Author's Note: This was originally the last few chapters of One Year, but it wanted to be its own story. Enjoy! Laura L.
JUNE 3, 2009
Jamie Reagan made his way across the Brooklyn cemetery where too many members of his family were buried. He stopped in front of the family plot, and the most recently-installed headstone. Joseph Conor Reagan. He swallowed down a sob as he looked at the dates. Had it really been almost three weeks? Beloved Son, Brother, Uncle… "Joey, I miss you so much. We all do. Angie too. We're taking her out to dinner Saturday, by the way. We didn't want her to be alone on your birthday."
Jamie sat down on the ground in front of the family headstones. "Joe, what I came here to tell you is..." Jamie paused as he thought about what he'd come here to say. Would Joey still want him to go through with joining the NYPD? Well, he was going to do it anyway. "Today's the day. I'm going to start telling the family today. Starting with Grandpop, just like you recommended," he told his brother. "I'm meeting him for lunch at Owls Head Park."
He looked over at his mother's headstone. "Joe, maybe you can talk to Mom for me? Explain to her why I'm doing this. That I really did give law my best shot, and it just wasn't right for me. That I wouldn't be happy as a lawyer for very long. Can you make her understand for me?"
Jamie leaned forward to rest his head on his knees. "God, Joey, I wish you were here. You promised to stand behind me when I told the family, and I know you'd keep that promise if you could. It's going to be a thousand times harder without you there."
"Who says I'm not going to keep that promise, kiddo?"
Jamie squeezed his eyes shut. Of course Joe would be there in memory. He could draw strength from the memory of Joe supporting his career change and Joe's promise to stand behind him. "Well, Joe, here goes. I'm off to meet Grandpop. Wish me luck." Jamie stood up, turned away from the headstones and began the walk back to his car for the short drive to Owls Head Park and his new career.
