Listen Before You Go

Chapter 18: Going-Away

This is so late oh god hi (10,000+ WORDS)

This is the last chapter, then the epilogue <3

Trigger Warning: a mention of past miscarriage, mentions of menstrual periods 

"Just call." Lindsey said, handing Frank his phone and sitting down across from him at her dining table. "I'm right here, you can do it."

"I just..." Frank sighed and looked up at her.

"It'll be easier now than later." She said softly. "You should do it."

"I should do it." Frank nodded slowly, sounding like he was talking himself into it. "I should."

"Yes." Lindsey nodded.

Frank took a deep breath and tapped his mother's icon on his phone.

It rang at least five times before she picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, mom." Frank swallowed uneasily. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you... And yourself?"

"I'm good." He took a quick breath. "So, I'm leaving in a couple days, and I wanted to know if you and dad were free to get a coffee together? It'll be a while before I see you again."

"Oh, I..."

Frank's frame shrunk into itself.

"I don't know if I can, it's such short notice."

"Yeah." Frank looked down at his lap and faked a smile for his voice's sake. "Well, that's alright. I can just video call you from France."

"Yes, we can try that."

"Okay, I love you." He said, still faking his smile.

"I love you too."

"Good-" Frank cleared his throat and closed his eyes. "Goodbye, mom."

"...Goodbye."

Frank hung up and set his phone down. Lindsey put her hand on his knee, and he slowly looked up to her.

"It's fine." He smiled sadly and shrugged. "I can't force her to."

She smiled back. "It's her loss. You did what you could, and we aren't going to push for any more."

He nodded. "I did what I could."

"You did." She pulled him over for a quick hug. "Now, let's make shit that's not good for us and stuff our faces while watching a string of rom-coms and horror movies."

Frank smiled for real. "I'm so ready to do that."

She jumped up from her seat and dragged Frank into her kitchen. 

"Okay, we've got ice cream, a bag of candy that I got at a party last week, and I have cookie dough that we can throw in the oven if we're feeling particularly sugarlustful."

Frank giggled. "Let's make it all and take what we can't finish to the Ways."

"There's nothing I can't finish." She scoffed. "But I guess we could share, if we have to."

Frank shook his head. "I'm not letting you eat two batches of cookies, three pints of ice cream and a bag of who knows how much candy."

She glared at him. "Fine."

He went to the fridge and took the cookie dough out and put it on the counter, then he went to the freezer and grabbed the ice cream, while Lindsey preheated the oven and got bowls out.