Her Secret Affair

Chapter 28

"I came to see you," Frankie answered as he stood in the doorway.

"I told you I wanted to be alone. How did you get in anyway?"

"You need to start remembering to lock your doors."

She sighed. "What are you doing here Frankie?" she asked again, much calmer this time. Her hand still sprawled across her chest, trying to cover herself up. He grabbed a towel from the rail and opened it up for her.

"How long have you been in there? That water is cold," he said as he dipped in his hand in the tub.

"I'm not sure, didn't feel like a long time. I must have fallen asleep," she said standing up.

"No, let me help you," he told her as she was about to take the towel from him. He wrapped the towel around her and lifted her out of the tub, placing her standing in front of him. He could feel his body already responding to her. Ignoring it, he dried her up and asked her, "Your clothes?"

"It's in the bedroom." They walked to her bedroom and he watch her pull out a peach sundress and a pair of knickers. "Can you help me put this on? I haven't been able to dress properly with this arm," she gestured to her arm.

Frankie took the knickers from her hand, "No, I meant the dress. I can put those on." He ignored her and kneeled down in front of her without saying a word. She reluctantly lifted her feet up, one by one and he slowly pulled the knickers up her thighs. The touch of his hand warm against her skin. He stood up as he finished and took her dress, his eyes dark with lust.

He pulled the dress over her head, carefully putting the spaghetti strap through her broken arm.

"You have to let go of the towel, Brie," he said softly. She looked at him and felt her heartache for him. And it hit her. She loves him, she actually loves him. Without thinking, she lifted her hand and touched his face, and her towel dropped to her feet. She saw him momentarily close his eyes and leaned into the palm of her hand.

He took her hand and kissed it before letting it go, "Come on, we have to get you dressed," he sighed. As he pulled down her dress, he turned her around and pulled up the zipper. His hand paused at the back of her neck before he let it fall to his side.

"I'll wait for you in the living room," and he left her standing there. 

**********

Frankie stood in the living room, trying to regain control of his emotion. It was hard for his mind to control his body when his heart also wanted the same thing. He refuses to make a move on her in that bedroom where she shared her life with Joseph.

"Just breathe," he said to himself as he paced in the living room.

"Frankie, is everything ok?" he heard her ask softly.

"Of course, Brie. I'm sorry I came unannounced. I just wanted to bring you something," he said as he pulled a small box out of his pocket. He placed the small jewelry box in her hand.

"Happy Birthday, Brie."

She gasped as she opened it. "Frankie, where did you get this?" she asked as her eyes glistened.

In the box laid a gold filigree butterfly brooch with its two wings protruding slightly at an angle to give the brooch a 3D effect. Its wings and body were lined with an array of small black opal stones surrounded by alexandrite on the filigree details. She turned the brooch carefully in her hands as her tears rolled down her face.

"Don't cry, Brie," he said, resisting the urge to pull her in his arms.

"How did you remember?" she asked as she wiped the tears off her face. 

"Why would I not?" he answered softly.

**********

One afternoon ten years ago, Frankie and her had been going around an old little town near the university when she spotted a butterfly brooch through a shop window. "Oh my goodness!! Frankie, this looks exactly like the brooch my great-grandmother had!" she had exclaimed.

"Let's go check it out." They walked into the little antique store and asked to see the brooch. The store owner, an old little lady with the warmest smile, had opened the display case and handed her the brooch carefully. "This is a rare one," she had said. 

"It looks so much like the one my great-grandmother had. She always used to show me this one picture of her in it. She had to sell it when she gave birth to my granddad. My great-grandfather had just passed away and she needed the money," Brianna told Frankie.

"We have a historical record for all our items, I could always check this one for you. Young man, can you help me get that logbook under the counter. My old knees do not permit me to reach that far down," she laughed.

"Ok, it has been bought and sold back a few times. What year would you say your family sold it?" she asked as she flipped through the dusty book.

"Wow, ummm, maybe 1920s? Not too sure on the exact year."

"Do you have a name?"

"Yes, Katherine Davies."

"Here we go, Katherine Davies, 1926. So, looks like this belonged to your family at one point," she had smiled sweetly at Brianna.

The price tag on the brooch was enough to make Brianna's breath catch in her throat. "Thank you, it's been really great to actually see this. My Nana would have been so happy to see it again."

She had taken a picture before they left and they had never gone back to the shop.

**********

She now stood with the brooch in her hand once again, with no words to express what she was feeling. "I can't believe you bought this for me," she looked at him, her eyes filled with awe.

"I would do anything for you, Brie," he looked at her intently. "Anyway, I can't stay long," he said after a while, "I have a meeting with my staff... which was supposed to start 5 minutes ago," he sighed as he looked at his watch. "Will you be ok? I can come pick you up for lunch if you like."

"I-I need to clear my head, and I have to figure out how to prepare dinner. Joseph's mum is coming over with Nicky tonight. I haven't seen him all week."

"Don't stress yourself. I'll send you a contact number when I get to the office so you can order dinner. Is that ok?"

"Yes, I'd appreciate that. Frankie, thank you so much for this. It really means the world to me."

He enveloped her in a warm hug, and whispered softly against her ears, "I've always loved you, Brie. I hope you know that." As he pulled back, he placed a soft kiss against her lips before he turned around and left.

Brianna sat down on the sofa, her mind the clearest it has been for the past few months.