Boston Blood

seventy

Dublin, Ireland.

Eight months later. 

"just five more minutes, auntie Frankie. Pleeeeaaaaaase." Lucy whined while she ran circles around Frankie in the playground. They had been there for over two hours and as tired as Frankie now was, she had to admire Lucy's stamina and endurance.  She literally hadn't stopped playing on every swing set and slide there was and it didn't look like she was anywhere near done. Frankie smiled and shook her head in defeat. "Fine, five more minutes but then it's home time. You've got school tomorrow." 
Frankie tried to reason with Lucy but she had already sprinted off to play with a little boy who had just walked in. She laughed quietly to herself and sat on a bench, taking out a cigarette. As she inhaled, deeply, her moment of solitary bliss was interrupted when a hand softly squeezed her shoulder. "You should really give those things up before they kill you." Frankie scoffed and took another drag as he stood beside her, scolding her. 
"Hey, this is my only vice now, I'll give up soon, just can't face it yet." 
Michael smirked and wiped the dribble off the chin of the gorgeous baby who was bouncing happily on his hip. As soon as Michael's ass hit the seat, two big beautiful green eyes were smiling up at Frankie, followed by a contagious, happy little laugh. "Hey Maggie, come here to me. Oh, I missed you, yes I did. I missed you so much." 
Frankie wrapped her niece tightly in her arms and let herself sniff her fuzzy hair. "We were only gone to Cork for two days, Frankie, you couldn't have missed her that much," Michael chuckled but he stared at the two of them lovingly. "I did! I can't believe you have already been here a month. It's been so nice having you all here. I'm not ready for you to go back to the states. But we'll be heading over to Bill and Mary's for Christmas so at least I'll see you all again soon." She kept her eyes on Maggie, purposefully avoiding the growing look of pity on her brother's face. 
"I know. It's been really great being home and Linda has had such an amazing time. It was incredible that she got to meet so much of her family down in Cork. She was so happy."
A comfortable silence fell between them and Maggie was just starting to drift off to sleep as she nuzzled herself into Frankie's chest. Frankie didn't want to admit it, but for the past few months, it felt like the huge hole that had been growing in her heart, was getting bigger. She was doing better, much better and having Lucy with her was amazing but she couldn't help but still feel broken, like there was always going to be a piece of her missing and she didn't know how to find it. 
"You're a natural with her. You ever think about having one of your own?" Michael asked but almost immediately regretted his question when he saw Frankie's body tense. She had been thinking about it, to be honest but she knew it wouldn't happen and she accepted it. Linda had tried to persuade Frankie to get back out there and find a nice man to settle down with and maybe start a family but Frankie wasn't ready to even think about meeting someone. After Cillian, it just felt wrong and she just felt like she didn't want anyone else. She was happy. Just her and Lucy against the world and that was enough. 
Michael cleared his throat, seemingly reading Frankie's mind and desperately tried to change the subject. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, that guy, Dotser wasn't it? They found him in New York. I know you were worried that he might tell someone about you but there's no need to worry about him, anymore." Frankie nodded, not needing Michael to clarify. She knew Dotser was dead and her whole body was filled with relief. He was the last one who knew about her, apart form Alex and Kevin but she hoped that because she helped Alex that night with Tony, that they would leave her alone. She still had a slight knot in her stomach, fearful that someone, someday from Boston would come looking, but she tried to put that frightening thought out of her mind. " Oh and I have some amazing news. My buddy from child Services left me a message while we were away. All the paper work has gone through. It took some serious string pulling but he owed me a favour. You are now, officially, Lucy's legal guardian." 
Frankie beamed at Michael and released a deep breath. She had been terrified that something would go wrong and that the authorities would take Lucy away but Michael had promised her he knew the right people and she was so thankful that it was finally done. "That's amazing, Michael. Thank you so much."
"No problem. I'm just so glad she seems so happy here. You're doing an amazing job with her, really."
Frankie watched Lucy bark orders at the kids who she had wrangled together to play a game of soldiers. She was the leader, of course. "I'm trying but I know she misses Bridget and h-, him." Michael nodded, deep in thought. There was nothing he could say to his sister that he hadn't already said. He was just so thankful that Frankie was also doing better, even though he knew she was still heartbroken.
It was Frankie's turn to steer the conversation elsewhere when she suddenly felt an unwanted lump form in her throat. "Oh, guess what? Mr. Kelly said if I keep doing so well with his books that he's going to promote me to accounts manager. It'll mean more hours and a pay increase."
"Frankie, that's amazing! I'm so proud of you. God, you'll have Kelly's Motors knocked into shape in no time. Shit, it's almost six. I told Linda I'd bring her to the chipper for dinner. She can't stop talking about that bleeding battered sausage she had last week. Do you want to come with us?" 
Frankie handed Maggie to Michael, who was know strapping her into her pram. "No, you go ahead. I can take Maggie if you want take a night of it? Go see a film or something too."
"Are you sure? I don't want to take advantage."
Frankie laughed when Michael didn't even finish his sentence before he was handing Maggie's bag over to her and inching the pram closer to where Frankie stood. 
"Ha, yeah, you seem really sorry about it. Go have a good time. I'll take care of her." 
Michael leaned in to kiss his daughter goodbye before kissing Frankie on the cheek too. "Thanks, sis. You're the best." Frankie winked and Michael shouted bye to Lucy before practically skipping out of the park. "Come on, Luce. Home time." Frankie called across the park and waited for the outcry of defiance but as soon as Lucy saw that Frankie had Maggie, she sprinted over to them, happily. "Yay! Are we babysitting? Yes! Ooooh, we're gonna have so much fun, Margaret Frances. Frankie can I paint her nails?" 
Frankie nearly choked on her own laughter. "What? No of course not. She's only a baby! But you can help me give her a bath if you like?" Lucy grinned and nodded her head as she shoved Frankie out of the way and proceeded to push the pram in the direction of home.