Chapter 18

Pulling into the driveway at Frannie’s, Jon shut the car off and looked over at her. Frannie was looking out the window, staring at her house, not sure she wanted to get out of the car. They sat there for a minute, him looking at her, she staring out the window. “Are you all right baby?” Jon was a bit worried that she hadn’t moved yet. Frannie nodded, “I think so.” She turned to look at him, “all my memories are tainted now, because of him.” Jon took her hand, “come on, let’s go get your stuff and start making some new memories for you.”

Heading in through the front door, everything looked like it had when she had been there last. With a sigh Frannie headed to her room to gather her things. Jon watched as she walked away but he didn’t follow her. Instead, he went the opposite way and headed out to her studio. He pulled the police tape away from the door and turned on the light. Looking around it pretty much looked like it had that night. He could see the black dust where the police had collected finger prints and the blood was still on the floor, the painting she had done of him was still on the easel at the far side of the room. The broken window had a board nailed over it, and there was broken glass still on the floor.

Not wanting Frannie to see her studio like this Jon looked for a broom. He swept up the broken glass, dumping it into a nearby trash can. He found a rag and a bucket under her kitchen sink and worked on the cleaning up the blood from the floor. This was how Frannie found him, on his hands and knees, scrubbing her studio floor.

“Now what would your fans think if they could see you like this?” Jon turned to find Frannie grinning at him.

He smiled up at her, “they’d probably think I’d lost my fuckin’ mind.” He moved to sit on his heels, dropping the rag in the bucket. “I had hoped to have it all cleaned up before you came in here.” She went to him and helped him up off the floor, “that’s really sweet of you, but it’s okay, really.” She looked around, “I thought it was going to bother me more to come in here, but it really doesn’t.” She looked back at Jon, “If you hand me one of those crates, I’m going to start packing up all this stuff.”

He helped her and together they packed up the studio, they took the painting of Jon, leaving most of the rest of the canvases and supplies, taking only enough for Frannie to get by with for now. As they wandered back through to the living room Frannie grew somber at the thought that while she would return to the house, she wouldn’t ever live here again. Jon watched her, wondering what she was thinking. He put his arm around her and pulled her close “are you all right?”

She looked around once more before meeting his gaze, “I’m okay; just a little sad.” He wrapped his other arm around her, hugging her close. “Come on baby, let’s get your things and go back to my place.” Frannie moved away from his embrace and grabbed Sophie’s things while he grabbed hers and together they headed out to the car.

When they got back to Jon’s they took Frannie’s and Sophie’s things in and left them by the stairs. Jon made a second trip to the car and got Frannie’s art supplies. Coming back in he told Frannie to follow him. “Jon, where are you going to put that stuff?” He just smiled, “you’ll see.”

Jon had wanted to surprise Frannie so before they had left that morning he had made a couple of calls and had Lani rearrange the solarium for Frannie to use as her studio. If everything had been done as he had asked, the room should be stocked and ready for them.

When they got to the room Jon walked in, not looking around, and set the box down he had been carrying. Frannie had stopped at the door, her eyes wide and her mouth open in surprise. “Jon, what did you do?” The question came out on a surprised whisper. He stood and smiled at her, “you said you needed someplace to work right?” She nodded her head. “Well, I saw your drawings from the other day and thought maybe you could work in here. What do you think?”

Frannie crossed the room to him and kissed him, “I think if you keep this up, I’m never going to want to leave.” Jon smiled; he had hoped she would say something like that. He kissed her back, “baby, I’ve got to go hole up in my office and make some calls. You get yourself settled here. She wrapped her arms around him before he could step away, “thank you Jon, for this, for letting me stay here, for everything.”

He looked down at her, her amber eyes having taken on a bit more green today because she was happy. He was learning to read her emotions that way. With a smile and a kiss he disentangled himself from her. Frannie watched him walk away toward the door, “see you later.”

Jon paused at the door, looking back at her “think about one more thing for me while you’re getting set up in here?” Frannie cocked her head to one side, “what’s that?” He smiled wickedly at her, “don’t find a new place to live. Stay here with me, permanently?” He didn’t wait for her to respond, he turned and left the room, leaving Frannie standing speechless amongst her things.