As she entered the lobby of the hotel in which she was staying, a very worried Nancy again checked her cell phone in the hope that, somehow, she could discover some reason why it hadn’t rung all day. She had left a message for Ned the night before letting him know her where she was and what she was doing. With the excitement of the case and the stakeout, though, she hadn’t thought to check her messages. That was why, when she had been about to leave the Hardys at the stationhouse, she had been surprised that Ned hadn’t responded. At first, she thought it was a fluke. But then, after having called several times and receiving no response, either from his cell phone or from the room number, she began to get nervous. Then, she got very nervous.

Unable to reach Ned, and having already declined an offer from Frank for a ride, she had ended up calling a cab. Now here she was, finding herself sick with worry. Along with lack of sleep and the fall of adrenaline, and having absolutely no clue as to where to even begin to contact Ned, Nancy felt tears spring to her eyes.

Finally arriving at her room, Nancy slid the card through the slot outside the door and entered. Almost immediately, she saw Ned, who had just turned around upon hearing the door open. At once, not caring where he had been or why he hadn’t answered the phone, Nancy dropped her purse on the floor and ran to him, hugging him tightly. It took her only a few moments to realize that, although he had his arms around her, he was not holding her tightly back.

Puzzled, and weak with relief, she stepped back to look at him. It was then that she saw, out of the corner of her eye, a suitcase. About to ask him what that was about, and where he had been, she was cut off as Ned stepped back and extended a hand to silence her.

“Nan,” he managed, fighting the torrent of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him, “I’ve got to go.”

** ** **

On the way back to their house, Callie barely spoke a word. Frank, sitting next to her in the back seat, kept his arm firmly around her. Even though she rested her head on his shoulder and had her hand on his knee, he could feel the tension in her body, in the air.

Gently rubbing her arm, Frank sighed inwardly, waiting for the ride to be over. So Joe had been right. Callie HAD known about the… incident… with Nancy. He had been such a fool not to pick up on her sudden change in demeanor, not to see the haunted look that must have been in her eyes as she had clung to him at the hospital. Now, he knew, he had a lot of explaining to do. Deep down, he didn’t know what he could say to make the situation any better. At the time, when he had almost kissed Nancy, he hadn’t thought about the consequences. That was the problem, he now realized—he hadn’t thought at all. WHY did I do that? The question plagued him still. Perhaps seeing Nancy again had stirred up the old feelings he had harbored for her as a teenager, albeit only for a brief time. Maybe it was the fact that things were so… easy... with her. They always seemed to be on the same page; to finish each other’s thoughts. Perhaps it was the idea that nothing would come of it; that he would soon be off the market anyway. He didn’t know WHAT it had been; he just knew that it was one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made, and he prayed silently that it wouldn’t cost him the true love of his life.

Having left his own car at the house, Frank accepted the offer of officer Jacobs, who, for the time being, was assigned as Callie’s guard anyway, to drive them home. Home. That word had changed for him so much over time. It had gone from the house he had grown up in, to a dorm room at college, to an apartment and, finally, to this new house he had bought last year with Callie on the outskirts of Bayport. Since they had both attended college on scholarships and tuition had thus been essentially free, each had a good amount of money set aside for the future. When he had asked Callie to be his wife, it had seemed practical to buy a house rather than to waste money on apartment rent. While Callie still lived at home, Frank had moved into the house and they both spent countless hours there, fixing it up and preparing to move in right after their wedding. The idea that he could officially carry Callie over the threshold for the first time as his wife, when they would both stay there permanently, was exciting to both of them.

Frank swallowed the lump forming in his throat as he tightened his arm around Callie and gently kissed the top of her head. Memories kept coming at him faster and faster, flooding him. He hoped he didn’t drown in them. They had had so many “firsts” together, had grown up together in so many ways. They had stuck by each other with a fierce loyalty and love, and never—never—had he doubted that she was the woman for him. Her contagious laughter, generous nature, and total and complete faith in him had made him a better person, and he realized a long time ago that there was nothing he could ever want more. Callie had done the one thing that no one else ever had; she had given him total freedom, trusting that he would do the right thing and never hurt her. The thought that she might now be regretting that action, that he had irreparably shaken her trust in him, tore at his heart.

Frank knew he was always reliable and steady and that people depended on him to be strong, not to let life shake him and to be a role model for being… well, just a good person. Sometimes the pressure had been too much, and he had felt like cracking, but he never had. Even with Joe---especially with Joe--- he held back a little bit, knowing that although his brother was his best friend, he had to keep enough of a distance that he could still be the model brother who Joe could look up to. With Callie, he also held back just a small part of him, knowing he needed to be strong for her, never to let her down. If someone were really to know him, totally, that person would have to piece together what Joe and what Callie knew of him separately.

Letting out a small sigh, he realized he had spent his whole life trying to make the two people whom he loved the most secure in him, pledging that he would never let them down. They thought he was strong; perfect in many ways. Yet he knew, more than anything else, that they were HIS strength, HIS models for behavior. He couldn’t stand the idea that he had broken their faith in him in some way by such a stupid action.

No use whining about it, he knew. He’d make this better. He’d have to. He pushed back the thought, the frightening thought, that he wasn’t the one in power to make that decision.

Before Frank knew it, he realized that they had stopped in front of their house, and officer Jacobs was waiting patiently for them to step out of the car.

“I’ll be outside if you need me,” he said, turning to Frank. “I’m on duty for the rest of the day if you need something.”

Thanking him, Frank got out and walked to the other side of the car, opening the door for Callie. Gently placing a hand of the small of her back, he escorted her to the front door and watched as she wordlessly made her way into the living room and sat on the couch. Following her, Frank sat beside her, waiting for her to speak, sensing that she needed some time to gather her thoughts.

Finally, looking up at him, she gave him a small smile. “So….” She hesitated, then continued, “here we are. I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried about you last night.”

Taking her hand, Frank could barely meet her eyes. After what he had to discuss with her, she was expressing her concern for him. He’d spoken with Callie at length last night, before his talk with Joe this morning, and had told her everything that they had discovered and the general feeling that there was only one suspect on the loose, and that he, presumably, would want to try to avoid Bayport. Logically, everything made sense, and he had wanted desperately to believe that it would be okay, especially after hearing the relief in her voice. The thought of something happening to Callie was incomprehensible to him. Still, he knew that hurt came in many forms, and that he had been the cause of some of it.

“Cal,” he found himself responding, “I’m sorry.”

He watched her reaction closely. She seemed genuinely puzzled.

“For what?” she asked, sincerely. “I think you and Joe have done a great job with everything.”

For one instant, he harbored the hope that maybe he had been wrong, that Callie didn’t know about Nancy. But seeing her posture, just way that she didn’t settle into his arms or speak without the slightest bit of hesitation, made him know that he wasn’t wrong. He couldn’t believe that she hadn’t said anything yet. Then again, he noted, maybe she couldn’t. Maybe it’s up to me.

Taking a deep breath, he knew that the only thing he could do was to get it over with. God, he hated himself for having to put her through this pain. He knew, though, if he didn’t do it now, the distance could grow so fast so quickly that he could never get it back.

Be strong. “I wanted to talk to you about the other day,” he began, squeezing her hand. “I… I made a terrible mistake...” He stammered, searching for the right words.

“Oh.” The color rushed to Calllie’s cheeks, but she looked up, indignant, and met his eyes without wavering. “What would that be?”

Frank realized at once that she was going to make him say it out loud. For an instant, he became resentful, but then, when he saw the look on her face, that behind the cool facade her eyes were filled with fear, his resolve faded at once and his heart ached. Knowing that he owed her whatever it was that she wanted, he went on, feeling each word jabbing at him like a knife.

“When Nancy and I almost kissed.” Hearing the words out loud, he realized what an idiot he sounded like.

“Oh,” Callie repeated again, this time her voice faltering a bit when she spoke. Removing her hands from Frank’s, she replied, “That.”

Sensing that she wasn’t going to say anything more, Frank paused for a moment. Things had never been awkward between them; it was a first, another one he thought sadly, and he didn’t know how to play his cards. Then, it hit him—this wasn’t a game, a chess match that he could think and outmaneuver his partner. This was life, and the woman he loved so much was sitting in front of him, in pain that he had caused. For once, he let his heart rule…

“Callie,” he started, knowing that as badly as he wanted to hold her, he had to give her some distance here. “I made a mistake,” he repeated. “A horrible, terrible mistake. There’s no excuse for it. I love YOU. I want YOU. And I can only say that I am so sorry and ask for forgiveness.” There- it was out.

Callie stood suddenly and wrapped her arms around herself. Frank realized at once that she was trembling, and, when she spoke, he could hear the tears in her voice. “Why? Why, Frank? I don’t understand.” It was all she could do to hold back the tears.

“I don’t know,” he managed. “I honestly don’t know.” He didn’t know if he had felt more ashamed in his life.

“Well that’s not good enough!” Callie blurted out, shaking visibly now as the tears started their descent. “I LOVE you, Frank. That hasn’t changed. But… but…” She faltered, searching for words, “But how can I TRUST you?! Never in my life did I doubt you. All those years…” Trying to regain her composure Callie took a sobbing breath inward before continuing. “All of those years when you were on cases, all over the world… college… trips with your friends… bachelor parties... “ She choked on her words. “Were those all lies? Did I trust you for no reason? Did you cheat on me before?”

Shocked into silence and horrified by her words, Frank could only stammer… “No, Callie… Of course not!” before he was cut off.

“OF COURSE NOT!” Callie sobbed sarcastically, gesticulating wildly, angrily. “That would presume that you still haven’t given me reason to doubt you. When you kissed Nancy…”

“I didn’t actually kiss her…” he began, and the moment he said it he wanted to take it back. Callie’s eyes lit up.

“Does it matter?!” she yelled. “What’s the difference?! If you kissed her, or held her, or… slept with her… what the HELL is the difference?” she hissed.

Finally, the fight seemed to leave her and she slumped back into the sofa, weakly, shaking. She held up a finger to stop him from moving. Eyes red-rimmed and bright with tears, she whispered, “You don’t get it.”

“What?” Frank responded, wanting to hold her, to take away her pain. “God, Callie, I’m so sorry…”

“Well, that’s not good enough,” she managed. Gently, she reached up and touched his cheek. “You don’t understand. No matter what you did or didn’t do with Nancy, it makes me doubt everything else. It’s bad enough I saw what I saw… and I’m not talking about the ‘kiss’, Frank. “ She took a trembling breath and tried to explain. “It’s the way you looked at her, like… like…” Finally, she found the right word. “Like she MATTERED. Like she was RELEVANT. Like you WANTED her.” Finally, she finished. “And I thought you only felt that way about me. I never doubted, for a split second, that anyone else would see that side to you.”

An idea came to her as she watched Frank’s expression. “I only felt that way once about someone else, in college, but I let it go for you.”

The expression of utter shock and horror on Frank’s face said it all. His mouth dropped and he was clearly trying to process what she had said.

Perfect.

“See?!” She stood up again. “Stop trying to THINK about that, Frank. FEEL. You know what I just told you wasn’t true, right? There’s never been anyone for me but YOU.” She swallowed hard. “But in that second I told you that, that tiny, insubstantial millisecond, didn’t you feel your heart just stop? Didn’t you get a chill?”

The look on his face said it all as he felt his own eyes burn with tears that he fought to hold back. She was right. And she couldn’t have said it, made him see it, any better. NOW he understood.

Instinct took over. Standing up, he pulled Callie into his arms and held her tighter than he had in a long, long time. He felt her shaking, and was more grateful than she would ever know that she allowed him to hold her. It was more than he deserved.

“I’m a fool,” he told her, softly, after several minutes. He felt wholly open and vulnerable for the first time in his life. Now Callie saw him—all of him. And he was okay with it.

Finally, she backed out of his arms and, taking his hand, led him to sit down.

“No,” Callie said at length. “You ACTED like one. But I need to know some things Frank. Don’t think; just answer. Got it?”

“I do.” He nodded.

“Those other times in the past—have you ever cheated on me with anyone other than Nancy?” The fear in her eyes betrayed the bravado in her voice.

Heart aching for what he’d done to her, he held her hand. “No.”

“With Nancy? Did you ever cheat on me with her?”

Fighting his own tears, he nodded. “I have.”

** ** **

Callie’s face drained of color, but, still, somehow she had known it was true. As deeply as she hurt, she was grateful, at last, for finally having the truth. Still, she couldn’t talk.

“But,” Frank continued, reaching out to tilt her face up to meet his, “It was a long time ago. Years, in fact. It happened twice. And nothing more than a kiss went on.” He added the last part, knowing Callie needed to know that. “But it was still wrong. I know it. I can’t justify it, or excuse it, or pretend that I know why it happened. She is my friend, Callie. That’s it. And if you don’t want me to ever speak to her again, then I won’t. Period.”

Callie, unable to look at him any longer, leaned into him and buried her face in his chest. Finally, she spoke, muffled, “I’m not going to ask you to do that for me. It’s a choice you have to make. If I trust you, I trust you, no matter who you talk to.’

Frank was amazed. After everything, she had given him his freedom back, though he no longer really wanted it. Running his fingers through her hair, he was at a loss for words.

“You know how Vanessa would respond to that question about Nancy, don’t you?” She smiled at the thought despite herself.

“I do,” Frank replied, half-grinning, half actually frightened at the idea.

“Are we okay, then?” he finally asked.

Callie looked up. “I think so.” She smiled wanly, wearily. Savoring the moment and relishing the look of complete adoration and relief on Frank’s face, she took a moment before it hit her. “Hey!” she asked, sitting back.

Surprised, Frank responded, “THAT was a change! What’s up?”

“How did you even know that I KNEW about Nancy?”

At the same time, they both answered. “Joe”.

“Don’t be mad at him,” Frank mentioned, eager to defend his brother. After all, it had been Joe who had given him the good swift kick he’d needed to probably save his relationship with Callie.

Callie shook her head and pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ears. “I’m not,” she answered. “I’m really not.” With a small chuckle, Callie added, “You know, he’s the reason I didn’t kick your butt in the first place.”

** ** **

“I heard,” Frank smiled back. “He’s on team Callie, by the way.”

“What?” she asked, puzzled.

“Never mind!” Frank answered, reaching over and kissing her deeply. He found himself thinking—no, feeling—that if it was possible for a heart to literally burst with joy, that’s what would happen now.

“By the way…” Callie murmured.

“Shhh…” Frank stopped her, about to kiss her again.

“No, seriously,” Callie managed, breathless, reluctantly moving back from Frank.

“Yes?” he replied, wondering what could be so important as to interrupt their miraculous reunion.

“Speaking of Joe, where is he? Didn’t he say he’d call you close to an hour ago? I hope he’s okay.”

Despite himself, and for no reason whatsoever, Frank got an icy chill down his spine. “Yeah, me too…”

He stood up and vanished into the kitchen. Looking after him. Callie felt a chill, too—and knew that something was very, very wrong…

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.