For the following week Jamie stayed with Eddie at her apartment until he figured out what to do with his life since loosing the scholarship. While Eddie attended class Jamie walked up the avenue passing stores in deep turmoil with such a big decision to make. He stopped in the middle of a block eyeing the recruitment center seemingly glued to an officer sitting at the desk. Jamie took a step past, stopping and went in to inquire putting down Eddie's address.
When Eddie came home dinner waited for her, a small roast beef, asparagus and potatoes with salad. In the middle a bottle of red wine chilled in the cooler waiting for them. "Hey babe how was class," Jamie greeted her with a soft kiss.
"It was okay kind of boring actually. What's all this," she glanced the table of food, sitting in the chair Jamie pulled out for her. The roast beef was cooked medium just how Eddie liked it.
Jamie went around to sit across from her pouring wine into both glasses smiling at her. "It's nothing I told you that I'd cook for letting me stay with you.." Eddie caught his eye a look that she knew he wasn't telling her the truth. Lowering his eyes Jamie clasped his hands together praying.
"It smells good though," Eddie took two pieces of brown meat for her plate, filling the rest with vegetables. "So what did you do today?"
Jamie carefully choose his piece of meat surrounding it with vegetables. "Nothing much cleaned up a little then went out and took a walk. "
"Did the walk help you decide? Why don't you become a cop like the rest of your family," Eddie offered stabbing her meat to cut smaller.
"Yea kind of. My mom never wanted me to become a cop that's why I went to Harvard and studied law," Jamie sighed remembering his mom dissuading the idea of joining the family business.
Taking a small bite of asparagus Eddie raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay so what are you going to do then."
"i was thinking about enlistment,"Jamie replied. "I can rehab the arm, do time in basic, and the Army will pay for college. I can' still be a lawyer."
Eddie stared at him shocked he would think of doing that. "You want to join the army but not police force? Jamie .what if. "
"The police force won't pay for school, the Army will," Jamie said firmly. "I need to put a roof on your head, food in your belly...'
Putting her form down Eddie raised an eyebrow at him, "You do? Jamie I'm perfectly of getting a job and helping out so you know. You don't have to do this."
"i do," Jamie said fimly. "I need you behind me, eddie. Please."
She sighed, "Of course I'm behind you Jamie I'm just I don't want to loose you, I love you. Is this really what you want to do?"
"yes, I need to do it, I really do."
"Okay Jamie," Eddie reached across the table taking his hand giving a quiet nod.
"I love you, Edit Marie Janko," Jamie whispered "More than life itself."
She smiled, "I know you do once I graduate we'll get married. I can't wait jamie and I will always have your back."
"I can't either...but...if I do go overseas, I would like to marry first."
The reality of him having to leave overseas made Eddie shiver. " yeah Definitely when do start basic?"
"Once I sign up...I leave in a week, so two weeks maybe?"
Eddie's face dropped, "Oh. You have to tell your family Jamie." She pulled back pushing the rest of her dinner around.
"Yes, I do. We'll talk to them tomorrow," Jamie replied. "For now...come here."
Sighing Eddie pulled her chair around the table needing to cuddle against him while they still could in case he did have to leave, laying her head against his shoulder breathing in unevenly..
Jamie rubbed the back of her neck, up and down her shoulders. "You okay, you didn't eat much."
"Yea fine I ate most of it just the thought of being apart from you.." Eddie took an uneven breath.
"It won't be so terrible," Jamie replied. "Joe will look out for you."
"Joe isn't you," Eddie sniffled laying her head against his chest, intertwining their fingers.
"you want to go upstairs?" Jamie asked leaning over to plant kisses along her cheek and neck wanting to be close with her.
Eddie shook her head, "No I'm tired can we watch a movie and cuddle? "
"Sure we can," Jamie replied then "Are you mad at me for doing this Eddie, for joining and maybe having to leave."
"No I'm not mad I understand why you Jamie and I have your back I promise. Tomorrow we'll,tell your family together," Eddie took his hand leading him to the couch, setting on the spot next to him.
"I know , I just...you don't usually say no to me..."
Eddie's eyes darted up meeting his a soft twinkle shinning. "Don't panic it wont last forever," she smirked.
"Better not..." Jamie laughed. The swept Eddie off her feet.
They spent the night cuddling and giving soft kisses until falling asleep in each other's arms. The following morning Jamie signed up, stopping by the barber to get his haircut not expecting to see his family until later.
He and Eddie hung out until six sending a text before to his family asking them over his father's. Now that it was time Jamie stared at the house scared.
"You'll be okay," Eddie told him assuringly. "Just explain it tot hem like you did to me."
Taking a deep breath Jamie squeezed her hand. "I'm not nervous about how they'll react just. "
"What are you nervous about then huh," Eddie softly asked rubbing her fingers against his hand slowly. "I'm right here Jamie as promised..I'm right here when you tell them no matter what they say.
"I don't know.. okay let's do this.." Jamie sighed, walking with Eddie inside the brightly lit house. "Anyone home?"
The family was all around Jamie and smiled to see him and Eddie. Frank was the only one who stood behind the family, lips pressed tightly together. "Why aren't you at Harvard son?"
Eddie held Jamie hand tight. "Go on sweetheart."
He sighed, "I uh have something to tell everyone. After the doctors released me I got a letter from Harvard saying i lost my scholarship."
"Oh Jamie! Henry gasped.
"'Damn kid" Danny mumbled feeling for his little brother who could have had a bright future in law using his basketball skills. Joe only nodded having nothing to say.
"That's awful, Erin replied.
"Since I can't afford to attend I have to come up with what to do now.. so.." He glanced Eddie. "I enlisted.."