You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

Chapter 29

The next day was filled with tension as the Sinatras awaited news about their son. With tensions that high, disaster was bound to occur.

Nancy Sr. was growing frustrated with her ex-husband. Blame was being thrown around, and no one was finding any peace. Finally, the conclusion had been reached that Frank needed to be left alone as he was lashing out on everyone in sight. However, Chrissy couldn't leave him alone. She knew his history of suicide attempts that no one else did. When it was decided that Nancy and the girls were going to be staying at her house, Chrissy pleaded with Dean.

"I need to go be with Frank," she explained.

"Chrissy, he's awful to be around. He wants left alone," Dean replied.

"Dean, listen... I know you two are best pallies and supposedly know everything about each other. Does he know everything about you that I know?"

Dean thought for a moment, "I guess not everything, no."

"Okay, you don't know everything about him either. I need to go be with him. He can't be by himself. With Kennedy's assassination and now this, I'm scared for him."

"Chrissy," Dean spoke seriously, "What do you know about him that I don't?"

"He would be so pissed if I told you."

"I won't say anything. Scouts honor," he gave a little smile.

Chrissy sighed, "When we were dating or married, I don't remember which, he told me that Ava Gardner aborted two babies that were to be theirs. As a result of that and their blowout fights, he tried to kill himself twice."

Dean swallowed hard. Then he shook his head, letting out a breath, "God damn, I had no idea. He never... Wow."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just wish I knew. I wish I was there for him."

"Let me go be with him. He trusts me, and he knows I understand that part of his past."

Dean nodded and gave her a hug and kiss as she went out the door.

When she arrived at Frank's house, Chrissy went inside, walking through the guards outside the front. Upon entering, she saw Frank sitting in his kitchen on a stool staring at a bottle of Jack Daniel's. He was sweaty. His hair was messy, and the makeup he wore to disguise his birth defect was running onto his white shirt. He wore a white undershirt tucked into a pair of trousers that were beyond wrinkled. He was so deep in thought that he didn't even hear her come in.

She approached him slowly and spoke softly, "Frank?"

His blue eyes slowly glanced up at her, and he began sobbing uncontrollably. Broken up between sobs, Chrissy heard, "How is it that I was so terrible to you, yet you care so much about me?"

"Because you care about me. I know you do."

She was standing next to him, and she grabbed his hand giving it a squeeze.

He began to cry even harder, "I can't lose another kid. I can't live knowing that those two babies, Rosie, and Frankie are dead because of me."

Chrissy held him in her arms, his face buried in her shoulder. "Listen to me, Frankie is going to be fine. Rosie was not your fault. Ava's babies were not your fault. You are not to blame. You are a wonderful father, and you are loved by so many people."

"Then why do I keep hurting the ones I love?" he cried.

Her heart was breaking for him. He was taking all of that blame on himself when it wasn't deserved. He wasn't perfect, but he was a good man.

"You didn't hurt me, Frank. We just weren't meant to be together..."

He looked at her with his blue eyes, glistening with tears, "I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. I hurt you, yet here you are. Here for me when I needed someone, and no one else wanted to put up with my stubborn ass."

It wasn't the time, but Chrissy couldn't help herself. "Frank, why did you leave the hospital that day?"

Frank held her hand and squeezed it, "I couldn't face you, Chris. Everyone thinks I'm this tough son of a bitch, but I didn't have the balls to face my wife and comfort her when our baby died. Every time a problem comes about, I buy my way out. If I can't buy my way out, I run."

"Frank..."

"Don't deny it. It's true. When we had that fight on our honeymoon, I ran. You came looking for me."

"Frank, sweetie... We could've worked it out; you're not a terrible person."

"I know we could've worked it out, but then I would keep hurting you," he rubbed her hand with his thumb. "I was a bastard to Nancy, but she was tough. Ava and I were awful to each other. Chrissy, you... You are the most compassionate person I've ever met. I don't know how you do it."

Chrissy opened her mouth to speak, but the phone rang. Frank answered it and began scribbling down information on a notepad. When he hung up, he looked somewhat relieved.

"They made a demand. That means he's okay..."

Chrissy hugged him tightly, "I will always be here for you, Frank. No matter what happens, please know that you are never alone."

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Frank Jr. was returned home safe and sound.