Jamie got home a little after six, "Hey," he smiled. "How was it today?"
Before she had a chance to answer Teddy jumped up to his feet and ran across the room, jumping up Into his Daddy's arms. "Daddy, daddy you home."
"I am home" he smiled. "Thank you for the hug. What did you play today?"
Teddy told him all about their day and what they played with Christa and Samuel of course.
Eddie got dinner in the table, missing the help from her mom a bit. They were talking about a trip to new York soon. Changing quickly Jamie helped get the kids settled in their chairs for dinner. They ate their meals a d as they did the dinner table started to shift and bounce. Teddy gasped and pulled his hands back. "It's okay Teddy, stay calm buddy," Jamie moved closer to his son, Eddie to Christa wide eyed.
"No," Teddy replied. "No, you stop, you stop, don't want to."
He turned to glance the boy, "What Teddy? What do you mean don't want to stop it? Whose moving the table buddy?"
He stopped kicking and crying out when the table stopped, "Mean man tell Teddy throw his food down but dint want to. Teddy knows better, it makes mommy and daddy mad and Teddy don't want Mommy and Daddy dead."
Holding Christa at least four feet back from the table, her eyes rounded. The table settled down and they relaxed. Teddy's eyes thought were dark. Jamie wanted to do bedtime with him again so he could watch Teddy. He helped wash up then carried his son to bed. Jamie took Teddy to bed and this time the boy said his prayers and laid right down doe his sleep.
Teddy's eyes rounded big and blue up at him as he reached a hand out to him. "Daddy say prayer for Teddy please."
"Sure little man" Jamie replied. "I will say it for you. Daddy loves you."
"Thank you daddy. Love you," Teddy's eyes slowly closed.
Jamie and Eddie sat on the couch talking. "You know I'm still late for my cycle but every by time I make an appointment, they cancel it."
"I'll call and make it for you. While I'm at it I'll make sure they don't cancel. Just leave me the number and I'll call the officer soon as I can tomorrow," Jamie said, slowly rubbing his fingers down her arm. "Why do you think you're late?"
"I did that home test," she replied. "And it was purple, I have no idea."
He cupped a hand around the muscle of her upper arms and turned to meet Eddie's eyes. His eyes shone studying her, "Wait, you mean your pregnant again? Really Eddie? We're going to have another baby?"
"No," Eddie replied. "I'm not sure yet, honey. I keep trying to find out, it's like something doesn't want me to know."
"We'll find out babe. If I have to keep calling or go down there myself. Did they tell you why they keep canceling on you," Jamie pulled Eddie so her head lay against his chest. He kissed the top of her head smiling.
They were watching a movie when they heard Teddy scream at the top of his lungs. Jamie threw the remote down, only a step behind Eddie running to their son's room. Teddy was frozen in bed, his blankets all over the place as he held his bear and sobbed to scared to even get out of bed. "Teddy? It's okay lamb chop mommy and daddy are here," Eddie put her arm around him, slowly bringing him closer.
He cried and held into him tight, sniffling and wiping his face. "Scare me...Man scare Teddy.
"What did he do Teddy bear," Eddie took Teddy into her arms and slowly rocked him. Jamie sat on the bed too watching.
"Come through the wall, he growl at me," Teddy sobbed. "Ouchy on my leg." Jamie reached down, pulling up the pants leg he let hang so limply. There were three scratches on his leg, but those could have gotten there playing.
Eddie held her baby against her chest, rubbing his curls slowly the way Mary did to Jamie. "It's okay, you're safe now. Mommy and Daddy are here."
"Can I sleep with you?" he asked.
"Of course you can. Come on, mommy will carry you to the bed and we'll all get some sleep," Eddie lifted her head. "Right daddy?"
Jamie nodded, "Yes, honey. Come on, let's get some sleep." He got up, following Eddie to their bedroom quietly. He helped Teddy change into pajamas and saw the cuts but thought they were from playing. "He has three scratches on his leg," Jamie sighed. "Poor baby is so screwed up."
Reaching the bedroom Eddie made sure to snuggle close with Teddy. "I didn't see any earlier. He's three and so active so who knows how he got them."
Jamie nodded, "I hate he's struggling so much."
"I do too, our poor baby," Eddie slowly rubbed her fingers through his curls focused on Teddy.
Jamie laid down next to them and wrapped them both in a huge hug. He kissed Teddy's head first whispering, "Love you buddy." He turned to kiss Eddie whispering, "Love you so much babe."
"I love you too..." Jamie whispered.
The rest if that night and the next few to come were uneventful. Eddie was at the kitchen sink and Jamie the coffee pot three says later when they observed Teddy's face light up and saw him start to wave. "Who you waving to buddy," Jamie turned in time to see his son's hand moving around.
"Pop Pop!" he exclaimed. "He here, wave at us."
The coffee machine whirled from behind Jamie who stared at his son. "What do you mean Pop Pop is here and he's waving at us buddy," he croaked.
"Him right there," teddy laughed. "He by windows, but he go now."
Jamie spun around, jaw dropped through the phone ring ringing twice. Eddie picked up the phone as she held Christa for a feed, "Jamie, it's your Dad."
He held out a hand and cleared his throat, "Hey Dad."
Eddie watched ad Jamie got thr news, he sat down in the chair and sighed. "We will leave as soon as we can. I'm so sorry Dad."
He pressed end, head lowered staring at the table blurry as his eyes filled with tears. "Pop died," he whispered shakily. "Dad found him this morning when he realized Pop wasn't awake yet. Be tried but Pop wouldn't get up."
"Oh honey, I'm sorry," Eddie replied. "Dies he know how?"
"No, that's the weird thing. Pop wasn't sick he just died. The medical examiner is there so we should know when they're done but," Jamie took a sharp breath.
"Pop get ouch,' Teddy said. '"Ouch right here..." He his his chest.
Eddie set Christa inside the high chair on her way around the table to sit by Teddy. "What do you mean Pop got an ouch Teddy? Did Pop tell you that?"
"No, I just know it," he replied. "I know he got ouch here."
Sighing quietly she kissed Teddy them went back around the other side. Eddie craddled Jamie against her chest, "Why don't you call work Jamie? I'll get the kids ready, pack a few things and we'll go home all right?"
He nodded, it was tough, this was tough, and Teddy's words are even too...tougher. Eddie took Christa and Teddy into their bedrooms for a change. She quietly put a few clothes into the suitcase. "Mommy," Teddy asked. "Why are we packing bag?"
"Because we have to go visit grandpa honey," Eddie started slowly. She put the last of his clothes then turned to study her boy.
"Cause Pop Pop die right? And Grandpa be sad," Teddy stated matter of fact.
Eddie sat on the bed studying him, Yes honey. Grandpa and Daddy are very sad, Uncle Danny too and mommy. "
"Not be sad," Teddy replied. "Pop Pop happy."
She took his hand cupping them in hers, "Teddy honey, how do you know Pop Pop is happy? Do you see him like you see Samuel? Did Pop Pop come talk to you at all buddy? " Her heart lurched having to ask but she had to know.
He nodded, "He come here, he say bye bye and go with nice lady with white skin and black hair."
"That was your great grandma honey," Eddie recalled a picture of Betty while looking through the family photo album once.
"They go, they happy now," Teddy replied. "All okay. I go play?" Smiling she took Teddy on her lap and gave him a tight hug and kiss then let him go. Eddie watched him leave, staying on the bed an extra few minutes.
She got up and headed to see Jamie. "I'm all set, whenever you are ready we can go." He was still sitting at the table numbly staring down and only nodded at her.
"Let's get on the road," she whispered. "I'll drive."
Jamie silently stood right into Eddie's arms with his cell phone in hand. They stopped to get their suitcases and the kids before heading out.
The ride was actually quite timely. Teddy didn't understand that it was a sad time, to him this was fun and ran to Frank for hugs. Frank was in his chair only blinking when he felt his grandson climbing up onto his lap. His watery eyes moved over the boy, "Teddy."
"HI grandpa!" Teddy greeted. "Don't be sad, Pop Pop happy okay?"
Eddie reached over for him quickly, "I'm sorry Frank. Teddy go say to Uncle Danny and Aunt Erin then we'll go see your cousins. "
"He is a positive little guy isn't he?" Frank asked and gave her a hug. That was putting it nicely Eddie thought, turning to check on Teddy. He was walking around the house looking with interest. This house was so quiet, no noises, very quiet.
Jamie hadn't moved from the living room doorway, watching the family. The suitcases sat by his feet abandoned. Danny stepped up to take them, "How you doing kid?"
Biting his lip Jamie only shook his head, "Still in shock maybe. I didn't think Pop was that sick. He had trouble with his heart but he seemed fine when we saw him and talked to him. It doesn't make sense Danny."
"He was fine, he just passed away... "I know it's a shock, come on inside." Jamie followed his big brother in to the couch between Eddie and him. Erin sat on the other end too not saying a word.
Later that night, Teddy was again finding this place unsettling. He went to his Mommy and sat on her lap. He put his thumb in his mouth, he hadn't done that in a year. "Why are up so late Teddy? It's past your bedtime," Eddie gently guided his thumb down from his mouth.
"Cant sleep here, it's funny here," he replied.
"Funny how," Eddie gently lay him against her chest while she slowly stroked her fingers through his curls.
"No noises, no talking or humming," he replied. "Feels funny."
Eddie kissed his head, slowly rocking Teddy in her arms. "Close your eyes and try to sleep buddy. Mommy and Daddy are all here and grandpa, Uncle Danny. It's okay." Teddy sighed and laid down, he didn't understand all this so he simply cried.