"Sir?" Nicky stood at the entrance to the living room.
Frank was pleasantly surprised thinking that things were sorted and he was being invited for ice cream. "Yes, Nicky?"
"Sir, I was asked to check in with you before being excused to bed."
"Why are you heading to bed so early? You're not grounded."
"I don't feel good, sir."
"Some quality family time will help, child. Even if you don't want to be around me, I can go upstairs and you can watch a movie or something with Erin and pop."
"I really don't want to, sir but if you order me, I will obey."
Even at work, Frank hated it when someone asked him if something was a direct order as it made him feel like he was twisting the person's arm to get them to do what he wanted. He couldn't order his granddaughter to hang out with the family.
"Not an order but I promise it will help."
"I don't really trust you anymore." After a pause ,"I'm sorry if that was disrespectful."
Frank tried to extend yet another olive branch. "Want to talk to your dad now?"
The soft ,"Yes sir" felt like a step in the right direction. He removed his cell phone from his pocket and dialled Jack.
"Jack? Frank Reagan here. Nicky would like to speak to you."
"Is Erin okay with that? She has full custody now." Frank did not know that.
"Your daughter really wants to talk to her father."
"Okay then." Frank could tell that Jack had drank some but he wasn't slurring so he decided to go ahead with the plan. He handed the phone to Nicky.
"Dad, I'm in a lot of pain right now."
"What happened? Are you hurt?"
"Not exactly. Grandpa spanked me and then mom backed him up."
"I'm sorry to hear that sweetheart. That's not okay. He shouldn't have done that and your mom certainly shouldn't have backed him up"
Nicky was relieved to hear one adult take her side.
"Dad, can I come live with you for some time?"
"Well sweetheart we'd have to check with your mom first. And I'm not sure she'll agree right now. All of us need to settle into this new arrangement. And a change in living situation will just cause confusion."
"What new arrangement?"
"Your mom has full custody of you now, didn't she tell you?"
"So you just gave up on me? Just like that?"
Nicky didn't wait to hear a response, she just cut the call.
"May I be excused?" she choked through her tears. Frank had heard her side of the conversation and knew how much she was hurting.
"Want something first? Ie cream? Hot chocolate? Water? A hug?"
"Just want to be left alone."
Against his better judgment, Frank said, "You're excused." Nicky ran up.
When Jack kept calling, Frank answered, "She has gone to bed, Jack. You upset her. You might have chosen a better time and place to break the news to her."
"Don't go blaming this on me. You're the one who hit her and got her into a state."
"Good night, Jack." And for the second time the phone was peremptorily disconnected.
Frank shut his eyes. Erin and Henry joined him. Without opening his eyes, Frank told them, "I let her talk to Jack. He told her that he gave up custody. She's even more upset than before."
Erin responded, "just great. Can't the man do a single thing right?"
"I'm kind of feeling like that about myself too." "Dad we went over this. She screwed up. You gave her the consequences she earned. End of story. She deserved it and some more and she will come around."
"I can't see her like this. She needs us, her family, comfort right now and I drove her away."
"The fact that for her sulking is more important than seeking us out, means she doesn't need us all that much."
"That sounds very much like a rationalization to me."
"I think all of us need a stiff drink before we continue this conversation."
"No, Pop, I think I'm going to check in on the kid. But Erin, sit, have a drink."
"Dad, do you think I should try talking to her?"
"Right now I'll take anything that works. But don't get your hopes too high."
The three of them walked up and could hear Nicky sob. Erin looked at them, nodded and moved closer to the dorr. She knocked. No response. She knocked again and said, "Nicky?"
Suddenly the sobs stopped. But they could hear some hiccups. Erin opened the door and entered. She sat on the bed and tried to place her hand on Nicky's knee but Nicky moved away and curled into a ball. "Yes ma'am?" she asked tentatively.
"That was some big news. I didn't want you to find out like that. Want to talk about it?"
"No, ma'am." She couldn't help the whimper.
"Your emotions say otherwise."
"Could I please be excused for some time, ma'am? I don't feel good and I'm really struggling to maintain my composure. Could you please give me some time to gather myself?"
"That's what I'm here for. Come here. How about some ice cream?"
"Some time ago you said I didn't deserve it."
"Why are you looking a gift horse in the mouth?" Erin smiled, trying to lighten the situation."
"Because those are generally mean, dangerous tricks." Erin had not expected that response.
"Come on Nicky, you made a mistake, you were punished, it's over. This situation is really hard as it is. Let's not make it any harder."
"You not leaving me alone to process my feelings for even a few minutes is what is making it harder." "Ma'am."
Erin was at a loss for a response so she just said, "If you change your mind, you know where to find me, or even the ice cream sundaes."
"I guess I should be honored that at least one of my parents is at least trying to bribe me."
Erin raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry, please. I can't take any more. I don't want to cause trouble. Please, please give me a few minutes to calm down, please."
Erin just nodded and left the room. Frank noticed the glaze in Erin's eyes, a sure sign that she was holding back tears. He looked at Henry who got the message. "My turn." He smiled.
Erin tried to smile back.
He knocked and entered the room. Nicky again got off the bed. This time the door was open so Erin and Frank could see what was happening too.
"Hey kiddo, I hear you're having a bad day?"
"No sir, I'm learning all my lessons, I promise."
"And what are those?" Henry was grasping at straws to continue the conversation.
"Just accept my punishment and be respectful." Frank cringed at hearing his words from the car.
"And what punishment is that?" Henry was getting a bad feeling about this.
"Whatever the adults in my life decide to do, sir."
"Nicky, sweetheart, talk to me."
"I am, sir."
"Bottling it up will really hurt."
"I don't think it can hurt any more than it does right now, sir."
"What hurts?"
"Well, my backside and my stomach and my chest."
"I can give you something for your stomach and chest, even ice cream."
"I don't want or need it, sir."
"What do you want?"
"I'd really like to be by myself, sir."
"Why?"
"So that I can hold myself and cry myself to sleep, sir."
"Why won't you let us hold you, child?"
"Being held by the person who hurt you, just hurts more, sir."
"We didn't hurt you, sweetheart. We want to help."
"Ummm, yes sir."
"Nicky, what can I do to make this better? Other than leaving you alone?"
"Well, sir, you could go back in time and make different choices."
"Different choices about?"
"Not saving me from … from …." and she started sobbing again.
Frank couldn't hear anymore and went back downstairs. Erin followed him.
Henry saw them leaving and said, "You really hurt him, child."
"I'm sorry, sir." But her eyes screamed - 'He's the one who hurt me!"