Here's the next chapter! Keeping to my every-two-day update schedule, although I barely made it today! Also, since I'm a sucker for cats, a shout out to NancyAustin's cat, Skittles :) Good job at being a loyal kitty and sleeping by your owner, and not on your owner's laptop.
Thanks for all the reviews! They are great! Please keep them coming!
I do not own Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys
"Peek-a-boo!" Frank opened his eyes and gave Ivan a goofy grin. The two year old shrieked with laughter, which only increased as Frank tickled his feet.
"We, are never, ever, ever, getting back together... Cause we-eee are never, ever, ever..."
What the heck? Frank quickly identified the source of the music as his cell phone.
"Joe, for the last time, don't mess with my ring tones! Next time you put Taylor Swift on it, I'm going to kill you." Frank yelled. Joe laughed from the kitchen. "Hello?" Frank said, answering his cell phone.
"Hey, Frank, it's Nancy."
Frank's heart skipped a beat, and he paused a moment to make sure his voice was even.
"Hi Nancy! What's up?"
"Well, I was talking with the kids and they really wanted to see you again. You've managed to charm them into being obsessed with you." Nancy's voice was light, but Frank picked up a certain undertone of uncertainty in her voice.
"Well, I have my suspicions that it was the brownie I bought them," Frank said lightly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Joe eavesdropping on his conversation, innocently flipping the page of a book. Frank knew his brother. Joe did not read that fast. He stuck his tongue out at Joe and moved into the living room. Nancy laughed on the other end, but she still sounded really nervous.
"So anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to meet up at the park? You know, where you ran into me yesterday?"
"Awesome, sounds great. I can make it there in about fifteen minutes if that works for you." Frank agreed. She wants to meet up with you. Yes! Yes! Yes! He had a feeling that they would actually finally talk.
"Alright Frank. Thanks," Nancy's voice was nervous, almost scared. "See you then."
"Alright, see you soon," Frank said, then closed the cell phone, grinning from ear to ear.
"Sooo..." Joe peeked his head into the room, wearing a silly smile. Frank frowned.
"Shut up, Joe."
"I swear, you two are like a pair of high school girls," Vanessa rolled her eyes at them as she walked by. Frank and Joe exchanged a look and laughed.
"That hurts, Van."
"You can take it, Hardy," Vanessa grinned.
Frank smiled at the light mood, but part of him was preparing himself for whatever Nancy might have to say to him. He already had decided that he wanted to stay calm and try not to overreact. He was so close to getting through to her, and he was determined not to scare her off now.
"Hey everybody!" Frank jogged up to the park bench. Nancy was sitting with Lizzy on her lap. The small girl was quiet and stared at Frank with large blue eyes, clinging to Nancy's neck. Frank couldn't help but noticed how tired Nancy looked. His gaze drifted to her split lip, then back to her face, suppressing the rush of anger he felt.
"Frank!" Nick ran up, giving him a hug. Zoe was close behind, but she didn't approach Frank, instead standing close to Nancy.
"Thanks for coming," Nancy smiled. She looked nervous, shifting her weight from foot to foot, rocking Lizzy slightly.
"I'm glad to see you all again." Frank smiled.
"Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom," Zoe tugged on Nancy's hand.
"Alright," Nancy agreed. "C'mon Nick and Lizzy."
"Can I wait here with Frank?" Nick asked. Frank noticed that the bruise on his cheek had faded slightly. Nancy hesitated, then nodded, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
"We'll be right back," she promised. Frank and Nick sat on the bench, Nick swinging his legs which didn't reach the ground.
"Frank, did you ever hate someone?"
Frank turned at the strange question from the small boy. Nick was looking at him solemnly.
"Once I hated someone who hurt my brother really badly," Frank admitted softly, shuddering at the memory. Nick nodded, blue eyes shining with an understanding beyond his years.
"I think I might hate my dad," Nick whispered. Frank felt his chest constrict. "He hurts Mommy sometimes. She tries to keep him away from me and Zoe and Lizzy. He's just so mean, Mom didn't do anything and he still hits her and yells at her. Sometimes he yells at me." Nick's voice got even softer, and Frank took a deep breath to bridle his anger. "Last night he got mad at Lizzy, and he was going to hit her, because she was crying." Nick's voice was a soft whisper. Suddenly the small boy began crying. "I went and turned on the TV because he was hurting Mom, and it was the only way I could think of stopping him. I think I hated him, I even wanted to hit him because he was hurting Mom and Lizzy."
Frank cautiously put an arm around Nick, and the boy buried his face in Frank's shoulder, crying. Frank closed his eyes briefly, unsure how to handle what he had just heard. He felt sick at the thought of anybody hurting the sweet boy.
"It's okay to be angry, Nick," he said finally. "You were angry because you love your mom and your sister, and that's okay. But you can't let the anger control you. Sometimes you have to let it go so you can move on," Frank said gently, not sure if the six-year-old would understand. However Nick nodded, blinking away tears.
"Okay. Thanks Frank," Nick sniffed, wiping eyes on his sleeve.
"Anytime, buddy," Frank smiled and ruffled Nick's red blond hair. They sat in silence for a little while until they spotted Nancy walking back with Zoe and Lizzy from the park bathroom. Nick hopped off the bench and waved at Nancy who was walking back. He ran over and hugged her before running to the empty play structure with Zoe. Nancy came and sat down next to Frank. Lizzy was asleep in her arm.
"Nick's a great kid," Frank said. Nancy nodded, clasping her hands. Frank hesitated, and decide that Nancy needed to know that he knew some of what was going on. "Nancy, he told me about your husband and what's been going on."
Nancy sucked in a breath, her blue eyes meeting his nervously.
"Nancy, I'm not judging you on what happened. I can tell that you've been doing everything you can to protect your children," Frank said softly.
"I've been trying. But..." Nancy hesitated. "Okay Frank, I want to tell you something. Something that will help you understand what's going on."
"Alright" Frank agreed. Nancy took a deep breath and began talking.
Okay, okay, stop screaming at me with hatred. I know, we were SO close to hearing Nancy's story, but I couldn't put it in without the chapter ridiculously long. So, I'll do another deal. I'll post the next chapter TOMORROW if I get some reviews :) I would do it tonight, but we're having a family celebration. But tomorrow is a pretty good deal too I hope! (yes, I know, I am horrible when it comes to bribery)
