Iris' POV:
It's been six weeks since Barry and I separated. We agreed not to tell anyone that we're not together. So for the past six weeks we've been putting on this happy couple charade. Our four year wedding anniversary is on Sunday so my parents took Nora for the weekend so that Barry and I can be alone. If only he knew.
Today I'm completely numb. I don't think I'll be able to fake it. I'll have a total melt down if I try and fake it today. So because of that I decided to close myself off from everyone today. I'm not going to my office and I'm not answering my phone for anyone. There's a knock on the door, but I don't even get up to answer it. I already know who it is. It's Patty Spivot. She and Barry have been riding to work together for the last three weeks. Barry comes downstairs and opens the door.
Barry: Iris it's... it's Francine.
Barry's POV:
I come downstairs because I hear a knock on the door. I'm sure its Patty and I know Iris isn't gonna open the door. When I open the door it's Francine standing in front of me.
Barry: Iris it's... it's Francine.
Iris walks over to the door and stands next to me. She looks like hell and she's for sure not in the mood for anything or anybody so I hope Francine isn't here to cause any problems.
Iris: What is it Francine?
Francine: I'm not here to make waves. I just wanna talk.
Iris: Fine come in.
Francine comes in and follows Iris to the living room where they sit face to face on the couch. Francine looks shocked that Iris actually invited her in. Just as I was about to shut the door I see Patty coming up to the house.
Barry: I'm gonna head out now.
Iris: Okay.
Barry: Love you.
Iris: Love you too.
I'm not sure if we had to put up a front in front of Francine, but whatever. I grab my things and head out the door.
Iris' POV:
Barry leaves for work now it's just Francine and I. I must be really numb to have invited Francine in my house or maybe I just don't have the energy today to pretend that I actually hate Francine.
Iris: Can I get you anything to drink?
Francine: No thank you. I'm fine.
Iris: Okay. So what did you wanna talk about?
Francine: Nora.
Iris: What about her?
Francine: First I apologize for talking to her behind your back.
Iris: Apology accepted.
Francine: Look I know you hate me Iris, but I...
Iris: I don't hate you Francine.
Francine: (shocked) You don't?
Iris: No I don't, but you have to understand the position I'm in. Cecile raised us and to just accept you with open arms would be a slap in her face.
Francine: She did a great job raising you and your brother and I'm not trying to step in and replace her or take away from anything she's ever done. I just want a chance to be in your lives and Nora's life. I want a chance to start a new chapter together. Maybe I should tell you why I left.
Iris: I know why you left Francine.
Francine: (confused) You do?
Iris: Yes. When Wally and I were fourteen we found the letters you wrote to us. Dad confirmed everything you said was true. He owned up to his part.
Francine: I wasn't sure you got those letters.
Iris: I won't speak for Wally, but I guess for me I was so mad because you could've come back. You didn't have to come back to dad, but you could've come back to your children.
Francine: I'm so sorry Iris. I really am.
Iris: I know and I forgive you for leaving and not coming back. I forgive you.
Whoa! I just told Francine that I forgive her and it actually feels good. It's like a weight has been lifted.
Francine: (crying) Thank you. Thank you so much.
I move closer to her and pull her into a hug and she of course hugs back. This actually feels really nice. It feels right. We pull out of the embrace after a minute or two.
Iris: You can be a part of Nora's life and I'm willing to work on our relationship as well.
Francine: Thank you.
Iris: You're welcome.
We talk for a while about a lot of things. I soon realized that Francine and I are a lot alike and I was about to find out just how much alike we were.
Iris: I understand all that, but what actually started the problems between you and dad?
Francine: I was so in love with Joe, but at some point I got scared. I became afraid that he was gonna end up leaving me for someone else. That fear consumed me. So to avoid the hurt I would feel when that day came I tried to force myself to fall out of love with him. At some point I even told him that I had fallen out of love with him. It wasn't true and that was a dumb ass move because that was the beginning of the end for us. We started putting on this show in front of other people as if we were the perfect couple with the perfect family, but in reality we weren't even sleeping together. Eventually it got to the point where he went looking for the love that he wasn't getting from me in someone else. I pushed him to the very thing that I was afraid of in the first place.
Damn. It's like she's telling my story. I have that same fear and that fear caused me to push Barry away instead of just telling him that I was afraid that he would leave. I may have pushed him into the arms of Patty. Ewwwwww. Francine notices the look on my face and she looks at me with a sincere look of concern.
Francine: (concerned) It's happening to you and Barry isn't it?
Iris: (sad) Yes. I did the same exact thing to him six weeks ago.
Francine: Don't let what happened between Joe and I happen to you and Barry. If you love him... If you're still in love with him you better fix it now before it's too late.
She's right. I need to get my husband back, but is it already too late?
A/N: * Until next time my dear Peaches... *
