Chapter Two

Joey's life began during a DIY home improvement project, more precisely, the repainting of Mary's nursery, she was almost three and starting dance, Eddie wanted her room to reflect the change in her age.

Frank took his granddaughter to the zoo that afternoon and was keeping her overnight so that her parents could work on the room. Jamie meticulously lined the room with tape and drop clothes before he distributed the paint into the pans. Eddie started on one side and Jamie on the other. It was in a project like this their differences showed so much.

Jamie's marks were perfect and precise while Eddie's were a bit scattered. The drop cloth under her feet was crumpled and paint splattered a little bit off her brush onto the rug. "Eddie, look at that now, there's paint all over the rug!"

Eddie saw the three little drops on the carpet and laughed at him, "Relax your OCD, it's just a little paint. It'll wash out."

"It'll wash out," he mimicked as he brushed her hair back off her face. She got a streak of paint across her nose. "You have a little paint on your nose."

She laughed at him, thinking he was teasing. She flicked the paint brush at him and got some paint in his hair. He moved closer, retaliating, getting some on her cheek…it was war.

"Jamie…" Chaplain Marris said softly. Jamie was sitting shell shocked on the waiting room chair. "We can ask the Lord to protect your little boy and little girls with the prayer Jesus taught us."

The Chaplain began to pray, but Jamie's mind wandered again to that DIY afternoon that turned into an evening of ecstasy and bliss.

With two paint-stained gloves, Jamie cupped Eddie's face and gave her a strong firm kiss. She was teasing him and smiling at him, her blue eyes shining. She slid her arms around him and pressed herself close to him.

Before they really realized it, Jamie lowered Eddie to the drop cloth, not minding the paint pans and cans, his focus now was just on his wife and their desire for each other.

Inside Eddie's body, his life force met hers. They were so engrossed in their love and their intensity that they threw caution to the wind, not thinking or caring if they were safe, though the thought of another child coming into the world from this coupling was never far from their minds.

Jamie worshipped his wife's body with his lips and hands, her legs fell apart for him, a welcome she bestowed on him whenever they shared their bodies with each other.

His sex slid easily into her center, they anticipated the others needs and desires and fulfilled them. She cried out his name as he thrust deeper into her, she clamped down around him, both reaching climax and contentment at the same time.

It was six weeks later that they learned the results of their wild abandon.

Eddie found Jamie in the living room relaxing after coming off shift. She sat beside him laying her head on his shoulder.

"How's Mary feeling?" He asked. Their little daughter had an ear infection.

Eddie sighed, "Poor baby is in pain she finally fell asleep."

"Good," he replied and said his arm around her. "How you doing, Momma?" He asked. Eddie smiled at him, "I had a physical too, today."

"Oh, why did you get a physical?" Jamie asked watching her carefully.

"Remember how I got dizzy and stuff a few times last week?" Eddie reminded him. "It happened again, and he examined me. I have some news."

"Are you okay?" Jamie asked looping his arm around her worried. "What did the doctor say?"

"I'm fine," Eddie assured him. "But I am going to feel sketchy for a little while longer. About nine months longer."

Jamie raised an eyebrow at her, "Nine months Eddie what...your pregnant?"

"That's right," She beamed. "I'm about six weeks along, I see the obgyn on Monday. "His breath caught, pulling Eddie carefully in to hug her tight and place multiple kisses on her head.

"You're happy," she confirmed though she knew he would be.

"Eddie I'm very happy how can I not be," Jamie smiled meeting her eyes."

They held each other close. Jamie put his hands-on Eddie's belly and they talked about who this new little person would be.

Eddie shot up from her nap in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. "Jamie!" she called out for her husband, her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she felt dizzy and sick. "Jamie!"

He didn't reply. She slid out of bed and called again for her family. On the kitchen island, was a note from all four of them. "Hey Mommy, we hope you have a nice rest. We're going to the park with Daddy and to get some hot dogs. See you later. XOXO Mary, Joey, and Bella. Each child had signed their name, and a baby hand print was traced for Bella's name. Eddie smiled, they were safe and sound with Jamie. So why couldn't she shake the sick feeling in her gut?

She'd had the strangest dream while she rested, she felt Jamie close to her, but her dreams had been focused on her kids, mainly Joey, the day he was conceived, the day she told Jamie he was coming and finally the day he came.

Jamie had off the day Eddie went into labor. He spent the afternoon doing things around the house while she rested with her feet up. She kept getting up and down, she did something similar with Mary when the contractions we're starting.

"Hey Eddie, are you hungry? Want me to make you something;" Jamie called.

"No, my back just hurts, and I have to pee...again."

"Let me know if you need help," Jamie peeked into the living room

She nodded, "Oh, Jamie... Mary's dance bag, she left it upstairs can you call your dad to come get it."

"Of course, Eddie," Jamie disappeared to grab his cell off the charger and call.

Frank had his detail get the bag, Mary was nearly three and a gifted little dancer.

Jamie closed the door and went to check on Eddie. "You okay?"

"I think so... but my back really is aching, any chance..." She batted her eyes.

"Sit down on the couch Eddie, I'll make it better," Jamie agreed.

They sat together on the couch Jamie slowly moving his hands along her back.

"You are having contractions," Jamie told her as he rubbed. "I can feel them."

She took a deep breath in, "My water hasn't broken yet though."

"I know...I know but you should have said honey," he soothed.

Frank promised to be there, leaving immediately. "You doing okay?"

"I think we waited a little too long," she panted. "It's hurting really bad."

"Breathe, long breaths," Jamie coached.

She focused on his soft, gentle tone and focused on the picture of their family on the dash. Jamie pulled up to the ER.

He went around to help Eddie getting the attention of a doctor, "My wife is in labor."

"Are you pre-registered?" They asked as Eddie went through the ritual and Jamie parked the car.

They took Eddie to her room, a private suite where she labored five hours more before being able to push.

Jamie stood by her side holding her hand, "I'm so proud of you."

She bore down, focusing all her strength into the push. Jamie encouraged her as she struggled and battled to bring the baby life.

Finally, they heard the rewarding sound of their new baby crying. "Well done Eddie. Would dad like to cut the cord and meet his new son?"

Jamie smiled, and stepped around to free his newborn son from his mother. Eddie reached for her baby, "I want him, Jamie. Can I have him?"

"Of course, you can. Hey buddy," Jamie greeted taking the newborn after he was wrapped in a blanket.

Jamie laid Joey in his mother's waiting arms, the baby quieted as soon as Eddie started singing.

"He's perfect Eddie look at our boy," Jamie whispered kissing her head.

"He is perfect," she smiled as she counted fingers and toes...she kissed his tiny forehead then let him go so he could be examined by the nurse.

Eddie took a long, hot shower then put on a clean pair of sweats and pulled he hair back into a pony tail. She had about an hour before the family got home, enough time for a hot cup of tea. She made the brew then sat at the table, picking up the note once again. She loved her children so much, each the same amount, but in very different ways. She loved them for who they were and the things that would make them who they would become as well. She stood up and hung the note on the fridge.

She held the mug in both hands, inhaling the light vanilla scent. It felt so good going down her throat. This day had been just what she needed. She lifted the cup and breathed in the vanilla

She wanted to text Jamie and check in on the kids, but she felt that if she did that it would just upset him. With the threats against Danny, she felt they were all marked, even though that wasn't true. Jamie was staying away, everything was going to be fine.

Eddie slowly took another sip listening to the quiet house. She loved this time but was anxious to have Jamie and the kids home

Frank was in his motorcade heading to review a couple of Brooklyn precincts when his cell phone rang, Danny's number flashed on the screen. Danny was breathing so hard Frank could barely understand him. "Danny, what happened?"

"Dad, it's just awful." Danny was openly crying into the phone. "I was out with Jamie and the kids, he was just helping me out when the car broke down…It was an accident, we never should have…It was an accident!"

Frank felt his heart jolt, but he kept his head. "Daniel take a breath, is everyone okay?"

Danny was so incoherent Frank had no idea what he was really talking about. He did his best to try to get information from his distraught son.

"All right, I'm going to go and get Eddie, he was only a few miles from their Brooklyn Heights apartment. I need you to buck up and hold onto your brother until I arrive. Eddie needs to be told and I should be the one to do it. I'm on my way there now. Tell Jamie we're one our way and stay with him," Frank instructed then hung up wondering how in the world he was going to do this.