Chapter 26

Second Base (Part I)

A fun now triple-shot chronicling Linda's first Sunday dinner at Grandma Betty's house and based off the time Henry called Danny and his wife out over some extracurricular activity noted in the Studebaker on their official third date as teenagers during Chapter 47 of "It's all in the name…" proving that things in the Reagan past are never forgotten and always remain relevant.


"Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen," came Sean's requested rendition of grace before the Reagans dug into a Sunday dinner meal of butternut squash skewers and dip, apple cider glazed pork chops and grilled sweet potato fries one warm late October day while situated outside on the new expansive back deck at Jamie and Eddie's house which had been built specifically for Kaylin to play on with significant input and labor from her Uncle Danny over the summer. After he had risked life and limb climbing up the steps of the rickety old structure that night Jared Quinlan had invaded their personal space here, a certain older brother had vowed not to let his little niece be exposed to injury or have to stay out of her own backyard because of it, and now the whole family had gathered to enjoy the result of his efforts.

"Can't remember the last time we used paper plates or sat outside for one of these things," Henry observed even as he waved a few lazy pesky flies away. "Betty always wanted me to do something like this back here but I was never much of a picnic person," he admitted before glancing down the unusually quiet right side of the table with a frown, noting in particular that Linda and Jack were avoiding eye contact while Danny admittedly had a look of a cat that swallowed the canary… more so than just with apparent satisfaction over the results of his building efforts. "What's the matter over there, Staten Island? Kaylin's kitty got all your tongues?"

"Pop Pop!" the little girl sitting in her favored position at his left side chided. "It's my kitty Bear… and him like fishies best!"

"Of course," the eldest Reagan patriarch conceded with a small smile, although he had pointed out the obvious and at a Sunday dinner that was akin to putting chum in the water. Linda and Jack knew they were doomed to be consumed in the forthcoming feeding frenzy although he did make an attempt to get out of the water first.

"May I be excused?" he asked. "I'm not hungry."

"Not a chance, buster… do the crime, do the time," Linda warned as she fiercely buttered a piece of cornbread with a warning sideways glance.

"Are we missing something?" Frank asked as he looked down the line, appearing remarkably relaxed in contrast while dressed in a favorite beige cardigan over a plaid casual button-up shirt which looked fitting in the fall outdoor setting. "Pass the pork, please," he conceded and changed the subject when the temperature on that side did not warm a degree. "Eddie, these sweet potatoes are delicious," he followed with instead before Nicki reached over and served him the meat platter.

"Thank you, they're sliced then baked in foil on the grill with just a bit of olive oil and garlic salt," she acknowledged. "Jamie was in charge of the pork, but this was something we found on an online fresh foods menu planner. They give you a bunch of recipes to pick from and suggest like 20 non-frozen, non-processed ingredients for the week to make them all. We just thought it would be fun to change things up. He's totally into getting a certain someone to try different colorful veggies and eat healthier," she smiled with what at she thought was a knowing nod towards her daughter who was happily dipping her squash bits.

"Yeah, it's for Kaylin," Jamie smirked in agreement although his real mission had been to entice his newly-pregnant wife into eating better all along so he kept that card to himself for now since the plan was working perfectly.

"Well, I like them too," Sean added as he eyed up his brother's share that had gone untouched thus far. "What's the matter, Jack?" he added coyly with a devilish glint in his eyes while knowing exactly what he was about to start. "Maybe it's Charlotte that's got your tongue, and not the cat."

"SHUT UP, YOU STUPID JERKFACE!" Jack uncharacteristically exploded in outright zero-to-sixty Reagan rage, his cheeks turning a thunderous red before getting up and racing inside and slamming the patio door behind him.

"Sean," Danny sighed as he scrunched up his face and put his napkin down on the table. "Sorry about that," he apologized to the rest of the family at the table and Eddie and Jamie in particular for the obvious wear and tear on their house and a little girl that had instantly ducked under the table. "Teenaged boys," he offered only in explanation. "I'll go talk to him."

"You will not!" Linda insisted as she flashed in anger once more. "Knowing you, you'll just go in there and give him a high five or something like that... Frank," she continued while turning to her father-in-law as the voice of reason even as Jamie was down on his hands and knees between them trying to fish Kaylin out. "Maybe you could explain to your grandson just how important it is to be a gentleman when you're trusted with taking a girl out on a date to the movies and walking her home," she fumed.

"Linda!" Erin tutted in surprise that something like that would be an issue, "Jack's a good, responsible boy… I'm sure that he would never…"

"Get caught leading off first base while swapping spit with her on the parent's front porch," Danny admitted before his wife was forced to say it herself. "He did, or so Linda was informed after church today by Mrs. Lewis."

"Oooh," came the collective reaction from the peanut gallery.

"She basically accused my son of being some kind of lothario," Linda huffed. "That's the word she used… the nerve of that woman, like she has room to talk… her daughter's obviously no angel either."

"What's that?" Sean wondered, totally entranced with how his brother's indiscretion was going to be viewed by the family. "A lothario?"

"A womanizer," Nicki explained simply.

"Oh… what's that mean?"

"It's none of your business, Sean," Linda insisted.

"Now that's funny," Jamie laughed much to his sister-in-law's ire as he resurfaced with a giggling, ticklish squirming little girl in his arms. "I haven't heard someone called that since my rookie year when I was out with Renzulli and we got a domestic call for this lady named Alice standing in the street under an apartment window with a blow up pig named Penelope and yelling at her cheating husband with a bullhorn… oh, um, sorry," he apologized after sitting down and immediately receiving a swift, hard kick under the table from Eddie. "I mean it was funny… I had to deflate this enormous pink pig and then she came back with a real one on a leash..." he trailed off as his wife threatened to repeat her action. "Ahem… hasn't Jack been seeing that girl for a while?"

"Off and on… it was their third date."

"Oooh," came the repeated reaction from around the table.

"Well that explains it," Henry huffed as he sat back. "He is his father's son after all."

"What's the big deal about a third date?" Sean continued to pry.

"Yeah, what's that supposed to mean?" Danny looked down at his grandfather and took offense to being called out while the realization hit Linda exactly where Henry was going with that comment and she likewise blushed as hard as her son did before he left the table.

"Danny..." she warned and tried to rein him in before he could continue to the point where it would have to be explained, not that they weren't already past that already given the rapt attention at the table and the Reagan family penchant for remembering and recounting everything.

"And you," Henry directed at Linda as he continued since it was already too late to shut him down when he was on a roll… she and Danny were doomed to have their own indiscretion aired in fine detail in front of everyone now and she knew it. "You of all people… why would you think Francis could do any better job with Jack? I mean he obviously didn't for Danny… that kid was too much for even Mary to handle at this age. If I recall correctly though, she's the one that thought she could stay on top of things by having him invite you to Sunday dinner for your third date."

"Oh, I remember that," Jamie laughed again as he chimed in once more with a big smile on his face as he sought likewise to return a recent favor and put the screws to his older brother since the opportunity presented itself. "I was what? Like seven or eight when the two of you started going out? And I couldn't for the life of me figure out why it took that much effort to go on a play date with a girl…"

###

"Whatcha doing with Daddy's razor, Danny?" eight-year-old Jamie Reagan asked as he sat on the floor in the upstairs hallway at the family home early on a late fall Friday evening and puzzled as he watched his older brother standing clad just with a towel around his waist in front of the sink in the steam laden bathroom after an extraordinarily long shower as he was shaking a can of shaving cream. "He says we're not 'llowed to touch that 'cause it can ouch you!"

"That's only a rule for little dweebs like you," Danny asserted as he pushed the button and spread an over-generous amount of foam on his face. "I've been shaving for years."

"You mean you've been buzzing a tiny little soul patch of peach fuzz with the electric shaver a couple of times a week for like six months now," a third Reagan brother's voice chimed in as Joe joined the conversation from the doorway of his room down the hall. "I bet he's going out with that new girl Linda Bellis tonight. Erin told me she saw you two talking after school again today before she left for the football game."

"Linda? Who's Linda?" Jamie demanded as his ears perked up.

"A hot girl," Joe kidded.

"Who's none of your business," Danny insisted. "She's just a friend, we like to talk."

"Okay, so she's that kind of friend," Joe relented with a smirk of maturity beyond his years.

"What's that mean?" Jamie asked, still trying to keep up.

"You know, a girl who's a friend who wants to be more than a friend kind of friend… like someone he wants to take out on a hot date so he's trying to look like he's the man," the middle brother chortled.

"The man for what?" Jamie questioned as his curious little brow wrinkled. "And how can it be a hot date when it's cold outside?" he asked. "Momma made me wear a jacket to school today."

"Oh, brother," Joey snorted. "You are a little dweeb."

"Stop callin' me that!" Jamie insisted as he turned his attention back to Danny. "I thought you were best friends with that one Grandma doesn't like?"

"Marianne Romano?" Joe gave a hard belly laugh and had to sit down on the corner of his bed to steady himself as he recalled another one of Danny's other recent romantic overtures. "The car wash girl? Grandma wanted her to get arrested for indecent exposure."

"What's that?"

"Ow! Damn it!" Danny swore as the mere mention of his grandparents' recent encounter with a rather questionably intentioned well-endowed and unabashed so-called 'friend' in front of his impressionable little brother was enough to make him jump and nick the underside of his neck with the sharp blade.

"And Mom…" Joey continued to chuckle as the tears were rolling down his face now. "I thought she was really going to lose it when she found out you were seeing her. Dad had to hide the scotch that night."

"Well, I'm not anymore, besides Marianne's old news," Danny contended as he staunched the blood flow with a wad of toilet paper and continued on. "Shut up. Linda's different… she's pretty and smart, and she's got plans to apply for nursing school, plus she goes to church every Sunday with her parents. Mom will like that," he assured. "I'm taking her ice skating tonight so I need to borrow your blades, Joe," he reminded.

"Why? Mine are for hockey... rent your own," his brother finally calmed himself and frowned as he looked down the hall. "Besides you hate ice skating, anyway."

"So, I told her I play a little hockey," Danny explained. "What? I tried it, didn't I? I never said I liked it or I was any good, and those were mine first. C'mon Joe. Rentals will cost me another five bucks."

"Fine," his younger brother relented and pulled the pair of skates out of his bag before putting them out in the hall. "But I want them back."

"Whatever," Danny answered as he washed his face and then inspected his work carefully before slapping on a generous amount of pungent aftershave. "I probably don't need them to make it look good, anyway. I've got it all planned out; I'm even stopping at this candy place before we get there to buy her these special flavored chocolates that I know she likes… Stork's orange creams. I'm in."

"In for what?" Jamie asked. "Ew, Danny! That's so gross!" he grimaced as the overpowering smell wafted over and he quickly scrambled up off the floor. "You really stink now! I'm going downstairs! I never have to do all this stuff whenever Momma lets me go to the park to play with Theresa Mancini and she's my friend," he insisted before bounding down the stairs.

"Jamison! No running on the steps!" Mary called out from the kitchen where she was seated with Frank reading the paper and having coffee together, finished cleaning up the aftermath of a simple dinner of pasta and salad he had brought home after work. "Remember what happened before? Your father and I are not in the mood to sit in the emergency room waiting for you all night again."

"Sorry, Momma!" Jamie apologized as he slid into a chair at the table with his parents. "Can I…"

"May I," his parents both corrected automatically without looking up while Mary paged to the next section.

"May I please have some ice cream for dessert and eat it in the living room while I wait to watch 'Bama play Southern Miss on ESPN with Joey?" Jamie asked hopefully. "The special Dutch chocolate kind?"

"That's right, the big college football game is coming on later. Joey's been talking about that for weeks. Go ahead," Frank allowed with a small smile at his enthusiastic young son as he hurriedly rushed off to prepared a big bowl for himself, scraping the bottom of the container in the process. "What's Danny doing? Maybe you should save some for him; that's his favorite flavor, too."

"Danny has a hot date with his new girlfriend named Linda," Jamie tattled in typical eight-year-old fashion as he happily licked the scoop before putting it in the dishwasher... after all no one told him it was supposed to be a secret. "He shaved with Daddy's razor and made himself all stinky with stuff so they could go ice skating and eat orange chocolate," he revealed while adding a generous squirt of Hershey's syrup and a blob of whipped cream to his confection. "I think that's stupid. Nobody's supposed to put chocolate on oranges."

"Language, Jamison!" Mary frowned as she flipped the corner of her paper down and raised an eyebrow while fishing for more information. "Danny has a date with a new girl tonight?" she asked. "He really called her his girlfriend?"

"Yup," her youngest replied before taking his bowl and spoon into the other room. "You know, a girl that's a friend who wants to be more than a friend kind of friend," he prattled off Joe's definition on the way out.

"Well, that's interesting, isn't it?…" his mother trailed off. "A friend who wants to be more than a friend kind of friend and he's taking this one to the skating rink without mentioning her to us first? Danny hates the ice. How much money did we spend on all that hockey equipment before he went out there at the very first practice and quit when he fell down a couple of times and got frustrated? He's already gone out with her before? Why am I always the last one to know everything around here?"

"Mary…" Frank warned. "The boy's a senior in high school this year. He's been on dates with other girls before… maybe it's a good sign that he's doing something that she obviously likes. I think that's progress, besides Joey plays hockey, we didn't waste that money."

"So what? You think Danny's serious about this one?" she hissed back with a nervous look towards the living room in case her oldest was in earshot. "He's not mature enough for that, and look at the choices he's made recently… I mean that Romano girl, honestly?"

"Sweetheart, up until two minutes ago, I had no idea this Linda even existed," Frank sighed in reply. "Let's not go there again, and how can he be serious if this is only their second date?" he added with a glance at the den and the liquor cabinet, contemplating whether he should hide the key for the foreseeable future.

"But after that comes the third one and you know what they say about that," she insisted as for whatever reason her mother's intuition was now on high alert and she was sensing a difference in her son's attitude towards this young lady she hadn't even met yet. "He needs to focus on his schoolwork or he'll be a so-called senior next year too, besides look at this article in the Times today," Mary added as she put the paper down on the table and pushed it over to her husband. "I was just reading it because of Erin, but the end of it deals with what they've discovered from the other side."

"Inside the Mind of the Boy Dating Your Daughter," Frank recited with a heavy sigh as he rolled his eyes. "Oh, Mary..."

"No, seriously… see right here," she pointed. "Listen to this, it says the data also suggests that teenage boys will be receptive to parental messages about the importance of getting to know a girl and respect within relationships, even if they act otherwise. They quoted a Dr. Smiler as saying that very few parents really talk to their sons about relationships. He said we know that many parents do have these kinds of conversations with girls."

"Mary, I already had the talk with Danny, and I made it abundantly clear what's expected on all points. Trust me, there are no gray areas there."

"Not that talk, Frank," she frowned. "Dr. Smiler said parents should try to teach boys and girls about both romantic and platonic relationships, how to develop and maintain them, how to deal with ups and downs and how to forgive and regain trust."

"But that's just common sense and we've always done both with words and by example. Danny's been raised in a home by hands-on Irish Catholic parents and a set of grandparents who have been married over forty years. He knows about respect in a relationship… and Smiler, really?"

"Obviously we have not done our job at all if he thinks Marianne Romano was an acceptable choice."

"They went out for like a week."

"It was way longer than a week, Frank… and if this new girl that he wants to be friend's with wants to be more than a friend kind of friend, we're going to make sure that both of them understand the importance of getting to know and respect one another before anything else takes place, and that means we need to step in early this time and get out in front of it."

"And how exactly do you propose doing that?" her husband asked, his head still spinning around that circular directive and yet now afraid to hear the answer.

"Simple," Mary replied. "We'll just have him invite her over on Sunday and judge for ourselves."

###

"So that's why you came to the infamous dinner so early on," Eddie observed as she commiserated with Linda as an outsider. "Weren't you scared? I know I was that first time, and Jamie even brought me in with Kaylin for her family birthday party so I had cover."

"Me? No… I mean we were so young and I had no idea what any of it was about. When Danny said his mom and dad wanted to meet me and to come over for a meal after church at his grandparent's house… that we'd only stay for a little while and then go out afterwards, yeah I was a little nervous, but I really liked him so I was more afraid not to. Boy, was I naïve back then," she admitted with a small laugh. "But he asked after he bought me my favorite chocolate so I couldn't say no."

"Obviously," Henry inserted himself back into the conversation once more to bring them back on point and remind them how this related to Jack's current predicament. "And you say this Charlotte girl was no angel. Humph!" he emphasized. "Mary wasn't the only one hitting the scotch that night. Betty had such high hopes for you when you showed up at our house in that sensible blue sweater with those fancy buttons and a crucifix necklace on straight from church," he reminded with a grin as both Linda and Danny grimaced and looked down in embarrassment at the thought of his grandmother discovering the truth in that manner. "Did we ever get a surprise in the backseat when we went out to pull the car out of the garage after that dinner!"


My apologies for the delay in posting this Snapshot or any other updates recently, but after a busy summer with the kids and hubby, and a bit of a block in the beginning, I've been on a real roll with the new story "Resurgence" in the "werks" and I was afraid I'd truly regret it if I broke the streak off too early by switching gears. That one is well over 40 chapters in at this point and I honestly cannot see the end in sight so won't even speculate as to when it might be done… would love to have it come out around Thanksgiving to fit the timeframe, but no promises as there are many characters with complex storylines to weave in. I also have a few more Snapshots completed, but am trying to stay in order and those really need to post right before "Resurgence" comes out because they are essentially prequels to it.

In the meantime, all that finally got to such an intense point even I needed to take a step back and refresh, so hence the new fun mini-story here with the second chapter of this now three-part installment to post in a few days to give me a chance to put the finish on it. As this wraps up, we'll find out exactly what went down at that first dinner and how Henry and Betty knew there had been some hanky-panky in the back of the Studebaker afterwards.