Chapters (48)
- Cover
- THEFEUD
- Dedication
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
As Frankie walked up the drive, her mind was a whirlwind of emotion. She felt guilty at letting her parents down, but her love for Jed was far too strong for her to put her parents first.
Frankie let herself in with her key.
‘There you are. Where have you been?’ her mum asked, obviously relieved to see her.
‘Mum, I need to talk to you,’ Frankie mumbled.
‘You OK?’ Raymond asked, poking his head into the hallway.
Frankie nodded. ‘Fine, thanks. I just need to talk to Mum in private.’
Knowing when he wasn’t wanted, Raymond retreated back into the lounge.
‘Come on, we’ll sit in the kitchen, I’ll shut the door,’ Jessica said. She knew by Frankie’s face that whatever she had to say was very serious and she was dreading hearing it.
Not usually one to eavesdrop, Raymond knew he had little choice. Eddie would want to know what was going on and, for all their sakes, he had to find out. Taking his shoes off, Raymond crept into the hallway and placed his ear against the door.
‘What is it, love?’ Jessica asked as Frankie began to cry.
‘You know that boy I’ve been seeing? Well, I didn’t bring him home because his dad’s Jimmy O’Hara. His name’s, Jed, Mum, and he makes me so happy.’
‘Don’t cry. I sort of already knew,’Jessica said, cuddling her.
‘There’s more, Mum, and you’re not gonna like the rest.’
‘Go on,’ Jessica said, her heart in her mouth.
‘I’m pregnant and we’re getting married,’ Frankie stated. Blurting it out was the only way she could say it.
Feeling her legs turn to jelly, Jessica grabbed one of the wooden chairs and slumped down on it. ‘Oh, my God! You can’t be, Frankie. You’re only a baby yourself.’
Frankie fiercely wiped her tears away. She needed to stand up for herself, be strong, not weak.
‘I’m not a baby, Mum. I’m sixteen and I know my own mind. Dad’s gonna hate me, I know he is. That’s why I’m leaving home today.’
Unable to stop himself, Raymond burst into the kitchen. ‘You’re going nowhere, Frankie. You dad’ll be home soon and he’ll sort this mess out.’
Frankie stood up, her eyes blazing. ‘You can’t tell me what to do. I’m sixteen and I can legally leave home if I want to.’
She turned to her mother. ‘Let’s not forget, Mum, you were only one year older than me when you got pregnant with me and Joey. You married Dad and had us, didn’t you? Why should things be different for me? I love Jed and I will always love him.’