You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

Chapter 28

Time passed, allowing Chrissy to begin to move past the grief that plagued her. Frank checked in on her every once in awhile, even meeting for an occasional drink to talk.

It was November 22, 1963. Craig and Claudia had moved out on their own while the younger children lived with Chrissy and Dean. Since it was Friday, Gail, Deana, and Jamie were at school.

Chrissy was fixing lunch while Dean watched television in the den. She called for him multiple times before going down to get him.

"Dean! What..."

He was on the phone looking serious and Chrissy sat down to watch Walter Cronkite deliver a news bulletin. "President Kennedy died at 1pm Central Standard Time... 2pm Eastern Standard Time... some 38 minutes ago."

"Holy shit, Dean..." Chrissy mumbled.

"Calm down, Nancy. I'll go check on him. I know... I know... Take care of yourself."

Dean hung up the phone and looked at Chrissy, "What in the hell is this world coming to?"

"Frank..." Chrissy mumbled.

"That was Nancy. She can't get ahold of her dad, and she's worried."

"Let's go."

They hurried out of the house and drove to Frank's home. Knowing that Jack Kennedy and Frank had been good friends, they both worried what this would do to Frank, especially since the pals had recently fallen out.

When they arrived, Chrissy ran into the house screaming Frank's name. She heard heart-wrenching sobs coming from the upstairs bathroom in the house. Chrissy bounded up the stairs taking two at a time.

She ran into the bathroom where Frank was crying uncontrollably on the floor. He was soaked in sweat and tears. When he saw Chrissy, he let out a cry.

"Oh, Frank... I'm so sorry." She sat down on the floor with him, taking him into her arms as she would Jamie when he was little and hurt. "Shh... we're here now."

"The things I said to him... I can't ever take them back... God, Jackie and the kids."

"Hey, Pally," Dean spoke lowly.

Frank began to cry harder, "I love you Dino... Everything that's happened between us... I'm sorry for all of it. Chrissy, I'm sorry for all of it..." he continued to sob.

"Hey, don't mention it. We're fine, Frank... Brothers for life."

"I'm sorry," he cried. He hesitated for a moment before muttering, "Fuck... How do I keep hurting the people I care about? Now, Jack's gone."

"Dean, you sit with him. I need to phone Nancy and tell her he's okay."

"Nancy's worried?" Frank questioned.

Dean answered, "Called me when you wouldn't answer the phone."

Chrissy left the room and spoke to Nancy briefly on the phone. Finally, Nancy decided that she wanted to be with her father, "Tell Poppa that I'm coming."

When Chrissy returned to the bathroom, she told Frank that his daughter was on her way. Then Chrissy declared that she needed to return home to be there for the children so that she could explain the tragedy to them. Dean would stay with Frank until Nancy got there, and then have Nancy drop him at the house.

Days passed and Frank began to cope with his grief. However, they were all worried about him. But no one could prepare them for what was about to occur.

It was the evening of December 8th. Chrissy and Dean were watching television in the den by the light of the Christmas tree. Chrissy's body laid against Dean's, fitting together perfectly. She held his hand, playing with his fingers. It was a habit of hers that he found endearing, just as she found his habit of mindlessly kissing the top of her head endearing. Dean and Chrissy were nearly falling asleep when the phone began to ring.

"Late night phone calls are never good," Dean mumbled reaching for the phone. He answered the phone, and Chrissy could feel his body tense as he spoke to the person on the other end. "I'll go get Nancy and the girls... Christ, Frank... I'm sorry. What else can we do?"

A few minutes later Dean hung up and got off of the couch. "Frank's boy has been kidnapped. I have to go get Nancy and the girls. The FBI are setting up a base at Frank house."

"Be careful, Dean. What can I do?"

"You stay here with the doors locked and protect our babies. Call Jeanne and tell her to lock the doors and keep a lookout. Who knows what these sickos are after! Call Sammy too."

Chrissy kissed Dean, "I love you. Please be careful..."

"Love you too."

Chrissy checked all of the doors and had the kids join her in the den. She then began making phone calls. Finally, she snuggled up on the couch with the children, one arm draped around Deana and Jamie and the other around Gail.

She dozed a few times during the night but woke when Dean returned early in the morning. He saw the four of them on the couch and snuggled up with them.

"How's everything?" Chrissy whispered.

"They're waiting for demands... Who knows how long this could go. Get some sleep. I'm here now."

"Okay," Chrissy yawned. She gave him a quick kiss, "Love you."

"I love you too."