Frankie's Back in Town, page 21
With a laugh, Rachel twirled on her heel and sent the flared bottom of the dress ballooning around her ankles. “Isn’t it glorious? I wore it on New Year’s Eve. I’m so glad for a chance to wear it again. Cost a bloody fortune.”
No doubt. The deep scarlet hue complemented her creamy skin and dark hair. “You look like Snow White.”
“Don’t think I’ll be meeting Prince Charming in this crowd, though.” She gave a deep sigh. “When did you get back?”
“Haven’t been home yet. Came to collect my child.”
“She’s around here somewhere. She and Gabrielle are the belles of the ball tonight.”
No surprise there. “So how did this all come about?”
Rachel met her gaze and looked thoughtful. “Tonight’s Quinta’s sixty-eighth high school reunion. You know she’s not well, and since Teddie got sick, there was no way they could make it to New Jersey. Can you believe she has never missed a reunion? Not one in all these years. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Completely.”
“She was pretty upset. Everyone’s been trying to cheer her up, but the poor thing hasn’t been able to talk about anything else. She cried all through dinner the other night.” Rachel waved a hand and motioned all around them. “So the girls came up with this idea to surprise her. Apparently prom was the theme of this year’s reunion.”
Susanna’s immediate response to her daughter being lumped in again as one of “the girls” with Gabrielle Raffa wasn’t positive. But she took a deep breath and asked instead, “Francesca knows?”
“You don’t think any of us would have authorized this without her approval?” Rachel grimaced. “I called her before she even got to the airport the other day. But we pulled it off. It was a total surprise to Quinta. You should have seen her when she realized what was going on. She was in floods.”
Scanning the crowd, Rachel pointed to a table close to the dance floor. “Look at her now. She’s beaming. Gabrielle and Brooke have been taking pictures with their cell phones and sending them to one of Quinta’s friends at the reunion. She’s been sending pictures back. It’s a total riot.” Rachel pointed to the dance floor. “Oh, there’s your daughter now.”
Susanna followed her gaze to the dance floor where she spotted “the girls.” Brooke wore her homecoming finery from the dance at the start of the school year and Gabrielle a simple sheath dress in bright red. Neither girl seemed to be so much dancing as dodging walkers and canes to keep the elderly prom-goers from colliding. And they were laughing. Even from this distance, Susanna could tell there was a lot of laughter happening on that dance floor.
She could also tell the exact moment Brooke realized her mother was in the room because the laughter stopped.
To her credit, Brooke knew better than to stall the inevitable confrontation. After the song ended, and those dancers who’d needed help returning to their tables had been settled, Brooke made her way across the room.
“How much trouble am I in?” she asked.
Susanna considered her reply carefully. “Why don’t you first tell me what’s going on?”
Brooke launched into a tale about how Quinta was too old to go to her zillionth class reunion, basically translating the details that Rachel had already shared.
“I know you don’t want me hanging around with Gabby, Mom,” Brooke said, addressing the problem head-on in a way that both surprised and pleased Susanna. “But Tara and her clones keep making snotty cracks about Gabby’s mom stealing. They’re being horrible, and it’s totally not fair.”
“So you’re standing up for her?”
“Like I’d ever go along with Tara.” Brooke’s gaze narrowed at even the suggestion. “You should give Gabby a chance, Mom. She’s really cool. This whole idea was hers.”
Guilty as charged. Susanna hadn’t given Gabby a chance. She’d written her off as Frankie’s daughter no questions asked. The same way she’d written off Frankie.
Susanna switched gears. “Making tonight happen took a lot of work, didn’t it?”
Brooke shrugged. “It was fun. We raided Otis’s storeroom. Ohmigosh, it’s totally, like, the party warehouse. There was so much cool stuff we couldn’t decide what to go with, so we used everything. It’s not a problem, so don’t worry. We promised Otis to pack everything back so he wouldn’t have to do it himself. Rachel and Roberto offered to help, too, so it won’t take forever. The place will be back to normal tomorrow.”
Brooke was excited and seemed to have covered all the bases. That in itself was a pleasant surprise, a glimpse of responsibility and work ethic and thoughtfulness for the lodge employees who had helped her.
Glimmers of the mature and lovely woman Brooke would one day become shone so brightly that Susanna found herself smiling.
“So am I grounded forever?” Brooke tried not to sound hopeful.
What to do, what to do? Susanna met her daughter’s gaze and considered her response, struck by the parallel to her own situation with Frankie.
Instead of following the crowd, Brooke had stood up for what she believed was right—even without her mother’s support. From the look of things tonight, “the girls” had accomplished something good. They’d thought about others and taken action in a responsible way.
What more could a mother possibly ask for?
“No, you’re not grounded forever,” Susanna said, not missing Brooke’s excitement and deciding right then and there to look for more of these moments in their relationship. “I didn’t tell you not to hang around with Gabby. I suggested that you think seriously before encouraging a relationship. If you believe she’ll make a worthy friend, then I trust your judgment. I’ll give her a chance. You both did a really nice thing tonight, and I’m very proud of you.”
To Susanna’s complete surprise, Brooke launched herself forward and gave Susanna a big squeeze-y hug just like she’d done when she’d been younger. Then she spun on her heel and took off. “Got to help the old people dance. Prom’s almost over.”
“You look beautiful, by the way,” Susanna called after her.
“Thanks,” Brooke tossed back over her shoulder. “You should dance, Mom. Mr. Shaw has been talking about how hot you are.”
Susanna ignored that, but scanned the crowd for Mr. Shaw, a bad boy if ever there was one. She spotted him on the dance floor in the middle of a crowd of ladies, naturally.
Making a mental note to avoid that side of the room, she spotted Brooke, who’d caught up with Gabby again. Their exchange was animated and casual, and Susanna watched them, realizing that she had a choice here, too.
The next time Karan called on a rant about Frankie, Susanna could choose not to go along for the ride. That didn’t mean she had to give up her best friend. It simply meant she was responsible for making choices that wouldn’t hurt others or leave her feeling so horrible about herself. And who knew? Maybe in the process she might find opportunities to diffuse Karan’s prejudice, too.
What had Skip always said?
Be part of the solution, not the problem.
She glanced upward with a smile. “Well, hon, you always said they’d help us become better parents along the way. Looks like better people, too.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
JACK HAD ALWAYS BELIEVED that when he found the right woman he’d know. Nothing mysterious, just a gut feeling—one that served him well in the other areas of his life. He’d never second-guessed his position, had defended himself more times than he could count, had always believed there was a woman who’d be suited to him and his life—the perfect woman for him.
As he drove to Bluestone, he considered what to do now that he’d found her. Frankie was his perfect woman. He knew it in his gut, had suspected she was different from the moment they’d officially met.
He’d wanted this woman. Period.
But finding her didn’t mean he had a clue about what came next. That much had been clear as he’d stood in O’Hare Airport, watching Frankie disappear beyond the gate, frustrated because he hadn’t been able to swap his ticket for a standby seat on her flight, irritated to waste time they could have spent together.
Finding her had only been the first step.
Getting her to give him a chance had been the second.
As far as Frankie was concerned they’d enjoyed an incredible “break from reality” and tomorrow would work itself out. Jack didn’t want to leave so much to chance. He didn’t want to be her break.
So what came next?
After seeing her with her family, Jack knew she wouldn’t be inviting him into her reality without being convinced he was reality material. His own past was biting him in the ass, and he could almost hear his mother chanting, “How do you expect any girl to take you seriously…”
His cell phone rang, a welcome distraction from his overworked thoughts, until he glanced at the display and saw his mother’s cell number.
“What are the odds,” he said into the quiet interior of his car and flipped open the phone. “Hello.”
“Jack.” His dad’s voice shot over the line. “Your mom and I are hoping you can help us out.”
“Sure. What’s up? Gus-Gus?”
“No, thank God. He’s still hanging in there if you can believe it. He refuses to leave your mother, and I told him there’s no way she’s going with him.”
Jack laughed.
“Your grandfather needs to be picked up from Greywacke Lodge at ten. You anywhere around?”
Jack actually pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it before asking, “What’s Granddad doing there?”
“Some function or another. Judge Pierce had to make an appearance but didn’t want to go alone. He recruited your grandfather. I remembered what you’d said about the place and encouraged him to go even though your mom and I had this board meeting at the credit union. The judge picked him up and they had supper together first. It was good for him to get out.”
“I can’t believe he actually went.”
His dad laughed. “The judge doesn’t take no for an answer. Come to find out he doesn’t drive at night, either. Michaela’s on death watch until we get back, so I thought I’d give you a try before sending a taxi. You know Granddad. If he gets it into his head he put us out, he won’t leave the house again.”
No argument there. “Tell Mom I’m glad Gus-Gus is okay. Don’t worry about Grandpa. I’ll be there at ten.” Even sooner if he could make it.
“Excellent. Thanks, Jack.”
“No problem, Dad. No problem at all.”
Jack disconnected the call and found himself smiling as he glanced at the clock and hit the accelerator.
Some things were meant to be.
That was the only explanation there could be for arriving at Greywacke Lodge to find Frankie’s Jeep double-parked in the front and the main lobby looking the town square decorated for the holidays. All of them.
The event board read: Reach for the Stars.
A quizzical glance at the front desk clerk dressed in formalwear brought the explanation “Prom night.”
Jack nodded, understanding why Judge Pierce hadn’t wanted to make a solo appearance at the event. Jack remembered his prom, but had no clue whether or not Frankie had attended.
On impulse, he considered the fresh floral spray on one of the sideboards in the main lobby before plucking a bright orange flower from the arrangement. Some sort of daisy, he thought. Then he went to join the party.
Had the age demographic of the party-goers been about six decades younger, the banquet room at Greywacke Lodge could have been hosting any high school dance. Gaudy decorations. Blaring music. Lots of dancing and laughter. He spotted his grandfather and the judge, deep in discussion over port at a corner table.
He noticed Susanna, a wallflower, as she watched the party from just inside the entrance.
“Brings back memories, doesn’t it?” he said.
She glanced up at him in surprise then smiled wistfully. “It does. Only we were the court back then. Tonight they crowned Quinta and Ted Flood.”
Jack could see the requisite archway, but couldn’t spot the king and queen in this crowd. He did spot a few people on the dance floor he knew. “Is that Brooke? When did she grow up?”
Susanna grimaced. “Overnight, it seems. Got back into town to find out she was one of the hosts of tonight’s shindig.”
“I see.” And he did. Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he pulled her close in a one-armed hug. “Been a rough couple of days. You okay?”
She leaned into him, as if drawing strength. “Thanks to you, I’m fine. You’re my hero.”
Her new hero, maybe. There was a missing hero very present in the room. Jack pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “So you’ll forgive me?”
“Only if you forgive me. I’ve been acting like a big butthead, as Brooke would say.”
Jack laughed. “Nothing to forgive, Susanna.”
They lapsed into a companionable silence, taking a moment to savor the mended fence. But Susanna looked so wistful, a woman with a lot on her mind.
He nudged her shoulder. “You really didn’t think I’d let Skip’s best girl fry, did you?”
That got a smile. “Not unless you wanted him to haunt you. Or for our kids to show up on your doorstep the next time they needed a hot meal or a ride.”
“You guys seem to be hanging in there.”
“We’re okay.” She smiled softly. “Some days better than others. Prom night has me reminiscing.”
“We had a lot of good times back then.” Too many of them hadn’t been memorable enough to have weathered the passage of time, but there were also those worth remembering.
“At that age I didn’t imagine there was a limit. Skip and I thought we had our whole lives ahead of us. We planned to rear our family then retire and travel and host big family gatherings at our summer home on the Sound.” She exhaled a sigh. “If we’d have realized our time was limited, we could have made so many different choices. We’d have lived more instead of putting off our dreams. “
Another easy silence fell between them, a thoughtful silence filled with realizations and cautions. Jack understood exactly what Susanna was saying. Her family hadn’t had enough time with the man they loved. She shared nothing more than conventional wisdom, but somehow, in this moment, it applied to his life in a way it never had before.
Nobody had a clue what tomorrow would bring. He saw proof of that daily in his line of work. But limitations on the future had never felt personal. Not even when he’d lost Skip, one of his best friends. Not until today when Frankie had given him a kiss and entrusted their chance to fate.
Tomorrow will work itself out.
He wasn’t okay with that. His work might not lend itself to a white picket fence and two point five kids, but Jack wanted memorable.
“How would you have prioritized differently?” he asked.
“We would have definitely taken that vacation to Florida for a sunny Christmas instead of building an addition on the house. Maybe we’d have even accepted that job promotion to California. Think about all the quality time we’d have had together without our families and friends around. It would have been just us creating a whole new life together.”
She sounded so sad that Jack slipped his arms around her shoulders again and pulled her close.
She glanced at the flower he held. “That a corsage?”
“Not very impressive, is it?”
“If you like gerbera daisies.”
Jack twisted the flower between his fingers. “That’s what this is?”
Susanna nodded. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
“Francesca.”
Susanna inclined her head and glanced out at the dance floor where Brooke and Gabrielle were teaching Frankie some dance steps to some amusing results.
“I don’t know her as anything but a director, Jack, but she’s a really good one.”
Jack smiled, knowing Susanna’s admission was a blessing of sorts, one that put the past where it belonged. “Get a good night’s sleep. I promise there won’t be any officers showing up on your doorstep tomorrow.”
“Thanks to you. You better get that corsage to your date before it wilts.”
Jack smiled at that, and took Susanna’s advice, bypassing his grandfather who was still deep in conversation, and heading toward the dance floor.
“Ladies, mind if I cut in?”
“Jack?” Frankie’s eyes widened when she recognized him, and to his profound pleasure, she actually blushed when he handed her the daisy. At least it looked like a blush in the shifting dance floor lighting.
“Hey, Uncle Jack.” Brooke popped up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
“Hey, kiddo. You’re getting way too gorgeous. I’m going to have to assign you a patrol.”
“Please don’t say that to Mom. She’ll want you to.”
He laughed. “Good evening, Gabrielle. Nice to see you again. Mind if I dance with your mother?”
Her green eyes lit up with mischief. “She’s all yours, Chief Sloan. Go for it.”
“Gabrielle Concetta,” Frankie said, but her daughter was already disappearing into the crowd.
Jack slipped an arm around Frankie’s waist and pulled her close for a dance more suited to the Golden Era music than the one she’d been attempting to learn.
Frankie tucked the daisy into her lapel, where the long stem hung comically. She didn’t seem to notice or care. “What brings you here?”
“I missed you.”
She narrowed eyes that sparkled in the flickering light. “Really, Jack.”
“My grandfather’s here.”
“Is he? Where?”
“With Judge Pierce. If you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce you.”
Their gazes met. He wasn’t sure exactly what he saw in those beautiful gray eyes—a mixture of excitement and uncertainty maybe—but he knew she understood that he wanted to introduce her to his family for a reason.
“I want my chance here in Bluestone, Francesca,” he said simply. “I want to be part of your reality, Francesca. Not a break from it.”
Because somewhere along the line tonight, he’d figured out what he wanted. And for the first time in memory, Jack was excited about what the future would bring.
