Chapter Twenty Eight
Danny and Kara's husband Matt, were waiting for the group when they got off the flight. Kara had decided while she was in Montana to give her marriage a stronger push before making a determination she was married to a lifemate like Jamie and Eddie. She ran to his arms and was swept up in them. No one was expecting to see Tom at the airport, but there he was with April. Danny was holding Max in his own arms.
Jamie and Eddie took a deep breath, there would be no airport goodbye forthcoming now. They shared a private look, a show of support then headed to greet their children.
Eddie held April close to her and kissed the little girl's face over and over. "Oh Mommy missed you, I missed you…"
"Miss me?" Tom asked and leaned down for kiss. Eddie tried to turn her head, but Tom caught her jaw and began to turn her head to his lips. "I missed you."
Eddie felt her skin prickle as Tom kissed her passionately in front of Jamie. She opened her eyes and looked over at Jamie. It was clear from the look on his face that he did understand, he just didn't like it, not one bit.
When Eddie and Tom parted, Tom gauged the other man's reaction, it was cool and cordial, not unlike his wife's kiss.
Kara watched Jamie's eyes, those were his most expressive. They were flashing with tremendous anger even while his face was stock still and emotionless. Tom was staking his claim on her…and Jamie didn't like it. Kara shot him a sympathetic look, she had no idea how hard this had to be for him watching Eddie's loving husband welcome her home.
Eddie watched as Jamie airplaned Max around his head making the boy laugh. Max was looking at Eddie snuggling April, he cooed and kicked his legs at the other baby. "That's a baby..yeah, that's Ms. Eddie's baby. Say hi to her…"
Max patted April's blanket. "Jamie he's adorable…can we switch for a minute?"
Jamie nodded and handed Max back to Danny so he could take little April in his arms. The girl was still very small and light but she was showing off so many of Eddie's features now. Max was transferred to Eddie's arms and she hugged the boy. "You are a handsome boy aren't you? Yes…you are…"
Tom watched the exchange, Max settled into Eddie like she was his own mother. The boy didn't look much like Jamie, but the way he reacted he knew Daddy. "Edit, the car is waiting and it's late for April to be out."
Eddie nodded, "You be a good boy Max. Mind your Daddy…"
Jamie gave April's head a soft brush before they switched the kids back. "I'll talk to you soon," Eddie told Jamie leaving it open ended so she could text him later. Danny's mind was racing on a way to get them alone again but nothing he came up with seemed to work. Tom's arrival had thwarted a good plan.
"So, you look so much better, Kid," Danny told Jamie. "Where are we going from her?"
"To Dad's," Jamie replied. "I have to see Claudia tomorrow but for tonight, to Dad's…It's going to be over between us, Danny. I'm going to end my marriage to Claudia."
"Well it's about time Kid,' Danny replied. "If you didn't make that choice I was thinking of getting guys in the white coats to come get you. I'm proud of you, Kid. What about Eddie and Daddy Warbucks, he was pretty hands on there."
"I know…but we worked it out. Monday I'm meeting with some attorneys to get ready to file, then when I'm final, Eddie is going to file. She has to be a little more careful because Tom is stable, so April is vulnerable."
"It's a mess, you two were really stupid," Danny replied. "But I'm here, Im' alwsys here to help you."
"I know you are…" Jamie smiled as he claimed his bag. "Oh that reminds me," Jamie reached into his bag and took out the pocket knife he and Eddie got for Danny. "Eddie and I thank you so much for all you've done to help us. This is from us."
Danny took the knife, engraved with the words, "Best Brother…" It had everything, the knife, screwdriver, scissors, top of the line. "You mean that? Thought that was Joe?"
Danny's jaw worked with emotion. "It was Joe, we've become brothers the last few years Danny, one bit of good out of the trash heap I made of my life. That and this guy here…" Jamie tickled his son's belly.
Danny had to dip his head to avoid showing Jamie just how much emotion he felt at those words. "Yeah, and it's pretty late for him. Pop's got him on a pretty good schedule, let's go home hmm?"
"What do you say, buddy? Home?" Max cooed and smiled showing off his four little teeth. Jamie laughed, "Good idea."
Jamie was welcomed to his family home with open arms, but for Eddie's part, Tom also had his arms open. Eddie held little April like shield in her arms. "Maybe it was too soon for you to go?"
"I don't know, it was good to have some time with Kara and to see Jamie," Eddie replied. "He's going through a hard time and we had a chance to talk a lot about that. I offered him my help." There that would cover it.
"You two are very close," Tom replied. "It's good you are renewing your friendship."
Eddie nodded, "Oh my sweetie pie…" April was fussing so Eddie stood up and walked her in her arms. "Oh…I love you. Mommy loves you, it's okay now."
"Sue would put her on the dryer when she did that," Tom replied. 'It seemed to help."
Eddie felt a stab of anger at hearing that Tom had Sue tending to her baby. "You could have had some time with her Tom, you didn't have to bring Sue in."
"Well, Sue is a woman, she's better with a tiny baby than I am," Tom replied. "You like Sue."
"Yes, I do but…" Eddie shook her head. "It's okay, I'm going to try to put her down then unpack…"
"I'll see you in the bedroom then," Tom replied. "I did miss you so much, so did April. Perhaps we have to rethink these trips to Montana…"
Eddie sighed, she knew Tom was going to press her. Eddie looked down at April, "Cry baby girl…please cry…"
April loudly obliged.
"There you go little guy," Jamie whispered and settled Max in his bed. "Daddy missed you so much. I'm really sorry about having to divorce your Mommy, buddy. It's not a happy place for you or for Daddy…when you are older you'll understand, Daddy has to put you first Maxy." Jamie rubbed the baby's belly softly. "That means you need to live in a happy and healthy house and the house with Mommy…it's just not that. So Daddy's going to fix it."
Max cooed and reached for Jamie's hand. "You understand don't you?"
"Yes, I think he does," Frank smiled. "And so do I. I'm proud of you Jamie. You are doing what is best for your son and in your case that is getting a divorce and moving back home."
"I'm going to talk to her tomorrow, let her know that I'm not coming home, that I'm done..." Jamie sighed. "I can't keep doing this, it's not fair to Max, to me, or even to Claudia, I don't know if she'd be this vial if she was happy."
"Good for you, you know that you and Max can stay here with me and Pop as long as you like," Frank reminded Jamie. "This will always be your home."
"I know that Dad, thanks for taking care of him," Jamie replied. "Did she see him at all?"
"Yes," Frank replied. "She came three times to see him but didn't do much with him. She over all just talked with me about the trouble she's having at the 4-6."
Jamie sighed, "Always a damn angle with her, I'm sorry Dad."
"Stop apologizing," Frank said firmly. "The only person you can control is you."
Jamie agreed, "I'll be down soon, I want to stay with him a little more and get him settled. I missed him so much."
"He missed you too," Frank replied. "He looked for you after your Facetime chats, he didn't look for Claudia too much."
"She didn't bond with him, he deserves more and I'm going to give him more."
With another big smile, Frank headed down to the kitchen. "So is it true?" Henry pressed. "Is Jamie getting a divorce?"
"Yes," Frank replied. 'He is getting a divorce and from the way he's speaking he wants custody of Max. That will be a hard rode for him with someone like Claudia but he's got a good group of folks behind him. I think even his old partner might be in on that one now."
"I only met her once or twice," Henry said pouring two cups of milk. "But that girl was pure sunshine, full of spunk. What's she doing now?"
"She's married to Tom Manning, the architect that donated the money and design for the new training center. Jamie and Eddie met up in Montana. She's good for Jamie, he is so much better, I was really worried when he left here Pop.
"So was I, Francis," Henry admitted. "So was I."
The next morning, Jamie contemplated how exactly to speak to Claudia about the divorce. He knew she would fly off the handle, but Jamie still felt it was right to handle this issue alone.
"You be a good boy Max," Jamie whispered. "Daddy will be back and we'll go swing. Do you want to swing? Go weeee…."
Max laughed, a happier baby by all accounts since Jamie took him from the apartment. He smiled, he laughed, he played…even at 10 months he'd been affected by his moher and father's poor relationship.
"He'll like that, we'll take a lunch and go together,' Henry replied. "Good luck, Jamie."
Jamie drove toward his apartment, having no sentiment about what he was going to do. He'd made a promise to Eddie and this was right for his son.
Jamie let himself in the house, "Claudia?!" he called out. "Are you home?"
Claudia came out of the bedroom, in just a silk robe. "Welcome home…" she smiled and advanced on Jamie almost immediately. "Claudia, sit, we need to have a talk, okay?"
"Talk? If you only wanted to talk, you'd bring Max with you. Why did you take our son?" Claudia was calm so far, that was a good sign.
"I took him because…the last time I was here you beat me," Jamie replied. "And this is not okay for a man, a woman, and especially a child. Max is a different kid after just a week away from this environment, it's not a health family for him and I'm not going to let it continue. Tomorrow, I'm filing for a divorce, I want out. This was a mistake for us both. I'll treat you fair," Jamie replied.
Claudia stood up, "You will not divorce me! You don't have the balls to do that! You worthless piece of…"
Claudia grabbed a heavy silver candlestick and struck Jamie across the ribs. He felt one of them crack and poke into his skin! It stung and he protectively cradled his middle. Jamie tried to stand but he pain was crippling.
Jamie's knees buckled, he sank to the ground looking to see what he could use to defend himself. As Jamie tried to stand, Claudia raised a strong fist and caught him across the face. Jamie's eye felt like it was going to explode, then his head as the blows continued. Jamie managed a few blows….but Claudia's rage gave her a strength even the trained cop in his could not combat.
A/N: Please join us on Monday for a bonus chapter! Thanks for reading.
