Chapter 15
Sunday came way too quickly, and the nerves started to hit Eddie as she was getting ready for Mass.
"Jamie, what if me going to mass and Sunday dinner makes them even madder? What then?"
"Eddie, why would this make them more mad at you? It's not like we're gonna announce that you're pregnant. And we're not gonna tell them about the engagement." Jamie analyzed Eddie face and then quickly spoke again. "You're not pregnant, right?"
"Jamie, I'm not pregnant. I'm pretty sure the hospital did a pregnancy test. They would've told us if I was."
"Ok, just making sure. I can only handle having to tell one big announcement at a time."
"Ideally, I want to wait until after we get married to start thinking about more kids. I know one baby out of wedlock is a big no-no. I can't imagine how big two babies out of wedlock would be."
"Me either, and I don't really want to."
The pair continued getting ready, and Eddie dropped the conversation. She was still extremely nervous, but she decided to keep it to herself.
"Mom, can you braid my hair?" Josie asked, as she went strolling into Jamie and Eddie's bedroom.
"Baby, I'm sorry, but I can't. I have to use both my arms to braid and I can't." Eddie told her daughter, genuinely sorry. She knew that these moments with her daughter wanting her mother to do her hair were limited.
"Dad? Can you braid my hair?" Josie asked, turning to Jamie.
"Uh, I guess I can try. I haven't done this in a long time and I didn't do it very well." Jamie confessed.
"Who's hair did you braid?" Josie asked, as she sat down at the vanity and handed Jamie the brush.
"When Nicky was younger, I used to practice braiding on her hair, you know, in case I ever had a daughter. Your aunt Erin was the one who taught me how to braid. I used to be able to do all kinds, but now I only remember regular and fishtail. So, how do you want me to do it?"
"I want a half up, half down with a fishtail."
"Um, how do I do that?"
Eddie quickly explained how to do it, and then sat back and watched the adorable father-daughter bonding. When Jamie was done, Eddie was actually impressed. He did better than she thought he would do.
"We should probably get going. I really don't want to be late." Eddie said, as they finished up breakfast.
"I mean, it's still kinda early. We're gonna get their like 30 minutes early." Jamie reasoned.
"Jamie, please just humor me. Being late will make me more nervous than I already am. I'd rather be early than late." Eddie said, not really leaving any room to argue.
"Ok. Come on, Jos, time to go."
The family was out the door and on their way to Bayridge within 5 minutes.
Just like Jamie had predicted, they were about 30 minutes early to church. To kill time, they made small talk with some other early birds. After about 15 minutes, the first of the other Reagans showed up.
"Hey, little bro. I see you brought someone special today." Danny said, as he greeted Jamie.
"Yeah, she's gonna try to apologize to dad and Pop so that they'll stop holding their grudge. Hopefully it works." Jamie answered.
"So, how're you feeling?" Danny asked, turning to Eddie.
"I'm fine." Eddie said simply, still not too sure on where Danny stood with her.
"How long will you have to wear a sling and use a crutch?"
"I'm not really sure."
"Hey, Eddie, I know you probably think that the whole family hates you, but that's not true. Just so you know, I'm not mad at you. I told you that. That hasn't changed."
"I know, I'm just kinda nervous. I just want you all to not be mad anymore. I know what I did was wrong, but I can't change the past. I would if I could, but I can't."
"I know that, and that's why I'm not holding it against you."
"Thank you."
Erin and Nicky were the next Reagans to arrive, and just like with Danny, her reason for being there was explained.
Of course, the last to arrive were Frank and Henry, and the nerves were written all over Eddie's face. Luckily, the mass started soon after they arrived so the conversation would have to wait.
"That was a nice service." Eddie said, as her, Jamie, and Josie drove to the Reagan family home.
"Yeah. Did you like it? Would you be willing to come more often?" Jamie asked.
"I mean, if we're getting married, I don't really have a choice."
"Eddie, there will always be a choice. I'm not just gonna force Catholicism down your throat if you don't want to practice it. Would I like it if you came to mass on Sundays? Yeah. Am I gonna expect you to go? No, of course not."
"I'll think about. Right now, I just need to get through this apology."
As they got closer and closer to the house, Eddie's stomach began doing more and more flips.
"Oh my god, Jamie, I feel like I'm gonna throw up. I'm so nervous." Eddie said, as they approached the house.
"Please don't throw up. Then they'll think you're pregnant." Jamie really didn't want his family to think she was making amends because of an impending baby.
"Jamie, I don't think I can do this."
"Eddie, you can do this. You'll be fine. Everything will be fine. Now, we should probably go in."
"Ok." Eddie took in a few deep breaths to try and help calm her nerves. Once she'd prepared herself, she got out of the car and slowly followed Jamie.
When they entered through the kitchen entrance, they were greeted by Linda and Jack who were in the kitchen.
"Hey. How're you doing?" Linda asked Eddie.
"I'm fine." She'd given the same answer to Danny.
"So, what brings you to your first Reagan Sunday dinner?" Jack asked, trying to sound polite while still being curious.
"Well, technically it's not my first Reagan Sunday dinner. You're Uncle Jamie and I actually first met in high school. I stayed here for a few weeks while my parents were out of town." Eddie explained.
"Really? I didn't know that."
Jack seemed to be satisfied with that answer.
Dinner was ready within an hour, and everyone sat down. The table was rather quiet, and a sense of awkwardness hung in the air. Eddie didn't really eat anything. She mostly just sat there, staring off. She was too nervous to eat. After everyone finished, Eddie made the excuse that she was going to help Jamie wash and dry the dishes, but really she was just stalling.
She realized after the dishes were done, she couldn't stall any further.
"It'll be fine, babe." Jamie reassured, as he placed a sweet kiss on Eddie's forehead.
"I hope so." Eddie said with a sigh.
She left the kitchen and walked into the living room, to find Frank and Henry sitting in their usual spots.
"Can I, um, have a moment of your time?" Eddie asked, looking at Frank and Henry.
Frank took in a deep breath, as if he was contemplating, and then answered Eddie's question.
"Sure."
"I just want to apologize for everything that I did. At the time, I was a stupid kid. I was 19 and alone, with this tiny human who depended on me for everything. I was so stubborn, and I didn't want to ask for help. And I was terrified. I was terrified of how badly this would mess up my life, and I was I was terrified of what Jamie would do if I told him. I knew, or I thought I knew, that because of Jamie's Catholic background he wouldn't help me with the baby, because of how much of a sin a baby of of wedlock is. I didn't want to ruin his life, so I just kept her a secret. Now that I've seen how good of a father Jamie is, I realized that what I did was wrong. It was wrong of me to keep Josie a secret from her own family. I'm so sorry. I hope you can forgive me." Eddie said as sincerely as possible.
Frank and Henry remained silent for a few moments, taken in everything they'd just heard. Henry spoke up.
"I understand that you were young and scared, and I accept your apology, but I don't think I'm ready to forgive you. Frankly, what you did is unforgivable."
"Eddie, you kept my granddaughter away from me, for 9 years. You kept her away from her own father. It wasn't your right to decide what Jamie's choice would be. I don't think I can forgive you."
With tears welling in her eyes, she was only able to get out one word. "Oh." She then hobbled back in the kitchen, and found Jamie sitting at the table with a glass of Scotch. Eddie sat down across from him and let her tears fall.
"What happened?" Jamie asked as stroked Eddie's arm.
Eddie took in a few deep breaths, wiped her eyes, and then spoke.
"I explained everything to them, and they said what I did is unforgivable. They said they'd never forgive me."
Jamie furrowed his brow and sighed. Why the hell were they being so damn stubborn?
"I'll be right back." Jamie said as he down the rest of the Scotch and got up from his seat.
He walked into the living, and addressed his father and grandfather.
Eddie could only hear muffled words, and almost as quickly as he went in, he came back out to the kitchen.
"I think it's time for us to. I'll go get Josie." Jamie said.
Jamie went to the backyard and got Josie. Soon, the family of three was in their car, driving back to Brooklyn Heights.
They quickly got back home, and Josie to her room, while Jamie and Eddie went to their's.
"What did you say to them?" Eddie asked, referring the Jamie's short conversation with Frank and Henry.
"I told them that I was gonna take a little break from Sunday dinners for awhile. I also told them that they don't have a right to be mad at you." Jamie answered.
"Jamie, you didn't have to do that. I really don't want our relationship to ruin your relationship with your family." Eddie said, trying to make Jamie change his mind.
"Eddie, I didn't necessarily make this decision because of what they said to you. I'm just tired of their stubbornness. I'm not gonna deal with it anymore."
"Jamie, I think I'm gonna take Josie and stay with my mom for a little while. I think we might've gone into this whole thing too quickly. I don't want to be the reason you become estranged from your family, or the reason your family beings to make Josie feel unwelcome."
"Where did this come from? I thought you agreed it wasn't too quick. I thought you wanted all of this too."
"I love you, and I want to have a life with you, but I just need some time to think. I just need some time to myself. I'm so sorry I'm doing this to you. If you don't want me to take Josie, then I won't." Eddie was starting to feel the tears again.
"Eddie, I'm not mad at you. I get it. You just got shot. I understand why you want time to think. And I think it would be best if you took Josie with you. I really can't take care of her by myself and work at the same time."
Eddie responded to Jamie with a passionate kiss. One thing led to another, and the ended up tangled in the sheets.
"I promise I won't be gone for too long. I just really need this time." Eddie reassured.
"Take as much time as you. I understand."