Chapter Six
Taking Max's hand, Eddie stood and turned to Mick, "Actually, I did want to talk with you about what happened during the last class, Mick. I'm happily married nothing is going to happen between us do you understand?"
"I uh..." He was slightly embarrassed. "Whatever gave you the idea it was okay to kiss me. That was not acceptable, I felt very uncomfortable."
"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable but you're so beautiful and very sweet I couldn't help myself," Mick explained.
"I need you to help yourself," Eddie insisted. Mick nodded, "I'll save you a seat next to me..." It didn't even seem to compute that she didn't want his advances.
Eddie sighed, "I'll sit next to you Mick but only as friends," She turned to hug Max tight watching him go into class before taking a seat next to Mick.
When the rehearsal was over and it was time to go, the teacher asked all the parents to come up on stage with their kids for a few pictures. Eddie stood with April and Max in front of her and Mick stood to her side with Ava in front of him. Just before the teacher captured the shot, Mick slid his arm around Eddie. When she saw the proof from the teachers phone a few minutes later, they looked like a litte family…that was the most unnerving thing of all.
Mick was not a stupid man, so it was difficult for Eddie to understand why he didn't understand that she was not interested in anything other than friendship. She made up her mind, she'd have to talk to Jamie about this. She would do it after the kids went to bed that night, perhaps they could solve this problem as a team.
Max practiced his piano, April played dolls with Eddie while she worked on supper. She knew Jamie would not be a happy camper about this news, so she made stuffed peppers for dinner that night. Jamie loved her stuffed peppers and marinated eggplant, and so did the kids.
Jamie's day, thankfully, was easy. A couple of simple arrests and some paperwork. The aroma of their meal greeted his hungry stomach. "Hmm…stuffed peppers…what did you buy?"
Eddie rolled her eyes, she could buy and sell the island of Manhattan ten times over, "Sorry," Jamie laughed. "I always wanted to say that."
Eddie leaned up and gave Jamie a kiss, "Its almost ready, go wash up then I promised Max we would listen to him practice before we went to bed."
Jamie went off to wash his hands then led the family in grace. They ate and discussed the upcoming recital and Jamie could see Eddie was on edge. He knew her so well that he knew it had little to do with Max's performance and a lot to do with something else.
They did the dishes as a team, the listened to Max's rehearsal as a team, and did bedtime as a team. Max fell asleep humming his solo number.
Eddie curled next to Jamie on the sofa. "So, are you going to tell me what's wrong now? You made my favorite dinner…you've been a little quiet, what's up?"
Eddie sighed, "Jamie..." Eddie shook her head. "I need your help. I'm so sorry I didn't say anything before but now I really need your help."
"Sure, Eddie, you know you can always talk to me. What do you need help with," Jamie asked softly.
"Mick..." She sighed. "Remember the day I fell and skinned my knees. Well, he kissed me that day and...I froze at first and then I left. I talked to him today, I told him I was not interested in any advances, I was a happily married woman…and today…he was still friendly, a little flirty, and look at this. He put his arm around me at the very last second. We look like a family, and that made me all…" Eddie did a shiver.
Jamie looked at the picture and sighed. He didn't like this man with his lips or his hands on his wife. It irked him beyond belief, and he felt that similar jealous pang he felt when he laid out a Nassau county cop into the cake at a friend's wedding. Still, they were married now and Eddie came to him for his help. Jamie held back the anger he felt towards Mick. "I'll set him straight okay?'
" I talked to him," Eddie replied. "But he just didn't..."
"He didn't listen, I'm sure you did Eddie, don't worry I'll take care of it okay?" Jamie rocked her.
"I'm just so sorry, Jamie..." Eddie sighed. "I got so mad at Erin and she was right."
Jamie replied, "Yes, she did see something you might not have at the time but she should not have come to me directly. She should have kept that line of communication open between the two of you." Jamie kissed the top of her head holding Eddie tight in his arms, "We'll handle it together. You know him well, what are your thoughts?"
"I think if he sees us together, sees how happy we are together, that he'll understand and back off and we can continue our friendship there at the school," Eddie replied. "I'd hate to pull Max out of the school, it's a good school for his age and I like the teacher for him…"
"We'll give it a try," Jamie assured her, "It'll be okay. I'll speak to him, let him know enough is enough in a very calm way, all right. We don't want to have to upset Max, you're right there. If we do though, eddie, there are other schools. We'll get him through his recital and that's it"
Eddie nodded, the one thing about this that got Eddie's goat,she didn't want to apologize to Erin, not for anything. But she knew she had to apologize for being wrong about this particular situation. She would not apologize for being angry at Erin's betrayal. . I will..." Eddie replied. "I really don't want to have to pull Max...it would be upsetting to have to pull him out. He's so excited about the solo and he's doing so well if he just stops changing his song. He is on his fifth number. Max's next group class is Thursday. Can you...?"
"I'll be there," Jamie assured Eddie, enveloping her in a tight hug.
Eddie leaned back and kissed Jamie's lips, 'You're the only man I ever want to kiss for the rest of my life."
Smiling and returning the kiss Jamie let out a deep breath staring into Eddie's eyes. "And you are the only woman I ever want in my life. I love you so much Eddie."
Their arms wrapped around each other as they kissed on the couch. When the kiss ended, Eddie and Jamie touched their foreheads together. "Will you apologize to Erin for me?" Eddie batted her eyes.
Jamie smirked kissing her nose then pecked her lips locking eyes with her, "Nope that's all you, you have to be the bigger person and break the ice. I can record you doing it if you can't do it in person…" He nudged her and laughed.
"No, I'll call her up tomorrow and do it...I just hate the taste of crow...and I know it's for supper..."
"Well you could always go to her house and do it face to face," Jamie grinned at her.
"I'll call her," Eddie laughed. "Glad to have you on my side, partner."
Jamie captured her hand, standing with her hand in hand their fingers interlocking as one. "Anytime and every time, Eddie."
The following day Eddie sat down on the couch sighing at her cell phone not wanting to call Erin and apologize. She sighed quietly slowly dialing taking a deep breath before pressing send.
Erin did pick up on the second ring, even after the tough way the conversation went between her and Eddie
"Erin hey it's Eddie do you have a few minutes to talk.." Eddie sighed heart beating in her throat hating to apologize.
"Are you going to talk or just yell at me again for trying to be a good sister?" Erin asked.
Sighing Eddie leaned back, "I'm sorry for not listening to you Erin."
"Okay..." Erin replied. "I'm listening..."
"You were just trying to look out for me and you saw what Mick was like I should have listened okay? "
"He made a move on you," Erin replied. "I knew that it was out of control and needed Jamie..." Eddie cut her off. "That I'm not sorry for, that was...mean. Going to Jamie and not even discussing it with me was mean."
"You weren't seeing it Eddie and Jamie would know what to do before it got out of hand. I'm not sorry for that, but I was doing it to protect you I thought of you like a sister."
"You thought of me as a tart...if I'll do it with him...you have no idea how betrayed I felt."
Erin sighed, "Okay maybe I should have spoken to you about it. I was trying to protect you."
"Yes, you should have spoken to me, woman to woman," Eddie replied. "Some things are just between women and I did tell Jamie when I thought he needed to be involved." Eddie stood up. "I should have listened, but some things are just between a husband and wife."
"Guess we both weren't right...I'm not going to say wrong. Eddie I really want to be friends with you."
"Me too," Eddie replied. "I'm not going to hurt him I love him more than life."
Erin smiled, "Good, I don't want to see Jamie hurt again. Are we cool, Eddie?"
"Yeah, say Max has a solo in his recital and I know he'd like you there. Do you want to come?"
"I would love to, thanks Eddie. Just text me the information and I'll make sure to be there."'
Eddie smiled and hung up. That wasn't as bad as she thought.
Jamie kept his word to go to Max's next class, they were going to talk to the teacher and they were going to show Mick how happy and secure their marriage was. Hopefully Eddie's subtle approach would work.