Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy Read Free Book Online

him.
    “I was hoping not to have to bother you about this, Noel, but you’re the father. This is your baby.”
    “Ah, no, Stella, this is a mistake. This didn’t happen.”
    “I know I’m not
very
memorable, but you must remember that weekend.”
    “We were wasted that weekend, both of us.”
    “Not too drunk to create a new life, apparently.”
    “I swear it can’t be me. Honestly, Stella, if it were, I would accept … I wouldn’t run away or anything … but … but …”
    “But what, exactly?”
    “There must have been lots of other people.”
    “Thanks a lot for that, Noel.”
    “You know what I mean. An attractive woman like you must have had lots of partners.”
    “I’m the one who knows. Do you honestly think I would pick
you
out of a list of candidates? That I’d phone you, a drunk in that mausoleum where you work, in some useless job? You live with your parents, for God’s sake! Why would I ask
you
, of all people, to be the father of my child if it wasn’t true?”
    “Well, as you said yourself, thanks a lot for that.” He looked hurt.
    “So you asked me what would be the worst thing. I told you and now the worst
has
happened. You don’t believe me.” She had a defeated look.
    “It’s a fantasy. It didn’t happen. I’d remember. I haven’t slept with that many women in my life, and what good would I be to you anyway? I am, as you say, a useless drunk with a non-job in Hall’s, living with my mother and father. I’d be no support to you. You’ll be able to bring this child up fine, give him some guts, fight his battles for him, more than I would ever do. Do it yourself, Stella, and if you think I should make some contribution, and I don’t want you to be short, I could give you something—not admitting anything—just to help you out.”
    Her eyes blazed at him.
    “You are such a fool, Noel Lynch. Such a stupid fool. I won’t bloody well be here to bring her up. I’m going to die in three or four weeks’ time. I won’t survive the operation. And the baby is not a boy, by the way, she’s a girl, she’s a daughter, her name is Frankie. That’s what she’s going to be called: Frances Stella.”
    “This is only a fantasy, Stella. This illness has made you very unhinged.”
    “Ask any of them in the ward. Ask any of the nurses. Wake up to the real world, Noel. This is happening. We have to do something about it.”
    “I can’t raise a child, Stella. You’ve already listed all the things against it. Whatever chance she’s going to have, it can’t be with me.”
    “You’re going to
have
to,” Stella said. “Otherwise she’ll have to go into care. And I’m not having that.”
    “But that would be the very best for her. There are families out there who are dying to have children of their own …,” he began, blustering slightly.
    “Yes, and some other families, like the ones I met when I was in care, where the fathers and the uncles love to have a little plaything in the house. I’ve been through it all and Frankie’s not going to have to cope with it just because she will have no mother.”
    “What are you asking me to do?”
    “To mind your daughter, to give her a home and a secure childhood, to tell her that her mother wasn’t all that bad. Fight her battles. The usual things.”
    “I can’t do it.” He stood up from his chair.
    “There’s so much to discuss …,” Stella began.
    “It’s not going to happen. I’m so sorry. And I’m really sorry to know how bad your illness is, but I think you’re painting too black a picture. Cancer can be cured these days. Truly it can, Stella.”
    “Good-bye, Noel,” she said.
    No matter how often he said her name she would not turn towards him.
    He walked to the door and looked around once more. She seemed to have shriveled even further. She looked tiny as she sat there on her bed. He fancied that the other women in the ward had heard most of their conversation. They looked at him with hostility.
    On