Chapter Ten

Jamie called Danny's attention to Eddie's hasty departure almost immediately, "She didn't look right, something is wrong. I know Eddie, the last time she had that look she was getting the stomach flu and laid in my apartment for three days. Something is wrong."

Danny took a breath, "Okay, the closest ER is St. Vic's. I'll have Linda call there and see if he brought her in. It could be she hit the pregnancy limit and just got too tired. Linda did that a lot especially with Jack, try not to worry. I'll do what I can."

Linda made calls to several of her nurse friends at several hospitals. No one had Eddie as a patient in their ER. Danny tried to use the information to soothe Jamie but it only served to make him more upset.

"Let's go home," he said to Claudia after she finished the desired dance with Frank. "Max hasn't been alone with the sitter this long, even if it is Erin. I want to go to our son."

"The dance isn't over, it's got another forty minutes…" Claudia snapped.

"Then get a cab to take you," Jamie replied. "I'm going home to our son."

Claudia got up and glared at Jamie, but she did start moving toward the door without further protest.

When Jamie returned to work on Monday, Kara was the first person he sought out. "Have you heard from Eddie? She left that benefactor dance looking really sick."

"That explains it, I texted her three or four times Saturday and Sunday and she never replied. I'll try her again later and see if she answers. If not, I'll drive out there tomorrow I'm off," Kara told Jamie. "I'm sure she's okay, maybe she lost her phone or she and Tom went on an overnight."

Jamie nodded, "She didn't look all right, Kara. Please text me when you find anything out."

Kara assured Jamie she would. Kara was worried as well, Eddie always returned her text even if she wasn't returning other people's. It was their thing, they would always connect to make sure things were okay.

Halfway through her tour, Eddie text Kara. "Hey, sorry I've been awol. I lost my phone on the way out of the dinner on Friday night and the new one just arrived. I asked Tom to text but he must have forgotten. I'm sorry you were worried. Please come see me, asap. I can't meet, on bedrest for a week or so…Thanks."

Kara text back immediately she would be in Long Island the following day.

"Hey, Reagan," Kara called out at end of their tour. "I heard back from Eddie, she lost her phone on Friday night and got her new one today. Should have emailed me to tell me, so I wasn't worrying but I guess…oh well."

"So she's okay?" Jamie asked, he still couldn't shake his bad feeling.

"She said she's on bedrest for a week or so, I didn't get the details, I'm going to see her tomorrow and see how she is," Kara replied. "I'll let you know, okay?"

Jamie nodded, "Kara, if I met you in the morning, could you get a message to her for me?"

Kara smiled, "Yes, I think I can do that, sure."

Jamie smiled, "I'll meet you by the coffee cart before tour, you can bring it out to her?"

Kara nodded, she felt bad for Jamie and Eddie. No two people were more suited and no two people had screwed up more.

The next morning, Jamie met Kara at the coffee cart with a small bag and card. Inside the bag were some of Eddie's favorite chocolates from the place she liked in Brooklyn and a note. "Please make sure she gets it, she can say the chocolate is from you if Tom asks?"

"Of course, I'll give her your best and I'll let you know what I can." Kara rubbed Jamie's arm and headed out to Long Island, she couldn't wait to find out what was going on.

Tom's housekeeper let Kara in, Eddie was upstairs in bed while Tom was at the office. Eddie pushed him to go to work so she could have some alone time with her friend. She needed to talk to Kara. Tom put up little fight though, Eddie knew why.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Kara gave Eddie a hug. She had her feet up and her back propped with pillows.

"I feel fine, Friday night I started to spot and I was cramping a little, so Tom rushed home and had the doctor out. He said I have to stay in bed a week or so, no heavy lifting, light duty at work, probably a desk until the baby comes…and no sex. Tom is not happy about that last part, so I guess Sue will have to work overtime."

Kara's brow arched, "Sue? What's a Sue?"

Eddie shifted in bed and put her hands on her belly, "Sue is Tom's assistant, not secretary, she'll correct you quickly. I found out by accident that they have a special relationship, but considering Jamie…I can't say much can I?"

"No, but I guess it goes to show that not everyone always ends up with the right person, they just end up with the person right at the moment," Kara sighed. "Try not to be upset about it, love is a strange thing, people do what they need to do to set things in the right order."

Kara reached into her bag, "From Jamie. A gift and a note…I'll just use the bathroom so you can read it in private."

Eddie smiled, Kara new her too well.

Eddie smiled, chocolate covered orange rind, one of her favorite things. She carefully opened the card and observed Jamie's neat hand writing on the yellow card.

Dearest Eddie,

My heart broke when Kara told me of the complications with your pregnancy. I wish I was at your side now to comfort you and bring you whatever solace I could, I do know the worry for your child is like none other. I share this worry for my son every day.

While you are in bed, close those beautiful blue eyes, and picture me there, lying on the bed with you, holding you close. I will wait on you hand and foot, and make sure you have anything and everything you need to get through this time. I'm always there Eddie, even with distance and life between us, there's never a moment you are not in my thoughts, there is never a moment I don't wish I was with you through this.

My prayers are with you and the baby. If you do need me, please reach out through Kara or, as agreed, text in an emergency. I'll get to you as soon as I can after that. I only stay away because I don't want to cause you anymore stress or worry. You're happy with Tom, he's a good man, and I don't want to diminish that ever. I'm looking forward to the picture of your little angel…and of course, to Montana.

I love you,

Jamie.

His words made her cry. Kara came out to find her friend in tears, "What am I doing? Why didn't I just…Why didn't I just…"

Kara took Eddie into her arms and rocked slowly. "Because you have families, Eddie. You both have families that need you, but you're also people with hearts and souls that need too. It might feel wrong, a lot of people will say it is wrong, but the heart wants what it wants and you can't always make that fit into someone else's vision. Sometimes, you have to do what's best for you to be what someone else needs. I think to be a good wife to Tom, and maybe for Tom to be a good husband to you, there's got to be a Jamie and a Sue."

"I supposed you're right," Eddie sniffled. "And it's done now, I can't leave now with the baby and Jamie really can't leave if his wife is that way…Max needs him. How about I get Anita to bring up some lunch and we share these chocolates. Then I have something I need you to bring to Jamie."

Eddie began to write on a piece of pretty pink stationary. She has to address Jamie's letter in her own way, with her own words.

My dear Jamie,

Your gift and letter were very much appreciated. It warmed my heart to see your lovely words and I do feel you with me every minute of every day. I will put this letter in a very special place, so I can take it out and feel the strong connection we have even with miles between us.

Our night together was the most beautiful of my life. I felt our souls connect even as our bodies did, and when I close my eyes at night I conjure up the memory of your hands, your lips, and your words. I wish I was less hasty, I wish I gave you a chance to speak, so I could understand. I wish I had made a different choice. I wish you did too. I saw Claudia the other night, she was putting you on display, you're better than that. If you ever forget how special you are I'll remind you. You are so much more than a name.

Is there hope we'll ever be together, Jamie? Promise we will never stop trying whether it's 10 days, 10 months or 10 years from now... promise me, please?

I love you with my whole heart, Jamie. My whole heart…

Eddie

Eddie put her lipstick on and placed kiss on the stationary, she sprayed her favorite perfume on the paper. "Please get this to him, through Danny if you can't do it yourself. Then tell Jamie to go to this website and click listen…He'll understand."

Kara nodded, "I'm glad you trust me to help you with this Eddie. I'm really glad…"

"Anything, what are friends for?" Kara asked. 'You rest up, okay? Text me and if you ever lose your phone again use Tom's, use your tablet and email me, don't leave me hanging that wasn't fair. Jamie and I were both panicked."

Eddie nodded, "I was scared, I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry I scared you both, that wasn't fair."

"Don't worry about it, just don't repeat it," Kara replied. "You give your Mommy a break little one. Auntie Kara loves you." She patted Eddie's belly, gave her friend a hug and headed for home. Kara stopped after a few feet, "Eddie, do you want me to keep your note from Jamie?"

"No," Eddie said. "No, I have a place to hide it. Thanks though, I just can't let it go…" Eddie held the letter to her heart.

Claudia was working the night shift two days later when Danny knocked on his brother's door. He had Eddie's notes in his hand as well as a six pack. Jamie opened the door with Max in his arms.

"Hey, Danny, what brings you over?" Jamie asked.

"Couple things, the Amazon is working, you're hanging by yourself here, I have a letter from Eddie…"

Jamie smiled, 'Yeah, she liked my letter?"

"Kid, this letter stuff, very cute, very nice, very dangerous. Her husband or your wife could find it..." Danny sighed. 'But yes, word on the street is she did like the letter and here is the answer. Give me my nephew and a beer, you read…"

The scent of Eddie's perfume teased Jamie's nostrils as he opened the letter. Jamie sat down and read the letter, Eddie's hand was delicate and gentle, just like she was when not on the job. The words she wrote pulled at Jamie's heart.

"Promise we will never stop trying whether it's 10 days, 10 months or 10 years from now..." She wanted it too. Eddie shared his dreams, his desire to one day somehow be a couple. This was his dream, he wanted more than anything to make that come true. Max cooed and squealed in Danny's arms. Max was everything, his world…the one thing stopping him from picking up the phone, calling Eddie, and making plans to run away. They were finally on the same page with their feelings and their desires. "I'll find away a way to make it happen for us Eddie," Jamie vowed in his heart. "I set us on the wrong path years ago and I'll spend the rest of my life fighting to make it right."

Jamie felt it was torture to know who his soulmate was but not to have their lives joined. Eddie wanted her happily ever after with him and he would find a way, he had to.

Tears fell down Jamie's face, it was too much…just way too much for him to bottle up…his brother was here, the baby was taken care of…he could finally let it all go.

Danny heard Jamie's sobs, but knew it was better to hold the baby and let his brother have a release. It had to be Hell, absolute Hell, to love so much and not be able to be with her. Danny remembered Linda's shooting, the thought of going on without her…this had to be worse, Eddie was alive and well but still out of reach.

When Jamie quieted, Danny moved closer. "He was wet so I changed him and noticed he's got a little rash going on there…"

"Yeah, thanks, Danny," Jamie replied.

"Oh, you're supposed to put this link in your phone, Eddie's instructions…" Danny replied. Walsh would have kicked his ass if he forgot that, he had to report back to her on Jamie's reaction to the gift.

Jamie put the link into his cell and saw a play signal come up. He tapped the button and the music started…

Won't you meet me in Montana

I want to see the mountains

In your eyes

Oh! Oh! I've had all of this life I can handle

Meet me underneath that big Montana sky

"Kid, how in the world did you screw up so bad?" Danny asked. "I'm sorry, I know it's hard but…Eddie's been the girl from day one…"

Jamie shook his head, he had no idea how this happened, only that it did happen and he and Eddie both had to live with the consequences. "I'll see you later, Kid," Danny said a little later. "I'm gonna go before the home. Take good care…" Danny gave Jamie a hug.

"See you Sunday, Danny," Jamie smiled as he took his son into his arms to put him to sleep.