Frank made a beeline for the nurse's desk once he arrived a half hour later. "Frank Reagan you called about my son."
Mary and Lena were in his heels, "My daughter, she's a little blonde girl...is she here?"
The nurse gave them all a bright smile, nodding her head.
"They're both in back safe with Dr Kristen. Eddie hurt her wrist and is being examined and Jamie won't leave her side. I will let the doctor know that you're here."
The three adults were ushered back to the exam room. Eddie was crying as Jamie held onto her. They both looked up as the adults entered with a mix of guilt and fear neither saying a word.
Mary grabbed Jamie in her arms and Lena rushed over to Eddie. "Are you okay? Is she okay?
Eddie cried in her mom's arms, fear and in pain carefully tucking her wrist against her chest. "We're fine mommy. I hurt my wrist but the doctor helped and Jamie stayed with me."
"That was good Jamie, but you must never, ever run off again, do you hear?"
Jamie ducked his head looking at his hands quietly whispering, "Yes mom." Frank still hadn't said a word, he knew he'd have to punish Jamie for this.
"But we ran away because you want me and Eddie to go to different schools and we don't want to! We're best friends!" His eyes swept past his parents and Lena to Eddie sniffling in the big chair in her mom's arms.
Frank lost his temper, he turned red in the face, "Jamie, you could have been...over going to school!" Jamie flinched, the first time his father lost his temper with him. He ducked his head again mumbling something so low even Mary couldn't hear.
"Don't you yell!" Eddie defended. "Not nice to yell, Jamie helped me."
"You are in big trouble too Edit Marie. You know better then to run away," Lena lectured firmly, holding onto her.
"Mommy, I'm scared," Eddie said. "It's a big place and I never been at school without Jamie."
Softly hushing her Lena rocked Eddie in her arms. "Shh, you'll be fine Edit. You'll make new friends before you know. That's no excuse to run away and scare us. When we get home we're going to talk more about it."
"We were gonna get married," Jamie blurted out as if that would make it ok.
The adults turned around to stare at him. "That's still no excuse young man and we will talk more about this at home," Frank replied.
"You can take him home," Lena told Mary and Frank. "I can get a car to come for us."
Mary went over to place a hand on Lena's shoulder then Eddie's. "We can drop you off. We'll be outside in the waiting room. Jamie, let's go."
"I want to stay with Eddie," Jamie told her. "I said."
Frank shook his head, giving Jamie a firm stare, "Eddie's mom is staying with her now. You are coming with us now outside until Eddie is released then we will take them home and talk about this a lot young man. "Jamie knew Frank meant business so he followed him out.
While they waited Jamie sat quietly with his head down until Lena and Eddie came out. Neither kid said a word the entire ride back or Jamie as they went back to the house.
Lena took Eddie by her good arm and walked her inside. Eddie said nothing as she was dragged into the living and plopped on their long white couch. Her head remained down, eyes studying the floor even breathing quietly.
"Edit Marie," Armin had arrived home from a business trip and went directly home. She slowly looked up then right back down at the floor saying nothing. The look on her father's face said it all. He surprised her by grabbing her and holding her tight. "What happened baby?"
Her eyes clouded over with tears, looking up at him. "You and mommy are making me and Jamie go to different schools so we ran away. We climbed a big tree but I got scared so I fell."
"Oh, honey," Armin sighed. "Jamie is going to a different school, but he will still be your best friend honey. That doesn't change. If something worse happened to you...Mommy and I would be so sad."
"But I never went to a school without Jamie and this one is so big and I won't know anyone there. I want to go to school with Jamie daddy, please," Eddie nestled against his chest sobbing so hard her little body shook in Armin's arms.
He sighed, there was no way he could give her this. "What it Daddy takes the whole day off and stays with you, Mommy too." Eddie used the back of her hand to smear the tears and nodded, craddling against him.
Frank sat Jamie on the sofa and looked down at him. Feeling his father's eyes on him Jamie kept his eyes on the floor, folding his hands on his lap. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I'm sorry daddy but Eddie and I don't want to go to different schools. We always went to the same schools cause we're best friends."
"You will always be best friends, the school won't change that" Mary soothed. "But running away, scaring me and Daddy, getting Eddie hurt!" Jamie looked to her then back at the floor letting tears roll down his face mumbling an apology.
"I know you're sorry honey," Mary sighed. *But you have to be punished." Tears flooded down his face as Jamie sobbed, facing his first punishment. He knew what would happen seeing what happened to Erin Danny and Joe.
"Come on, Jamie," Frank said. "Let's get it over with. Come on..." He stood, continuing to sob with each short step to the stairs never once making eye contact with his father.
"Frank," Mary broke in. "Do you have to?" He looked to her with a small nod saying he had to even if Jamie was sorry he had to be punished like the others .
"I won't be too hard," he assured his wife as he and Jamie disappeared to the garage.
Jamie kept his head down hearing the heavy footsteps approaching. Tears stung his blue eyes, sobbing the whole time he took the licks.
After he finished the last one Frank pulled Jamie into his large arms and gave the boy a soft kiss. " I love you Jamie and so does mommy. We don't want anything to happen to you all right and when you ran away it scared up. Go on up to your room." Saying nothing in response Jamie headed up to his room still smarting.
Despite both being punished the adults allowed Jamie and Eddie to see each other under their supervision before school started. They sat on the couch not even wanting to play in anticipation of facing a brand new school alone. "Mommy said you can come over so we can tell each other about school."
"Okay, but I'm still scared going without you." Eddie lay into his side, head resting against his shoulder with a small sigh.
Jamie tightened his arm around her to hold Eddie in his arms protectively. "I don't either Eddie but our mommies and daddies won't let us go to the same school. Promise you won't find another best friend at school."
"You will be my only best friend Jamie I promise." Exchanging a quiet smile in silent agreement they used the last few hours together playing with Jamie's toys. Before she left they held onto each other a little tighter, neither wanting to let go.
As Lena took Eddie away Jamie watched from the door with sad, puppy dog blue eyes until they disappeared from view.