"I don't give a shit about your family, if you're stupid enough to keep them in your life than that's your problem."

*This is a bold chapter. I hope you like the shift in gears, review and keep following ! Enjoy the cliff hanger !

-3 weeks into Franky's Legal Aid Job-

I trembled slightly as I placed the envelope on the coffee table. I knew Franky was already on her way home from work and I needed to brace myself for everything to fall hard at her feet and this was one thing I wasn't sure I could pick her up from. I took another sip of my tea and began to chop vegetables for dinner. The house already smelled homey and warm but I knew she was going to need a lot more comfort than I could offer her on this one...

I could hear keys jingle in the door and the bang of her throwing her brief case on the floor. She was never graceful and I could always tell the type of day she'd had within the first few minutes of her walking through the door. She brought with her the lingering smell of burnt embers and a hard day laced with anxieties and pride all thrown together. I caught her eye from the kitchen as she licked her lips and flicked her cigarette out the door. I hated it when she did that, it took me ages to clean them up but I wasn't about to call her on it right now. I could already sense her tension and I was about to add to it...

Most days she sauntered in proud of the work she'd achieved in her 6 hour adjusted work day but every once in awhile (particularly on Tuesday's like today) she came in feeling defeated and small. Working and being out of prison had been amazing for Franky; I had relished in watching her build pride in herself and others little by little every day, but she still couldn't help but self-destruct in the low moments and when she fell she fell hard enough to leave blood, sweat and burns behind...

She must have felt my eyes on her because she leaned back out the door and picked up the cigarette butt and placed it carefully in the empty coffee bin we kept by the door. I smiled sweetly to myself at her consideration and waited for her to swoop in and kiss me. She walked in slowly dragging her feet and looking exasperated. I watched as she rubbed the remaining ashes on her hands between her thumb and ring finger rapidly. It was then I noticed her bloodied knuckles. She sensed the concern on my face and pulled me in close to her.

"Please don't ask. I'm fine Gidge. How was your day?" I nodded my understanding and soaked her in, letting her scent linger on my shirt collar.

"Ehh, it was Tuesday." I said un-enthused as I pushed the envelope gingerly out of her reach on the table. I she watched me closely as i did it. Shit.

"Hey, what's that ? Hiding letters from your other lovers Gidge?" She chirped playfully. I tried to play along but my face must have shown concern because she got hyper defensive in a split second. I felt her lean in close over my shoulder, she was only 3 inches taller but I swear when she wanted to, she felt 6 feet tall...

"Give it here yeh?" She said firmly, holding her lips taught. I fidgeted before opening my mouth to speak.

"Franky I don't think you should even open this, especially if you've already had a rough day..." I said looking to her knuckles pointedly.

"Oh fuck off Gidge, I can handle meself yeah?!" She was fiery tonight and I was very aware that I was playing with lighted matches. I poured her a glass of Captain Morgan before handing the letter to her. I watched her face scrunch as she read the address she didn't recognize, the penmanship pushed far back in her memory, and the perfectly printed Francesca Doyle on the very informal looking envelope. I could sense her confusion.

"My dad?" She said sounding partly angry, partly timid and small. I shook my head no and motioned for her to sit down. She pulled up a chair beside me at the dining table and started to open the letter carefully.

Her eyes flickered with hurt and anger and all at once I knew she realized what she was holding. She shifted violently into a standing position and threw back her glass of rum in one swift motion barely wincing as it burned its way down her throat.

"Mum...!?" She spat. All I could do was nod.