She looked up and met my gaze. “Harrison there is so much about me that you just don’t know.”
I was about to say how much I’d like to change that when there was a soft thud followed by a sniffle. She turned away and sprinted back into the kitchen.
Collette sat with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. The tablet was face down on the table.
“What’s wrong?” Frankie asked and stepped to kneel at the little girl’s chair.
“Mommy said they need her for another tour.” Her jaw jutted out, and she glared at the table. “I hate her stupid show. I hate her stupid job. She said she can’t come home yet.”
“I’m so sorry, baby girl.” The second Frankie scooped her into her arms, Collette’s anger dissolved into anguished tears. “She loves you so much. I know she wishes she could be here.” Frankie’s own eyes reddened as she rubbed Collette’s back.
My entire body shook with a feeling of helplessness. It was like when George asked for William. Or looked for the memory that was just out of reach. The intense pain was incomprehensible and unfair, and I could do absolutely nothing to stop the real world from getting in here.
“I know, sweetie. It’s okay to be sad. I miss her too.” Frankie closed her eyes. I couldn’t stand by and watch this.
I might not be able to keep the outside world at bay, that much was clear. But I could help these two.
“Oh my God. You know what?” I said loudly and suddenly. They turned and looked at me with wide eyes.
“What?” Collette asked, wiping at her eyes.
“I forgot to defrost the chicken.” I smacked my forehead.
Frankie watched me as I scooted over to block the defrosted meat on the counter. She raised her eyebrow but said, “Oh. No?”
Collette sniffled and wiped her nose, looking from Frankie to me. “What are we going to eat?”
“I guess it’s going to have to be a pizza and ice cream night,” I said, punctuating with a loud sigh.
“But it’s a school night!” Collette said excitedly. She jumped out of Frankie’s arms.
Frankie shook her head as she stood and shrugged. “I mean we can’tnoteat.”
Collette whooped and jumped around. “I hope Harrison forgets to defrost meat every night!”
Frankie smiled at me, and a tightness gripped my chest. I could do this. I could be the distraction from the pain. That was my job, after all. I was the good-time guy.
“Don’t you need to go work?” she asked Frankie.
“There is literally nowhere else in the world I need to be,” she said and kissed the girl’s forehead.
