Chapter Thirty One
Jamie got up and went to Max's bed. The little boy was sleeping, so Jamie gently woke him. "Hey, Maxy…" Jamie kissed his head. "Time to get up buddy."
Max wiped his gritty eyes, he had cried so much yesterday his eyes were swollen. "Let's wash your face off and then I think we need to walk and talk."
"Gonna spank me gain, Daddy?" Max asked, his brown eyes as wide as a doe.
"No,' Jamie replied. "Let's take a walk, okay?"
Jamie washed up Max's face and got him dressed. "Eddie, Max and I will bring breakfast up, we'll be back." Jamie took his son's hand and headed for the breakfast buffet.
"So, I read what you had to say in your letter, Max," Jamie began. "And I'm very happy that you took time to sit and think and write down what you felt inside. I'm very very proud of you for that."
Max looked up at Jamie with wide eyes. "Really?"
"Yes" Jamie replied and sat down for a minute to look Max in the eyes. "Listen to Daddy. I love you very, very much. It scared Daddy very badly when you went off and it made Mommy very upset. We have a rule about hitting, and yesterday, you and I both broke that rule, didn't we?"
Max looked down and nodded his head. "Hitting hurts and it isn't nice. I'm very sorry that I hit you. It does not mean I don't love you, okay?"
Max nodded, "I love you too Daddy." He offered a sweet hug.
Jamie held his little boy tight, "You understand what you did was wrong and that when you do something wrong you have to be punished?"
Max nodded again, "But Daddy will not spank you again if you don't hit and bite me again. We hurt each other inside and outside right?"
Max nodded again, "Just wanted to play music, Mommy like it when max play."
"Yeah, she does," Jamie sighed and rocked him. "We love you no matter what you are doing or what you do wrong. Never forget that ever, not ever."
They hugged again, "You want to get Mommy some bacon and eggs?"
Max nodded, "I carry it, I'm a big boy." Jamie smiled, all seemed to be forgiven. For now.
Eddie had April dressed by the time they got back from breakfast. Max ran right to his mother and gave her a big hug. "Mommom, I got bacon for you!"
"You do thank you sweetie," Eddie smiled carefully lifting max and placing a kiss on his cheek. "You know how much Mommy loves bacon."
Max got in his seat still a bit weary of Jamie as he ate his food. Eddie made a point of helping Max first.
April reached her hands up "help please." Max smiled that his Mommy was helping him first beaming at her. "Thank you, Mommy."
Jamie smiled, things were better. Frank took the kids to the pool to give Jamie and Eddie time. "I hope you fixed things with Max, the more I think about you hitting him then more I hate it."
"Your father never had to discipline you Eddie? Max and I talked and came to an understanding."
"Yes, he had to discipline me," Eddie replied. "Of course, he did but never hit me, not ever did he strike me." Jamie rolled his eyes, "You just don't get it Eddie, and your only frame of reference is a man that ended up in prison!"
Eddie stared at him hurt, mouth open in shock. "How dare you say that about my father? He wanted the best for me and thought that was the only way to do it. You and your family aren't perfect," Eddie huffed
Jamie realized the damage he'd done in mere seconds, so much so that he was trying to apologize over Eddies' angry words. "Don't worry, Jamie," Eddie replied. "It's fine, it's all fine."
Famous last words, Jamie knew he was in trouble now.
Jamie helped Eddie clean up trying again to apologize for how it came out and trying to explain following her into the living room. "Eddie listen to me."
"Trust me Jamie, it's fine," Eddie replied. "Uh..." She brought her hands up to his face. "You know what I think I need some time to myself. I'm going to get a prenatal massage and warm cleansing bath...I'll see you later." Eddie got ready to go
"Eddie wait I want to talk about this first please I didn't mean it like that it just came out wrong." Jamie tried again.
"It's fine," Eddie replied again. "Its fine, I'm going for a massage..."
Jamie sighed, "Eddie." He reached a hand out to gently grab her arm trying to stop her.
She left him there to sit and think, she needed time for herself. She headed down to the spa leaving Jamie to sit and think.
Sighing knowing, he was in deep with Eddie Jamie sat at the kitchen thinking until Frank and the kids came home
Two soggy kids ran to their Daddy for hugs before going to the bathroom to change. Frank saw Jamie's demeanor, "Arguing again son?"
Jamie sighed "yeah but I said something stupid dad and I know it hurt Eddie. She won't talk to me she brushes me off."
"She's sensitive," Frank replied. "What did you say and what did she say..." Jamie repeated his harsh words then..."And she told me it was fine." Frank knew what a big deal that was.
"I don't have to tell you that she is not fine Jamie. Somehow you must talk with Eddie and get through to her because you two need to work this out. I'll take the kids and give you privacy."
"I know she's not fine, but she's saying the FINE word and we know that means I'm in huge trouble. I don't know she said she needed Mommy time. Can you watch the kids? I think I'll take a walk."?
Frank nodded his head "yes of course son. Take as much time as you need to get your head together, so you and Eddie can work it out."
Jamie nodded, and Frank smiled, he knew this would take a special kind of intervention. Daniel Scott, a retired NYPD Chief was now Director of Security at Walt Disney World, he could make this happen for them. He placed the call and arranged the night.
Eddie returned from her massage quite relaxed. A dress was laid out for her on the bed, she felt this might be Jamie's attempt at making up. She'd see what he had in mind.
Frank had the kids busy listening to Eddie getting ready smiling as his plan was in motion.
She was prepared and ready to go by 5. "Have fun," Frank told her with a gentle kiss.
"Thanks dad..." Eddie smiled hugging both kids. "Be good and have fun with Grandpa love you."
She headed out and waited. Frank saw the coach round the drive then called her. When she picked up he said "Don't be alarmed, but Prince Charming is coming up on your right in just a second. Eddie looked then expecting to see Jamie. Instead she saw the real Prince charming
His teeth gleamed getting out to approach the window. "Are you Eddie Reagan? I am Prince Charming? I'd love it if I could escort you to dinner."
Eddie was almost speechless. She looked at him and he took her hand and kissed it. "Allow me..." He smiled and helped her to the waiting coach.
While Eddie was riding in style, Jamie was strolling through the park. He'd been called to the security office to receive his outfit for the evening. He didn't even question it, he just got dressed since his dad had called twice to see where he was, and now he was heading back towards Cinderella's castle at his father's request. He got a final call the equivalent of two city blocks away from the castle, the wording the same as Eddie's. Jamie though, knew his father's imagination, and expected exactly what he saw. Cinderella in her gown. She curtsied, "Jamie Reagan, I'm here to escort you to dinner with your Princess."
Jamie smiled, this had the potential to be very special indeed.
Jamie arrived just seconds before the pumpkin style coach. He dressed in his black, French cut suit, a starched white shirt and black tie. He spied the coach approaching, knowing Eddie would be stepping out. He held his breath, he knew she'd be a vision, she always was, but this...
Eddie, assisted by Prince Charming, stepped out of the coach dressed in a flowing black dress, just brushing her knee. It sported her usual deep V-neck, accentuating the changes in her body from the pregnancy. She took Jamie's breath away. In her hair, she wore his silver comb, this time adorned with flowers. She did indeed look like a princess.
Cinderella walked Jamie over toward Eddie and Prince Charming walked Eddie over toward Jamie. They met in the middle of the mosaic tile floor in the center of the castle. Their magnetism took over Jamie reached out for Eddie as she reached out for him. "I'm sorry," the said simultaneously. "You look great…" in the same fashion.
The actor and actress playing Cinderella and the Prince smiled, even they could feel how truly in love this couple was. Cinderella and her prince stepped away, arm in arm, to resume their regular duties whilst the matre'D of the restaurant came to escort them to their table.
"I'm so sorry, Eddie," Jamie sighed. "I never should have said that about your father, I never should have spanked Max, I never…"
"I should have listened and not judged you for that," Eddie sighed. "I'm sorry we wasted today by being apart…"
Jamie cupped Eddie's cheeks and leaned down to capture her mouth. He poured all of his emotion into his kiss; his love, his apology, his desire for her. "Your table, ma'am, sir," the matre'd announced. "Our best selections have been chosen, then after I'll show you to your room."
"Our room? Jamie, you didn't have to do this…" Eddie spoke up.
"I didn't," Jamie replied. "I think it's Dad. He set this up…so sweet of him."
Eddie agreed, "He's a godsend to us. I can't wait to have this time alone with you tonight."
Jamie nodded his agreement and speared some food for Eddie to try. He fed her a dipped shrimp off the end of a tooth pick. Eddie seductively licked her lips.
They made short work of their dinner, then followed the host to their suite. Their overnight bags were there and a bouquet of flowers, "Remember you should be partners in everything you do…and you will never be alone. Love Dad…"
Eddie's eyes teared.
Jamie observed his wife, she was just so beautiful. He gently took her by the hand and helped her sit on the bed. She was just big enough now that she was a little off center and had a hard time doing certain things. Her body ached a bit here and there, but nothing diminished the joy of this time in their relationship.
"Did you ever think," Jamie asked as he rubbed Eddie's back and hip. "When we first ran into each other in Montana that first time, we'd ever end up like this?"
Eddie really thought about that question, "Yes," she replied with conviction. "Yes, I knew somehow, someway we'd be together again. I knew that…"
"I didn't," Jamie admitted. "I knew I screwed us up so badly…I knew that, but…I didn't know how you could ever forgive the biggest mistake…"
Eddie hissed a bit as he hit a tender spot, "Did that hurt?"
"No, just tight," she replied. "That biggest mistake, Claudia, gave us our beautiful little boy and the pain and passion from that first time in Montana, gave us our girl. There's a lot of joy that came from that pain, and this one…"
Jamie smiled, "We had a hard, long road, but we are here now and I wouldn't trade anything or change things, because what we have right here, right now, is really special."
Eddie turned and reached her hand up to cup Jamie's cheek. Their lips met in a soulful kiss, their breaths mingled and their tongues touched, each devoting their full attention to the other. Eddie's giggled as her body chilled with goosebumps, Jamie stirred in her such passion and emotion…he stirred in her such love and desire…
She wanted him and needed him…now.