This Love: A Frank Adler Story

Nineteen

That pregnancy test was the last thing that I wanted to see. But as frank and I stood in the bathroom, I had never seen such guilt in my husbands eyes.

"I'm sorry." He said.

We had been without Mary for over a month. And now I was pregnant.

"It's fine. I've been off birth control anyways." I said as I left it there. I didn't even feel anything.

I went down into the kitchen and sighed, but just as I rested back, there was a knock on the door.

Roberta stood at the door. Frank came down as I answered the door.

"Now isn't a great time-"

"Are you pregnant?" She asked.

"What the fuck."

"Even if you're worse than I've ever seen you, you have a pregnant glow."

I looked at her with tears in my eyes.

"Oh honey. I didn't mean to make you cry.."

Frank grabbed a beer from the fridge. I looked at her and nodded.

"Okay. Let's go for a walk. You need a second."

I walked outside with her. She took me out along the dock. We got into one of franks boats and sighed.

"When did you find out?" She asked.

"Five minutes ago." I whispered.

"You're kidding."

I shook my head and sighed. "I feel so guilty. I mean the second Mary was gone I'm pregnant? It's like the universe is replacing her and she's not even dead."

"Sweetheart."

"I'm sorry. I'm- I...all Frank said to me was I'm sorry. We were so excited to get pregnant. I'm pregnant and I've never wanted to not be more in my life." I whispered. "I mean we didn't even fucking hug. I- we..."

I heard someone moved on the dock. Frank came over with some blankets for us. He got into the boat and sighed. He moved my hair behind my ear and wiped my tear.

Roberta got up. "I'll leave you two alone."

She left. I looked at frank.

"We're pregnant." I whispered. He nodded and gave me a sad smile.

"I've never been so happy and felt so guilty at the same time."

I nodded. "I'm trying to be happy."

"You've always wanted a kid."

"I feel like I'm replacing Mary." I said. "I feel like shit."

"No...sweetheart it's not that."

I looked at the ground. He pulled me up onto his lap and into a hug.

I hugged him back, tight.

"This shouldn't make us feel guilty." He said. I nodded and wiped my tears.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

———

The next day, I woke up from a nap to a call. I saw it was bonnie. I answered it.

"Hello?"

"I just sent you a text. I Uhh...I think I just saw a sign for Fred is his name? Mary's one eyed cat? He's at the pound."

"He's what?" I asked, rather angry. I got off the couch and went to grab my shoes.

"Yeah. Im so sorry to bother you but I thought you would wanna know."

"He's..oh shit. Thank you. I've gotta find my husband."

I ran outside and pulled up the photo. I found him in his shop.

"Whoa. Stop running like that you could get hurt."

"Fred."

I showed him the picture. He grabbed his stuff and grabbed me, quickly leaving.

———

I pet Fred's head in the house. He had his ping pong ball right next to him.

"Let's go. I have a plan."

"A plan for what?"

"I'm going to get my niece back."

"I-"

"Let's go."

I walked out to the car with him. He quickly drove to our storage unit.

"What's going on?"

"You don't wanna know Avery."

"Yes I do! What's going on?"

He sighed and got out, opening the unit to find a box. He came back and opened it, tossing a folder onto my lap.

"What is this?"

"The equation."

"I-"

"She didn't want me to show my mother until she passed."

"Until who passed?"

"Evelyn."

I nodded, holding in my tears. "And shes trying to get Mary to solve it right now."

"Exactly. That's all she wants."

I nodded. "Let's go. Let's go get Mary back."