Chapter Twenty One
Jamie got Eddie to the doctor very quickly, he wasn't sure if this was pregnancy related or quadriplegia related or both.
He worried the whole way there staying by Eddie's side while she was examined
"Her pressure is concerning," Dr. Eisenberg replied. "I know Melissa's loss was a profound one for you, Eddie. Jamie, I think we need to do a trial of bedrest, a week perhaps until her body can get itself under control. The baby is okay, doing great."
Jamie nods, "I'll do anything to help Eddie and our little one, Doc. Bed rest, anything else?"
"Not for now," Dr. Eisenberg replied. "I think this is highly situational, the pregnancy looks sound. Keep the monitor on and we'll see where we are next week."
"I will, thank you so much, Doctor," Jamie sighed looking down to Eddie.
Jamie brought Eddie home and put her directly in bed. "I know you're grieving, Angel. I know you got very upset about the mug, but you need to rest all right?" Jamie gave her a soft gentle kiss.
"I'm sorry, Jamie," Eddie sighed. "I just got so upset, I remember when she gave me that mug. I had spilled on my dress, the one you got me for my birthday that year. I was so upset…Melissa helped me clean it and then the next day she brought me the magnetic mug. It cut down on the spills."
Jamie caressed Eddie's cheek, "Yeah it did, you two were fast friends, and Melissa is still with us, Angel. She is, with us and so is Joe and our moms and she will look over our little one. Rest now, I'll bring in your supper.'
Eddie shut her eyes, she was exhausted from the physical and mental trauma. She put her wrists on her belly, "Hey little one…You hang out with Mommy, take a nap okay?"
The baby kicked, Eddie felt the slight touch on her wrist, she knew she had to get a grip on this, she knew she had to mourn her friend but not to her own detriment. She'd focus on that from here on out. "Thanks, Melly…" she smiled and shut her eyes to wait for her dinner.
Eddie did her best to rest the next week. Sean stayed with her on the weekend, enjoying their time together, he had a special bond with his aunt. When he was at school, Henry kept her company. He moved the DVD player into the bedroom and they watched reruns of old comedies, some colorized and some in their original black and white.
"My Betty and I used to watch all of these shows," Henry smiled. "Her favorite was the uh…the one with Jackie Gleason. They Honeymooners. It was hysterical, to the moon Alice. My favorite was Petticoat Junction and Mr. Ed.'
"Into the horses huh?" Eddie asked. 'I think they have Flipper on the digital channel if you want to watch that?"
Connie had taken Annabeth and JJ to the park to play. JJ was handling Melissa's loss as well as any toddler could, but having Connie who was fluent in sigh and so full of life, was helping him.
"Yes," Henry laughed. "Frank loved that show as a kid, he and Betty would watch the TV for that show all the time."
"You loved her a lot, huh?" Eddie asked.
"Oh, yes," Henry laughed. "I met her in the war and she was the most vibrant thing I'd ever seen. Not pretty, necessarily, you've seen her pictures, she was attractive, beautiful to me. Betty was larger than life from the day I met her until the day she died."
Eddie nodded and smiled. "How long did it take for you to fall in love?"
"With Betty," Henry replied taking a sip of his coffee. "Four days. Meet her late on Thursday and was smitten my Monday. She was tough stuff, but also so sweet and kind. You remind me a lot of her. She'd have been able to cope with the limits that you have in her stride, just like you."
"She must have been strong to lose a child then go on to be able to have another one," Eddie replied. "I'm not sure if I could do that."
Henry held Eddie's gaze, "You can do anything, honey. You are made of some pretty tough stuff yourself. How about some lunch now? Tuna and crackers?"
Eddie nodded, "Yeah, and Henry, let's do the doplar when you come back okay?"
He agreed with a wink.
Marcus was at his wits end. JJ was a good little solider, but the twins were having a terrible time adjusting. Nancy, Linda, or Connie were at the house whenever they could be. He was becoming the microwave gourmet, eating mostly the same foods that JJ found agreeable. Still, he was not able to get the twins on a schedule or keep them quiet for more than a few minutes at a time.
"He needs help," Jamie said at the first family dinner after Eddie was off her week's rest. "Poor guy can't even grieve, he doesn't know which end is up and those two babies have no real direction."
"They are still very small," Linda replied. "But if he needs help I know several people that are looking for work, a couple of retired nurses that might be able to help. Alice Lipinski is a sweet older lady, she's got grandchildren, but they moved away and she is only doing some per diem work now. I'll give Marcus her number, maybe she can help."
Jamie smiled, "That just might work. I know that he needs help, not that we mind, but we have JJ more than his own father does and he does need Marcus to heal from the loss of his mom."
JJ was showing Annabeth his bread, they were both given a little bit of food on their plates and crusty bread to eat. Annabeth showed her own bread like they had their own special secret. Eddie laughed at their antics, so innocent and sweet.
When Jamie and Eddie dropped JJ off, Marcus gratefully took the phone number. Both twins were crying, different tones, requiring different fixes. "You need some back up man?" Jamie asked. Marcus shook his head gratefully.
Between the three adults, they got all four kids to bed. Ray did a little recon, making sure everyone was safe. He wasn't sure how he acquired three new small humans but he took it in his stride. "Good boy, Ray,' Jamie pet the dog and laid little Matthew into his bassinet.
"So, you going to call this friend of Linda's?" Eddie asked. "Might be a good thing for you to do. You'll be going back to work soon."
Marcus nodded, "It's just the idea of leaving them, you know? I'll call her in the morning."
And he did. By noon the next day, Alice was on the Beal doorstep. "Marcus, it's so nice to meet you, but I'm so sorry for the circumstances. I'm Alice Lipinski. Is this little adorable boy, JJ?"
Marcus was at ease with Alice in a minute, she knelt down to say hi to JJ. She didn't' sign, but her smile put the toddler at ease. JJ signed to her and took her hand, showing her his new baby brothers. He signed to her, "Mommy went to the sky…"
"He's telling you where his mother is," Marcus replied. "Do you think you would be able to pick up some baby sign?"
"Of course," Alice replied. "I know how important it will be for us to be able to talk. Oh, these boys are precious. I'd very like to help you, Marcus. I'll work reasonably, room and board included."
Marcus hired her on the spot, he couldn't feel more comfortable with his own mother helping out. "I have another two weeks of bereavement leave, then I'll be back on tour full time. Can you start next week, start to get the hang of things?"
Alice looked at the exhausted and grieving young father, "What if I start now? You go to bed, take a nap. I can tell by their little mouths moving they are almost ready for bottles. Go to bed, go to bed…" Alice shooed Marcus off, not even letting him argue.
Alice was a huge help to Marcus and with her tender care, JJ, Matthew, and Michael began to flourish. Jamie and Eddie stood for them at their Baptism, lockets or bracelets with a small bit of Melissa's ashes inside.
Eddie's pregnancy was progressing well, and in spite of what had happened to Melissa, Jamie was handling it well. They went weekly to Dr. Eisenberg to check on the progress of their little one, coming away with positive news each time.
When Eddie wasn't working at the law firm with Jamie, she, Henry, and Alice were taking the children out. They went to the park, the zoo, and the Play Place often, Eddie enjoyed watching JJ and Annabeth's friendship grow.
Sometimes, Alice would stay home and tend to the house and Eddie and Henry would have time to themselves. At the Central Park zoo, Henry helped Eddie eat a foot long hot dog while the toddlers worked their way through French fries. "I know I say this all the time, but you are glowing sweet girl. You are absolutely glowing."
"I'm just so happy that after that little scare the baby is okay," Eddie replied. "Losing Melissa was so hard and I miss her so much." She took a bite then a sip of her drink. "You guys ready to go and see the elephants?"
"Effants!" Annabeth squealed and signed a bit for JJ.
"I think that's a yes," Henry laughed. "Let's wash your hands first…" Henry took the kids to the family bathroom. Eddie sat back watching, thinking how much she relied on Henry and how close they were. Annabeth adored him and JJ bestowed upon him the sign of grandpa. He was the eternal grandpa.
Annabeth climbed up on Eddie's lap, "Ride Mommy!"
Eddie obliged her little girl, Annabeth looked at her mom's belly. She felt her new sibling kicking.
Eddie touched her forehead to Annabeth's and they kissed gently. "You feel your little brother or sister?"
Annabeth clapped her little hands and smiled, she didn't understand what happened, but somehow she knew it we significant.
"How are you feeling, Eddie?" Dr. Eisenberg asked at her next checkup. "Any flushes, dizziness, anything like that?"
"Not at all," Eddie replied. "We're getting excited that it's coming up so soon and so easily, I am having some strange dreams though."
"Not uncommon but that can be unsettling and you do need to watch your blood pressure," Dr. Eisenberg advised. "How are you doing, Jamie?"
"I'm good," he replied. "We are both really excited and even Annabeth can't wait to meet her sibling. We're being a little extra careful right now, considering, but…'
"That wasn't the cause of the complication," Dr. Eisenberg replied. "That was caused by something else entirely."
Jamie nodded and put his arm firmly around Eddie, he had learned a lot in therapy about letting go, but he was still a little more nervous than he liked to admit.
"Well, everything looks good here," the doctor smiled. "Your pressure is up just a touch, so try to keep taking it easy, rest when you can, all right?"
"I will, Doctor," Eddie replied. "Six weeks!"
Jamie helped Eddie back into her chair, "Dinner before we go home?" Jamie asked.
"I thought you would never ask," Eddie replied. "Steakhouse or seafood platter?"
"Steakhouse with crab cakes," Jamie replied. "I know the perfect place."