Chapter Thirty Three
Erin was at the end of the jet way waiting to see Frank more than anyone. "Hey sweetie!" Frank greeted as they approached smiling. Both April and Max stopped and hung back.
"Hey, Dad, they pass the kids off on you?" Erin asked not really worrying the kids might hear.
"No, Erin I am helping them the same way I helped with Jack, Sean and Nikki," Frank sighed.
"Grandpa, up please," April reached for Frank. She was tired and cranky.
Frank lifted her up giving April a kiss on her head. "Lay on Grandpa and rest; there you go sweetie."
Eddie came out of the jet way with Jamie "Oh no..." She bit back the groan seeing Erin.
"She's only driving us home okay? Then it'll be us and you can relax," Jamie assured.
"She's going to annoy me all the way home," Eddie sighed. "Is April is okay?"
"She's just sleepy, let's head for home...thanks for coming Erin..."
"Of course wouldn't have my dad slugging a heavy suitcase and the kids around to Brooklyn."
Erin took them to the car walking beside her father only talking to him. "So how was it dad?"
"It was great," Frank beamed. "We had such a fun time all of us. Max and April got autographs from nearly everyone"
"Oh yeah? You enjoyed it though? Did you see everything that you wanted to," Erin asked.
"And more" Frank smiled as Jamie protected his wife and eased her into the car. "Eddie introduce Dad to the herbalist in Montana, she did wonders for his knees."
Erin only nodded carefully pulling out. "Sounds like a good time... so tell me more what did you do and see?"
Max took off telling Erin everything that they did, "And grandpa like the show, he see it again while April and Max see Snow White!"
"That sounds great I'm glad you had fun. Did you see Cinderella too?" Erin asked uninterested glancing Frank.
Jamie looked back and Eddie, she was holding her belly protectively. She looked tired from the travel, "You know what Erin, take Eddie and Jamie home first, she needs to get her rest. April too, I think she's coming down with something."
"Sure dad if you want I can order in so you don't have to cook. You are probably exhausted from the trip and having to babysit..." Erin said.
"Actually, I feel better than I have in years," Frank replied. "Certainly better than when Pop died."
Erin said nothing knowing how hard it was since he and Henry lived together for so many years but still worried.
Frank insisted on helping get the kids settled in so that Jamie could focus on Eddie. The flight had been a little draining for her and Frank was a little worried about April. She was pulling on the side of ear and fussing a bit.
Frank sat in the big chair in her room and held her in his lap. How could he miss this? How could he leave this?
"So," Erin asked. 'Did you like Montana at all?"
Frank nodded, "I loved it. It's so beautiful, more beautiful than when we were there for the wedding. Their house is a lot like the one here, but bigger and the porch goes all the way around."
"Sounds like you like it a lot," Erin sighed. "Dad, you know how I feel about Jamie's choice of wife and how I feel about you. If you are lonely, I'll move in the house with you. I can…"
Frank bit his lip, he hated to admit that would be the worst thing that could happen. Erin was too involved, too much of a mother hen. Jamie was the one, he and Pop both knew that, Jamie was the one to see him through his golden years. Frank knew he could talk Jamie out of going to Montana if he really wanted to do that, but this was making Jamie happy and Eddie as well. He had a home here if he wanted it, and there too. He was wanted and that was more than many his age and older could say.
"That flight really did a number on your feet," Jamie sighed putting Eddie's swollen ankles up on pillows. "You okay otherwise?"
"Yeah, I'm just tired," Eddie replied. "Is April okay? She's clingy and tugging on her ear…"
"She probably had pressure problems," Jamie replied. "Rest a bit, I'll check on her and relieve my Dad."
Frank was more than content to rock April and listen to Max practice his piano. He handed April over to Jamie, "She's napping now, I gave her a little chewing gum and she seems to feel better now. I'm going to head home, I'll see you guys on Sunday."
"Thanks Dad, we had a good time. We're glad you came with us…"
"I'm glad I did too," Frank smiled. "More than you know."
Frank headed home with Erin, he was lonely, but he had made his decision. When it was time and when he was ready, he'd make his retirement home a cottage on Jamie's land in Montana.
"So you see," Eddie softly explained to Carlos and little Peter. "We're going to be moving away to Montana, with Max and April, but Kara and Luke will be staying here and they will make sure everything is okay here for you guys, okay? They will even bring you to visit."
The tears on Carlos' face broke Eddie's heart, she was doing what was best for her family, but it was still hard to leave her life behind. "Jamie's going to leave the police force and Luke's gotten him a great job in Montana with the Sheriff department. You can ride horses when you come see us."
That got Carlos to smile a bit. "I'll miss you," he replied. "I like staying with you and Mr. Commissioner Frank and playing with April and Max."
"We'll miss you too, honey," Eddie replied. "The baby is kicking, you want to feel it and sit with me?"
Carlos nodded and sat by Eddie. He was so lonely, his foster mom was sick a lot and now his other family was leaving. He liked Kara and Luke and Jake was his best friend, but it would still be hard to see them all leave and be left behind.
Eddie stroked his hair, she knew how it felt to be alone, but she and Jamie talked at length, they would keep providing for Carlos with Kara and Luke to help.
Eddie was still reeling from the encounter when she got home later. Jamie had just come in, the plans for his bon voyage were in place. "So, in two weeks…" he slid his arm around her. He didn't expect her to cry.
"Hey," Jamie whispered softly. "Hey, what's wrong honey? Are you okay?"
"I just talked to Carlos, then I came home and Anita had called to ask to play with the kids once or twice more before we go, and then I saw the boxes had arrived…"
Jamie kissed the top of her head, "I know it's been hard for me too. I went by the cemetery on a whim today to see Pop, Mom, and Joe, it's going to be hard to leave this place, but I agree, it's safer, it's better, it's happier and it's the right thing to do."
"I know," Eddie replied wiping her eyes. "It's just getting more real now. Oh, that music school in Billings left me a message, they would be happy to give Max an audition when he's five and that's too long so I said he'd be soon and they'll see him. He'll knock their socks off and forget all about the age, trust me."
Jamie laughed, "You're not above anything when it comes to his music are you?"
Eddie laughed, "Really not…"
He dropped a kiss on her head then sighed, "You want to tackle some of this packing?"
Eddie nodded, "Let's do it…the truck is coming in ten days so our stuff arrives before us. It's great of your dad to let us stay with him that last weekend."
"He loves it, any excuse for time with the kids," Jamie replied. "Come on, I'll lift you fold and stuff. Partners…"
She stood on her tip toes and kissed Jamie's lips. "Forever and ever."
The house seemed to get packed up over night, they did a little at a time but it happened more quickly than they expected. Before they knew it, it was time for them to move into Frank's house until it was time to leave. They had a sleepover for Kara and Luke's boys with Carlos and Peter. Peter smiled at the other kids then found Frank's study, he remembered that room when he was here a few months ago. He liked me and he liked Frank.
Peter spied the piles of books about the Civil War, the marines, and other historical subjects. He liked to look at the pictures and make up stories in his head. "How you doing, Peter?" Frank asked. "You like those books?"
He nodded and showed Frank a picture of the army with some Indians. "They're not pilgrims'..."
Frank sighed, "No, that's right, they aren't pilgrims. Those are soldiers."
"Indians supposed to be with Pilgrims and have Thanksgiving," Peter told Frank warming the older man's heart.
"Not always little man," Frank smiled. "But those stories are a little too old for your blood. Here, look at this book…" Frank pulled the family album, he'd be happy to explain those stories to young Peter. The boy sat on the study couch with Frank not very interested in the things going on around him, he was happy here.
Eddie watched the other kids playing as she sipped tea with Kara and nuzzled baby Andrew. "He is so big, it's hysterical. I'm so glad that my mom is able to keep the kids and we can drive with you to Montana and help you get set up. It'll be nice for Jamie to help him get settled at the new job, and for Luke to connect with his roots a bit."
"And for you and Luke to have some kid free time too," Eddie replied. "I'm glad you're coming. Only five days left as New Yorkers."
"You might not live here, but you and Jamie will always be New Yorkers, this will always be your home, just like Montana will always be Luke's even if he stopped using a blinker when he changes lanes…" Kara laughed and made Eddie smile. "I'm going to miss you most of all…"
Kara shook her head, "No, we'll skype and chat so much you won't realize I'm not nearby, and don't write us off yet. I might just talk Luke into going back country. Is he asleep?"
Eddie nodded, 'Yep, I better go and pee before I miss again. I wet twice this week, he's in such a bad place.'
Kara couldn't help but laugh.