Page 80 of The Corner of Heartbreak and Forever
“They were your mother’s, too.” Frank said as they headed for the house.
Reed’s legs stopped working. “They were?”
Frank nodded. “That’s how she chose our apartment. There were orchids in the rental office, and she took it as a sign.”
If Reed hadn’t believed in signs before, he sure did now. It was as if his mother was thanking him for sticking around to see Frank. “Want to go inside?”
“Actually, I spend a lot of time indoors. Would you mind if we sat on the steps for a bit?” Frank glanced at the house. “You are definitely your mother’s son. She would have loved a house like this.”
As they sat down, Reed caught sight of Frank’s scars. In an effort to distract himself from thoughts of Grace, he asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get those scars?”
Frank ran his fingers over his mangled skin, and a small smile lifted his lips. “Protecting your mother. She loved children. One summer she volunteered at the refreshment stand at a local pool on the weekends. I went with her because, well, I didn’t want to miss out on the time with her.”
He tossed Reed a knowing smile, and Reed’s mind sprinted back to Grace, looking like a million bucks in her fancy clothes. How had she remained single for all these years? Were the men in New York blind and deaf? She was the most fascinating woman he’d ever known. And now his gut twisted with longing again.
“Your mother and I were behind the counter,” Frank explained, bringing Reed’s mind back to their conversation. “I was cooking burgers and hot dogs and she was handing out candy and chips. Somebody tossed a plastic ball over the counter, and she leaned back so it wouldn’t hit her face and lost her footing. She was going to fall right on the hot grill. I put my arm out”—he extended his arm to the side—“and caught her before she hit it.”
A chill ran through Reed, imagining Frank’s arm on a hot grill, his skin burning.
“I didn’t even feel it at first,” Frank said. “She’d fallen into my arms, and neither of us realized what had happened. I was too swept up in Lily’s smile. That woman mesmerized me.”
“But the pain.” Reed winced. “That must have been awful.”
“It was pretty horrible. But your mother learned to look after the burns. She took good care of me. And if I had to do it a hundred times over, I would to save her the pain. Even now, knowing about that other man, I’d still do anything for her. That’s what love is, but you know that.” Frank glanced at the house. “Where’s Grace? Did she change her mind about meeting me?” Sadness rose in his eyes. “It’s okay if she did. I understand.”
“No. She didn’t change her mind. She had to go back to New York to take care of a few things.”
“Back? She doesn’t live here?”
“It’s a bit complicated. She lives in New York City.” Reed explained their living situation to him.
“I have no business advising anyone in the ways of love, but why are you still here?”
He’d asked himself that a hundred times over the last fifteen minutes, but he was afraid the truth might make Frank feel guilty, so he said, “I have commitments.”
“Commitments.” Frank shook his head. “Whatever commitments you have, and whoever they’re to, are they more important than the woman you love?”
“No way,” Reed said angrily, even though he knew his anger was misdirected, and the truth came out despite his efforts to hold it back. “And because I’ve only just found you and I want to get to know you. I don’t even know where you’re living. From what you’ve said, you don’t have anyone else, and…”You don’t have much time left.“I think it’s important to be here for you.”
“I truly appreciate that, Reed. It’s very honorable,” Frank said. “I live in New Jersey, and there’s not much else to tell. But you’ve given me what I needed, which was to make sure you knew the truth before I left this earth. But what you need is on her way to New York. Don’t let our past hinder your future.”
Reed’s pulse ratcheted up. “But you’re only here until Monday.”
Frank shrugged. “And then I’ll be in Jersey, a few hours away. I don’t claim to know much about you, but if that pinched expression and those fisted hands are any indication, you’ll likely kill someone before Monday if you let your gal get away.” He picked up the bouquet from between them and handed it to Reed. “Go, before she gets too far.”
Adrenaline sent Reed to his feet. “You don’t mind?”
“Heck no.Go.” Frank rose beside him, a wide smile in place.
They stood awkwardly looking at each other, and Reed could tell that like him, Frank wasn’t sure if they should shake hands or hug. They both leaned in, then pulled back. Reed thrust out his hand, and when Frank accepted it, Reed pulled him into an embrace.
“Thank you, Frank. Thank you for coming back to tell me the truth and for kicking my butt out of here.” As he ran to his truck, he hollered, “Leave your number for me at the hotel. I’ll be in touch.”
Reed sped out of the driveway, determined to be with his girl.
GRACE UNHOOKED THE gas pump and stuck it in the tank, cradling her phone against her shoulder. She and Sophie cursed blue streaks about her having to leave town early and miss Sophie’s baby shower. Realizing she was nearly out of gas had sent Grace into another hateful rant.
“I swear, Soph, I’m going to wring Keagen’s neck. He’ll never want to work on one of my productions again, and I don’t care.Idon’t want to work on another production again!”
