After a trade from Boston to Los Angeles, Frank Adler would seem to have it all. Money, women, An amazing Niece, yes Frank should have it all,
Except for one thing.
One thing that left after a mistake five years ago.
Los Angeles should be the cha...
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Frank hadn't been this nervous to head home since Vegas. Abby, his beloved Cricket, had been in the hospital. And while she was fine, at least, that's what Marco had told him initially, he could help the fear that seeped into his bones. Abby had been distracted, unfocused when he called. He asked repeatedly if something had gone wrong with Mary, the adoption, Mike, anything. And every time she replied the same. "Baby, everything is fine." Things were certainly not fine, and he was going to get to the bottom of it.
He had been in the middle of his ten-day road trip when he got the call. And now, five days later, he was on the warpath. He made it home just as the sun was setting, light flooding the living room. He dropped his bag by the door and made his way inside. He was fuming, raging. His Cricket had been hurt and there was nothing he could do. He stomped into the den and stopped.
His Abby was sitting, turned away from him but the sunlight made it seem like she glowed. She was reading, a blanket around her presumably naked legs. She was in one of his button downs, hair piled on top of her head with just a few tendrils falling around her face. She was so heartbreakingly beautiful, and all of the tension and anger went away. She was perfect. Something startled her concentration, and she looked up and turned right towards him. She broke out into a dazzling smile. "Hi Frankie."
He took the last few steps towards her and kneeled in front of her, pulling her into his arms. He buried his face into her neck and breathed deep. "Hi Cricket."
Abby ran her hands down his arms to sooth him. "I'm ok, love. I'm perfectly ok."
Frank pulled back to check over her. "I was so worried Cricket."
"I know."
"When Marco called and said you collapsed, I just..." he took a deep breath, "I thought I was losing you all over again."
"Oh, baby, I'm sorry." She held onto him tighter. "I'm ok, I promise. I'm better than ok." She kissed him softly.
Frank wiped his eyes. "If you are sick, baby, you have to call me and let me come home. I'm supposed to take care of you. In sickness and in health. I promised your dad I would take care of you."
"Frankie, you left me with my brother and your best friend. I am being taken care of. And it's my responsibility to take care of myself as well and I didn't. That's on me." Abby cradled his face. "There are gonna be times when I'm sick and there is nothing you can do but ride it out. But I promise, if something is seriously wrong, I will let you come home, ok?"
Frank nodded and then hugged her tightly. After a few moments, he pulled away. "Where is Mary?"
"Scott and his new man, Steve, took her with Marco for burgers. I figured you were gonna be in a snit when you came home."
