The ride to Pine Valley from New York had been a long one. Frankie and Robin made the best of it. They listened to music and shared a little of their lives with each other. They switched out once, allowing the other to nap and each took breaks from the other by having phone conversations. Robin with her boyfriend Patrick and Frankie took time to catch up with Jamie.
As they hit the city limits, they pulled over to stretch their legs and grabbed some coffee. "So, you ready for this? " Robin asked.
"Yeah, I guess. I'm just not used to this family stuff." Frankie said. She scratched her head and took a sip of the hot liquid. "I'm touched that they are all here for me. Leo is great and David has been more like a dad to me than my own father. It is definitely something I have wanted all my life. I just never had it. I learned to do without and now…now I just don't know what to do with all this mushy stuff. "
"I can understand." Robin said. "I grew up without my folks for most of my life. They were always off on assignment and I spent most of my years with my uncle. I get the whole idea of finding your sea legs, or whatever. It takes time. But you will get there. If my parents and I can do it, you and your cousins can figure it out."
"Thanks, Robin." Frankie said. "I mean, for everything. A lot of things have changed…really fast and I have appreciated your kindness. I really do. Well, let's get this show on the road. "The girls ditched their coffee cups and climbed back into the car.
They pulled up to the Valley Inn and made their way to the private dining room that David had reserved. They were greeted by David and Anna at the doorway. "Frankie…Robin! So glad you made it!" David exclaimed while pulling Frankie into a hug. Anna took the time to hug her daughter. "I am so glad you could make it, darling. I spoke with your father recently and he sends his love."
"It's very good to see you, Mom. Patrick had to work, so he said to tell you he is sorry he was not able to attend." Robin said while warmly shaking David's hand.
"Of course dear, I understand." Anna replied.
Frankie had moved on from the doorway and made her way over to the table. Leo and Greenlee sat bantering quietly. Leo looked up and saw Frankie approaching. "Cousin! So glad you came." The young man stood up to pat Frankie on the back. Frankie nodded at Greenlee and then gestured for Leo to step to the side. She lowered her voice and asked. "How is she? Is she doing alright?" Frankie questioned.
"Bianca is gonna be fine. She is strong, but I am not gonna lie, she misses you. She asks all the time. Sure she knows I won't say, so she doesn't ask me directly anymore. There is always something in her eyes though. She brings you up without realizing it sometimes and I can see the hurt and the questions. I haven't seen her this torn up since she lost her dad. Are you sure that you are doing the right thing?"
Frankie scratched at her scalp and bit at the skin on her lip. "I don't know anymore. I don't think she has a future with me. Look at how out of control I got that night. I just don't know? I haven't been able to stop thinking about her, though." Frankie sighed and looked out the window.
"Frankie, love can make a person do crazy things. Trust me…Greenlee and I wrote the book on the subject. You may have over reacted that night, but there was tension, stress and alcohol involved. From all I have heard from you, and from Bianca, this whole thing has not been easy. The one thing that you seem to share is this amazing love for one another though. I know that is not an easy thing to come by in our family. Maybe what you are running from is your own feelings and not the noble act of protecting Bianca." Frankie looked up at Leo thoughtfully. He cleared his throat and continued. "You know, she is my best friend and I was not thrilled when I first heard you two had met up. I knew the kind of person you used to be and I was worried for her. I gave you a chance though, because I heard the way she spoke about you. When you and I reconnected, well, I could hear the change in your voice. I saw that Bianca had reached you, much in the same way that she and Greenlee reached me. Bianca is like my baby sister. Do you really think I would be rooting for you guys if I didn't think there was something special there?"
Frankie smiled and hugged Leo. "Thank you. Thanks for all that you said and for being Bianca's friend…and mine. You are right. I am going to find her and talk to her after all of this." She gestured in the air at the dining room. David had taken his place at the head of the table and was calling everyone to be seated. After a few words and a prayer, the servers began bringing in the food. The whole group sat talking cheerily. Frankie was introduced to Trey. He was the brother of David and Leo that Bianca had tld her about. She spoke to him only briefly because he had a nervous quiet way about him. He seemed very on edge. Leo told her later that he was just re-adjusting to being a free man.
Frankie had a remarkable conversation with Aidan, Anna's nephew. He was very interesting and seemed to also have a history of working with special law enforcement and even did some private detective work. They had a small little group, but it was nice. This is something I haven't shared with anyone in a long time. I want this. I do. I want this with Bianca. I could almost imagine us all gathered together on holidays, my little family and her big crazy one. Maybe I am just blowing this all out of proportion. She loves me. She came all the way to Syracuse, didn't she? I am being stupid. I need to find her and talk. I should have talked to her in the first place. Leo is right. I ran because of my own fears, my own need to keep everything at bay so that I don't have to deal with it.
"Frankie? You okay?" Leo interrupted her thoughts. She glanced up. She saw Leo's quizzical look and saw a waiter approaching David. "Yeah…err…Yes, I am fine. Just lost in my head. Sorry."
David stood up and excused himself. He wore a big smile as he returned moments later. "If everyone will excuse me, I have a bit of a surprise. Anna and I, well mostly Anna and her many connections, have arranged for a special guest. Frankie, if you will stand." Frankie reluctantly stood up and looked to Leo. Leo gestured that he had no clue. David nodded to the waiter at the door "Okay, allow our guest to join us. I would like to introduce, and reunite for some…Mary-Margret Stone. Surprise!" Just then Maggie entered the dining room. She looked as puzzled and reluctant as Frankie had just moments before. She was looking to David, curious as to what the fuss was all about. Then she heard her sister's name and saw the mirror of herself looking back at her. That is my sister, who I cared for growing up. The sister who never followed the rules, who always ran away, that had finally vanished without ever looking back or searching for me. Maggie was furious. Years of pain and unanswered questions ate away at her. She turned on her heels and stormed off in direction of the bar.
Frankie stood stock still. She felt her heart thumping in her chest as she stared in her own eyes. She is here. She is okay. She made it out. She never listened to me. All those times I begged her to come with me and she stayed. When she left for school…she left me behind. She never listened to me. She was so smart. She always thought she was better than me. Look at her…running away. She can't even look me in the eye, much less talk to me. I am not going to stand here and deal with this. Frankie stood up and burst thru a side door that lead out to the terrace.
David stood shocked. Anna looked to Robin, embarrassed for the spectacle. Leo stood. "How did you think that this was a good idea? Springing this on them like that. I told you there were some issues between them. I told you."
David sat flustered. "I just wanted to do something nice for them. They have been through so much. I am just trying to put this family back together…for all of us."
Trey spoke up. "That is the problem David. This family was never a family. You can't quick fix something that never existed to begin with. We have to take this slow. Just like the three of us took time to trust each other. You can't rush them."
"I will go talk to Maggie." Leo offered. Robin stood and said "I will find Frankie" as she left out the terrace doors.
Robin found Frankie sitting on the edge of a table on the terrace. She was holding a small picture of herself and a brunette girl. Robin cleared her throat and she spoke. "She is lovely. May I ask?" She walked around and took a seat next to Frankie.
"Her name is Bianca." Frankie said. She bit down hard on her cheek, fighting back tears. Could this day get any worse? She put the picture away.
"So which has you more upset right now?" Robin questioned. "Bianca…or David deciding to spring the long lost twin sister on you?" This caused Frankie to smirk a little. The moment allowed for a tear to break through and it didn't take much for more to follow.
"Bianca is sort of an ongoing thing. It is complicated. She lives here and I've been nervous about coming back. Leo and I were just talking and I was thinking about her. I was already nervous about so much. Then, this happened. There is so much baggage between Maggie and me. I just wasn't ready to deal with this. And it only makes me need Bianca more. She gets me. She always makes everything better."
"Ahh, gotcha." Robin said. "Well, I can't be Bianca. I am your friend though and I am going to help you through this. We can deal with this Bianca problem later, I promise, but I think it is time you and your sister talk things out. From what I heard in there…she didn't know you were here either."
Frankie looked skeptically at Robin. "Come on, Stone. We are family now. You have a family and we can all work this out. Let's go." Robin extended her hand out to Frankie and she took it. She pulled her up and awkwardly pulled Frankie into a hug. The tears fell freely now. "Thanks so much, Robin…really." Robin hugged her tightly, soothing her back and then pulled away. She gave a quick kiss to the top of Frankie's head, brushed her hair from her face and wiped away a tear. "Anytime, little sister. I mean I guess we have to embrace these new connections that have been cast upon us. You were saying that David is more like a father to you than your real dad ever was, and well…I guess he is my step-dad…so what do you say? Want to go tackle all this with me in your corner?" Frankie just grinned and nodded. She wiped away more tears and put her arm around Robin in a half hug as they led each other back into the Inn.