You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

Chapter 13

Frank stood in front Chrissy's front door, gathering the courage to knock. He had everything: the pizza, the dessert, and his special surprise for Jamie. Finally, he knocked on the door.

"Hi, Frank!" Chrissy smiled, "Jamie, Mr. Sinatra is here!"

"He can call me Frank," he smiled.

"You can tell him that. Come in. Let me get that pizza on the table." Chrissy took the pizza and dessert leaving Frank to wait for Jamie.

"Momma, can I play piano later for Mr. Sinatra? Oh, hi!"

"I would love nothing more," Frank smiled, "As long as it's okay with your momma. Nice to meet you, Jamie. Please call me  Frank."

Jamie shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, Frank. I really liked your new record."

"Which one?" Frank bent down to Jamie's level.

"Come Fly With Me. Uncle Dino sent it to me."

"That was nice of him. I'm good friends with your Uncle Dino."

"Come on, guys! This pizza is going to get cold!"

Frank followed Jamie into the dining room. "Where do I sit?" Frank asked.

"You can sit at the head of the table and Jamie and I will sit on either side of you. Frank, what'll you have to drink?"

"Coke, water, whatever you have."

"I'll get it for him, Momma."

Jamie disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Frank and Chrissy alone for a moment. "He's a wonderful kid, Chris. You've done a great job with him."

"Thanks. Thanks for the pizza and dessert."

"Of course. Hey, I have tickets to a Dodgers Game. I'd like to take you and Jamie. Dean told me that baseball is his favorite."

Chrissy's eyes teared up, "He'd love it. I would too."

Frank smiled and reached for Chrissy's hand. He gave it a quick squeeze before Jamie returned.

Jamie set a glass of coke in front of Frank which Frank thanked him for. Then the three of them began to eat. The conversation was light and pleasant for the whole meal. After dinner, the three of them retired to the living room where Jamie played a short tune on the piano for Frank. "You're pretty talented, Jamie. We'll have to find you a piano teacher now that you're living out here."

"Yes. I haven't had one since Noni..."

"I'm sorry," Frank put his arm around Jamie. Clearing his throat, he said, "Hey, I have a special request. I just happened to have three tickets to a Dodgers game next week. I'd hate to go by myself. Maybe, you, me, and your momma could all go? What would you think of that?"

Jamie threw his arms around Frank's neck, "I would love it! I've never been to a baseball game before! Thank you!"

After a little while longer, Chrissy announced that Jamie needed to start getting ready for bed. Jamie went upstairs after bidding Frank a goodnight.

"I guess I should be going."

"Who said anything about that?" Chrissy replied.

"Well, Jamie's going to bed... I figured..." Frank was fumbling his words. He hadn't been so nervous in a long time.

"Frank, please stay awhile longer. We can have some coffee and talk a little longer."

Frank nodded, "I'll be here. You go take care of Jamie first."

A little while later donning a pair of glasses, Chrissy returned, "Sorry, my contacts were bothering me. I hope I'm not too strange looking with my glasses."

"Strange looking? You're beautiful, Chrissy...."

Chrissy was speechless for a moment.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"No, it's just... Frank, I haven't had a man in my life since Jack... Jamie's father. I forgot what it was like."

"What is it like? What would you like it to be like?"

"I felt taken care of... Of course, Dino has always taken care of me, but there was Betty and Jeanne."

"He loves you, doesn't he? I could tell by the way he was pissed at me for taking an interest in you."

"We love each other... Always will, but the timing has never been right. I believe there's a reason for that. We aren't meant to be anything more than very, very dear friends. Don't let him deter you from me."

"It's my world. He's just living in it," Frank laughed.

"Good," Chrissy smiled, "Because I like your world so far. So does Jamie."

Frank patted the couch cushion next to him, "I don't bite. You can sit." Chrissy sat next to him, and he rested his hand on her lower thigh, "I'd like you and Jamie to be a part of my world, so you just tell me how I can make that happen."

"We'll have to take things slow... I'm fragile and out of practice with dating. Plus, I don't want Jamie to get hurt... Or Dean for that matter."

"Okay," Frank nodded. His beautiful blue eyes stared into Chrissy's. "Would a little kiss be too much?"

Chrissy shook her head.

Frank moved his lips closer to Chrissy's and captured hers in a sweet and tender kiss.