Chapter Seven

Jamie was in the kitchen stirring a pot of chili when Lila arrived the next morning. She had her recipes with her and the chicken she prepared at home. "Hey, Dad," Lila smiled and hugged Jamie. "How's Mom?"

"She's upstairs resting," Jamie replied. "She woke up with a bad headache but she asked for me to send you upstairs when you arrived. Let me take that chicken."

Lila handed the food over and went upstairs to see Eddie. She pushed open her parents' bedroom door. Eddie was out of bed, sitting in the big easy chair they had in there. She got up when she saw Lila and went to hold her daughter tight, "I am so sorry, honey. I'm so sorry."

"Why?" Lila asked. "I'm okay, I'm just glad you are all right. I was worried."

"That's what I'm sorry for honey," Eddie sighed and stroked Lila's hair. "I held in so much about Granddad and I let it upset you. I'd never forgive myself if I caused something to happen to the baby."

Lila instinctively put her hand on her belly to protect her baby. "The baby is fine. He or she already loves their grandma and they're worried about you too. What happened Mom?"

Eddie sighed, "Ever since I was little, I was raised that you didn't anyone see you cry. I had to be in control a lot of the time, especially after your grandma Janko died. I think I learned that lesson a little too well and I just couldn't let myself really feel it and miss my dad. When I saw those cookies and remembered how much he loved you kids and how much he loved me even if he did make mistakes…I realized what I lost and it hurt more than I expected."

Lila sat on the bed and crossed her legs, "That Mom, is grief."

"Those sociology classes paying off huh?" Eddie smiled. "I know and I guess I never thought I'd feel that for granddad, but I do. Dad is really trying to make it better but I think the only thing that's going to do that is time."

Lila reached over and pulled Eddie close, "I'm going to be here for you, Mom and Joey too. Steven was worried but he has a lot of faith in Dad. Steven thinks it's the mark of a good husband, being able to calm your wife down when she's upset."

Eddie laughed, "It's part of being a good husband. I'm glad Steven realized how necessary that part is. Is he here?"

"No, he's sleeping at home. He'll be over later to watch the game with Dad and Joey. Oh, do you know who Joey is bringing to dinner? He called me and said to be careful when I chose dessert because his friend that he was bringing to dinner was allergic to cherries and strawberries. I'm making a pecan pie and a drugstore cake so I think it's fine."

"I have no idea who it is," Eddie replied. 'But good for him. He barely got over Annie when he met Debbie and then that went bad so…"

"He really needs to find someone," Lila replied. "He deserve that. Joey is ready to be in a relationship, you know? I hope whoever this is she's worth it and makes him happy."

Eddie and Lila headed downstairs together. Lila felt at ease seeing her Mom and Eddie felt relaxed knowing her daughter wasn't upset. Jamie had the chicken in bowl and was again stirring the chili.

Eddie slid her arms around his waist, "Go relax. I can finish here." She placed a peck on Jamie's cheek.

"Are you sure?" Jamie asked. He had been pretty worried about Eddie since Peter died. Today was the first day that she seemed to be herself, if not very tired.

"I'm sure," Eddie replied smiling. "I'm going to help Lila and we're going to talk about the baby some. You have been working way too hard and fussing over me. Go put your feet up and relax."

Jamie smiled and headed to join Frank in the living room. He had to admit his leg was feeling stiff from overuse the last few days. He settled on the couch and propped it up on a few pillows.

"Lila and Eddie all right?" Frank asked as Jamie settled down to rest.

"Yeah, they talked it out. Eddie was just concerned she stressed Lila out," Jamie replied. "I never got a chance to say thank you for taking such great care of Eddie yesterday. I never should have encouraged her to go out shopping with Lila. I knew she was building up to a break and I should have been there."

"Don't put this on you, Jamie," Frank advised. "When you were called you stopped everything and got to Eddie's side as fast as you possibly could. That's what family is for son. I love her like a daughter, you think, even if you were home, I wouldn't have tried to comfort her. She went through a very hard time losing her father without there being any real resolution. I think it was good that I had a little time with her."

"Now, if you remove the skin," Eddie instructed. "The butter and the herbs will cook on firm and all the flavor won't peel off when you bite into the chicken."

Lila worked on prepping the chicken, "What if this recipe is a disaster?"

"Then…look…" Eddie opened the deep freezer and pulled out two vegetable lasagna. "This is my emergency Sunday dinner. When I get the urge to cook I make a ton of these."

Lila laughed, "Thanks, Mom."

"You are going to be fine. This is all part of being a married lady. Doing your own Sunday dinner and being at the heart of the family. One day, when Dad and I are gone, and you or Joey…"

Lila began to cry the moment Eddie mentioned her and Jamie being gone. "Lila, honey what is it?"

Eddie hurried to give her a warm hug, "Does something hurt?"

Lila shook her head, "No, I just…I don't want to think about you and Dad not…I don't want to feel like you did yesterday."

"Oh, Lila, honey…" Eddie soothed. "I don't mean now, I mean in a long long time baby. Ssh…And you won't feel like me honey. You won't make the mistakes that I did. Oh, Lila…If Dad or I upset you or make you angry, if we hurt you, please come to us and tell us. Please do that so we can make it right before it's our time to go. I didn't and I made a huge mistake. I hurt Granddad and myself."

Lila hugged Eddie, "Tell me about that. You never talked about it with us, you just always said you didn't see eye to eye."

Eddie sighed, "I don't want to tarnish your memories of him. And the truth is what he did was for me. Granddad grew up with nothing and so did your grandma on my side. He wanted me to have everything I could possibly have. When he wasn't earning the money on his own, he stole some other peoples, lots of other peoples. It made life very hard on me when it came out. I had just lost my mom and now I was losing my Dad to prison. I held that anger in for so many years, Lila. I let it eat at me and eat at me…"

"Why didn't you just say that you were hurt and angry? Why let it eat at you?"

Eddie shrugged, "It's the way I was brought up. You didn't speak out. You just didn't. You held your feelings in as hard as you possible could, as long as you didn't let your feeling out, didn't let it show."

"I remember seeing you get upset at things, though. When Dad was in the hospital…"

Eddie sighed, "After I met your father that changed a lot. He helped me be able to open up about a lot of things, but I had a really hard time with anything connected to Granddad. That's why I struggled with things with Aunt Erin, her judgment was because of that issue. I never let it go all the way."

Lila held Eddie's hand, "I think I got the Reagan blood on that one then. There is not a thing that I haven't said to you and Dad. I love you both so much and the idea of either one of you not being here…It is so scary."

Eddie held both of Lila's hands, "One day you will face that reality, but not for a long time. I know it's more frightening for you because I was sick, Dad was sick but we're better now so don't you worry. I'm sorry I made you cry."

Lila wiped her eyes, 'Let's finish getting dinner prepped then I think your grandchild wants to order Indian food for dinner. Steve will be here around five."

"You are not far along enough yet to be getting wacky cravings, but I think we can do Indian food tonight," Eddie laughed. "You work on this chicken and I'll go break the news to Dad. The chili can keep until Monday."

Jamie made a face at the menu change, but humored his daughter. He reached up and pulled Eddie down next to him as he rested his leg. "You had the craziest food cravings when you were pregnant. Joey was bad, you had these spurts where we ate the same thing day in and day out for weeks at a time, but with Lila I would be in the middle of the night looking for starfruit milkshakes and chocolate covered bananas."

Eddie laughed, "I gained 45 pounds when I had Lila. I didn't think I'd ever see my feet again."

The door opened as Eddie started to laugh. When the three older Reagans looked up and saw Steven all three broke out into fits of laughter thinking of what he was in for if Lila took after her mother or grandmother.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" Steven self-consciously patted his face.

Eddie pulled away from Jamie, "Oh, no…I'm sorry, we were remembering some of the crazy food craving I had when I was carrying Lila. She's into the Indian food right now…"

"Oh, yes and that place is crazy expensive too," Steven laughed. "How is she doing? Any sickness?"

"No, she's done really well. She's in the kitchen finishing some dinner prep," Jamie replied. "Eddie can check up on her and you can sit down and watch the rest of this game."

Before Eddie made it to the kitchen, Lila emerged. "Everything is as ready as it can get," she announced. "Hey you." Lila moved and gave Steven a kiss. "What's the score?"

Lila settled herself in Steven's lap, Eddie at Jamie's feet, putting his legs on her knees. Frank sat back and smiled at two couples in his family totally in love. He remembered that feeling with his Mary and shut his eyes. He missed her more now than ever as his time on the earth grew shorter.

"What are you thinking Dad?" Jamie asked seeing the wistful look on Frank's face.

"How much I miss your mother," Frank replied. "And that she's going to have to wait a little longer before I join her in Heaven. I have still have too much to do down her, I'm not going anywhere before I meet my next great-grandchild."

Lila smiled at Frank, "You better not, I'm pretty sure Dad is going to need plenty of lessons in spoiling his grandchild."

Jamie blushed, "Oh, don't remind me. I am so glad you are pregnant, Kitten and I'm so excited for you but grandpa…."

"Oh, don't worry," Eddie replied. "You will excel at that just like you do everything else. All you have to do is spoil your grandchild rotten, they go home at the end of the night…"

Jamie laughed at the look on Lila's face, the sound of his musical laughter proved infectious and contagious. The small branch of the Reagan family kept finding reasons to laugh through the rest of the night.

A/N: It's time for another shout out to lawslave for always reading my crazy ideas before they become a story and to yanks20 for helping me when I get stuck on dialogue especially in a transitional chapter like this one. You ladies are the best. Also, thanks to the readers and reviewers, I'm glad you are enjoying.

Next up Sunday dinner with Joey's new lady friend...and it's Lila's first time as chef...We'll see how that goes on Wednesday. Please send your comments.