It helped, but nothing helped like having her with us again or having all of us together again. Jake looked a hell of a lot better than the last time I’d seen him, and all the restlessness had faded from Coop. Archie’s grin grew more playful and his manner more relaxed.
Yes, having everyone together again was the way to go. She loved the roses. Her delight seemed to sparkle in the air around her. Everything about her was brighter and happier. Or maybe the hot, sweltering summer day was just the perfect backdrop for my angel.
We took the long way back into Manhattan, per Archie’s request. She and Jake filled us in on the trip and how Jake’s dad was doing. We really weren’t out of the loop to be honest, but having her tucked between Archie and me on the seat was doing wonders for all of us.
Jake looked a lot more at ease. We’d talked a few times, and Dad mentioned Jake had checked in with them about his father and later Dad said he’d talked to Jake’s father too. Maybe the best part of the whole trip was the repair to the relationship between father and son.
Frankie hadn’t been all that impressed by Jake’s dad, but she was a huge fan of Klara’s. The protective notes in her voice hadn’t been lost on me, but those too had gradually eased over the past couple of weeks. I took all of the above as a positive sign, but if Angel needed to shut down and relax, then I’d make sure she got that time.
By the time we returned the brownstone, Frankie’s eyes were the size of saucers. She’d smothered a couple of yawns in and around her smiles, but alertness returned to her expression as the driver pulled us up out front.
She stared up at the front of the place, and I spared Archie a glance. He’d gone still. Her liking the house was huge for him. I had zero doubt that Frankie would adore this place. It was fucking perfect for her. Everything about this brownstone screamed her name. At the same time, it was the kind of place that we could fill up with new memories.
Coop gave Archie a gentle shove, and Jake actually managed to cover his laugh. He had an equally curious look on his face, but this was Archie’s show and we were just the backup players for this bit. Archie slid out when the driver opened the door, then held his hand out for Frankie.
Biting her lip, she slid her hand into his, and I grabbed the roses for her. She blew me a kiss just as Jeremy opened the door to welcome us back, and the look on Frankie’s face, a combination of delight and surprise, made me wish I was a different kind of artist, just so I could paint a picture of that happiness.
Hand in hand, she and Archie jogged up the steps, and she startled the hell out of Jeremy by giving him a fierce hug and a kiss on the cheek. Or maybe it hadn’t, because he wore the most indulgent smile as she let him go.
“Welcome home, Miss Frankie,” he greeted her, and then Archie scooped her up as she squealed and carried her across the threshold.
“Asshole,” Jake muttered.
“Brilliant,” Coop countered.
“Both,” I corrected them as I followed with the roses. Jake grabbed the backpacks from the driver and Coop claimed their suitcase and we followed after. Inside, Frankie hadn’t made it past the downstairs salon where she’d dropped to sit in the middle of the floor with Tory. Tiddles stood on the staircase, and Tabby was likely upstairs in the game room that she’d claimed our first few days here.
I couldn’t wait to show Frankie the studio Archie had added to the basement. The converted space was soundproofed and had its own piano and recording equipment. The piano bench was sturdy and well padded. I’d added a few extras, including some stainless steel eye bolts.
I might save christening the studio for my birthday. There was a bed down there too. Archie figured if we wanted a private space at home, the soundproofing would help there.
No arguments here. I appreciated his thoughtfulness.
That and the fact I could lock the door, which meant Jeremy would never go in there. Frankie deserved the privacy.
And there were still things I had no interest in sharing.
It took almost two hours to fully explore the place before Frankie finally climbed the last flight to her room, and I wasn’t the only one eager to see her face. In fact, Coop and I took Jake up with us so we could be in there when Archie led her inside.
The moment she stepped inside, her whole expression melted, and Archie relaxed.
Like I’d said, this place was perfect for her, and the wide open space included two huge half dome windows on either side that allowed natural light to flood the room. There was a padded window seat with bookshelves inlaid into the wall. The bed was more than big enough for all five of us and took up nearly one-third of the space, and it had its own little platform so it offered a full view of the room. There were carefully inset eye hooks tucked and hidden away but placed for bedroom play.
The lighting overhead offered three phases, and she could turn it on and off from a switch by the bed. The en suite bathroom included a shower that took up one wall with three different nozzles and a tiled bench that would allow one to sit or lean or even lay down if it were to strike one. No more squashing to fit in the shower. Three or more of us could play in there easily.
The last fix to the place had been finished only the week before and it was the huge hot tub bathtub that she could lounge in
