Purple Hearts (sequel to Cherry Lips & Tattoos), chapter 2

There he is, Dad.

He's at the front door waiting for us. He probably saw the car coming up the hill, he always was impatient.

Dad, I'm pregnant, I don't know who the father is, help me here.

"Blue eyes," he said simply opening the car door before I'd even had a chance to.

Anyway he could talk. I'd never met anyone ever with bluer eyes than Dad. Mike's came a close second and Dads, well, no wonder the women love him.

I shudder to think of the time when I embarrassed myself when I had found him in bed with that Plastic Pam woman. I couldn't believe that he had slept with her in mum's bed but we later found out that she'd drugged him anyway and that there was no way he would have willingly slept with her, she was gross. Meanwhile Dad had to confess to me that he has to be with someone sometimes although he insisted on it being just a mutual sex thing and that he hasn't loved anyone since mum. I cringe again thinking about how naïve I was and remembering the embarrassing conversation we'd had about it.

"Dad," I say to him getting out of the car. He hugs me tight and I feel slightly better.

I so want to tell you, but I can't, not yet.

"Charlie," said Tre going to give Charlie a hug.

They'd always got on so well and Tre always insisted on meeting up with Charlie when he was touring in London. Charlie knew all the band members and thought they were all such good guys.

"Come on in, I'll get your suitcases," said Tre going to the back of Adi's car.

Tre felt apprehensive as he'd just noticed how tired looking Franky was. What was wrong with her? He thought she was going to England for a rest but she actually looked worse than she did before she'd left. Probably too busy partying he thought grabbing the cases then smiling to himself, yeah, that must be it.


I walked into the house. Home, my home, I just loved that coming home feeling, that feeling of getting back where I belong.

Dad dumped the cases in the hall and we all followed him through to the dining room. I notice Charlie stop and glance at Mum's photograph on the hall table. I also notice that the red roses had gone. I was sort of glad, it was becoming a bit of an obsession with Dad. He'd finally got over that. Adi had been right, I remember her saying ages ago to give him time and things would ease, obviously it had for him.

"I've made some tuna sandwiches," said Tre. "I know you never eat the airline food."

"Yeah and you always do," I said looking at him, "Uncle Mike used to say that you usually end up eating his and Billie's as well." Billie.

It felt strange suddenly saying his name in front of everyone. Everyone standing here knew that we'd slept together just over a month earlier.

"I'm a growing man," said Tre, "now let's eat." Obviously what I was thinking wasn't what they were thinking. They obviously thought that was in the past and yeah, it was.

After Dad's sandwiches which were amazing - he always did something with food that made it taste good - even a tuna sandwich, I started yawning. I still felt exhausted all the time. I knew the cause was the baby but Adi and Dad saw it as jet lag, thank goodness.

"Why don't you take a nap honey?" said Dad as he cleared away some of the plates.

"I suppose I'd better because no doubt you've got everyone coming over tonight," I said standing up and yawning again.

"Actually... no one is coming over," said Tre, "it's just us. We thought we'd take you and Charlie to the Chopstock Bowl for dinner."

"Oh," I said sounding quite surprised and may be a little disappointed, "usually you have the crowd over on a Saturday; it used to be any old excuse for a party." I yawned yet again.

"Well everyone seems to be busy tonight," said Adi helping Dad clear up.

Adi's been here for ages I thought, why was she hanging around? Usually she'd have to get back for her kids, wouldn't they need their lunch too?

I absentmindedly put my hands into my pockets and pulled out a few tissues and stuff that I'd shoved in while I was on the plane.

"I'll just dump these, and then I'll have a lie down," I said to everyone as I walked out of the dining room.

Charlie looked at me knowingly.

"So shall we book a table then?" Called out Adi.

What was all this 'we' business? Franky thought.

"Yeah... why not... " I shouted back but suddenly the thought of Chinese food made me want to throw up.

Walking through to the Kitchen I went to the bin lifted the lid and threw the tissues into it along with a couple of sweet wrappers.

Then I saw it, it jumped out at me. It was the words Green Day that did it.

I retrieved the newspaper from the re-cycling bin and took it upstairs to read. When I walked past the dining room I could hear them all laughing and joking but all I was interested in was reading the article.

I threw myself onto my wonderful bed. I loved my bed; there was nothing quite like it, especially when you hadn't slept in it for a month.

Then I read the article, twice over.

So, they didn't get back together then. I felt kind of disappointed in them for not trying. What were they playing at? This was one of the reasons for me going away so they could sort themselves out, get back together and become a family unit again.

I felt guilty like I had before I'd left but tiredness overwhelmed me and I just let the newspaper drop to the floor as I drifted off to sleep.




I heard my bedroom door opening; it had this kind of slight squeak that always used to annoy me. Now I felt like the familiar sound was almost comforting.

I peeped with one eye. It was Dad, trying to be quiet but never quite managing it, he never could be quiet. I smiled and opened my eyes, stretching and groaning as I did so.

"That's some noise coming from a little bod," said Tre, "anyway, I have a drink here for you, some cherry cola. I thought you'd probably be thirsty and if you've been asleep you've probably had your mouth open catching flies again."

"Thanks Dad," I said sitting up and taking the glass from him. I noticed him looking at the newspaper lying by my bed. He didn't say anything about it and neither did I.

"Are you sure you're up to coming out tonight, you still look tired and we'll be leaving in about an hour," he said sitting on the bed next to me and looking at his watch.

"Of course," I said, "but I may not eat much, your tuna sandwiches have filled me up. Is it just the four of us going?"

"Yep," said Tre, "you, me, Charlie and Adi. Adi needs to talk to you anyway."

"Oh what about?" I said.

"About showing you the clothing range, she's had loads of designs done and had a couple of outfits for each of you made up. The rest of the guys love the range, it just needs your approval."

"I'm sure I'll love them, I've always loved the Adeline clothes." I did.

"She also wants to discuss the photo shoot with you, she knows a photographer, some lady she's known a while and actually I remember her taking some shots of us once, you must remember them, they're those ones with the black and white striped backgrounds."

"Yeah I know, like the one on Billie's basement wall," I said remembering.

"Yeah, those ones," said Dad nodding.

"How on earth can you remember all the photographs that you've had done and who took them, you must have had millions taken over the years," I said to Dad.

"Well we automatically get copies of them; I've got each and everyone in portfolios somewhere. Actually I think your grandmother has them now because I remember Ramona saying something once about Grandma boring her with them." And he rolled his eyes.

"Poor Ramona," I said thinking about Grandma. She was always showing us pictures of Dad doing this and that, she had thousands of pictures and mementoes of him. She was just so proud.

"Yeah, Ramona's actually coming over to spend the holidays with us," said Tre, his eyes lighting up. We always felt sorry for Ramona, she didn't get to see Dad as often as us obviously and I felt I had never really got to know her that well. I was looking forward to spending some time with my half sister.

"Great, I hardly spend any time with her, I'll look forward to that and.. oh that reminds me, I made a couple of friends in England while I was there, they live in my old house, a girl of 13 and her mother. I've kind of invited them for the holidays."

"Oh Franky," said Dad sounding unsure. He didn't always like strangers coming into his home, he was always welcoming but sometimes it took him a while to get to know someone, I think when you're in his line of business you have to have your guard up slightly for so many reasons.

"Dad, you'll like them, trust me on this one. Emily will be good company for Ramona and Julie is a nurse."

"That right," said Tre perking up, "well tell her when she comes to bring her uniform." Said Tre, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Oh Dad," said Franky throwing her old grey rabbit Buck at him.

Just then Milton came sauntering into the room.

"Oh, so you decided to show your face at last did you?" Franky said to Milton.

"He has a girlfriend," said Tre, "it's the dog next door. He and she are an item, they get through the back gate to each other, if he's not here... he's there and vice versa. Even the dog has a better love life than me." Said Tre rolling his eyes. "Now drink your drink dry lips and I'll see you downstairs when you're ready."

Tre left the room closing the squeaky door behind him.

Milton lay with his head on Franky's lap as she ruffled his soft ears. She reached for her cherry coke but as she did so the overwhelming smell of cherries caught her unawares, causing Franky to heave.

She held her nose to try and drink her drink because she was thirsty but as soon as she took one sip, that was it, she just about made it, just got there on time as she knelt in front of the toilet bowl and threw her guts up.

Fuck! How the hell am I going to keep this hidden? She thought to herself.

**

"Hi Ray," said Dad to Mr Lam.

"Tre and the lovely Adi," said Mr Lam, "this is the third time this week that you two have been in, what a pleasure." He said ushering us to our usual table.

"Hey I didn't know that was his first name," said Franky, "we usually just call him Mr. Lam."

"Oh, we've been in a few times this past month haven't we Adi?" said Tre settling himself into his seat.

"We have indeed," said Adi looking up at Dad.

No.

I recognised that look.

She used to look at Billie that way, please no. Was it mutual? I loved Adi but... her and my Dad, I don't think so.

"Franky are you deaf?" said Tre.

I looked up and they were looking at me and smiling.

"Sorry... I was miles away... " and I was thinking about Adi and my Dad. Stupid thoughts, my mind was working overtime here, my hormones were raging at the moment.

"Daydreaming again honey," said Dad, "I asked you what you wanted to drink?"

"Oh just mineral water will be fine, thanks."

She is beautiful though, my thoughts going back to Adi and thinking that she's hardly left our sides since I'd got back. Where were her boys? Where was Billie?

"So... about tomorrow," Tre said at the same time as checking out the menu.

"What about tomorrow?" I said back to him not really interested in the menu, I didn't really want anything to eat.

"You've got a busy day ahead of you," he said closing the menu and putting it down on the table. That was quick; he obviously knew already what he wanted to eat. He'd been here so many times he knew the menu by heart.

"Oh have I now?" I said smiling at him. I couldn't wait; it was all beginning for The Xtras.

"Yes, I'll be round at yours at 10am to show you my designs and to try a few clothes on," said Adi

"Yeah and then the guys are coming for band practice," said Dad.

"Then we're going to have your photo shoot in the afternoon which may run into the evening and Bay Radio wants to interview you all for their evening show. Mike'll be with us all day as he is your manager after all."

"Oh right," I said, "so when do I get to pee."

**

Franky, Tre & Charlie all waved at Adi as she let herself into her house. HER house? It didn't feel like hers anymore.

She waved them off, Franky driving her little mini, Charlie sitting up front with Franky as he couldn't get into the back with his long, long legs and Tre was in the back where she had been sitting. She sighed and entered the dark, lonely house.

Adrienne wandered through to the Living room and flicked on three of the table lamps in the huge room and glanced about her. Empty.

The furnishings that Billie and her had lovingly chosen together adorned the room, the expensive caramel coloured leather sofas and the different coloured scatter cushions looked as though they needed someone to slump down on them like she and Billie used to do, for the cushions to be thrown haphazardly on the floor and be made love on. It was sad really but it wasn't what either of them wanted anymore. Her and Billie would never make love again on those cushions, or anywhere else for that matter, ever again.

She headed down to the basement, for some reason, something drawing her there.

This always used to be the liveliest room in the house. It kind of mirrored Tre's basement except one wall had a case of guitars, most of them Billies, just a couple being Joeys.

Another wall had band pictures and a third wall was painted of a mural of the band, one of Billie's favourite pictures from the American Idiot era. It was of the three of them of course, and the background was of black and white stripes. It was a beautiful painting and you couldn't help but notice it when you walked into the room. New visitors always commented on it.

Walking over to the refrigerator in the corner that was always fully stocked Adrienne grabbed a can of beer, pulled the tab on it and took a sip. She wandered over to the sofa and sat down on it facing the mural.

Everything in this room was to do with Billie she thought, everything. He was everywhere.

She decided she couldn't really live here after all. It was HIS house with HIS stuff.

She'd have to go, she didn't feel like she belonged here anymore.

Looking up at the three of them in the picture she glanced at each of the men individually.

Mike standing there on the left with his red trousers, leaning over to the left slightly. He was so lovely and extremely happy at the moment and Adi was glad for him. He and Jen were perfect for each other, whatever perfect meant. She loved him like a brother and he hopefully would always be in her life. He was a wonderful Dad to Estelle and she looked forward to getting to know his new baby when it was born.

She took another guzzle from the can and glanced then at Billie. He was standing in the centre of the picture leaning forward slightly, hands in his pockets with his red tie hanging down.

He had been the love of her life, but no more. They'd both come to terms with it but the children unfortunately hadn't.

Billie was unable to handle their reactions and had gone. Gone away without telling anyone where. He'd left a note and told her to call his phone only in an emergency. She had to respect his wishes but didn't know how long he'd be gone for of if he'd ever come back. You heard of people disappearing and never to be seen again, how would she explain to the children? She loved Billie, always would, a respectful love that was entirely different to what they'd had before. She knew that Billie would always be in her life because of the children. That was if he ever showed his face round here again.

Taking another drink from her can she stood up and walked closer to the mural to take a look at the third guy standing on the right with the red jacket on, Tre.

Adi frowned, she was confused just lately, because she'd fallen for Tre, big time.
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