Love Impossible: My Mate is Married?

chapter 5

Frankie POV

Hannah did not leave her room the entire weekend. I would let her know when the food was ready but would get no responses. The quiet in the house was driving me mad. I debated on the offer to go to the cabin for some nature restart time and made a decision.

I texted Xander, "Hey, cabin next week?"

I went back to cleaning an already clean house before hearing my phone vibrate. "Sounds great. Plan for the full week, Sunday to Sunday. All you need is your clothes and any personal needs. I'll get the rest."

My work week dragged by slowly. I had been secretly wondering if my department was in the process of being downsized. I had no idea why we had more work than we had people to do the work. Yet, this company was hell-bent on making teams smaller and complicating all processes. I sighed while reading the latest intake ticket for a report request before digging into the data. I could lose myself in data all day long, but the politics that is involved with any job, I avoided at all costs. My managers knew where I stood any time an opinion was needed. Otherwise, I did my job, did it well, kept my head down, and didn't draw extra attention to myself.

Part way through Friday, I got a text from Hannah. "Mom, gonna stay at a friends. See you later."

I was slightly irritated. Rather than ask permission, she assumed I would be ok with this unknown friend.

"Which friend? Do I know their parents?" I responded and settled back into work.

When Hannah hadn't responded, I texted her again. "Hey, havent given you permission to be at a friends house, you know the rules. I need to know what friends you are with and how long you're going to be with them."

"GOD, Mom! I'm f*****g 16, plenty old enough to make my own decisions. Just go on your little romance trip and let me live my life."

I leaned my head back in my chair, gently tapping the back of my head against the head rest. I know I had not been an easy kid to raise when I was her age, and I was trying to be understanding. However, this child was getting on my last nerve with her attitude.

I heard the door open, and Stewart bark happily. The deep chuckle made my insides squirm. I was not sure what to make of these feelings I had been having, but I wasn't really planning on acting on them. At least not until Hannah was in a better place mentally.

I logged off my computer and stood up. I entered the living room and found Xander on the floor playing with Stewart. He turned to me and smiled, but his smile faded quickly. "Hey, rough day?"

I sighed. "Hannah" I just responded without any context. I was grateful when he just nodded.

"Tell you what, I'll have my brother-in-law keep an eye on this place, make sure your kritters are taken care of. Let's leave tonight." He said.

I furrowed my eyebrows before responding. "I need to organize things with Hannah, if she would just respond to me when I try to talk to her."

"Do you want me to try?" He asked

I chuckled. "No, as sweet as it is that you are offering, you are part of her issue."

I forced the tears threatening to fall back.

He grabbed me in a hug, "Hey, I know this isnt easy for either of you. Where did she go today?"

I felt the sob catch in my throat, "I have no idea. She texted not long ago that she was staying at a friends. I guess I should be happy she at least told me this time, but she is refusing to tell me who she is staying with. I dont know if she is actually safe or not."

Xander's hug tightened. "I'm sorry Frankie, I'll see if my Be- uh Brother-In-Law can keep an eye out for her. Lets get you packed and out of this house."

I shook my head and headed for my bedroom. I grabbed a duffel bag and stuffed some clothes in it. I grabbed one of Josh's sweatshirts from his side of the closet. I still had not been able to clear his belongings out. It made my room smell like him. Plus I could put on something of his and it temporarily felt like he was there again. I grabbed some toiletries from my master bathroom and zipped up the bag.

I walked out as Xander was hanging up his cell phone. "You ready?" He asked.

I nodded, "Great, I told my brother-in-law about the situation with Hannah, he is going to keep an eye out for her. Plus, he will be taking care of little Stewart and your cats here. We will need to swing by my place on the way out of town so I can grab my duffel bag. That and grab my Jeep, but then we can head out."

I nodded as he took my duffel from me, and we started the walk to his house. I sent Hannah a quick text telling her that since she doesn't want me in her life, I was going to leave a couple of days early. If she does anything that gets her in trouble to text and I will be back. I didn't expect a response, yet I was a little saddened that she didn't respond.

The further away from my house we got, the better I started to feel. I realized I hadn't left the house in months, opting for grocery delivery as I needed it. I caught Xander watching me and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Just watching the stress melt off of you. When was the last time you left the house?"

I shrugged, "Probably 4 months ago?" he sighed. "Yes, I didn't realize it had been that long until we started walking. Also, I haven't been to your house yet,"

He smiled, "True statement. I'll have to give you the tour."

We walked into a culdesak that had 20 or so houses in it. At the center of the culdesak stood a giant house. I realized we were walking right up to it. The 3 story house had giant columns in the front of it off the wrap around porch. It may have been a standard white house, but it was gorgeous. A white picket fence surrounded it and opened to the forest behind it. I realized the other side of the forest must be close to my house. Inside the house was no less grand. A double stair case wrapped up both sides of the foyer we were standing in. A chandeleer was hanging overhead, and I realized the vaulted ceilings went to the 3rd floor, so any floor one was on could see down into the foyer. The house was sparcly decorated, which indicated Xander either hadn't had time or didn't know how to decorate since he built the house.

"I tend to keep business guests here, so it's nice to have the extra room." He explained almost bashfully.

"It's beautiful," I said as he grinned. I followed him to a kitchen that would have rivaled any restaurant kitchen. The appliances were the latest models, and everything appeared to shine.

"Can I get you something to drink while I pack?" he asked.

I shook my head just in awe of everything I was seeing. I knew he was a successful businessman, but this house made him look loaded. He didn't act like he was so affluential.

After a moment, I realized he had gone and was already back with a bag. "Ready," He said, not even out of breath. I shook my head.

"Ok, Dash, Flash or whatever speedy name I could come up with. You had to be packed already."

His grin showed his perfect set of teeth. "Nope, I just tend to keep camping things all in 1 area to make life easier. You never know when nature will call, and you need to take off."

I shook my head and checked my phone one more time for a response from Hannah. Seeing the lack of notifications, I put the phone back in my pocket and followed Xander out to a massive garage.