Chapter 11
Erin put her arm around her dad's back as they moved to the stage to take the publicity pictures with the bronze bust honoring Joe at John Jay. "How did Kate convince you to wear your sling?" Erin whispered.
"I don't like sleeping on the couch," Frank growled back. Erin smiled, softly laughing.
Between all the pictures, the Reagan family noticed Kate, Josh and Joe in his uniform, quietly leaving the small auditorium. When the three of them got to the parking garage, Joe looked around. "Relax Joe," Josh smiled. "We're all good. My car is here, with mom's handicap placard. We'll meet you back at the house."
"Thanks Josh," Joe smiled.
The three of them got back to Kate's home with Byron and Sam in the pool with Beans. "I'm going to join them," Joe smiled, heading for the steps to change out of his uniform.
"I'm going to change too," Josh said, following Joe up the steps.
"How'd it go?" Kelsey asked.
"It was a beautiful ceremony worthy of Joe," Kate smiled. "I'm going to change as well." A bit later, they were all out on the patio with the adults enjoying a beer as Josh was getting the Weber ready to grill some burgers.
"Where is grandpa?" Joe asked.
"There is a big reception the group at John Jay is hosting. I'm sure they are rubbing elbows with all the bigwigs," Kate said.
"The Catholic Church was well represented," Josh noted. "I even noticed a Cardinal there."
"Really?" Joe said.
"Frank has lunch with Cardinal Brennan once a month. When you're Catholic and the Police Commissioner, that happens," Kate explained.
Just then, Joe's cell pinged. He looked at it, reading a text. "It's from grandpa. They caught the perp that shot him." He looked at Josh. "He said to tell you to back down on the security."
"Got it," Josh smiled. "I'll let Jay know."
Everyone was in the kitchen, helping with the little clean-up that was needed after dinner when Frank came in the door. "You're home early," Kate said, looking at him. Frank pulled her into a hug.
Byron helped Frank out of his coat. "Thanks Briny," Frank smiled at him. He sat down at the island. "Joe, I'm in desperate need of a beer," Frank said, pulling his tie loose on his uniform shirt. Kate helped him out of his uniform coat. Kelsey took the coat from Kate and put it over one of the dining room chairs. "Please tell me there is a burger left. All they had were Hors D'oeuvers, which were worse than the usual rubber chicken dinner. Plus, his Eminence, Cardinal Brennan and Kevin spent half the time trying to strong arm me to look into a case. I played the tired card and got out of there."
Joe put the beer down in front of Frank. "There's more where that came from," he smiled.
"I'll keep that in mind," Frank said. Josh and Sam came down the steps from Sam getting his shower. "Hi Sam," Frank smiled.
"Hi grandpa," he smiled, sitting down next to Frank.
"Hi Josh," Frank smiled at him. "Thanks for coming today and bringing your mom."
"I loved Joe like a brother. The honor was mine," Josh replied.
Frank took a big drink of his beer and looked at Kate. "Can you please help me get out of this uniform. I really do want one of those burgers."
"Yes, I can," Kate smiled, moving to him.
Frank looked at Sam. "You still gonna be here when I get back?"
"You bet grandpa," he smiled. "Grandma made seven layer bars."
"Turn on the Rangers game. I'll join ya for dessert," Frank winked at him and Briny. The boys took off for the living room.
Joe smiled at Kate and Frank saying good night to the family as they left. Frank put his arm around Kate as they came back into the house. "That felt good to see them out the door. I was getting tired of being locked down."
"I get that Kate," Frank said, kissing her cheek. "But it was for your protection."
"I get that," Kate smiled at him.
Joe looked at Frank. "Sam calls you grandpa but Briny doesn't?"
Kate softly smiled. "Briny is old enough to remember Jack. Barely. But he does. My youngest four grandkids, Sam included, don't. Jenna, Jake's wife was four months pregnant with Casee when Jack was killed. Her older brother Liam is seven months older than Sam."
"Casee?" Joe asked.
Frank beamed. "Katherine Elizabeth McInerney the second. She's a mini me of her grandmother."
"And has the attitude to match," Kate laughed. "You'll meet her tomorrow."
"Sounds great," Joe smiled. "I can't wait." He looked at the couple. "Is it whiskey and a cigar on the patio?" he grinned.
"Oh hell yes," Frank said. "I put up with an over-abundance of Catholic clergy today and I've got Mass tomorrow."
Kate winked at Joe with a smile.
-0000-
Joe walked into the kitchen a little before ten the next morning. "Good morning grandma," he smiled, kissing Kate's cheek. "What's happening?"
Kate smiled at him. "I've already been to church, came back home and gotten grandpa his bath. He's shaved and getting ready for church. I'm waiting for him to holler at me."
Joe lightly laughed and took a big sniff. "How do you make the best cinnamon rolls?"
Kate opened the door to the trash bin built into the island and pulled out the open tube of Pillsbury Grands. "This way," she smiled.
"Works for me," Joe grinned as Kate put the opened tube back in the garbage.
"Kate! I need help!"
"Right on cue," Joe grinned.
"Help yourself to coffee and juice Joe," Kate said, waving her hand around. "And if the dinger goes off on the oven, pull out the rolls," she added, leaving the kitchen, moving towards her bedroom. "The can on the counter by the stove top is the icing. Hot pads are in the drawer below there."
"Got it grandma," Joe smiled.
After Frank, Kate and Joe had the cinnamon rolls together, Kate got Frank out the door to go to Mass. "If you don't mind grandma," Joe said. "I'm communing with my God in the pool."
"Enjoy," Kate smiled.
His swim with Beans was interrupted by Jay fifteen minutes later. "Hey kid," Jay smiled at Joe. "I'm Jay. I've got to get the Weber going to cook the ham for dinner."
"Need some help?" Joe asked.
"Traci and I have two teenage boys. I've got plenty of back-up. Enjoy your swim," Jay smiled.
Joe had just finished rinsing himself and Beans off when Trey brought out the ham. "Holy…" Joe started.
Jay smiled, helping Trey get it on the grill. "Edict from mom. Ours is to not ask why."
"I'll get Beans into grandma's bathroom for her dry out and speed through my shower to help you."
"Don't Joe," Jay smiled. "All this ham needs is three hours of grill heat. This is a three beer project. Take your time."
"I don't want to get behind in the beer department," Joe smiled at Jay. He came down the steps twenty minutes later, showered and shaved, to run into the entire McInerney family. Kate was happy to make the introductions. Joe squatted down in front of Casee. "Pleasure to meet you princess," he grinned.
"I'm not a princess," Casee fired back.
Joe laughed. "You are your grandma," he grinned again. "And definitely a princess."
Casee smiled at him. "Can I hug you?"
"You bet," Joe smiled, pulling her into a hug.
After spending some time with Kate's family, Joe looked at her. "Grandma, I need to head out for a bit."
"Go," Kate smiled.
"One thing when I come back. I've already seen the weather warnings on my cell about the freezing rain later tonight. Can I put my car in the garage?"
"Why your grandpa and I are chasing everyone home early tonight," Kate said. "And yes, please do. The code for the garage door opener is eight two six four."
Josh shook his head. "You remember that mom?"
"I've lived here how many years Joshua?"
"Busted," Jeff snarked at his brother.
Joe put his arm around at Kate. "They are as bad as the Reagans," he smiled. He kissed Kate's cheek. "I won't be long grandma."
"Drive safe," Kate smiled at him.
"Gee, I've never heard that before," Jake snarked.
"Me either," Jay added. Joe shook his head, smiling, heading out the patio door to the alley.
By one, the dressed down Reagans joined the party. Everyone was out on the patio enjoying the warm weather before the storm front with all the kids in the pool. "Drink up all of you," Kate said. "Dinner is at two. All of you are out the door by four." That was met with very vocal resistance.
"That's the plan," Frank growled back at them. "We're parents. All of you are home before the weather sets in. We take care of our family."
"I'm not complaining," Erin said.
"Suck up," Danny barbed at her.
"Gee that is so familiar," Jay snarked.
Joe looked at Frank and Kate. "SOP for Sundays?"
"Yes," Frank and Kate said together.
"I'm sorta glad I'm not around all the time," Joe snarked. That sparked even more snark, kidding and laughter between the adult children.
A little before two, Trey carried in the ham and put it on the island. "That is a thing of beauty," Henry grinned.
Jake plugged the electric knife into the outlet the kitchen island had. "My two years of working part time at Murphy's in the meat department means I know how to carve this bad boy." He pushed the button on the electric knife and winked at Henry.
"Rock and roll kid," Henry smiled at him.
Forty minutes later, Kate, Erin, Linda and Kate's four daughters-in-law were the in the kitchen doing clean-up. Jake was there as well, carving off the last few pieces of ham left on the bone.
Kate touched Linda's arm. "How much is left?"
"Maybe a half pound of ham at best. Two helpings of the cheesy potatoes. Your steamed green beans with butter and almonds are toast. Jack and Pete polished them off," Linda said. Kate smiled.
"Don't you just love growing teenage boys," Abbey smiled at Linda.
"And your Asian Cole Slaw Kate," Erin said, "has less than a spoon full left."
"Toss that Erin," Kate said, moving to her pantry. "It doesn't survive a second day." She pulled out two plastic containers and put them on the island. "Jake, carve some ham for those for Jamie and someone add the last of the cheesy potatoes. He can have a warm meal when he starts afternoon tours tomorrow."
Erin rubbed Kate's shoulder with a broad smile. "He'll love and appreciate that."
"And the rest of the ham?" Jake asked while he was carving.
Kate smiled. "Frank and I eat two meals a day," she said, pulling out a small plastic zip-lock bag from a drawer in the island. "We've got a twenty-something living with us right now. He'll appreciate the ham sandwiches."
Jenna looked at Erin. "Please tell us someone in your family will take the ham bone and make soup."
"Hell yes," Henry said. "Betty had the best split pea soup recipe in the world."
"Which I've got Pop," Linda smiled at him.
"And you've made more than once," Henry smiled. "Betty would be proud."
"Thanks Pop," Linda grinned.
"Thank god," Jake said. "We always toss it."
Kate pulled out a large zip-lock bag from the same drawer. Linda took it from Kate as Jake finished carving and put the ham bone in the bag. Ten minutes later, Kate's kitchen was sparkling clean.
The ladies all headed out to the patio. Frank looked around and then sent out a sharp whistle. "Get out here everyone!" he commanded. The younger boys watching a Mets spring training game in the living room joined everyone. Frank pulled Kate to him, putting his arm around her hip. Joe smiled, silently slipping away from the family, heading to the garage. "I've asked Kate to marry me. She said yes. We're getting married Friday night at St. Paul's at seven." He looked at Danny, Erin and Jamie. "Bride's choice of church. I did the same thing for your mother." He smiled at the rest. "We hope you all can be there."
"And the ceremony?" Henry asked.
"Short, simple and no frills," Frank answered.
Henry beamed. "It's about damn time you two quit living in sin." Everyone laughed. Henry pulled Kate into a hug and kissed her cheek. "Welcome to the family my daughter," he smiled at her.
"Thank you Henry," Kate smiled, hugging him back.
Joe walked back out onto the patio with four bottles of chilled champagne, two in each hand and set them on the patio table. He pulled out from under his armpit a sleeve of plastic champagne glasses. He looked at Danny and Jay. "Who's older?"
"I am," Danny said.
"He is," Jay answered simultaneously.
Joe handed the sleeve of glasses to Jay. "That's your job," he smiled.
"You knew numbnuts?" Danny bellowed with a question at Joe.
Joe smiled. "I helped them fill out their online application for a marriage license."
"And you didn't tell anyone?" Danny growled louder as all the grandkids engulfed Kate and Frank.
"I was homeless after a huge case. Grandpa and grandma opened their home to me. I've been sleeping in a warm room with a bed, enjoying a pool and getting fed too well." He beaded a look into Danny's eye. "They asked to me to keep their secret. You wouldn't?"
"You might be a Reagan after all," Danny grinned. "Hand me one of those bottles."
After all the hugs and toasts, Henry looked at the couple. "I get the sense that's there's a rush."
"There is," Kate said.
Frank looked at the family. "You really think that?" The family all laughed. He held Kate close to him. "I will be back to work two weeks from Monday. That means Kate will be my wife. One PP will be my mistress. Again."
"Which I accept," Kate said. "I wouldn't marry him otherwise. But we get our time together before that happens."
"And part of my I do," Frank said, "is we vacation together twice a year."
Kate's four sons looked at each other with smiles. "Mom please…," Jay said.
"Yes," Kate smiled. "I booked a reservation with flight services to San Antonio five months ago. I've made my way back to normal. I need a vacation." She smiled again. "It's turned into a honeymoon."
Jamie looked at Kate. "Care to explain that to the rest of us?"
"Jack's younger brother Mike and his wife Molly retired in their mid fifties after Mike made oodles selling insurance. They built a home in the hill country outside of San Antonio. It has an attached and yet private, one bedroom guest condo. Jack and I enjoyed it the spring before he was killed. I remember the layout. It was an easy decision," Kate smiled.
"Flight services?" Joe asked.
Kate shook her head. "After my parents retired, they invested in a private flight service. They wanted to see our country and do it without flying commercial. We get four flights free per year. Jack and I kept up the annual fee, taking it out of mom and dad's trust for me, using it for the vacations we took every year with the kids. The boys have kept it going."
"What about Beans?" Joe asked.
"Coming along," Frank smiled. "It is a private flight Joe."
The family milled around, sharing more hugs with Frank and Kate. Erin, Traci, Linda and Abby quietly slipped off into the kitchen. Erin looked at them. "I get the short and simple," she whispered. "The no frills….?"
"I'll start with Pastor Hartwig," Traci smiled.
"But we all agree just a few little things," Linda said, looking around.
"Agreed," Abby said.
The families were getting ready to leave. Jay and Jeff were already out the door with their oldest sons driving after all the beer and champagne. Danny was in the same condition. Jack already had the car warming up. Danny looked at his dad and Kate pulling on his coat. "So about this honeymoon?" he asked.
Kate smiled. "The condo side has its own private pool and hot tub."
"So you two…" Danny started.
Linda pushed him out the door. "Take deep breaths honey. Big, deep breaths." The rest all roared with laughter.
Kate looked around. "Who's getting Henry home?"
"I am," Nicky said, giving Kate a hug after hugging Frank. "Mom isn't driving home either."
Erin hugged her dad. "See, there is an advantage to having an older child," he smiled at her.
"There is that," Erin grinned back. "I won't bring up college tuition plus housing costs. Good night dad. I'm happy for you and love you both," she smiled.
"Thanks sweetheart," Frank grinned, hugging her back and kissing her cheek.
When the house was finally empty, Joe looked at Frank and Kate. "Is there something I need to know about spaces filled with warm water you two?" he grinned.
"No," they both answered. Joe laughed.
XXX
A/N: SOP is Standard Operating Procedure.