Chapter Twenty-Six

When Mary finally fell asleep, Jamie looked at Eddie just for a second, then headed to his room.

Eddie made sure Mary was tucked in before getting up to follow him.

She wanted to talk to him about what happened, about him not being able to love her like a husband...she greeted by a closed door. It was locked! Eddie's heart sank hurt that he locked the door, so she wouldn't go inside.

She felt her heart and her emotions shut down. She had made a mistake, but this was taking it to a new level. Head lowered, Eddie started back to her room, sinking into a deep sadness.

Eddie pulled back from Jamie over the next few days. She communicated with him about Mary and practical things but that was all. Eddie made the girls breakfast calling Frank, "I need to go out for a bit and Jamie has to work," Eddie told her father in law. "Can you keep the girls here?"

"Of course I will, I'll be over soon," Frank agreed eager to spend time with his grandkids. Eddie smiled she had a lot to do for the move and she missed her boy, she needed that time.

The girls ate breakfast quietly, Mary waiting until Eddie returned. "Mommy, can we play Uno later?"

"Of course we can, honey," Eddie replied. "We can play after Mommy comes home okay?"

Mary turned back, "You're leaving? Aren't we going with you? "

"Not this time, honey," Eddie replied. "Mommy has to go to the box store and other boring places. Grandpa is going to watch you. Mary pouted, she loved her Grandpa but wanted Mommy since Daddy was working.

"Mommy won't be gone long, I promise..." She kissed and hugged her

"I love you Mommy," Mary said hugging her tight not wanting to let go.

When Frank came he found Mary and Eddie each a little teary eyed. "What's wrong here?" he asked.

"Hi Grandpa, I don't want Mommy to go, she should stay with us," Mary said

"Mommy will be back soon," Frank told her. "Grandpa needs some help, I need to do some counting, can you help?"

Mary smiled, "I'm very good at counting Grandpa. Right, Mommy?"

"Good girl," Eddie smiled. "You won't even notice I am gone."

Mary doubted that but turned back to finish breakfast sadly. "She'll be okay," frank assured.

Eddie nodded and headed out for the day's errands. She picked up boxes and bubble wrap to start getting ready to move. Stopping by a flower shop Eddie swung by the cemetery for a visit.

She missed her little boy. She didn't know if this was going to help or hurt. Eddie knelt by Joey's grave. She shook as soon as she saw his name and the dates of his short life etched into the stone. "Mommy's here, baby boy. Mommy is here."

The wind blew as she set the flowers down, tears filling quickly in her eyes. "I miss you so much," Eddie choked out. "We all miss you so much that we have to leave this place, we have to leave this place and try to live where it doesn't hurt to just look around on the street. I know you are too little to understand, but try to know that we aren't leaving you. We aren't leaving you because we'll take you in our hearts wherever we go.

Eddie wiped at her tears taking a deep breath, "We love you baby, so much, Daddy Mommy your sisters."

Eddie found a parking spot across the street and looked out. She could picture her little boy walking alongside his Daddy, looking up to Jamie as he did so often. His Daddy was his hero. He loved his little ice cream mixture, chocolate chip with chips. The ME had assured them, and the doctors too, that Joey didn't feel any pain, the pain instead was living through her and Jamie's hearts. Eddie sighed thinking about the times they would never share again.

Eddie got home much later than anticipated, and when she did, she couldn't bring herself to get up and go inside. She sat back and stared at the house, tears of pain, anger, and regret running from her cheeks.

Jamie was just coming home from work when she pulled up. He waited but when Eddie didn't get out he approached

He knocked on the window softly, concerned that she was just sitting there. "Hey, you okay?"

Eddie looked away wiping at her face, "yeah I'll be in in a minute."

"You sure," Jamie pressed. "Open the door Eddie..." But she didn't she just turned her head to get her composure.

When Eddie came back in the house, she looked like she'd been crying, but put a big smile on her face. She had to keep that brave front up for Frank and for Mary, who stretched her arms out as soon as she saw her mother. "Mommy, I helped Grandpa a lot! We made cabbage soup for dinner too!"

Eddie found her daughter's enthusiasm at the slightest things delightful. She needed to find a way to bring the childlike enthusiasm out in herself. She didn't seem to have it today…she felt so numb inside except when the pain grabbed her and held on tight.

Jamie sniffed the dinner then looked at his wife. She was like that movie, Mona Lisa Smile…she was happy on the face of it, smiling and engaging their children, but she was not happy, neither one of them were, but Eddie seemed to be slipping further and further away.

"Dad, just take Bella for a second," Jamie asked and went inside to speak to Eddie. "Can we talk?"

"There really isn't anything to talk about, Jamie," Eddie replied. "Mary's watching us and you know how upset she's been getting lately."

"I do, and I know that you got upset too," Jamie replied. "You were just sitting in the car crying."

"I'm entitled, I'm grieving for my son," Eddie said with a slight edge, that tone further solidifying for Jamie how angry she still was.

Eddie pulled back as Jamie reached out, "Okay, this soup smells good. Stay and eat with us, Frank?" Eddie asked, she needed the buffer right now and she couldn't keep making that Mary's job.

Frank agreed and soon the incident of Eddie crying alone in the car was in the physical past, but the image was etched in Jamie's mind and in his heart. He'd hurt her badly when he pulled back from her, and isolated from her. She had been trying so hard to reach out to him, to start their healing, now, it was his turn.

Jamie did his best to be attentive that night, he did dishes, helped with the kids and even sat and watched TV with Eddie. She got up after one show and headed to bed.

Neither one slept well. They were both thinking of Joey, there life before, how far apart they were.

He went to see Mary, and found her still sleeping, her little forehead was sweaty. Jamie touched it softly and sighed, "Eddie..."

Eddie's feet shuffled in wrapping her bathrobe around her. "What's wrong is she okay?"

"She's got a fever," he replied. "And yeah, the leg is swelling. Call the doctor I'll get the girls bundled up."

They would take her right away. Mary woke up as Jamie carried her to the car, "Feel yucky Daddy." Jamie handed her to her Mommy, "We know, and we are going to see the doctor to make it all better."

Eddie buckled Mary in the seat next to her sister. "You'll feel better soon honey."

They drove to the doctor and Eddie carried Mary in while Jamie parked the car. She kept snuggled to her mother as they waited. Eddie's heart pounded.

Eddie rubbed Mary's back cradling her while they waited until a nurse called for them.

The news was good, Mary had a slight infection in the damaged tissue of her leg, nothing some rest and a shot wouldn't cure. Mary was a brave girl with shots, no tears.

Jamie brought the car around and Eddie loaded both girls inside. "No more ouches," Mary told her mother.

"No more ouches you'll feel better in no time," Eddie agreed getting the girls in.

"Do you want to stop and pick up lunch?" Jamie asked. "Some hot chicken soup and rolls?"

"Sure, that sounds good," Eddie agreed, the soup would also help Mary feel better

Jamie turned down the street where the diner was, there was a short cut. As they drove to the back-road parking lot, Eddie shouted. "Jamie, watch out!" He hit the brakes nearly missing a scrawny, dirty, Shepard mix puppy that ran in the road then cowered next to a dumpster.

"Are you okay?" Jamie turned and checked on Eddie and the girls taking a deep breath in relieved to see they were okay. "Stay here."

Eddie nodded "Did we hurt the puppy Mommy?" Mary asked seeing the little animal trying to hide as Jamie approached it.

"Daddy is going to check honey I think he's just scared."

Jamie leaned down toward the dog, "Hey, Buddy. It's okay, we aren't going to hurt you. You have a collar?"

The dog backed away whining and whimpering its coat messy.

"Oh, poor guy...come on, let's get you to a vet, we'll get you all better and some nice family can come and take you home."

The puppy let out a small whine sniffing Jamie's outreached hand slowly.

Jamie finally was able to scoop up the pup and carry him to the car. "We didn't hurt him," Jamie told Eddie. "But he's a stray, he needs a vet to check him out and see if he's healthy enough to be adopted..."

"He's cute, oh poor little guy," Eddie took the puppy into her arms

Mary took one look at the dog and beamed. "You can be my dog..." she kissed its dirty head not caring that he smelled and looked a fright.

Eddie and Jamie exchanged a glance, "Let's take him to the vet first honey and see."

"No, he can be my dog and go to the vet too..." Mary said firmly. "He's going to be my friend."

Jamie sighed, he hadn't seen Mary so happy in such a long time, but they were moving soon

She put her arms firmly around the puppy and held on tight. No one was going to tell this little girl she couldn't have this dog. "Let's make sure he's healthy, okay?" Jamie offered. "He might just be lost."

Jamie let Mary hold the puppy getting back in and pulling the car out again.

"Why don't you take the girls home in the car and I'll Uber home later," Jamie offered. "Preferably after we find the dog's owner."

Eddie looked back at Mary sighing glad to see her happy. "Okay but if he doesn't have one?"

Jamie sighed, he knew he had no choice. The plan didn't work, Mary flat out refused to leave the puppy. "Please Mommy, please Daddy, I'll take care of him. Please..." Her bright blue eyes were ready to shed tears of joy or sorrow depending on the outcome.

Jamie couldn't take those eyes of his little girl, "okay Mary let's get him checked out."

The dog had fleas and was underweight for its breed and age, but other than that it was given a clean bill of health.

The decision was made they would take him home making a little girl very happy.