Chapter 80: The Transfer
Jimmy had previously suffered because of his impulsive decisions.
Without consulting Fiona or anyone else, he had secretly smuggled "Frank" into Canada, effectively exiling him while keeping everyone in the dark.
When he did this, Jimmy hadn't considered the potential consequences. If someone discovered his involvement, the fallout could be severe.
Perhaps Jimmy was overly confident that his actions would remain hidden, or perhaps his nature led him to disregard the possible repercussions.
The result was a rift between Fiona and Jimmy, which allowed Officer Tony to step in. Fiona ended up having a fling with Tony, leaving Jimmy feeling betrayed, yet with no outlet for his frustration.
Despite this experience, Jimmy hadn't learned his lesson and continued to keep secrets from both his family and Fiona.
Thus, Frank didn't have much faith in Jimmy. He saw him as lacking responsibility, someone who might run at the first sign of trouble and later regret his actions without changing his ways.
However, Jimmy's gesture of buying a house for Fiona was a testament to his genuine feelings for her.
"Dad? Steve?" Fiona looked up from her studies to see Frank supporting a slightly inebriated Jimmy into the house.
"How much did you two drink?" Fiona asked, wrinkling her nose at the smell of alcohol as she approached to help Jimmy.
"Just let him sleep on the couch," Frank suggested, dropping Jimmy onto the sofa.
"Why were you two drinking together?" Fiona asked, puzzled as she watched Frank head to the kitchen for some milk.
Frank had never seemed to like Jimmy, and Jimmy had always seen Frank as an obstacle in his relationship with Fiona.
Fiona couldn't fathom why Frank and Jimmy would be drinking together.
"It's nothing. He... Anyway, I'm going to rest upstairs," Frank said hesitantly, choosing not to divulge Jimmy's secret to Fiona before retreating to his room.
Frank hadn't drunk so much in a long time, and as soon as he lay down, he fell asleep.
When Frank awoke the next day, he was greeted by a pounding headache, the result of his hangover.
Seeing Fiona busy with the kids, Frank went to her room, gathered her identification documents, and then headed downstairs.
After a light breakfast, feeling a bit better, he and Jimmy left the house.
"That's odd," Fiona thought as she watched them leave together. Since when did they get along so well?
"Time for school!" Fiona glanced at the clock and put Frank and Jimmy out of her mind, focusing on getting the kids ready.
Frank and Jimmy went to Jimmy's rented apartment to fetch the house documentation and then proceeded to the property transfer office. As agreed, Jimmy transferred the house to Frank.
"Don't put my name on the deed. I'm just acting as an agent. Use hers," Frank instructed the clerk, handing over Fiona's identification.
"Fiona?" Jimmy asked, surprised by Frank's action.
Based on his understanding of the old "Frank," Jimmy expected him to sell the house for alcohol money, not give it to Fiona.
Frank didn't explain further. After all, he wasn't the same "Frank," and with his cancer diagnosis, he knew his time was limited. The house would eventually go to the kids.
Most of the children were minors; only Fiona was an adult.
Fiona had been managing the household, so it made sense for her to have the house. It was a gift, although the house was originally Jimmy's surprise for Fiona.
Moreover, if the house were in Frank's name, it would become part of his estate upon his death, incurring additional inheritance taxes and fees.
Given the family's financial struggles, Frank decided to save money by putting the house in Fiona's name directly.
However, Frank didn't plan to tell Fiona about the house yet.
He lacked a plausible explanation for its sudden appearance. Saying Jimmy bought it would only boost Jimmy's standing unnecessarily.
Besides, even if he told Fiona now, the house was uninhabitable. It was empty, having been purchased without furniture, and even furnished, no one would want to use items from a house where someone had died of AIDS.
The house required significant renovation and new furnishings, which was why Jimmy hadn't told Fiona about it—he planned to surprise her once it was ready.
But renovations cost money, and Jimmy was tapped out after buying the house. Frank didn't have the funds for renovations either.
Therefore, telling Fiona about the house was pointless. The family was already scraping by, unable to afford the necessary repairs.
Frank intended to reveal the house to Fiona through his will after his death, leaving it to her to decide what to do with it.
Notably, Frank had prepared his will shortly after his cancer diagnosis, including another surprise for Fiona besides the house purchase by Jimmy.
Once the transfer was complete, it was nearly noon. Frank and Jimmy grabbed a quick bite at a fast-food place.
"I understand your situation. I'll keep your secret, but eventually, you'll have to be honest with Fiona about who you are," Frank said, taking a bite of his burger.