Love Story Part 25
Title: Love Story
Author: Fab_fan
Fandom: All My Children
Rating: PG-13, maybe higher later on.
Pairing: Frankie/Bianca
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I don't own much of anything, really.
Summary: AU Early 1900s. Young Bianca Montgomery dreams of living the adventures she reads about in her books. When her family goes to live with her uncle after the death of her father, Bianca discovers herself a part of the greatest adventure of all. Love.
“Frankie.” Bianca mumbled to herself, confirming in her mind what her eyes were actually seeing. She gaped at the discovery, unable to think of how she was meant to react. She felt a twinge in her stomach as the blonde wordlessly took a step away from her.
Frankie’s face was expressionless. Her mouth was a straight line and her jaw was relaxed. The only sign of movement was the dip of a brow and a flash of something in her eyes. It happened so fast, Bianca only caught it because she was watching the cold hazel. Those eyes, she remembered those eyes. Not like this, though. She had never seen them so…glacial.
Noticing she was holding her breath, Bianca let the air out slowly. She blinked her brown orbs away from the hypnotizing coldness and spoke, “You are Frankie Stone, are you not?”
Frankie remained silent, standing completely still. Bianca grew more frustrated at the quiet. Why did she not say something? Perhaps if the blonde spoke, it would make the nervous tingling in her skin disappear. She had not felt in such a way for so long, it made her more anxious acknowledging the feeling than the feeling did.
Ever so slowly, Frankie’s lips curved up into a wicked smirk, “Ms. Bianca Montgomery.”
Bianca narrowed her eyes at the tone and smirk. “Yes?”
Frankie’s eyes trailed up and down her body, taking in the shapely curves and flashy dress, “It’s too bad ya ruined your dress, doll.”
Bianca saw red, “You tried to kill me!” How dare she stand there with that smirk and look at her like that.
The smirk dropped, “I don’ kill people.”
“You almost did!”
“No doll, you almost got yourself killed. Do they walk down the middle of the road in France, ‘cause here in America that’ll get ya run over.”
“How dare you.”
Frankie turned without a word and began to limp to the car. Bianca watched her take a few steps before following. No one walked away from her. “Stop!”
Frankie ignored her and carefully slid down the embankment into the ditch. She disappeared behind the side of the car. Bianca stood at the edge of the road with her mouth open. She was Bianca Montgomery. Wealthy aristocrats begged to speak and be seen with her. Now, this person was pretending as if she wasn’t there after nearly hitting her with a car. Clenching her jaw and gritting her teeth, Bianca stumbled down into the ditch after the blonde.
“This is absurd. You almost murder me. You insult me. Now, you are leaving me alone on this road? What sort of human being have you become?”
A gasp escaped her lips as she clumsily rounded the corner of the car, her heels stumbling in the grass and mud. Hands took purchase on her sides and spun her into the car. She glared as Frankie pressed her into the driver’s side door, face inches from her own. The leather gloved hands slipped from her waist and flattened against the car, blocking her in. Her glare did not cover the apprehension that flashed in her brown eyes. For the first time she felt something from Frankie she had never felt from the woman before.
She felt power. Absolute power.
“Ms. Montgomery, I did not almost murder ya. I did not insult ya. I must inspect my car before I even think of inviting ya into it. Now, if ya would be so kind as to allow me to inspect the car.”
Bianca gave a tiny nod.
“Good.” Frankie’s gaze dropped to take in her heaving chest, “Shame ‘bout the dress.”
“Why do you keep saying that?”
Frankie smirked devilishly, “Jus’ is, doll.”
She pushed away from the car and hobbled back to the hood. She lifted it and waved a hand at the smoke cloud that rose up. Bianca stayed against the car, catching her breath. She swallowed thickly, “What is…this thing?’
“Duesenberg.” Frankie replied, her head bent over to look at the engine.
Bianca nodded. She did not know anything about motorcars, “Is that a good car?”
“Fastest there is.” Frankie closed the lid with a thud.
“Explains why you were driving so fast.”
Frankie shot her a look, which she intercepted with a smirk of her own. The few seconds reprieve afforded Bianca the ability to regain her senses and confidence. The brunette shifted her gaze to the car. It truly was a beautiful piece of machinery. She peeked into the window as Frankie meandered behind her. The shorter woman’s form reflected in the thick glass.
“Do ya need to be taken somewhere?”
“Depends, will you be driving recklessly?”
“I never do anythin’ recklessly.” their eyes connected in the window.
The clatter of hooves echoed from the road.
Bianca twirled away from the car and peered up the embankment. Tim and the carriage appeared, and the man brought the vehicle to a stop. He jumped down from the bench and surveyed the area, “Ms. Bianca? Are you down there?”
“Here comes the cavalry.” Frankie muttered. She stepped up to Bianca and offered her an arm.
Bianca, startled at the gesture, hooked her arm through Frankie’s and allowed her to escort her up the ditch. She tried not to think about how long it had been since she had walked arm in arm with Frankie.
“Ms. Bianca, are you ok?” Tim’s stunned voice caught her attention.
Bianca nodded and erected herself, “Yes, Tim. I was becoming reacquainted with Frankie while we waited. She was nice enough to stop for me.”
Tim looked over at the blonde, “Frankie.”
“Tim.” Frankie tilted her head, “I see Jack still uses that useless thing.”
“Mr. Montgomery likes the carriage.”
“Or is his job not paying enough ta buy a car?”
Bianca frowned at the terse exchange.
Tim peered at Bianca, “Ms. Bianca, we should be going. It’s getting late.”
“By all means, cannot have ya late.” Frankie walked Bianca up to the carriage. She helped her inside and shut the door.
Bianca leaned outside the window, “Frankie….it was…lovely to see you again.”
“Pleasure was all mine, doll.”
“I am glad we were able to see each other while I was in town.” she said politely, but the message was clear. She had never intended on seeing Frankie.
Frankie tipped her hat, “Be seein’ ya, doll.”
Bianca shivered at that. Be seeing you. Her mind flashed back to another time Frankie has said that.
The carriage started with a jerk and began to roll down the road. Bianca’s eyes could not help but tick to Frankie as she left. Frankie stood in place, an unreadable expression on her face.
***
Bianca entered the house with slight trepidation. It had been ten years since she set foot in this building. She breathed in deeply and held her head high and shoulders back. She walked into the foyer and blinked against the memories. There were so many.
“Ah, Bianca, dear. It is wonderful to see you.” Jack rushed in from the sitting room. He approached her with open arms.
Bianca smiled thinly as he gave her a quick embrace and a peck on the cheek. He held her at arms length and smiled joyfully, “You are a sight for sore eyes, my dear. Time has been good to you, I am happy to see.”
“As to you, uncle.” Jack had acquired a few more wrinkles and his hair was grey, but there was still the friendly twinkle in his eye.
“Come, come. Opal has prepared a great meal for us. I hope your favorites have not changed.” he ushered her into the dining room.
“Perhaps, I may be able to change before we dine?” she was not going to eat in the same dress she had been traveling in all day.
“Oh, of course. Forgive me.” Jack waved at the stairs. “Your room is the same. Tim will be up with your luggage, and Krystal will assist you with anything you need.”
Bianca nodded and went to the stairs.
“It is good to have you home, Bianca.” Jack called after her.
She offered him a small smile and ascended the steps.
The room was exactly how she had left it. It was eerie. For a moment, Bianca had to pinch herself to see if it was all a dream. The bed, the window with its view, everything was the same. Cautiously, the brunette moved further in. She gently ran a hand across the comforter on the bed. So much had happened in this room. So much time was spent reading books and thinking up adventures. She looked at the bookshelf. She had left Pennsylvania without many of her books. She never needed them in Paris. Unconsciously, her finger traced the spine of Call of the Wild. That had been the favorite of…
“Ms. Bianca.” Krystal knocked and entered. Tim followed with a large trunk.
“Put it over there, please.” Bianca snatched her hand back and pointed at the wall. She stood up and went to the trunk, flipping the lid open. Biting her lip, she rummaged through till she found what she wanted.
“That is a pretty dress.” Krystal praised as Bianca revealed a long white satin dress.
“It is.” Bianca laid it out on the bed. The last time she had worn it was at a small dinner party with Cecilia and Lena in Paris.
She changed into the white dress, throwing her ruined red dress to the ground. She fixed her hair and make-up before exiting. She took her time walking back to the dining room. Being back in this house was surreal. She had never imagined returning. Each nook and cranny housed a memory. Many of them involved a much younger version of herself. A girl who could have been someone else to Bianca. The timid little brunette and…the brash yet gentle blonde.
She hurried her pace, not wanting to rehash ancient memories that she had not thought of in years. It was a different life altogether.
The dining room was filled with wonderful smells, and Jack greeted her at the doorway. He escorted her to her seat and pulled out her chair. He went to his own as she settled in.
“Welcome home, Bianca.” Jack smiled at her.
“Hear hear.” Opal entered from the kitchen, a bowl of steaming vegetables in hand. She set them down and went to Bianca. “This house just wasn’t the same without ya.”
“Thank you.” Bianca laid her napkin in her lap.
“Now, don’t ya be staying away so long next time.” Opal shook a finger at her.
“Everyone missed you.” Jack cut in smoothly. “We were slightly nervous you might not even show up when you were late.”
Bianca took a sip of water, “I am here.”
“Yes, Tim told me what happened with the carriage. I am dreadfully sorry for that.” Guilt filled his voice, “I hope you were not hurt.”
“No, I am fine.”
“Good, good.” Jack filled his plate with potatoes, “I cannot tell you how excited I was when you wrote back that you would visit.”
Bianca frowned as she looked around the table. It was only the two of them, “Where is mother?”
Jack’s face dropped, “Your mother…is not here.”
“Where is she?”
Jack picked at his tie, “Your mother decided she wanted other things.”
Bianca raised an eyebrow at that.
Jack cleared his throat, “She is in New York, last I heard.”
“With that hussy of a man, Chris Stamp.” Opal muttered, appearing with a pitcher and filling Jack’s water glass.
“Now, now, Opal.” Jack hushed her.
“Chris Stamp?” Bianca furrowed her brows. That was the sheriff, was it not?
“She and him run off one night like two jailbirds.” Opal shook her head.
“Enough about that.” Jack waved his hand. “How are you, dear?”
Bianca pricked a vegetable with her fork, “Fine.”
“Oh. Well, anything of importance happen since we last spoke? It has been so long.”
Bianca fought back the smirk. So much had happened, but nothing she would broach with this man, “Not that I can recall.”
“Oh.” Jack nodded sadly. “Well, I changed professions a few years back.” He proudly spoke, “I became the district attorney. I work for the government now.”
“Congratulations.” Bianca thought back to what Frankie had said. “Does the government pay well?”
Jack frowned, “To some. But, money is not the most important aspect of my job. I do it to help and protect people.”
“Of course.”
Jack chewed on a piece of meat, “My job is very important to me. However, with you home, I will take time off to spend with you.”
How thoughtful, “You do not have to do that.”
“Yes, I do.” Jack set down his fork. “It has been so long, Bianca. I have missed a lot in your life, and I wish to rectify that.”
Bianca gulped down her water, “Vey well.”
Jack picked up his fork, “I am sorry for what happened with the carriage. I feel terrible.”
“It is fine.”
“I am sorry you had to wait so long for Tim to fix it.”
Bianca blinked, “The time flew by.”
“I am happy nothing else happened. The road can be a dangerous place.”
Bianca bit her lip and cut into her food.
Opal walked in with more water, “Now, don’t be eating too much. We still got my peach pie for desert.”
Bianca coughed and wiped at her mouth. Visions played across her mind. Frankie had loved Opal’s peach pie. She shook her head. She mustn’t think about that. That was a long time ago. It had nothing to do with her life now. It had nothing to do with who she was.
No matter what she told herself, though, the image of two girls, one brunette one blonde, cuddled together underneath the stars, stayed with her.
*****
Bianca sat in the carriage. Two days had passed since she returned to Pine Valley. Each minute she spent in that house brought about a memory she thought forgotten. Adventures in the lawn, book reading by the fire, conversations in the kitchen. She remembered hunting ghosts and discovering magical creatures. Lying in bed, she would roll to the edge and peer over, expecting to see a snoring blonde curled up on the floor. She expected to hear her mother’s unnatural screech and her uncle’s soothing murmur. She expected to see Opal in the kitchen, ordering the rest of the staff around while flicking the girl she had grown to see as a surrogate daughter on the ear.
She expected to feel a calloused yet tender hand in her own.
If that was not enough, she continued to think of her meeting with Frankie. It had been sudden and shocking. Frankie had changed so much. The way she spoke to and treated Bianca was unheard of. Well, the brunette might not have been ready for it then, but she was ready now. No one got the better of her like that.
The carriage pulled to a halt, and she waited for Tim to open the door. The man did and helped her down to the ground. She nodded her thanks and looked at the building before her. The fresh paint had dried and the walk was as finely swept as ever. With a deep breath, Bianca entered the store.
The place was silent. No other customers were inside. Bianca looked around, wondering if anyone was there. How could someone not be there? The store was open. She peeked down a few aisles to no avail.
“Hello.” A boyish voice greeted behind her.
With a gasp she spun to see the child she saw a few days ago. His smile was one of the friendliest she had ever seen, and he had to keep shaking his head to get the shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. He was dressed in a rumpled brown shirt and trousers which were held up by the straps over his shoulders.
“Good morning.” Bianca responded.
“Can I help you?” his smile only grew.
Bianca glanced around. This was not the best idea. It had been ten years. Certainly Frankie did not work here anymore.
“We’ve got a lot of things.” The boy gestured at the aisles, “Do you need any food? Tools? Maybe a sewing kit. We got lots of sewing kits.”
Bianca could not help but smile at his enthusiasm, “No, thank you.”
“Oh…well, what do you need?” he looked at her confused.
“I am looking for someone who used to work here.”
The boy cupped his chin in thought, “Who?”
Before Bianca could respond, the boy’s face lit up. He bent to look around her and gleefully shouted, “Frankie!”
Bianca’s eyes widened.
“Scott, what are ya doin’?” Frankie responded.
“Helping a customer.”
Bianca could hear Frankie coming. She must have entered through the back entrance and was now approaching from one of the aisles.
“A customer?” Frankie questioned. The footsteps stopped.
Bianca put a smirk on her face and turned, “Hello, Frankie.”
Frankie stood at the entrance to the aisle with a blank expression, “Bianca.”
“We got a customer, Frankie.” Scott hopped in place. He whispered at Bianca, “We don’t get a lot of customers.”
“You don’t? Wonder why.” Bianca lifted an eyebrow at the unmoving woman.
The corner of Frankie’s mouth quirked up a centimeter, “I’ll assist Ms. Montgomery, Scott.”
“Are ya sure?”
Frankie shot him a nod and a tiny smile, “Yeah.”
“Ok.” he bounced over toward the aisle. “Frankie, we got a new shipment.” he remembered.
“I know.” She tilted her head behind her.
Scott waved goodbye to Bianca and scampered away.
“He seems like a nice boy.” Bianca said, watching Frankie watch the boy leave.
“He is.”
Bianca took this in. She wondered who he was to her.
“He’s Stuart’s son.” Frankie answered her unspoken question. She limped up to Bianca, the smile on her face gone, “Is there something you needed?”
“You caught me off guard the other day.”
“Oh?” Frankie said with disinterest.
“I do not like it when people do that.”
Frankie turned her head away and took out her pocket watch.
Bianca bit her bottom lip. She coyly brought a hand to Frankie’s arm, brushing her fingertips down the length of it till she touched the bare skin of her hand. “I promise it will not happen again.”
Frankie stared at their hands, “I have no need for a temptress.”
“Am I tempting you?” Bianca whispered, her curves lightly touching Frankie’s arm. If Frankie thought she had power over Bianca, she would learn it was the other way around.
Her voice was low and measured, “Does that work on your floozies in Paris, doll?”
Angrily, Bianca pulled back from her, “You are twisted, Frankie.”
Frankie put her watch away, “Paris has changed ya, Bianca.”
“I am not the only one who has changed.” Rejection stung. It was more, though. Her heart clenched as Frankie walked away toward the counter.
Frankie leaned against the counter. She reached into her blue suit jacket and removed a gold cigarette case from her inner pocket. She opened it and pulled out one, sticking it between her lips. She struck a match and held it up, lighting the brown stick, “Do you think I woulda responded ta that before?”
“You wouldn’t have known how to respond.”
Frankie extinguished the match, “Would you have?”
Bianca frowned, “What is your point?”
Frankie took a long drag. She blew out the smoke, “How was Paris?”
“Grand.”
Frankie offered her a cigarette, but Bianca declined. She was one of the few who did not enjoy the activity. Frankie slipped the case back into her pocket, “Learn some things?”
“I learned a lot of things.”
“Many of which will not work on me.”
Bianca recalled the burning appreciative stare from the other day, “Are you celibate?” She knew Frankie had liked what she’d seen. There was no way she did not prefer the fairer sex.
“Hardly,” the smirk dripped with distain, “but if I wanted a whore, I’d order one.”
“I am not a whore.” Bianca snarled. She flinched inside, the word ringing in her head. To hear Frankie call her that…
“Which is why I would buy ya dinner before touching you. Since I have not bought you dinner, my hands are tied.”
“You want to take me to dinner?” she was caught off guard by the statement.
“Doll, I’ve wanted ta take ya ta dinner since I was young.” Her eyes roamed the shapely curves, “The way ya look now is jus’ added pleasure.”
“You want me.”
“I want a lotta things. But, I don’ want some dame thinkin’ cause she’s got a fancy dress and pouty lips that I’m gonna be her keeper or her pet.”
She had been with women far richer than Frankie could be. “I do not need a keeper. I have never been a kept woman. You’re expensive suits and fast car do not impress me. Remember who comes from money, Frankie.”
“How could I forget?”
Bianca felt a pang at the hard inflection. There was a moment of quiet.
Frankie plucked the cigarette from her mouth with two fingers, “I like the green, doll.”
Bianca glanced down at her green dress, “Thank you.” The conversation had pivoted.
“Why’d ya come back?”
Bianca walked up to the counter, “My uncle wrote me.”
“So, ya came.”
Bianca leaned next to her. She did not question how they fell into such a comfortable conversation so rapidly, “My mother is gone.”
“I heard.” Frankie took another drag.
“How is your car?”
“Gettin’ repaired.”
“Your car got broke?” Scott popped up from the last aisle. “How?”
“Get back ta work, Scott.” Frankie waved her cigarette.
The boy folded his arms, “Who broke the Duesy?”
Bianca had a feeling not many people talked back to Frankie.
“Scott, the new shipment needs ta be stocked.”
Scott looked at Bianca, “Have ya seen the Duesy? It’s swell. It’s got real thick glass that don’t break for nothing, and nothing can get through the doors.”
“Enough, Scott.” Frankie interrupted him. “Ya can talk after ya finish the new shipment.”
“Aw alright.” Scott kicked at the floor before leaving.
“He is adorable.” Bianca said.
Frankie finished her cigarette, “Gives his ma a headache.”
“I am sure Stuart treasures him.”
Frankie paused.
“Where is Stuart?” It was strange to not see him in the store. Was he taking the day off?
“Dead.”
Bianca felt like the air had been knocked from her lungs, “Dead?”
“It was a long time ago.” Frankie moved away from the counter.
Bianca bowed her head in thought. Frankie’s face had not changed, but she had seen it. The spark of pain in Frankie’s eyes. Pain…and guilt.
“How is Jack?” Frankie asked.
“Very well.” Bianca inhaled deeply, “You should join us for supper.”
Frankie chuckled, “Is that so?”
“It has been years since we’ve seen each other. We have changed into different people.”
“No.”
“No?”
Frankie looked at her watch, “I have ta go. It was nice seein’ ya, Bianca. I’ll be seein’ ya.”
Bianca watched Frankie go to the back of the store, grabbing her hat on the way. Scott came back out, cheerfully moving behind the counter.
Frankie had not answered her.
Author: Fab_fan
Fandom: All My Children
Rating: PG-13, maybe higher later on.
Pairing: Frankie/Bianca
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I don't own much of anything, really.
Summary: AU Early 1900s. Young Bianca Montgomery dreams of living the adventures she reads about in her books. When her family goes to live with her uncle after the death of her father, Bianca discovers herself a part of the greatest adventure of all. Love.
“Frankie.” Bianca mumbled to herself, confirming in her mind what her eyes were actually seeing. She gaped at the discovery, unable to think of how she was meant to react. She felt a twinge in her stomach as the blonde wordlessly took a step away from her.
Frankie’s face was expressionless. Her mouth was a straight line and her jaw was relaxed. The only sign of movement was the dip of a brow and a flash of something in her eyes. It happened so fast, Bianca only caught it because she was watching the cold hazel. Those eyes, she remembered those eyes. Not like this, though. She had never seen them so…glacial.
Noticing she was holding her breath, Bianca let the air out slowly. She blinked her brown orbs away from the hypnotizing coldness and spoke, “You are Frankie Stone, are you not?”
Frankie remained silent, standing completely still. Bianca grew more frustrated at the quiet. Why did she not say something? Perhaps if the blonde spoke, it would make the nervous tingling in her skin disappear. She had not felt in such a way for so long, it made her more anxious acknowledging the feeling than the feeling did.
Ever so slowly, Frankie’s lips curved up into a wicked smirk, “Ms. Bianca Montgomery.”
Bianca narrowed her eyes at the tone and smirk. “Yes?”
Frankie’s eyes trailed up and down her body, taking in the shapely curves and flashy dress, “It’s too bad ya ruined your dress, doll.”
Bianca saw red, “You tried to kill me!” How dare she stand there with that smirk and look at her like that.
The smirk dropped, “I don’ kill people.”
“You almost did!”
“No doll, you almost got yourself killed. Do they walk down the middle of the road in France, ‘cause here in America that’ll get ya run over.”
“How dare you.”
Frankie turned without a word and began to limp to the car. Bianca watched her take a few steps before following. No one walked away from her. “Stop!”
Frankie ignored her and carefully slid down the embankment into the ditch. She disappeared behind the side of the car. Bianca stood at the edge of the road with her mouth open. She was Bianca Montgomery. Wealthy aristocrats begged to speak and be seen with her. Now, this person was pretending as if she wasn’t there after nearly hitting her with a car. Clenching her jaw and gritting her teeth, Bianca stumbled down into the ditch after the blonde.
“This is absurd. You almost murder me. You insult me. Now, you are leaving me alone on this road? What sort of human being have you become?”
A gasp escaped her lips as she clumsily rounded the corner of the car, her heels stumbling in the grass and mud. Hands took purchase on her sides and spun her into the car. She glared as Frankie pressed her into the driver’s side door, face inches from her own. The leather gloved hands slipped from her waist and flattened against the car, blocking her in. Her glare did not cover the apprehension that flashed in her brown eyes. For the first time she felt something from Frankie she had never felt from the woman before.
She felt power. Absolute power.
“Ms. Montgomery, I did not almost murder ya. I did not insult ya. I must inspect my car before I even think of inviting ya into it. Now, if ya would be so kind as to allow me to inspect the car.”
Bianca gave a tiny nod.
“Good.” Frankie’s gaze dropped to take in her heaving chest, “Shame ‘bout the dress.”
“Why do you keep saying that?”
Frankie smirked devilishly, “Jus’ is, doll.”
She pushed away from the car and hobbled back to the hood. She lifted it and waved a hand at the smoke cloud that rose up. Bianca stayed against the car, catching her breath. She swallowed thickly, “What is…this thing?’
“Duesenberg.” Frankie replied, her head bent over to look at the engine.
Bianca nodded. She did not know anything about motorcars, “Is that a good car?”
“Fastest there is.” Frankie closed the lid with a thud.
“Explains why you were driving so fast.”
Frankie shot her a look, which she intercepted with a smirk of her own. The few seconds reprieve afforded Bianca the ability to regain her senses and confidence. The brunette shifted her gaze to the car. It truly was a beautiful piece of machinery. She peeked into the window as Frankie meandered behind her. The shorter woman’s form reflected in the thick glass.
“Do ya need to be taken somewhere?”
“Depends, will you be driving recklessly?”
“I never do anythin’ recklessly.” their eyes connected in the window.
The clatter of hooves echoed from the road.
Bianca twirled away from the car and peered up the embankment. Tim and the carriage appeared, and the man brought the vehicle to a stop. He jumped down from the bench and surveyed the area, “Ms. Bianca? Are you down there?”
“Here comes the cavalry.” Frankie muttered. She stepped up to Bianca and offered her an arm.
Bianca, startled at the gesture, hooked her arm through Frankie’s and allowed her to escort her up the ditch. She tried not to think about how long it had been since she had walked arm in arm with Frankie.
“Ms. Bianca, are you ok?” Tim’s stunned voice caught her attention.
Bianca nodded and erected herself, “Yes, Tim. I was becoming reacquainted with Frankie while we waited. She was nice enough to stop for me.”
Tim looked over at the blonde, “Frankie.”
“Tim.” Frankie tilted her head, “I see Jack still uses that useless thing.”
“Mr. Montgomery likes the carriage.”
“Or is his job not paying enough ta buy a car?”
Bianca frowned at the terse exchange.
Tim peered at Bianca, “Ms. Bianca, we should be going. It’s getting late.”
“By all means, cannot have ya late.” Frankie walked Bianca up to the carriage. She helped her inside and shut the door.
Bianca leaned outside the window, “Frankie….it was…lovely to see you again.”
“Pleasure was all mine, doll.”
“I am glad we were able to see each other while I was in town.” she said politely, but the message was clear. She had never intended on seeing Frankie.
Frankie tipped her hat, “Be seein’ ya, doll.”
Bianca shivered at that. Be seeing you. Her mind flashed back to another time Frankie has said that.
The carriage started with a jerk and began to roll down the road. Bianca’s eyes could not help but tick to Frankie as she left. Frankie stood in place, an unreadable expression on her face.
***
Bianca entered the house with slight trepidation. It had been ten years since she set foot in this building. She breathed in deeply and held her head high and shoulders back. She walked into the foyer and blinked against the memories. There were so many.
“Ah, Bianca, dear. It is wonderful to see you.” Jack rushed in from the sitting room. He approached her with open arms.
Bianca smiled thinly as he gave her a quick embrace and a peck on the cheek. He held her at arms length and smiled joyfully, “You are a sight for sore eyes, my dear. Time has been good to you, I am happy to see.”
“As to you, uncle.” Jack had acquired a few more wrinkles and his hair was grey, but there was still the friendly twinkle in his eye.
“Come, come. Opal has prepared a great meal for us. I hope your favorites have not changed.” he ushered her into the dining room.
“Perhaps, I may be able to change before we dine?” she was not going to eat in the same dress she had been traveling in all day.
“Oh, of course. Forgive me.” Jack waved at the stairs. “Your room is the same. Tim will be up with your luggage, and Krystal will assist you with anything you need.”
Bianca nodded and went to the stairs.
“It is good to have you home, Bianca.” Jack called after her.
She offered him a small smile and ascended the steps.
The room was exactly how she had left it. It was eerie. For a moment, Bianca had to pinch herself to see if it was all a dream. The bed, the window with its view, everything was the same. Cautiously, the brunette moved further in. She gently ran a hand across the comforter on the bed. So much had happened in this room. So much time was spent reading books and thinking up adventures. She looked at the bookshelf. She had left Pennsylvania without many of her books. She never needed them in Paris. Unconsciously, her finger traced the spine of Call of the Wild. That had been the favorite of…
“Ms. Bianca.” Krystal knocked and entered. Tim followed with a large trunk.
“Put it over there, please.” Bianca snatched her hand back and pointed at the wall. She stood up and went to the trunk, flipping the lid open. Biting her lip, she rummaged through till she found what she wanted.
“That is a pretty dress.” Krystal praised as Bianca revealed a long white satin dress.
“It is.” Bianca laid it out on the bed. The last time she had worn it was at a small dinner party with Cecilia and Lena in Paris.
She changed into the white dress, throwing her ruined red dress to the ground. She fixed her hair and make-up before exiting. She took her time walking back to the dining room. Being back in this house was surreal. She had never imagined returning. Each nook and cranny housed a memory. Many of them involved a much younger version of herself. A girl who could have been someone else to Bianca. The timid little brunette and…the brash yet gentle blonde.
She hurried her pace, not wanting to rehash ancient memories that she had not thought of in years. It was a different life altogether.
The dining room was filled with wonderful smells, and Jack greeted her at the doorway. He escorted her to her seat and pulled out her chair. He went to his own as she settled in.
“Welcome home, Bianca.” Jack smiled at her.
“Hear hear.” Opal entered from the kitchen, a bowl of steaming vegetables in hand. She set them down and went to Bianca. “This house just wasn’t the same without ya.”
“Thank you.” Bianca laid her napkin in her lap.
“Now, don’t ya be staying away so long next time.” Opal shook a finger at her.
“Everyone missed you.” Jack cut in smoothly. “We were slightly nervous you might not even show up when you were late.”
Bianca took a sip of water, “I am here.”
“Yes, Tim told me what happened with the carriage. I am dreadfully sorry for that.” Guilt filled his voice, “I hope you were not hurt.”
“No, I am fine.”
“Good, good.” Jack filled his plate with potatoes, “I cannot tell you how excited I was when you wrote back that you would visit.”
Bianca frowned as she looked around the table. It was only the two of them, “Where is mother?”
Jack’s face dropped, “Your mother…is not here.”
“Where is she?”
Jack picked at his tie, “Your mother decided she wanted other things.”
Bianca raised an eyebrow at that.
Jack cleared his throat, “She is in New York, last I heard.”
“With that hussy of a man, Chris Stamp.” Opal muttered, appearing with a pitcher and filling Jack’s water glass.
“Now, now, Opal.” Jack hushed her.
“Chris Stamp?” Bianca furrowed her brows. That was the sheriff, was it not?
“She and him run off one night like two jailbirds.” Opal shook her head.
“Enough about that.” Jack waved his hand. “How are you, dear?”
Bianca pricked a vegetable with her fork, “Fine.”
“Oh. Well, anything of importance happen since we last spoke? It has been so long.”
Bianca fought back the smirk. So much had happened, but nothing she would broach with this man, “Not that I can recall.”
“Oh.” Jack nodded sadly. “Well, I changed professions a few years back.” He proudly spoke, “I became the district attorney. I work for the government now.”
“Congratulations.” Bianca thought back to what Frankie had said. “Does the government pay well?”
Jack frowned, “To some. But, money is not the most important aspect of my job. I do it to help and protect people.”
“Of course.”
Jack chewed on a piece of meat, “My job is very important to me. However, with you home, I will take time off to spend with you.”
How thoughtful, “You do not have to do that.”
“Yes, I do.” Jack set down his fork. “It has been so long, Bianca. I have missed a lot in your life, and I wish to rectify that.”
Bianca gulped down her water, “Vey well.”
Jack picked up his fork, “I am sorry for what happened with the carriage. I feel terrible.”
“It is fine.”
“I am sorry you had to wait so long for Tim to fix it.”
Bianca blinked, “The time flew by.”
“I am happy nothing else happened. The road can be a dangerous place.”
Bianca bit her lip and cut into her food.
Opal walked in with more water, “Now, don’t be eating too much. We still got my peach pie for desert.”
Bianca coughed and wiped at her mouth. Visions played across her mind. Frankie had loved Opal’s peach pie. She shook her head. She mustn’t think about that. That was a long time ago. It had nothing to do with her life now. It had nothing to do with who she was.
No matter what she told herself, though, the image of two girls, one brunette one blonde, cuddled together underneath the stars, stayed with her.
*****
Bianca sat in the carriage. Two days had passed since she returned to Pine Valley. Each minute she spent in that house brought about a memory she thought forgotten. Adventures in the lawn, book reading by the fire, conversations in the kitchen. She remembered hunting ghosts and discovering magical creatures. Lying in bed, she would roll to the edge and peer over, expecting to see a snoring blonde curled up on the floor. She expected to hear her mother’s unnatural screech and her uncle’s soothing murmur. She expected to see Opal in the kitchen, ordering the rest of the staff around while flicking the girl she had grown to see as a surrogate daughter on the ear.
She expected to feel a calloused yet tender hand in her own.
If that was not enough, she continued to think of her meeting with Frankie. It had been sudden and shocking. Frankie had changed so much. The way she spoke to and treated Bianca was unheard of. Well, the brunette might not have been ready for it then, but she was ready now. No one got the better of her like that.
The carriage pulled to a halt, and she waited for Tim to open the door. The man did and helped her down to the ground. She nodded her thanks and looked at the building before her. The fresh paint had dried and the walk was as finely swept as ever. With a deep breath, Bianca entered the store.
The place was silent. No other customers were inside. Bianca looked around, wondering if anyone was there. How could someone not be there? The store was open. She peeked down a few aisles to no avail.
“Hello.” A boyish voice greeted behind her.
With a gasp she spun to see the child she saw a few days ago. His smile was one of the friendliest she had ever seen, and he had to keep shaking his head to get the shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. He was dressed in a rumpled brown shirt and trousers which were held up by the straps over his shoulders.
“Good morning.” Bianca responded.
“Can I help you?” his smile only grew.
Bianca glanced around. This was not the best idea. It had been ten years. Certainly Frankie did not work here anymore.
“We’ve got a lot of things.” The boy gestured at the aisles, “Do you need any food? Tools? Maybe a sewing kit. We got lots of sewing kits.”
Bianca could not help but smile at his enthusiasm, “No, thank you.”
“Oh…well, what do you need?” he looked at her confused.
“I am looking for someone who used to work here.”
The boy cupped his chin in thought, “Who?”
Before Bianca could respond, the boy’s face lit up. He bent to look around her and gleefully shouted, “Frankie!”
Bianca’s eyes widened.
“Scott, what are ya doin’?” Frankie responded.
“Helping a customer.”
Bianca could hear Frankie coming. She must have entered through the back entrance and was now approaching from one of the aisles.
“A customer?” Frankie questioned. The footsteps stopped.
Bianca put a smirk on her face and turned, “Hello, Frankie.”
Frankie stood at the entrance to the aisle with a blank expression, “Bianca.”
“We got a customer, Frankie.” Scott hopped in place. He whispered at Bianca, “We don’t get a lot of customers.”
“You don’t? Wonder why.” Bianca lifted an eyebrow at the unmoving woman.
The corner of Frankie’s mouth quirked up a centimeter, “I’ll assist Ms. Montgomery, Scott.”
“Are ya sure?”
Frankie shot him a nod and a tiny smile, “Yeah.”
“Ok.” he bounced over toward the aisle. “Frankie, we got a new shipment.” he remembered.
“I know.” She tilted her head behind her.
Scott waved goodbye to Bianca and scampered away.
“He seems like a nice boy.” Bianca said, watching Frankie watch the boy leave.
“He is.”
Bianca took this in. She wondered who he was to her.
“He’s Stuart’s son.” Frankie answered her unspoken question. She limped up to Bianca, the smile on her face gone, “Is there something you needed?”
“You caught me off guard the other day.”
“Oh?” Frankie said with disinterest.
“I do not like it when people do that.”
Frankie turned her head away and took out her pocket watch.
Bianca bit her bottom lip. She coyly brought a hand to Frankie’s arm, brushing her fingertips down the length of it till she touched the bare skin of her hand. “I promise it will not happen again.”
Frankie stared at their hands, “I have no need for a temptress.”
“Am I tempting you?” Bianca whispered, her curves lightly touching Frankie’s arm. If Frankie thought she had power over Bianca, she would learn it was the other way around.
Her voice was low and measured, “Does that work on your floozies in Paris, doll?”
Angrily, Bianca pulled back from her, “You are twisted, Frankie.”
Frankie put her watch away, “Paris has changed ya, Bianca.”
“I am not the only one who has changed.” Rejection stung. It was more, though. Her heart clenched as Frankie walked away toward the counter.
Frankie leaned against the counter. She reached into her blue suit jacket and removed a gold cigarette case from her inner pocket. She opened it and pulled out one, sticking it between her lips. She struck a match and held it up, lighting the brown stick, “Do you think I woulda responded ta that before?”
“You wouldn’t have known how to respond.”
Frankie extinguished the match, “Would you have?”
Bianca frowned, “What is your point?”
Frankie took a long drag. She blew out the smoke, “How was Paris?”
“Grand.”
Frankie offered her a cigarette, but Bianca declined. She was one of the few who did not enjoy the activity. Frankie slipped the case back into her pocket, “Learn some things?”
“I learned a lot of things.”
“Many of which will not work on me.”
Bianca recalled the burning appreciative stare from the other day, “Are you celibate?” She knew Frankie had liked what she’d seen. There was no way she did not prefer the fairer sex.
“Hardly,” the smirk dripped with distain, “but if I wanted a whore, I’d order one.”
“I am not a whore.” Bianca snarled. She flinched inside, the word ringing in her head. To hear Frankie call her that…
“Which is why I would buy ya dinner before touching you. Since I have not bought you dinner, my hands are tied.”
“You want to take me to dinner?” she was caught off guard by the statement.
“Doll, I’ve wanted ta take ya ta dinner since I was young.” Her eyes roamed the shapely curves, “The way ya look now is jus’ added pleasure.”
“You want me.”
“I want a lotta things. But, I don’ want some dame thinkin’ cause she’s got a fancy dress and pouty lips that I’m gonna be her keeper or her pet.”
She had been with women far richer than Frankie could be. “I do not need a keeper. I have never been a kept woman. You’re expensive suits and fast car do not impress me. Remember who comes from money, Frankie.”
“How could I forget?”
Bianca felt a pang at the hard inflection. There was a moment of quiet.
Frankie plucked the cigarette from her mouth with two fingers, “I like the green, doll.”
Bianca glanced down at her green dress, “Thank you.” The conversation had pivoted.
“Why’d ya come back?”
Bianca walked up to the counter, “My uncle wrote me.”
“So, ya came.”
Bianca leaned next to her. She did not question how they fell into such a comfortable conversation so rapidly, “My mother is gone.”
“I heard.” Frankie took another drag.
“How is your car?”
“Gettin’ repaired.”
“Your car got broke?” Scott popped up from the last aisle. “How?”
“Get back ta work, Scott.” Frankie waved her cigarette.
The boy folded his arms, “Who broke the Duesy?”
Bianca had a feeling not many people talked back to Frankie.
“Scott, the new shipment needs ta be stocked.”
Scott looked at Bianca, “Have ya seen the Duesy? It’s swell. It’s got real thick glass that don’t break for nothing, and nothing can get through the doors.”
“Enough, Scott.” Frankie interrupted him. “Ya can talk after ya finish the new shipment.”
“Aw alright.” Scott kicked at the floor before leaving.
“He is adorable.” Bianca said.
Frankie finished her cigarette, “Gives his ma a headache.”
“I am sure Stuart treasures him.”
Frankie paused.
“Where is Stuart?” It was strange to not see him in the store. Was he taking the day off?
“Dead.”
Bianca felt like the air had been knocked from her lungs, “Dead?”
“It was a long time ago.” Frankie moved away from the counter.
Bianca bowed her head in thought. Frankie’s face had not changed, but she had seen it. The spark of pain in Frankie’s eyes. Pain…and guilt.
“How is Jack?” Frankie asked.
“Very well.” Bianca inhaled deeply, “You should join us for supper.”
Frankie chuckled, “Is that so?”
“It has been years since we’ve seen each other. We have changed into different people.”
“No.”
“No?”
Frankie looked at her watch, “I have ta go. It was nice seein’ ya, Bianca. I’ll be seein’ ya.”
Bianca watched Frankie go to the back of the store, grabbing her hat on the way. Scott came back out, cheerfully moving behind the counter.
Frankie had not answered her.