The first few chapters will include backstory to try and establish Hazel's role within the family. It will take a few chapters before she moves in with the Reagans. Be patient and enjoy.
"Mary, what is it?" Frank asked as he walked in to find his wife quietly sobbing on the sofa. "What's wrong? What'd the kids do?" He automatically assumed one of his four had done something to warrant tears from their mother and he was confident when he found out which one, he'd cause them to shed a few tears of their own.
"It's Laurie."
"Your sister?"
"Yeah. Kyle just called. She died last night."
"What? I thought she had more time."
"I did too. I just spoke with her the day before yesterday and she was feeling better. I don't know what happened and Kyle didn't say. He just said she took a turn for the worst and he didn't have time to call us."
"Oh Mary. I'm so sorry," Frank sighed as he sat down and wrapped his wife in his big arms. She quietly cried on his chest for a few minutes. "What about Hazel?" he asked of her thirteen-year-old niece.
"She wasn't there either. She was still at school." She dried her eyes. "I think Mom and Dad went to pick her up. I need to go to Hartford."
"Yeah. Absolutely. I'll call Mom and Pop and ask them if we can drop the kids. Do you want to go tonight or tomorrow morning?"
"I think first thing in the morning. The kids are already in bed and there's not really anything we can do tonight anyway."
The following morning, Frank and Mary were up and headed to Hartford before their kids had even thought about getting out of bed. The minute they smelled Betty's famous cinnamon rolls, however, they all hurried downstairs.
"Hey Grandma," Joe smiled as they each walked up and gave her a hug.
"Where are Mom and Dad?" Danny asked as he assessed the room. Henry chuckled, knowing his eldest would be a first grade detective quicker than anyone else in the family.
"They had to go to Hartford to see your cousin Hazel."
"Why wouldn't they take us?" Joe asked. "We haven't seen Hazey since what… 4th of July?"
Erin took a seat beside her grandmother. "Are they going to stay with Aunt Lala and Uncle Kyle?"
"Not exactly," Henry sighed. "We need to talk. Something happened last night."
"Are Mom and Dad ok?" Jamie asked, immediately worried about his parents.
"Oh yes. They are fine, but your Aunt Lala went to be with the angels. You know how she's been sick..."
"Oh no," Erin clasped her hand to her mouth as her eyes filled with tears.
"How's Hazel?" Danny asked.
"She's okay. She was at school. Your mom and dad are headed to check on her now."
"Well they should've taken us. We should be there for Hazel," Joe mumbled.
"You'll see her soon enough," Henry assured him. "They didn't want you to have to go to the funeral."
"They'll probably bring Hazel back with them," Betty winked. "How about we have breakfast and then go take a look at that attic space."
"What are we going to do in the attic, Grandma?" Jamie asked.
"Well, I was talking to your dad about fixing up the loft into a bedroom for when you have company. Hazel's going to need somewhere to sleep, after all, when she wants to come and visit." The Reagans spent the morning moving everything from the attic to the basement. Betty and Erin went to find paint while Henry took the boys to buy a bed and mattress. By suppertime, they had the entire room painted light green. They ended up making it an early night because they'd had such a busy day. Mary called just as the kids were getting ready for bed.
"Hello?" Joe answered.
"Hey Baby Boy," Mary crooned. "How are things going?"
"Fine. We've been working all day."
"I heard. Thank you for helping Pop."
"How's Hazey?"
"She's… she'll be ok."
"Is that Mama?" Jamie asked as he came and jumped onto Joe's bed.
"Jamie wants to say hi." Joe handed his brother the phone as Danny and Erin made their way into Joe's room and joined the two of them on the bed.
"Hey Mama!"
"Hey! Have you been good for Pop and Grandma today?"
"Yes ma'am. I even helped Danny put together a bookshelf."
"You did? Good job! I'm proud of you!"
"All right, Kid. GIve us a chance to talk," Danny grumbled as Erin reached for the phone. "Hi Mom!"
"Hello, Sweet Girl. What color did you pick out for the bedroom?"
"Victorian green. It's real light. I think you'll like it."
"I'm sure we will."
"When are you coming home?"
"We'll be back after we talk to Hazel and make some arrangements. It will probably be late tomorrow night, so you guys need to be real good for Grandma and Pop."
"We will be."
"Thank you. Put Danny on for me." Mary knew she needed to check on her oldest. The others would freely admit that they both missed and needed their parents. Danny, on the other hand, wouldn't ask for help if he were on fire.
"Hi Mom," Danny said, trying to appear nonchalant, but thankful he was getting his turn to speak to their mother.
"Hi. How is everything going?"
"Fine. We've been working all day."
"Thank you. I know you and Joe spear-headed that with Pop. I'm proud of you."
"It was nothing. When can we expect you back?"
"Sometime tomorrow. It may be late though. Can you hold down the fort just a little longer?"
"Sure thing."
"Hang on a second. Daddy wants to talk to you."
"Hey Daniel."
"Hey, Dad."
"What's your reading on the younger kids? They doing ok with all of this?"
"Yes sir. Everybody's fine. We're just worried about Hazel."
"I know. We'll be home soon and you guys can help us figure out how to help her."
"Ok."
"You're in charge, Danny. Call me if things get out of control."
"No worries, Dad. We'll be fine."
"Well," Frank said, turning back to Mary and Hazel, those four are fine. "How are you?"
"Um… I'm ok," Hazel lied. "Just tired. Is it ok if I just go lay down?"
"Sure thing, Sweetheart," Frank smiled. "We'll be in the guest room. Yell if you need us."
Hazel walked out as Frank looked to Mary. "Are you ok?" Mary shook her head 'no' as he wrapped her in his arms. It had been an exhausting day of planning two funerals and trying to be strong for her devastated parents and niece. "She's not ok either, Frank. No matter what she says, she's not ok."
"I know," he whispered. "I'll take care of her. Why don't you go get a bath and I'll check on her?"
"Sounds good."
Frank made his way to Hazel's room, pausing outside to listen. He could hear her muffled cries and decided to give her a minute. He walked down to the kitchen and made two cups of hot cocoa before returning to Hazel's room.
"Thanks, Danny. I'll see you tomorrow." He heard Hazel say. "Goodnight."
Nothing made Frank prouder than knowing his kids were already taking care of their cousin. He knocked softly and made his way inside. "Got a minute?" he smiled as he handed her the mug.
"Thanks," Hazel sighed as he sat down beside her on the edge of the bed.
"How are you?"
"Good. I'm good," Hazel lied. "Just one of those things, right? I mean, life has a way of throwing a curveball at you."
"That's true. Life does have a way of throwing curveballs at you. Thankfully, you have an entire team surrounding you when those curveballs come. Me, your Aunt Mary, Danny, Joe, Erin, and Jamie… we are all here for you, both today, tomorrow, and everyday that comes after."
"What am I going to do when you leave? I don't always get along with my dad… what happens when it's just us?"
"No way we're leaving you here forever. You're going to be making lots of trips to Bay Ridge."
"Good. That's good." Hazel had a thousand-yard stare that did not go unnoticed by Frank.
"Hey, it's just you and me right now. How are you really?"
She took a deep breath as her eyes filled with tears. "Uncle Frank, can you make sense of all this?"
"Truthfully, no. No, Hazel. I will never be able to make sense of why some people are taken from us. The only thing I know for sure is that as long as we're here, there's a little piece of them left on earth… so they are never really gone."
Hazel took a deep breath before collapsing into his arms in a mess of tears. He sat quietly, holding her up until she fell asleep.
Later that night, Mary and Frank discussed bringing their own kids up for the funeral.
"I don't think it's a good idea. Let's let them be little as long as possible."
"You know Danny and Joe especially are going to want to there for their cousin."
"I know," Mary agreed. "It's just… I know we can't protect them forever, but…"
"We can protect them a little bit longer. And if we don't have them with us, we can focus all of our energy on Hazel which does sound like a good idea. It will be fine," Frank assured her. "I'm sure they will understand."
