I am sorry that I have not updated in a while. I had a virus take over my laptop recently and unfortunately I do not have the ending saved on my old laptop. All is not lost. I do have copies of the story all over the place, I just have not uploaded them onto the website yet. This is the last chapter I uploaded before the virus took over. I will update as soon as possible and hopefully write again soon. ;)
Christmas morning arrived and Frankie woke up to an alarm blaring. She sat up and surveyed the room around her. She could see the snow piled up outside her window. She scratched at her head and let out a yawn. With a quick stretch, she rose from bed and walked to the bathroom. After showering, she dressed and surveyed the lack of cleanliness that seemed to have taken over the rest of the apartment. The thought of it all gave her a headache. She went to the fridge and opened the door. Crap! We're out of beer.
Frankie sat on the nearby stool. She tapped on her leg and then spied her phone sitting on the counter. She dialed up Brook Lynn. After a couple rings, Brook answered. "Hey sexy, Merry Christmas."
Frankie scratched her head. "Oh yeah, that's right, Merry Christmas. Are you in town?"
"Yeah, I'm out on Spoon Island. I have a date tonight with my friend Nikolas" Brook answered.
"Nikolas? What happened to Johnny? Never mind, I guess if you finish up early or something, come by."
"I'll try. I don't know how long this party will go on. If I don't, I will call you. I gotta go, lover." Brook Lynn said and disconnected.
Frankie set the phone down and picked up her keys. She threw on a coat and walked down to the nearest store. She purchased a case of beer and then trudged back home. As she walked up the steps, she saw a man by her door. He had a small beat up looking pine tree with him. "Uhh, can I help you?" Frankie asked.
The man turned around. "Ho, Ho, Ho. Merry Christmas!"
"Jamie!" Frankie grinned and set the beer down to hug her friend. "What are you doing here? Oh man! I am so glad to see you. I have missed you so much!"
Jamie picked up the tree and signaled for Frankie to open the door. He followed her in. "I have been planning this trip for a while. See, first off…Bella and I are over."
"Jamie, what happened?" Frankie said putting the beer in the fridge and handing one to Jamie as she joined him. He finished adjusting the tree in the corner and popped the top as he sat down next to Frankie.
"We all know it was a long time coming." He answered. "We were apart more than we were together. She was talking about bailing again and I told her to go ahead. I am okay with it, really. I had some time to adjust to the idea."
"Wow. Well, here is to you man!" Frankie said as she raised her can.
"Now we are going to talk about you. What are you doing? Frankie, you have been down this road. Drinking and randomly hooking up? I came to help snap you out of this nonsense."
"I'm fine." Frankie said starting to defend herself and then looked puzzled toward Jamie. "Wait. How do you know what I have been doing?" Frankie said. Realization sunk in. "Robin! Man, you know I can take care of myself. Robin is just being over-protective. She is blowing a few nights of partying out of proportion. You don't have to worry about me, honest."
Jamie looked around the apartment. "Don't bullshit me. I know you better than you know yourself, and I know what this disastrous mess means. Look, it doesn't matter. I'm not letting you self-destruct again. I'm going to keep my eye on you."
Frankie scoffed. "I don't need a babysitter, man. Go on back to Syracuse and just trust me."
"Well, that is the problem, see. There is nothing for me back there. My best friend…my family is here. She doesn't get it yet, but she needs me. I'm not leaving. I packed up my junk and sublet our place to your old co-worker Pete. Apparently, he has your old job and is doing quite well."
Frankie just stared at him. "Wow. I knew that kid would get there. What are you going to do about school and work? Where are you going to live?"
"I've already officially transferred to PCU and will start after break. I plan on applying at some jobs tomorrow. As for living arrangements, I happen to know this great young doctor who just got engaged to her boyfriend, so she is gonna move in with him and said I can crash at her place as long as I make rent. So, whatcha think about that, roomie?" Jamie said with a smile.
"I don't really know what I'm thinking. On one hand, I am thrilled that you are here. I haven't felt the same since moving here. On the other hand, I have to say that I am a little pissed that you and Robin are conspiring behind my back."
Jamie took a sip of his beer and smiled coyly. "Your sister is in on it too." He laughed his booming laugh and smacked Frankie on the back. "Poor, Frankie. Is the big bad world teaming up on you?" Frankie punched him in the arm.
"What do you say we clean this mess up and then I will make us something special for dinner. You remember dinner, right? The stuff that doesn't come in a brown long neck bottle?" Frankie punched him in the arm again and then went to grab some plastic trash bags.
"I have missed you, Ass." Frankie laughed as she began collecting bottles from the floor.
A few hours later, they were sitting at the table. Jamie had roasted some chicken up and whipped up a few side dishes with what he found in the cupboards. Frankie ran down to the store and bought a frozen pie to heat up. As she set the table, there was a knock on the door. Frankie looked up at Jamie and he appeared just as clueless as she was. Frankie got up and opened the door.
"Merry Christmas!" Maggie shouted from behind a stack of presents.
"Maggie!" Frankie said as she took some of the packages from her sister's hands and set them beneath the tree in the corner.
"I couldn't bear the thought of my sister being alone. Everyone in Pine Valley sends their love." Maggie smiled. She removed her coat and moved to hug Frankie. Jamie just stared at Maggie. He stood from the table and straightened out his clothes. When no one was looking he subtly checked his hair in the mirror. After clearing his throat, he stepped forward and extended his hand. "Hi, Maggie. It's so good to put a face to the name. Ha! You guys really are identical…wow. So weird, yet I can totally tell the difference. Weird."
"Jamie, I presume?" Maggie said sweetly. "So glad you made it out here safely."
"It still pisses me off that you two have been plotting behind my back." Frankie growled lowly.
"Get over it already, crybaby." Jamie said and he went to collect a plate for Maggie.
"Oh my." Maggie said." I like this one Frankie. I do believe we are going to get along just fine." With a wink, she took a seat at the table between the two friends.
After they had eaten the chicken and devoured the pie, the three friends sat and talked over a couple beers. Maggie and Jamie both relished in sharing tales of Frankie and her misadventures. They all laughed heartily and just enjoyed the evening. "I don't remember when I have laughed this much. Thank you both for coming to be here with me." Frankie said.
"I think it is time to open your presents." Maggie said and jumped up to pass out the packages in the corner.
"Oh, I almost forgot. I have a gift for you in the car. Hang on." Jamie exclaimed as he ran outside.
Frankie was overwhelmed at everything that Maggie had brought. She had received a Tag Heuer watch from David. Reggie had gotten her a Packers beanie hat and a matching scarf. Leo and Greenlee had also sent her a couple of cotton button down shirts and a monogrammed leather satchel bag. "Wow! This is all just too much. I haven't done any shopping."
"Nobody cares about that. We just want you to be happy and safe. That is all I hope for, anyway." Maggie said. She handed a small package to Frankie. "It's not much, but I think you will like it." Maggie said.
Frankie opened the package and found two books. She turned it over and read the titles aloud. "The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas and The Poetry of Robert Frost. Oh, Maggie…these are awesome. Thank you so much." She leaned over and hugged her sister. Jamie handed Frankie a package next. She opened the package to find a small photo album of the two of them. There was also a couple of the newest Punisher comics and the latest Cake cd. Frankie flipped through the album and laughed aloud a few times. "This is perfect Jamie. I love it all. Thanks." She leaned over for a quick hug.
Frankie sat back and just stared at the tree. Jamie had gotten up to clean up the kitchen and un-pack while Maggie was freshening up. She came out in her pajamas a little later and sat down next to her sister. She pulled Frankie over into her lap and stroked her hair. "Remember when we used to sneak out into the living room after Mom fell asleep so we could just sit like this and stare at the tree?"
"Yeah." Frankie sighed. "I've missed you, Maggie." Frankie felt tears welling in her eyes. "I have missed this…being part of a family. I want us to get this back, but better, you know?"
"I know. We will too. We have a second chance at this. I am really grateful for that." Maggie looked down at Frankie. "How are you holding up? Really?"
"I am numb. I am angry…mostly at myself. I miss her and I just don't know if this feeling is ever gonna go away."
Maggie sat in silence. She still stroked her sister's hair and contemplated telling her all that she had learned from the encounter with Bianca. Maybe I should just stay out of it? I am not totally convinced that Bianca is right for Frankie. Maybe it would make a difference if Frankie knew the truth, but then again, maybe not? Leo said that Bianca had run back to Boston. No, I need to be honest with her. Secrecy and lies aren't going to get us anywhere. "Frankie, I…" Maggie began, but there was a knock on the door.
Frankie hopped up and ran to answer it. It was Brook Lynn. She was in tears again and had been drinking. Maggie could smell it across the room. "What's wrong, Brook? What happened?" Frankie asked.
"Just hold me." Brook Lynn cried. Frankie shot an apologetic look to Maggie and helped Brook back to the bedroom. She came back briefly. "Hey, I'm sorry. Please understand. She is my friend and it's Christmas."
"I get it." Maggie lied. "I plan on staying through New Years' so you will just have to make it up to me." Frankie grinned wide and ran to kiss her sister's head. "I love ya, Mags. Merry Christmas. Goodnight!" Then she retreated to her room.
Jamie exited from packing a bit later. He looked around the room. "Where is Frankie?" He asked. Maggie rolled her eyes and mocked a drunken impression of Brook Lynn and then signaled to the bedroom. "Are you kidding me?" Jamie whispered. "I am going to put an end to this crap right now. It's Christmas for crying out loud!" He started to walk away, but Maggie grabbed his wrist.
"Trust me, you do not want to go anywhere near that room." Maggie said with a shudder. "Come sit down, my friend. We have a far bigger problem to tackle than Frankie's drinking. We need to figure out how we are going to get rid of Brook."