Page 55 of Reclaimed Dreams

“You did. You started making decisions like no one else’s opinion mattered.”

“I didn’t mean to. I was trying to take the burden because you seemed so close to breaking.”

The shift in perspective made Jo dizzy. After not talking for so long, this flood of revelations was overwhelming. “I guess we have a lot to talk about, then. Make the appointment, Dom. I’ll show up.”

In the aftermath, a quiet settled around them. She leaned her head on his broad shoulder and set down the burden of distance she’d been carrying. Her mind was rioting with his news and the events of the day, and she was grateful she still had his support. She’d missed this all these months. They’d always been physically close, and she’d missed snuggling into his warmth and strength.

"Our baby is having a baby," Jo murmured.

Dom put his hand on Jo's thigh, and she put hers on top of his. He turned it over and gripped hers tightly. It was a tacit acknowledgement that they were in this together. Joy and fear chased each other through her heart, but she wasn’t alone. Not anymore.

Jo glanced up as movement at the door caught her attention. Frankie stood there, a huge smile on her face.

"And what are you grinning about, young lady?" Jo returned the smile and sat up, breaking contact with Dom's shoulder, but not letting go of his hand.

"Just got off the phone with Jake. Plotting a little surprise for the new parents." She crossed to the chairs where they sat.

"That sounds interesting." Jo paused and stared at Frankie, before she turned back to Dom. She gave him the look all parents developed, the one that said Go along with this with just a glance. "Do me a favor, honey. Can you go see if the hospital has a coffee shop? I'd love a skinny latte. It's going to be a long night."

"Sure thing, Jojo."

Dom strode from the waiting room, and Jo patted the open seat next to her. She had information to extract from her youngest child who thought she was good at being sneaky. "Come sit with me, Francesca." Frankie cringed at the use of her full name, but obeyed. "Your father does better with waiting when he has a job to do."

"Then why do you want him to retire so badly? He'll be bored out of his mind without something to do."

"Oh, I have plans for what we'll do." Jo wiggled her eyebrows and laughed at Frankie's reaction.

"Ew! Ma, seriously. I don't want to hear about any sexy plans you might have for Dad. Just… Gah! My mind's eye is burning."

Jo chuckled. The period where she’d been numb with grief had bled into the time where they weren’t speaking, which added up to way too long apart. She had absolutely missed her sexual relationship with Dom, and had been plotting retirement plans for every room in their empty nest. But her daughter didn’t need the details on that. "There are other things I like to do with your father, like traveling."

"Sure, that's what you meant," Frankie teased.

"Speaking of plans, what's this you're cooking up with Jake?"

"I asked him to send the crew over to knock out the last of the list at the new house, so it'll be done by the time they're ready to go home."

"That's very sweet of him to help." Jo wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Frankie, preparing to tease more information out of her daughter on this “thing” with Jake.

"Ma…"

"I just want to know what's going on in your life."

"There is nothing going on except me busting my ass to make this show a success."

"So much like your father." Jo sighed and ran her hand down Frankie's still-wet hair.

"And that's bad?" Frankie asked.

How could Jo explain that the very traits that made her so strong could be a weakness as well, without breaking down her daughter? "I know you idolize your father, and that you are trying so hard to keep your promise to Gabe. But I am your mother, and I have a few things to say. Brace yourself."

Frankie took a deep breath before turning in her chair to fully face her mother. "Hit me."

Jo smiled softly at her antics before she crossed her hands in her lap. "I married a man who is very headstrong, driven, ambitious. He poured his energy into his family business, and we've had a good life. Losing Gabe…it woke me up. I'd been going along, making everything work, to follow his plans, for years. I didn't realize how little voice I had in our marriage until I spoke up and tried to use it, only to be ignored. Over the last two years, I've seriously considered leaving."

Frankie’s jaw dropped. After a beat, she asked, "Why did you stay?"

"Because even when he's driving me insane, he's my person. I love him. And I haven't given up hope that we can find a new normal. It's also terrifying to think of starting over alone after a lifetime together."

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