Chapter 8

The new partners went their separate ways. Eddie caught a few hours of sleep, after picking up her sleeping daughter from the babysitter. Jamie got some sleep too.

Just as Eddie had told Jamie, Josie woke up at 8am, requesting breakfast.

"Baby, we're gonna go our for breakfast today." Eddie said, effectively telling her daughter she couldn't have breakfast at that moment.

"Who are we going with? Is grandma coming? Please tell me she's not coming."

At that last comment, Eddie laughed. Her daughter had the same feelings about Lena as she did. They both loved her, but she could be a lot sometimes.

"No, grandma's out of town right now. She said something about Bora Bora." Eddie said, with a slight eye roll at the end.

"Then who? We only go out for breakfast when we go with someone else."

"Well, we're going with your father."

"I thought you said my dad doesn't know about me?"

"Well, you know how I started a new job yesterday?" Josie nodded. "He's my partner. We actually met in high school. When I got pregnant with you, I moved schools. I never told him about you. Yesterday, he figured out that he's your dad. He wants to meet you. Do you want to meet him?"

"Is he nice?"

"Yeah, baby, he's nice. He's really excited about meeting you."

"Ok, but can I at least have a banana before we go? I'm hungry."

"Yeah, you can have a banana, and then you need to get dressed."

Josie finished her banana and then went off to her room to get dressed. Eddie did the same. Josie decided on a pink, floral sundress with a jean jacket and white sandals, while Eddie decided on skinny jeans and a pale blue blouse. She did some minimal makeup and curled her hair in loose curls. She then braided Josie's hair into twin Dutch braids. Eddie got a call from Jamie around 8:30, asking if they could meet at a nearby diner. Eddie agreed and they were on their way.

"Mom, I'm nervous to meet him. What if he doesn't like me?" Josie said, as she and Eddie walked to the diner.

"Josie, he's gonna love you. You have nothing to worry about." Eddie reassured. Truth was, she was nervous too.

"Are you gonna marry him?"

"I don't think so, sweetie. But it's an option. We'll just have to wait and see."

"Ok. Am I gonna get a brother or sister?"

"Again, I don't know. We'll have to wait and see."

"I want a little sister. I want her to be named Aurora, like sleeping beauty. I wish my name was Aurora."

"Josie, you're named after a really nice man. He's actually a man who helped you be born. He also happens to be your dad's brother. His name was Joseph. Josie kinda sounds like Joseph."

"Where is he? Why don't I know him?"

"Well, he actually died a few years ago. He was a cop too, like me and your dad."

"Mom, are you gonna die?" Josie asked, her eyes already filling with tears.

"I can't promise you that I won't, but I promise you that I will do everything I can to go home to you."

"I love you, mom."

"I love you too, baby." Eddie said, as she brought her daughter closer to her side.

The pair arrived at the diner a few minutes later, and found Jamie already sitting at a table. Eddie walked up to the table, and Josie followed closely behind her. When they were standing in front of the table, Josie decided to be shy and hide behind her mother.

"Jamie, this is Josie. Jos, can you say hi?" Eddie said.

"Hi Josie." Jamie said, with a glowing smile. He realized how beautiful she was. She had long, dirty blonde hair, greenish, blueish eyes. She looked a lot like Eddie.

Josie was still being shy and simply just waved at Jamie. When Eddie went to sit down, Josie protested and gripped her leg harder. Eddie realized this shyness wasn't going to let up, so she moved her daughter long enough to sit down, and then placed her on her lap. She was a little on the small size for her age, so she wasn't heavy at all.

"So, how're you this morning?" Jamie asked, trying to start a conversation.

"We're good. Josie, as you can see, is being a little shy."

She had her head in Eddie's neck, and Eddie was practically cradling her like a baby.

"Can I get chocolate pancakes?" Josie whispered into Eddie's ear.

"You can, only if you get fruit with them and sit in your own chair. He's not gonna bite you, baby." Eddie whispered back.

Josie reluctantly got out of Eddie's lap, and sat in the 3rd chair at the table.

The waiter came over and took their orders. They went through breakfast fairly easily. They shared small conversations, but nothing big. Jamie really didn't know how to talk to his daughter. Maybe if he had been given the chance meet her when she was younger, it would've been easier. Now that she was 9, he had no idea what to do or say.

"Eddie, is there something that Josie really likes to do? I mean I'm kinda at a loss right now." Jamie whispered to Eddie as they walked back to Eddie's apartment.

"She's been wanting to see this new movie that came out. I kept putting it off because I was too busy. She's also obsessed with the zoo and the aquarium. Why?" Eddie explained.

"Can we take her to the zoo?"

"Yeah, if you want."

"Hey, Josie. How would you feel if we went to the Central Park Zoo? Then we could walk around in the park. Would you like that?" Jamie asked the young girl.

Josie simply smiled and nodded. Jamie could see her she'll was breaking when she walked over to Jamie and put her little hand in his. He swore his heart grew 2 sizes that day.

Josie made his heart so full. He felt like his life was complete with her.