After the contentious custody battle, Frank & Mary go on with their lives as usual. But it isn't until an eventful night at Ferg's that Frank starts to wonder if maybe his life might be missing something. Now that his niece has a normal life, maybe...
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Frank did his best to smile and project as much confidence as he could, but Joey could see right through him. If Joey felt under dressed and out of place at that fancy fundraiser, it was nothing compared to the helplessness she saw reflected in Frank's blue eyes. As if it were a reflex, Joey put her own feelings aside and focused on taking care of her man when he needed her the most.
"Let's get a drink." Joey suggested with a warm sympathetic smile. "Or maybe ten"
Frank took a deep breath through his nose and nodded and followed Joey's lead. His girlfriend was truly amazing. Seeing Rachael again after all these years had sent him reeling, but Joey encouraged him to put one foot in front of another and kept him from completely imploding. He was starting to really learn what that definition of 'better half' meant. Without Joey, Frank was sure that he would have kept standing there like a dumbfounded idiot until it was time to leave.
"Beer, and a champagne." Frank ordered for them once they reached the bar.
Frank looked annoyed as the bartender poured his beer into a pint glass and Joey elbowed him with a knowing playful smirk. They were surrounded by wealth and luxury, there was no way that Evelyn would be pleased to see her son walking around drinking out of a beer bottle like any average man would. As much as she loved Frank's style, she wanted to keep the evening as drama free as she could.
"Hmmm, this is delicious!" Joey exclaimed as she took a sip from her delicate champagne flute.
"Moet, I think." Frank sighed. "Drink up, they don't serve this at Ferg's"
"I miss Ferg's. We should go back and play pool again, I might even let you win." Joey teased him with a wink as she took another sip of the decadent champagne .
"I highly doubt that. Pool shark." Frank dryly teased as he looked away and took a sip of his imported beer. Frank was still her smartass, but there was still so much on his mind and Joey felt bad for him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Joey suggested. "Running into an ex is never fun. Although, I can't say that I've run into an ex fiance before, though."
"I probably should have told you..." Frank started to explain as he pulled them off to the side so that they could speak more privately.
"No, I don't need to know about every woman in your past, Frank. Don't be silly." Joey assured him as she took his hand and linked their fingers together. Frank squeezed her hand tight as if he were holding on to her for dear life so Joey squeezed his hand back and smiled up at him. "But she must have been pretty important to you, though. Are you okay?"
"You have the kindest eyes that I've ever seen, do you know that." Frank confessed as he looked into her big blue eyes. She wanted to help him so badly, her love for him never failed to amaze him. "I have no idea what I would do without you."
"Good thing you'll never have to worry about that." Joey assured him.
"I'll be okay." Frank nodded as he tried to toughen up. "Rachael was a long time ago, eight years to be exact."
