𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑙 × 𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒂

Chapter 12

Today marks six months since Frank has met April. They have grown inseparable in this short period.

Frank sits in the arm chair by the window, pondering, facing April, who is still asleep.

The sky is still dark. A few sparrows are chirping.

Frank has been contemplating settling here ,with April, away from the hustle & bustle of the world he once was the focus. His children are grown ups now, they have their own lives.

He has never got the time to enjoy what he had accomplished over the years. Ever since he won the Oscar for his role in ''From here to eternity", he has been working non stop.

He feels like with rock and hip-hop taking over the music industry he has very little to contribute and the retirement was the right decision for him.

He loses his train of thought as April stirs in the bed.He goes to sit beside her and strokes her face.

Her face is glowing ,bathed in the morning gold. She opens her eyes and like the chambers of Ajanta the brown reveals pinnacles of her soul that she has carefully tucked away.

''You are my favorite view to wake up to.'', she hushes as she puts her hands around his neck.

"Right now I consider myself the luckiest person on earth, with you by my side."

A smile of pleasure passes across her cheeks and lingers there.

''April, I was thinking about going to LA , I have some business that I need to take care of. Why don't you join me?"

She sits up,'' I don't want us to be seen together. If you ever leave me I don't think I'll be able to handle people referring to me as one of the broads Frank Sinatra fooled around with.'' , her face reveals a grimace of pain.

He takes her face into his hands, '' I love you. And I always will."

Frank possess a strange ability to convince people. When she listens to him sing, he makes her believe every word she hears.

'' Everyday I think I am dreaming. One day I will wake up and there will be no you or us.'', a teardrop rolls down her cheek.

''April, what we feel for each other is as real as the air we're breathing right now. It's been a long long time that I have felt this way for someone. As if I was longing for some unknown and then I found you and my heart finally rested. "

'' You have my heart forever, Francis Albert.''

April cannot believe the love she feels for Frank, it is as deep as the ocean and she is prepared to drown into the trenches of that sea of love.

The following morning, April accompanies Frank to L.A. , it has been almost 2 years that she stepped foot in the States.

It is dark when Frank's Learjet touches down in Los Angeles Airport.

No sooner had they landed in LAX, a herd of people with cameras flashing swarm over April & Frank.

Frank's two security guards manage to push them in the car waiting for them

'' You alright?", he sounds concerned.

" Yes I am fine."

The car takes them to Frank's lavish Rancho Mirage Compound . April cannot see it properly in the dark of the night but the main house is surrounded by a couple small quarters , two pools at the back and a big lush of gardens filled with small rocks and boulders to give it a rustic look .

When he guides her up to his room, a woman , presumably his maid , was unpacking their luggage.

" Thank you Martha. ''

''April , if you need anything you tell Martha."

Martha flashes her a smile as she leaves their room .

Their room is painted bright orange . It is simple and minimalistic. He has a divan , a writing desk and two of his very own paintings hanging on the wall.

A portrait of his three children sits in his nightstand.

Being tired from a eleven hours long flight today , as soon as she rests her body on the bed , she drifts off to sleep.

The next morning, April wakes up to the sound of someone's loud voice. It's half past ten and the voice is Frank's .

" Those two bucks pimps I'll have their asses. Tell them to stop printing bullshit or I will sue 'em.''

Strange . What is he so upset about, April thinks to herself as she goes downstairs where all the commotion is.

''Oh honey, you are up. Come with me." Frank pulls her hands before she gets the chance to spare another word.

''Look, you might see some articles about you and me and I want you to know that whatever they might write it is not going to change anything. I love you and that's it."

'' Okay." , he kisses April's forehead before storming off the room.

She picks up a folded newspaper.

''Last night Frank Sinatra was spotted with a mystery woman who seems to be half his age. This is the first time we are seeing Ol' Blue Eyes after his retirement. From inside sources, his plane left Paris early in the morning yesterday.The pair reminds us of Frank's fling with then 20 years old actress Mia Farrow whom he divorced into a year of their marriage. Is this another one of his rendezvous to hold onto youth a little longer? Now only time will tell." it read with a picture of Frank and her .

April feels a strange sensation of agony though she shouldn't ,considering Frank has nothing but loving towards her.

A cloud of thoughts cast her mind as she stares aimlessly at the wall. 

She snaps back to reality when Frank comes in the room with his fedora in his hands, ''I am going out . I will be back by evening. If you want to we can go out to dinner. "

He stops mid way ,"And I love you."

The roaring of the engine of his car outside declares his departure.

The feeling of inferiority has been making her question the reality at her hands.
It is all very surreal that she can be loved by a man of Frank Sinatra's stature. Maybe it is all a lie.
The way he divorced Mia would break April into a million pieces ,God forbids if it happens to her.
It's either all the way home or she's in for heartbreak of a lifetime.

Frank questions his decision to bring April in the States. They were happy as they can be in the remote countryside of France, their mornings would start with tea and the chirping of birds and end with stargazing.

He has long dealt with the complexities that his famous career brought him, now he's weary of that life. A shred of normalcy is all his heart craves for.

He parks his car outside his Beverly hills office, " The Frank Sinatra Enterprise".

After an hour he leaves from his office towards the Santa Monica Blvd. , he stops his car in front of a familiar glass door.

He dons his hat and sunglass to get inside without anyone noticing.

The plaque reads, "Tiffany & Co."

To be continued.....