~ Escaping the Shadows ~
by Peewee
Disclaimer/Content Warning: See Part 1
Any comments or criticism can be mailed to me at trr_lgn@yahoo.ca
2
Frankie sighed and leaned back in the leather office chair. It had been a long week. She had worked the long open shift on Labour Day, had Tuesday off and had worked the close every night since. Staying open until three in the morning was hard on all the staff. She had tried to get the owners to close at one, since they were really an upscale bistro and not a nightclub, but they argued that they didn't want to give any business to the neighbouring clubs. Frankie pointed out that the kids that go to the clubs weren't going to come into the bistro for drinks anyway. They argued that people in their thirties and forties might like a place to go for a late night drink and conversation where there was no dry ice or techno music. She countered that people in that age group tended to go to the Irish pub that sat across the market square from them, or down the street to the jazz bar. It was no use. The owners' minds were made up. The only way she was going to get them to close at one was to prove it was the best financial choice for them. She had been collecting data for six months to prove her point. Now she just had to go over all the data and prepare to explain it all to them. They were good bosses who knew nothing about the industry. They had inherited the bistro and trusted her and Andy to run it.
Andy was the Assistant Manager. He was a great guy with short blond hair laughing blue eyes and a neatly trimmed goatee. He was tall with big broad shoulders and a warm smile. He reminded her of a teddy bear. He had a good rapport with the staff; even if he was a little more lenient than she was. He didn't let them get away with murder; it was just a little more relaxed when he was there. Not that she was a dictator or anything. Everyone was just a little more relaxed when the boss was away.
Andy knocked on the office door and stuck his head in. "I'm gonna head out, you alright for the night."
She looked at the clock. "It's almost nine, get out of here."
He smiled. "Well it was busy I wasn't going to leave you."
"I know, and thanks for giving me a half hour to take a load off before you left. I had to get those invoices posted before the weekend if we were going to pay our vendors." Frankie sighed and stood up.
Andy just watched her. When he first met Frankie he thought the sun only shone when she was around, and he still had a bit of a crush on her. He wasn't stupid however and he was a little scared of Kylie, so he just admired her from afar. They flirted like crazy though. It was just one of those things that neither of them ever tried to stop, even though they both knew it bugged Kylie.
"Have I mentioned how fantastic you look?" He asked grinning at her.
"Only about a thousand times." She teased back. "I guess blondes really do have more fun."
Since she went to Bobby and got her hair died a natural looking honey blonde, with highlights everyone had been complimenting her.
"Does Kylie like it?" He asked.
"She likes it a little bit too much. I can barely walk." She said wiggling her eyebrows.
"That was too much information." Andy said swallowing hard. "Not to mention just plain cruel."
She just laughed at him.
"C'mon and help a poor overused woman climb the stairs will ya?" She said smiling and putting her arm in his.
"Are you sure Trevor is ready to do the open by himself?" He asked her seriously.
"Yes he's done opens for the past two weeks with one of us I'm sure he's ready. And if not he can call you."
"I know. I just worry because I know you don't want to get disturbed at your party." Andy sighed.
"If the building isn't burning down, and we haven't been robbed I don't want a call. I trust you both to be able to handle anything that comes up." Frankie gently warned him.
"I won't call I have no intention of having Kylie come down here to kick my ass."
"Well it would be Kylie and my sister so I would avoid calling at all costs." She smiled.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. There is a guy here to see you. He's the new head of security for the building."
"Oh goodie." She mumbled. "Another person to have to explain our late hours to."
"How's that coming by the way?"
"Not as good as I had hoped. We actually turn a profit between one and three on Thursday, Friday and Saturday." She sighed.
"What are the odds they will just let us stay late those days?" He asked.
"Not good. They will probably say we should do something to attract bigger crowds on the other nights or cut back on staff to make the early week more profitable." She said shaking her head.
"Who would we cut back? We only have a cook and a bartender on." He stared at her shocked.
"They would probably want us to get rid of the bartender and run the bar ourselves. I don't know let me work on it a bit more before you freak out. If what I'm seeing in the numbers is accurate maybe I can get Morgan to help me come up with some promotional ideas. If we are going to have to be open that late anyway we may as well have something to do."
"Great." Andy sighed.
Frankie just shrugged.
"Have a good night eh." She told him.
"I'll try. Have fun tomorrow. I promise unless there are flashing red or blue lights surrounding this joint I will not call." Andy said hoping that he was telling her the truth.
"Good. Where is the new security guy?" She asked walking Andy to the door.
"At the bar. Talking to Andrea. Grey suit slicked back hair." Andy said making a face at the security officials' fashion faux pas.
Frankie grinned. For a straight guy Andy knew a lot about fashion. They waved goodbye and Frankie started walking towards the bar. She looked at Andrea and raised an eyebrow as the tall bartender smirked at her. She had seen Andrea give her that look before. It generally meant that the patron was a letch or a sexist asshole. Great, just what I need to cap off the week from hell. She thought as she walked up to the man.
"Excuse me I'm Francis Finnian, I was told you wished to speak with me?" Frankie said extending her hand to the man.
He almost jumped, then turned towards the whiskey sour voice he had found so endearing a few days ago.
Crap. Frankie just stared at the man who had unnerved her in Morgan's backyard. He looked very different. He was wearing a nicely tailored grey suit, with a white shirt and matching grey tie. At least he didn't have that whole tacky monochrome look that was so popular lately. He had slicked back his hair so it no longer stood upright in a faux Mohawk and he had shaved the devils beard. He looked older and definitely more professional. He was smiling at her. It wasn't the smile she remembered from the other day; this smile was genuine and a little embarrassed.
"Nice to see you again, Miss Finnian." He said shaking her hand. "Tom Walker, the new Chief security officer for the building."
"Nice to see you as well." Not. She thought to herself. "Would you care to have a seat at one of the tables so we can talk?"
"That would be great." He stood next to her. "Lead the way."
She led them to a table not far from the bar so she could keep an eye on things. And Andrea could keep tabs on them as well. When the two women worked the late nights together they tried to keep a watchful eye on what the other was doing. No matter how nice the establishment was the clientele could be a handful. Money and privilege did not buy class. In fact Frankie had endured more blatant harassment at the bistro then at the western bar she had worked at when she was seventeen.
After they both sat down there was an uncomfortable silence. Frankie kept looking over at the bar and Tom was finding the tabletop fascinating.
Finally he cleared his throat. "I would like to apologize for the other day."
Frankie turned quickly to look at him, surprised by the statement.
"I was being an egotistical misogynistic asshole. Not some of my finer qualities. I am usually a little more… well not charming, but at least not offensive."
Frankie laughed and relaxed a little. She still had a weird feeling about the guy but at least he was trying.
"I am going to claim that it was being around Morgan drinking beer that put me back in frat house mode. However, the cause is not of any consequence, it is the effect that I apologize for. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"Thank you for the apology Mr. Walker. Although I believe I may have overreacted." Frankie said smiling.
"Please call me Tom."
"Only if you call me Frankie."
"Agreed." He smiled looking down again. "I am afraid I have to apologize for something else however."
Frankie looked at him a little suspicious of what he was about to say.
"And I am afraid it makes me look like a sexist bastard that I am beginning to worry I am." Tom said looking at her and smiling weakly. "You see the man whose job I have taken over…"
"Warren Gentry." Frankie noted.
"Yes Warren Gentry. He told me I should come down here to talk to the manager about the hours of operation. He said not to let that 'Francis Finnian fast talk me into giving up without a fight.' He never said that Francis Finnian…"
"Was a woman?" She offered smirking at his dilemma.
"Yeah." Tom said smiling and wincing at the same time.
"It's okay Tom he probably did it on purpose just to see you trip up. Warren likes to joke around with me. I'm used to it." She said smiling.
At least now I know your not stalking me. She smiled shaking her head at her own delusions.
"I'm glad we've got that cleared up. So about these crazy hours?" He said leaning forward.
Frankie groaned. It was going to be a long night.
Frankie climbed the stairs exhausted. It was four am and she knew as soon as she walked in the door Max would want to go outside. She opened the door and patted the eager dog on the head. She walked to the backdoor and opened it so the husky could go do his thing. She climbed the stairs to the master bedroom and walked in leaving the door open so she could see her way around from the light in the hallway. She grabbed her pyjama bottoms and a white tank top and left the room gently closing the door. Her shower had been calling her since two. She turned the water on so hot it was almost scolding then she climbed in. Her legs and back ached and she was getting heavy cramps, which she almost never suffered from. Great, she thought, just in time for the party. Well, at least it would keep Kylie away from her for a couple of days. They had always been rather passionate but since she had her little makeover Kylie had been insatiable. It had been fun but right now it was the last thing on her mind. She knew she would never fall asleep before six in the morning. Then she would be lucky to sleep until noon. Everyone was arriving around one so she would have to be up by then. They had gotten almost everything ready so Kylie wouldn't be stuck with any last minute stuff while she slept. Morgan, Mike and Toby were all going to help her set up so she wouldn't have to do much heavy lifting and Soybean was going to make her killer punch when she arrived so that was looked after. All Frankie had to do was wake up get dressed and party. First however she would have to go to sleep. She turned off the shower dried off and got changed. There was only one way she was going to be able to sleep. She walked downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. She opened the beer grabbed her cigarettes out of her purse and walked out onto the porch. It was going to be a long night.
She sat down on the steps and watched Max play in the backyard while she sipped her beer. After Tom left the rest of the night flew by. She chatted with some of the regulars and joked around with Andrea. It had been a good night staying fairly busy until last call. While her staff did the clean up she rang off the cash and filled the deposits and put them in the safe. She watched to confirm that the tip out to the cooks, busboys and dishwashers had been done then put it in the office to be divided up at the end of the tomorrow nights shift. They always did their tip out on Saturday evening. She had wanted to do it on Sunday but the owners insisted that the staff get the extra on the weekend. They figured it was busy on the weekend so it was better to give them the money as a bonus for hard work. Frankie couldn't really argue with that but she was tired of seeing hung over cooks every Sunday morning.
She put out her cigarette and took a deep swallow of beer. She heard the door open and Kylie walk out to stand behind her.
"Long night babe?" Kylie asked scratching the top of Frankie's head.
"Very." Frankie said leaning back into Kylie' long legs. "I've got nasty cramps."
"You don't get those." Kylie said a little concerned. "You want some Motrin?"
"Yeah." Frankie said tilting her head back to look up at her lover. "And some snuggling."
Kylie just grinned. "Sure baby."
Kylie reached out and helped Frankie up. She whistled for Max to come in and led her lover back into the house.
"Go on upstairs and I'll lock up. I'll bring you a bottle of water and some drugs." Kylie said giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks." Frankie said as she started up the stairs.
She had just gotten into bed when Kylie came in. She gave Frankie the pills and water then turned off the light and crawled into bed spooning her smaller wife.
"I love you baby, get some rest." Kylie said kissing the top of Frankie's head.
"I love you too." Frankie yawned as she closed her eyes.
It didn't take long for both women to drift off.
Tom watched the lights go out from Mike and Morgan's deck. He had been surprised to find out that Frankie worked in his building. It was very fortuitous for him. He had wanted to find a way to apologize to her before the party, but could never come up with a way to run into her that wouldn't have made both of them very uncomfortable. Now that she was more comfortable with him it would be easier to have access to her. If he was going to steal her away from the redhead he needed to be in their lives. Tomorrow he would work on the girlfriend. Once he had Kylie' trust Frankie would give up any remaining misgivings she had about him.
Kylie stuck her head out the front door and held a finger up to her lips. She climbed down the stairs and met Siobhan and Toby at their car.
"Frankie's still asleep. She didn't get home until after four so I never told her you guys were coming early." Kylie told her sister in law quietly.
Siobhan nodded. "We don't have much that has to go into the house, just a few of the cold cuts."
"Don't worry about that we borrowed an extra fridge from Louise and Velma to put in the garage." Kylie told them. "That way we only have to have people go into the house to take a bathroom break."
"You guys should have rented a port-a-potty." Toby suggested again.
"I told you they cost too much." Siobhan scolded him.
Toby made a face then rolled his eyes. Toby was a handsome man tall with curly light brown hair. He was quiet and sarcastic and a perfect match for Siobhan. He had been in the same grade as Frankie so he was a year or so older than his wife. The three of them along with Frankie's best friend Meg did everything together when they were young. He knew long ago he would never win an argument with the Finnian women.
"Mike and Morgan are sharing their yard and bathroom with us this year so it should be better than last year." Kylie noted. "We set up the volley-ball net in their yard this year because we have the horseshoe pits on our side. We figured if we needed to put up a Croquette pitch we could do it over near the old willow beside the fence."
"Sean is dying to play Croquette." Siobhan said shaking her head. "Mom's bringing him and Dad here around one."
Kylie looked at her watch. It was only eleven-thirty; she would let Frankie sleep for another hour then she would have to wake her. She would need coffee and something to eat before she started to drink or it would be over all to soon for the restaurant manager. They had been planning this party for months. Morgan had arranged for one of the DJ's at his station to look after the music in exchange for all the booze he could drink, two meals and a place to stay. They had set that up the night before while Frankie was working. The first couple of years they had the party they weren't nearly as organized, but since Mike and Morgan asked them if they could include their friends and open up both yards it had taken on epic proportions. The Molson and Labatt reps Frankie dealt with each offered to donate kegs to the party. Frankie had to get her boss' permission first but they were all for it. As long as their bistro was open and running they didn't care who went to the party and who didn't. Most of the staff either came by before their shifts or right after. Frankie's bosses even gave them a case of wine this year.
"So can I throw our bags in the spare room?" Toby asked holding up a couple of duffle bags.
"Yeah sure. You know where it is. Just be quiet and don't wake Frankie." Kylie told him.
Toby fought the urge to salute. He had done that before to the retired Second Lieutenant and gotten an icy stare in return. He really liked Kylie she was good for Frankie. He had seen Frankie come out of her shell in the past eight years. Kylie was a strong woman who was crazy about his friend. That he was thankful for. Frankie deserved someone who cared about her and didn't treat her like she was a thing to be played with or possessed. Kylie might be intimidating if you crossed her but she was a marshmallow on the inside.
"So are you guys ready for this?" Siobhan asked as the two of them walked around to the backyard, sneaking through the garage entrance.
"As we ever will be." Kylie joked. "No we're fine. Frankie got the last of the booze yesterday and Andrea from her work is bringing a truckload of ice. We have a couple of those old horse troughs to put the bottles of beer and coolers in. The kegs are hooked up and chilling. The grills are over by the porch for easy access. I think we are ready to go."
"Good." Siobhan smiled then looked at the two men walking into the back yard through the gate. "Looky who the cat drug in."
Mike walked confidently up to Siobhan and gave her a crushing hug.
"You keep getting more and more beautiful each time I see you." Mike said as he gave her an extra squeeze.
"And you are getting even more muscle or my spine has turned to jelly." Siobhan teased.
Mike pulled back and grinned. He had an amazing smile. He had deep dimples in both cheeks that made him look innocent and sweet and kind warm deep brown eyes. His skin was the colour of dark mocha and he kept his head completely shaven since he started to go bald a few years ago. He tried to tell everyone he just liked to keep it that way since he left the army, but Kylie and Frankie knew the truth. Of course they never told anyone. Morgan had told them in confidence and they wouldn't break his trust. Besides they had no wish to embarrass the big man. Mike stood about six foot two, towering over almost everyone there except Toby who was six foot and Kylie who was five ten. Even Siobhan who seemed tall was only five foot eight. He was solid muscle and tried to keep it that way. He had a workout room in the garage of his house. He worked out everyday for a couple of hours. Lately Morgan and Frankie had taken to working out and running something he was very proud of both of them for doing. Morgan had never really given that much thought to his body but since he turned thirty a few years ago he had noticed the pounds adding up. He decided to nip that in the bud before he gained too much. Frankie had started running to tone up and help her quit smoking. She was toning up fine but the smoking thing was going to take more work. He was proud of both of them anyway.
"So where is that bum of a husband of yours?" Mike asked.
"He's upstairs putting our stuff in the spare room." Siobhan told him.
"You're actually going to try to sleep across the hall from the queen of the screamers." Mike teased.
"We've done it before. Besides since we won't have the kid with us tonight I might just drown my sister out." Siobhan grinned backhanding Kylie in the stomach.
"Remind me to change the sheets in the morning." Kylie mumbled.
"What's that Wylie?" Siobhan said turning to look at the redhead.
"Nothing we need to get into here." Kylie said looking at the stranger with Mike.
"Oh, Jesus where are my manners." Mike said winking at Siobhan. "This is Tom Walker. Tom was Morgan's roommate in college he's staying with us for a few days until he moves into his new apartment. Tom, this is Kylie Krieger, Frankie's partner and Siobhan Dugan her lovely younger sister."
"Nice to meet you." Kylie said shaking the man's hand.
"Me too. So you've already met Frankie?" Siobhan asked.
"Yes a couple of times actually." Tom said smiling. "You can't really hang out all week with Morgan without meeting Frankie."
Both women laughed at that. It was very true the two neighbours had become very good friends.
"Uh, I was wondering if it wouldn't be too much of an imposition do you think I could use your bathroom. Morgan is having one of his legendary long showers… and … well…" Tom blushed.
Kylie smirked. "Go right ahead. It's upstairs first door on your right."
"Thanks." Tom said hurrying inside.
"Don't worry about taking off your shoes, I'm sure no one else will today." Kylie said to the man as he headed through the doors.
"Sorry about that Kylie but the poor dude has been waiting for over twenty minutes. I told him to just come on over and ask but he wouldn't" Mike laughed.
"Ah, Kylie you told him first door on the right." Siobhan noted.
"Shit. I meant left." Kylie groaned.
"Well I hope Frankie isn't sleeping in the buff." Siobhan grinned.
"She isn't I just hope he doesn't wake her I wanted to give her a bit to sleep."
"What the hell is keeping Tobias anyway?" Siobhan asked shaking her head.
"Who knows', maybe he had to use the bathroom?" Kylie laughed winking at Mike who was howling.
"Well, screw him. Michael my dear shall we go get us a frosty beverage?" Siobhan asked linking arms with him.
"Lead the way my dear, lead the way." He said bowing.
Kylie just shook her head. Damn Finnian women were just too charming. They had both men and women eating out of their hands.
Tom walked up the stairs and came to the first door on the right and opened it. He realized immediately that it was not the bathroom. He saw her curled up facing the door her wavy dark blonde hair falling over the pillow. She looked like an angel. He stared at her for a little while then quietly pulled the door closed so he wouldn't wake her. Once the door was closed he took a deep breath trying to calm down after seeing the object of his affection so peaceful and beautiful. Then he turned to try and find the bathroom. He ended up face to face with an angry looking man.
"What were you doing in there? Who are you?" Tobias growled.
"I'm Tom. I'm a friend of Morgan's. Kylie told me the bathroom was the first door on the right." Tom explained.
Tobias didn't like this man. He may very well be telling the truth, but the look he had given his sister in law was not that innocent. He decided to let it go for now but to tell Frankie or Kylie about it later. He watched Tom go into the bathroom then opened the door to Frankie and Kylie' room to see if she was okay.
"What?" Frankie groaned.
"Hey Franklin." Toby smiled.
"Piss off Tobias." Frankie said putting the pillow over her head.
"Now, now that isn't the way the hostess is supposed to act." He said walking over and sitting down on the side of the bed.
"It is if she's sleeping." Frankie complained into the pillow.
He laughed.
Frankie poked her head out from under the pillow and grinned at him. They had known each other forever so they were used to seeing the other in some state of undress.
"Who all is here?" She asked sitting up making sure her tank top was still covering everything.
"Just me and Siobhan and some dude named Tom." He said his voice taking on a hard edge.
"Great." Frankie said rolling her eyes. "Well go find your wife. If Tom is here Morgan and Mike are here, so you may have lost her already."
"I swear to God if I didn't know he was gay I would really worry about him and Siobhan."
Frankie laughed. "Well I have it on good authority that you don't have to worry about that. They just like to flirt with each other."
"Good. Cause I don't think I could take him." Toby grinned.
Frankie laughed and shooed Toby out of her room. "You can't, now get out of here I need to get dressed."
"Yeah. If Siobhan or Kylie found me in here…" He said opening the door.
"They would be pissed that you woke me." She smirked. "Sorry Toby you got nothing I want and they both know it."
"Oh, right through the heart." He teased.
"Please you knew before anyone else did."
"I know but that's just because I'm incredibly perceptive." He said leaving the room.
"My ass. You read my journal." She said throwing a pillow at the door.
"You shouldn't have left it lying around for us to find."
She smiled as he left the room. He was right in a way. She hadn't meant to leave her diary lying around but she was glad it was Toby who was reading it aloud to her sister and best friend when she found them. He had edited what she wrote and never told anyone. He said he hadn't meant to find out that way and he was sure the others would rather hear it from her. He never pressured her or said a word but his support made it easier to come out to everyone in her family. At seventeen she had the emotional support from friends and family that some gay people never received. Toby was her brother in law but he was also one of her closest friends.
She smiled at that thought and ran a brush through her hair and got changed into a pair of cut-offs and a white t-shirt. She didn't want to miss any more of the party.
Continued...