The Sweetest Devotion (The Affair Series Book 2)

Homeless No Longer

As Stef held Frankie in her arms watching the fire destroy the entire YMCA along with her apartment and the few things she had left there were no words either of them could speak. Non at all as she held onto Stef so tightly crying into the woman's chest. More than anything the cop wished she could make the pain go away that her little girl was feeling for she was no stranger to it herself. Not at stranger at all  as the fire had finally been extinguished and the cause of the blaze being faulty wiring.

"Baby I'm so glad you are ok. I'm so glad you got out in time." Stef said cupping the girls cheeks as Frankie had gotten out of her building just in time by climbing down her fire escape. The smoke had woken her up and when she felt how hot her door was she opened it to see the hallway blazing. With tears falling from her eyes as she looked into Stef's the cop could only hug her once more tighter than the first time. "It's ok my love. It's ok. I got you sweets. I got you."

"My, my place is gone. My things. I....."

"Francesca none of that matters. I know you worked hard for those things, I know you worked hard for your own place but you are ok. You got out and that's what matters. Those things can be replaced but you my sweet girl can't be.  You hear me? MM?"

"Yes, yes." She said her voice cracking as Stef's heart was breaking in half for her. 

"I um, I need to call my cousins. I can probably..

"No. Come home with me."

"What?"

"Come home with me sweetheart. Look I know we still have a good amount to learn about each other but you come home with me. You stay as long as you want, or as little as you want. You don't have to scramble for a place to live or call your cousins and sleep on their couch again. I have plenty of room for you."

"Really? But what about your other kids?"

"Baby you are my child. You are. Understand that?"

"Yes." Frankie said quietly almost forgetting that fact.

"Ok let's get you checked out first by the EMT and we will head back. Come sweets."

"Ok."

Feeling too exhausted to fight the blonde Frankie did as was suggested and was all cleared for she had escaped from breathing in any smoke as the night was one big blur to her. One giant one and she was grateful that Stef had come for the woman continued to prove over and over just how much she cared. Climbing into her SUV  the cop wrapped a jacket around her daughter as she continued to hear her sniffle.

"You ok babe?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I'm ok." She said as more tears streamed down her face as she looked to her building that was completely burned down. Stef knew she was not ok as she gently stroked the girls long hair thanking God that she was ok.  Thanking God that he spared her child for many people did not make it out alive for the smoke alarms did not work. She learned by talking to a fireman that the building had many code violations and could kick herself for not checking that out earlier.  However it was too late to worry about that as she gently rested her hand on top of Frankies soon feeling the young girl hold it back tightly. Stef knew there were no words she could speak right now to ease her little girls pain but just by letting her know she was there she hoped was ok for now as she started the car and headed to her place.

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STEF POV

As I had driven back to my place with Frankie I was grateful I cleaned up before hand. Entering my apartment I quickly discarded the liquor bottles I had out into the trash as Frankie sleepily walked in I locked up behind us.