Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mary followed her Mommy around as Eddie made last minute checks to see if they forgot anything. "Moooomy."
"Mary, be careful sweets, you are bumping your leg into the walls."
"Mommy, please don't go away. I'll miss you so much," Mary sniffled
"I know you will, but you'll have fun with Grandpa and Cupcake at his house. Daddy is almost ready for us."
Mary pouted and folded her arms, "But Mommy I want to stay with you and Daddy. Why can't you stay with us?"
"We have to do some boring grown up things for our move" Eddie explained. "Mary look at Mommy." Mary looked up her blue eyes wet, bottom lip quivering.
"Are you scared for Mommy and Daddy to go away?" Eddie asked. "You always liked going to a sleepover."
"I do, but I want you and Daddy to stay with us Mommy please. I'll be good and help."
"you are always good," Jamie spoke up. "And you can be the big helper with Grandpa and Bella okay?"
"But Daddy I want to stay with you and Mommy," Mary cried. Jamie sighed and hugged her, before picking her up to go to the car. This too was on him.
She calmed on the short drive to Bay Ridge. Frank saw them pulling up, smiling. "My girls..." Cupcake jumped out following Mary protectively staying by her side
Frank pet the dog as Eddie called him, "Cupcake no!" Frank raised an eyebrow. "Cupcake?" Jamie laughed "He's secure in his manhood, Dad."
Frank gave Jamie a long look and laughed too. "Okay hello, Cupcake," he shook his head. The animal liked Frank immediately and licked his hands. "I named him," Mary told her Grandpa.
"Oh really," Frank smiled giving Mary a hug. She seemed settled, so Jamie and Eddie prepared to say a fast goodbye.
They started with Bella who would be easier, giving her hugs and kisses
Then they went to Mary, this time she was ready. "Have fun with Grandpa. Mommy and Daddy will be back soon, Eddie said hugging her. "Love you."
"Love you..." Mary called waving her hand. Jamie and Eddie turned their car toward Pennsylvania.
Jamie hoped to use the ride to connect with Eddie, but she kept her headphones in for most of the trip. Halfway through the trip the roads got narrow and the scenery turned picturesque and lovely. When they got closer to the Sheriff's office, they even saw some Amish people out in their fields and driving along in buggies. The peace and tranquility of the environment seemed to settle the nerves that were rattling in their stomachs.
Eddie pulled the buds out, "So tell me about Sheriff Paul, so I'm prepared." They had made good time and would have some time left over before the meeting.
"He's an older man" Jamie replied. "I've spoken to him directly the several times, and he's ready to retire. He mentioned there are some things going on lately that he's not too happy with, some old bad habits coming back around again and he thinks a younger and tougher Sheriff is in order here. He's married and we'll be having supper with them tonight to get introduced, but you already know that."
Eddie nodded, he was just a fountain of information. "The hospital is about a half hour down this road,' Eddie told Jamie. "And the doctor's office is inside the hospital kind of like at Columbia."
"She'll do well here,' Jamie replied. "The kids, I think might be sweeter and the environment is slower. Mary will do well here."
Eddie smiled, she had hope the entire family would prosper and flourish here. "Do you want to check out the hospital first then back track? We have some time before the interview."
Eddie nodded, "Sure, let's get a look at how they can help our girl."
Jamie drove to the hospital waiting so he and Eddie could walk in together. Eddie had spoken to a doctor and made the appointment to meet with her. "Eddie and Jamie Reagan here for Dr. Rose."
"I'll let her know you're here," the receptionist smiled reaching for the phone
The doctor came down and took them back to the therapy room. "This is for children under eight. Fortunately, we don't have many in the program and the kids get one on one attention."
"That's great, our daughter seems to thrive having one on one attention," Eddie told her.
"And she is still wheelchair dependent now? And it's been four months?"
"She's been getting therapy, but the leg was badly injured," Jamie answered
"Yes well our goal will be for her to be independently mobile." Jamie looked around as they walked amazed at the facility and equipment they passed.
The doctor stopped in a room to explain how they work with the kids. "We also teach the parents how to help at home."
They had been doing this but it was good to know it would continue.
"We would give you the resources you need to help your daughter and I'm always available."
They left the hospital feeling very confident. They drove to the boarding house Eddie had arranged for them. The rooms were small, sporting only one double bed, one chair, and a dresser. Eddie sighed, they hadn't laid together in weeks…they would cross that bridge when they came to it.
Jamie didn't say anything either, he laid the suitcase on the bed and Eddie selected her outfit. "I'm going to take a quick shower…" She took the suit in with her so the wrinkles would fall out.
Jamie sat on the bed and waited for her to come out. They had related to each other as parents at the hospital…but not was husband and wife, he hoped that tonight with another couple they could bridge a bit of that gap.
Eddie stepped out in her bathrobe and slippers, "All yours, the water gets really hot really fast," she warned. Jamie didn't like super-hot water the way she did.
When Jamie stepped out of the shower, Eddie was ready. She was dressed in a brown, tailored pants suit with a pink blouse underneath. Her hair was curled and gathered at the top of her head in a bun with ringlets framing her face. Her make-up was soft earth tones, highlighting her natural beauty. She looked smart, sophisticated and well put together. To Jamie, she looked fabulous.
"You look gorgeous," he smiled. "I love what you did with your hair."
Eddie didn't return Jamie's compliment, instead she fixed his wrinkles, "We better go or we'll be late."
They rang the bell and were greeted by Sheriff Paul still in uniform. "Well, Jamison Reagan, in the flesh," he smiled. "Welcome, welcome come on in."
Jamie smiled and stood to the side so Eddie could go in first. "Sheriff Paul, this is my wife, Eddie. Eddie, Sheriff Paul."
Jamie smiled when he felt Eddie loop her arm through his and smiled up at him. She was going to do her duty, no question about that.
They followed him back into the living room and sat down. "So, let me formally welcome you to Pennsylvania, did you get a chance to look around?"
"We had an appointment for our daughter," Eddie replied. "At Hershey Hospital to see if they can continue her therapy and they can, and we had time to check in at our boarding house before coming here . I'm fascinated by the number of buggies and the roadside stands and all that I've seen in just this short time." Eddie never stopped smiling.
The sheriff grinned, "Yeah, we have a nice Amish community out here good people, but my wife and I were hoping you'd stay with us. Angela has a room all ready for you and she's planned some meals too. Please…"
They only nodded, not wanting to offend Jamie's new boss and a kind man. The talk continued as the Sheriff wanted to learn more about this pair. "How long have you been a cop Eddie?"
"Seven years but not all together, I took time off with each of our children and then just decided to take a leave when our youngest was born. We met on the job," Eddie admitted.
"That happens more than you might think," he replied. "I have a few husband and wife deputy teams on my roads. Angela…" he called to his own wife. "The Reagans are here, this is Jamison and Eddie Reagan, my wife Angela."
Angela was a striking woman, handsome was the way Eddie would describe her. She invited them in for a drink before going to dinner.
They took one car to the restaurant at the Sheriff's insistence. "This is one of our favorite places," he smiled. "Mostly because it has a band that takes requests. We always try to dance to our song when we go to eat. We'll stop at your boarding house and pick up your things on the way back to our place."
Eddie smiled. Jamie handed her out of the car, they walked into the restaurant holding hands, the picture of a happily married couple ready to embark on a new life. Looks could be deceiving.