Jamie turned continuing to hold his son in disbelief at what Eddie just said. "You believe him? Eddie you're my wife so I need you by my side."
Eddie hated the betrayed look in his puppy dog blue eyes but she had to admit after thinking about it Henry made some good points. "Jamie just hear me out okay? I don't fully agree with everything they're saying but I do think you should be careful."
A silence fell between them broken up by Eddie stepping towards him raising a hand to brush his cheek. It was her turn to flash a hurt look when he moved back shaking his head.
"Jamie hear me out..no they had no right telling you whether or not to at least talk with him because like it or not he is your father. I just don't think they want you to forget the family you've had."
Eddie dropped her voice to a whisper softly keeping the tone even and calm. "I love you Jamie more then anything and will always have your back. Don't ever doubt that okay? Just find out more about him. Why don't we invite him over for dinner so we could all talk?"
Jamie smiled, placing a kiss on Eddie's lips softly.
After putting Conor down to sleep Jamie text John inviting him over Friday for dinner so he could meet Eddie and Conor. They agreed on seven thirty after tour finished. Having off that day Jamie helped Eddie cook a roast beef, vegetables and mashed potatoes with a salad. Right before seven thirty Jamie brought his son upstairs changing him into a pair of black dress pants and a striped black and white shirt.
At seven forty the bell rang just as Jamie came down with Conor stepping down off the last step smiling nervously. Shifting Conor to support his developing neck muscles Jamie quickly opened the door smiling at John standing outside. "Hi, thanks for coming," jamie moved back letting John in so he could close the door behind.
"This is your grandson Conor.."
John took the infant in smiling at his tiny nose scrunched up as he slept soundly. "He looks like you Jamie. I uh found this and wanted to show you. After you were born your mother brought you over once so I could meet my son." He unfolded a picture from thirty some odd years ago of a younger John smiling holding newborn Jamie.
"I treasure that picture as it's the only one I have of you. "
Eddie stepped into the room peeking around Jamie to look at the picture, smiling. "That's a cute picture look at you lambchop." She smirked watching Jamie's cheeks turn pink.
"This is my wife Eddie..Eddie my dad Lieutenant John Stevens," Jamie introduced looking between the two. John gave her a smile unable to shake the young woman's hand as he still held Conor, following Jamie into the living room.
They sat around the couch to continue talking until dinner was ready. John cradled his grandson tightly looking up at Jamie with a smile. "You look just like your mother same eyes as Mary. Your mom was the sweetest person I'd ever known, cared about everyone around her."
Jamie smiled, "I remember that about mom anytime our friends would come over she would make them snacks and fussed over them and worried if they were having problems. "
"Yea, she was the best woman to know. She would come by the station sometimes when your fa…the commissioner and I were partners with sandwiches or something she baked," John smiled in a sad remembrance of their lost loved one. He smiled coming upon that word not sure how to address his former partner who raised him.
"Come in John , dinner is just about ready so..would you like something to drink?" Jamie flashed a grateful smile in Eddie's direction glad for the change in conversation. He followed her giving their baby boy a light rock before setting the cooing infant in his rocker.
Eddie waved a hand to John inviting him to sit while Jamie helped bring food to the table offering a silent conversation between them. John watched in silent awe how they moved together without saying a word. "So how long have you known each other?"
"Well we started as partners first, actually Jamie was my training officer when I first started on the job. We rode together for years before realizing there was something deeper between us." Eddie sat down slowly as the last dish was set. She and John both nodded looking at Jamie together.
"Um so before dinner we pray the uh Reagans are Catholics so.." John nodded folding his hands acceptingly bowing his head while Jamie recited the prayer said before every dinner since he could remember. Crossing themselves when he finished Eddie passed a bowl to John letting him go first as their guest.
John scooped corn into his plate passing it over and glanced over the colorful arrangement. "This looks delicious Eddie thank you. I did want to talk about something else later Jamie.."
Lowering his eyebrows curiously Jamie raised his eyes to the man across from him wondering what else there could be. "Sure John is everything okay?" From the rocker Conor cooed lightly reminding them he was still there and wanted to be part of the conversation.
Sharing a laugh the three adults turned back looking at each other waiting for John to gather his courage and spill what he needed to say. "Jamie, I told my wife and kids about you..I couldn't hide it from them. My son is actually a few years younger then you and my daughter is in college with a little girl of her own. Would you come meet them?"
Jamie bit his lip taking a minute to think over what John admitted that he had two other half siblings and a niece. In the bak of his mind his father's voice admonishing him for even thinking about meeting these people who none of them knew. "Yea sure John just tell me when."
"Great I will. My son..other son Andrew he's finishing a masters degree in criminal justice and Grace just got accepted to NYU, Princeton, Columbia and Cornell but she just had Andrea, she's such a sweetie pie," John smiled.
The mention of family made Eddie think of something too, elbowing Jamie for his attention. "Maybe he should meet the Reagans too it'll help them.."
Jamie nodded hoping if his father and grandfather met John and actually spoke to him they'd feel better about his involvement with Jamie. "We have dinner together every Sunday I'll talk to my father and ask if it's ok you come?"
"Sure, I do want to thank them for raising you so well."
With business done the conversation turned into a sports debate lightning the mood for the rest of their dinner.