seen that child smile in months."

"I heard what you said to them. Did you tell them about the nanny yet?"

"Not yet. I'm probably going to keep her on until June. I'll need some help until then. Once you get here, you can decide when she leaves."

"Oh, make ME the bad guy."

"Fran, you ARE the one that doesn't want a nanny."

"You're right. I miss you."

"I miss you, too. Friday can't come soon enough."

"I'll call the airline tomorrow and make our reservations."

"When you do, make a standing reservation, that way you don't have to call them each time, and you'll be sure to get seats."

"You're sure I'm coming every weekend?"

"Positive. Now, hang up, and get some sleep. You've got to get up with our daughter in five hours."

"Oy! I'll talk to you tomorrow. You WILL be home when Maggie calls, right?"

"I'll try."

"Maxwell...you promised to spend more time with the kids. Please make sure you're home when they get home?"

"I will, Darling. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you more. Kiss the kids for me. Good night."

"I will. Good night, my darling."

Fran hung up the phone and fell back asleep immediately. Max spent the evening bonding with his children, as the nanny watched in amazement. These were three completely different children than she had been taking care of.