Chapter 51

"I know you love me, but you claim to love Frank too."

"But, I mourned his loss, and my heart gave him up, otherwise I could never have been free to love you."

"You're still wearing my ring….does that mean there is hope for us?"

Chrys looked deeply into his eyes, and reached a hand up to caress his cheek. Then sliding it behind his neck, she pulled him down for a kiss.

Franco, not getting an answer to his call, put down the phone and went in search of his father. Finding him in the kitchen, sitting on the floor kissing the woman he loved, he said, "Dad, mom would like to talk to you on the phone."

Getting to his feet, AJ helped Chrys to stand. With his arms still around her, he asked his son, "What does your mother need to talk to me about, Frank?"

"She asked to speak to you father, I didn't ask her what about."

Picking up the kitchen extension he said, "Marcella, what is it?"

"What is this I hear about you stealing our son's fiancée?"

Turning to look at Frank, he replied, "I have taken nothing from our son that belonged to him."

"You're engaged to Chrys, and he is in love with her!"

"I love her too, Marcella, and it's really none of your business."

"My son's welfare is my business, Alberto!"

"He is our son, and I love him, too. I would give my life for him if need be, but only Chrys can make this choice, Marcella."

Knowing Marcella as she did, Chrys knew that she needed to speak to her, so she held out her hand for the phone.

"Marcella, Chrys, would like to speak to you," said AJ handing Chrys the phone.

"Pronto, Marcella."

"How can you want my Alberto, over my precious son?"

"Your Alberto, Marcella? I am wearing his ring."

"I'm not 'her Alberto' and haven't been for over thirty years," responded AJ at Chrys' comment.

"Yeah, dad, why don't you get back together with mom, and leave Chrys, who is my age, to me?"

"Chrys is not your age, she is older than you, son."

"I can do the math, dad, she is five years older than me," he replied. "But, she is seventeen years YOUNGER than you."

Chrys, not hearing Marcella's reply, because of the argument going on in the kitchen, she slammed the phone back on the receiver and screamed at the two men, "Will you two stop it?! I can't take anymore!" She turned and ran from the room. Grabbing her keys off the hall table, and not caring that she was barefooted, got into her car and drove off.

Frank and AJ stood there stunned for a moment, and then both of them raced after her. She had just enough of a head start though, that when they reached the front porch, all they could do was watch her drive away.

Chrys pulled up in front of the Roberts Residents'. Harriett met her at the door noticing that she was upset and that she was barefoot and invited her inside. The twins were down for a nap and Bud had taken the two boys to the park so they could talk undisturbed

"Chrys, honey, what happened last night after we left?" asked Harriett.

"All hell broke loose. You see I knew Franco in Italy, while stationed there. We were in love, and he was going to ask me to marry him when he came back from his last mission. When we received the report that he was dead, I mourned his loss for quite some time. I came back to America and met AJ not knowing Franco was his son. Now, I am so confused!" sobbed Chrys.

"Honey, I'm so sorry. It sounds like something from a soap opera. Do you know yet, what you are going to do?"

"No, I thought maybe you could give me some advice," said Chrys wiping her eyes.

"Chrys, the only advice I can give you, is to follow your heart," replied Harriett. "Marry the man you're in love with. You may love both of them, but you're only in love with one of them."

"Yes, I love them both, but which one am I in love with?"

To be continued…..