This Love: A Frank Adler Story

Sixteen

"Mr. Pollard are you the natural father of Mary Adler?"

"I am."

Frank and I looked at each other before looking at the man on the stand.

"How can you be certain?"

"I always knew but then you had me take a dna test."

Our lawyer stepped up.

"Mr. Pollard, when was the last time you saw Mary?"

"I've uhh...I've never seen her."

"Why not?"

"Well by the time I heard about Diane, Mary was already gone."

"Well did you try and find her?"

"Best I could, but I couldn't just search the entire country."

I rolled my eyes.

"Do you use a computer at work?" Our lawyer asked.

"Yes sir."

"Let's google Mary Adler and see what we find. And you know what...use her middle name too."

Pollard looked at our lawyer.

"Eileen." He said. I looked at frank. He was smirking.

"Why don't you tell the court what you see there?"

"It's a newspaper article called not-so-terrible twos."

"And that article has the same name, birthdate, and photo of your daughter. Not that you know what she looks like cause you've never seen her. Now this just shows that Mr. Pollard has never been a genuine guardian of the minor and same goes for Mrs. Adler."

We were done today. Frank got up to his mother.

"Don't gloat." She said.

"Wouldn't dare. Walk you to your car?"

She nodded. Frank nodded for me to come over.

We walked outside. Frank was holding his jacket as we walked.

"I've been too busy to ask. But how's Walter?" Frank asked his mom.

She chuckled. "Your step father is in Montana running a ranch."

"Bullshit." He said. I smiled. I hated Walter.

"He has a cowboy hat and cowboy boots. Midlife crisis I'd say."

"Isn't he seventy?" I asked.

"Ran a little late I suppose." Evelyn said.

We got to her cab. Frank and I stood by the window.

"Go home. Go to Montana. Tussle with some cattle." Frank said.

"You know I have no intentions to hurt you. I hate that we're at odds."

"We've always been at odds mother."

"Yes we have. Hotel." She said.

———

"Mary honey. Come out please." I said. She was crying in her room. Roberta was over too.

"Why did you have to tell her?" Roberta asked Frank. I was thinking the same thing.

"All my life and he didn't even think to look for me. My own dad." She sobbed.

"Mary please come out." I said.

"I told her because I wouldn't lie to her." Frank said.

"He doesn't even wanna see what I look like." She said.

"Alright. Mary come on. Come see Avery." Frank said. I was sitting on the floor.

She opened the door and saw me, crawling into my arms and sobbing. I kissed her shoulder and held her close.

"It's okay. I've got you babe."

"Did..you know- him?" She asked while crying.

"No. Your mom told me about him." I said. She cried harder. I got up with her still in my arms and went into her room. I sat on her twin bed and rested back while she cried on me. Frank looked at me through the doorway. Roberta walked in the room and sat in the chair. Frank just stood in the doorway and said nothing.

"Your uncle and I have always loved you. Your dad made the mistake of not meeting you because you are kind. You are so smart. You are loving. You are funny. And if you're all those things, you don't need this weighing you down. Roberta loves you. Fred loves you. You have a teacher at school that wants the best for you. You have so much positivity. You don't need to let him weigh you down. It is his loss that he hasn't met you because you are the biggest ray of sunshine that I have ever met."

She sniffed and held me tighter. I kissed her head.

I moved her to look at me. She was red in the face and so upset.

"I love you to death. Okay? Frank and I will always make sure to protect you and love you. Your life turned out unfortunate and if I could go back in time and change it I would sweetheart. You don't deserve all these emotions at seven. But you are here for a reason. Everything happened for a reason."

She nodded. I kissed her forehead and wiped her tears.

"I'm so sorry for how this is turning out. But I love you and I want what's best for you. I will make sure to give you that."

She nodded and laid back again. I looked at the ceiling and kept my tears in. I hated seeing her cry.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

"I love you auntie."

"I love you too M." I whispered.

I couldn't lose her. I really couldn't.