You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

Chapter 19

Chrissy and Frank enjoyed their honeymoon, but Chrissy was eager to return to Jamie. When they arrived, Dean and Jamie picked them up at the airport.

Jamie ran to his mother when he saw her, throwing his arms around her, "Momma, I missed you!"

"I missed you too! How was spending a few days with Uncle Dino?"

"It was good." Jamie then threw his arms around Frank, "Poppa, I missed you too! I wrote down the schedule for the Dodgers. I can show you when we get home."

"That sounds wonderful, J. Is your bag packed for our trip next week?"

"Yes, sir," Jamie smiled.

"Great! Let's get home. I'm wiped."

Jamie and Frank walked ahead of Dino and Chrissy, "So, how's everything?" Dino asked in a low voice, so Frank couldn't hear.

"Better, I think. Thank you," Chrissy said quietly.

"For what?"

"Always being there and supporting me. Ten years, Dino... You've always been there. Thank you."

Dino's eyes became teary for a moment. He wasn't an emotional person. Truly, Chrissy was one of the only people that he would let see him cry.

"Oh, don't do that. What's the matter?"

Dino sucked in a deep breath and blinked away the tears, "Just know that you and your friendship are irreplaceable to me. I wouldn't be where I am today without your support and kindness."

"Ditto, Dino."

"Dino, where the hell did ya park?" Frank asked.

"Straight ahead," Dean replied. After Frank turned around, Dean glanced at Chrissy and gave her a sweet smile.

Months later...

Chrissy was heavily pregnant with the couple's coming child as Frank finished up filming Ocean's Eleven. While she knew everyone was busy and running different schedules, she began to find it strange that Dino and Frank were barely together any more.

One evening, while Frank was performing in Las Vegas at the Dunes and Jamie was staying at a friend's house, there was an unexpected knock on the front door.

Chrissy groaned as she stood up, placing her hand on her back as she waddled toward the door. She smiled when she saw Dino standing there.

"Hey, pally," his low voice reverberated throughout the corridor.

"Dino!" she gave him a hug, "What a nice surprise! Is Jeanne with you?"

"Nope, just me. I thought we could talk. Ice cream?" he handed her a brown bag.

They sat down in the living room, "You look good, Chris." Dino gave a weak smile.

"Such a sweet liar," she laughed.

He smiled, "Really, you are glowing." An awkward silence hung in the air.

"Dino, you're acting strangely. Why haven't you and Frank been getting together?"

"It's nothing," he shook his head. "Just busy."

He was biting back tears and Chrissy moved to sit down next to him. She wrapped her arms around him and put her head on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. Pallies for Life, remember?"

The tears began to flood Dino's eyes, "It's Mama," he choked, "She's sick... I can't stand the thought of..."

"Oh, Dino..."

"Her and Papa act like it's no big deal, but it's cancer. It's vicious and brutal. There's nothing that can be done," Dino sobbed.

Chrissy felt her eyes filling with tears. She loved Angela, and she knew what it felt like to lose Nonni. Her heart was breaking for him.

"Jeanne and her never got close, so she doesn't know what to do. And you know me..."

"You keep your feelings all locked up inside."

He shook his head and let out a sob, burying his face in Chrissy's neck.

"I know these are just empty words, but it will be okay again. Maybe not now and not in a year, but it will be."

"Christ, how come I keep screwin' everything up?"

"Dino, look at me... You're not screwing up."

"Chrissy, I should've married you the first chance I got, then the second, then the third. I feel like I'm drowning and I can't tell my wife. What kind of a life is that?"

"Oh Dino," Chrissy blushed. "Jeanne loves you. You could open up more to her. She would listen."

"Chrissy, I..." he was sobbing, "I'm sorry. If I could go back in time, I would do it all over again. We'd still be living back home, and you would be my wife. I'd be a barber or a card dealer and life would be simple. God, now I've drug you and Jamie out here. You married Frank Sinatra who's..." he stopped himself from finishing.

"Who's what?" Chrissy asked, her voice trembling.

"Famous," Dean stared at his shoes.

"Dean, that's not what you were going to say..."

"He's a pig!" Dean burst. "And I beat the hell out of him in Las Vegas. So no, he's not performing. He's hiding in a hotel room until his bruises fade."

"What happened? Is he okay?"

Dean rubbed his eyes, "Look, I don't think he did anything, but I thought he was flirting with Angie Dickinson. I was already mad at him, so I lost it. He's fine. His pride's hurt more than anything."

"What were you mad at him for?" Chrissy asked as tears streamed down her cheeks,

"The way he treats everybody: you, Sammy, his kids... I just got pissed."

The phone began to ring, and Chrissy went to answer it. Franks dry voice came through the phone, "Hi, honey."

"Frank!" Chrissy felt her heart leap from her chest, "Come home."

There was a hesitation on Frank's end that Chrissy knew was because of the fight, "Have you talked to Dean?"

Chrissy now hesitated and repeated, "Have I talked to Dean?" She glanced over at Dean and he nodded, "As a matter of fact, he's visiting me right now. Come home, Frank. You and Dean need to work things out and... I miss you. I..." She rubbed her hand on the bottom of her stomach as she felt a slight twinge. A moment later, she felt a gush of fluid.

"Chrissy?"

Dean had already jumped up from where he was sitting and ran to Chrissy's side, putting a calming hand on hey shoulder.

"Frank, come home. My water just broke!"