Chapter 5
A/N: I know it's been pretty rushed. I wanted to get to the good part. Also, I'm finally gonna mention Jamie in the next chapter. In this, Jamie will still have gone to law school, but will have only done 1 year of undergrad because he took college classes in high school.
5 years later...
Quite a few things had happened in 5 years. Eddie had graduated from Yale with degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She'd made up her mind about what she wanted to do as a career. She wanted to be a cop. She just didn't know if she wanted start immediately or wait a little while until Josie was a little older. After she graduated from Yale, she and Paisley parted ways, promising to stay in touch. Paisley moved back to Philly and Eddie moved to New Jersey. New Jersey wasn't exactly where she saw herself, but she lived in a nice area, there was a nice school for Josie. Her life was pretty ok.
"Mama?" Josie asked her mom as the pair sat at their dinner table.
"What's up, baby?" Eddie asked, giving her daughter her undivided attention.
"Do I have a dad?"
'Oh god, what do I say to that? I never thought this day would come, or at least not this soon.' Eddie thought to herself. She drew in a deep breath, blew it out, and built up the courage to answer her daughter's question.
"Yes, you have a father."
"Where is he? Why doesn't he live with us? Does he love me?"
"He lives in New York. He doesn't know about you."
"Why not, mama?"
"Because when I had you, I was really young. So was your father. Having a baby is a big responsibility and I didn't know if he was ready for it."
"He does know who I am? At all?"
"No, he doesn't. Maybe one day, if you really want to, you can meet him. But that day isn't today, or tomorrow. Right now, I'm still not sure if he's ready. So for right now, you have me and I have you. We have each other and that's what really matters. Ok?"
"Ok, mama. I love you."
Eddie wrapped her arms around the small child and told her she loved her too. And she really did. Josie was her life. She was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Josie gave Eddie a purpose in life. She gave Eddie a reason to keep going, even when things were tough.