Boston Blood

Nine

Dublin, 1988

"Frankie, are you ready? I need to drop you to the airport before my shift starts so hurry up." Joan barked through the bathroom door. Frankie could barely hear her muffled voice. She was in the bath and had her head fully submerged. She pulled herself up and wiped her face. Another loud bang on the door made her sigh. "Frankie!"

"I'll be out in a minute," Frankie shouted back, trying not to get angry. Joan had let her stay with her after that night and she was very grateful. She had fully expected the police to come looking for them but they never did. She guessed that the nuns, although obviously furious with what the girls had done, were happy enough knowing they had made Sinead pay, at least.

But Joan hated Frankie. She never forgave her for what happened to Sinead. Frankie couldn't really understand why she had helped her all this time but she thought it was because Joan wanted to see this through. Maybe if Joan helped Frankie, it would be like Sinead didn't die in vain.

She stood in the living room of Joan's small flat and stared at the tiny suitcase on the couch/her bed. She didn't have much to pack. It had taken her over a year to save up for the plane ticket and what ever money she did make from her job at the hair dressers all went towards it.

She grabbed her passport and buttoned up her coat, suddenly feeling extremely nervous. She had never even left Dublin before, let alone flown to another country. But she was going to try to find Michael. Before Joan left the nun's she was able to find out that Michael's new last name was O'Neill. But that's all she had. She had no idea if he was still in Boston but she had to try. After everything that had happened the past few years, she couldn't wait to get out of this place.

Joan popped her head around the door, staring at her watch in frustration. "You ready?"

Frankie took a deep breath and nodded, following Joan out the front door. As she was just about to get into the car she felt herself panic. She fumbled in her pocket for a small pill and swallowed it dry. She had been struggling. She felt like she was just floating through the world, alone. She was angrier than ever and only had one thing keeping her going.

They arrived at Dublin airport a half an hour later. Joan didn't get out of the car. She sat with her hands grabbing the wheel and barely looked at Frankie who was now bending over and looking through the window.

"Joan, I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me. I swear I'll pay you back, some day. Sinead was so lucky to have you and I am so sorry for everything."

A tear fell down Joan's face and she revved the engine and drove off without a word.