Chapter 18

By month 8, Eddie had finally started making amends with Jamie's family.

"Jamie, please don't make me go. I'm really not feeling well. Your child is giving me major heartburn and my back is killing me." Eddie complained, rubbing a hand over her large bump. The baby kicked her hand, as if saying 'you're welcome.'

"Eddie, please. I promise I'll get you whatever you want to eat when we're on our way home. My dad said he wanted to talk to you. He said he wants to apologize." Jamie begged.

Eddie took in a deep breath, and thought about what Jamie had told her for a few moments.

"Fine, I'll go. But if I don't like the apology, we're leaving."

"Ok. Deal."

The family of three quickly got ready and headed off to Bayridge. Jamie had opted to skip mass, so they were fighting with the beginnings of rush hour traffic. After nearly an hour and a half of driving, they made it to Bayridge.

"Hi. Sorry we're late." Jamie said as he entered through the kitchen entrance.

"It's ok. We've only been waiting about 5 minutes." Henry said.

"Jack, can you get me another place setting?" Jamie asked.

Jack got up and went into the kitchen. Jamie picked up an extra chair and slid it in between his and Erin's.

"Are we expecting someone else?" Frank asked, slightly confused.

"Yep."

Jamie went into the kitchen, and found Eddie and Josie standing there, waiting for him. He grabbed Eddie's hand and led her and Josie out to the dining room.

"Hey, Eddie." Nicky said, in her usual cheery tone.

Josie sat down in her usual spot, while Jamie helped Eddie sit down. He then sat down himself, and waited for everyone's response.

"Hey Eddie, how're you doing?" Danny asked.

"I'm good." She said quietly.

"You're glowing. How far along are you?" Erin asked.

"A little over 8 months. Actually, 34 weeks tomorrow."

"Wow, really soon."

Eddie simply nodded.

The family said grace, and then began eating. They conversation was kept pretty light throughout dinner, which was pretty rare for the Reagan bunch. Linda and Sean cleared and cleaned, while Jack, Nicky, and Josie went to the backyard. Danny, Erin, and Jamie went into the living room and watched whatever game was on. Henry and Frank went into the sitting room and sat in their normal chairs. After a brief pep talk with Jamie, Eddie too went into the sitting room.

"Jamie said you invited me here to apologize." Eddie said, looking back and forth between the two men.

"We did." Frank said.

"Well." Eddie was growing slightly impatient.

"It was wrong of us to do and say what we did. We were being stubborn about the fact you didn't tell anyone about Josie. We just didn't understand why you did it. We realized, now, that it doesn't matter why you did what you did. We should've just accepted it from the beginning. We are truly sorry." Henry said, sincerely.

Eddie took a few moments to mull over what she'd just heard before she responded.

"I hear your apology, and I accept it, but I don't think I'm ready to forgive you yet. You held something against that you had no right to. What I did was between Jamie and I. I understand that you were upset, but you shouldn't have done this to me, Jamie, or our daughter."

"Will you ever forgive us?"

"I don't know." And with that, Eddie left them room, and sat with Jamie in the living room.

"How did it go?" Jamie whispered into Eddie's ear.

"It went." She responded, shortly.

They finished watching the game in silence, and then started getting ready to leave after it was over.

"So I'm assuming it didn't go well." Jamie said, as him, Eddie, and Josie made their journey back home. Josie had fallen asleep in the backseat.

"It didn't go terribly. Their apology didn't exactly sound sincere but I'm assuming that's as sincere as I'm gonna get."

"I'm sorry. I really thought you'd like their apology."

"What made you think I'd like their apology? They waited so long, and now, what? They just apologize out of the blue? I'm assuming you threatened them. What did you tell them? If they didn't apologize, you wouldn't come to Sunday dinner?"

Jamie sighed. Damn, he knew her too well.

"Well, I did threaten that at first, but it wasn't strong enough. Then I said if they didn't apologize, they wouldn't be able to see the baby. Then they started coming around."

"Jamie!" Eddie exclaimed, as she lightly hit his chest with the back of her hand.

"I was tired of the the most important people in my life not getting along. I figured it I could do something to help, I should."

"Well, I'm really sure how much it helped. If I go to dinner next week, it's gonna be tense."

"Yeah, I know." Jamie pauses for a few moments before speaking again. "So, I promised you food. What do you want?"

"Right now, nothing. This little one is kicking my stomach." Eddie said, as she stared down at her bump, and ran her hand over the area where the baby's feet were.

"Do you wanna pick up anything for later?"

"No, let's just go home. Jos has school tomorrow, and I want to get her home."

"Ok."

The small family made their way home. Jamie carried Josie to bed, not waking her at all. Eddie started getting ready for bed while Jamie tucked Josie in. Once he walked into their bedroom, he found Eddie staring at her bump in the mirror.

"Is something wrong?" Jamie asked, as he came up behind her. He placed his hands on top of hers', which were already stationed on each side of the bump.

"No, I'm just still trying to get my head around this. Us. I mean, how did I get so lucky? I have an amazing daughter, and baby on the way, with the best guy in the world, who just so happens to be my husband.

"I know, I am pretty great." At that, Eddie laughed. "But seriously, I ask myself that same question everyday."

"I love you."

Jamie wrapped his arms tighter around Eddie.

"I love you too."