Return To Me, My Love

Frank opens the door and I hear him clear his throat before saying "Is there a problem?" "Mr Iero we apologise for the interruption but we have two policemen downstairs wishing to speak with you, they say it's urgent" I hear a female voice say and I sit up, sliding off the side of the bed and tugging my boxers back on and Frank says "I'll be right down" before stepping back into the room and closing the door and I grab my jeans, pulling them back on as Frank stumbles back over, looking confused and scared and I reach out and gently grab his upper arms. "Baby" I say softly and he looks up into my eyes as he says "I'll be right back ok?" And I shake my head as I say "No babe I'll come down with you." Frank nods, still seeming a little dazed so I grab his shirt, handing it to him before tugging my jacket back on, handing Frank his and we leave the room hand in hand, the room key slipped into my back pocket. We step into the elevator and as the doors close Frank starts to panic and I slide my hands up to cup his cheeks. "Baby it's alright, you haven't done anything wrong" I say softly, trying to calm him down and Frank nods before saying "Then what do they want?" Before I get a chance to answer the doors open and I let go of his cheeks and slide my hand down to grip his hand, leading him out and we see the two police officers waiting for us. As we cross the lobby Frank drops my hand and I try to hide the hurt I feel at the gesture as he approaches them and says "Can I help you?" "Mr Iero we responded to a car accident earlier this evening and one of the passengers was your mother, Linda Iero." "Oh god, is she....is she ok?" He stutters out and I step over and take his hand again, Frank squeezing the hell out of my hand as one of the officers says "We're unsure of the extent of her injuries sir, if you'll come with us we can take you to the hospital" and Frank nods, dropping my hand again and as he steps away from me he turns and says "Go back upstairs babe and relax. I'll call you" before following the policemen from the hotel and I stand there stunned, feeling completely rejected and unneeded.

Four hours later Frank still hasn't come back and I try his cellphone but it's switched off. I lay in bed curled up under the covers and try to fight off sleep, wanting to wait for Frank but it gets harder and harder to keep my eyes open and the next thing I know I am waking up to sunlight shining straight in my eyes through a gap in the curtains I roll onto my back, turning my head to see the empty, cold side of the bed and I sigh as I realise Frank still hasn't come back. I reach out and grab my phone, seeing that it's 7.30 in the morning and I have no calls or messages from Frank. I try his number again but his phone is still switched off so I drop the phone back on the table and sit up, rubbing at my eyes before climbing out of bed and stumbling my way across the room to my bag, deciding a hot shower and some clean clothes might make me feel better. Two hours later I am clean and dressed, sitting on the bed and flipping through the channels on the tv and Frank still hasn't called. I start to feel upset, wondering if Linda is alright when the door to the room opens and Frank comes in, shrugging off his jacket and kicking off his shoes before climbing onto the bed beside me. "Is she ok?" I ask, Frank not seeming overly upset and he nods and says "Yeah she has a broken wrist and a few bruises but she'll be just fine." "Oh" I say, wondering why he never called to let me know. "You didn't call" I say after a long minute of silence and Frank sighs and says "I was kinda busy Gerard." "I was worried" I tell him and he shakes his head and says "It's fine." "So what's your mom doing out here anyway?" I ask and Frank closes his eyes, keeping them closed as he says "Shes out here to watch us renew our vows." "Oh, ok" I say, feeling upset that he wouldn't tell me that so I could ask dad and Mikey to come out too but Frank doesn't seem to pick up on my upset tone, his eyes remaining closed so I say "I was thinking maybe we could go get something to eat" but Frank shuts me down by saying "I already ate just before. I'm pretty tired so I'm gonna get some sleep" and I continue to stare at him, his eyes remaining closed as I swallow hard, swallowing down the sudden urge to cry as I say "Ok then." Ten minutes later Frank is snoring softly so I turn the tv off, unable to sit here anymore and I slip my shoes on before grabbing my phone, wallet and room key as I leave, sniffling back tears as I go downstairs and outside onto the street, feeling devastated that I've once again been abandoned in Paris.

Notes