Welcome to penultimate chapter of Reagan Family Reconstruction this is where the last gamechanger I promised comes into play.
While plotting this story, I debated how to handle the gamechanger and just recently came to a decision, it will shock some but just know that this event is being done for a reason.
Chapter25 I'll See You Again
A week had passed since Jamie and Eddie had announced their engagement and Alex's adoption they were in full wedding planning mode.
Mayor Poole had agreed to perform the ceremony at city hall and the reception hall had been booked they agreed to keep the wedding small just family and close friends on Eddie's side it would be just her mother Caterina attending since most of Eddie's family was in Serbia and Armin still had three months left on his sentence and was denied permission for a conditional release by the Correction department a fact that deep down hurt Eddie not having her father there for wedding day and all especially after they had mended fences recently.
So far, the venue reception and Eddie's dress was taken care of the only things left were the cake and Jamie's suit luckily for Jamie Danny and Spencer would help him with the last-minute details so he could get back to Eddie and Alex.
"Hey Jamie step on it the fitting is in an hour and I don't want your fiancée kicking my ass because we're late." Spencer shouted from the living-room.
Having heard his friend Jamie emerged from his bedroom dressed and ready to go.
"Alright Spence let's move."
"You don't have to tell me twice by the way I hope we're taking your car to the suit fitting trying to get an Uber over here is going to be murder even for an early afternoon."
"I know and we are this is one of the few times I actually want to drive to Manhattan."
Jamie and Spencer made their way outside to the car with Spencer admiring Jamie's prized vehicular possession.
"I still can't believe Eddie got you the car as a gift."
"I know there are days I still can't believe she's able to spend four two five figures and not care even though she rarely does since we came back from PuertoRico."
"I'll tell you one thing from what I saw of those pictures money is the least of your worries my friend."
"Hey just because we're friends doesn't mean I won't drop you."
"I know Jamie I'm just messing around by the way can you put in a word for me with Hayley that girl a certified ten".
"Forget it Spence she won't go for you we both know you can't keep a girl more than six months."
"Come on buddy it wouldn't hurt to try I mean who knows she could be Ms. Right do it for an old friend."
"Fine I'll see what I can do but if this works and you screw it up Eddie will have both our asses capish?"
"Got it Jamie I owe you."
"No worries I'll make sure to collect."
With that Jamie continued his drive into Manhattan.
Meanwhile in Staten Island Danny was getting ready to join Jamie and Spencer in Manhattan while Linda stayed home waiting for Jack and Sean to come home from kickboxing which they had taken up after seeing one of Marina's old fights on TV.
"Linda I'm headed to Manhattan to meet Jamie and Spencer I'll be back later we might stop off and something so don't worry about me eating." Danny stated racing down the stairs fully dressed.
"Alright Danny did you remember to take the chicken down from the freezer earlier?"
"I did Linda it's on the counter like I told you half hour ago, honey now I have to go Jamie will kill me if I'm late."
Linda came over to the door from the living-room that she was cleaning up and kissed Danny goodbye.
"Love you Linda."
"Love you more Danny."
"Love you most babe."
Danny and Linda shared one final kiss before Danny headed off to Manhattan.
Once Danny left Linda finished the last of the cleaning and headed up to take a short afternoon nap.
Up in Manhattan Danny Jamie and Spencer stood in Leo's suit shop trying on suits while Spencer and Danny had found their suits with ease Jamie was struggling to find just the right suit.
"Ay kid we don't have all day this is suit shopping not rocket science just pick a black suit and let's go my eyes hurt looking at the price tags in this place."
"Relax Danny I narrowed it down to the black with grey pinstripes or the black with the midnight blue stripes."
"Holy mother Jamie are you really screwing around over stripes you have more important things to worry about."
"Fine Danny I'll be right out then we can meet up with Eddie Alex and Caterina at the bakery."
Half hour later the guys headed across town to Carlo's bakery in little Italy where Alex tackle hugged Jamie.
"Poppa I missed you."
"I missed you too princess now let's try some cakes."
After the brief moment with Alex Jamie embraced Eddie.
"Hey Eddie so did you actually finish checking on your dress for the millionth time or am I going to end up marrying you in your birthday suit." Jamie made sure to whisper the tail end of his statement Eddie causing her to playfully slap him on the head.
"Alright you two quit horsing around." Danny admonished as the head baker Sarah walked in.
"Hello Jamie and Eddie I presume." A tall blonde Italian woman named Maria said approaching the group.
"Nice to meet you Maria." Jamie said shaking Maria's hand followed by Eddie.
"Now if you don't mind coming to the back I have serval cakes for you all to try."
"Jamie Eddie Spencer Alex and Caterina headed to the back where there were four sets of cake slices laid out across a steel display table.
"Well if you guys would like to get started the first cake I have here is a vanilla cake with a hint strawberry".
Jamie and Eddie knew once they tasted the vanilla cake wasn't the one for their wedding which Maria noticed.
"I can see that the first cake you tried wasn't the one so I invite you to try the yellow coconut cake with cherry filling try that."
Once again Jamie and Eddie tasted the cake and again knew this wasn't the one.
Having seen that the couple wasn't satisfied with the cake she brought the final two options.
"First up is a double layer cheesecake with caramel filling try this out".
Jamie and Eddie tried the cake and liked it but still weren't convinced.
Maria showed the group one last option it was a double fudge chocolate with a caramel filling.
Having tasted the cake both Jamie and Eddie knew this was the one.
"Maria I think we found our wedding cake." Jamie said proudly.
"Perfect are we doing double or triple tear?"
"Well we were thinking double tear for the guests pre-wedding and triple for the reception". Jamie asked.
"We can do that now there is the matter of the check".
"It was at this point Eddie pulled her black card.
"Put it on this Maria and here an extra $300 tip." Eddie stated pulling three bills from her wallet.
Eddie paid for their order and the group left the bakery.
"Alright guys the cake is paid for and all the arrangements are made I say we go grab a bite at that trendy sandwich spot on 59th"
Sounds good Eddie this gives us some time to kill before heading back to Brooklyn." Jamie said heading for his car while Eddie called for an Uber to get them to the sandwich shop.
"Eddie I still don't get why you didn't just drive us into the city yourself."
"Mom like I said at the house I Uber us around because I don't want Alex in my car it's too much of speed demon car I'm getting an SUV after the wedding."
"Okay Eddie I'll leave it alone for now but I don't want you becoming a spoiled rich brat."
"Mom you raised me better than that."
"I know I did Edit I'm just reminding you of that."
"Alright mom let get moving" the Uber will be here shortly."
"Jamie meet us at the sandwich shop I want to spend the rest of the day relaxing."
"Anything for you angel." Jamie said as he gave Eddie a tame kiss and left for his car with Spencer headed for the sandwich shop.
Meanwhile on the other side of Manhattan Marina was with Rocky Ashley Nicky Jack and Sean teaching the boys kickboxing combinations.
"Come on Jack I wanna see the three-punch combo done perfectly and this time get your head off the center line I want to put you in the ring to spar but I can't do that knowing your hands are not where they should be so come show me that combo again and this time throw it with some heat."
Jack proceeded to throw the requested right left right combo.
Over on the other side of the gym Rocky was working with Sean on kicks.
Sean, you have nice kicks let's see some knees."
Over on the far end of the gym Nicky was rolling around with Ashley learning some submission holds Nicky had taken an interest in MMA mainly the grappling aspect.
"Nicky move around try to sink in the RNC and get the tap you do this I can have you striking on the next trip down here."
Alright fine let's go Ash."
Unbeknownst to Ashley Nicky had been sparring with Lily a couple times and knew exactly how to get the desired RNC.
Nicky started with an inside leg kick clinched up got the trip and got Ashley easily to give up her back making it easy for Nicky to get the choke surprising Ashley.
After Nicky and Ashley got up they walked with Nicky.
"Nicky the way you got that choke was swift."
"Thanks Ash."
"No, you're not hearing me the way you got that choke was too swift for someone just getting started on the mat."
Nicky blushed before answering.
"Fine you caught me I've been rolling with Lily for a few days she showed me some tricks."
"You devil Lily is a third degree blackbelt in Brazilian jujitsu spent her summers in Brazil during her high-school years."
"Wow I thought Marina was good."
"She is but she's no Lily."
"Understood I wanted to know if you guys would let me train with you full time?"
"Nicky you're always welcome to train with us you're full Red Dragon now fighting is a different story you'll have to talk it over with Marina."
"I know that I just want to train for now."
"Let's go shower and get out of here you have to be at your grandfathers soon."
Nicky and the rest of group showered and made their way back to Staten Island to drop Jack and Sean's stuff off before heading to Brooklyn for a Reagan get together.
Back in Staten Island Danny was just pulling up to the house to drop off his suit he parked the car in the driveway and went into the house.
"Linda I'm home." Danny called out.
After not getting an answer he checked the kitchen which was empty and ran upstairs to the bedroom.
He knocked on the closed door not getting an answer.
Starting to worry he went inside and found Linda in bed covered up which Danny found odd since she was always ready to head out if he stepped away on Sundays when he returned.
He tried to wake Linda but she wasn't responding.
"Linda wake up its Danny." Danny pleaded.
Again, Danny try to shake his wife awake with no luck he frantically checked for a pulse and couldn't find one trying to pull himself together he frantically dialed 911.
"911 what's your emergency?"
"This is NYPD Detective Danny Reagan I need a bus to 2116 third street I found my wife unresponsive please hurry."
Danny stayed t Linda's bedside hoping this was just a sick dream ten minutes later EMS arrived at the house with Danny leading up to the bedroom.
Two male EMTs quickly tended to Linda while Danny looked on both EMTs gave each other a subtle look knowing that they were about to tell Danny the one thing he feared.
The taller than skinned EMT went over to Danny who was at the entrance of the room.
"Mr. Reagan I'm sorry but your wife has passed we're very sorry for your loss."
It took Danny two seconds to burst into hysterics.
"She can't be gone she can't be gone." Danny sobbed having just been told his wife of twenty plus years was gone.
The EMT comforted Danny who hadn't heard the front door open.
"Dad Mom what's going on why is there an ambulance outside Jack hollered up the stairs seeing the scene by his parents' bedroom.
As he came up towards the room he saw his moms body on the bed and ran back outside crying.
A few moments later Danny was able to pull himself together enough to find both his sons being comforted by Nicky who was also crying having been told Linda had died.
"Guys let's get inside we'll call the rest of the family it'll be okay." Danny said trying to keep it together.
An hour later the entire Reagan family plus Marina Rocky and Ashley were sitting in the living-room still in shock that Linda was gone.
The M.E came right behind the Reagans and promised to rush the autopsy."
Everyone was stunned and confused trying to figure out how and why Linda died.
"How the hell could Linda be dead I just spoke to her a few hours ago." Danny wondered out loud.
"Danny it'll be alright we're here for you." Frank said taking his oldest son in his arms.
We need to go Dad I can't be here right now."
"Let's go we'll head to the house just to get away for a while.
With that everyone headed to Bay-Ridge hoping the M.E. would be able to shed light on this unexplainable event.
Two hours later Danny's cell rang and it was the M.E.
The call was quick as Danny hung up the phone the family waited for word.
"What was that about Danny?" Frank asked wanting answers just as bad as anyone.
Danny took a breath before answering.
"M.E. said Linda died of a sudden heart attack most likely in her sleep".
The family was shocked they had lost one of their own in a twisted unexpected way now it was a struggle to find out what was next.
Ashley Rocky and Marina all offered condolences as the family began drafting plans for the funeral when Marina spoke up.
Everyone I'd like to say again I am very sorry for your loss and I know what it feels like to lose a family member so since I think of all of you as my family I'd like to pay for the funeral no questions asked."
Danny was stunned he wasn't expecting Marina to step up like this.
"Marina you don't have to that really."
"Danny you're my brother in blue and once I marry Nicky someday soon you'll be family out of blue too so I don't want to hear it I'll take care of everything."
Danny was touched that Marina would go all out for him it was at that moment he knew that his niece had a true soulmate and was hoping that his angel who was unexpectedly called home was in a better place hoping to see him again someday.
That does it for this chapter next chapter will be up ASAP, it'll be the end of the first story in the Reagan Family series you'll get to find out about the funeral and if the Jamko wedding happens.