A few weeks had passed and Thanksgiving was quickly approaching. Bianca was a mess inside. Everything turned out exactly as she feared. Frankie had vanished. As hard as Bianca tried, she could not locate the older girl. Bianca avoided telling Sarah any of the details about what happened that night on Halloween. She just didn't know where to begin. Gratefully, the squabble at the bar had somehow managed to stay out of the tabloids. She was certain that Erica and David had something to do with it.
Whenever Bianca tried to ask Leo about Frankie, he would keep the information to a minimum. He would change the subject or use automatic responses like, Oh, it has been a while…but I am sure she is doing alright or She is just really busy finishing up school. "I know that he is just being true to Frankie, so I can't fault him for that. I just wish she wasn't hiding from me." Bianca thought. She had waited patiently for several weeks, three to be exact. She was not getting response by phone or text. She had even e-mailed and received no reply.
Bianca sat draped across an armchair in Myrtle's sitting room. It was early on a Monday morning and she just couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing. Thanksgiving was in three days and Sarah would be in Pine Valley soon. I've got to do something, because I don't know how to face Sarah without some closure between Frankie and I. Suddenly she sat up. I am just going to drive up there. Yes, yes that is what I will do. She can't hide from me if I am face to face. Resigned to confront her lover and make her feelings known, Bianca got up from her chair and grabbed her purse and keys. "You want to be stubborn Frankie Stone? I will show you stubborn."
After making the five hour trek to Syracuse, Bianca pulled over for the second time to stretch her legs. She had gone over what she planned to say to Frankie at least one hundred times, but now that she was so close, her stomach was turning. What if she rejects me? What if I say all these things I feel…the choice I made …and she still says no? Bianca paced outside the gas station. How could I blame her, after all my indecisiveness and confusion? She sighed.
"It's now or never, Montgomery." Bianca mumbled as she gave a little stretch and then climbed back in the car to drive the few miles left to Frankie's store. Bianca clenched her fists, open and shut, in an attempt to steady her nerves. She got out of the car and walked inside. She didn't see anyone that she recognized, so she perused the racks and waited. After what seemed like half an hour, she started to leave. I guess she must be off today. Hmm? She always closes on Mondays. Bianca walked toward the door, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. The brunette turned to see the tall lanky young man before her. "Pete!" She exclaimed.
"I thought that was you, Bianca." Pete replied with a smile. "I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner. I was trying to help someone in the back. I'm glad I was able to get away before you left." Pete pushed his glasses up further on his nose and then shifted awkwardly. "So what brings you up to these parts? Are you visiting Frankie? How is she?" He asked.
Bianca gave Pete a puzzled look and replied, "Well yeah, I am here to visit her. I figured she would be working today. Has she not been in?"
"Oh gosh, no." Pete said. "Frankie doesn't work here anymore."
"What?" Bianca said surprised. She caught her tone and lowered her voice to ask, "When did this happen? Why?"
Pete nodded. "It has been over a week. On the first of November, the big boss showed up. He said that Frankie had an accident of some sort and she wouldn't be in. She returned to work within the next couple of days and let us all know that she would be resigning. She apparently had documentation stating a disability or something. You know how gossip is. Anyway, she has been completely gone from here for like a week and a half. They brought in some manager trainee from corporate to take her spot. It hasn't been the same."
Injury? Bianca thought to herself. November first would have been right after the party. Her hand? Surely that wouldn't…Oh my god! What if something has happened? Surely Leo would have told me? "Oh yeah, her accident." Bianca faked. "I guess I can see why she would have trouble continuing here. Well, it was good seeing you Pete. I will give her your best when I find…err, see her." Bianca gave the boy a hug and rushed to her car. Her mind was racing and heart thumping out of her chest at the thought of something bad happening to Frankie. She had to see her or her heart might burst.
She pulled into the apartment complex and was at the door in almost no time. After two knocks, she was beginning to get antsy. The door opened slowly and a young blonde woman stood in the frame.
"Bella!" Bianca said. She was surprised to see the girl there, but her attention quickly focused on her reason for being there. She tried in vain to see past the young girl into the back of the apartment.
"Hey, Bianca!" Bella's shock was evident. "Oh my! What in the world? What are you doing here?"
Bianca struggled to see back towards Frankie's room for some sign of her presence, but was not seeing anything. She was picking up a whole different vibe. Something was not right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Oh well, I came to see Frankie. Is she here? I wanted to surprise her. I went by her work, but she isn't there anymore. Something about an accident…is she okay? Why hasn't she called me?"
Bella gestured for Bianca to come inside, causing Bianca to cease her ramblings momentarily. As Bianca came in and sat down, she began to notice things. The décor and layout of the furniture had changed. She looked to Bella questioningly and noticed the very pensive look on Bella's face. "Wow, they really redecorated this place. It looks so different." She notice Bella's look. "What…what is it? What happened to Frankie?"
Bella cleared her throat. "Bianca…gosh, how am I the one that has to do this? Bianca, Frankie left. She is gone."
The words fell like stones from the sky. Though quietly spoken, they shattered the silence of Bianca's mind. Cutting through and silencing the jumbled static of her fears, while at the same time reverberating and echoing throughout her head. She sat staring at Bella. Not knowing what to think, or what to say, she just stood there.
"She wasn't in an accident. Her cousin, the doctor…he arranged some sort of medical paperwork to get her out of her job. She wanted to leave here as soon as possible. Jamie and I have reconciled and we were already talking about me moving in here with them. Then there was the big incident at Halloween. We got back here and she sat us down and said she was leaving. She had figured out the work situation with her cousin and knowing that I was gonna be here for Jamie, she felt like it would work out fine. I am sorry to be the one that had to tell you."
Bianca could feel the warm tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to fight back the sobs, but breathing won out in the end. With a gasp and a small choke, she doubled over. I missed it. I have lost my chance. She is really truly gone. Bianca sat up when she heard the front door open. She looked up, hopefully, while wiping the tears away and saw Jamie in the doorway.
"Bianca. Wow…ummm." Jamie looked knowingly at Bella, and went to set his bag of food on the counter. He made his way around the sofa and pulled Bianca up into a hug. "I guess you know, huh? I am sorry that she left it this way. I really am. She just did what she thought was best. She was gone in just a matter of weeks. To be honest, I am still processing it." Jamie tried to give a reassuring grin as he wiped a tear from Bianca's cheek.
"I…I am sorry I just dropped in on you." Bianca struggled. She tried to shake herself off and pull together, but was finding it increasingly difficult to find her words. "I just really needed to see her. She has been avoiding me for weeks and well I had to tell her…..Oh it doesn't matter now." Jamie looked at her understandingly, reached out and squeezed her hand. "No need to apologize. I am sorry that this went down this way. She is okay. She is going to be okay. You will too, just give it time."
"Where is she?" Bianca asked hopefully. "I don't suppose you will tell me that, huh? What is she doing? How is her hand? Why did she go through so much trouble to get out of here? I mean, I get that she doesn't want to see me…but I am five hours away. I don't get it."
Jamie sat on the couch across from Bianca and took a deep breath. "I have some laundry to sort in the other room. I will just leave you two to talk." Bella said. Jamie smiled lovingly at her as she exited.
"Okay, there are things I can't tell you. I am real sorry about that, but I promised Frankie. Bella doesn't even know." Jamie said.
"What can you tell me?" Bianca said with pleading eyes.
"Okay. Well, the fight could have landed Frankie in major hot water. I mean, if that girl had pressed charges or something. Well, it turned out that the DA felt that the arrest needed to be made. There were a lot of witnesses and all. Frankie's cousin…he knew that his wife was going to have to arrest Frankie. Then he got the call from you. So he put his attorney to work right away. But he was also working on that Dee girl at the hospital. According to Frankie, David and some rich lady put their heads together on an offer to persuade the girl to drop it and leave town. She did and then the lawyer came up with a reasonable agreement to make it all go away."
Bianca's eyes grew wide. I knew David would come through for her. A rich lady? Mother? "Well, it is good that they got her out of the mess, but I don't understand why she left her life here?"
"Well." Jamie continued. "Part of the agreement that she made to settle matters was that she would seek out some anger management courses. She has to complete them and also check in with her cousin's wife regularly. With those requirements, her busted hand and all, she was concerned that it would get back to her bosses somehow. They are really strict about criminal records of any kind. So Frankie and David concocted a disability story to get her out of a drawn out resignation. Frankie was a little skeptical, but he assured her that he could make it look legit. He got her set up in another town and she transferred from Syracuse to another university where she is now. Apparently when she graduates this coming term, her cousin has a job lined up for her and everything."
"I just can't believe that she left so fast." Bianca shook her head. "She loves it here. Sounds like she has really got it all laid out for her though." Bianca sighed. She wiped her tears and stood. "Thanks for telling me, Jamie. I hope that she won't fault you for doing that much."
Jamie patted Bianca on the back. "It had to be done…it just should have been her. I am going to give her a piece of my mind."
"No…don't." Bianca interjected. "She is just doing what she needed to do for her. I don't blame her after I kept her waiting so long. I just wish I had gotten the chance to tell her… Oh well…I am too late. It doesn't matter." Her voice trailed off to a whisper and Jamie struggled to make out what she said. Did she say I'm too late? Too late for what? I wonder if…. Jamie was startled by Bianca's arms around him. After giving her friend a hug goodbye, Bianca exited the apartment and walked to her car. Her phone vibrated. She pulled it from her purse to answer. "Hello?"
"Hey, Hon? Guess who is halfway to Pine Valley to see her favorite girl? Surprise! It's me!" Sarah announced excitedly. "I was able to leave a day earlier than we planned. This holiday is getting better and better, huh?"
Bianca took a deep breath. "Sure is. I am so excited to see you. I'm doing some work in Phillly today, so if I haven't made it back to the house before you get in…just let yourself into my room. I will let Myrtle know."
"Oh..okay." Sarah said puzzled. "Well if you are working, I won't keep you. I should probably focus on the road anyway. I can't wait to see you later tonight, though."
"Me neither." Bianca said sweetly. "Be careful. Holiday traffic must be a mess. See ya."
"I love you. Bye" Sarah said.
"Mmm Hmm…love ya too." Bianca responded and disconnected the call.
In the apartment, Jamie had called Frankie. "She was just here. Just here and sitting in the living room when I got back from the store. – Well, no…Bella didn't know what else to do. She had to tell her something. -No, Bianca had already been by the store and knew you quit. - I promised didn't I? I didn't say a word about where you are.—I don't think this is over for her, Frankie. – You don't understand how wrecked this girl looked, dude. She kept mumbling stuff about it was too late and she missed her chance. Frankie I think she is in love with you…I think she was coming here for more than just a proper goodbye. No, I really think she was choosing you."