Chapter Nine
Lila poured a second round of tea then sat down to listen to her grandfather speak. "It was June of 2009, a few weeks after we lost Uncle Joe. Your Uncle Danny, Aunt Erin, everyone were struggling to cope in their own way. I was trying to hold the family together, but I needed help too."
"Of course, you did," Lila replied. "I can't imagine what that was like."
"It was difficult," Monica replied. "At this point your Grandpa and I had been friends for years he'd helped me raise my son, helped financially even, that your grandma knew about and was proud to help. She was a wonderful woman."
"I went to talk to Monica about how I was feeling, the anger, and my suspicions…" Frank replied. "Each time an officer is lost, the pain of those gone before resurfaces. You'll see that with your own loss, I'm sorry to say. We talked and we drank whiskey. We remembered Uncle Joe and Monica's husband. Then one thing lead to another and Monica became pregnant with Danielle who is now 38."
"Wow," Lila sighed sipping her tea. "Does anyone else know about this?"
Frank shook his head, "I was already the PC, it would have been too much scrutiny on me, Monica, Danielle, and my adult children. It wouldn't have been fair. So I lived my role out as close family friend, continued to financially support Monica and both children, and I watched from the sidelines as my little girl grew up ."
Frank's jaw worked with emotion as he thought about Danielle growing up without him. Sam was a good father figure to her, but he wasn't him. Lila rubbed Frank's shoulder, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Honesty you asked the question," Frank replied. "Or I would never have, at least not yet. I'm getting up in years though and so is Monica. I would like to have all my children united before it's my time. I'll speak to your father soon about it, then tell the rest of the family."
Frank dropped a kiss on Lila's head then turned back and headed to his room leaving Monica and Lila to talk more. "You see, now this is the kind of thing I would discuss with Steven. We didn't have secrets and we would work things out."
"I know," Monica sighed. "I do and eventually you will get a new friend, a new confidant like I found in your grandpa. But for now, you can still talk to him, Lila. You won't hear his voice but if you listen very closely and look into your heart, you'll know what he's saying. I consult with my husband still, we were the best of friends and we knew each other well. Even with my children, I consulted him in what I was going to do or say. Just because they're physically gone does not mean they aren't with us."
Lila bit her lip as she felt the tears coming, "He should be here with us! With his babies. He didn't even know them! He worked and her worked and thought that was being a father to them! Where is he now? He's gone and they won't ever know their father's love."
"That's a good girl," Monica praised. "Let it go, let it go…Get mad at him. Go ahead, get mad at him."
"He was supposed to be home with me," she cried. "He was supposed to be with me and stay home. I was here because…because I needed help with the babies. I need help, I…"
Monica stood up and put her arms around Lila. "You do need help, and you have it with your mom and dad and grandpa…I'll help you anyway that I can."
Monica and Lila spoke a few more hours before Monica said goodbye to Frank and left Lila with her numbers. Monica was only out of the house five minutes before Jamie and Eddie returned with the twins.
Jamie was carrying Finn and Eddie had Reagan. Both twins had been fussing and kicking their little legs. "They missed their Mommy," Eddie replied. "That house is like…I don't know, not pleasant."
"Mom got into it with your mother-in-law again…"
Lila sighed and took both her babies to cuddle. "Mom, what about this time?"
"About teething," Eddie replied. "Nothing works better for it than a little Irish whiskey on their gum, but she knows everything."
Lila shook her head and kissed her babies. "You two want to go play?" Lila set the babies down near their toys. "They can play a little before their bedtime."
Frank stepped out of the kitchen, "There are my babies, come on over here." Both twins crawled to their great grandpa knowing there would be cuddles and kisses. Frank fussed over them while Lila sat back.
"So what happened today that we had be out of our house all day?" Jamie asked.
"I had a friend come visit with Lila," Frank replied. "You two get comfortable and get some coffee, then I'd like to speak with you both."
Eddie looked up, "Is everything all right?"
"It's nothing bad but it is important and I want to speak with the two of you," Frank replied. "Get comfy I'll help put the babies down."
"I was hoping to go to bed soon," Jamie replied. "You and me..cuddle up together.."
"You are bad, Jamison Reagan!" Eddie scolded. "If your dad wants to talk to us then we best listen. Bring out this tray with tea and cookies. I'll be right there."
Eddie took a breath, she knew Frank had a friend in to talk to Lila, she just wasn't sure if that had something to do with this.
Eddie and Jamie sat down on the couch. Jamie immediately took Eddie's hand. His father had requested these kinds of talks before, they were never good.
"Jamie…Eddie…" Frank took a breath. "Wow, I never intended to tell you this, at least not now. But today, Lila, through a friend of mine, a longtime friend, over forty years, learned a secret I kept for 38 years. It's not fair to ask Lila to keep such a secret, not with all she has on her plate."
Jamie held onto Eddie tighter, he knew now this was not good news. "Of course, Dad," Eddie replied. "Whatever it is, you can tell us. Or if you'd prefer Lila to tell us…"
Lila appeared on the steps and moved to sit near Frank, "It's okay, Grandpa. Mom and Dad won't be upset."
"Dad, whatever it is," Jamie encouraged. "It can't be that bad. Is it about Joe? About his death and something you knew or didn't know?"
"No it's nothing like that," Frank replied. "But it did have to do with Joe and one of the ways I tried to cope after and the results of that coping."
Eddie and Jamie nodded, ready to listen.
"Today, I introduced Lila to a longtime friend, a friend that I knew since she became a young widow. We had a way of talking to each other, a way of understanding each other. Your mother new about our friendship, and when Mom died I was glad to have that friendship. It's when Joe died though that the friendship went a bit beyond that and we created…" Frank reached into his jacket and placed Danielle's picture on the table. "Danielle, your half sister."
Jamie sucked in a sharp breath in pure surprise, "Oh, Dad…" Jamie let go of Eddie's hand and stood up to pace. Eddie leaned back and smiled. "Oh, Frank, why didn't tell us before? We would have loved to have known her, wouldn't we Jamie?"
Jamie sighed, "Eddie, that's a personal opinion. Personally, I think…Joe had just died and…"
"Yes, Joe had died," Frank replied. "He was gone and it hurt, it was the worst pain I ever felt. I couldn't show that pain to you or your brother and sister! To your grandpa! I had to be strong, I had to hold it all inside…"
"Grandpa, calm down," Lila soothed. "Calm yourself, your breathing…"
"No they have to understand," Frank replied beginning to wheeze. "They have to, I want…"
"We do understand," Eddie replied moving to Frank. "We do, you were in terrible pain, Mary was gone already, and this Monica had a way with you, you two were close and she was separated enough to be there for you. I understand, so does Jamie."
The look Eddie shot Jamie told him he better pretend to understand if nothing else. "What I don't understand, Dad, is why you're choosing to tell us first."
"Jamie is the most level headed of my kids," Frank replied. "Erin will be angry, Danny is unpredictable…"
Jamie sat down, "I'm sorry, Dad. I was just shocked a little. Of course it was after Mom was gone, you needed company and…does this woman, this Danielle know that she's your daughter?"
Frank shook his head, "No, her mother and I chose not to tell her. It would have made her life difficult being the PCs illegitimate child and it would have put more spotlight on the three of you. I helped financially of course and I would hover around her at major life events. I sat in the balcony at her graduation and I follow her career, and there is a clause in my will providing for her or a child that she has, though she's 38 so that is unlikely now."
"Is it your plan to tell Danielle now that you've told us?" Eddie asked. "If you'd like to have her to dinner, even on Wednesday…"
"I'm going to talk to her Mom again and we'll see," Frank replied. "But since Lila knows I wanted to get it out in the open. Monica, Danielle's mother's name is Monica, talked to Lila today. I think she helped."
"She did, Grandpa," Lila replied. "I'll tell Mom and Dad about that later. Why don't we get you ready for some rest now?"
"Come on now," Eddie replied. "Let's finish the tea and cookies. I for one am excited to have another sister in law, and she's young too. When you decide to tell her and the rest of the family, this branch of Reagan's will have your back."
Frank smiled and gave Eddie a warm hug, "I knew you would. Come Lila, I do think I might need a hand tonight."
Lila helped Frank to his room, holding his arm and his oxygen tubing up so he didn't fall. In the few short days since Steven died, their bond had become even closer. Eddie watched Lila walking with Frank, "She is so good to him. They are good for each other."
Jamie sighed, "They are…Eddie, a sister. I have another younger sister that I never met or knew about…"
"Yes, you do and I know you are going to stew on that for a bit so let's get you up to bed as well…"
Eddie locked up and then met Jamie upstairs in their bedroom. She climbed into bed settling against his chest looking up to meet his eyes. "Jamie?"
"I'm fine Eddie, just shocked. Can we just lay here together?" Jamie sighed pulling Eddie into a tighter hug, arms wrapped around her waist. Tilting his head he rested it against Eddie's taking in her vanilla conditioner.
Sighing Eddie stretched an arm circling Jamie's back nuzzling into him running small circles. "I know it's a shock, sweetheart. I know, but you know how the other's will react. We have to support your father in this, we have to."
"I know we do," Jamie replied. "And we will. I promise you we will. I just need to let it sink in all right? I know you'll make her feel nothing but welcome when Dad does have her over. I love you so much Eddie…"
"Love you too," Eddie whispered and leaned up to place a kiss goodnight on Jamie's lips.
A/N: There you have it folks, the truth about Danielle. Frank is relieved to be letting that cat out of the bag on all fronts. Over the next few chapters we'll see the family react. To my Danny fans out there, stay tuned, I am in the middle of a run of chapters that focuses on Danny and his relationships with members of the family.
Next Update – February 16th – Danielle learns the truth about her parentage.
