Two years quickly elapsed and December 1875 had arrived, and the Reagan family was in the Christmas spirit.
Erin was now ten and Danny had just turned two, and he had turned out to be more than the handful his parents and sister expected him to be.
Erin was sitting at the table feeding Danny his breakfast. She had twenty minutes before she had to leave for school and Danny of course was doing his best to be uncooperative.
"Come on Danny eat your breakfast." She pleaded as she attempted to get her brother to take another spoonful of oatmeal.
"No". Danny emphatically replied.
Sometimes Erin believed that "no" was the only word Danny knew.
Her grandfather called these years "The terrible twos" and suggested they all dig in for a long year of Danny.
"Please, for me?" Erin cooed.
Danny gave his trademark smirk and nodded in the affirmative, whereupon he opened his mouth. Erin inserted the spoon and Danny removed the contents while smiling at his big sister.
"See? That was easy" Erin smiled back feeling proud of her accomplishment.
Danny nodded again and before Erin could back away, he spit the entire mouthful into her face and hair and all over the front of her school uniform.
"DANNY!" Erin shouted, drawing Casey's attention, who quickly came into the kitchen to find a sobbing Erin and an elated Danny.
"Erin, what's wrong?" She asked.
Erin turned around and displayed Danny's latest handy work.
"He intentionally spit his food on me." Erin cried.
"Ok sweetheart, calm down. I'll help you get cleaned up but first, here is how we deal with bad behavior." Casey stated, directing Erin to stand up from her chair.
Casey then lifted Danny out of his highchair and held him in one arm while she placed her left foot on the chair Erin had just vacated. She hiked her dress up to mid-thigh and placed a squirming Danny over her left knee where she held him as she delivered three firm smacks to his cloth diaper covered backside.
Then she placed a wailing Danny back in his chair and knelt down to look him in the eyes.
"Don't you ever spit up on your sister again, do you understand me young man?" She asked.
A sobbing Danny nodded as he replied: "Yes Mommy".
Casey turned to Erin. From now on, if he misbehaves you are to spank him on the spot.
Erin was flabbergasted. "I can't do that, he's not my child." She replied.
"Erin, Danny is going to be a handful and you spend more time with him than anyone else. He's going to need a firm hand or he'll be out of control before you know it. As his mother, I am ordering you to discipline him. I trust you to make the right decision on the best way do that, but for now, a few slaps on his behind clearly gets the message across." Casey concluded as she looked Danny square in the eye, insuring that he clearly understood.
Henry came into the kitchen and shook his head. "That kid's either going to be the best detective on the NYPD or he'll be behind bars before he's 12."
"Hence the reason Erin has to insure that Danny knows he can't get away with mistreating her. Please watch our reprobate here while I help Erin clean up." Casey replied before turning to Erin. "Come on sweetheart, I'll wash your hair and you can change into another uniform. I'll wash this one tonight." Casey concluded.
When Frank entered the kitchen, it was quiet, but he had heard it all and agreed with Casey. Erin was eight years older than Danny and he had to learn that he couldn't mistreat his big sister, and that he needed to learn to respect her now, so that he would seek to protect her later in life.
Christmas was only two days away and the Reagan family was traveling to Boston to spend it with Casey's parents and her paternal grandfather, "Fitz", the cuss of an old sailor she had referenced after giving birth to Danny.
Erin's mother answered the door, drawing her daughter into a hug.
"Motherhood suits you dear." She exclaimed.
"An hour with your grandson may change your mind." Casey sarcastically replied.
When all were inside, they were greeted by her father, and finally introductions were made with Fitz.
"Daniel Fitzgerald, please meet Daniel Fitzgerald Reagan, your namesake." Casey spoke by way of introduction.
Fitz smiled at his great grandson and noticed the trademark smirk. "Kind of looks like me." He remarked.
"Acts like you too." Casey fired back.
"And who do we have here?" Fitz asked ignoring his granddaughter's jibe.
"This is Danny's big sister, Erin." Casey answered as she hugged Erin to her.
Fitz smiled. "A daughter of Ireland."
"Yes Sir." Erin replied.
"And as beautiful as the Emerald Isle herself." Fitz responded before turning to Frank. "Her mother must have been a very beautiful woman, my condolences." He offered shaking Frank's hand.
"Thank you, Mary would have appreciated your kind sentiments." Frank replied.
"And this old war horse must be your father, Henry." Fitz announced as he shook Henry's hand.
"A pleasure Fitz." Henry replied.
From the next room, the sound of something hitting the floor was suddenly heard.
"Danny!" Casey exasperatedly announced, as Erin ran off in search of her little brother, only to find him standing next to an overturned chair.
"Daniel Reagan, what have you done?" Erin asked as she righted the overturned furniture.
"Nothing." Danny replied.
"Don't you lie to me or I'll warm your behind." Erin threatened.
"I'm sorry." He cried as Erin picked him up and hugged him, not noticing the smirking grin her brother was sporting over her shoulder.
Christmas morning arrived and with it the sound of Danny's yelling and laughter as he opened up his presents which Erin figured would at one time or another, be directed at, or used against her.
Danny was throwing wrapping paper, ribbon, and bows in all directions, and having a great time with the destructive art of unwrapping everyone's gifts.
He noticed Erin was about to open one of her gifts. "EWIN!" he pleaded, before she relented, allowing him to rip off the wrapping paper.
He handed her gift back smiling before assaulting the next unopened package.
"Maybe he'll wind up in the construction business." Fitz surmised.
"More likely the demolition side of it." Henry retorted causing both men to laugh.
Erin looked down to see a beautiful gold locket and chain.
Casey smiled. "Open it up."
Erin did as she was told and was astonished as she looked at a photograph of her mother on the left side, and one of herself on the right.
"You'll always have your mother close to your heart." Frank informed.
"Thank you both so much, it's beautiful." Erin exclaimed as she gave her parents a hug and kiss.
After all the presents were opened, and Danny's mess cleared away, the two older men enjoyed sharing stories of their youth, of Fitz's days on the high seas, and of Henry's more memorable exploits as a cop on the streets of Chicago, as well as comparing notes on how the Irish lived in America's three largest cities, New York, Boston, and Chicago.
"That granddaughter of yours is going to break some poor boyo's heart." Fitz candidly remarked to Henry.
"Probably will, but whatever man is lucky enough to win her heart, will have more than a looker. She's brilliant, quick witted, sassy, and very compassionate, and she's learning to be a pretty good cook too. She's the entire package Fitz, much like her late mother and grandmother." Henry replied.
"You two aren't conspiring to marry off my ten year old daughter?" Frank inquired, having overheard the conversation.
"Nothing of the sort Francis, just hypothesizing on the poor lad that will be putty in her hands one day." Fitz answered. "Everyone talks about how tough we Irish are, and that the men are head strong, stubborn, and mean, but when you put one in the arms of a beautiful loving woman, he becomes a puddle of warm piss and he'll dance to her bidding every time. No, it's our women, the daughters of Ireland who are our real strength and why we survive not only at home, but abroad. Why we always come home from the sea and from our wars. He nostalgically concluded.
After Christmas dinner, Erin excused herself to take Danny for his bath and a nap. She was sure that he was wearing more of his meal than he had consumed, but at least this time, nobody else was wearing a portion of it.
Truth be told, she used this as an excuse to get away from the adults. Erin felt uncomfortable being around strangers, and even though Casey's parents and grandfather were friendly and social people, she remained withdrawn.
During his bath, her little brother looked up at her and for once, appeared concerned. "Ewin not happy?" He inquired.
She returned a soft smile. "What makes you ask me that Danny?"
"You look sad." He replied.
Erin leaned in and hugged him, and Danny kissed her on the cheek.
"That was so sweet, thank you." She said, ruffling his wet hair.
Without warning, Danny reached down into the tub and with both hands, threw water all over Erin.
"DANNY!" Erin screamed.
Frank looked over at Casey, who was about to get up from the table to check on what had happened when she heard the distinct sound of Erin's hand meeting Danny's wet behind.
"I think our daughter is finally getting the hang of parenting." She smiled.
"You know, at her age she shouldn't be a parent." Frank countered.
"No, but someday she will marry and go off with her husband, and she will have the valuable experience of knowing how to raise and care for a child. I want Erin to be the best overall woman she can be Frank, and that includes preparing her for being a mother to her own children." Casey stated.
The remainder of the adults toasted Casey's statement. "Hear Hear!"
New Year's Eve came and went and along with it, 1875 turned into 1876.
As February approached, Erin began to notice Casey was becoming more tired, and was not her usually active and witty self, so after some serious thought, she confronted her step-mother with her observations.
Casey lifted the folds of her dress whereupon Erin saw the distinctive baby bump.
"Bun in the oven." Casey quipped, causing them both to laugh.
Frank entered the room having overheard the comment. "Looks like you are going to have another sibling Sunshine."
"Hopefully a sister. Danny is more brother than any sister should have to endure." She replied.
"Erin Riley, that is not a nice way to speak about your favorite brother." Frank teased.
"You mean my only brother?" She quipped back, just as the subject of their discussion came tearing into the room, Henry hot on his heels.
"Freeze you little rapscallion, you're under arrest." Henry shouted at his grandson who ran straight to Erin.
"Help Ewin, gwampa awest me."
Erin picked Danny up and sat him in her lap. "And what did you do that would cause a captain in the New York City Police Department to arrest an honest citizen such as your fine self?" She sarcastically asked
"The little scoundrel boosted my socks." Henry retorted as Erin glanced downward, noticing her grandfather's bare feet protruding from his NYPD trousers.
Danny smirked as he held up the purloined footwear.
Erin rolled her eyes. "Return those to grandpa right now." She ordered as she set Danny back on his feet, before looking at Casey as she sighed: "Please make it a girl."
March 11, 1876:
Erin awoke and looked out the window to see a heavy snowfall in progress. What nobody knew was this was the beginning of a massive extratropical cyclone blizzard engulfing the eastern seaboard from Rhode Island to Maine. Over the next 72 hours, more than 22 inches of snow would fall on New York City. If that wasn't bad enough, sustained 45 MPH winds would continue blowing rendering visibility at nil. For the next four days, New York City was fully and completely paralyzed.
Neither Frank nor Henry could get to their precincts, the NYPD having informed all of duty personnel to remain at home until further notice.
On the afternoon of the 14th, Casey began experiencing unfamiliar pain in her abdomen, but with the streets totally impassible, there was no way of transporting her to a hospital, or in bringing a doctor to her.
By that night, she had begun hemorrhaging and she and Frank both knew they had lost the baby. Now it was about saving Casey's life.
In the early morning hours of the 15th, Casey asked to speak with Erin alone.
Erin slowly entered her parents' bedroom as if it were a church. Casey smiled and beckoned with her hand for Erin to come to her.
Erin approached and began to cry, for she knew what this talk meant.
"Shhhh." Casey soothed Erin as she held her close.
Once Erin had ceased sobbing, Casey cupped her face in her hands and began.
" I know that I'm not your mother, but I have loved you as if I gave birth to you, and I couldn't have produced a finer daughter if you were born of me." She stated, taking a moment to gather her strength.
"I don't expect to live through this day, so I have somethings to tell you, and then some requests to make of you. Please listen to everything I have to say, and when I finish, you may ask your questions." She concluded.
"Yes Ma'am." Erin sniveled.
"I've had a miscarriage and I've lost the baby. Your father and grandfather have wrapped it up and placed it outside in the snow until they can get to the hospital. Your wish had been granted sweetheart, you would have had a little sister. We had planned on naming her Colleen Margaret, her middle name in memory of your mother, and her first name was Irish for Lass, a perfect complement to her big sister's name which means Ireland. Our two girls, the Lasses of Ireland." Casey smiled.
Erin broke down again but Casey regained her control.
"When I was 16, I was a wild lass myself and I allowed a man a few years my senior to buy me nice things, and show me a good time. Finally, he wooed me into his bed and made me pregnant. I miscarried that child and may the saints preserve me, I am glad that I did for I was a fool for doing what I did with a man I had no love for, nor him for me, nor did we have any future together."
"The doctor told me that I would always be at risk having another child, but when I married your father, I so wanted to give him a son, that I took the risk, and as we know, Daniel, for all of his faults, turned out perfectly. Unfortunately, Colleen was the risk. Now that you know my story, I have three requests to make of you, and I want your promise to honor them, after I tell you."
"First, your father is a proud and stubborn man, but he is a gentleman, a fine husband, and a wonderful father. He deserves to be happy, and to have a woman whom he loves, and who loves both he and his children. Do you recall what you said to us at the dinner table the first time I attended Sunday dinner?"
"Yes." Erin replied.
"The same holds true here. I expect him to observe a proper morning period of one year, but after that, he is to get right back in the saddle and meet a woman who can be everything to him that your mother, and now I, will no longer able to be. Your mother will always be your mother, as I will be Danny's, but we will no longer be your father's wife. My first request of you is that you do all that is within your power to have him marry again, just as you did after your mother passed."
"My second request is regarding Daniel. No matter who your father marries, nobody will love our son more than his father and I, except for you. You have raised him, nurtured him, loved him, and cared for him more as a mother than as a sister, and I am grateful to you for doing so. He is precocious, headstrong, and tyrannical at times, but I believe deep down he has a kind heart and a good soul, and will grow into a fine man we may all be proud of. Please help him become that man, and when the day comes that he finds a woman to love him as your father found both your mother and I to love, please insure that she has good character and motives, and will love Danny no less than we do."
"My final request my dearest Erin is for you. I have told you the story of my own shortcoming at an age not far from where you are now. You are already a beautiful girl, who has already begun transforming into an even more beautiful woman. Men will surely covet you for your beauty and your sex, and to stroke their own egos by attempting to possess you. Promise me that you will keep chaste until you find the one man who in your heart you know loves you not for your looks, but for your heart, your character, and your mind, and who in return, you love for the same reasons. Be sure that the man you give yourself to will always be yours to have and to hold, and that you are more than enough woman for him so that he needs not stray for your arms or your bed."
"These are my final requests of you. Do you accept them?" Casey inquired.
"Yes Ma'am, I do." Erin replied.
Casey nodded: "As you know, I am quite wealthy, and have provided for you, Danny, and your father. It is my wish that both my children receive the finest education available to them, and that they one day enter the world prepared to be the brightest and most successful they can be. Become a lawyer or a doctor Erin and help others because that is who you are. Make us all proud of you my daughter." Casey concluded as she reached down and pulled Erin to her for one last hug and kiss.
"I love you my dear, as surely as if you were my own." Casey whispered in Erin's ear.
"I love you too Casey, as surely as if I was born of you." Erin cried.
"Please send your father in." She requested, and Erin departed the room, gazing upon her step-mother, and her role model, for the final time.
An hour and a half later Frank came out of the bedroom, tears evident in his eyes. He looked at Erin and Henry and exhaled. "She's at peace with Mary."
"Then we begin planning her funeral and honoring her final wishes." Erin firmly stated.
"She hoped you would say that." Frank nodded at his oldest child, comforted by the fact that once again in his time of sorrow, he had Erin to lean on and to draw his strength.
On March 15th, 1876 the storm ended, taking the living spirit of Casey Stanton Fitzgerald Reagan with it.
A week later her funeral would be held in the city of her birth, Boston, Massachusetts.
Upon returning home, Frank Reagan looked at his father and his children.
"It's time we moved on, I can't stay here anymore. This house reminds me too much of what we have lost."
"Where will we go Daddy?" Erin inquired.
"I was thinking of somewhere in the Midwest, maybe Ohio or Missouri. Maybe it's time for us Reagans to head west into this great country of ours and to seek our fortune." He replied.
The family remained in New York City long enough to celebrate Erin's 13th birthday on April 28th.
Three days later, they were westward bound for St. Louis, Missouri.
-30-