Crazy For You

by Sandra Edwards

  Roxanne got wrapped up in her son and his pain, and forgot about telling Frank that Kirk was in the house.

  Frank sat silently on the couch in the living room, letting reality sink in. He would’ve preferred that Roxanne remembered him as soon as she saw him, but that didn’t happen. Still, he was happy to find her in good health, aside from the loss of memory.

  “Hey, Frank.” Rich walked into the room. “How’d it go? Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine,” Frank said dismally. “Physically anyway. But she doesn’t remember me.”

  “Well look at it like this…” Rich sat down on the couch. “That just means she doesn’t remember any of the bad stuff either.”

  “I’m telling her about it,” Frank said. “I’m not hiding anything from her.”

  “Being told about it and remembering it are two entirely different things.”

  Jerry had summoned Roxanne into the library. He was worried about her. He wanted to be sure she hadn’t been subjected to too much emotional distress.

  “How are you holding up?” he asked casually.

  “I’m okay,” she said truthfully. “It hasn’t been nearly as bad as I thought it would be.”

  “How do you feel about Frank now that you’ve met him again?”

  “Well it’s kind of weird.” She was hardly able to believe that she could tell anybody these things, much less Jerry. “You know that feeling of excitement you get when you meet someone you’re really attracted too?”

  “And where exactly does Kirk fit into all of this?” Jerry asked, like a true shrink.

  “Kirk!” She gasped. She’d forgotten all about him. “I’ve got to tell Frank that he’s here. Before he runs into him.” She rushed for the door, saying, “Or he’ll never forgive me.”

  Roxanne ran through the house looking for Frank. Someone mentioned they thought he was in the living room. Running to the doorway, she called out his name, “Frank...?”

  He was sitting on the couch. He looked up at her and smiled. From out of the corner of his eye he saw someone enter from the opposite side of the room. He glanced over to see who it was, intending to direct his attention back toward Roxanne—but that was before he saw Kirk Bronson standing in the doorway.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Frank leapt to his feet and rushed toward Kirk. Without any forethought, he grabbed Kirk and threw him against the wall.

  Jason’s commanding voice bellowed out, “Not in my house!”

  “Fine. Let’s just take it outside then.” Frank dragged Kirk through the doorway leading out to the terrace.

  Desperately, Kirk tried to free himself, but Frank’s rage was more powerful than Kirk’s need to get away. Frank shoved his fist into Kirk’s face. Each time he hit the guy, he released bits of the hatred and anger he’d built up toward him over the years.

  Frank latched onto Kirk’s hair and yanked his head down, kneeing him in the face. Kirk slumped to the ground, leaving Frank standing over him with handfuls of his hair. His arch enemy was lying before him, nearly lifeless, but Frank was still full of rage. Opportunities like this didn’t come along every day. Frank pounced down on him. “You stay away from my wife!” He bashed Kirk’s head against the ground. “You got that?”

  At first, Rich had hesitated to break up the fight. He wanted to give Frank a chance to let out some of his frustration. Besides, the way Rich saw it Bronson had it coming. But now, Rich was starting to get a little worried. “Frank…” He grabbed at his arm, trying halfheartedly to pull him off Kirk. “That’s enough,” he said, almost laughing. “Get off him.”

  “Get away!” Frank gave Rich a one-handed shove.

  “You gotta get off him.” Grit invaded Rich’s tone as he climbed onto his friend’s back and locked his arms around Frank’s. Rich, who was much smaller than Frank, had to yank at him with all his might.

  It took a couple of tries, but finally, Rich pulled Frank off of Kirk. Frank fought to break free, but Rich had him successfully locked down. It was taking everything Rich had to hold onto him.

  “Let me go.” Frank tried to jerk away.

  “Sorry, pal.” Rich held tight. “I can’t do that.”

  “Damn you, Rich!” Frank relaxed for a moment to build up strength for another go at breaking free.

  “If I let you go…” Rich reinforced his grip. Frank was not the type to give up this easily. “You’re going to kill the guy.”

  “Exactly.” Frank tried breaking free again, and failed.

  Jerry and Jason appeared in the doorway.

  “I don’t know how long you think I can hold him,” Rich said. “You’d better get this guy out of here.”

  They rustled Kirk away, but Rich was reluctant to release Frank. He was so pissed off, he’d probably go hunt down the guy.

  “You can let me go now,” Frank said. “They took him away.”

  “You promise to be a good boy?”

  “No.” Frank looked ready to explode. “First, I’m going to get you for turning on me. Then I’m going to go find that son-of–a-bitch and kill him.”

  “Daddy…?” Frankie’s trembling voice echoed across the yard.

  Frank looked up and saw his son standing in the doorway beside Roxanne.

  “What are you and Uncle Rich doing?” Frankie asked fearfully.

  Instantly Frank relaxed. “We’re just playing around,” Frank assured him. “Right, Rich?”

  “Right,” Rich said, and released Frank.

  They both sat up and shook off what had just happened. Frank waved Frankie over. “You got a hug for your ole man?” He chuckled. “Uncle Rich got the best of me.”

  Frankie ran to his side, while Rich hopped up and went to Roxanne.

  Rich smiled, glad to finally see her. “Roxie, I’m happy to see that you’re okay...except for the memory thing.”

  “Thank you.” Her tone was friendly, but she looked uncomfortable. “Are you Candy’s husband?”

  “Yes. I’m Rich.”

  “Are you all right?” Roxanne asked anxiously. “Candy would never forgive me if anything happened to you.”

  “I know he’s your guest,” Rich said of Kirk. “But it’s probably in his best interest if he leaves here before Frank has the chance to find him.”

  “You’re right,” Roxanne agreed.

  “Maybe it’s none of my business,” Rich said. “But if you don’t want this marriage anymore, then end it. But don’t start another relationship until you’ve finished this one.”

  He was right. It wasn’t any of his business. But Roxanne had to admit that he did have a point. Even so, the thought of ending her relationship with Frank brought on a sadness she couldn’t explain. As afraid of Frank as she was, the thought of never seeing him again frightened her even more.

  Kirk entered the library just as Frank turned the corner at the other end of the hallway. Frank paused outside the door to find out what was going on inside the room before he went inside and finished the job he’d started earlier.

  “Kirk, I’m very sorry about what happened,” Roxanne’s voice flowed out into the hallway. “I really had no idea.” To think she was consoling Kirk made Frank’s blood boil.

  “It’s okay,” Kirk said.

  “Let me finish.” Her tone grew stern. “I’m going to ask you…for me…for my sake… please don’t press charges against Frank.”

  “If you think it will help,” he said. “You’re trying to end it easily.”

  “I’m not trying to end it at all.”

  “How can you stand there and tell me you want him, when you can’t even remember him?”

  “I am his wife,” she said. “And I can’t overlook that or throw it aside.”

  “You’re going back to him, aren’t you,” Kirk said, and it was no question.

  “I have to find out if the feelings I had for him will resurface.”

  Frank smiled and turned away, heading back down the hallway in the direction he’d come from. Everything was going to be okay.
Kirk couldn’t replace him in the past, and he wasn’t going to replace him now.

  Frank was feeling pretty confident, until Jerry summoned him and Roxanne into the library a little while later.

  “I’m not going to get involved in your relationship, or tell you what I think you should do now that Roxanne has no memory of you, Frank, or your marriage,” Jerry said. “But I will give you some advice. You have a long road ahead of you.” He looked at Frank. “And no matter what you’ve seen in the movies, it’s highly unlikely that Roxanne will ever regain the memory of those years she’s lost.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Frank asked.

  “Amnesia victims will usually regain their memory within a few weeks, a month at the most. After that, the chance of recovery diminishes with each passing day. Eventually you hit zero.”

  “I hit zero a long time ago.” Roxanne sounded like she’d gotten used to the idea.

  “So what happens now?” Frank wondered out loud.

  “Your job is relatively simple,” Jerry said. “Maybe not easy, but it is simple…all you have to do, Frank, is win Roxanne’s heart again.” Jerry turned to Roxanne. “And you, Roxanne, all you have to do is put your fear aside and open your heart to the possibility that you can love Frank again.” Jerry paused, giving them a moment. “Now, what you two need to decide is…is that what you both really want?” He eyed the two of them, long and hard. “So I think you two should think things over and make it a point to get together later tonight or tomorrow and discuss your thoughts and feelings on where you’ll go from here.”

  Roxanne went in search of Candy and discovered that Candy and Rich were staying in the bedroom across the hall from her own suite. She tapped on the door three times.

  “It’s open,” she heard Candy say from within.

  Roxanne opened the door, hoping Candy was alone. Finding out she was right made her feel a lot better. It wasn’t long before both women were sitting on the bed, laughing and sharing secrets.

  “You have to help me,” Roxanne said on a more serious note.

  “I’ll help you in any way I can,” Candy said.

  “I have no memories of Frank, so you have to share yours with me.”

  “I’ll share with you all that I have. But there are some memories you’re going to have to go to him for.”

  “How did we end up in Florida? Was that our plan when we left Tennessee?”

  “Well no,” Candy said. “We just got in your van and when we got on the freeway you headed south and we never even discussed it.” Candy sucked in a breath. “We stopped in Savannah for a couple of nights but we both quickly decided to keep going. Then we ended up in Tampa.” She gave Roxanne a bittersweet smile. “When you met Frank the first night we were there, I had a feeling we wouldn’t be leaving.”

  “I guess I was really taken with him, huh?” she asked, shyly. But what she really wanted to know was…if she was as taken with him then as she was now?

  “You definitely had the hots for him. That’s for sure.” Candy laughed softly. Roxanne looked away bashfully, and Candy added, “It didn’t take long for him to sweep you off your feet.”

  Roxanne’s curious eyes darted back to Candy. “Was Frank the reason I wanted to stay in Tampa?”

  Candy thought about it for a long time before she finally said, “Yes.”

  “This is all so confusing.” Roxanne didn’t hide her frustration. “I just wish I could remember something. Anything.”

  “Okay, Rocky…” Candy reached out for her. “Calm down. Everything’s okay. We’ll all help you with anything you need to know. Frank, me, Rich, and even Frankie.”

  “You guys can try to help me all you want,” she said hopelessly, “but I’ll still just screw everything up.”

  “What are you talking about?” Candy asked, confused.

  “I’ve screwed everything up already,” Roxanne said. “My family comes here to see me, and who does my husband find when he gets here?” She didn’t wait for Candy’s reply. “His arch enemy. That’s who.”

  “Speaking of Kirk…” A hint of restraint entered Candy’s tone. “How is it that he happened to be here anyway?”

  “He came upon me down on the beach a few days ago. He knew me, but I didn’t have a clue who he was.” Roxanne shrugged. “So I brought him up to the house, and Jason and Jerry clearly knew him. Then it came out in the conversation that Kirk was with me when I had Frankie…so, I thought he was my friend.”

  “And nobody told you the rest, huh?”

  “Nobody told me about Kirk’s public claim to be Frankie’s father, or that Frank had believed it for several years.” She stopped, caught her breath and shook her head. “Candy if I’d known what Kirk’s being here would do to Frank, I would have asked him to leave before you guys got here.”

  “You need to be telling that to Frank...not me.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Roxanne...” Candy chose her words carefully. “Frank loves you more than anything. But he’s very vulnerable right now.”

  “I’m not sure I follow you.”

  “Rocky, you know that I’d never lie or mislead you, don’t you?”

  Roxanne nodded.

  “You’ve got that same look in your eyes…the one you had when you first met Frank.” Candy wore a frightened look, like she was walking down some dark, hostile alley. “But Frank is in a different place than you. He’s spent the last eight months living with the fear that each day would be the day when Jerry would tell us you’d died.” Candy’s words were solemn and true. “And while you can’t recall a single thing about your time with him…he’s been reliving every one of those memories over and over again, and beating himself up for the mistakes he made with you.”

  “What if he decides I’m not worth the trouble again?” Roxanne asked weakly.

  “I don’t really see that happening.” Candy laughed softly. “My point is…Frank needs a little encouragement.”

  “Encouragement?”

  “All I’m saying is...you don’t need to hide your feelings from him. Frank’s not going to reject you.” She looked at Roxanne with that look of hers. The one that said she was right and she knew it. “But he’s had enough despair lately. And if you want to pursue your feelings for him, it would be nice if you’d let him know that.”

  “You really think I should tell him that I’m attracted to him?” Roxanne wasn’t so sure that was a great idea.

  “Yes!” Candy said as if her patience had worn way past thin. “Let him know he’s not alone.”

  Let him know he’s not alone. Humph. All Roxanne knew for sure was that she couldn’t wait to see him again. After acknowledging that, she guessed she had to admit that he wasn’t alone after all.

  ***

  Chapter 34

  Frank hadn’t shown up by the time dinner was served later that afternoon. His absence left Roxanne feeling antsy during the entire meal. She’d expected him to be there, and when he didn’t show up she was disheartened. After dinner, she searched the entire house and still couldn’t find him anywhere.

  Determined, she went out back to search the grounds. The sun, not far from disappearing behind the horizon, barely lit the little path behind the house that led to the far end of the property. Luckily, Roxanne knew it well. There was a little garden alcove hidden at the end of the trail amid trees, shrubbery, and flowers. She tried to contain her relief when she saw him sitting alone on the bench in the little garden.

  “Excuse me...” She went around to the front of the bench and faced him. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

  “Of course you’re not disturbing me.” He smiled softly and reached out for her hand. “Come sit with me.” He saw the wedding rings on her finger. “You’re wearing your rings.” That puzzled him and delighted him all at the same time.

  “They were there when I woke up,” she said, looking at her hand. “I just couldn’t bring myself to take them off.” She paused, recalling how, over the last few months, she’
d tried several times to remove the rings but she just couldn’t do it. “I really need to tell you that I’m sorry.” She sat down beside him. “I had no idea that his being here would bother you so much.”

  “You don’t need to apologize to me.”

  “Yes, I do,” she said. “If I’d known, I never would have…” her voice trailed off and she looked away.

  “Roxie...” Frank brushed her hair back from her face. “It’s not necessary.”