Disclaimer: Forgot it in the first chapter but ya'all know they don't belong to me & none of us are making money from this.

AN: Ok, I had planned on this being a one shot but I've been persuaded by all the positive feedback to continue this one. So many topics Frank has an opinion on and wouldn't it be fun to get into his head. I want to say thank you to all who reviewed and encouraged me for more. There will not be regular updates, I happen to have a couple days off so I decided to write this morning.

Drinking Again?

I came home from taking a regular to the train station to find my wife of 35 years drinking and ironing. I knew it had to be about Stephanie and it was only 8:30 in the morning.

"Isn't it a little early for the Jack Daniels Helen?" I asked.

"How is it early for a drink when I just got the worst news of my life? This is worse than Stephanie's disgraceful divorce from Richard. I mean how could you leave a lawyer?" I just stood there waiting for her to get to the point. How could a woman stay with a man who cheats? Once a cheat always a cheat I say.

"Stephanie has broken her engagement to Joseph. But even worse Valerie is pregnant. Her divorce is not even final yet and she's having a baby with another man. How are we going to live down the shame?"

"I didn't know Valerie was seeing anyone," I questioned. What I really wanted to say was how is a baby shame?

"Apparently she was clowning around with Albert. She told me after mother left for her bus trip to Atlantic City and the girls left for school. She went to work but I guess we know what they are doing. It's not like Albert has many clients. It was already too late to go to morning mass when she told me."

I grunted and walked away to sit in the living room. Perfect, another person taking up space in my house. Now I'm gonna be stuck with a doughboy for a son-in-law. He'll never make it as a trial lawyer; he stutters and makes a bad impression. His client will lose just based on their impression of him. Val learned the ways of the Burg well. You can't stay single you need a man to take care of you. That's why I love my Stephanie. She pushes for more. Granted she doesn't have any children to care for so she can take chances.

I'm proud of Stephanie for breaking the engagement, I mean seriously a BBQ in the backyard for her wedding. She let Helen push her again. If Morelli wanted to marry her so badly why didn't he protect her, give her a ring to show his sincerity. He's a user and an abuser. I heard about their fights. Verbal abuse can be as bad as a fist. Ranger never treats her like that.

Now I'm sitting here knowing I'll have to pay for another elaborate Burg wedding for Valerie. Then again why should I pay for another wedding? I paid for her first one, she's an adult, Albert is an adult and they both work. Let the doughboy pay for a wedding or his family. I heard his mother has money.

I watch Helen fill her glass again. How many of these Burg housewives are closet alcoholics? She sits here drinking to "calm her nerves" when life gets interesting. I think she needs serious therapy. Edna does too; I mean that woman isn't normal. Christ I can't believe how quick she finished that glass. Maybe we should order in. Chinese would be good; I haven't had that in years. At the rate she's going she'll be drunk by lunch. Maybe I should ask Stephanie to lunch, there's a great little Indian place in Hamilton Township. No one from the Burg will be there and we can have private time to talk.

"Helen, put that stuff away before you're too drunk to do anything but sleep today."

"Frank we have to do something for Valerie and the girls. The gossip will be vicious."

Why does she care about the gossip? Maybe if she wasn't a gossip like both of our mother's then people wouldn't talk about our girls. I know that isn't true. Morelli made sure there was plenty of gossip about Stephanie. Even when there was enough already because she started a fire in home ec and sewed the legs closed on the pants she made. Honestly I don't get it. They all think girls should be chaste. Sewing the legs shut certainly made a statement. Not that Morelli cared; maybe that's why he did it. He ruined her life in high school and ran away to the Navy. No one criticizes him for his tomcat ways. Helen drank then too. The ladies love to gossip about my baby girl and Helen doesn't support her or put a stop to it. I think they are jealous, including Helen. I never stopped her from going to nursing school. It was the Burg women. They would talk about her if she did. Now she drinks. Do they talk about that?