TONIGHT WE'RE GOLD

THIRTY-ONE

'Can we at least have some time to think?' Gerard's voice comes out of nowhere, bringing Frank back to earth. He's talking to the lady.

'Absolutely.'

He then turns to Kara. 'Thanks for considering us as candidates'.

'You are the only people I would trust with the baby. I know they'd have a great family.'

Frank is already crying, and can't even form words. He just holds Gerard's hand.

Kaya notices and wraps him into a hug. 'You are going to be the best dad, I'm sure of it,' she whispers in his ears.

After that, they drive to the youth center, where Lina is already waiting for them, and welcomes Kaya. While she fills out forms and talks to the social worker, Lina calls Frank into an office. 'I didn't know what to do.'

'You did great. That's what I meant when I said you're great for this.'

Frank can't help pacing from side to side, a little too anxious. 'I don't know.'

'I know you care about her, and that's why all of this is harder for you.'

'Yeah – last night, when she came to our house –' He pauses and turns to Lina. 'Just the smell of alcohol – I was sure I was going to lose it. And I don't know if I'm strong enough anymore.'

Lina listens. 'I understand. And you know the first step is to admit you need help.'

Frank nods. 'I know.' He finally takes a seat on the chair in front of her. 'And that's not all. She's pregnant.'

'What now?!'

'Yep. Almost three months. Since before rehab. And –' He takes a breath, leaning forward on his seat. 'She wants me and Gerard to keep the baby.'

Lina is speechless, jaw dropped to the floor.

And Frank can't hide his smile, almost breaking into tears.

'And what do you think?' she asks after a while.

'I don't know.'

'I do know how much you wanted a family since forever, and how that affected your addiction.' He nods. 'You want the baby.'

'Yeah. But it's not that easy.' He starts playing with his hands, nervous and on the verge of tears. 'We have to get married. And between volunteering and then starting school, I don't know if it'll be too much to take in.'

'I know what you mean.'

'But us being a gay couple, I know our chances to have a family are not that great. And we're not that young anymore.' She just nods. 'I've never been so sure in my life about two things, having a family and Gerard.'

Lina smiles at him, noticing how his worries seem to disappear as soon as he talks about Gerard. 'I've seen you two together, and I've had the pleasure to talk to him and get to know him a little. And I can honestly say, I've never seen something like you two. The way you complete each other and are made for each other.'

That makes Frank blush.

'And you would make a great father.'

Frank is crying now as he gets up to hug his sponsor.

'You'll do fine, Frank,' she says as he cries on his shoulder.

***

Kaya tells them she called her sister already and she'll be there soon.