Title explains it all, I hope to please everyone with this. This takes place after Brothers Re-Unite
Tia Harding meets Henry Reagan
4th February 2005
Manhattan, New York City
In Salducci's Pizza, Henry had been a long-time customer since the year it opened in the late 40s, Henry was a trusted friend of the Salducci family, he had been a discount holder with them for a long time because of his fine history with them.
He had walked in and the waitress recognised him saying, "Ah Mr Reagan, come on in, sir. Your usual table?" "Yes please, thank you."
Henry walked over to his usual table, he had been eating here for over 40 years since before he met his beloved wife Betty, the waitress had come over and said, "Your usual slice of pizza?" "Make it two slices, please, and no discount." "Certainly, sir."
Henry nodded as he began to read the paper, he had in his arm, being the old commissioner he liked to have been informed of what was going on in his city and it had been a while since he retired from the force, but still it felt weird for him to sit back whilst his son and grandsons did the family proud.
He looked up from the paper when he saw a young girl walk in, he looked up and judged her to be somewhat the same age as his grandson Jamie. She had long blonde hair, ocean blue eyes, she was quite tall, Henry judged her at just over 6 ft. What had fascinated Henry was the way she was dressed, she wore a green dress that had come down past her knees, it looked mature for her, a lot better than what today's generation wear.
He watched as the girl took a seat and ordered something as she looked over at Henry and smiled reading a book.
On the opposite end of the restaurant, Tia was sitting down at the table having ordered just a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza, she looked over at the elderly man that had smiled at her as she smiled back, she judged the man to be in his 70s to 80s, white hair, blue eyes, even glasses as well, he even had a wedding ring on his left hand on his ring finger.
Tia felt curious as she walked over to the man and said, "Hi." "Hi there, so what brings you down to Salducci's?" "I like great pizza and this place does that." "Wise choice, what's your favourite topping?" "I was raised on good pizza and not gourmet." "Your grandparents were wise."
Tia laughed as he said, "I'm Henry, Henry Reagan." "Tia Harding, a pleasure, Commissioner." "Former Commissioner, and no need to be formal." "Okay, Mr Reagan, sorry, I just feel… you know." "Completely understandable." Henry says.
Tia looks around as Henry says, "Somethin' up?" "No, I normally come here after school on a Friday before going home. And before I do volunteer work." "Where do you volunteer at?" "Youth centre in Little Italy, Manhattan." "I know the one, my grandson works there, Jamie Reagan?" "I know him."
Henry nods saying, "So you're the Tia, he talked about." "He talked about me?" "Told a good deal, you're more pretty in person than a picture."
Tia blushed as she said, "Your Grandson is kind, sweet, strong and he's cute, very handsome too." Henry laughed as the pair received their slices as Henry said, "Cheese and tomato, good ole fashioned." "You were a Marine?" "1st Marine Division in WW2 and Korea." "Thank you, for everything." Tia smiled at Henry.
Henry was enchanted by the smile, he cursed Jamie for not telling him more about this polite and lovely girl in front of him. They had talked a little bit more, and Henry offered to pay for the girl's slices, much to his surprise, Tia had already paid for hers, he had said goodbye to Tia and smiled watching her walk away.
He headed home seeing his grandson as he said, "Hey Jamie." "Hey Grandpa, what's up?" "Oh, nothing, how was school?" "Good, what you doing home, late?" "Oh, spent an afternoon there, met somebody." "Really, what's she like?" "Very nice, turns out she knows you from the volunteer club you go to."
Jamie looked up as he said, "What's her name?" "Tia, Tia Harding."
Jamie mentally cursed himself as he said, "Pop, I should have told you." "Why didn't you tell anybody? Who knows so far?" "Joe and Dad know, look I didn't want to tell anybody, because I don't want to pressure her into meeting the family too soon. And Danny well, he'll interrogate like she's a suspect, Erin will grill her like she's a witness."
Henry chuckled saying, "That's their classic behaviour, but don't be afraid, sure they'll do all that, but she'll handle it, she handled me." "That's cause in your day, men were nothing but polite to ladies." "Exactly, Kiddo, she's very nice and very down to earth, just like Betty." "And Mom, too." "There you go."
Henry patted his son on the arm as the pair prepared dinner, halfway through the process Henry had decided to cook and let Jamie go and finish his homework. He was halfway through his homework as his phone began to ring, he answered quickly seeing it was Tia and said, "Hey, you alright?" "Yeah, I'm good, met your grandfather today." "Sorry I weren't there." "Aw, he was so sweet, you're like him, you are." "Sure he'll love that." "I know, hey listen, what are you thinking about getting Hannah for her birthday?"
Jamie smacked himself on the head, he had forgotten that Hannah's birthday was in 10 days, he hadn't even thought about what to get her yet as he said, "Uh, I haven't thought about it, yet, though I have been thinking about a CD, but I don't know." "I was thinking the same thing, she does love jazz, so how about we do somethin' like that for her?" "Yeah, what about that new album that is out, Michael Bublé – It's Time." "She loves that singer. All jazz singers are her favourite. Let's buy her that one." "When does it come out?"
Tia quickly answered saying, "4 days' time." "Alright, I'll uh, I'll go to pick it up, the day it comes out." "Thanks Jamie, I owe you one." "No problem, beautiful." "I got to go, sorry, baby, I love you though." "I love you too, baby, I'll see you in a couple days." "Love you more, Brooklyn." "Love you most, Manhattan." Jamie hung up the call as he continued with his work.
Joe was outside his room saying, "You're so hooked you know that?" "Damn it, Joe, what do you want?" "Just watching you, kid, you might have Danny's way with the ladies like he did." "He'll be happy about it."
Joe laughed as he said, "She's a real cutie, can't wait to meet her." "I'll try to do somethin' about it." "Make sure you do, before Erin finds out."
Jamie groaned loudly saying, "God help me."
Henry had called the boys down for dinner as they headed into the kitchen as Henry said, "So that Tia girl, Jamie." "What's up, Gramps?" "She's real nice to sit with." "What did you tell her?" "I only told her a bit about how you had the habit to swallow objects."
Joe snorted as he laughed out loud at Jamie's embarrassing secret as Jamie said, "You told her about that?" "I felt she had a reason to know." Henry replied.
"I would have told her." Jamie tried to defend himself.
Joe spoke up saying, "Yeah, when it was too late." Jamie shot a glare over at his 2nd older brother as he said, "Shut it, Joseph."
"Alright you two, knock off your juvenile squabbling." Henry said in authoritative voice.
Both the younger Reagans stopped squabbling as they listened to Henry who said, "Jamie, I felt I had to tell Tia, because, it was necessary for her to know, she's a proud girl, don't try to push her away, she's the type of woman who reminds me of your grandmother, more as a proud woman."
Jamie nodded as Henry turned to Joe and said, "Joe, you're the voice of reason and just because your brother had a problem which is considered to be a butt of the jokes in the Reagan family, you were just having a little fun with it." "Understood Grandpa, I'm sorry, little brother."
Jamie smiled as he said, "I'm sorry, Joe." "That's alright, kid."
Henry smiled at his 2 sons for making up.
4 Days Later
Tia was walking down the street as she walked into the music store as she saw Jamie and Henry looking in the Jazz section as Jamie looked over and smiled as Tia then said, "Hi." "Hey Tia, how are you?"
Tia planted a kiss on his lips as she said, "I'm well darling."
Henry had watched the pair interact as he smiled thinking about him and his dear love, Betty as Jamie said, "Grandpa, you already met her, but allow me to introduce you to Tia Harding, my girlfriend."
Henry smiled as he shook Tia's hand saying, "Nice to meet you, Tia, again."
Tia smiled at the older man proudly as she shared her love for Jazz music with Henry.
Let me know who you would like for me to do next, I'm thinking Joe or Frank next. Please let me know, down in the reviews section.
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