ILLUSIONS
by
AUTHOR D
Chapter 9
The Chapters
The sun was just beginning to rise by the time the Hardy family arrived home but the only thing on their minds was sleep. While Fenton locked the doors and set the alarm, Laura, Frank and Joe trudged up the stairs. The boys continued on into Joe’s bedroom while Laura stood in the doorway, eyeing Joe’s arm critically.
“Are you going to be able to get changed by yourself?”
“I’ll help him, Mom,” Frank offered unsuccessfully attempting to smother a yawn.
“Okay,” Laura nodded. She hesitated a moment then crossed the room to the bed where Joe was sitting. She looked at him for a moment, shook her head and sighed resignedly. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said as she leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.
“Me, too!” Joe replied, a goofy grin on his face.
Walking over to Frank she gave him a peck on the cheek too, and headed for the door. As she crossed the threshold into the doorway, Joe suddenly cried out, “I love you, Mom!”
Laura stopped and turned, a bemused smile on her face. She glanced at Frank, who rolled his eyes, and then at Joe. “I love you too, honey.”
Joe’s grin widened. He waited until Laura was halfway down the hall before adding, “I love Dad, too!”
“That’s nice, sweetie,” Laura’s voice floated back, tinged with amusement.
Muttering to himself, Frank walked over to the bed and helped Joe change into sweatpants. After a comedy of errors trying to help him get a t-shirt on, Frank huffed that Joe would be fine without one. Once Joe was settled in bed, Frank started to leave but Joe grabbed his arm, yanking him to a stop. “Frank?”
“What, Joe?”
“Thank you,” Joe said solemnly, though he was looking a little dazed.
“You’re welcome,” Frank replied. He wasn’t quite sure what Joe was thanking him for and at the moment he didn’t care. He just wanted to fall into bed and forget this night ever happened. He started for the bathroom that connected his room to Joe’s when his brother’s voice stopped him.
“You believed me.”
Frank sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Yes, I did,” he agreed, taking another step towards the bathroom.
“No one else did, but you did,” Joe continued, reverently.
“Mm-hmm.” Frank made it one more step.
“You really believed me… really, reaaaaaaaaaallllly believed me!” Joe said, drawing the word out as long as he could.
Frank turned and arched an eyebrow, noting the sing-song and slightly slurred quality Joe’s voice had taken on. “I see the painkillers have kicked in.”
“Yeah.” Joe lifted his head from the pillow and looked at Frank earnestly. “Good ones, too! You want some? ‘Cause I’ll share ‘em if you want. Mom always says we should share.”
Frank couldn’t help but chuckle at the seriousness of Joe’s offer. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass this time.”
“Okay,” Joe settled back against the pillow. “But if you change your mind…”
“You’ll be the first to know,” Frank replied, once again heading for the bathroom. “Holler if you need anything.”
“Okay!”
Shaking his head and wondering if Joe would remember any of this conversation when he woke up, Frank stripped off his clothes and changed into boxers and a t-shirt. Dead tired, he fell into bed, his eyes sliding shut before his head even hit the pillow. Just as he was drifting off to sleep, Joe’s voice jolted him awake.
“Fraaaaaaaaaaaaaaank!”
‘Geez, what now?!’ Frank pushed himself up on his elbows. “What, Joe?” There was silence for a moment, then three shouted words reverberated through the house.
“I LOVE YOU!”
With a groan, Frank flopped back down and pulled the sheet up over his head. Rolling onto his side, he wondered what the odds were that he might be lucky enough to die peacefully in his sleep…
*****
It was almost two o’clock in the afternoon when Frank, showered and dressed, walked into the kitchen. His father was seated at the table, reading the paper and nursing a cup of coffee, while Laura was loading the dishwasher.
“Morning,” Frank said automatically, heading for the freshly brewed coffee.
“I think it’s afternoon,” Laura smiled and asked. “Pancakes or eggs?”
“Eggs, please,” Frank replied, kissing her on the cheek before sitting down across from his father.
Fenton lowered the paper slightly, looking at Frank over the top. “Is Joe up yet?”
“No, but he probably will be soon. Those painkillers must’ve worn off by now.”
The words were barely out of Frank’s mouth when they heard footsteps on the stairs. Seconds later the kitchen door swung open and Joe walked in. Frank took one look at him, glanced at his father and they both had to smother a grin.
Bleary-eyed and still looking a little dazed, Joe stood just inside the kitchen, wearing the same sweatpants he’d slept in. His hair was sticking out in several directions, he had just his left arm in the sleeve of a sweatshirt, the rest of it hanging loosely and dragging on the floor. The bottle of painkillers was clutched tightly in his left hand and the sling was now hanging off his casted arm, rather than supporting it. Joe looked at them pitifully. “I need help,” he whined.
Frank snickered, while Fenton pulled the paper up a little higher, hiding his amusement.
Laura gave them a reproachful look as she approached Joe with her arms outstretched. “Come here, honey.” Ignoring the snickering from her husband and elder son, she eased the sweatshirt over Joe’s head and helped him get his right arm in the sleeve, then slipped the sling back on and adjusted it for him. “Sit,” she commanded, pulling out a chair, which Joe immediately flopped into. Opening the bottle of painkillers she put one on the table in front of him and poured him a glass of water.
“Pancakes or eggs?” she asked, unable to resist smoothing down the more unruly tufts of hair.
“Both?” Joe replied hopefully.
Laura nodded and soon both boys were quiet, their full attention focused on the delicious breakfast Laura had prepared for them. Pouring herself a cup of coffee and refreshing Fenton’s, Laura took a seat at the table, content to simply sit with her husband and children and be grateful, knowing full well the events of the previous night could have ended so much worse.
When Fenton finished his coffee, he folded the paper, placed it on the table and stood up. “Frank, come to my office when you’re done.”
Frank stopped with a forkful of eggs halfway to his mouth, glanced at his father and mumbled, “Yes, sir.”
As soon as Fenton was gone, Joe gave his brother a cheeky grin. “Boy, it sure sucks to be you today, huh?” He awkwardly shoveled a forkful of pancakes into his mouth and chewed happily.
Frank narrowed his eyes and glared for a moment. As he turned his attention back to his coffee, the corners of his mouth twitched upward. He threw a sidelong glance at his brother, wondering if Joe remembered any of the conversation they’d had right before he fell asleep. ‘If so,’ Frank mused, taking a sip of coffee, ‘that’s plenty of ammo to torment him for years to come.’
Catching Laura’s eye, Frank winked and then glanced at Joe. “Nice coming from the guy who only a few short hours ago was professing his undying love for his big brother.”
Joe stopped chewing and stared, his eyes wide. He looked at Frank and then at his mother, swallowing hard. “You mean I didn’t… dream that?” he asked nervously.
Frank crossed his arms and sat back, smiling smugly. “Nope.”
Joe’s gaze swung between his mother and Frank again. “And you… heard it?!” he almost squeaked.
Laura finally laughed out loud, unable to hold it in any longer. “Oh, honey, I think the whole neighborhood heard it.”
Joe looked at her, horrified.
Draining the last of his coffee, Frank stood up and smirked. Then he leaned down close to Joe and said quietly, “Paybacks are a bitch, little brother.” He strolled out of the kitchen, smirking grin still firmly in place.
“You can’t hold me responsible for anything I say when I’m under the influence!” Joe yelled after him, sounding a little desperate.
Frank’s voice floated back to the kitchen. “Watch me!”
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Disclaimer
The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors 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.