CH. 11: Smile, it's Thanksgiving
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The following morning, and Danny woke up to the sound of stirring in the kitchen. Devon was asleep in her rock 'n play sleeper, next to her grandfather's favorite chair, that her daddy was stretched out in, doing his best to get a couple hours of sleep. Danny yawned, and looked at his watch. It was a little after 7, and he knew it was either his mother cooking breakfast, or his dad making coffee. Pushing the footrest down on the chair, Danny tried to get up as quietly as he could, not wanting to wake the baby, and get started on the wrong foot, with having to listen to his little girl cry, before he even got a cup of coffee, and something to eat. "Hey Dad," Danny walked into the kitchen.
"Is my chair, comfortable to sleep in?" Frank questioned.
"It's not as nice as my bed, but as long as it keeps Devon content, that's what's important." Danny took the coffee cup that was handed to him. "Thanks," he slumped into one of the kitchen chairs.
"I'm going to make some eggs. Do you want some?" Frank pulled the carton of eggs from the refrigerator.
"Sure. Where's Mom?" Danny thought it odd, that his mother wasn't down yet, looking through the cabinets to see what she was going to cook for family dinner.
"Getting ready for mass," Frank pulled the pan out from one of the lower cabinets.
"Morning," Jamie interrupted them, walking into the kitchen.
"You're up early," Danny noticed, knowing it wasn't often, that he got up willingly, at least not on a Sunday, after he's had to get up early all week for school.
"Am I?" Jamie tried playing it cool, but it was obvious to his eldest brother, that he was trying to get back into his father's good graces, after getting in trouble the day before.
"I'm hungry," Jamie tried covering, looking at his brother to stop talking about it.
"I'm making breakfast," Frank gestured at the pan of eggs he was stirring.
"Great," Jamie poured himself a cup of coffee, and took a seat next to his brother.
Frank turned away from the stove, and started to refill his cup, when he realized, there wasn't much left in the pot. "Are you drinking coffee?" Frank looked at his youngest.
"Mhmm," Jamie nodded, looking at him over the brim of his cup. "I'm cold."
"Have you ever heard of hot chocolate?" Danny didn't like the fact that his brother was wanting to drink his energy source. He was the one with a colicky baby after all.
"This is better," Jamie ignored him.
"I didn't think you liked coffee very much," Frank thought, not sure what to think. Part of him thought his son was growing up, and part of him, wasn't sure if he was ready for all the caffeine.
"I like it," Jamie answered. "But mom always says I'm too young."
"That's because she doesn't want you to get addicted to the caffeine," Frank enlightened him.
"A cup or two in the mornings won't make me addicted," Jamie figured.
"You can start out by having it on the weekends, after a while, you can transition," Frank was willing to give in. At least enough to make his son happy, but without making his wife unhappy.
"Danny's the one that's addicted, he drinks it all day," Jamie muttered.
"I have a newborn that won't let me sleep, and that cries almost all day," Danny reasoned, thinking if any of them had a reason to drink the caffeinated beverage, it was him.
"I'm going to need buy more coffee," Frank walked out of the kitchen, to call his wife down for breakfast. He returned a few minutes later, only this time he didn't return alone. This time, he returned with his baby granddaughter in his arms. "Somebody woke up."
"And she wasn't crying?" Danny was surprised that she was content enough to lay in her rocker awake, without crying.
"Not this time," Frank was smiling at the infant, while he took a seat at the table.
"She'll be wanting a bottle," Danny stood, and walked over to the counter, where the formula was kept. Knowing that as soon as his little girl woke up in the mornings, she expected breakfast. Danny had just finished making his daughters bottle, and handed it to his father, before he scooped himself a pile of bacon and eggs onto his plate, and returned to his seat at the table.
Jamie was about to say something, when his mother walked in, her voice boisterous as she greeted her granddaughter gleefully. "How's Grandmas girl this morning?"
"She's hungry," Frank gestured, at the bottle, that had already had an ounce sucked out of it.
"Did you notice that anytime Mom walks into the room, she ignores us, but greets a baby that can't talk, and that she's only known for a couple weeks. When she's known us her entire life?" Danny asked his brother, in between bites with his fork.
"You two are just going to have to face it," Mary added her own comment in, to her eldest observation. "There's a new kid on the block," Mary was anxious to take her granddaughter from her husband.
The brothers exchanged glances, wondering what happened to how loving she used to be towards them. "You used to love us, simply because I was your youngest, and he was your oldest," Jamie nodded at his brother.
"You aren't as cute as you used to be." Mary didn't even bother to turn her head away from the baby and look at them.
"That was harsh," Jamie was still looking at his brother, shocked by his mother's reply.
"I have been betrayed by my own daughter," Danny shook his head, although he had to admit, it didn't bother him very much, at least not as much as it was obviously affecting his kid brother. He was the oldest after all, and had to grow accustomed to it, after Erin, Joe and Jamie were born.
Mary ignored her son's observations, and was quick to take her granddaughter, as soon as she finished her bottle. "You two need to start getting ready for mass," she did manage to turn her attention back to her children, for a brief moment, although it was obvious, that she was anxious to return to watching the baby.
"I don't think I'm going to go to mass today," Danny shook his head, while answering her statement. "Not with her having colic and being prone to fits of screaming."
"Well, when are you going to take her?" Mary certainly wasn't going to order him to take her, it wasn't his decision after all. "I want to show my baby granddaughter off."
"I don't know Mom," Danny yawned, running a hand through his hair. "The weathers cold and I really don't want her to get sick. Colic is more than enough for me to handle right now."
Mary knew what her son was saying was true, it was the season for sickness after all, but she couldn't help but look forward to the time, when she could show her youngest grandchild off to her friends. "Well try to get some rest while the house is quiet," she managed to say.
"If Devon will let me, I'll try," Danny shook his head, before running up the stairs, hoping to get a quick shower, before his parents and brother left him alone with the infant once again.
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"It's just you and me Dev," Danny looked down at the little girl that was beginning to squirm in her pack n play. "What do you want to do?" Devon's lips started to stick out as her eyes began to crunch up, and Danny could tell she was getting upset. "Well that answers that question," Danny picker her head. "You want daddy to hold you." Devon's expression changed, the second she was placed against her father's chest, and Danny couldn't help but smile, at the little face. "You are going to make people think I'm an old softy, with giving in to your every whim." Devon gave him a small smile, making Danny feel, as if she understood everything he had just said. "And your happy about it," Danny laughed. "That's okay," Daddy wants to enjoy the time he has with you, while your little. Even if you won't remember the days and nights, Daddy has sat up with you. But I'll be sure and remind you of it, when you get older and yell that you hate me because I won't let you go out." Devon squirmed in his arms, and Danny laughed again. "Daddy doesn't want to think about that either," Danny stretched out on the couch, and placed his little one on his chest. Where Devon yawned, and fell asleep happily, causing Danny to do the same. At least until he was awakened by his family trailing into the house.
"Baby!" Nicki said excitedly, running over to the couch.
"Baby sleeping," Danny said gently, hoping to get his niece to lower her voice, even it was just a decibel of sound.
Devon started to cry, and Danny sat up. "Sorry Danny," Erin apologized, stepping into the den, when she realized what her daughter had done.
"It's fine," Danny yawned. "She needed to wake up to eat anyways."
"I'll make her a bottle," Erin figured, that was the least she could do, remembering all too well what it was like when someone woke up Nicki, when she was asleep.
"Baby hungry," Nicki patted Devon's tummy.
"She's not the only one," Danny was starting to get a little hungry himself.
"Grandma cook," Nicki pointed at the kitchen with one hand, while rubbing her own tummy with her other hand.
"I sure hope so," Danny stood up from the couch, and placed the baby up on his shoulder, as she continued to fuss.
"What are you doing to my poor niece?" Joe badgered his brother, as he walked into the room.
"Your other niece woke her up," Danny gestured at Nicki. "And now she's hungry."
"That's okay Devon, Uncle Joe acts like a bear when he gets woken up too," Joe took the little girl from her daddy. "And Daddy acts like a bear when he's hungry," Joe was sure to add, throwing a grin at his brother.
"Do me a favor and change her diaper," Danny shoved a diaper against his brother's chest roughly.
"Careful, I have a baby in my arms," Joe warned, laughing.
"That's my excuse," Danny walked into the kitchen, leaving his brother to change his daughters wet diaper, silently hoping she would cry like she usually did, and give him a hard time.
Joe didn't get to hold his little niece long, considering Grandma Betty came in and took over. "Hand her over Joseph."
At first, Joe didn't say anything, and all he did was look at her, as if he was trying to figure out if she was serious. "I need to give her, her bottle." Joe tried to explain why he needed to keep her.
"I'll do it," Betty was quick to shut him down.
"Grandma, I haven't been able to hold her long," Joe tried again.
"Francis!" Betty started to call for her son, tired of her grandson arguing with her.
"No, no, no, no reason to do that," Joe was quick to surrender the little infant over to her great-grandmother. "Here I am, 21 years old, and I'm still getting my father called on me." Joe mumbled to himself, as he walked into the backyard.
"I still get it," Danny overheard his brothers mumble, from where he sat in one of the outside chairs. "And I'm older than you, as well as a father."
"Do you think, it will ever change?" "Not as long as Mom and Grandma are here," Danny laughed.
"Augh," Joe moaned, regretfully.
"You graduate from the academy next month, right?" Danny asked, changing the subject.
"Yes, finally," Joe said with a smile. "Are you coming to my graduation?"
"I might be able to fit it into my busy schedule," the eldest Reagan brother nodded.
"You think moms going to cry?" Joe wondered, scratching his head.
"You know it," Danny laughed. "She cries anytime one of her children graduates from something. She cried when me, you and Erin graduated high school. Erin with law school, me from the academy, and when I got the medal from the marines. And she will no doubt cry for any other ceremonies she witnesses, that her children partake in."
"You're probably right," Joe laughed. "But instead of crying when you graduated, I'm pretty sure those were tears of thankfulness, just glad that you actually got a diploma."
"Very funny little brother," Danny shoved him. "And just for that, when you graduate, Jamie and I are going to stand up, and yell real loud. Woot! Woot! Woot!"
"You wouldn't," Joe was already getting embarrassed.
"Without a doubt," Danny laughed out loud.
"What are we going to do?" Jamie interrupted, slipping out the back door.
"Embarrass Joe at graduation," Danny answered him.
"Were going to get noise makers and air horns," Jamie picked up, on his brother's pattern of teasing.
"Aren't you grounded, and supposed to stay inside?" Joe was not enjoying his brothers teasing, and was beginning to wish he hadn't even brought it up.
"Hey, as long as Dad doesn't notice I'm gone, I'm fine."
"I'm telling him," Joe started to open the door and call for Frank.
"No," Jamie grabbed his brothers arm. "No air horns and no noise makers," Jamie was quick to surrender.
"Okay," Joe stopped, not wanting to tell on his brother anyways.
"You don't have anything on me," Danny grinned. "I may still bring the air horns."
"I hate being the middle brother," Joe muttered, going back inside, giving up, on trying to win, when it came to his eldest and youngest brother.
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It wasn't long, and Mary and Erin were calling everyone to the table for dinner. Devon had fallen back to sleep, and surprisingly, allowed Betty to lay her down, without waking up and screaming, the second she felt herself being set down. They had been sitting at the dining room table for about 15 minutes, talk centered around Devon's coming pictures, and the plans for Thanksgiving that week, Mary being certain to remind all her children to be there in the morning, and neither of them had better be late. "I can't wait for the backyard football game," Jamie sounded excited, shifting the conversation to the Reagan's annual Thanksgiving football game.
"I can't wait for the food," Henry voiced his preference for the day.
"Jamie's on my team," Danny turned the conversation back to the game. Wanting to be the first to claim his youngest brother, when he and Joe had to pick teammates. Knowing that if he didn't choose Jamie, he would be stuck with Erin.
"Hey," Erin started to protest. "I'm a better player than you think. I did grow up with three brothers."
Devon started to cry, as soon as her aunt finished her sentence. "My daughter agrees with me," Danny started to laugh, before pushing his chair back, to tend to his daughter.
Nicki, who was already through eating, ran over to the pack n play, to peer over the edge, to check on her cousin. "Baby loud," Nicki pointed at her cousin.
"I think she's dirty," Danny didn't sound thrilled with the idea of having to stop in the middle of his meal to tend to his baby. But if she was dirty, he knew he couldn't leave her like that, or knowing her, she would develop a rash and then make things worse for him, by screaming even louder. After picking her up out of the bassinet, Danny took her up the stairs, with Nicki trailing closely behind him.
Danny laid her down on his bed, and Nicki crawled up onto the bed, so she could sit next to her little cousin. "Baby stink," Nicki wrinkled her nose.
Danny looked around his bedroom, and noticed the stack of diapers he kept on his dresser was gone. "Hey Nicki," Danny picked his niece up off the bed. "Can you run to the nursery and get me a diaper?"
"Okay," Nicki scampered out of the room. She returned a few seconds later, with a diaper in her hand. "No more Uncle Danny," Nicki shook her head.
"Uncle Danny's going to have to go to the store."
"Buy me toy," Nicki crawled back on the bed.
"Christmas," Danny answered with one word. "I'm turning into my parents," Danny muttered, trying to figure out how he changed so much, when he had barely been a father for a couple weeks. Danny pulled out the wipes, and started to open the diaper, when his face dropped. "Oh Devon," he said loudly. "You killed your diaper," Danny was beginning to think there wasn't enough wipes in the world to get her clean, considering it was already leaking onto her clothes.
"Baby very stinky," Nicki held her nose with her hand, and ran out of the room. Making Danny wish, he could do the same.
Danny started to take her down the stairs and over to the kitchen sink, when Mary stopped him. "I have dishes in the sink. You are going to have to bathe her in the bathtub."
"This is going to be difficult," Danny returned up the stairs, not looking forward to having to use the actual tub, knowing he didn't have a baby lounger.
"I think I better go help him," Erin put her fork down, and backed away from the table. Erin folded one of her parent's thick towels and placed it in the bottom of the tub, while Danny ran the water.
Devon started to cry, as soon as she was laid down, and Danny looked at his sister pitifully. "She hates this worse than she does the sink. And that's saying a lot," Danny knew how much she hated the sink. Then again, he wasn't sure if it was the noise of the running water she didn't like, the actual water, or just being wet and submerged.
"Maybe we could go to the store and get her a baby bath seat," Erin suggested. "It might make Devon more comfortable, maybe help with the colic, and give mom her sink back."
"She just seems so little, in such a large tub," Danny looked down at the little girl, that was kicking her legs, and squirming, while her aunt bathed her.
"That's where the baby seat comes in," Erin squeezed a small amount of soap in the palm of her hand.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try. And if it will help with the colic, I'll try anything." Danny shrugged, willing to try anything at this point, if it would help the dreaded bath, not be so bad. "I do have to go get diapers, if I can get mom or grandma to watch Devon for me," Danny remembered.
"I'll go with you," Erin was quick to volunteer. "Nicki needs pull-ups, and she's outgrowing her shoes."
"I should probably get Devon a pair of shoes, for when we go out. Even though she only wears socks," Danny admitted, knowing that socks or foot onesies, were always included in her daily wardrobe.
"Look at the way she's moving her arms around," Erin laughed.
"That's because she's saying save me Daddy, Aunt Erin's making me take a bath," Danny teased.
"Hey," Erin turned to look at him. "You're the one that said she needed a bath."
"She doesn't need to know that," Danny was content to keep silent, thinking that what Devon didn't know wouldn't hurt her.
"When are you planning on going back to work?" Erin asked changing the subject as she lifted the infant out of the tub, and carried her into the nursery.
"First of December," Danny handed her a clean outfit. "I'm hoping the colic will subside by then, and I won't have to leave mom with my fussy daughter."
"Hope so," Erin had to admit, she didn't think it was likely, but she figured, it didn't hurt to hope. "Does anything help with the colic?"
"She's happiest when I lay her on my chest," Danny nodded. "I think it helps soothe her, with the colic. At least she's not screaming, even if it is hard for me to sleep. I'm too afraid, I'm going to roll over or something. But at least she's sleeping. Even if I'm not."
"Parenthood is rough isn't?" Erin gave him a small smile. "Always doing for the kids, regardless if it's harder on us or not."
"Parenthood, is certainly something I never thought I would see," Danny ran a hand through his hair, as he leaned against the doorway.
"I'm sure a lot of people have felt like that," Erin thought about what her brother just said. "Maybe even Mom and Dad."
"Mom and Dad?" Danny looked at her unbelieving. "It always seemed to me, like they knew what they were doing."
"It looked that way to me too," Erin knew what her brother was saying. "But think about it," Dad had a career in the marines, and I'm sure there were times, when he didn't know if he would even make it back alive. And even if he did, he would be so hyped up on adrenaline, would he even be capable of settling down with a wife and children."
"I guess so," Danny had to admit he had never thought about his fathers early like that. Even though his life mirrored that of his fathers rather closely. With joining the marines just out of high school, serving tours in Fallujah, joining the NYPD, and starting a family.
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Half an hour later, and Danny and Erin were standing in the middle of one of the many baby aisles, the store had. "I just cannot get used to shopping for a baby," Danny had been standing in the same position for the past ten minutes.
"It's not that bad, once you get used to it," Erin already held the items she planned to purchase in her hands.
"I don't think, that's ever going to happen," Danny was holding three different pairs of shoes in his hands.
"You don't have to think about it that hard," Erin intervened. "She's not going to be wearing them very long."
"You got a point," Danny decided, on a pair of soft white shoes.
The Reagan siblings were about to leave the baby aisle, when Linda saw them. "How is Devon doing?" It was obvious the young nurse was centered on that of her patient.
"Keeping me up all night," was Danny's reply. "But aside from that, the only thing she's still battling is the colic."
"I'm glad she's doing so well," Linda laughed.
"She's running out of diapers," Danny gestured at the big box of size one diapers
. "And needing a lot of baths I presume," Linda saw the baby bath seat.
"Had to have one, just before I left." Danny was thinking of how much worse it could have been, considering it had already leaked on her clothes, and it was only a matter of time, before it got on him or his bed.
"Little ones do that," Linda laughed. "And hopefully she will cooperate for pictures," the nurse remembered Danny's mother saying something about it the last time she was at the family home.
"I doubt it," Danny couldn't help but admit. "But were going to try."
The three were about to part ways, when Erin spoke up. She had noticed how the two were able to keep a conversation, and she had never seen her brother act so casual with someone, other than family. "Do you have plans for Thanksgiving Linda?" Erin sounded extremely hospitable.
"No," Linda shook her head. "My family doesn't live here, and I have to work Wednesday, and there's no way I could make it in time." Part of Linda sounded unpleased with the arrangements, but part of her sounded as if she didn't mind, making the Reagan siblings wonder about the nurse's family.
"You are more than welcome to join us. We will be sitting down to dinner around noon. And there will be football in the backyard, Danny trying to reclaim his title from Joe last year. There will also be inside games for those who don't want to play, and tons of desert, coffee and wine." Erin offered, hoping she sounded convincing to make the nurse want to join them.
"Thank you for the invitation," Linda sounded thankful. "But I don't want to impose."
"You won't be imposing," Erin was quick to say. "And our family football games can get kind of rough, and we may need your medical expertise." Erin was being completely honest, thinking of last year's game, and remembering Joe having to go to the hospital for stitches.
"I might come by," Linda didn't want to give her an ultimate answer, still a little wary of the whole idea.
"Please think about it," Erin knew that she would get a sister in law eventually, and when the time came, she couldn't help but admit, she wanted it to be someone like Linda. Linda seemed like the type of person that could be sweet and gentle with Devon, yet someone that could hold their own in the Reagan family, as well as with her hard-headed brother.
"I will," Linda nodded. "And thank you," she said hurrying away, her mind raising with the invite, and wondering what it could all mean. She had to admit, she wouldn't mind seeing little Devon, and she certainly wouldn't mind visiting with the baby's father again. But did his family sense something? She asked herself silently. Could they tell that she was attracted to him? Linda couldn't even think about the rest of the shopping she needed to do, all she could do was pay for what she had in hand, and hurry out of the store. She had to think, and she couldn't do that in a store full of people.
"Really Erin?" Danny looked at his sister aggravated, irritation showing in his voice.
"Did you have to do that?"
"How about a thanks sis, I love you." Erin ignored his imitation. "Oh, come on Danny, she didn't have anywhere to go, and you are going to have to settle down with someone that can help you raise Devon."
"That's not going to happen Erin," Danny and Erin were already in the car and heading for home. "I'm not going to get involved with anyone. I only tell one girl I love her, and that's my baby." Danny was obviously closing the subject, not by any means willing to discuss it any further.
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That evening, and Danny felt as if he was walking in his sleep. Devon was content as long as he was holding her, which helped him some, but not enough to get him a good night's sleep, which was something he figured, was a thing of the past. What made things worse, was that Mary was bound and determined to discuss Devon's coming baby pictures, which was something he wasn't a hundred percent sold on to begin with. "We need to take her, to get her pictures done tomorrow. Erin told me where she takes Nicki, and you don't have to have an appointment." Mary brought it up, while they sat in the den that evening.
"Not again Mom, please, she's a newborn. And I haven't completely decided even if I want to do a whole professional phot shoot," Danny sad honestly.
"I know she's a newborn," Mary was getting a little tired of explaining her reasoning behind her suggestion. "Which is why you should get them done. I still have your newborn pictures, and it's something I treasure."
"Mom, I don't want to take her out in the cold," Danny wasn't in to all the talk of treasuring pictures or even moments for that matter. He wasn't the soft, emotional type of guy, and he thought his mother knew that already.
"You're not listening to me Danny," Mary was turning serious, through with the persuading tone, and moving more into the forcing tone. "If you don't get these done now, you won't have them. She isn't going to be this little forever. And before you know it, she will be a teenager."
"Ugh," Danny shuddered at the mere thought of having to raise a teenage girl. Boys were bad enough, considering he remembered his own teenage years. But girls were different. Girls were emotional, moody, and beautiful. Which scared him more than anything, knowing how teenage boys were. Danny had to shake his head, in order to clear it. That was a nightmare he wasn't prepared to live with yet, then again, he didn't think he would ever be prepared to live with the idea of someone dating his little girl. "I still don't know mom."
Frank chose that moment to walk into the den, and when he did, he wished he hadn't. "Frank," Mary was going straight to the top. "Our oldest son is being difficult."
"He usually is," Frank didn't think anything of it, knowing how difficult the boy had been, since the day he was born. A blank expression covered the young officers face, looking from one parent to the other.
"I wish you wouldn't talk, as if I wasn't in the room." Danny stood up, from his place on the couch, took Devon from his mother and quickly made his way up the stairs. In a hurry to get away from his parents talk, that he didn't by any means want to be involved in.
"Frank," Mary started up again, just as soon as her son was out of earshot. "Would you please talk to your son?"
Frank didn't say anything at first, but he had noticed a pattern over the past, ever since he became a father in fact. How often anytime one of the children were misbehaving when they were children, and they misbehaved. How she would call him, and refer to them as his children, and then ask him to talk to them. "He's grown Mary, and Devon is his daughter. If he doesn't want to take her, that's his business," Frank finally managed to say, trying to leave the past in the past.
"But Frank," Mary complained. "She isn't going to be a baby forever, you know that."
"I do know that," Frank remembered when the boy they were talking about, was just a baby, and their own sleepless nights they endured, as well as the colic. "But I'm not going to say a word to him." Frank said seriously, before placing another log, on the already burning fireplace. Hoping to keep the house warm with the fireplace, rather than having to run the heater.
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That night, unbeknownst to her son, Mary kept a listening ear out for her granddaughter, just as soon as father and daughter went to bed. Her plan was, that as soon as Devon started squirming, she would sneak in, and stay up with the little infant, hoping that if her son got a good night, sleep, he would be more inclined to take her for pictures. Everything went according to plan, and as soon as Devon made even a slight whimper, Mary was in and swooping her out of the room, before Danny even had a chance to wake up. She started out, by walking up and down the hallway before she fell back to sleep, and as soon as she did, she laid her back to down in the rock 'n play sleeper, Mary had Frank move into their bedroom that night before he went to bed. Devon slept for a couple hours, until she got hungry, and started her usual sucking motion.
"The babies hungry," Mary picked her up.
"I'll get her a bottle," Frank yawned, before making his way down the stairs, trying to remember the last time he had to get up in the middle of the night to tend to a baby.
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The following morning, and Danny got up a bit more energetic than he had in the past couple weeks. Sitting up in bed, he tried to figure out what could have happened to make him feel so much better. He glanced over at the crib, and he couldn't help but jump up, not remembering having to get up with the baby. He figured he could have done everything for her in his sleep, then again he figured that wasn't very likely. As soon as he saw the crib empty, he knew what happened. He quietly made his way down the stairs, and what he found made him laugh, his mother was stretched out on the sofa, both she and Devon fast asleep. Deciding to leave them be, Danny walked into the kitchen, were he was surprised to find his kid brother, sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal. "What are you doing here?"
"It's Thanksgiving," Jamie reminded him. "I don't have to go to school all week."
"I remember those days," Danny checked the coffee pot, to see if his father left him anything, when he made it earlier that morning before work. "They were great," Danny poured himself, his own bowl of cereal. "Now I hardly get any days off with working a full-time job."
Jamie was about to say something about them getting Joe to come over since he was also on break from the academy, to play a pre-game of football, but Mary walked in instead, and interrupted. "Morning boys," she greeted with a smile. Surprising both of them, with how awake and cheerful she sounded.
"Mom," Danny looked at his mother surprised.
"Devon was so good last night," Mary told them. "She only woke up a couple times, and as soon as Grandpa brought her, her bottle, she took it, and went straight back to sleep."
"I wish she would do that with me," Danny scoffed.
"She behaves better with Grandma and Grandpa," Mary laughed. "You two did the same thing, anytime you stayed with Mom and Pop. No matter how old you were."
"That's because we knew they would drop the bomb if we miss behaved," Jamie told her the ultimate reason behind it.
"Pop would have put us into the scared straight program, only instead of coming to get us, he would have left us there," Danny agreed with him.
"No, he wouldn't," Mary shook her head.
"That's what you think," Jamie muttered.
"Joe and I went once, and it did exactly as it was supposed to, it scared us straight," Danny's eyes were wide, appearing as if he remembered it vividly.
"Then I'm very glad he did it," Mary poured herself a cup of coffee, and took a seat at the table.
"If you really want to take Devon for pictures, we can take her today," Danny changed the subject, giving in to his mother's pleading, he had, had to endure over the past couple days. Thinking, that if he relented, he wouldn't have to listen to it anymore. Then again, he was almost certain, she would find something else to pester him about.
"I'll go get ready," Mary was out of the kitchen and up the stairs in a matter of minutes, before he had a chance to change his mind.
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A couple hours later, and Mary, Danny and Joe were standing behind the camera, watching the baby photographer, place Devon in another position. "Poor kid," Jamie whispered.
"She's never been moved around so much in her life," Danny shook his head. "No wonder she isn't happy."
"Hush," Mary silenced both, with a whisper. Her voice was obviously low, but it was stern. The two fell silent for a few minutes, but it didn't last long, watching Devon not wanting to cooperate was too funny. Almost every time the photographer placed her in a new position, Devon would respond by giving them a scrunched-up face, and then start whimpering."Kind of figures Danny's kid is the one to protest pictures," Mary was wishing her granddaughter would give them at least one happy face. Then again, she figured she was asking for a little much, considering the baby's father, hardly ever cooperated for pictures, choosing to either not smile at all, or give funny faces.
"Look at that funny look Devon has on her face," Jamie started to laugh.
Danny chuckled, as he watched the photographer prop his baby up on a pillow.
"There's a smile," Mary gestured, after the photographer snapped a picture.
"That's because she's got gas," Danny whispered.
"No, it is not," Mary smacked his arm.
"Whatever you say Mom," Danny and Jamie exchanged glances, both laughing at the little girl's unhappy experience.
"Hopefully we got a few good ones," Mary said hopefully as the three left, Danny fastening his daughter, into her car seat, before climbing into the driver's seat, to head for home.
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Thanksgiving Thursday, was soon upon them, Erin still hoping that Linda would show up. She was in the kitchen, helping Mary, Betty and Pop in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Linda was standing outside the door, seriously beginning to reconsider her decision on joining the Reagan's for dinner. Then again, she didn't know why she was so nervous, it wasn't like she was in a relationship with the young officer. In fact, they weren't even friends exactly. All they were, were acquittances, and she just so happened to be the nurse who took care of the youngest Reagan. But if that was the case, why did they invite her over for dinner. Linda chocked it up, to them just being nice. So, what, she was attracted to him, they didn't know that, and she certainly wasn't planning on letting on. "Danny get the door!" Erin called to her brother.
Danny was surprised to find Linda standing outside the door, and after a few seconds he remembered to invite her in. After making the introduction, to the Reagan's that had yet to meet Linda, they settled down in the den. Linda had offered to lend a hand in the kitchen, but Mary and Betty refused her, saying she was a guest. Linda was more than happy to take Devon for a while, and Danny was more than happy to oblige, glad to give his arms a rest.
Jamie had been pestering he and Joe for the past hour, wanting to get out in the backyard and start the football game, while Frank found himself reminding his youngest, to at least wait until after dinner. "Do you play football Linda?" Jamie leaned over the back of the couch to speak with the nurse.
"I would have to admit, that I've never spent a lot of time watching it." Linda answered the youngest Reagan brother.
"Are you going to play with us?" He asked another question.
"I don't know yet," Linda was smiling, but her eyes were showing that she was nowhere near 100% certain.
"I'm on Danny's team," Jamie said smiling. "But you can be on Joe's team."
Linda didn't say anything, and instead chose to reply with a smile. She could say one thing about the youngest Reagan, he was certainly inviting, and they were all very hospitable.
It wasn't long, and Mary called everyone to the table. The table was covered with food, making the boys think, they would be eating left overs for a week. Henry was about to say the prayer, when Mary interrupted. "We are all going to go around the table and say what we're thankful for."
"Awe Mom," Jamie complained, ready to dig into the food before him.
"Humor your mother Jamison," Frank's voice was low, just hoping to keep it civil, so they could get started.
Danny was the last one, and he said the first thing that came to mind. "I'm thankful for Devon, even if she is colicky." No one expected to hear that, and they tried to hide their laughter, as Henry silenced them with his prayer.
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It wasn't long after dinner, and the Reagan's moved the party to the outdoors, where they could get started on the football game. The teams were picked and in a second the ball was snapped. Everything was going great, and they were all having a blast. At least until, Mary stepped outside and called for Danny. Unfortunately, the game hadn't been halted, and the ball was spiraling in the air. "Where is the new can of formula that you bought?"
Danny was about to reply, when the ball hit him directly in the face, making hard contact with his right eye. The ball bounced off his head, and Danny's head snapped back up. He was holding his eye, and a time out was called on the game, everyone realizing what happened. "I told you, we would need a nurse," Erin looked at Linda, just as the two ran towards him.
Mary who was the furthest away, was the first to reach her son, when she realized what she did, by taking his attention off the game. "I'm sorry son," Mary was trying to get a good look at the injury.
"It's fine Mom," Danny started for the house, already knowing she and Linda would want him to ice it down.
"Sit down Danny," Mary pulled one of the kitchen chairs out, so he could have a seat.
"Don't worry about me Mom," Danny shook his head. "Just tend to Devon," he could hear his daughter crying for her dinner.
"I'll take care of him," Linda assured the caring mother.
"Thank you," Mary patted the young woman's arms.
Linda exchanged places with Mary, and stood in front of the patient. "I'm afraid you're going to have a shiner," Linda held his head in her hands, while she looked it over. "It's turning purple already."
"It won't be the first time," Danny didn't sound too concerned over it. It certainly wasn't the first injury he ever had, and he knew it wouldn't be the last.
"It isn't bad, but it is starting to swell," Linda pulled out the ice pack that Mary kept in the freezer. Danny took the ice pack and held it on his eye for several minutes. "As for the bruising," Linda reached into the pantry for a box of uncooked rice. "You'll need a warm compress. Do you have a sock I can put the rice in, and then warm it, in the microwave?"
"Yeah," Danny stood. "Upstairs," Danny led the way out of the kitchen.
They were just about to make their way up the stairs, when Nicki took him by surprise and ran into his leg. "Grandma say you hurt," Nicki sounded concerned.
"I'm okay Nicki," Danny picked her up, with the arm he wasn't using to hold the ice pack. The three made their way up the stairs, and Danny walked into his bedroom.
"Room a mess," Nicki was the only one to say something.
"Thank you, Nicki," Danny tossed her on his bed.
"Do it again," Nicki was giggling loudly.
"Maybe later, when my eye isn't throbbing," Danny pulled a clean sock out from his drawer. In a hurry to get out of the room, before Nicki said something else that would embarrass him. Sure, he knew his room was a mess, but a mess never bothered him before. Especially now, that he spent every minute of every waking moment, tending to his colicky baby, and he had no time to clean anything up. Not that he would do it anyways, he figured. Nicki jumped off the bed and onto her uncles back, who carried her down the stairs. "I'm still trying to figure out, what stage is worse," Danny moaned, looking over at Linda. "The colicky baby stage, or the active toddler stage. Right now, I'm leaning more towards the toddler stage." Linda laughed, and gently took the girl off his back.
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Darkness soon fell, and the family slowly began to part ways. Jack and Erin were the first to leave, Nicki who hadn't had a nap all day was getting fussy, and both parents knew that she was needed a bath and a bed. Henry and Betty were second to leave, and Linda was preparing to leave after they. Mary was upstairs, giving Devon a bath for the night, giving Danny the opportunity to walk Linda out to her car like a gentleman. The second Danny closed the door behind him, his brothers were quick to run each other over, trying to get to the window.
"You think he's going to kiss her?" Jamie laughed, just barely glancing at his brother, not wanting to take his eyes off what was going on outside.
"No," Joe shook his head. "He's nervous. Besides, it's not like he was out on a date with her, Erin's the one that invited her over."
"Danny's nervous? Danny used to never get nervous," Jamie sounded shocked. "He's a lady's man."
"Things change, when you have a baby Jamie. It's not only him he has to think of anymore." Knowing this however, didn't keep him from pushing his brother over, so he could get a better look outside.
"But Linda likes Devon," Jamie pointed out.
"I know, but it takes a little more than that," Joe reminded him.
The two fell silent, both focusing their attention a bit more on what their brother was doing, with the nurse. "Joseph! Jamison!" Frank caught his two youngest, spying out the window at their eldest brother.
"Dad!" Both boys jumped, startled by their father hollering at them. The two boys were in such a hurry to get away from the widow, the ran into each other and hit the floor.
"What are you two doing?" Danny asked when he walked through the door, and saw his brothers on the floor.
"Nothing," Jamie was the first to try and cover for them, knowing Danny would probably kill them, if he really knew what they were doing.
"I'm showing Jamie some of the self-defense moves I've learned at the academy," Joe figured that was a valid enough excuse for him to believe.
"From the floor?" Danny looked at him confused. "Maybe I should teach him, and you should go back to the academy for another semester." Danny made his way into the kitchen to make Devon another bottle, before heading up the stairs, ignoring the looks that were passing between Frank, Joe and Jamie.
I was wanting to get this chapter up earlier, but I just haven't had a lot of time to write lately. Anyways, hope you all enjoyed the update, and thanks for all the follows, favorites and reviews...JusticeStandsTRUE