Chapter Twenty Three
The doctor let them have their privacy for a few minutes then continued Eddie's exam. "It looks like you just have some severe bruising, but I'll get a set of facial X-rays and one of your shoulder just to be sure."
"What about my son? I don't want an x-ray," Eddie protested.
"We'll shield you with lead to protect your baby, and while the X-ray is being read, I'll bring in the sonogram machine and we'll take a look," the doctor soothed. "The heart tones are good, and you have no pain or bleeding. Try to relax. Dad, you too, try to relax."
Jamie followed Eddie to x-ray and only stayed apart from her while she was being examined in the room. He took the time to call Kara and update her on the situation. She promised him to keep the kids until Eddie could go home, and wished Eddie the best.
The x-ray only took a few minutes, then the doctors took Eddie to a room for the night. They determined between the blow to the face and the fall to observe her. Jamie stayed by her side, nothing was going to come between them again.
True to his word, the doctor brought in the portable sonogram machine and spread the gel on Eddie's abdomen. She laughed at the cold, it felt good against her sore muscles. The doctor move the transducer until he got a clear picture. "I love looking at these," Jamie whispered pressing his forehead to hers.
"Is he okay?" Eddie asked. She wanted to enjoy this view so much, but she was afraid to let go until she heard that one little word.
"Yes, he looks just fine," the doctor replied. "Placenta is placed well, the amniotic fluid looks good, he looks great."
Eddie leaned back and sighed in relief. She turned her head to the screen and began to study her baby as Jamie looked on with her, holding her close.
"We did that," she whispered. "Our love put that little person..."
Her voice broke and she felt a single tear drip onto her hand. She looked up to see Jamie's blue eyes watering as he too admired their newest production on a very small, but silver screen.
When the films came back, it was more good news. "Well, there's nothing broken. Your nose is intact, and all your facial bones are fine too. The swelling will recede in a few days. So..." the doctor concluded, "We'll keep you overnight as a precaution, then if all is still okay, you can go home. Jamie, you're free to stay."
"Yes, I will thank you very much doctor," Jamie nodded relieved Eddie and their son were okay. He sat on her bed letting out a long breath. "I'm right here Eddie."
"I know, and you shouldn't be," Eddie replied. "You should be going to get the children. They are still with Kara."
"Kara said she'd keep the kids until tomorrow so I can stay with you. They're fine honey." Jamie assured.
"But I'll just sleep," Eddie protested again. "I..." Jamie was having none of it. "I'm going to stay with you, I could have lost you both, I'm here for the night, stop arguing."
Eddie sighed meeting his eyes slowly seeing she wasn't winning this. "I love you Jamie, that's all I thought about you and the kids."
"I know, and I am so sorry I didn't listen to you Eddie" Jamie sighed. "Dad pulled her old jacket, she has a past...they hid it from us when she rotated in."
Eddie sighed "They have to make sure these things are up front, what if Jamie."
"There is no what if..." Jamie replied. "You are safe we are fine...we are just fine. You hungry?"
"Yeah a little bit. I just want you here." Eddie moved closer to him needing a hug to feel his arms around her.
Jamie was happy to hold her tight. She kissed him and laid her head on his chest.
He called for an Uber delivery, burgers and fries along with milkshakes.
Even as their order came Eddie laid against Jamie eating slowly using one hand to hold his.
"I'm going to take a few days off to take care of you," Jamie told her. "You need rest."
"I love you Jamie." Eddie laid her head against him finishing all the food fighting to keep her eyes open.
"Try to sleep," Jamie whispered. "Try to sleep, I'll be here. " Jamie gave her a soft kiss on the lips and cuddled her close. They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Eddie slept soundly in Jamie's arms that night waking up eager to go home and hug their kids tight.
"I think we should take you home first and get you in the bed," Jamie replied. "Then I'll bring the kids."
"That's fine I just want to go home," Eddie told him looking for the doctor.
"You have a clean bill of health, you and the baby so head on home but I want you to take it easy for at least a week," the doctor advised
Eddie nodded "I will thank you doctor for taking care of both of us." Jamie agreed wrapping an arm around Eddie.
Jamie took Eddie home and got her settled on the chaise. "I'm going to go get the kids..." Jamie's phone went off. "It's Anita...Hello."
"Hi, Jamie, I heard what happened to Eddie from Ms. Sue," Anita said. "I really miss her and miss the children and I wanted to see if I could be of help. If I can come and help with Ms. Eddie or…"
"Tell you what. I have this for now. Why don't you come over tomorrow and visit? I know Eddie would love to see you."
"Sure, that sounds good. I can help with the kids, so you can focus on taking care of Ms. Eddie right now."
"Good, that's very good," Jamie smiled.
They set up a time for her to come and visit, "She heard from Sue what happened, it made the news all the way in Long Island and of course you are still the wife of the late Thomas Manning."
Eddie smiled "Of course she did that was sweet of her to call. It'll be nice to see her too." She leaned against the pillows.
Jamie smiled, "I'm going to run and pick up the kids and I'll be right back. Rest, don't get up unless you must. The doctor said it's important to rest."
"I know," Eddie replied. "I know it is."
"Eddie, before I get the kids, I just need to talk this through with you. I know you saw the kiss that Victoria gave me and I know you saw me react or not react…I can't imagine. I saw you on the camera and my heart hurt."
"Jamie, I know in my heart that you weren't really participating, I just…I knew she was trouble and like so many times on the job, you didn't listen to my gut instincts. That hurt more than the kiss. The kiss, after it sunk in, I knew was all her. I don't doubt you love me, Jamie. I never did."
Jamie leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Eddie's lips. "There is no emotion like the feeling that entangles my heart with you. I think I didn't see it because I just love you so much, I never even thought…"
"I understand, Jamie," Eddie smiled. "I really do."
"When I saw you on the video crying, it gutted me, then the thought of you and the baby in danger…" Jamie took a breath, tears in his eyes.
Eddie cupped his cheek, "We're fine, we're both fine and healthy, the doctor said so. Let's go get our family and put it all behind us, we only have good things to come."
Jamie smiled and gave Eddie one final kiss, a healing and stirring kiss, before heading out to pick up the kids.
Eddie rested on the sofa, she sipped the tea Jamie made for her. She wasn't sure if her kids would be afraid of her, she looked hideous with the huge bruises. Twenty minutes later, the door opened, Jamie had returned.
The kids excitedly ran in to see their mommy stopping just a few feet from the couch staring up at her wide eyed.
April backed up a little bit, she was scared and began to cry. Max froze at first and took it in, "Mommom has boo boo..." he launched himself at Eddie, but Jamie grabbed him. "Whoa, little man, you have to be gentle, Mommom got hurt."
Max squirmed lashing his arms out kicking his little legs crying to get at his mommy. "Mommom! Want Mommom!"
"I know that," Jamie soothed. "You have to be gentle with Mommom, she's hurt okay. You have to be slow." Max was working himself into a state.
"No want Mommom kiss Mommom boo boo and make her feel better." Max reached his hand down pushing Jamie's hand away, scratching and trying to bite.
"Jamie, he's going to hurt himself, lay him down next to me," Eddie replied. "Let him calm down. Eddie opened her arms to receive Max.
"I don't want him to hurt you or the baby. Max listen to Daddy, calm down buddy. I know you want mom but you need to be calm first."
"Jamie!" Eddie sighed. "He's making himself sick, please give me our son now." Eddie wasn't playing around.
Jamie carefully handed Max to Eddie watching her gently caress the little boy. "Maxy."
Eddie got her arms around the flailing little boy, "Maxy, still, be still. Mommom is okay, I'm right here, Ssh, rest now. Mommom is here, stop. Be still."
Max froze curling on her lap wrapping two little arms around her. "Mommom I love you," he whispered tiredly.
"I love you too, my Max," she soothed. "Yes...April, it's okay baby girl. Mommy is okay. I have boo boos." April was reaching up to Jamie.
Jamie picked April up rubbing her back. "It's okay, Mommy has to rest because she has boo boos."
"Boo boo," April echoed. "I make color for Mommy..." Max stayed close and April acted, typical personalities for their kids.
Jamie let her go sitting on the couch next to Eddie rubbing max's head. Max turned laying his head on Eddie
When Jamie reached over to take Eddie's hand, Max blocked it with his small ones. They chose to let it go for now...he was scared and feeling protective. Jamie chose to give them time, "Come on April, let's go color for Mommy."
"I choose pretty color for mommy." April told him holding the crayon box eager to help her mommy feel better.
Eddie held Max in her arms trying to get him to settle down. She didn't understand why he reacted so badly to the black eyes, she expected fear, not anger, and at Jamie of all people. "Why were you mad at Daddy, Max?" Eddie asked.
"Not mad," Max replied. "Want to sit with you, I be careful and not hurt."
"I know, but when Mommy got hurt, Daddy got scared," Eddie explained. "It's scary for Mommy too, and he was trying to make Mommom safe. You can't yell and cry like that, Daddy will always protect Mommom, okay?"
Max shrugged and settled against Eddie playing with his shoe, he didn't know about that.
April came over to the couch with her picture, "Look Mommy, I make it all purple. You like it?"
"I do like it, thank you baby," Eddie smiled as April tried to climb up on the couch only to be strongly rebuked by Max.
"No!" Max said sternly. "No, stay down!"
April looked at her brother, taken aback. "That's not nice, Maxy. April can sit with us too."
"No, No!" Max protested as April took a breath and handled it her way. She hiked up her little bottom and climbed up next to her mother on the opposite side. She held up her picture and showed it to Eddie.
"That is so pretty," Eddie smiled. "I'm so happy you drew this for me. What if we ask Daddy to put on Finding Nemo for us? Would you like to all of us watch a movie?"
Both kids agreed to that, and Jamie turned the show on for them. He sat on the other side of Eddie as well, Max had his stare fixed on them both. He was not going to let anyone near his Mommom…not at all.