Chapter One
Jamie fixed up his tie and gave and nervously surveyed his reflection in the mirror. Tonight, Jamie and Eddie would go out on their first date and the butterflies in Jamie's stomach were enough to rival any he'd had before even with Sydney. Jamie heaved a sigh and shook his head in disapproval a how he looked, turning to glance through his closet yet again. Danny stepped in blocking his brother's path halfway to the closet and placed his hands on the younger brother's shoulder. "Jamie, listen to me you need to breathe, Kid. You look fine and the date will go smoothly okay?"
"How do you know Danny? I mean we've been partners and best friends but dating is something totally different, what if our relationship gets messed up from this." Jamie stepped around his brother to sit on the bed nervously admitting what he was most afraid of. "I don't want to ruin things with her."
Danny smiled at his little brother understanding the source of his nervousness having felt the same way about Linda. "Hey listen to me, you and Eddie are best friends right? Just go with that okay? Listen to your instincts, you're really great at that. They'll tell you how to act but I have a feeling you'll be fine, you two are amazingly connected in a really weird way."
Across the hall, Linda dove into the exact same speech Danny was giving his brother after she finished getting Eddie dressed for the date. "You'll be fine Eddie, you and Jamie have this connection like you know what each other is feeling without having to say anything. " Linda moved around in front of Eddie ready to apply her makeup.
"Yeah but it's different now," Eddie trailed off trying to figure out how to explain how it was different. Something about change was boiling deep in her gut no matter how much she tried to shake it.
Linda paused, surveying the eye shadow she just applied with an approving smile listening to the young woman. "I know it'll be different and I know exactly how you feel. Danny and I met in high school and we were friends before he got the nerves to ask me out so I was nervous about what to say and how to act even though we knew each other. He was really nervous too, he kept saying the same thing over and over but it turned out good and we eventually got married."
Eddie smiled at this, thinking the possibility over hoping her and Jamie's first date ended like that.
Linda texted Danny when she had Eddie ready. "You look so beautiful. Jamie is going to flip when he sees this outfit." Eddie's dress was powder blue with a lace overlay. Linda had put sandals on Eddie's feet and a delicate pearl earring in her ears.
"She's ready kid," Danny told Jamie. "Take those flowers over and just knock on her bedroom door."
Jamie took a breath, "You know last night I did the bathroom with her, I gave her a bath, I put her to bed…Nothing romantic about it."
"I know, but I bet Eddie is just as nervous as you are if not more so."
Jamie walked across the apartment and knocked on Eddie's bedroom door. He heard some fumbling and Linda's soft voice encouraging Eddie. After about two minutes the door opened to reveal Eddie. The smile on her face rivaled Jamie's best grin, "Did you just open the door by yourself?"
Eddie nodded. "You look pretty handsome Reagan."
"You…You are taking my breath away," Jamie replied. "Are you ready?"
Eddie nodded and started to drive her chair. As Jamie and Eddie disappeared out the door, Danny smiled at Linda. "You think they'll be home before curfew?"
Linda laughed, "I think they are finally giving into something they should have a long time ago. Did Jamie say anything to you about the divorce?"
"All he said was that it was for the best and he was looking forward to moving on with Eddie. He's talking her on the Circle Line and then to Dorlan's for oysters…He's really trying to treat it like a real date."
"It is a real date…I think Jamie is going to do fine."
Famous last words.
Jamie opened the car door for Eddie helping her in. "Thanks, what a gentleman," Eddie couldn't help but smile.
The car ride to their first destination was filled with an awkward silence. Jamie looked over at Eddie, her hands awkwardly still in her lap, she used to move them all the time when she was nervous.
"Hey, did I tell you that you really look beautiful?" Jamie waited for a red light to look her over.
"Yeah you did, but thanks," Eddie blushed getting quiet again.
When they got to the docks, Jamie pulled into an empty spot and got the wheelchair out of the trunk before going around to help Eddie out. He was so nervous that he was fumbling with the seatbelt. When he finally got the belt off Jamie wrapped his hands around Eddie's waist nearly losing his balance while turning around.
"Careful," Eddie laughed. "Don't drop me."
"I won't," Jamie whispered. "No one is ever going to hurt you again. I'm going to make sure of that!"
Jamie settled Eddie in her wheelchair and stood to the side as she drove herself to the ticket window. Jamie picked up the tickets and spoke to the agent about accommodations for Eddie's chair.
"Jamie, I'll be fine forget it," Eddie said not wanting him to make a big deal. "We can sit on the top where they have the movable chairs. You can buy me some sunscreen, it's okay really."
"You're sensitive to the sun," Jamie sighed.
"It's already starting to set," Eddie soothed. "I'm fine. Can we please have some time to get onto the boat before everyone else? I need to be carried and I don't want to…"
The attendant assured Jamie and Eddie they could board before everyone else and opened the gate so that Jamie could get Eddie on. Jamie secured her in the wheelchair and sat down beside her. "It's so pretty up here. I'm going to run down and get some sunscreen just in case…"
"Don't be such a worry wart," Eddie laughed. "Sit with me, hold my hand…just inhale the New York about the air."
Jamie sat awkwardly next to Eddie. He carefully lifted her hand and locked their fingers. "This is ridiculous," Jamie laughed. "You and I have been hanging out for years and we're like two teenagers sneaking around."
"Jamie, I'm not going to break," Eddie sighed. "You made such a nice day. Let's enjoy each other. Lean over…"
Jamie smiled and leaned down. Eddie moved over and softly kissed Jamie. Their kiss was electric, the chemistry had always been undeniable…Jamie inhaled sharply and relaxed under Eddie's kiss.
Jamie's hand caressed the top of Eddie's head and stroked her hair. When they pulled apart Jamie smiled, "I'm sorry. I just…I'm so nervous. I want us to have a really nice day and start to learn to be together."
Eddie smiled, "Good, then you get me a drink later. You hold my hand…we'll just pretend we are a regular couple. No wheelchair, no caregiver…"
Jamie nodded and started to look out at the water. Soon the boat was filling with people. Jamie moved his chair closer to Eddie and snuggled her a little. He's spent almost a year taking care of her every need. It was hard to shift roles now.
The boat left port, Jamie left Eddie to get them some fruit juice. Jamie opened Eddie's and helped her take a few sips. A couple of people looked at Eddie but most were just into the sights.
"Oh Jamie…we are so close…" If Eddie could have she'd have clapped her hands she would have in her excitement. Jamie took a couple of pictures for them to print out. He never remembered this excitement on a date with Sydney. He felt his heart pounding as she laughed and smiled.
Jamie thought he'd never seen anything so beautiful as Eddie's blonde hair blowing across her face, her head dropped back. "Oh look…the most beautiful bridge in the world…And I'm seeing it with the most beautiful girl in the world."
Eddie blushed and nuzzled Jamie with her cheek. The 90 minute cruise had seemed to fly by though by the time they were finished. Eddie's cheeks were flushed and she was feeling very tired. Jamie noticed her breathing was shallow but debated whether to say anything. He didn't' want to ruin their date. "You ready to eat?" He didn't get an answer.
Jamie smiled thinking Eddie had fallen asleep started to get up. Eddie stirred at the movement looking around, "Hmm Jamie?"
"Hey, you're exhausted Eddie. We can get some quick dinner and head back so you can rest." Jamie slowly wheeled her towards the exit heading back to his car.
"No, Jamie I want to go eat. This has been the best night please..." Jamie sighed debating whether to let her stay out knowing the possible consequences.
"All right, but I want you to stay home tomorrow and rest, okay?" Jamie stroked her hair.
"All right, you're working tomorrow anyway. I'll tell Pop no field trips," Eddie laughed. "Come on, let's eat you can feed me oysters."
With Eddie's insistence the pair went off to eat dinner just making their reservation.
Jamie sat across from Eddie watching her with a soft smile as she looked the menu over. "Everything looks so good," she commented, putting the menu down to smile at Jamie who laughed.
"Get whatever you want Eddie," he chuckled, making a quick decision on what he wanted Salmon with roasted potatoes.
Eddie finally chose a steak dish. "You thirsty Eddie?" Jamie asked curiously.
"I'm fine Jamie stop worrying." Jamie nodded looking away briefly falling into an awkward pause.
Jamie smiled, "I just want you to have a good time," he replied. "The last first date you had didn't go well…you ended up with a bowel obstruction and…"
"Jamie, the words date and bowel obstruction do not go together," Eddie laughed. "I'd like a sip of wine now though, then water after…"
Jamie nodded remembering that Eddie liked to wash down her wine with a sip of water or sometimes tea. He held the goblet for her to sip then moved the water cup closer for her to take a drink through the straw.
Their appetizer plate of regional oysters arrived. Jamie removed Eddie's from their shells and arranged them with their proper condiments on her plate. He attached her fork to her hand and scowled at another couple staring at them. Sometimes folks looked because they were interested, other times it was because they were rude.
Eddie began to eat, talking animatedly about the sights they saw on the Circle Line. "I want to see the Statue even closer. Can we go to Liberty Island?"
"You bet," Jamie replied. "You are some New Yorker, never been on the Circle Line, never been to Liberty Island…I'm going to show you so many things." He leaned over to give Eddie a kiss, an action they both enjoyed when she stopped and looked at him with wide eyes.
"Eddie, what's wrong?" Jamie frowned catching the look on her face worried.
Eddie shook her head at him going back to the appetizer. "Eddie, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Jamie it's fine," Eddie smiled polishing off the oysters just in time for their main course to arrive. "I just realized those yuppies over there are talking behind my back and I don't even care. I am just so happy that I can feel and let you see…"
Jamie cupped Eddie's cheek as the waiter took the first dish away to make room smiling before leaving the couple to eat.
Eddie just took a bite of her meat about to rave how good it was when she began to choke.
"Eddie, are you okay?" Jamie dropped his fork turning his attention to her deeply concerned. When she didn't answer Jamie went around the table behind Eddie wrapping his arms around her to get the piece of meat up. "Try to breath around it, Eddie…try to breath." Jamie pushed in on her stomach, not the Heimlich, but the quad cough. Eddie's air passage wasn't compromised but she didn't have the strength in her body to cough the meat out. Finally Jamie's efforts produced the half chewed piece of steak and Eddie leaned back in her wheelchair.
Jamie's hands were flying preparing Eddie' portal oxygen and fastening it to her nose. "Just breathe it in," Jamie rubbed Eddie's hair like he had whenever she felt sick or was in a crisis. "Check please," he told the waiter not waiting to see what Eddie would say.
Eddie sighed, it was just a mis-swallow, there was no reason to go home but Jamie was doing it again…She heard the yuppie couple snicker, "Pity date…" the woman said. Eddie knew it wasn't so but it still upset her. Now was one of those times Eddie wished she had her hands, so she would be able to cover her face to shield herself from shame as she began to cry.
A/N: So it seems Jamie and Eddie's first date did not go off without a hitch. Jamie's struggle will be trying to bridge the gap between being a boyfriend and being a caregiver.
Next Update – August 18th – Jamie tries to salvage the date at home and he and Eddie discuss pet names.