Page 18 of Supernova

Jo’s heart nearly stills in her chest. A man has just told her that the thing that’s keeping him alive at this point is that he’swaiting for her words. A former teacher wants to read what she writes, and even though Jo is a grown woman, it still gives her the blush of a schoolgirl who has been chosen for praise.

“That’s…I’m so honored,” Jo finally says. “Truly.”

A knowing smile spreads slowly across Mr. Dandridge’s face and he tugs at her hand with as much strength as he can muster. “But you can’t drag your feet and write slowly just to keep me alive, you hear? You have to write me something soon.”

Jo hates the implications of his statement, but she understands that she’s going to be writing against the clock. If Mr. Dandridge wants to read her romance story, then she’ll start it today. “It’s a deal,” she says.

NINE

frankie

“Francesca! You have company!”Allegra shouts over the Frank Sinatra album she’s playing in the front room.

Frankie sighs heavily from where she’s stretched out on her bed. Her parents are two of her favorite people in the world, but their arrival in her home has rendered her a teenager again almost overnight. Sometimes she tells them she needs an afternoon nap just so that she can have a few moments of peace.

“Coming, Mama,” she says to herself, swinging her feet over the side of the bed and patting her hair to make sure it’s not too rumpled.

“And then, when Francesca was eight, she had this little tiny plastic dog she called Monty,” Enzo is saying loudly, clearly relishing the story. “And she used to sleep with him at night and feed him little bits of her dinner because she thought that if she prayed hard enough, he’d turn into a real dog.”

Her parents both roar with laughter at the memory. Frankie walks into the sunken living room in time to see Jo sitting on the couch, laughing along with them.

“That’s precious,” Jo says. She’s wearing a skirt, feet crossed at the ankles. Her hands are in her lap. “Hi, Frankie,” she says, beaming up at her friend. “How are you?”

Frankie takes a deep, fortifying breath and smiles to show that she’s totally fine. “Good. I wasn’t expecting you, Jo—is everything okay?”

“Of course—things are great. I was just in the neighborhood,” she says in a joking tone, “and I thought I’d drop by to see how you were, and to say hello to your parents.”

“I’m so sorry.” Frankie runs a hand over her housedress and smooths it across her thighs. “I should have invited you over sooner. I meant to.” She really should have invited Jo over after introducing her to Allegra outside the butcher shop, and Frankie would have done well to follow up and have her come by to meet her father as well. “I’ve been really…tired lately,” she says apologetically.

A flicker of concern passes over Jo’s face and she and Frankie exchange a look. “Oh, please. Don’t give it another thought. I actually baked an extra loaf of banana bread, so I thought I’d drop it by and officially welcome your parents. But since I’m here, what would you say to going out for a walk with me?”

Jo looks to Mr. and Mrs. Lombardi to make sure this is okay with them.

Allegra nearly jumps up from her seat and shoves them out the front door. “Yes! Girls, please--go on a walk. I’m making pasta here, and I can have it ready by the time you get back. I’ll feed you both.”

Enzo, who has an unlit cigar clamped between his teeth, waves them off. “Go have fun, young people,” he says.

Frankie is ready to protest—she is, after all, wearing a housedress and slippers—but Jo stands and offers her a hand. “Let’s get you changed and we’ll just stroll. I’m not really wearing shoes for a long walk anyway.” She smiles at Allegra and Enzo as she keeps her hands on Frankie’s shoulders, steering her down the hall.

“But Jo…” Frankie trails off. She’s realizing as they walk back towards her bedroom that she’s just been ambushed. “Did my parents pay you to get me out of the house?”

“No payment necessary,” Jo says chirpily as she closes Frankie’s bedroom door and sits on the edge of her bed. “Go put on a dress.” She points at the walk-in closet. “I’ll wait.”

Inside the closet, Frankie flips on the light and stands before her racks of beautiful clothing. She eyes the dresses and wants nothing more than to send Jo away so that she can keep napping. Instead, she unzips her housedress and hangs it on the back of the door before choosing a simple yellow dress and a pair of flat, woven huaraches.

“Did they ask you to go on a walk with me?” Frankie calls out over her shoulder as she zips the dress over her white bra and underwear.

“Of course not,” Jo says. “I just took one look at you and realized that you need some air. And also that we haven’t seen one another for more than a few minutes since before Christmas, and I’d really like to catch up. I hope that’s okay with you.”

Frankie turns off the light in the closet and emerges fully dressed. “Of course it’s okay.” She looks at Jo as she sits there on the foot of the bed. “I just think my parents start to worry when I don’t get out enough.”

“Sure,” Jo says. “That’s understandable. Any reason why you’re feeling so tired and staying in this much?”

Frankie knows that Jo isn’t being cagey and hinting at a possible pregnancy, but she’s been so cornered by her mother’s questions these past couple of weeks that it’s the first thing that comes to mind. “Nothing specific,” she says. “I mean…I guess I miss having Ed here.”

“Of course you do, honey,” Jo says, standing and then smoothing out the bedding with one hand. “He’ll be back soon, won’t he?”

“Two more weeks.” Frankie walks over to the dresser and looks into the mirror: her hair is wavy and unkempt, and she’d hastily applied a little makeup in the morning. Without taking her eyes from her reflection, she picks up a tube of lipstick and swipes it across her lips. “I’m glad you came by.”

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