Chapter 96: The Decision
Fiona had been studying, preoccupied with thoughts of graduating high school, when Jimmy suddenly ambushed her with a shocking proposal.
After hearing him out, Fiona's heart was in turmoil. She had no idea what to do, so she instinctively sought out her best friend, Veronica.
"Oh. My. God. Costa Rica? Lying on a white sand beach, sipping margaritas under a sun umbrella? That sounds like heaven! Hand me the ticket and let me go in your place," Veronica said dramatically.
"My life is finally getting back on track… I still have to prepare for the college entrance exams," Fiona replied, clearly rattled.
"Would you rather be sitting in a stressful exam room, not even sure if you'll pass, or drinking cocktails in Rio, dancing samba with hot guys, and soaking in the joy of life? Is this really such a difficult choice? Anyone with a brain would know what to pick."
"Then what are you so afraid of? That the kids will forget you? That if you call in a few days, Carl won't even remember who you are?"
"You're scared that if you think about yourself for even one second, gravity will stop working and the whole world will collapse?" Veronica asked, frustrated.
"It's not that—fuck! I think I might be in love with him…" Fiona swore, burying her face in her hands.
"I get it. It's terrifying, isn't it?" Veronica hugged her tightly, gently patting her back.
Fiona had dated dozens—maybe even a hundred—men over the years, but she had never felt anything like this before.
If any of her previous boyfriends had said something like what Jimmy had told her, she would've brushed it off like hot air and kicked them to the curb without hesitation.
But now, something in her heart had shifted. She felt an overwhelming urge to follow him—leave everything behind, go to Costa Rica, or Rio, or wherever he wanted, as long as she could be with Jimmy.
She talked with Veronica for a long time. In the end, she still hadn't made a decision, but at least she felt calmer after letting it all out.
That night, no one seemed to notice Fiona's strange mood. At dinner, Lip glanced at her a few extra times, but he didn't look at Frank with the usual disgust, like he was a class enemy.
Frank, meanwhile, had no clue what was going on between Officer Tony, Jimmy, and Fiona. He had his hands full dealing with Ian and that bastard husband.
Earlier that day, Frank had even gone to the hospital to check on that guy. He looked pretty banged up—bandages all over his face—but most of the injuries were superficial. The real issue was a concussion from a head injury. He was in a coma, but the doctors said he could wake up at any time.
The next day, all the kids were off doing their own thing. Only Fiona and Liam were at home.
Fiona cleaned the entire house, top to bottom. Then, she packed a suitcase. After that, she sat by the window, lit a cigarette, and stared blankly outside.
"Ouch," she muttered as the cigarette burned her fingers. She hadn't taken a single drag—the whole thing burned down while she was lost in thought.
"It's time." Fiona checked the clock, put on her coat and hat, grabbed her suitcase, and took one last look around the house. She walked over to the crib, leaned down, and kissed Liam goodbye.
Then, she left. Reluctantly. Step by step, she made her way to the station.
At the platform, trains came and went, but Fiona just stood there, unmoving.
She had packed. She was here. But her heart hadn't made a final decision. She was still torn.
She wanted to go with Jimmy. She kept giving herself reasons—she deserved to think about her own life for once. The kids were growing up; Lip and Ian were already taking on more responsibility.
But she was also terrified. What if life outside wasn't better? What if the family fell apart without her? What if Frank reverted back to his old ways?
The station announcement echoed in the air. The final train was pulling in.
This was her last chance. If she didn't get on, she'd miss the flight. She'd miss Jimmy.
Every second felt like an eternity. Fiona had never known a few minutes could feel so unbearable.
She wanted to move, to step forward, but her legs felt like they were rooted to the ground. The doors closed right in front of her.
As the train left the platform, she exhaled a deep breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Strangely, she felt a sense of relief—but also a deep emptiness. Tears threatened to fall.
Fiona took a deep breath, slapped her cheeks lightly, grabbed her suitcase, and headed home.
---
At the airport, Jimmy was pacing, anxiously looking around. He checked the time again and again. Eventually, boarding started.
Still, Fiona didn't come.
He looked back one last time, then turned and walked toward the gate.
She hadn't come. And he didn't stay.
He knew Officer Tony meant business. If Tony saw him again, he'd be thrown in jail without hesitation.
And when it came down to it—between Fiona and jail—Jimmy didn't want prison. So, he left. Alone.
---
By the time Fiona got home, the sky was already dark.
"FUCKING HELL, FRANK!" Fiona heard the shouting from outside before she even opened the door. It was followed by the sound of things breaking.
"What happened?!" she rushed inside.
The scene was chaos. Frank was lying on the floor, his face swollen, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Ian stood over him, furious, gripping Frank's collar and ready to strike again.
Lip stood off to the side with Debbie and Carl, watching coldly.
"Stop it!" Fiona ran in and grabbed Ian's arm to stop him.
"What's going on?! Why are you hitting him?" she shouted.
"Ask him what he did!" Ian snapped, his eyes red with anger.
"Frank?" Fiona turned to him.
Frank, dizzy and dazed from the beating, took a moment to recover.
"What did I do? I did it for you!" he yelled back, equally furious.
When had Frank ever been beaten like this? Not since his past life—maybe not since high school fights. There was fire in his eyes now.
"What exactly happened?" Fiona pressed.
"Ian's boyfriend—he's in the hospital because of Frank! Frank's the one who attacked him! He's the guy who did the robbery!" Lip shouted.