Chapter Thirty-Two

They started for home after breakfast, their moving date fast approaching. Eddie looked over at Jamie, he had one hand on the wheel, holding her hand with his other one.

He smiled at her sideways turning back to the road. Things were going to get busy for them.

The drive was about 4 hours long, as they got closer to New York Eddie got excited about seeing her kids. They drove right into Bay Ridge to Frank's house wanting to pick up the girls and Cupcake

Frank was washing Bella in the baby tub when they got there. Mary was in her exerciser walking around, her bad leg dragging but her good leg gaining strength. "Hey guys," Jamie smiled walking in with Eddie beaming, happy to see them.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Mary sailed over to her parents. "Look at me!"

"Wow you're doing so great honey we missed you guys," Eddie caught her, giving big hugs.

Bella squealed from Frank's arms and Cupcake ran toward them so fast he crashed into the wall. Jamie took Bella cradling her in his arms. "Thanks for watching them dad how were they?"

"They all were very well behaved," Frank replied. "Mary show Mommy and Daddy what we taught Cupcake."

Mary turned beaming and put her hand up, "Cupcake lay." Cupcake lay flat on the floor waiting.

"Good boy," Mary praised. "Cupcake over..." The dog rolled over.

"Wow good job Mary he's really good," Jamie smiled.

"Grandpa help me," she smiled as Eddie put her down. "You guys ready to go home?"

"Yes Mommy," Mary nodded going to Frank and gave him a hug. "Bye Grandpa."

"Bye sweetie pie," Frank gave her a hug. "Bye Belly... Cupcake nice to meet you." Cupcake barked in response trotting out after Mary staying close to her.

Pizza and a video that night at Mary's wish, she had missed her parents a lot. "Are we still moving?'

"Yeah honey we saw our new house its really nice with a big yard to play in."

Mary got a little sad at that, "I can't play that good yet."

"But you will be able to when you get better, you and Cupcake and Bella."

"And I'll dance too?" she asked. They had found it off Mary hadn't asked about her dancing yet. She was a great dancer the best in her little class before..."We can see honey we found a really nice doctor to help you get better."

Mary nodded, "I'll do a pretty dance..." She was convinced. Eddie and Jamie reached for each other.

"Let's get that leg better first," Jamie said looking at Eddie with a quiet look.

When it was bedtime Mary wanted to fall asleep in the big bed with her parents. She had missed them so much. Eddie wasn't sure if Jamie planned to share their bed again or if he was going to stay in Joey's room. She looked up at him when Mary made her request, and he nodded with a soft smile. "We love you Mary, Mommy and Daddy are right here," Eddie assured.

They settled the little girl between them and tucked her in. Jamie and Eddie held hands over her as she tried to fall asleep. It was clear something was physically bothering her, she kept shifting and trying to move.

Jamie lay awake feeling Mary moving around. "Mary, what's wrong honey?"

Eddie sat up and propped herself up on her arm. "Stupid leg, moving by itself," Mary sniffled.

"Let Daddy see if he can make it better," Jamie said softly

"I thought this was over by now," Eddie sighed. Jamie shook his head checking her leg to see what he could do.

The nerves were misfiring and Jamie sighed. There was nothing to be done but rally around her until it all stopped. "Come here honey, look at Daddy okay? It'll be done soon," Jamie held Mary tight

Eddie kissed her head and snuggle her daughter. When Mary finally fell asleep, Eddie looked at Jamie. "Hailey's coming tomorrow to see the girls."

"That'll be nice they love Hailey a lot," Jamie whispered

"And we have things to do for the move, furniture and all, it's cheaper to buy it at the whole sale place"

Jamie nodded, "they have a big selection too and nice options."

"Yeah..." Eddie replied getting sleepy herself.

"Go to sleep Eddie," Jamie kissed the top of her head.

"Love you," she murmured as she drifted off.

"Love you too," Jamie replied. They both drifted off to sleep.

"So tell me everything about Pennsylvania," Hailey said the next afternoon.

"It was so different from New York very serine and peaceful, everyone was very welcoming."

"That's great, but what about Jamie?" That was her major concern

"He seemed to really it like too. The house is nice and he's excited about the position."

"I meant with you, is he opening back up at least?"

"He is," Eddie replied remembering how they had held each other as they slept in Pennsylvania and how they had held hands across Mary's little body the night before. She felt warm inside, today's furniture shopping trip and a dinner would solidify them on their path to healing. She just knew it.

"It's still a work in progress but we're working on it. Actually, would you mind watching the kids I'd like Jamie and I to have dinner together tonight."

"Not at all," Hailey replied. "I love my time with them and this little guy is adorable." She petted Cupcake on the head. "You two will make it, I know it. I believe in you."

Eddie gave her friend a warm hug, "thanks so much Hailey we need time together."

"You do," she agreed. "Let's do you hair nice while the girls are napping."

"Mommy?" Mary called waking up just as she said that.

Eddie laughed, "She had the timing that's for sure. I'll get her, but you know she'll want you to play with her hair."

"I'll be glad to do both," Hailey smiled as Eddie headed to pick up her girl.

Jamie headed over to his father's house. He vaguely remembered Eddie wanting to pick out furniture, but Hailey was coming over today so she wouldn't want to go today, would she? Danny's car was parked outside when Jamie came in. "Hey," Danny smiled at Jamie. "How's it going, Sheriff?"

"Not just yet," Jamie replied. 'What's that? For the fantasy league?"

Danny nodded, "You want it. I have a pizza coming, Dad's going to pick as soon as he gets home."

He could take a few minutes, then head home. He would see if Hailey would babysit and they could get a bite to eat. That would be great, just the two of them.

Eddie went to the furniture store where she intended to meet Jamie. She stood in the front and waited for him but he didn't come. Since it was getting late Eddie went in sadly to pick out furniture without him.

She chose a brown loveseat and two recliner chairs. Eddie was happy with what she picked out, but heartbroken Jamie didn't show up. She thought about taking their bed with them, but the idea of taking all those memories..."Can you please show me a bedroom set?" The sales person was happy to take-her into the bedroom section.

Eddie chose a king size bed for herself and a full size one for Jamie. They were done it was clear he had no interest in her anymore. She was starving by the time the furniture was taken care of, sad that she would have to eat alone.

She got some pizza and headed for home. For his part, Jamie had swung by his Dad's house and got side tracked picking a fantasy ball team with Danny. Before he knew it, it was 8:30.

"Geez, I didn't realize how late it is Eddie must be starving," Jamie reached for his phone. He sent her a text, "Hey honey, lost track of time. You hungry? Want to meet for burgers like we used to?"

He received a reply, "No, I ate already and I got furniture for the house. It's done!"

"Oh hell," Jamie groaned. "She did want to go today! Damn it…we worked so hard this weekend and I blew it!"

Frank shook his head, "Go home to your wife it's late and sounds like you need to be there."

"I knew Hailey was coming and I only planned to be here five minutes..." Jamie felt terrible. He looked at Eddie's text, "I bought furniture and already ate. It's done..."

"Eddie isn't happy Jamie, you need to go work things out," Frank suggested.

"I am..." Jamie replied. "I'm gone."

Frank sighed watching his youngest bolt out the door knowing good things weren't waiting for him at home.

Eddie was in the couch with Bella and Cupcake when Jamie got home. "Hey Eddie, I know I forgot about shopping today."

"Where were you?" She asked him. "Did something happen at work?"

"No Eddie, I stopped by Dad's. I swear I only intended to be there for 5 minutes."

"Oh, is he okay? Your Dad?" If he was with Frank and they got to talking…

Jamie couldn't lie to her, even though he knew that Eddie would be livid. "Yeah, Dad is fine. Danny was there and I just lost track of time hanging out with him."

Eddie sucked in a breath and immediately felt tears come. "I'm sorry, Eddie. I never meant to be out this late. I forgot you wanted to go shopping and figured Hailey was coming…" The look on her face told him it was too late. The mask had settled down over her face, she stopped listening when he said Danny.

Eddie's head was swarming, Danny again, he did it again, and he had pushed her to aside for his brother, the man they had to thank for the destruction of their family. How could Jamie forgive him? How could he even look at him, never mind put him ahead of planning their new home.

To be honest, this was one reason why she agreed to get away, their little branch of the family only had a chance if Jamie was forced to put them first, to put Eddie first. She'd known she would always be equal to his family, not above it, but for a long time she felt that she was behind them. She had never confronted that, but she was going to now. "Where am I on your list of importance Jamie? I haven't been on that list in a long time and I feel it."

"Of course you are Eddie, it was a mistake and I'm so sorry," Jamie replied.

"Words, Jamie," she replied. "Just words."

Jamie sighed, "I made another big mistake…"

Eddie let the silence speak. She didn't want to rip that wound open again. She knew Jamie bled as much as she did, it wasn't his fault.

Jamie sat back, "Don't you think I know that Eddie that I feel it too? I miss him too!"

"And you are still choosing to spend time with the man that started this nightmare. You forget, Jamie, I saw the video, I saw him hide behind the van with my babies inside! I saw him draw fire to my babies!"

"He's my brother Eddie I shouldn't have to choose! He's a cop it was instinct you should know that you were on the job!"

Eddie was sobbing, "I know that I would never hide behind a car with children inside, children he is supposed to love! And choose? You did choose, you always choose and I lose every time." She couldn't hold it in anymore. She turned and went to the bedroom and shut the door.

Jamie sighed quietly going to the door, "Eddie open up the door. He hid to fire back without getting hit himself. It was his instinct…it was wrong but…"

"Daddy?" Mary called out. "Daddy, Mommy."

Jamie sighed going into the bedroom, "Hey. what's wrong honey?"

"Why you yelling?" she asked. "You and Mommy are."

"I'm sorry did we wake you up?" Jamie pulled the covers over her.

"No, I have to pee pee, Mary rubbed her eyes. "Heard you. Mommy was sad before, she cried."

Daddy made a mistake, but I want to try and make Mommy better. Come here, I'll help you."

Eddie heard Jamie taking Mary to the toilet, didn't he realize that they were needing to do that because of Danny? She looked at a picture of the family before Joey died. He was such a happy little boy, they had a special bond.

Jamie brought Mary back to bed and staying until she fell back asleep. "Love you," he whispered kissing her head.