Chapter Five
Eddie did let things go for the rest of that night, but the next day it was still eating at her. What did Erin know about her friendship with Mick or friendship at all if she would go behind her back to Jamie so quickly? She sat with it most of the next day until just before Jamie was due to come home, then she had no choice to move on she had to have her say.
Eddie called Erin's cell when she knew she was going to be leaving work, she was glad she picked up right away.
"Hey Eddie is everything Okay " Erin asked worried something might be wrong
"No, Erin!" Eddie snapped. "Everything isn't okay! How dare you? How dare you go to Jamie behind my back?"
"What are you talking about?" Erin sighed, knowing why Eddie was calling, but she had to tell Jamie.
"Mick! You had to run and tell Jamie when I told you it was nothing, he's just lonely! I love Jamie and he knows it._
Erin took a light breath in expecting this. "I'm sorry Eddie Jamie is my little brother I tried talking to you. "
"Jamie is a 38 year old MAN with a wife, two children and one on the way, he doesn't need his big sister wiping his behind anymore or upsetting him!" Eddie thundered. "You are ridiculous, I heard you, but I don't think you're right!"
Erin pulled the phone away for a second. "Eddie I'm not trying to upset anyone and no matter how old Jamie's he will always be my little brother. I'm not suggesting you would do anything I was only telling him in case something happened."
"This happened and you spoke to me!" Eddie replied. "I thought maybe we were going to build a relationship, based on trust and girl time and that stuff and you...I will never trust you Erin, never! Don't insinuate yourself into our marriage, again!" Eddie missed a land line with a cord as she hung up. She wanted the satisfaction of slamming down the phone.
Eddie wasn't off the phone for long when she heard the front door open then shut, "Eddie?"
"In here," she called. She hadn't even started their supper, she was sitting with Max and April playing at her feet. Max could tell something was wrong with his Mommom.
Jamie walked in taking one good look at Eddie's face before walking over. "Eddie what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Jamie," Eddie replied. "I had to have it out with your sister. I had no choice..."
"Eddie come here," Jamie sat on the floor next to Eddie, cradling her. "You spoke to Erin I'm guessing? She really didn't mean anything by telling me and I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me."
"But it hurt me!" Eddie replied. "She hurt me, I thought we were turning a corner. I thought things were going to be getting better."
"I know it did and I'm sure once you talk to Erin you'll see she wasn't trying to hurt you either. She really wants to become close."
"I did talk to her, I told her I'd never trust her again!" Eddie sighed. "I'm sorry Jamie. I am I tried but...I can't I just can't!"
Sighing quietly Jamie hugged Eddie close rocking her. "I know it's okay Eddie it's done I just need you to calm down first."
Eddie sighed, "I'm sorry about dinner. Do you want to get deli maybe. I'm not in the mood to cook.
"Don't worry about that Eddie I can cook or we can order in, what do you feel like?'
"Deli," Eddie replied smiling up at Jamie. "Okay, I'll just run and get it. Corned beef and Russian dressing?"
Eddie nodded, "Jamie?"
He turned around and looked at his wife. "What, honey?"
"I'm sorry about this, I just can't handle dishonesty and what she did…" Eddie shook her head. "It wasn't right, I'd have told you if there was something to tell."
"I know you would have, please don't worry," Jamie replied. Eddie was handling her pregnancy well, but he still worried that she'd over upset herself.
Eddie nodded, "I'll get the kids washed up for supper."
It was forgotten for the next few days, they went about their lives not mentioning Erin. Eddie took Max to his music class and again saw Mick. On that day, she also had April with her, she wanted to let her try the singing classes, April loved to sing, but did not inherit Eddie's talent, she had Jamie's tone deafness.
"Okay, go with Maxy and then Mommy will come in and we'll all sing together." Eddie kissed both kids and headed to the parents' room to wait. Mick didn't join her for a few minutes, when he did they took a walk to the corner bodega for a tea. "Ava wasn't ready to go in by herself,' he explained. "She's so cute, but she's so little. Your kids are a little quicker to let go."
"Jamie and I take trips sometimes," Eddie replied. "They go to their grandpa, their aunt and uncle, and as far as music, Max is there!"
"He's amazing," Mick laughed as they started back. It was almost time for the parents to go in. Eddie missed her footing. She fell and skinned both of her knees on the pavement. "Ouch!"
"You okay?" Mick bent down and helped Eddie up. "Come on…" Without thinking, Mick scooped her up and carried her back to the music school. "Do you have Band-Aids in your purse for the kids? I'll clean it up in no time."
Eddie's legs stung so she was glad to have Mick's help. Mick was gentle, as she suspected being a single Dad, and had the bleeding and stinging under control in a heartbeat.
"Thanks, we better get ready to go in," Eddie smiled. "Thanks."
Mick slowly guided Eddie off the table, this arms around her waist until her feet touched the floor. Mick saw her smile, he saw the glint of the sun on her hair, the sparkle in her blue eyes…and was even more captivated than before. His lips brushed over hers.
Eddie froze, she was so shocked that Mick would cross this line, that he would go there...she couldn't move, respond, and pull back for at least five seconds. When she did she covered her mouth and walked away silently going into the class to collect Max and April. "Come on, we have to go," she told the children. "Come on…"
Max was not a happy camper.
"Why mommy Max play good Max practice..." He protested confused and upset they had to leave before class finished.
"Mommy fell down," Eddie replied and pointed to her bandaged knees. "We can sing at home, Mommom will play the piano for you at home. Come on now," She had April on her hip and Max by the hand.
Max pouted his bottom lip quivering, "No Mommom don't want to…want to play piano at class…please Max did good."
Eddie sighed, she couldn't pull Max, and it wasn't his fault. "Okay honey, finish class, Mommom and April will come and get you in a little bit okay?"
Max smiled rushing back in before he missed a lot. April looked up at her mommy with arms out at her side as if to ask, now what?
Eddie smiled, "Come with Mommy to the car and wait for Maxy," Eddie told her. She had to be away from Mick. "Do you want to play paper dolls with Mommy?"
"Yes mommy I be mommy." April skipped happy to have some private time with her mommy while Max was in class.
As soon as Max was finished, Eddie scooped him up and headed home, Mick was trying to talk to her, to apologize, but Eddie couldn't face that, not yet, not until she was over the shock.
Eddie got the kids in the house, Max ran to the piano. "Mommom, I have a solo!"
"Yes, you do have a solo! Mommom is so proud of you, and Daddy will be too," Eddie smiled at him.
"I play now, practice..." Max started to the piano before even having his lunch
"Good job, Maxy..." Eddie praised turning to her daughter. "What would you like to do?"
"Eat," April said. "Eat food, I'm hungry..." April went to help Eddie make a sandwich. Eddie let Max practice a little before calling him for lunch. "You can practice after," she promised.
"Mommom, have a solo!" He said again. "All by myself!"
"Yes, I know, Maxy. You have to tell daddy when he comes home. He should be home soon." Eddie glanced the clock. Jamie was off at 2 that day. He got home to Max at the piano playing his solo but morphing into anything he heard.
"Hey buddy that sounds really good did you learn that in class today," Jamie kissed the top of his head
"No," he replied. "Mommom show on TV."
Jamie nodded, "Okay, where are Mommom and April?"
Max shrugged and put his head down, "Don't know, I have solo, practice practice"
"It's okay buddy I'm proud of you Maxy. Keep practicing," Jamie kissed his head starting off to look for Eddie and April.
They were in the kitchen making cookies. April had dough all over her. Jamie kissed them both. Eddie stood in his arms a little longer than usual. He kissed her again.
"Hey how are you feeling? How was Max's piano class?" Jamie asked holding his wife tightly smiling at Eddie.
"Good," Eddie replied as she smiled back. "He got the only solo so it'll be busy for a bit, he has extra practice.
That made Eddie nervous, she didn't want to run into Mick so much. But this was her amazing Max's first solo.
Eddie had two private lessons with Max before she saw Mick again. When she did, he waved at her "How do you feel?"
"I'm okay thanks," Eddie knelt down beside Max facing him keeping her back to Mick focusing on her son.
"I got you a tea, the passion fruit you like..."he offered." Do you want to sit together?" Eddie knew she had to confront this.