Chapter Twenty Eight
The plane took off, Max held his ears as it went up, the tone of the air was off key and hurt. Frank smiled at him, "Max, do your scale...sing for Grandpa."
"Can't ears hurt Grandpa I try to sing." Max pressed his hands against his ears.
"I know buddy," Frank sighed. "Here...do with Grandpa." Eddie admired how Frank could distract the little boy. Jamie sighed, "He's always been good at that. I remember Max's colic...Claudia was awful, and he was crying so hard. Dad came over to help and he had him burped and asleep in no time."
Frank gave a smile still singing with Max taking the boy's mind off his ears. "Amazing he's great," Eddie smiled.
"He is..." Jamie smiled. He was getting even closer to his father.
The weather was balmy and warm when they landed in Florida. The limo was there to meet them and take them to The Grand Floridian where their warm weather clothing awaited them. They had two suites, one for Frank and one for Jamie, Eddie, and the kids. It was understood the kids would spend a few nights with Grandpa
The kids ran into their room excited and amazed. "Mommy Daddy come here quick look what's on our bed." Eddie and Jamie walked in to find the kids holding Mickey Mouse hats.
"Oh, look at those!"
Jamie gushed. Eddie took the hats and put them on, "You two look so nice! Look what Mommy and Daddy have for you."
Smiling the kids turned back to their parents curiously.
Eddie pulled out two dolls, one Mickey and one Minnie...Max took the boy doll and April took the girl. "Look, she has pretty dress..."
"Thank you, Mommy thank, you Daddy." they hugged their parents excitedly checking out their new dolls.
"Okay, let's get freshened up and unpacked, tonight we are having dinner with Nemo and his friends!"
April cheered running into her room Max right behind. In their room Jamie and Eddie found a tape labeled Reagan family
When they put the tape in Mickey came on screen. "Hey guys come here its mickey mouse."
Max was mesmerized as the Mickey Mouse Club song came on, he started to march up and down and sing.
"Welcome Max, April and Mr. and Mrs. Reagan. From all of us here we hope you have a great trip. I can't wait to meet you."
April clapped, so excited. Eddie got the kids changed and washed, slathered them with sunscreen and headed out.
Crowds of families already packed the streets some with strollers others holding kids hands. Max's eyes widened at all the sights. April looked up and down Main Street and reached up to her Grandpa to be lifted up. Frank obliged pointing out stores they passed and signs. Down the road some of the characters waved at the passing kids.
"Look at that guys, it's Winnie the Pooh!" Eddie exclaimed. "Jamie run and get them some autograph books please. Jamie went to get books for the characters to sign. As they got closer Winnie and piglet turned waving at Max and April.
Eddie started taking pictures and Jamie helped them with their books. They were both very excited. Winnie gave both kids hugs waving as they continued down the road.
They barely made it off Main Street before Max saw a music store. "Mommom, go in there please?" He had his eye on a tambourine
"Sure honey lets go look..." Eddie smiled carrying him inside. There weren't many people just the owner and two other people browsing. Max was delighted with his new toy and April with a princess crown. They headed for the Epcot bus to make dinner.
On the way they passed more shops lights glistening as the sun began setting. Everyone was enjoying themselves especially Frank
Watching his children and his grandchildren enjoying the magic. Max tried to peel his own shrimp and ended up sailing it across the table. April tried lobster then started eating off her mother's plate. "She's no cheap date," Jamie joked.
"She knows what she likes just like Mommy isn't that right April," Eddie laughed though watching her daughter and Max eating. Frank was sipping his blue drink that resembled ocean water. He was thinking in his heart, how could he miss these moments?
"Yummy..." April declared as Max started getting frustrated his dinner kept slipping away. He tried grabbing the food before it fell grunting and balking his hands into fists, kicking his feet back and forth.
"Maxy," Eddie broke in. "Don't do that, use your words and tell Mommom."
"Can't get it keeps going away from Max but I want it..." Max whined staring daggers at the lost piece of food
Jamie sighed, "You don't have to get mad, Buddy. Just ask nicely for help."
"Help please." Max repeated still staring at the lost piece of food Jamie helped Max peel the food and then he happily ate. Frank smiled at what a good father his son was.
For the next few days, they explored all of Disney. The kids loved the Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom especially. The night of their character dinner they also planned the parade of lights. It was still early when they finished allowing them to take a walk along the street. Lights hung above them shinning bright in the darkness
"Pooh pretty Mommy..." April pointed up at all the lights while Max hummed a song he heard in Jamie's arms. Frank sat in a bench, giving the family some tome on their own. He would never forget these memories.
The restaurant wasn't far so Jamie and Eddie stopped to show the kids something watching their faces light up. Frank remembered his own young kids and the magic of being with his Mary there seeing her face glow
They continued on to the restaurant Jamie giving his name and how many. "How you doing, Dad?" Eddie asked smiling at Frank.
"I'm okay" Frank smiled.
Eddie smiled, "Having fun? If there's anything you want to do let us know." She patted his arm following Jamie to the table
"I'm going to go to the Hall of Presidents tomorrow and I do want one night to spoil my grandkids."
"They would love that Frank," Eddie smiled putting April in her seat then taking her own beside Jamie. Cinderella came over to the table along with Aladdin, Simba, and Mickey Mouse...Max was in love with Mickey.
April's eyes widened at Mickey and Cinderella giving them both big hugs. When Simba came both kids insisted on hugging him not wanting to let go
"Maxy sing King song," April prompted her brother. "Sing song Simba!"
Max grinned unable to look at Simba while singing I just can't wait to be king. Eddie field the comments about his talent, they ordered and watched the characters mulling around
Ariel walked in holding onto Eric's arm smiling at the families eating dinner. "Mommy look!" April beamed. The little mermaid was her favorite!
Eddie looked at the door smiling, trying to get Ariel's attention for her and Eric to come over. "Ariel," Max interceded for his sister. The actress playing her saw the little boy. She went over to them, April's eyes bugged out.
"My sister April love you plays little mermaid movie a lot..." Max told her.
"You do!" She smiled and clapped. "Do you want a picture with all of us?"
April nodded reaching her arms up to be taken out of the seat. "Yes please. Mommy take picture please April and Ariel."
Eddie got in the picture too mother, daughter and their all-time favorite princess. It couldn't get any better than this.
Frank soaked his knees diligently every night so he could keep up with the kids, but the walking was taking its toll on Jamie's bad foot. He was limping when he got into the room after the character dinner and light show.
"Soak your foot and I'll rub it down," Eddie offered. "Just let me get these guys in their beds, they are so tired…" Max was still humming "I Just Can't Wait to be King" in his sleep.
"Just put them in as they are, we can do their baths in the morning," Jamie replied. "I thought April was going to cry when Dad made "ouch" noises when she ate her Mickey Mouse waffles."
"He is having the time of his life with them honey," Eddie smiled. 'I'm hoping so much that he changes his mind about being alone in New York."
"Me too, but he's very stubborn," Jamie replied. "He's very very stubborn and he might not be ready to retire yet either. But you're right, the more fun we have with him, the harder it will be for him to let go."
Eddie smiled and tucked both the kids into bed. They held each other instinctively and sighed as they slid into a deeper sleep.
Eddie slid into a pretty pink lace night shirt then joined Jamie on the bed with a bottle of clear liquid. "This should help with your foot. The herbs have been doing fabulous work on your Dad."
Eddie wet three cotton balls and started to rub the mentholated liquid on the bottom of Jamie's foot. "You should soak this tomorrow, take the morning off kid duty. I can take the kids on the monorail around the park and for their lunch, your dad is doing the Presidents, you can meet us there for Dumbo before we go over to Animal Kingdom…"
Eddie's fingers worked on the arch of Jamie's foot as she suggested this. She dug her fingers in and then ran them up his calf. "You should borrow your father's herbs and take care of this, you won't be able to have fun if you don't."
Jamie kissed Eddie's lips softly, "Dad's taking the kids night after next. I made reservations at Tony's, we'll have a plate of spaghetti and then walk along the castle bridge, watch fireworks…and make some of our own…" He deepened the kiss.
She worked her hands into his hair and held him close to her. "That sounds simply magical." Eddie finished her work on Jamie's leg then laid down with him in her arms. She fell asleep snuggled up to him, dreaming of the magical night to come.
The small famiy went it's separate ways the next morning. Jamie iced his achy food, Frank headed out to do some of the more adult things he wanted to do in Disney. That would include the Hall of Presidents and the Carousel of Progress. He thought the children might enjoy the latter, but hearing Max repetitively sing "Great, Big Beautiful Tomorrow" over and over again was more than he could imagine taking.
Eddie took both kids to the Magic Kingdom She could go with them on several of the easier rides. The family would meet outsie It's a Small World before lunch. As they strolled through the park, Max spied the strolling band, sporting trumpets, tubas, and bass drums. He loved things like that, this place was full of them. He shook his tambourine.
As they walked, a single man in all black, looked down at Max. "Well, aren't you a cute little guy with your tambourine. Do you know how to play that?"
"Yes, I play it and I play piano and guitar…" Max began to talk with his Mommy right by his side. Eddie felt her hair stand on end…she felt unsettled by this man.
"Maxy, come with Mommom, now," Eddie urged. "We can go in a few minutes, April has to go potty."
Max strained again, he loved to talk about his music.
"Hang on buddy April has to go potty. Stay right here with Mommom okay," Eddie turned to help April
"Mommy, hurry, please..." April begged as Eddie pushed the door open to the restroom. Eddie's attention was solely on April for about one minute, and in that minute...Max disappeared.
She got April on the seat moving back. "Go ahead baby good girl. We're almost done max... max?" Eddie turned around gasping seeing he was gone. "Max!"
He didn't answer. The world seemed to slow down, there were people everywhere...the sounds of the park seemed to be outside of Eddie's body, as if muffled and underwater. "Max! Max!"
April climbed down on her own looking around "Mommy where Maxy? Max?" A few women looked over with worried looks.
Eddie panicked, her heart raced and her throat hurt with the need to cry. She tried to keep her head about her, but Max never left her side, he was like a third leg and he was gone! "Where is he? My boy...where is he?" She shook and covered her mouth trying to get her breathing under control. She reached deep for her cop mode. "Someone get security, we have to shut everything down, now!"