This Love: A Frank Adler Story

Twenty One

2 years later

"Come on Mary. We've gotta go." Frank said. She was kissing her little sisters head.

"Bye Mya." She whispered. I smiled and kissed Mary's cheek.

"Bye honey. Have a good day at school." I said. Mya was bouncing on my lap.

"Sissy." She said.

"Yeah." I whispered. Frank smiled at me.

"Bye Avery." He said.

"Love you." I said. He walked out with Mary.

"Mama." Mya said.

"Hi babe." I said as I turned her to look at me.

Our family had never been happier. We had a beautiful one year old girl, a perfect house, and perfect jobs.

And Mary was doing so well here. So incredibly well. She was happy with her school and college situation. She was so incredibly smart.

And Mya was so perfect. She looked exactly like Frank. She was adorable. These cute little freckles and blonde hair. She really loved like Mary's sister.

"Now we just have to wait till daddy and sister get home." I said to mya. She giggled.

———

Frank came inside with Mary. I smiled. Mya was asleep on my chest.

"Hi." I whispered. Frank came over. Mary went up to her room.

"What's wrong with her?" I whispered.

"She's mad because I told her that she couldn't have four more cats." He said as he sat down. He moved my chin to pull me into a kiss. I smiled and kissed him back.

Mya shifted on my chest. I smiled and pulled away to look at her. Frank did the same, looking at her.

"She's so pretty."

"Yes she is."

I heard the stairs creek. I looked over, seeing Mary.

"Come here sweetheart." I whispered.

She sat on the other side of me. I moved a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"You're not getting four cats. Love you though."

She groaned. I smiled.

"You wanna hold your sister instead?" I asked. She nodded. She loved snuggling with her.

I handed her mya and gave her the remote for tv. She smiled. I put a blanket on the both of them before going into the kitchen to start on dinner.

Frank came in behind me, spinning me around to kiss him.

I smiled and set my hands on his chest. He held my waist.

"Okay okay. Jeez professor." I whispered.

"Oh shut up." He whispered.

"Sorry Mr. Adler."

He smirked and pecked my lips one more time before going to the fridge to grab a beer.

"Can I get you a drink Ave?"

"No. I'm okay."

———

I sat with Frank in bed that night. It was dark. The crickets were chirping.

We had a random tv show on. Frank was fairly quiet.

"What's on your mind husband?"

"You and the kids."

"Mmmm."

"I do think we should get Mary another cat. She's been working hard." Frank said. "And I always feel bad for her. I mean the baby kinda took away her love a bit. I mean she was only ours for seven year and now we have two."

"Yeah. I agree. I always feel guilty when she's left out for some reason."

He nodded. "And I love them both equally but..I don't know. You know how much of a frugal person I am but I went out with her after school and got her ice cream and took her to get new clothes."

I smiled. "And that's sweet of you. Extremely sweet."

"Yeah I guess. I don't know- I just...I feel bad sometimes. I also just don't want to do this stuff because- I mean I haven't even went on a date with you since mya was born. But I'm taking my niece out on a date."

"We can go out. I mean Roberta has been begging me to watch the girls for a night."

"Really?" He asked. I shrugged.

"I mean I would never say no to a date with you."

He smiled. "Good."

"So it's settled then?"

"Yes. Whisk me away on a date."

———

Frank and I sat at dinner together. I smiled.

"I can't remember the last time I've been in public without kids around." I whispered as I sipped on a drink.

"I know. I feel like I'm breaking the rules." He said. I giggled.

"We are."

He smiled and took a sip of his beer.

"So. How has work been?" I asked.

"You know work has been fine."

"Sorry. I just like to hear about it."

"You know you could go back to work if you wanted to." He said.

"I wish."

"Avery. You can."

I nodded and sighed. "I just don't know."

"Well Mary is at school and we could send mya to a daycare."

I smiled. "I miss it so much."

He chuckled. "Said no one ever. You miss going to work? I would kill for your place sometimes."

"I see. You wanna stay home with a crazy toddler?"

"Sometimes. I don't wanna go to teach hungover frat boys and hungry college girls that wanna cry when they see a wedding ring on my finger."

I chuckled. "That makes me feel better that college girls are jealous."

"Of course it does." He said and smiled.

"Hey frank?"

"Yeah."

"I love you. So much."

He blushed and took another sip of his beer.

"I love you too." He said.

This love between us. It was kind. It was gentle. It was comical. It was warm. It was some good. It was some bad. It was us.

Our love spread to our niece and daughter. It spread through our house. Our world. We had started from something that was a turning point in both of our lives, to a beautiful family.

This turned our world upside down. For the better.

This love is good. This love is bad.

When we were young, we just ran. But soon he came back to me.

His love left a permanent mark.

I'm his love. He is mine.

This love.

The end :)