Here is a long chapter for you ! Frank and Julia finally get some closure, I hope you'll like it.
Julia had finally decided to go and talk to Frank. Almost a month had passed and she still had no idea about how she was going to break the news to him but she was hoping it would come to her while she was around him. When she found herself in front of the door, which had been hers for so many years, she panicked a little but took a deep breath and rang the bell. She could have just let herself in, since she still had the keys but somehow she didn't think it would be appropriate.
Her heart skipped a beat when Frank finally opened the door. He wasn't looking good at all. There were big circles under his eyes and he looked like he had been drinking a little. He was acting a little slow, but she could still tell that he was surprised, which he shouldn't have been since she had told him on the phone about her coming to get a few things.
"Hi Frank. I came with some boxes." Just to make it clearer she showed him the cardboard boxes she was carrying. "I told you I would come." But he wasn't moving or showing any reaction of any kind. "Can I come in ?"
It seemed to have woken him up. "Sure."
So she came in. She was almost expecting to find a mess but surprisingly everything was in order, except Frank of course. It kind of reassured her. Maybe the mood he was currently in was just a one-time thing after all. She couldn't picture him being that defeated all the time anyway.
"Maybe I should start with the bedroom."
"Ok, let me help you."
And they both went upstairs and into what used to be their bedroom. Her side of the room had barely been touched, almost everything was in the position it had been when she had left. Without any word she kneeled in front of her drawers and started opening and emptying them. It was mostly scarves, she had never realized she had so many of them. While she was doing that, Frank was filling the boxes, without saying anything either. When they were out of boxes (she hadn't wanted to take too many because she would have to carry them afterwards) they just stared at each other, not really sure of what the appropriate thing to do was.
"Do you want some tea ?"
She was ready to decline the offer but she remembered she was here to tell him about Michael, and it wasn't going to be very easy since Frank already looked quite dejected.
"Sure."
As they were both sitting at the kitchen counter drinking their tea, Julia noticed the big photo album laying there. It was probably what Frank had been looking at earlier in the evening, it was probably why he was in such a poor mood. She had no idea why she did that but she brought it closer and opened it. It was filled with pictures of the both of them being happy together, and as she turned the pages Leo appeared on the pictures and they looked even happier if possible. Frank was as engrossed as her in the good memories that this book was bringing back.
"And you remember when..."
"Of course."
"And this one ?"
"It had been such a nice day !"
And they went on like this until the last page had been turned. They were feeling the tears in their eyes and noticing them in the other's eyes. They could look at nothing else but each other. That book was a reminder of their happiness, a reminder of all the good in their marriage and in that instant they couldn't remember the bad. So when Frank leaned closer and started kissing her softly she didn't move, she even responded to it, out of habit. But as their kiss became more passionate, she quickly pulled away.
"Frank, I can't."
"Why ?"
"I am..." She had to tell him, now was the moment. "I am dating someone."
He stopped looking at her, now he was looking at the kitchen counter but she knew in fact he was just avoiding her eyes. "Do I know him ?"
She just had to tell him. It was like ripping out a band aid. It was going to hurt at first but in the end it was best for everyone. "Yes you do." She took a big breath. "It's Michael."
He gave a big punch on the table that made her jump and he rose. He looked really pissed off and it was scaring her. She had thought he would have seen it coming, that he would be prepared, but apparently he hadn't thought this would happen.
"That's just great. You cheated on me with him, you even did it several times, and now you won't even kiss me because you're dating him ! What am I to you exactly ?"
She was afraid to answer. Not that she knew what to answer, in fact she had no idea what to answer, but she couldn't even get a single word out. He saw the fear in her eyes and it was hurting him just as much as what she had just told him. Despite everything that had happened, he still loved her. So he came back on his chair and covered her hand with his.
"I'm sorry. But you can understand how that pisses me off."
She nodded. He had the right to be angry, she was the one who should be apologizing, not him. "I'm so sorry Frank, I swear."
He kept silent for a moment, but she could tell he wanted to say something but wasn't daring to.
"I want to know how he took the first place in your heart."
Her eyes widened in surprise. She wasn't understanding.
"I know you probably think I don't want to hear it, but I want to know. Or else, I will always wonder what I did wrong."
"You didn't do anything wrong. I did."
"Please Julia."
He was begging her and right now she was ready to do anything he would ask her, but this was just weird. Only he was asking so she complied.
"Remember when we were trying to have kids after Leo ?"
He nodded.
"I had had two miscarriages but we kept trying, hoping for a miracle. And then the doctor said you couldn't have kids anymore and the chance of me carrying a baby to terms were very low anyway."
He nodded again. She could see the sadness in his eyes as he was remembering that.
"Then we stopped trying, and we stopped having sex. Or at least it became rare. That was around the time I started working with Michael."
He shivered, knowing she was coming to the cheating part. He couldn't help himself but to picture her with him and it was killing him. She had stopped, seeing how uncomfortable he was, but he still wanted to hear everything. In his mind knowing the whole truth was the only way he could have some closure. Some would have found it weird but it made sense to him. "Go on."
"I wanted to feel desired. And Michael was there and I could see he wanted me. But at the time it wasn't him I wanted, it was you. So at first I didn't respond to any of his approaches. But when I would come back home you would already be asleep or too focused on something else, so I started wondering what it would be like with Michael. And then when he tried to kiss me I just surrendered because it had become a need."
He wasn't looking at her anymore but she knew he wanted her to go on anyway, so she did.
"It was just sex. But then I could see that we both started developing feelings for each other and it was wrong because I was married to you, so I ended it. Tom and I started working on another show and I never saw Michael again. At least until we started Bombshell. I tried to make sure they weren't going to hire him but they went ahead and did it anyway. At first I thought it would be fine since now he had a family too, but seeing each other again awakened feelings that we had put aside and they were even stronger. I just couldn't resist. You know what happened then."
"Yeah, I do..."
He finally raised his eyes to look at her and there wasn't any anger anymore. She could see resignation instead.
"I have been offered a good teaching job in Boston. I think I'm going to take it."
She was surprised. "But what about the house ? What about Leo ?"
"I can't live in this house anymore. Anywhere I look I'm reminded of you and it's keeping me from moving on. I think Leo should stay in New York, he shouldn't change schools during his senior year. He could go and live with you and I could visit him on the weekends."
"Are you sure that's what you want ?"
"I think I am. That's for the best."
"Have you talked to Leo about it ?"
"No, I haven't. In fact I hadn't realized it was what I wanted before tonight. Thanks for helping me to move on."
They both rose and went to grab the boxes they had left in the bedroom. As they were both standing next to the door, they couldn't find a way to say goodbye.
"Frank ?"
"Yes ?"
"I will always love you, you know."
"I know. And I will always love you too."
He wrapped his arms around her and they stayed like that for a few minutes, her head resting against his chest. She had no regrets about coming here. This evening had been what they had both been needing.
Please review, and tell me what you think of it ! What should happen next ?