These characters all belong to the Nanny and CBS and High School Sweethearts, and some other people. And I thank them for coming up with them.
by
Kate
(Katemo@yahoo.com)
"Ya know Fran, if something happens to Daddy, they really could take them away, cuz you're not our legal mom." Maggie's words whirled in Fran's head. Brighton's question "I don't understand why you won't even try and fight for us?" nagged at her. She hadn't responded to them. Not honestly. She loved them, and a piece of paper couldn't make that love any more real, but she hadn't told them the truth. She was scared. Scared that she would lose. Scared that in a court room things would come out that would change everything, maybe even the way the kids felt about her. Scared that maybe she was pushing her good fortune just a little too far.
She was a little surprised to discover where she was. A little, but only a little. She had been here before with the kids, and a even a few times with Maxwell, but she had never expected to come here alone. She had thrown on some clothes and walked out with out a word. There was someone who she needed to talk to. And even if that person couldn't talk back, Fran knew this was where she needed to be.
One of the kids, or maybe their Grandparents had been here recently. There were fresh Carnations next to Sara's headstone. Yellow, Sara's favorite.
It was funny. She and Sara had never met, but Fran felt she knew her. Knew her and liked her. Would Sara have felt the same way?
Sara had a great sense of humor, she liked to sing, albeit off key, she was beautiful, but she could throw the fear of God into Brighton when the situation warranted it. They really weren't so different, were they?
Fran knelt down, and gently touched the letters on the stone. "Sara Sheffield, loving daughter, wife, and mother. Laughter danced in her eyes. She was taken too soon." Laughter danced in her eyes, it was true. Fran had watched videos and seen pictures, yes there was always laughter in her eyes, like Brighton, and more and more like Gracie.
"Hi Sara, it's Fran. I'd like to think you know me, I wish I had known you. I need some help. I hope I'm not asking too much. It's the kids. Sara you should be proud, they are just more beautiful every day. Max says Maggie looks just like you. She's almost done at Columbia. Brighton is starting to apply to Colleges. His grades are finally good. He's so smart ya know, but for the longest time he just couldn't be bothered with school. Mr. Sheffield, Max I mean, and I used to fight about it all the time. But in the end it was Brighton who had to care enough, ya know. Of course he's sucha schmooza, that he'll do just fine, no matta what he decides to do. And Gracie, oh what can I say, she's smart, pretty, talented, and an heiress ta boot, that kid's got it all."
Fran stopped for a moment, and rocked back to her toes. She was getting off track. She wasn't sure if this was coming out right. She wanted to tell Sara how much she loved the kids, but it seemed like bragging. 'I've gottem Sara, nanananana.' 'See what yer missing.' That wasn't why she was here, was it?
"Oh Sara, I just don't know what to do. Max wants me to adopt your kids, the kids want me to adopt them, and I want to adopt them. But your parents, Sara they don't want me to. I want to do this because they mean the world to me, but I don't want to take anything away from you. Am I Sara? Am I going too far? Crossing a boundary that I shouldn't? I've got Max, and Sara I love him more every day. We're even going to try and have a baby of our own, he's not so keen on the idea, but I can convince him. That should be enough for me, shouldn't it?"
Fran was waging a mental battle. Sara wasn't going to answer, Fran would never really now how this woman would feel about Fran marrying Max or adopting the kids. And neither would Ernest or Roberta. But Ernest and Roberta were Sara's parents, the kids grandparents, they were rich, and they were probably right. It should not matter to Fran because in her heart the kids were hers, but it did matter because in her heart the kids were hers. She wanted the world to know that, she wanted the kids to know that and she wanted Sara to know that.
"Oy Sara, I wish you could tell me what to do." She waited for a moment, hoping perhaps there would be a sign, preferably neon, from Sara saying 'Fran adopt those kids' But after what seemed like the appropriate time one should wait for an inspiration from the heavens, Fran stood up.
"Well Sara, I have to get home. The kids' are going out to dinner with yer folks. To be honest, they aren't real happy about it, but Max and I think its important, so they've agreed to go with out a fight. They really are good kids. Really good kids." Fran walked away, then stopped and returned to Sara's grave.
"Sara, we both know you can't tell me what to do, but I have to do what I think is right for my family. I'm going to convince your parents somehow. I can't not fight for my kids. Our kids. Wish me luck, kay?" Fran headed out of the cemetery feeling oddly calm.
'You don't need luck Fran,' Sara's eyes danced with laughter. She had made the right choice in Fran even if Mother and Dad didn't see it--yet. After all it had taken some time for Max to realize it. 'You'll be just fine.'
The End
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