You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

Chapter 14

Frank returned that week for several dinners. Finally, the day of the Dodgers game arrived and it happened that Chrissy was sick. So, Frank, in a peace offering of sorts, invited Dean to attend the game with him and Jamie which Dean accepted.

Frank picked Dean up first, and they drove mostly silently on their way to pick up Jamie.

Finally, Dean spoke, "Listen, I was out of line the other night."

"I'll say you were."

"Will you listen to me first?" Dean snapped back. "I'm sorry, but please understand where I'm coming from."

"Dino, I do. Can you understand that I've changed or at least that I'm trying to change and be a better man?"

"Chrissy means a lot to me, and I don't want to see her hurt. But... knowing that you are going to take care of her and Jamie... then, I couldn't be happier."

"I was a man that I never want to be again with Ava. I am not going to be that man again. I want a wife and a family around me."

"Frank, you take care of her, okay? That's all I need is a promise that you will look after her and Jamie."

"I promise," Frank said as he pulled up to Chrissy's house.

"Come on, let's go check on Chrissy and get Jamie."

Dean and Frank walked up to the house and knocked on the door. Jamie ran to answer it and let them in. Dean hugged him first, "Hey, sport! You excited?"

Jamie was beaming as he nodded. Then Jamie hugged Frank.

"How's Momma?" Frank asked.

"She's okay," Jamie answered.

A raspy voice called out, "I'm in here." The statement was followed by a cough and sneeze.

Dean and Frank poked their heads into the living room while Jamie went to put his shoes on. Frank went toward her, "No, don't. I'm disgusting."

"You're sick not disgusting. Can we get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine. Go have fun! Thanks for taking Jamie. He's been talking about it all morning."

Frank leaned over and kissed Chrissy's forehead, "We'll bring you back dinner."

The three men enjoyed their time at the game. On the way home, Jamie sat in the back seat of the car quietly. "Jamie? You okay?" Frank asked.

"Yeah, just thinking."

"What goes through an eight... almost nine year old boy's brain?" Dean asked.

"Is this what it's like?"

"What?"

"To have a father."

There was silence for a moment. "Well, Jamie... I suppose it is. My father took me to see baseball games. What about you, Dino?"

"Yeah, my Pops and I did things like this too."

"I don't want it to end."

"We can do stuff like this again," Dino said looking back at Jamie.

"Okay."

"But we don't have to let it end today. Let's go get dinner. Your choice." Frank offered.

"McDonald's, please."

"Excellent choice," Frank smiled.

Frank chauffeured the three of them to McDonald's where they enjoyed burgers and fries. Before they returned Jamie home, they stopped to pick up soup for Chrissy. Finally, they pulled up to Chrissy's house and went inside.

Chrissy was under a blanket on the sofa half asleep when they entered. "Hey! How was the game?" She asked groggily.

"Really great, Momma! Look Frank got me a Dodgers jersey! He said I had to have one for my home team now!"

"You've converted him from a Yankees man!" Chrissy laughed, "It looks like you all had fun."

They nodded and smiled at Chrissy. Dean held up the takeout soup, "I'm going to go put this in a bowl for you. Jamie, why don't you go get in your PJs and I'll get you tucked into bed so your Momma can rest."

Jamie complied as Dino went to fix dinner for Chrissy. Frank sat down next to Chrissy on the sofa.

"Was he okay?"

"Oh, just wonderful. We're going to do it again sometime. He's a growing boy. He needs men to be around. I'd like to get him, my son, and Dean's boys together for the next game."

"He'd love that."

"How would you feel when you're better about meeting my kids? I have them next week, and I thought maybe all of us could take a trip down to the Springs."

"Oh, Frank... I would love to, but I need to find work. Dino gifted me this wonderful house, but I still have to pay for things."

"Come to the Springs with me. Then we can figure the rest out."

"Okay," Chrissy nodded.

Dean returned with the soup for Chrissy, "Here you are. I'll go tuck Jamie in."

"No, let me," Frank offered.

"Alrighty, I'll catch up with Typhoid Mary here," Dean chuckled as Frank left the room.

"Hey, you," Dean smiled at Chrissy.

"Hey... Dino?"

"Hmm?"

"You know that I'll always love you, right?"

"Ditto, honey. If this is about Frank, I was out of line. He really cares about you and wants to see where things go..."

"Our timing was never very good, Dino."

"Not in this life," he grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "You're my best pal and will be forever."

"I worry about Jamie with this. Are we moving too fast?"

Dean hesitated, "Well, Jamie adores Frank. He asked him today if this was what having a father was like."

Chrissy gave a painful smile, "I just worry that he'll get attached and it won't work out."

"Even if it doesn't between you and Frank, he's the kind of guy that would still look after Jamie."

Meanwhile, Frank sat on the edge of Jamie's bed. Jamie was telling Frank everything he loved about the day. Finally, Jamie asked a question that he had been waiting to ask all day. "Frank, do you think you'll marry Momma?"

"Maybe someday. It's too soon to know what life has in store."

"Does that mean you'll leave us?"

"Jamie, I will be around for you always. Even if something happens that your Momma and I don't want to date anymore, then you and I can still be pals, okay? Like another Uncle Dino."

Jamie nodded and smiled. He gave Frank a hug, "I love you, Frank."

"I love you too, Jamie."