Chapter Sixteen
Before Eddie left, Frank assured her he wanted to be the one to tell Jamie his final choice. He called his son while Eddie was taking the children home and spoke to him. "I can't rule it out forever," Frank said when Jamie picked up. "But for now I'm just not quite ready to retire or to move. I'm going to Disney with you guys though, I wouldn't miss that for the world."
Jamie was glad to hear a little lilt in his father's voice. He was happy that he was going to come with them to Montana and Disney. Perhaps that would bring him around to their thinking.
"My sister is going to go nuts! But it's okay...we'll handle it." Jamie surmised that night as they stretched out on the sofa together.
"I know everyone else will be okay with it though."
Eddie smiled, "Tomorrow we'll see how it goes. I'm going to book the flights, one to Billings and then to Orlando."
Jamie sighed, "Okay, I hope he changes his mind though he'd love Montana, but Erin and Danny are here."
"I think it's more about the memories of those gone than the closeness of those here," Eddie replied. "It's okay, if we are on the same page and we have Dad's blessing the rest will fall into place."
"Yeah I hope so Eddie." Jamie kissed her cheek pulling her closer to him. "Let's make the flight arrangements."
Eddie handled the flights and sat back with a smile. "It's settled, just after Max's adoption is final..." She leaned back and sighed. "My feet hurt."
"Would you like a foot and back massage," Jamie asked reaching around to her back gently rubbing moving up and down slowly lifting her leg.
"I'm not even showing yet and this baby is messing with my body," Eddie sighed, "Just my feet, left leg and foot."
Jamie moved his hands down massaging her leg first moving down taking time on her foot. "Is that helping?"
"Yes," Eddie replied. "Oh there, right there."
Jamie stayed on that spot gently rubbing the bothersome area for her.
Eddie began to doze off lying next to Jamie. She shut her eyes and sighed, they dozed on the couch. She needed to rest and relax, especially after another one of their early morning rolls in the hay. Eddie had never been a morning person, neither had he, but all of a sudden, mornings were the favorite part of his day.
Smiling quietly to himself Jamie held Eddie tightly watching her doze lightly cupping her hands thinking how lucky he is to have this family.
When Eddie woke up on Sunday, she reached over for her husband. The sheets were still warm but Jamie wasn't there. Eddie sat up and saw him sitting at the window looking out at the street.
"To think in a few months, we'll wake up to peace and quiet, rolling grass, and a porch swing," Jamie sighed as he closed the gap back toward Eddie. "And that huge walk-in closet. I think we should put a lock on that door…"
Eddie smiled and wound her arms around his neck, pulling his lips down next to her own. "That would be a good idea. Did you…"
"Carry you to bed last night?" Jamie filled in returning her kiss then offering a deeper one of his own. "I did. I was hoping I'd get lucky but…"
"You've already gotten lucky, Mr. Reagan, but I can see my way clear to making you feel…lucky again…"
Jamie sighed and rolled over onto his back, pulling Eddie over him. She wore a thin, pink nightgown with a tie in the front that Jamie was glad to make short work of. He tugged on the delicate string and opened the top of her nightgown to his view.
Eddie ran her hands over Jamie's chest and moved her lips to Jamie's earlobe. She breathed her warm breath into his ear, Jamie moaned in ecstasy. His body stirred while her heart quickened, this was their favorite way to start off the morning.
Jamie ran his hands through Eddie's hair, combing the knots out of the silky strands. Their lips met and their tongues caressed the inside of each other's mouths. Jamie sighed, his hands ran up and down Eddie's back, then pressed the small of her back so they were closer. This close connection was the core of their marriage, he was so glad they never lost that.
"I need you," Eddie murmured. Jamie smiled, he needed her too. He remembered the first time she uttered those words to him. The moment when he noticed her vulnerability as well as her strength. He stopped his work on her body for just a moment, to hold her close and inhale her scent.
"Mmmm," Eddie sighed enjoying the feel of the hug with Jamie's excited sex pressing into her belly. "Jamie…"
"I love you, Eddie," he whispered. "So much."
He pulled Eddie over his stomach and rolled so that he could position himself on top of Eddie. He buried his face in her breasts, inhaling her again as his hands caressed her. Her hands cupped him, her thumb ran over the small scar, a battle scar, a triumph scar.
His hand found her scar, from the shooting, when they played house the first time. So many memories, victories, and precious moments were tied up in their bodies.
Jamie positioned himself to take his wife's body. They were stuck together, the heat of their bodies acting like a vacuum, binding them entire forms physically together. With care and tenderness, Jamie slid into Eddie's body. Her body stretched to meet him and pull him in. She rocked back and forth, taking Jamie all the way into her, his whisper almost imperceptible, "I'm home."
After church on Sunday the family gathered at Frank's house for Sunday dinner. Max and April broke off to play with Jack and Sean
Sean adored the younger kids, he liked to play with them and tickle them. The kids were so cute. April heard the adults talking and she said to Sean, "Mommy say we move to big house in tana."
"You are," Sean looked up at jack surprised and curious if that were true not hearing anything about it from their parents.
"Yes," April replied. "Have a biiiiigggg house and we play there. We going soon. Right Max?"
Max nodded confusing their older cousins. Jack walked around them searching for his father "Dad, Max and April told us that they're going to live in Montana?"
"Huh?" Danny asked. "Oh, no, they are going there on vacation, they're confused."
"Oh, okay we don't want them to go we'd miss them." Jack returned to the couch quietly.
Jamie heard Danny's explanation and looked over at Danny, "Actually, uh...We were going to wait until after supper but Eddie..." Jamie looked at his wife. "April was actually right...she must have overheard us...We are moving to Montana before the baby is born."
"Wait your moving and-taking the kids? You're uprooting them from everything they know ...from their family for what? This is their home."
Eddie looked at Erin. "They are three and a half and nearly three, they don't have roots yet, this is the time to make a big move. We spoke to Dad, because we want him to come with us but so far he's not ready..."
"Of course, he's not ready this is his home this is where he belongs! How dare you try and rip him away from everything he knows. From his family!"
"Whoa," Jamie broke in. "Simmer down. We weren't trying to rip him away, we were letting Dad know our door was open that is all!"
Erin tightly crossed her arms against her chest "No, you want dad there to help raise your kids. Pop is here and mom...Joe, too how dare you even ask him to leave them?"
"I don't need help raising my kids, I raise my kids just fine!" Eddie snapped. "You and Danny didn't notice how hard it's been on Dad since Pop went. I wanted to, we wanted to offer him a nice chance."
"Yeah I'm sure you did! I'm glad dad isn't going his family is here." Erin retorted stubbornly glaring at Eddie. "And we have noticed which is why he needs to be here."
Eddie bit her lip, "Dad wants to be with our kids, like he was with your kids, he's just not ready to retire yet!" Frank sighed, "Girls...girls, please I can speak for myself."
Erin turned to her father, "Go ahead dad we're listening. Your family knows what's best and it's always been about family, right?'
"Yes, it is about family Frank replied. "Now sit down all of you. _
Neither Eddie nor Erin dared look at each other taking seats on opposite sides of the living room keeping their eyes on Frank quietly.
"Erin, Eddie is part of this family," Frank said firmly. "And if Jamie and Eddie want to move, they can. If I want to join them I can," Frank explained. "Erin, you have no reason to be so hateful to Eddie. She wants the best for her family, along with Jamie. They both deserve our support." Eddie looked across the room at Erin neither speaking a word to each other. "We're really going to miss you kid and the children, but if this is what you want pop would be happy for you."
"It's what we want. Life is too short," Jamie sighed. "We have a beautiful house that we might never get to use. There's a job open in the Sheriff's department, Luke got me an interview and anytime any of you want to come, but Erin, so help me, well-meaning or not, I am a grown man. I make the choices in my life, where to live, where to work, who to love. You will not continue to disrespect my wife or you will be the one not welcome."
Erin was silent, she knew when she crossed the line, Jamie never spoke out that way.
Eddie bit her lip and kept talking. "Just tell us when any of you want to come and we'll make sure it's set up, flights, cars, all of it." She had a protective hand on her belly. Max was watching Erin warily.
Eddie looked across the room at Erin neither speaking a word to each other. "We're really going to miss you kid and the kids but if this is what you want pop would be happy for you."
Danny smiled, "I'm sure the boys would love to take a vacation and see you guys once you've-settled, right? If Eddie doesn't mind two more babysitters."
"Any of you are welcome, any of you," Eddie replied. "I don't want to hurt anyone, that's not the idea..." She was in tears now.
"We know that Eddie and if you guys ever need anything just give us a call and promise to send lots of pictures too." Linda smiled
Jamie was unhappy that Eddie was so upset. So was Frank, "Come on, honey, it's okay." Jamie kissed Eddie's hair. "We made the offer, it's up to them now. Don't get upset. Don't get upset."
"Excuse me I need some air." Eddie said softly walking brushing his hands then turned back and stepped out on the front porch taking deep breaths.
"You make Mommom sad Aunt Erin say sorry to Mommom for making her sad."
"Max," Danny warned. That's not a nice voice, and we don't stomp our feet. Say sorry."
"No, she made Mommom cry that is not nice uncle Danny." Max puffed back stubbornly defending his mommy.
April went to stand by Max and tugged on his hand, "Maxy, no mean...we play ball." She knew how to diffuse her older brother quite well.
Max sighed quietly taking April's hand. "Okay April Maxy want mommy to be happy not sad."
They decided together to go hug their Mommom. Jamie was with Eddie on the porch, "I can't stand her,' she told him sniffling.
"She shouldn't have said that Eddie. Erin is..." he didn't know how to describe his sister and was grateful to hear the door open
Two sets of tiny arms went around Eddie's legs. "Don't be sad," Max told her. April kissed Eddie's legs,
"Aww thank you for trying to make mommy feel better," Eddie leaned down hugging them both
"Max yell Aunt Erin," April ratted out. "Unca Danny yell Max."
Eddie held Max's hand "I like that you are trying to stand up for mommy buddy, but we don't yell at our aunt okay?"
"She make Mommom cry," Max replied. "No good. Go home now?
"We can go after we eat okay dinner will be ready in a little. Why don't you and April play?"
The kids went back inside, and Eddie did too. She wouldn't let Erin run her off, she didn't' want to hurt Frank. At dinner, Jamie mentioned the tickets.
"That sounds cool kid the kids-will love it," Danny pipped up first before Erin could.
"Dad's going to come with us," Jamie replied. "It'll be fun and guys you need to come over this summer. Nikki, you too."
"Thanks Uncle Jamie I'll let you know when I'm off it'd be fun," Nikki nodded.