Chapter Forty Nine
"I look like the Liberty Bell," Eddie laughed as she modeled her third gown for Linda, Lila, Erin, and Molly. Rita was of with Jack and Joey giving the final seal of approval on the appetizer and dessert bar for the wedding. The gown was goldenrod yellow, with a modest slit in a full ball skirt.
Lila laughed, "Actually, you do. Take that one off that one is in the solid no pile.'
A short time ago a comment like that would have upset Eddie beyond belief, but today, she laughed. "Molly can you and Lila go and find dresses in teal, royal and navy blue, hunter green, and plum, colors like that and bring them?"
Both girls set off to shop while Eddie sat down between Linda and Erin. "You feeling okay?" Erin asked. The entire family had been scarred by Eddie's ill health, even Erin who had never been close with her sister in law.
"Yeah, I am just remembering when I was the girls' age. Every dress I tried on looked great and I had to leave things behind, now it's the opposite."
"It's like that for all of us," Linda replied. "Molly and Lila, even Rita though he's older than they are, have it easy."
Molly combed the racks, "This is pretty and I think she'll look nice in it."
"Yes, but it's not a gown," Lila replied. "Mother of the groom has to have a gown. She would look good in it though."
Molly included the black cocktail dress with lace applique sleeves and a jewel neckline, if nothing else the dress might give Eddie a self-esteem boost. The girls returned with a new selection of dresses, "Try this one first," Lila told Eddie handing her an eggplant gown with an A-line cut and a waist line ornament. "The neckline will flatter you too."
Eddie took the dressed and began to look at them. She slid into the eggplant dress and smile, it did flatter her bosom and gave her a bit of a shape. When Eddie stepped out of the dressing room she turned around. "That's a pretty dress," Linda replied smiling. "That looks good on you. Try on the other ones but let me hang onto this one."
The next three gowns did not make the cut. Then Eddie happened on Molly's dress; it was short but Eddie felt like she should at least try it. It fit her like a glove, it hugged her curves without revealing any unsightly bulges, it propped her breasts, and generally looked beautiful. Eddie modeled it for the group. "I can't wear this for the wedding, but I love it. If I found this in a long dress…" Eddie sighed taking the dress off after receiving Kudos from the group. Two more dresses and the ladies selected the eggplant dresses cousin, the same cut and outline, in a soft Kelly green.
Unbeknownst to Eddie, Molly put the dress she found on layaway, planning to purchase it for her mother in law to be, it made molly so happy to see Eddie at home in a garment again.
Eddie hung the garment bag on the back of Reagan's carriage. The women found the food court and sat down to have dinner before going home. "You see," Erin smiled at Eddie. "That' wasn't' so bad."
"No, what's hard now is realizing that I'm going to have two married kids. It makes me feel old."
"Please you are fifteen years younger than I am, I don't feel old," Erin laughed.
"You had Nikki young," Linda reminded Erin. "And she got married young. My boys…I didn't think either of the would get to settle down. Sean is determined to be a bachelor but if this Dana person's baby is his, he told Danny and me that he wants custody."
"Oh that's good," Eddie smiled. "If that baby is a Reagan it should grow up as a Reagan."
Molly smiled, "Joey and I want to have babies right away so perhaps it has a cousin then, and the twins to all play together."
Eddie reached over and rubbed Molly's arm, 'Don't rush it, honey."
Lila nodded, "Yeah, get used to being married first bfore you have babies. Babies change things." Lila looked at Reagan sound asleep in her carriage. "They are a blessing but if you happen to get two of them you need a lot of help."
"It takes a village," Linda smiled. "You're doing better, and we're all here to share this with you, Sean, Jack…"
Erin nodded, "I think my initial issue was thinking you were asking Dad to help, not realizing it was his choice. Since it is his choice, and he seems to actually breathe better…"
Lila nodded, "He does, he really does. I know I'm not a great Mom but I would never put Grandpa in harm's way. I get upset at Nikki cause she makes us all tense."
"I had a long talk with her and that won't happen at the weddings," Linda assured the table.
Eddie smiled, "Good…"
Back at the Reagan house, Joey, Jamie, Frank, and little Finn sat around the table. Finn was in his bouncy seat while the other three men played cards. "Gin," Joey announced smiling. He rarely beat his father and grandfather at cards, it was a triumph for him.
Finn cooed at the sound of his uncle's voice, "Yeah, your Uncle Joe's good luck charm little guy. Where are these women? How long can it take to pick out a dress?"
Jamie and Frank exchanged looks and both laughed. Joey raised his eyebrow, "It's a married man thing you will understand on about day two of your honeymoon. You will spend most of your married life waiting on a woman."
"Where's Uncle Danny? Didn't Aunt Linda go with them?" Joey asked putting the cards back in their box and taking little Finn out of his chair and holding the boy on his lap. Finn grabbed his foot and shoved it into his mouth.
"He's the embodiment of what is often wrong in this family," Frank laughed. "He puts his foot and his mouth and he often has no shoes on."
"Well, the foot thing I get," Jamie laughed but he didn't quite understand Frank's comment about the shoes.
Before anyone could speculate the ladies returned home sans Linda. She headed back to Staten Island directly knowing how difficult it was becoming for Danny to manage home alone at night.
"There's my guy!" Lila cooed reaching for her little boy. "Were you a good boy? Was he okay?"
"Finn was fine," Frank replied. "Joey was cheating at cards."
Eddie laughed, "You finally beat him?" She ruffled Joey's hair like she did when he was a boy as Molly handed Reagan over to Frank for a cuddle.
Frank kissed Reagan's little head before handing her back to Lila. "I'm heading out, I'll see you tomorrow. Get some rest, Grandpa."
Lila kissed Frank and her parents good night then loaded the twins in her car to go home. "We better get going too, I have a patient in the morning," Molly told Joey. "Drop me on yer way?"
"Like I wouldn't," Joey laughed and said his goodnights, leaving Jamie, Eddie, and Frank with a quiet house.
"How did she do, really?" Joey asked as they drove Molly to her apartment.
"She did well, got a little frustrated about one particular dress, but she found a lovely gown for the wedding. She'll rival the brides te be sure."
"Not my bride," Joey whispered. "No one will touch you."
"Joseph, I put a dress on the side for yer Mom. I want to get it fer her and give it as a gift," Molly replied. "Is that all right?"
"I would be careful buying her something she didn't try on," Joey replied. "Because of her…"
"But she did, I slipped it in with her gowns and she looked so beautiful," Molly gushed. "Fer her party with yer Dad. I think she'll look so lovely but the dress is $169.99 so I wanted yer permission to buy it."
"If Mom looked good in it and you want to do this for her, then please do so," Joey replied. "Do you have enough cash or do you need money?"
"I have the money but this would be our gift so I wanted te be sure," Molly replied as Joey pulled over and parked the car.
Joey leaned over and kissed Molly's lips, "Go pick up the dress. We'll coordinate with Lila about getting it into the house. Jack is going to say we want to take them out for a fancy dinner at Café Bella as a thank you and that his parents are also invited. That will get them their dressed up already."
"Good idea, I'm so excited to do this. I'll meet you in the city for pizza tomorrow."
Joey gave Molly a final kiss and watched her go inside. When the light came on in her apartment Joey honked twice and pulled away.
When Frank turned in, Jamie and Eddie headed upstairs. Jamie's eyes twinkled adoringly at Eddie as he slipped his arms around her waist slowly and kissed her cheek. "Tired?" Jamie knew long outings did still tired Eddie.
"No, why?" Eddie raised an eyebrow wondering what he was up to. Grinning Jamie moved his hands up her arms gently massaging her though her blouse. He moved up to her shoulders rubbing his strong hands working the stress out.
"Good," he whispered in her ear advancing to Eddie's neck feeling her relax against him. "I love you so much Eddie. Such a beauty…"
A smile emerged on Eddie's face as she completely relaxed against Jamie as he rewrapped his arms around her. "I know I love you too Jamie, that felt great thanks."
"My turn?" Jamie asked hopefully.
Eddie sat on the bed and put Jamie's legs on her lap, "Oh..Finn was fussy huh?" Eddie saw the marks of over use on his leg. Gently Eddie worked on the muslces and skin as Jamie peppered her head with kisses. "I'm too tired tonight, Eddie, but I want…"
"We don't always have to make love to be in love…it's okay," Eddie replied. "I got a dress, a purple one and I look sort of pretty."
Jamie laid his head on top of Eddie's, "I bet you look very pretty. I'll be the proudest man at that wedding, even prouder than Joe to have you on my arm."
"Don't butter me up," Eddie lightly scolded.
"I'm not…" Jamie said sincerely. "No matter what we've gone through physically, emotionally, I've been proud to be your husband and I've been honored to be your best friend."
Eddie turned in Jamie's arms and met his eyes, "It's because we're best friends that we are get through. I'm proud to your wife, I always have been."
Jamie cupped Eddie's cheek and began to kiss her, maybe he wasn't too tired after all.
A/N: So it seems the ladies of the Reagan famiy are solving their differences, and Eddie is finally in a better place with her body, and plans for the surprise are in their final stages as is this story. Four chapters to go after this.
Next Update – December 7th – The surprise is on for Jamie and Eddie.
