The wake was long hours shaking hands and thanking people for coming. A lot of Henry's old friends from the department came to pay their respects, upper brass at 1pp and some Danny and Jamie worked with.
Jamie handle it well, he stayed close to Eddie to stay grounded and focused. She was his rock. Now the hard part was their final goodbye to Henry. For this Eddie dressed Teddy in a small black suit. "You be a good boy, you stay by Mommy okay?"
Teddy held onto her, "I promise Teddy will be very good boy and stay with you mommy."
She gave him a kiss, "Good boy. Now let's go... hold tight to mommy. "His little hand tightened around hers and quietly followed. Teddy was so good during the church portion. He followed Frank and Jamie's movements. For a three year old he was quiet through the whole service. Eddie was proud of him.
When they got to the burial, a private ceremony for the most part, Teddy had a hard time. First, it was outside and a nice day and that was tempting for little kid. Second, there was so much energy... He kicked his little feet back and forth at the dirt then started a low grade whine sound.
"Teddy, ssh," Eddie whispered. "Just a little longer. Come up here." Eddie lifted him. Teddy held onto her but his head turned in every direction. He whimpered, burying his face in her shirt.
Eddie looked at Jamie, he was about to lose it. She nodded that she was going to move Teddy away but he erupted before she could. "No, no I don't like you. Don't like you, go way! Go way from Teddy!"
"Shhh Teddy," Eddie quietly took him away from the service to sit down until he was able to control himself again.
"All blue Mommy, blue foggy stuff all by Teddy, like smoky."
"Mommy has you and your safe baby," Eddie said softly, hugging him. "It's okay. "
"They all screeching" he cried. "Them there, in that one. That one there man screeching."
Eddie rocked him, "They're screeching even though you asked them to stop Teddy? Just one man?"
He nodded, "Yes, one. He there, he big man, has dark hair...Mommy no head all big hill... " he sobbed and held onto Eddie. Eddie looked at the headstones nearby, she hunted them trying to find out who it was that was terrifying her baby.
"Where is the smoky baby?" Eddie asked. "Point to it for Mommy." Teddy continued crying but pointed to their right.
Eddie carried him over and then looked down, she saw the name on the stone and knew immediately that this ghost targeted her small son. "Sonny Malevsky..." He was involved in Joe's murder.
"Sony," Eddie mumbled. She held onto Teddy a little tighter and swallowed hard. She ran with him away from that environment, she found Jamie walking back from the gravesite. "We have to go, now..."
"What happened Eddie? Everything okay," he looked from her to Teddy with a look of concern.
Christa was sound asleep in her stroller.
"Sonny...hes buried down the way from here, he...he showed himself to Teddy, he scared him, he scared him deliberately.
Jamie's face pinched mumbling, "Son of a. Come on, let's go. Lucky I can't see him."
Teddy wanted to go to his Daddy, she Eddie handed him of. She saw Erin whispering to Frank and heard one word, "Spoiled."
"I can hear you and he is certainly not spoiled. You want to see spoiled look at your daughter. Teddy is three years old," Eddie spun around on her heels with a single finger pointed up in her sister in law's direction.
"Ans acting up at a funeral and letting him" she snapped. "This is Pops day." Teddy held onto Dsddy more, "Daddy go, wanna go."
"It's okay buddy we're going now. It's okay, you're okay. Daddy is here and mommy, grandpa," Jamie rubbed small circles slowly over his boy's back. He's three Erin and doesn't understand. The only thing he knows is that he's terrified. Come on Eddie."
Frank saw legitimate fear in the child, he knew that petrified look. Jamie, what about his baptism? Danny is going to stand for him."
Frank saw legitimate fear in the child, he knew that petrified look. Jamie, what about his baptism? Danny is going to stand for him."
"I want to talk to Father but Teddy is to scared right now. We have to get him back to the house," Jamie replied.
Jamie's hand was wet, Teddy was regressing in his training even. This was too much on a small child. "Jamie, Bishop is ready to do him now. Take him back by church.
He sighed, looked at Teddy then nodded, "Thanks dad. It's okay Teddy, daddy has you bud."
Eddie too the stroller and held his hand. They had to do something as soon as they could. Teddy settled down when they got away from the cemetery. He was so tired he could hardly lift his little head. They barely made it out before he fell asleep. Eddie turned around in her seat, "He's sleeping, poor little guy."
"I hope this helps, I need it to work, so does he," Jamie sighed.
"Yeah, to both and so I," Eddie turned back to let him sleep. She reached a hand over the seat, rubbing his arm. Christa had no idea this was an issue, she was happy go lucky, waving and cooing in her car seat.
Franks and Danny were waiting there for them. Eddie took Christa out while Jamie carried and exhausted and fussy Teddy inside. Frank reached for his grandson. "You okay Teddy? You get scared?"
"The tall man scared Teddy grandpa. He did it and he wouldn't listen when Teddy told him not to and Teddy don't like him. He big and mean and scary. Teddy don't like him," Teddy cradled into his grandfather's chest.
"I see, okay," Frank held him tight. "Jamie you and Eddie need to see father and then we will get this boy baptized. Grandpa got you a nice white suit to wear."
Teddy clapped his hands lightly letting his grandpa take him back while Jamie and Eddie talked to father. Jamie promised all he knew he'd have to promise to get the Bishop to baptize Teddy so fast including a generous donation. The Bishop studied him but finally agreed to the quick ceremony.
Frank showed Teddy off in his new clothes and Jamie held his son while the Bishop said the words over him. "Theodore Joseph I baptize the in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. " Teddy turned around watching the Bishop with wide eyed. He looked around giggling to himself when he caught sight of the fountain.
Teddy shook his head back and forth, "I'm wet mommy,'
"It's okay Teddy bear. When we're all done then we will dry you all up okay," Eddie held back a snicker.
The priest baptized Christa next and she was not happy about it. She flailed her arms and tight fisted hands while screaming when the water touched her. Eddie rocked her and soon she settled down. She looked up to the priest nodding so he could continue.
Within a half hour, both children had been baptized and blessed. Eddie felt better and she knew Jamie did. They went back to the family home where they were met by close friends and some distant relatives as well.
Jamie carried Teddy with a held breath as he greeted everyone, hoping the baptism would help. These were living people, they weren't scary to Teddy. Erin glared at Eddie. HoldingHolding the baby carrier Eddie gave her a look then took Christa out so she could stretch. "Come here baby, you were in there so long."
"She didn't like the fountain," teddy told whoever's was listening. "Sissy cry."
They chuckled, smiling up at Jamie, "He is just to cute. You seem like a very good big brother."
"Yes, Teddy goes brother. Not let hurt sissy." He moved closer to the carrier as if to protect the baby.
"He is a good brother and very protective of her," Jamie went inside to settle on the couch. "Be careful okay Teddy."
He nodded and sat by the baby with his hand on her tummy"Bwaga Dada," Christa cooed at him, waving a tight fist through the air.
Erin cornered Jamie in the kitchen. "You had to do it today? You had to pick tiday?"
"Yeah it was the only time the Bishop could do it Erin. Why," Jamie asked.
"This was Pop's day and even Dad was distracted by him acting up. Danny told me what you think and it's absurd."
Sighing Jamie shook his head at her, "I didn't think you would understand Erin but it is real. Whether or not you believe it is your problem."
"How is it real? He has to be exaggerating it."
"No we've both seen it and so has other people. He really sees it Erin," Jamie said.
"Well maybe that's why you should have baptized him when Dad wanted you to."
Jamie glared at her," I don't tell you how to raise Nicky so don't tell me how to raise my kids."
Teddy came into the room, he had a unique way of feeling all these new things. "Hey bud, everything okay," Jamie smiled and turned towards his son smiling.
"Mommy says that you need to go help Grandpa," he said. "And I gotta go potty in the big boy toilet cause there's not potty here."
He walked past Erin, lifting Teddy up, "Daddy will take you to the bathroom. Good job telling me bud. Is grandpa okay?
"Yes, he's getting his bag," Teddy replied. "We have to hurry, Daddy, Pee Pee coming." Jamie hurried his son to the first floor toilet luckily making it in time. He thought about what Teddy said, his dad was getting his bag.
Jamie found Frank with his two suitcases packed. Eddie was anxious to get her children home and Frank was anxious to take a break. Making sure Teddy was done, his hands washed he hurried out to his dad. "Hey Teddy used the big boy potty."
"Good for you Teddy!" Frank praised. "I'm so proud of you. Give me five." Teddy grinned as he gave his grandpa the hardest high five he possibly could.
Now that Henry was buried, what Frank needed was to get away and relax. What better way to get that than time with his youngest and his grandchildren. Jamie was happy to have his father come back home with them, hopefully to normal. They planned to leave early the next morning.