Chapter Forty-One

"Call us when you get home," Eddie told Frank giving him a big hug and kiss as he got into the car to head home.

Frank agreed to do so, then Eddie turned and went back inside. "I want to try to finish painting that room while you're working," Eddie told Jamie, but he shook his head.

"Are you sure you're up to it Eddie? I mean you've only been out of the hospital a few days."

She smiled, "I know, and I'm a little sore, but I was only shot in the vest..." That was as far as she got before hearing probably the worst scream and cry she could ever recall.

Jamie and Eddie both jumped turning to the sound. Mary was sitting in the doorway. "Mary, what's wrong?"

Mary was pale and crying out in a shrill high-pitched screech. Her cries sounded like she was saying, "No Mommy..." But they weren't sure. Eddie and Jamie both hurried to their girl.

"Mary tell us what's wrong honey," Eddie said hugging her tight. The look on her face was both shock and upset seeing their girl like this.

Mary couldn't speak, the images that were rushing back to her were far too scary. She wailed and held onto her mother so tight it hurt.

"Honey, Mommy and Daddy are here. It's okay, you're okay," Jamie whispered softly.

"Booming, it's booming," she sobbed covering her ears. Her eyes were wide as saucers, she shook and covered her head as if hearing a terribly loud noise.

"What's booming sweetie? What did you see?" Eddie held Mary tight Jamie holding both his girls

"Banging," Mary sobbed. "Glass is breaking, Joey...don't cry, don't scream Joey, we'll be okay...Oww...Owww..." she moaned as her little body jerked. "Joey...good boy... don't cry... don't be scared. Bella, don't be scared..." She was back in that car...

"Oh, Mary honey come here honey, it's okay. You're okay, I'm so sorry we didn't realize… Mommy and Daddy are here," Jamie said

"Jamie, it's no use," Eddie told him. 'She's in a memory now and we have to wait it out with her. Let her cry...just let her cry."

"I hate seeing her like this Eddie our girl," Jamie bit his lip.

"This is good for her maybe," Eddie replied as she turned Mary to the side and held her as if she was going to nurse her.

After a half hour, the cries settled down to mewls, then Eddie pressed her, "What did you remember, honey?"

"Everything the car stopped then a lot of noises and Joe was crying. I told him to stay quiet."

"Yeah, it was scary in the car when you got hurt?" Eddie replied. "The men were shooting guns at the car?"

Mary nodded, "yeah and Joe was crying scared and Uncle Danny was there."

"Yes," Eddie replied and held her breath. Mary sniffled, "Joey got all quiet, he stopped crying all at once, not like a little...and he had blood on him...I think that's when he died in there."

"Oh, honey we are sorry that you had to see that," Jamie said rubbing Mary's back gently

"Uncle Danny was shooting," she whispered. "He was shooting at the car."

"At the car you and Joe were in," Eddie looked up at Jamie with a raised eyebrow

She sniffled, "Yes, he shooted like this and they shooted like that..." She demonstrated the cross fire with her hands.

"Uncle Danny was trying to protect you by scaring the bad guys away," Eddie assured

Mary wasn't sure about that, "No, Daddy protect us. He stood by the window and yelled at them...he ran away and shot the bad guys.

"Uncle Danny was too he was trying in his own way," Jamie insisted

Mary shook her head and curled up a bit to Eddie. "Got scared when I heard you say you got shot too cause don't' want you to die."

"Oh, honey I'm not going to. Mommy is going to be just fine it was nothing I promise."

"The pictures just came...and I got scared," Mary replied. "I see the pictures a lot, but I don't call because it's scary."

"You can call us anytime you feel scared honey we'll always protect you," Jamie hugged her

Mary sat with that for a moment, then sighed, "Does Joey miss us?"

"Joey is always watching over sweetheart, always with us in our hearts," Eddie assured.

Eddie began to cry a bit holding Mary, Jamie held them both and joined them. "Let's get out for a bit, want to?"

"Yeah I think that's a good idea come on honey," Jamie nodded

"You want to go on a buggy ride and pet the horses?" Eddie asked. "We can go see if Rachel will take us to see them?"

"I wanted to see the horses and cows," Mary nodded wiping at her eyes.

Jamie stepped away to get the dog's leash and Eddie closed the space quickly. "Now that she's made this breakthrough, we should double down with her therapist and make sure that…"

Jamie nodded, "I'm so glad she remembered but seeing it…"

"Daddy, are we going?" Mary asked, she needed the getaway as much as her parents did.

"Yes, let's go over to Rachel's farm and see the animals...come on..." Jamie loaded his family, including Cupcake, in the car and held Eddie's hand across the seat. He gave it a kiss and she gave him a smile, this storm they would weather as one.

Jamie pulled up to Rachel's farm, and was greeted with her smile. "Hello, to what do we owe this pleasure? Hello, sweetie."

"Hi Miss Rachel," Mary spoke softly still sniffling, eyes red and puffy.

Eddie spoke softly, "Mary had a couple of flash backs about her and her brother being shot at and she got so scared. She wants to pet the horses and cows and I hoped..."

"Of course, no trouble at all. Let me show you around...I think you'll like them Mary," Rachel smiled.

Jamie carried Mary to the barn, "This is Petal, our son named her. She likes to be pet on the nose."

Mary smiled reaching out to gently pet the horse, giggling when it neighed softly. "She loves animals," Jamie smiled. "She is Cupcake's chosen person in the family."

Mary laid her head on Petals head. Samuel came out and continued to show them the farm, Rachel took Eddie inside. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better thanks trying not to overdo it yet, you know," Eddie said.

"Oh of course," Rachel smiled. "Your poor little Mary looks so sad; do you need to talk about what happened?"

"It just hit her so fast. She must have overheard Jamie and I talking about what happened to me," Eddie sighed.

"The poor baby," Rachel sighed. "It had to be so hard in her being locked in the car. It's good she let those feelings come out."

"Yeah it took some time, but it happened and she needs to talk about it."

Eddie covered her eyes, "the sounds she made crying and hiccupping I don't think I've ever heard a worse sound."

"It's hard hearing that from your baby," Rachel agreed

"Rachel, I still..." Eddie sighed. "When I heard her talking about her uncle taking shots close to the car I am just overcome..."

"It's hard knowing your babies were in the car and that close," Rachel nodded.

"And he..." Eddie sighed. "He fired and used the car as a shield with my babies there and I just feel such hate."

"Maybe that's where we should start to get through this with your brother in law."

Eddie sighed, "I just can't seem to let this go...and as soon as Jamie speaks up about Danny I get angry at him."

"Let's try to start with that then. Your angry at him how is he handling it?"

"We finally talked out all our issues," Eddie replied. "We are feeling better and talking more, I haven't told Jamie how angry I feel..."

"Now that you are working things out maybe it's time to talk about your anger."

"I'll try, I'm just afraid to," Eddie replied.

"What are you afraid of," Rachel asked.

"Upsetting Jamie again," Eddie replied. "Making him...pushing him away again."

"Then tell him that you're not trying to upset him, but you have to let it out."

Eddie sighed, "I hear you, I'm just not sure how to do it. I know Danny doesn't care I hate him, I know my hate is only hurting me..."

"No, the hate is also hurting Jamie and I'm sure it is affecting Danny too," Rachel said.

"Let's pray together," Rachel suggested. "Let's pray and ask God to accept your anger and take it to him "Eddie breathed out nodding then lowered her head hoping to let it out.

Eddie took Rachel's advice to heart, when they left for dinner at a nearby Friendly's everyone was feeling a bit better."

"You should have seen how her eyes lit up when they let her milk the cow," Jamie smiled.

Eddie snuggled up to Jamie and laid her head on his chest. "We are so lucky honey"

"Yeah, we really are," Jamie smiled wrapping an arm around her waist.

They kissed in the shadows of the night, their arms entwined around each other. "There is still so much anger inside."

"I'm sure, it was a terrible loss we went through Eddie. Maybe we can talk about it."

She nodded, "I'm trying so hard Jamie, but every time I think about Danny shooting back over my kids my blood just boils"

Jamie nodded kissing her head, "I know Eddie talk to me. I want to hear how you feel and work through this as partners."

"It's just so tiring having all this hate hanging on my head...

"I know, and I want to help you through this," Jamie said softly

"And what about you?" She asked. "Have you forgiven him?"

Jamie sighed, "Him yes. I'm working on forgiving myself still."

Eddie held him tight, "You made a mistake, you were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. When you saw the shooting you tried to pull the fire away from the kids. I forgive you...I love you."

"I love you too Eddie I love you so much," Jamie kissed the top of her head, looking down to meet her eyes.

Her forgiveness was like a balm for his soul. He felt so much better hearing that he was forgiven. "It hurts that I haven't even been able to get Danny to hear me."

"Danny is dealing with it in his own way, he thinks you hate him." Jamie relayed.

"I do," Eddie said flatly. "I hate him with all I have Jamie. My blood boils every time I even think of him

Jamie sighed, "I get it Eddie and I know it's hard, but we have to get through this. Danny feels guilty, he's upset."

Eddie stiffened, "No, I'm upset! I'm upset, I miss my son!"

"We both do, Eddie. We all miss him, I miss Joe every single day," Jamie said.

"I know, but I need you to understand how I feel about Danny. I need you to hear me."

"Okay Eddie tell me, I'll just listen," Jamie replied.

Eddie softly spoke, "If he did like you did, if he went and moved away from the car, even at risk to himself, like you did, I might be able to let it go."

Jamie nodded slowly looking down at her, "I get it, Eddie, I do. I'm sorry you held it in so long."

She moved closer and snuggled into Jamie. "I'm just glad that through all of this we go our marriage back on track. We need to do something to celebrate that."

Jamie hugged her tight and smiled, "I'm thinking perhaps we ask the new priest to do a vow renewal and get away just a few days close by...so if Mary or Bella need us," Jamie suggested.

"Yeah that's a great idea," Eddie replied kissing him. "Let's talk to the priest. Do you know anywhere nearby you'd like to see?"

"More of this beautiful farmland works for me," Jamie replied.

"Faith mentioned to me that Rebecca and Amos have a cottage, their parents passed so we can maybe use that. She did when she needed some time alone."

"We can ask, that sounds like a really nice place for us to be together." Jamie agreed. "We'll be close by for the girls and still be able to focus on reconnecting our marriage again."

That night as they laid together in silence they kissed gently and slowly. Jamie moved over Eddie's body, they didn't want to ever lose that connection again. She reached up for him to pull his body closer.

"I love you Eddie I will always love you," he whispered softly as they gazed deeply into each other's souls.