Chapter Fifty
"So we're all set for tonight?' Lila confirmed with Joey and Frank two weeks later. It was already late afternoon, Eddie had only been down for a short while that day and it was making Frank a little nervous. Eddie and Jamie had both shifted to taking better care of themselves and each other following Eddie's health crisis; if she was under the weather they might ask to reschedule the "thank you" dinner or cancel outright.
"Except if your Mom isn't up to it," Frank sighed. "Vito closed the entire restaurant, the DVD arrived by messenger yesterday, and I have the dress ready go to as soon as I hear your Dad I'll ask him to bring it upstairs."
"We are actually going to pull this off," Joey smiled.
"Grandpa, I'll pick you up at 6:45 and we'll say that we are taking the twins to the play place and you want to go," Lila plotted. "Then we'll all be at the restaurant when Mom and Dad arrive in the car. Joey will drive their car back her and Molly will take their car home. The limo will take Mom and Dad to the Plaza."
Frank beamed, it meant a lot to him to be able to do this for his family, especially his youngest and his wife, the pair of them reminded him of his partnership with Mary.
"I'm going to go up and check on Mom, if there's anything we can head off we don't need fifty people at the restaurant if they end up not being able to come."
Lila went upstairs and knocked, "Mom, it's Lila!"
"Come in!" Eddie was standing in front of the mirror trying on dresses. "I want to look my best for the dinner tonight and none of these seems right."
"You will look great no matter what you wear," Lila assured Eddie. "What about this one, the black…"
Eddie smiled, "Actually that dress is too big."
"Way to go, Mom!" Lila praised. "You know this is just a nice think Jack and Joey want to do. Don't worry."
Eddie nodded, "Let me try on at navy blue pants suit."
Eddie disappeared to change coming out a few minutes later showing off the pants suit smiling. "That looks great mom," Lila complimented smirking to herself about the gift Frank was sitting on.
"Yeah, I think we have a winner. Lila will you help with my hair?" Eddie sat down in front of her dresser letting Lila brush her hair fixing it up for dinner.
When she finished Lila smiled at her mother through the reflection. "That looks great," she smiled. "Are you ready?"
"More or less, I have to do my face, but I'll wait until Dad is home." Eddie carefully changed back into her sweats "I think I'll just take a short nap before it's time to go. Thanks for taking care of Grandpa tonight."
Lila smiled, "No worries, Mom. Get some rest."
While Eddie napped, Lila took the dress from Frank and snuck it onto her mom's bed with the note it was from Joey and Molly. "I'll see you later, Grandpa."
"I'll be ready, I can't wait to see their faces."
Jamie changed his shirt and tie while talking to Frank, "I really wanted to spend tonight just me and Eddie, it's our 35th anniversary. Thirty five years ago, we became partners and my live has not been the since, thank God. I love her more than the day I met her, the day I married her…"
Frank smiled, "Take some time tonight and honor that. Did you get her a gift?"
"I got her an eternity necklace, I'll give it to her after dinner."
Frank smiled, little did Jamie know there was a lot more in store for both of them tonight.
Lila picked Frank up at 6:45 as promised, leaving Jamie to wait for Eddie. "Eddie, come on honey," Jamie called. "It's almost seven, we're going to be…"
Eddie appeared at the top of the steps wearing the not the pants suit chosen by Lila but the dress she had tried on and loved when shopping with Molly. Eddie had to retouch her face after finding the dress on the bed when she got up from her nap, her heart was so warmed by the gesture.
Jamie's words died on his lips and his breath caught when he saw Eddie. Her golden hair was curled and up in a bun, her face was shining and perfectly made highlighting bright blue eyes and full lips, and her body….the dress accentuated the positive, her full bosom and curvy waist, and eliminated the negative so well it was nearly non-existent. Eddie completed the ensemble with modest heels, delicate pearl earring, and a clutch bag
Jamie's mouth felt dry. He crossed the floor and took Eddie's hands. "You look so…beautiful…Oh Eddie…" Jamie admired his with pride and a smile before closing their gap for a kiss.
Eddie snuggled close to Jamie, "Oh I wish we didn't accept this invitation. We could just stay home, sit on the couch together…
"We promised the kids," Jamie reminded her. "They really want to do this for us."
Eddie nodded and walked out with Jamie, hand in hand.
Jamie handed the keys to the valet when they arrived at the restaurant. He gently took Eddie's arm and walked into the totally empty restaurant. Jamie and Eddie's detective sense went off sensing a slight movement in the back as Danny reached to switch the light revealing the entire family and several members of the NYPD, including Renzulli, Kara Walsh, John McKenna, Abigail Baker, and former Commissioner Gormley. "Surprise!"
Eddie turned to hide her face as she turned beat red, "What is all this?" Jamie asked. "What's going on?"
"Happy anniversary, Kid," Renzulli spoke up. "I knew the day I put you two together you would get married. Thirty five years ago tonight!"
"We wanted to do something special for you guys," Lila replied. "Grandpa set this all up. Happy Anniversary." Lila move to hug her parents.
Molly and Joey were next offering their affection and congratulations. "Thank you so much for the dress,' Eddie whispered to her soon to be daughter while Linda hit the play button on the radio and the strains on Through the Years began to play.
Jamie held Eddie tight in his arms swaying to the song they danced to at their wedding, Lila's wedding, and any other special event in the married life. Eddie dropped her head and laid it on Jamie's chest. Jamie stroked her back and dropped soft kisses on Eddie's hair. As the song drew to close, Jamie vaguely noticed they were joined by Danny and Linda, Jack and Rita, Joey and Molly, and Lila and Steve. When the music ended Jamie placed a full kiss on Eddie's lips before the couple stepped towards Frank each kissing his cheeks. "Thank you so much," Jamie whispered. "Thank you all so much for coming tonight and helping us celebrate."
Joey fired a few pictures on his camera, he planned to make an album of this night to give to his parents for the holiday. Eddie and Jamie took their seats between family and friends. Slowly, each of the older members of the NYPD began to tell their old war stories, Frank of course, having the most being the oldest living member of the NYPD.
As the dinner was served and being enjoyed by everyone at the party, Jamie leaned over whispering in Eddie's ear, "Meet me in the back by the bathroom." Jamie gave a smirk and excused himself to go to the bathroom.
Eddie turned back to her conversation with Lila and Kara waiting a few minutes before excusing herself to join Jamie as he had asked. She looked around before knocking gently. The door opened, Jamie stepped out and whispered so no one heard, "We can't be long but I wanted to give you a present. Close your eyes."
Eddie did as Jamie asked. Jamie pulled the velvet box out of his pocket and smiled. "To my best friend, my lifelong partner. I love you," Jamie slid the necklace onto Eddie's neck praying that his fingers cooperated. They did and Jamie smiled, "For eternity, my love."
Eddie fingered the necklace and took a quick glance at it in the mirror. "Oh Jamie, it's beautiful. I love it." Eddie reached on her tip toes to give Jamie a kiss. "I have something for you too."
Eddie reached into her bag and handed Jamie her gift to him. This day had always been more important to her than their wedding anniversary of even her birthday. Eddie handed Jamie a black box. HE opened the box and revealed a very elegant bed. "That's a special pen," Eddie explained. "It is weighted for you to get better control over it and it should help your hand not cramp up so you don't hurt…" Jamie held the pen and smiled then read the inscription, "To my partner for life…Love Eddie."
Jamie kissed Eddie deeply and kissed, "Thank you, I love it…"
As Jamie was about to slip back into the party he heard another old but favorite song, "Don't go changin'…" Jamie smiled. "May I have this dance, Mrs. Reagan?"
Eddie's smile was answer enough.
When Jamie and Eddie returned to the party, Lila and Joey stood up front. "Mom and Dad, Joey and I worked on this for you over the last week with lots of help from all of your friends and family at the NYPD. We really hope that it captures even a little bit of the essence of your partnership and your marriage. We all love you, the two of you, even with your ups and downs, set the bar high for all of us…Joey?"
Joey hit the play button on the slideshow, which began with a few pictures of Jamie and Eddie from their younger years, their baby photos, high school, college, and academy graduations…then came the partner pictures…their first day on the job, celebrating a bust leaning against their car…their marriage photo, Joey's birth, then Lila's…the whole family together.
Next came the rougher photos, through Eddie's illness. One in particular caught Jamie in the heart. Seven year old Joey was sitting on Eddie's hospital bed, his little head on his mother's then flat chest, while Jamie held them both. Frank took that picture, Jamie had never seen it before.
As the images flashed on the screen, Jamie and Eddie held onto one another tight. Images of the kids growing up, making their sacraments, graduating flashed by to the carefully chosen music. The entire presentation was beautiful and fluid until the final image made the entire room burst out laughing. It was a caricature of a younger Jamie and Eddie, in their patrol uniforms wearing capes…
When the slideshow ended, Danny and Renzulli slipped into the back of the restaurant and returned with an easel size painting of the same caricature. "You always wanted to wear capes, Janko," Renzulli joked as Eddie offered hug and Jamie a warm handshake. Truth be told he was grateful for the comic relief, the memories brought on by the slides had stroked his emotional skin more than he liked in public.
Dessert was served and Reagan and Finn made the rounds to all of the extended family. Reagan fell asleep on her Daddy's lap while Finn fought to remain awake, "Here's our little detective," Baker joked. "He likes to see what's going on huh?"
"Yeah he takes after Lila," Eddie replied. "She was into everything too when she was his age, same with Joe."
Conversations about the family and the old guard continued until Frank's cell phone rang and he smiled, "Jamie and Eddie, the last part of your surprise has just arrived out back. Now, Lila and Joey have packed bags for each of you and I gave those bags to the limo company earlier today. In this envelope, is a voucher for tonight and tomorrow night, including the New York State of Mind package, a Broadway show, dinner at Sardis and dancing…"
Eddie could barely contain her excitement two days and two nights, just her and Jamie, no anniversary could have been better than that.
A/N: One, two, three…Awwww…Jamie and Eddie are just so darn cute. Feels like a good time to thank Lawslave, Yanks302021, and other technical advisers for their dedication to this story as well as my loyal readers. Story six, entitled The Hardest Thing, is in the work now.
Next Update – December 10th – Several couples reflect on their relationships before the rehearsal dinner.
