A/N: I've written this three times now trying to avoid having detailed you know what scenes, but it's so damn hard these two drive me crazy! Anyway hopefully this one makes it into the final cut! Enjoy ;)
It had been a few months since the events in Russia and things were finally starting to settle down in the Kiernan house, Andrew had been away a couple of times and tonight he was due back. Work for him had never been so busy, he'd come up on something big and whilst it had drawn him away a week or so at a time, he always came back as soon as he could. That made Frankie want him even more.
Trouble was this time his mother and brother and his wife (with whom he'd reconciled) and kids were visiting. Usually when he came back from being away they couldn't keep their hands off each other, now they were separated, unable to touch each other until at least bed time and that's if they were quiet and Teagan let them. She wondered if he would be feeling the heat as much as him.
Frankie daydreamed as she stood stirring the cookie mix, Connie was playing with Teagan, Liam and Charlotte were sat on the sofa watching tv and their kids Ben (10), Sara (7) and Lucy (5) were running around the house with Bruno.
The door clicked open and Andrew walked in his glasses perched on the end of his nose. He dropped his bag down as everyone approached him. The kids all dived on uncle Andrew, Liam shook his hand, Charlotte gave him a hug as did Connie with a kiss. He took his daughter and held her high. "Hello my beautiful little lady, look how big you've grown!" He kissed her and fussed her but he looked for the one person he wanted more than anyone.
He made his way through the crowd as Frankie stood back and waited her turn. He smiled lovingly and wrapped his arms around her picking her up, he kissed her passionately. "Hey." He said dropping her down gently. "Hey." She smiled wrapping her arms around his neck and cuddling him. He held her tight, he'd missed her incredibly. She smelt so good and felt even better, he was so in love with her more than ever if that was possible.
"Okay love birds save something for the bedroom." Liam said laughing with the group. "You need a haircut." Frankie said and ran her fingers through his hair.
"I'd love one thank you." He smiled and kissed her again.
Liam made a puking noise and Andrew pulled her tighter to him. "Their just jealous." He laughed. She laughed too and eventually they parted not wanting to. Liam put some dance music on and shouted the kids. "Everyone outside, break out the beer Frankie it's time for a party! Families back together!"
Connie cheered and danced with Teagan out the doors. Frankie rolled her eyes and went to the beer fridge grabbing 5 beers and walking through the kitchen out into the garden. The kids were messing around on the grass, Andrew had a swing and other kids park toys installed just for them coming.
Frankie put the bottles down on the table and Liam picked one up. "Bet you can't do this Frankie." He got the cap on the edge of the table, smacked it and the cap flew off.
Frankie laughed and picked up a bottle and another bottle. She lined them up and smacked the bottom of the bottle on the bottom of the cap on the second bottle, the neck smashed and she cursed laughing.
"Oh Frankie you're bleeding!" Connie said worried. Frankie looked down and covered her finger. "Thanks Liam!" She laughed.
"Hey my trick worked!" He laughed. Going inside Frankie went to the sink, running her hand under the water. Andrew came along side her and took her hand looking at her cut. "You've got a bit of glass stuck in there, hold on." He pushed his glasses up his nose and went to get a pair of tweezers out the draw.
She sat up on the counter top with a bit of tissue under her hand. He came back over and started tweezing.
"You two at it again?" Charlotte chuffed as she walked in. Andrew grunted concentrating and Frankie smiled politely.
"I don't know what it is about her but she's got such an attitude." Frankie said when she disappeared into the toilet. "She has to, to put up with Liam."
"I don't think we're going to get along."
"You don't have to. Just ignore her."
"I mean she disappeared when the thing with Sean happened, now it's all over and he's coming here with the kids, she just invited herself along?"
"He said their working on fixing things…got it!" He said and she smiled. "Thank you, my hero!" He grabbed a plaster and some antiseptic cream and put it on for her. "My brave girl." He kissed her softly.
"Oh for gods sake." Charlotte laughed sarcastically as she walked past again. Frankie slid down off the counter and went to go after her, Andrew wrapped his arms around her to stop her.
"Let it go." He said laughing.
She sighed and grabbed his hands turning to him. "Will you get me a glass?"
"Will you behave?" She rolled her eyes and nodded. He grabbed a glass and gave it to her, taking her hand he pulled her back outside.
"I see you've successfully opened the rest of the bottles." Frankie said as Andrew sat down and pulled her into his lap.
"You have to have the nack!"
"Frankie what have you been feeding this little girl? She's getting big!" Connie said "granny's squishy gal."
"She's ready to try food I think, although she still wants breast milk."
"You breast feed? Dear god no… I couldn't do it, feels so degrading." Charlotte popped up.
"It's a closer bond between mother and baby, it's not degrading at all it's natural." Frankie replied.
"Nothing wrong with a bottle fed baby, they learn to be independent quicker, not sucking off mum for the rest of their lives." Charlotte laughed. Andrew wrapped his arm around Frankie and pulled her back. "Let it go." Andrew whispered.
"Speaking of breast feeding…" Connie said as Teagan fussed. "I think she's ready for her mammy." Connie handed her to Frankie.
"I hope you're not doing that here in front of my husband." Charlotte said.
"Hey I don't mind!" Liam said, Frankie stood and bit her lip, going inside. There was a silence amongst the group and Andrew sighed rubbing his brow.
"She's got great tits." Liam said. Charlotte looked at him disgusted, Connie burst out laughing and Andrew shook his head.
"What?! She has! I can appreciate women's tits." He said to another look of disgust from Charlotte. Andrew stood and went inside.
Frankie took Teagan upstairs to her and Andrew's bedroom. She began feeding her and stroked her daughters hair slowly, gazing at her.
Andrew looked around but couldn't find Frankie anywhere. Finally he decided to go to their bedroom and pushed open the door. "There you are." He said shutting the door behind him.
Walking over he sat on the edge of their bed and smiled at them. Stroking his daughters hair. "Don't listen to her Frankie, I think she's doing it deliberately to wind you up, she wants you to snap so she shows you to be the bad one."
Frankie sighed and kissed Teagan's head. "I don't care what she says about me but I won't let her talk shit about my daughter." He came around and scooted her forward so he could sit behind her, Frankie sat back between his legs and leant against his chest. He watched Teagan over her shoulder.
"If she says anything else let me deal with it, I don't want Liam jumping on you."
"You think he would?" She asked. "He's too scared of her."
"You think?" Andrew said stroking Frankie's arms and kissing her neck.
"Yeah, he's worried if he doesn't please her majesty he'll loose her again and she'll take the kids."
"Either way, let me deal with it, I'm not having her upsetting you okay? This is our home and if she carries on she can sleep in the car till they go home." Frankie laughed and shook her head.
Andrew wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his cheek on her shoulder. "I missed you."
"I missed you too baby." She replied. She turned her head to kiss him, making out with him a little.
"If it means anything to you, Liam thinks you have got great tits." Andrew laughed.
Frankie laughed too Andrew gave his little finger to his daughter as she started to fall asleep. "She's grown." He whispered. Frankie nodded.
A few minutes later and Teagan was asleep. Andrew got up and picked her up from Frankie, taking her to her own bed and settling her down. He came back to Frankie and went over to her, pulling her to her feet. "Come on beautiful don't let it ruin your day." He smiled.
She sighed and nodded taking his hand he pulled her back downstairs. Frankie grabbed another beer popping it open and taking a swig. Andrew went outside and rejoined the party.
A few hours later and everyone was very merry, even Connie, Frankie had one but she couldn't have any more because of breastfeeding, plus someone had to look out for the kids so the gang designated her the sober one. It was a little past sunset so you could still see a bit of sunlight on the lake, the kids were eating dinner in the kitchen and the adults were messing around outside.
"Make sure you eat all your veggies Ben." Frankie smiled and he nodded, he definitely didn't get his mother's personality.
The music was loud and Frankie had turned it down a couple of times but between Liam and Andrew they'd kept turning it back up. So it was no surprise to her when the cops showed up.
"Who called the cops?" Liam said, hanging off a tree branch with Andrew underneath him. The cops walked over and removed their caps.
"Evening all." One of them said. Frankie turned the music down and looked at them. "Sorry officer we will keep it down I promise." She said.
"Oh we're not here about that." He said. "We're looking for Frankie, Frankie Paige?"
Liam goaded her. "Ooo Frankie's in trouble!" Charlotte joined in laughing.
"I'm her." Frankie said walking over. "Can we have a word in private?" The officer said and started walking back to their car. Frankie followed them, reaching the car.
"Wonder what that's about?" Charlotte said, Connie looked over. "Probably a speeding ticket."
"She doesn't drive." Andrew said as everyone stopped.
Suddenly Frankie fell to her knees and screamed at the top of her lungs. "What the hell?" Charlotte said sitting up, Andrew dropped Liam and ran over to Frankie, he ran up to her and she sobbed. He wrapped her in his arms and held her.
"What's wrong?" He asked worried.
Frankie sobbed and got up running inside, she ran upstairs to their bedroom.
"What the hell is going on?" Andrew said trying to sober up.
"Is Frankie okay?" Charlotte said.
"What happened?"
"Err…" the officer didn't know if he should say anything.
"I'm her husband." Andrew said. "We're his family."
"Well…" he was just about to say something when Frankie ran out with a bag over her shoulder. She ran past the officers and ran towards the driveway.
"For fucks sakes what's going on?" Andrew shouted and ran after Frankie. Frankie ran down the driveway, looking left and right.
Andrew just managed to catch up with her and grabbed her arm. "Frankie where are you going? What happened?"
She sobbed and fell to her knees. "My…" she tried but she couldn't say it, she was hysterically crying. "Calm down." He said and held her to him. "Shhh. Calm down."
She sobbed. "My parents….are…missing…they've gone missing…." She said.
"What?! How?! Where?!"
She sobbed and got up running again. He ran after her and grabbed her. "Frankie stop, stop baby, talk to me."
She couldn't her body was shaking and she felt sick, she turned away from him and ran to the grass area to throw up. He went to her and rubbed her back. "Shhh." He said, "calm down, I'm here."
"They were on my dads yacht and someone said they found it floating and abandoned in the middle of the North Atlantic sea off Barbados…." She turned to him sobbing. "There was a lot of blood inside the cabin…"
He stared at her and rubbed her back a little bringing her to him. He rested her head against him, "where are you going?"
"I'm going to find them. I'm going to get my dads second yacht and sail it out there." She got up and he grabbed her again. "Baby, listen to me, listen."
She sobbed she didn't want to hear it. "Baby something bad must've happened… I don't want to say it but something somewhere doesn't sound right."
"Nobody's seen them since they left the port in Barbados. I have to find them I can't just sit here."
He grabbed her shoulders and held her tight. "Baby they aren't out there, I don't want to say it but…"
"Don't." She shook her head. "I have to go."
He pulled her to him and held her tightly and brushed her hair back. "Baby there's nothing you can do but wait for news, the rescuers will go out and have a look they are the professionals. They know what their doing, they don't need you out there risking your life, your daughter needs you here."
She broke down sobbing. "I know they hate me but I love them Andrew, I want to find them."
"Baby I know, I know. I'm here, it'll be ok. I'll pay someone to go out there and look for them okay? Someone with a crew who knows what their doing. Not just you off on your own okay?"
She collapsed into him and he held her tightly. "Shh." He kissed her head and rubbed her back. He picked her up to her feet and wrapped his arm around her, walking with her against him back to the house. They got up the drive and Connie ran over hugging her.
"What's happening with regards to a search party?"
"We have search and rescue and a bunch of volunteers out doing grid searches. Something definitely happened out there, but I'm afraid from the looks of the cabin…"
Frankie broke down and fell to her knees.
"I'll organise someone to come out and help, I'll tell them to co-ordinate with you guys." They nodded and stopped on their way to their car. "Oh because of the life and the man Mr. Paige was, it's being covered on news channels, all I can say is don't believe everything you hear on the news, contact with Frankie will be the first port call before anything is released to the media."
Andrew nodded and thanked them as they left. "Mammy can you look after Teagan, Liam can you clean up with Charlotte. I'm going to take Frankie to bed."
They all nodded and Andrew scooped Frankie up into his arms and carried her upstairs. They got to the bedroom and he set her down on the bed, he knelt in front of her and took off her jacket and bag tossing them across the room.
He took her hands and held them against her heart as he sat and looked at her. "I'll do everything humanly possible Frankie, trust me we'll find them."
"Will you hold me?" She asked him. He smiled a little and dried her tears. "Baby I'm a master at that, cuddling is my favourite Frankie and Andrew job."
She laughed very little and put her hands over her face. He kissed her hands and she got up to get changed into her pyjamas. Once she did he got on the bed with her and she scooted into his chest, he held her to him and gently stroked her back. "Andrew?" She asked and he nodded.
"What if their dead?"
"Then we will do everything in our power to bring whoever did it to justice. Even if I have to go out there myself and bring them in, I promise we'll find out what happened." He paused and turned her chin up to him so he could look in her eyes.
"But let's see what happens okay? You need to be brave baby, let me look after you now."
She nodded and kissed him, he stroked her hair back and brought her to his chest. "Sleep baby." He said softly. "Sleep."
An hour or so later, Andrew crept out the bedroom quietly and went downstairs. Everyone was sat around talking, the kids were all in bed.
"How is she?" Connie asked. He nodded and sighed. "She's a wreck. I only just got her off to sleep, she kept crying."
"Bit dramatic isn't she?" Charlotte said. Andrew glared at her. "Wouldn't you be if it was you?" He said bitterly.
Looking for his phone he picked it up and thought about who he could call. A quick internet search gave him some numbers to dial. "Is it expensive?" Connie asked.
"Doesn't matter." He said matter of fact.
"Hello?" He said as the guy on the phone answered and he went outside for some privacy whilst he made calls.
A little while later he came in and nodded. "The guys going to head out at first light, no point going during the day. He's got a full crew and a really good boat."
He'd wrote things down on a piece of paper. He put the paper down and his phone next to it. Liam looked at it over his shoulder. "I hope that's euros!" He said shocked at the price quoted. Charlotte looked over his shoulder and stood gob smacked.
"Really? Your paying that much? For her?"
Andrew turned around and glared at her again. "Yes Charlotte she's my wife, I adore her, I'd do anything to make her happy."
"Wow I married the wrong brother." She said simply and he shook his head.
"Why don't Frankie pay for it, it's her parents after all and their clearly loaded."
"She doesn't have anything to do with them. They disowned her."
"And she's THAT upset? Wow drama queen." Charlotte added and Andrew was pissed off now. "Charlotte why don't you go shove your head down the toilet and spew your shit up down there instead of in here!" He growled.
"Hey back off brother!" Liam shouted at him. "No you tell her to stop talking shit about Frankie!" Liam grabbed him and Andrew shoved him.
"Boys!" Connie screamed.
Liam came at him and shoved Andrew into the counter. Andrew launched himself forward and the two tussled. Liam threw a punch into Andrew's gut and winded him. Andrew bent over trying to catch his breath.
"Liam panted a little and Andrew got himself up went to walk away, turned and threw a punch across his face. Liam fell back stunned, his nose bloody.
"Liam!" Charlotte said running over to him. Liam shoved her out the way and picked up a chair throwing it at him.
Andrew picked up a vase and threw it back.
"Boys!" Connie screamed and pointed at the stairs. The children stood there scared next to Frankie who stood at the top of the stairs holding a crying Teagan in her arms.
"Frankie…" Andrew said.
"Charlotte!" Liam followed.
Frankie stormed into their bedroom and came back out a few seconds later throwing a blanket and pillow at Andrew, going back in their room with Teagan and slamming the door.
Charlotte went to her kids and ushered them into her and Liams room. She too came back out a few seconds later and threw a blanket and pillow at Liam. Slamming the door shut behind her.
"Well fuck." Liam said, looking at Andrew.
"If I had a spare blanket and pillows I'd throw them at you two too!" Connie said storming up the stairs and slamming her door shut.
"Women!" Liam scoffed.
"This is your fault!" Andrew said grabbing the pillow and blanket and running to the sofa, Liam dived on it as well and they scuffled for half of the sofa each.
Morning came and Andrew cuddled up to Liam. Liam in turn cuddled back and kissed his forehead.
"Morning lovebirds!" Connie said.
Andrew and Liam's eyes shot open and they thrust themselves away from each other. Wiping themselves down in disgust.
Andrew's head was banging and Liams head was worse. Charlotte walked down the stairs with the kids and Liam went to her. "Morning sexy." He smiled and she ignored him.
Frankie was dressed and came down the stairs holding Teagan. Andrew got up and went to her. "Hey." He said. She smiled brightly and kissed him. "Hey baby."
He didn't expect that. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She smiled and looked around. "Anyone for pancakes?"
A round of yeses rang out and Frankie got the frying pans out. "Frankie…"
"Would you mind?" She asked offering Teagan to him. He took their daughter and held her on his hip. "Hey." He grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Talk to me."
"I'm fine!" She smiled and he looked at her worried. "I just figured well if they couldn't give a shit about us or Teagan then I couldn't give a shit about them, it's time I started living my life for our family."
"Baby." He tried but she moved off, a little while later they all sat at the table eating pancakes and Charlotte decided to put the news on.
Top stories.
A first class businessman and his wife Marc and Janice Paige were last seen heading out to sea in the North Atlantic Sea, just off the coast of Barbados, but a few days ago trawler man Jeff Brookes said he and his men saw something amiss….
The picture cut to scenes of the yacht being brought back to dock in Barbados.
"Well we fish these waters regularly, one of my men said they saw a boat just sitting there with its anchor down, we called out but nobody answered so I went aboard and let me tell you. It was a bloody mess in there. Looked like someone had been gutted.
Marc Paige started his career in the electrical industry growing millions almost overnight when he moved his business to China. They have a daughter who can't be contacted as her whereabouts are also being kept very private. It's not known what has happened to them but it's suspected that they most likely were killed by pirates looking to rob the wealthy businessman. Back to you Scott.
Frankie stopped eating as the news report played out. When it finished she got up and went to the sink. Taking her plate and scraping off her uneaten food.
"Turn it off Charlotte." Andrew said as everyone sat silent. She pressed the button and the tv flicked over to the kids channels. "Can we go watch cartoons?" Sara said and the kids all jumped up when their mother nodded.
Frankie started cleaning the frying pans and the kids empty plates away and kept herself to herself as the room was more or less silent.
Frankie put some music on and started humming away to herself as she did the dishes.
"I was thinking about taking the kids to the zoo today." Connie said.
"They have zoo's over here?" Charlotte scoffed. "Thought all the wild people just ran around the streets." She laughed and Liam laughed too. Andrew was getting wound up again he just hoped Frankie wasn't listening.
"I think that would be a great idea." Andrew said to Connie. "Get us all out of the house for a while." He stood up and took his plate to the sink and handed it to Frankie who smiled and took it.
He stood next to her and brushed her hair out of her face. She looked to him and kissed him softly. He kissed her back and rubbed her back slowly. Charlotte watched and rolled her eyes.
"Kids pack up we're going to the zoo." The kids all yelled in excitement. "Got to be better than staying here in misery and silence." She said under her breath.
Liam chuckled a little thinking it was a bit harsh but still he was trying to get back with her he didn't need a reason for her to be angry at him.
"Are you two going?" Charlotte asked, looking at Andrew.
"Sure." Frankie said.
"Hey, you don't have to." Andrew said still rubbing her back slowly.
"I want to, I love the animals! I want to show Teagan the tigers! Roar!" She poked his nose with soap sudds. He laughed a little and kissed her cheek.
"Great…" Charlotte imitated someone vomiting silently.
"Frankie honey, leave that and we'll do it when we get back." Connie said. Frankie dried her hands. "All done, I'll leave it to dry out."
"Teagan…" Frankie said going over to Teagan in the high chair. "Mommy's got the perfect dress for you to wear." She picked her up and took her in her arms. "I'll be back in a moment!"
"I'm going to shower and change." Andrew said and ran up the stairs. About an hour later everyone and everything was packed into the car. Luckily Liam had hired a minivan to transport everyone around so there was enough room for everyone plus bits.
They arrived at the zoo and everyone packed out and into the gates. After paying for their tickets, Frankie put away her purse and dropped it into the pushchair. Teagan was 5 months old now and she was happily sitting in her pushchair, babbling to herself.
"I suppose Andrew had to pay again?" Charlotte asked Frankie. "Your fathers a millionaire right?" She added.
Frankie ignored her and walked quicker so as to divert away from Charlotte. They walked the zoo and the kids were loving seeing all the animals. Frankie showed Teagan the tigers and sat with her on the window ledge next to a great big lion as he cleaned his paws. Frankie took a selfie of the two of them and smiled as she looked at the picture.
The day was really nice and everyone enjoyed lunch and walked and walked the zoo until their feet ached. They all packed back into the car and went to the shops to get groceries for a bbq before they went home.
Whilst at the shops Andrew bought Frankie a bunch of flowers. When they got home Frankie sat on the stairs as she got Teagan out the pushchair and he went up to her and surprised her with them.
"Oh for me? They're lovely." She smiled and kissed him. He kissed her back and rested his forehead against hers. "Baby…" he was about to say something meaningful when Charlotte interrupted again. "Oh flowers? Are they fake? They look fake."
Frankie pulled back and picked up Teagan. "Oh no is it THAT time again?" Charlotte laughed. "Better whip them out." She quipped.
Frankie sighed and took Teagan upstairs to Teagan's bedroom softly shutting the door behind her. Andrew watched her go and whipped his head around when she was out of sight. "Back off Charlotte, I'm warning you." He said angrily and barged past her.
"Sensitive." She chuckled and went to rejoin everyone. After a little while the bbq was revved up and Charlotte put some music on. Liam played with the kids and Connie looked after Teagan whilst Frankie prepared dinner.
Andrew changed the music to something more chill out rather than party and Charlotte sat there moaning about it every now and then. Frankie took the salad to the table and the bread. Andrew watched her from outside he knew she wasn't herself, she was putting on a front so that she didn't look weak and pathetic. Especially in front of Charlotte and that wasn't fair, he was getting annoyed himself and Charlotte was pissing everyone off, even Connie who wasn't normally bothered by anything noticed she was being especially cruel to Frankie.
Everyone bit their tongues though, nobody wanted to upset Liam and cause an argument, they knew Liam had to put up with her so he could see his kids otherwise Charlotte would take them away again.
After dinner everyone sat outside as the sun started to set and the kids played in the garden. Frankie tidied up in the kitchen and Andrew went in to her. Walking over to her he stopped her from cleaning and she smiled at him. "You okay baby?" She asked him.
"Are you?" He retorted. She nodded and looked away going back to cleaning. He put his hand on her arm and turned her to him. "You don't have to be strong for me okay?"
"I'm fine." She smiled and blinked back tears. He brought her head to his shoulder and kissed her head.
"Yo bro bring me another beer!" Liam shouted and Frankie pulled away quickly drying her tears and taking a deep breath, going back to cleaning. Andrew went to touch her again but she moved off, trying to clean up. "Bro!" Liam again shouted.
"Got it." Andrew called back watching Frankie, she was heading for a major breakdown if she didn't let go soon, he thought.
A bit later on and everyone sat outside still, Connie was humming to the music. "I like this song." She said happily.
"Would make a good wedding song." Charlotte chimed in.
"Aren't the stars beautiful?" Connie added. Frankie came out and joined the group, Andrew pulled her into his lap and cuddled her to him as he sipped his beer.
"Look at that moon." Liam said. "Looks like a big ball of ice cream."
"What planet are you living on?" Charlotte looked at him. "Not this one." Andrew said chuckling.
"Hey you can talk!" Liam joked. "Hey I'm a scientist at least I know what a planet is." Andrew laughed and Liam did too.
Frankie closed her eyes and started to drift off, listening to his heart beat was like music to her. Connie yawned and looked at Frankie nodding to Andrew. He looked down and gently stroked her hair. She was fast asleep, he put his beer down and wrapped his arms around her.
"Take her to bed Andrew." Connie said, he shook his head, it was a little chilly so he asked her to grab a blanket and he wrapped it around her.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Just take her to bed so we can enjoy the rest of our evening."
"Charlotte!" Connie said even she saw that was low.
"What?" She replied innocently.
An hour or so later and Andrew was yawning himself. "I'm going bed." Andrew said. He pulled the blanket off Frankie and picked her up into his arms. Teagan was already in bed so he said goodnight to everyone and took Frankie upstairs.
Once he got into the bedroom he shut the door and walked over to their bed gently putting her down on her side. He got unchanged and helped her out of clothes as she stirred a little enough to help him. He covered her with the blanket and flipped the light off as he snuggled in behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her back to his chest. He kissed her shoulder and whispered "I love you beautiful." She mumbled something he took as a reply and smiled kissing her shoulder again they both fell asleep.
It was sometime in the middle of the night, Frankie stirred and felt Andrew's arms around her. She gently moved them and sat up, she rubbed her face and sighed. Picking up her phone she took it and went out onto the balcony, closing the door so she didn't wake Andrew.
Sitting in her chair she sat down and looked at her phone, looking through text messages from her parents. She missed them and wished that whatever happened to them was brought to light.
She kept hearing the trawler man's words ringing in her ears about how there was so much blood. She couldn't focus on anything but those words.
Going to her mums phone number she dialled it and let it ring. It rang and rang and rang before cutting off to her answering machine. "Hi this is Janice Paige, I'm out there somewhere! Living the dream! Call you back later, leave me a message!" There was a bleep and Frankie spoke.
"Mom…where are you? I'm worried about you, please call me when you get this, love to you and daddy."
She hung up and sighed rubbing her brow and looking up at the sky. "Please let them be ok." She whispered.
She tried ringing her fathers phone but it wouldn't even connect. She also tried ringing their family home in Naples but nobody answered there either.
Frankie put her head in her hands and sobbed. She knew they had been awful parents to her, but she still loved them, she missed them and she wanted to know that they were ok.
Getting up after a little while she went back inside and got back into bed with Andrew cuddling up to his chest, he stirred enough to pull her close to him and kiss her head before he fell back to sleep. She kissed his chest and drifted slowly back to sleep.
The next morning and Frankie woke up when she heard Teagan crying on the baby com. She stirred and sat up. Andrew stirred as well and sat up on his arm. "I'll go baby." He said, she looked back at him and smiled. "It's okay you go back to sleep if you want to I'll go." She went to get up and he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him. "I've not had my morning kiss."
She kissed him lovingly and he kissed her back, making out with her. Teagan's crying got more intense and Frankie sighed, leaning her head against his. "I should go."
She got up and walked out of the room down the hall and into Teagan's room. "Oh dear my little angel." She smiled at Teagan and picked her up.
The morning broke into early afternoon and the kids all went out into the lake, Liam joined them, Connie and Charlotte sat on the deck chairs with Teagan, Frankie sat at the kitchen table poking at food on her plate. Andrew came out the bathroom in his swim shorts and went over to her. "Why don't you come join us in the lake?"
She smiled and shook her head. "No thank you."
"At least come outside and get some sunshine, it might make you feel better?"
"Sure." She nodded and he kissed her lovingly. "Thats my girl."
She watched him go and join the others in the lake and carried on day dreaming. She kept seeing the images of her parents boat on the news.
Getting up she walked slowly upstairs, going into their bedroom she sat on the floor in front of the dresser and pulled out a photo album, she flipped a couple of pages and came to pictures of her when she was younger, pre teens.
They weren't all sad times sometimes her parents doted on her, she had some good memories of growing up on boats and sailing. She flipped a page and saw herself on her dads old yacht, grabbing his shoulders. She must've been 7/8….he was her best friend at one point.
She kept flipping through her memories. Each one firing another neurone in her brain, triggering another memory. She found a picture of the three of them and took it out the sleeve. She touched it with her fingers and blinked back tears.
"What are you doing?" Charlotte said suddenly bringing her back out of her daze.
"Nothing." Frankie said, tidying away the picture albums.
"You know…" Charlotte said and folded her arms over her chest leaning on the door frame. "…you should be thanking Andrew, he is paying a lot of money to help you find your parents."
"I am thankful." Frankie said as she carried on putting the albums back.
"You realise that your just sponging off of him right? I mean you sponged off yer parents and they got rid of you now your sponging off him, wasting all of his money on finding your dead parents, their probably rotting at the bottom of the sea right now, yet you are forcing Andrew to waste all of his money searching for them?"
Frankie finished putting the albums back, tears stinging her eyes as Charlotte went on about her taking all of Andrew's money. "Listen Frankie didn't want to tell you this but I heard Andrew talking to Liam about this money business and he can't afford to keep supporting you, he was going on and on about how you're such a drama queen, we'll obviously he didn't use those words but he definitely said he was tired of all your problems and he wished you'd leave so it didn't upset his real family that is here with him…trying to enjoy themselves."
Frankie stared at her not knowing what to say. "He said you looked a wreck, that you'd let yourself go and he wasn't attracted to you anymore since the baby came along. Oh yes and he said…."
"There's more?" Andrew interrupted her. He'd been stood there the whole time, seething. Charlotte turned around and stuttered. "Err…I…"
"You know I knew you were low Charlotte but I didn't realise you were this low, trying to split Frankie and I apart. What other lies have you been filling her head with? Trying to get her to believe she's worthless to me, that she's some sort of drain on my bank account? That she's ugly and just a sad pathetic low life?" He scoffed and threw his towel to the floor angrily.
Going to her bedroom door he flung open the door angrily and grabbed what he presumed to be her suitcase. Taking it downstairs he opened the front door and threw it out, her clothes flying everywhere, Liam and Connie came across. "What the hell?" Liam asked angry. "Ask your wife!" Andrew said angrily to him.
Storming back upstairs he grabbed Charlottes arm and started dragging her down the stairs. "What the hell?" She said, grabbing hold of the railing at the bottom. Frankie ran after them and down the stairs.
Andrew hauled her off the rail and threw her skidding on her knees across the concrete driveway. She yelled out in pain and Liam went to her. "Charlotte!" He bent to her, Frankie ran in front of Andrew and stopped him.
"Baby stop!" She pushed his shoulders back. "It's okay just stop!" Liam got angry when he saw Charlotte crying and her knees and hands bleeding.
"You like abusing fucking women!" He said getting up, he was seething, he launched himself at Frankie, Andrew tried to stop him but he punched her in the ribs, hard. She fell to the floor and Andrew swung his fist connecting with Liams cheek. Liam flew backwards spitting blood, Andrew went to Frankie who was getting up. "It's okay…" she was trying to say when Charlotte got up and went for Andrew. Shoving him hard into the wall, she started slapping him, to protect himself he shoved her away and she fell backwards hitting her head on the concrete and knocking herself out.
Liam looked horrified at Andrew and Charlotte. "Babe…" he lifted her up but she didn't respond. By this time Connie was hugging the children who were all screaming and crying.
Frankie went to Andrew but Liam stopped her, grabbing her by the hair he dragged her away over to the lake. "Kill my wife you bastard here's what I'll do to yours!" He screamed dragging her into the water.
Andrew jumped up and ran after them, Liam shoved Frankie's whole body under the water and held her down. She fought like hell but he held strong. Andrew dived on him. "Liam stop you fucking idiot you're going to kill her!"
"Liam!" Connie screamed, "stop it!"
Andrew tried to drag him off her but he had her pinned down with his legs, Liam turned and shoved Andrew off him, Andrew fell onto the shoreline as Frankie finally stopped moving.
"Mummy!" The kids all shouted and Liam looked up to see his wife sitting up. He looked from her to Andrew then to Frankie. He let her go slowly and her body floated face down on the water top.
Everyone sat for a moment in silence and watched Frankie. Andrew suddenly jumped up and shoved his brother out the way going to Frankie and picking her up, pulling her out of the water. He placed her down on the shore line, she was blue. He started to panic.
"No…no….no….Frankie…" he sobbed and held her head. "Baby don't…" he sobbed and shook, scared to touch her. He put his head down on her chest and he couldn't hear her heart beating.
He got on top of her with his palms, and started doing chest compressions… "1,2,3,4,5…" breathe. He repeated the cycle over and over and kept going even when Liam tried to stop him. "Fuck you!" He screamed and carried on.
"Please baby please don't leave me…" he closed his eyes and put his forehead against hers. "Please Frankie don't go, stay with me." There was a long silence Andrew started to cry…
She coughed suddenly and tried to sit up, he turned her over to her side so she could vomit. He patted her back and brushed her hair from her face. "Oh thank god." He said and kissed her softly.
Liam breathed a sigh of relief, helping Charlotte up. Connie looked at them both. "Congratulations boys you've officially tried to kill each others wives and officially disappointed your mother! Scared the children half to death! And completely ruined this holiday! I suggest you two go and pack your bags and I'll pack mine and we'll leave first thing in the morning! Since nobody in this house can seem to hold it together for more than five fucking minutes at a time!" Connie walked inside gathering the children for bed.
Andrew looked at Liam and he looked back, helping Charlotte into the house.
"Frankie?" Andrew said as she struggled to breathe. Still coughing up water. "It's okay baby."
He kissed her head gently and patted her back softly to help her cough the water up. They sat like that for a while till she finally came to. She was shaking from the cold and shock. He pulled her up into his arms and held her in his lap so her head was against his chest.
"I'm sorry." She said softly, her voice shaky. He rocked her softly. "Don't be baby. Don't ever be sorry, she deserves locking up."
"You don't have to protect me Andrew, their your family."
"You're my family as well Frankie. Don't ever think you're not because you are more than she is. You're my world I'll protect you till I die."
Frankie started coughing again and sat forward, he patted her back and rubbed it slowly. "I'm cold." She said and he nodded standing up. "Let me carry you." She shook her head and stood up. She could barely walk for shaking and he helped her. They opened the sliding door and stepped inside closing it.
"Look at you." Connie said coming and wrapping a blanket around her. "Thanks." Frankie smiled a little.
"I'm going to take her to bed." Andrew said and Connie nodded. They walked to the stairs and Andrew stopped her "come to me." He said and turned her to him he lifted her up onto his hips and she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder.
He carried her up the stairs and set her down in their bedroom locking the door behind them. He took the blanket off her and smiled kissing her softly.
"I need to shower." She said and started walking to the bathroom, she pulled his hand with her and he followed. Getting in the bathroom, she took off all her clothes and he did too, they got in the warm shower and she wrapped her arms around him, he held her to him, softly running his hands up and down her body.
She looked up at him and ran her hand down his chest, touching him below. Her hand was like instant fire for him. He gently pushed her back against the wall, she moved her hand in a rhythmic motion. Staring up at him, he closed his eyes as he moaned leaning over her against the wall.
She slowly slid down the wall whilst his eyes were closed and encapsulated him. He instantly thrust. A few minutes later and he stopped her pulling her up to her feet, he kissed her passionately as he ran his hand over her body this time, finding her.
She moaned and he watched her writhe when she couldn't take anymore she jumped up onto his hips and he held her up against the wall. He stared into her eyes as she lowered herself onto it.
They both moaned and now he was the one moving in a rhythmic movement. He kissed her neck, she kissed his and they enveloped each other. "I love you." She whispered. "I love you too." He replied slowing his rocking.
He pulled back and looked at her, slowly lowering her down she looked confused and figured he wanted her to finish him off. She was about to comply when he stopped her. Taking her hand he turned off the shower grabbing a towel he dried her off and himself, still stood to attention.
He led her into the bedroom and gently pushed her down onto the bed. His body came up over hers and she made room for him. He grabbed her hips and slowly they were linked again. His movements as he looked down at her quickened with every shake. He fell to her chest and kissed her all over. Desperately wanting to taste her body, they moved in unison until the final moment. Explosive.
He collapsed onto her as wave after wave unrelenting came over him. She held him tightly to her chest moaning softly. He panted after a few minutes and slid to her side pulling her on top of him he pulled the blanket up and covered them up, she fell asleep on his chest and he fell asleep too.
Somewhere in the middle of the night she woke up and sat up, slowly sliding off of him. She went and showered and got into her pyjamas.
Going downstairs she went into the kitchen and grabbed a glass. She filled it up with water and took a long awaited drink. She sighed and sat down on the sofa, turning the tv on. The news reports played over and over to the same tune. Nothing new to add.
She watched the images play in silence. Footsteps across the room drew her attention and she looked across to see Connie coming into the lounge. "Sorry did I wake you?" Frankie asked turning the tv off.
"Oh no, I just came ta get me some water, like you, although I figure ye had enough water for a lifetime."
Frankie nodded and looked back at her drink. Connie came and sat next to her, sighing. "What a night huh? I dunno what's a mammy to do with them boys."
"I'm sorry about all that." Frankie said.
"Oh dear not your fault, bloody Charlotte can't keep herself to herself."
"I don't know what I've done to upset her so much?"
"You're the weakest link deary that's who she usually goes for. I wish Liam didn't get back with her, I mean it's lovely to see the grandkids but… I dunno." She chuckled.
"You're not really leaving in the morning are you?" Frankie asked sadly.
"Well…" Connie started.
"Oh please don't, Andrew will be really upset if you do. He loves it when you come to visit. I think it gives him a break from me." She chuckled too.
"Well…I suppose if you don't mind us staying?" She asked. Frankie shook her head, "no of course not… I mean I'm sorry I've got all this going on, I'm not exactly the party person at the moment."
"Darling it's not your fault, I speak for me and the kids… we love having you around, you're fun in your own way, here we are in your beautiful country and your sharing YOURS and Andrews home with us, thank you for that."
"Well technically it's Andrews home and I'm just living in it." She laughed a little. "No darling it's both of yours home. It takes family to make a home not money."
Frankie smiled softly and hugged her. "Thank you for having me in your family."
"You're always welcome, Andrew couldn't have fallen in love with a better young woman."
"He is truly my hero." Frankie said as Andrew came down the stairs. "I don't tell him enough but he's the love of my life, I'd be dead without him. I love him more than I love myself more than the world, you raised such a wonderful and kind, loving human being Connie."
"Glad to hear Frankie." Andrew smiled leaning on the counter. Frankie looked around and rolled her eyes.
"He's going to have a swollen head forever now." Connie said laughing. Frankie ran over to him and dived on him. He grabbed her around the waist and hugged her tightly.
Connie smiled and watched them kissing, touching the wedding band still nestled on her ring finger, a pang of pain in her heart.
"Your moms staying!" Frankie beamed and he looked to her. "Good to hear mammy."
"That missy!" She pointed at Frankie and Frankie smiled innocently.
The next few days seemed to fly by as the whole family started to get along a lot more now the air had been cleared and also because Frankie seemed a little happier and relaxed. To be honest she'd forgotten a little bit about the things going on with her parents solely focused on the here and now. But as with all things good there was always another element of bad to darken the waters.
The family sat around playing board games one night when the weather had turned cold. Everyone was teamed up when Liam decided in his infinite wisdom to play charades.
"You do realise I'm the queen of charades." Frankie laughed. "Used to play it so much." She looked at Connie.
"Girls vs boys, Frankie and Andrew vs Liam and Charlotte." Connie said. "I'm judge."
"Okay I'm first." Liam said and got up doing weird actions.
"Movie!" Charlotte said.
After a little bit it was 2 all around and they were just getting into it when the doorbell sounded.
"I'll go it's probably pizza." Frankie said and jumped up. Liam carried on and stopped when he saw Frankie come back. "Who was it?" Liam asked.
"I err….. I have to go. The police are here… they found my dads body…" she said and turned around and walked away, walking up the stairs. "Oh no." Connie covered her mouth, Andrew jumped up and ran after her. "Frankie!" He followed her into the bedroom as she started to pack a bag.
"What happened?"
"They err… someone found him washed up on the shores of the Caribbean. He had his life vest on, he was very clearly dead, they need me to go and make a formal identification." She put some clothes into a bag and went to get her toothbrush.
Andrew stood shocked for a moment and then grabbed his own bag and began stuffing clothes inside it. "What are you doing?" She asked, "you've got to stay with your family, I'm going to take Teagan with me I haven't breast pumped any bottles I…"
"Frankie you are my family, I'm not letting you go through this on your own. I'm your husband you need me and I'm coming that's the end of it. Mammy can look after Teagan, and don't worry there's a tub of simulated breast milk she can use and buy more if need be."
Frankie covered her face and started breathing heavy. He grabbed her and pulled her to him. "I'm sorry baby." He whispered and held her. "I love you so much." He kissed her head and stroked her back. She sobbed into his shoulder and fell to her knees.
He held her as she dropped and rocked her slowly. "Shhh." He whispered and kissed her neck and head. "I'm here. It'll be okay."
"Is everything ok?" Connie asked from the doorway. Andrew shook his head. "Can you tell the officers we will be there soon."
"They said to tell you to take your time." Connie said and came over. She knelt down and brushed Frankie's hair back, wrapping her arms around the both of them. "It'll be okay Frankie, you're stronger than you think."
Liam came in the door and walked over. Kneeling down he too wrapped his arms around Frankie and the rest of them. "Don't forget your family will be here waiting for you beautiful when you two get back."
"We will look after Teagan don't worry." Charlotte said and came across wrapping her arms around them all. Frankie never felt so much love pouring into her, it made her sob more. "Thank you all." She said sitting back, everyone stood up. Andrew pulled Frankie up and grabbed their bags. Taking her hand he led her out and Frankie went to Teagan's room first, they both kissed her goodbye and left down the stairs and into the patrol car with the officers.
It took a few days but eventually Frankie and Andrew ended up in the Caribbean – in Barbados. Authorities there met them at the airport and took them to their hotel. It wasn't amazing and grand but it would do.
Frankie sat on the bed and put her head in her hands. "Hey." Andrew said kneeling down in front of her. "How you doing?"
She looked up at him and was about to speak when she heard voices outside. Going over to the window she looked out. "Oh no…" she said stepping back. "They've found us."
"Who?" Andrew said, looking out the window at the cameras and media. "Oh great." Andrew sighed. He called the desk and asked for the police. The police came and backed them off. Frankie changed into her perfect black dress down to her knees and black shrug. The weather was beautiful. Andrew put his black suit and tie on and they left via the back exit with police.
Arriving at the morgue they were escorted into the back of the building as camera crews gathered to find out the latest. At home the gang gathered around the tv to watch. This was it, when she would make a statement.
Walking into the building Frankie gripped Andrew's hand and they were led into the morgue. The mortician stopped them next to where the body was and told them to brace themselves, it wasn't pretty.
The guy slid the draw open slowly revealing a black body bag. He went to the zipper and Andrew put his arm around Frankie, holding her to him tightly. The zipper pulled down and the body was fully visible.
Frankie stared at him, the look on his face the fear in his eyes. He looked bloated, he still had his chain around his neck that read 'best dad' he still had his wedding ring on, his life jacket and his shorts and t shirt even though they weren't resembling clothes. "Daddy." She sobbed and fell, Andrew grabbed her waist and held her up, pulling her away. "No stop! Daddy!" She sobbed, trying to get to him, Andrew pulled her out the room. She screamed for him and begged Andrew to let her go.
"Daddy!" She screamed Andrew bundled her into the family room and shut the door. "Frankie!" He called and grabbed her whole body, holding her tight to his chest. She screamed into his chest and hit him. She went weak and they fell slowly to the floor.
"No!" She sobbed hard and held Andrew's arms, he kissed her head and stroked her back softly. "Shhh…" he whispered. "I know baby, I know."
They sat like that for an hour, he leaned back against the chairs and held her in his lap. "Why?" She said through tears. "What happened?" She added.
"I don't know baby. I really don't, something happened and I won't rest until we get to the truth."
"Thank you." She said crying and looking up at him. He kissed her lovingly and brushed away her tears. "You'll be okay Frankie, I know it's hard but you have to remember the good times, don't remember him like that. He wouldn't want you to."
"I want to go home." She said.
"We can go home whenever you're ready."
"I just want to go home Andrew, I want to be with you and the family." He kissed her head and stroked her hair back. "You've got to make a statement first baby." She sat up and he rubbed her back. "Ready?"
"No.." she sighed rubbing her head and eyes.
A few minutes later Andrew took Frankie's hand and led her to a mock podium outside the morgue. A policeman introduced them.
"Mr and Mrs Kiernan."
Frankie stepped up and Andrew held her back rubbing it softly. "Good afternoon, I'm the daughter of Marc and Janice Paige. I can confirm that the body that was found is in fact that of my father Marc Paige. We don't know the details yet but it's clear something terrible happened. Marc was an amazing father, he was hard but strong, he lived for my mum and me and to give us the life he never had. He lived to live life and enjoy it, he always wanted the best for me but I constantly let him down, I failed him in every way possible…." She choked up and Andrew took her hand squeezing it. "…but I loved my daddy, no matter what. And I'll miss him terribly. Please respect our privacy at this difficult time."
She stepped away to a thousand questions. "Ignore them." Andrew said pulling her gently with him.
They got back to the hotel and Frankie sat staring on the bed, tears had dried up and she couldn't even think straight. Andrew packed up their bits and went to her. "You okay?"
She looked at him. "I want to see it, before we go."
"See what?"
"The yacht."
"Oh Frankie… you don't need to see it." He said cuddling her to him. "Please, Andrew I need to." She asked looking up at him.
"I'll make it happen." He said and went to the phone. A few minutes later he came back to her and held her hand. "We'll stop by on the way to the airport."
An hour later and they were at the harbour. Walking up the dock they came to a stop outside the wrecked yacht. Andrew's phone rang and he stepped away from Frankie. Frankie gripped the ladder and climbed up.
When she got to the top she stepped across the bits of plastic, the ship looked terrible. She went over to the hatch and pushed it open. Climbing down inside she looked around. It was a blood bath. Frankie choked back a sob, walking further into the cabin she saw things everywhere upturned and a mess. Police had done a number on the boat looking for clues, fingerprint dust everywhere. Bending down she picked up her mums hairbrush, water dripped out from it. Walking back she pushed open the door to their bedroom and everything was a mess in there. Frankie sat on the bed and put her face in her hands looking around.
Looking at the floor she saw a picture of the three of them in a frame. Picking it up she stared at it. Andrew came down and walked down to her. "Wow." He said looking around.
He sat down next to her and looked at the photo. "Is that my beautiful girl?" He smiled and put his arm around her.
"I was 6… it was my 7th birthday the next day and dad took us out on the boat. He was so loving and happy. The next day he went away on business and I never saw him on any of my birthdays again."
"This was my favourite memory of him, now it's just a vision, something I want to forget."
"Why couldn't he just love me for who I was? I just wanted him to tell me he was proud of me. Not how disappointed he was."
"Frankie…" he started but she stood up and threw the picture at the wall. He looked at her shocked. She clenched her fists and breathed hard.
He took her hand and pulled her down. She sat on the bed, "why couldn't he just tell me he loved me? Was it that hard? Well you know what?" She stood up and went to the broken glass frame grabbed it and sat on the bed. "Screw you! You didn't deserve to be my dad! You were a terrible father and I hate you!" She punched her fist through the glass and the picture tore.
"Frankie!" Andrew grabbed a rag and came over to her knocking the glass from her hands. Her fist was bleeding so he wrapped the rag around it. "Is there a first aid kit?" He looked around found it.
He took the rag away and dressed her wounds. "Frankie please…" he said and took her bandaged hand kissing it and putting it to his chest. "Stay with me." He looked into her eyes. "Don't let this take away my Frankie, my beautiful wife."
She softened and fell into his chest, he held her softly. "Would it be weird if I said that powerful side of you is a turn on."
"Yes." She said and chuckled a little through tears.
"Right o." He said and laughed. "Pretend I never said anything."
"Pretending a lot of things over the years." She joked.
"Hey! I'm a good man remember; mammy raised a loving and kind and handsome and dashing…"
"I don't remember saying the last two." She said.
"Owww!" He said suddenly and she looked at him. "Quick pull it out!"
"What?!" She said worried.
"The knife in my heart." He laughed.
"Andrew!" She slapped his chest.
"I thought something was seriously wrong."
"There is this god damn knife!"
"Andrew!"
"Yes my love?"
"I love you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss him. He kissed her back and stroked her sides gently. "There's my girl." He said when they pulled back.
"Always." She smiled and kissed him again. "Would it be weird if I was slightly turned on right now?" She asked him.
"Would it be weird if I was too?" He asked. They put their foreheads together and settled for making out, it wasn't exactly a place to make love in surrounded by blood.
When they had to pull apart from air she ran her fingers through his hair and down his face going in again. He kissed her with as much passion but he knew this definitely wasn't the place they were going to do it, that would be beyond words.
"Hey, hey." He said gently pushing her back. "I know…I want you too… but not here baby."
"Damn cos I'm so hot right now." She said and put his hands on her boobs. He made out with her for a bit longer before finally pushing her back. "Baby no… I feel like I'm taking advantage of your sadness… please… I want you baby I do…" he took her hand so she could feel how much he wanted her. "But we've got to stop, this place is definitely not a turn on and I want you to be safe and warm and happy when we make love."
She nodded and rested her head against him. "Damn you." She breathed heavy but calmed herself down.
"Come on." He said and took her hand. "Let's go home." Frankie stood up and stepped over the picture, she looked down and stopped him. "Wait."
Lodged in the floorboards was the picture. Frankie could tell it was a fake floorboard as it seemed to shift when she picked the picture up. She bent down and used a fork on the floor to lift the plank. Underneath was a diary, full to the brim of writings. Day to day journal. "It's my mothers journal." She said and flipped through to the last page.
"Oh my god." She gasped and fell back against the cupboard. "What is it?"
"I think mums alive. I think she killed my dad."
"What?!" He asked and bent down. He read the last paragraph.
"Marc caught his head on the beam and I found the perfect opportunity to end this sham of a marriage for good, I added to his pain with a jab to his bulging hernia, he bled out after stumbling around in the storm. John is coming to get me. Frankie if you find this, I'm sorry I couldn't live with that man anymore I know you know what true love is and that's what I want too, I can't come back or I'll be tried for murder. Don't come looking for me sweetheart, maybe one day we can both forgive the man your father became. He beat me till I was black and blue but you never knew he kept that side of him well hidden. Take care my lovely young woman I love you. Mum. Xx"
Frankie sat shocked and looked at Andrew as he read it too. "Jesus Christ." He said.
"Well I guess now I know." She said. "But what do I do now?"
"Well the way I see it." He said getting down to her. "You can either hand it in to the police and have this long drawn out investigation or… you can take it home and not tell anyone and let your mum be free, just like you want her and you to be."
"I…" Frankie tried but sighed. "I don't know…I guess I'll shut up and not say anything, I guess I don't know my real father the way he really was, but I've got a lot of reading to do."
"If at the end you feel she deserves to be free then you can put it in a draw or burn it or whatever, but if you don't you hand it in and let them deal with her."
"I knew I married you for a reason."
"Why because I'm smart?"
"No you're god damn sexy. Quick put your glasses on, I can orgasm then!"
"Ohh someone likes the glasses." He winked pulling her up. "I can be like superman when he changes from Clark Kent into superman, you know like Andrew Kiernan then glasses on I turn into Mr. Organic Chemist."
"Oh god what did I marry?" She shook her head as he climbed out, she climbed up and he grabbed her hand pulling her up and out. She shut the hatch and they climbed down off the boat, he grabbed her hips and lifted her back onto the dock, taking her hand she hid the diary inside her jacket so as to not draw attention.
Arriving back home a day or so later neither of them had slept in 72 hours and both were exhausted. Frankie got out the car and Andrew took her hand, leading her into the house. "Whey! Look who's back kids!" Liam shouted and the kids dived on them both. Connie took a crying Teagan over to Frankie. "Mummy's milk required, she's not drinking that powdered stuff!"
"Oh? She usually loves it, I bet her mouth is still sore." Frankie gave Teagan to Andrew and they walked to the counter, she took out the medicine the doctor gave her and squirted a little into her mouth, slowly. "That should settle her, I'll go feed her and put her down."
"I'll take the bags up." Andrew said and went upstairs. Frankie took Teagan to her room and slowly she started to feed on Frankie. "I think someone's getting fussy."
Teagan suckled until she was full up and asleep and Frankie gently lifted her up and put her down in the cot.
She turned her mobile and nightlight on and shut the door slightly going downstairs.
"Baby." Andrew said and came over to her putting his head on her shoulder. "Bed?"
"I've got to bottle some breast milk for whilst we're asleep. You go baby I'll be up soon." She kissed his head and he nodded heading up the stairs, Frankie spent as long as she could pumping breast milk but she was hurting and she was falling asleep doing it. She pulled her top together and left the bottles in the mini fridge in Teagan's room. Connie caught her on the stairs.
"I hope your going to bed now!" She said, Frankie nodded and thanked Connie for looking after Teagan, going into the bedroom she turned off the baby com and shut the curtains to keep the light out. Andrew was across the bed in his boxers so she slipped her clothes off and pulled an oversized T-shirt on. Slipping into the bed she shoved him up the bed a little and got in. He was solid gone. She wrapped herself around him as best she could and wrapped his arms around her. She kissed him goodnight and she fell asleep.