-47-
"I'm just saying, Mary…you should have called me," Danny said as he turned the car down the long twisting drive lined with palm trees.
They were currently on their way to the country club for the co-ed baby shower Jillian and Ed had insisted on throwing for them. Well, actually Jillian had insisted and Ed had been forced to go along with the idea after being assured that he would not have to do anything that might threaten his masculinity.
"Let it go already, Danny. It's been almost a month. I was fine...I got Jenny to admit what she was doing and she's lost her job because of it and we're one step closer to putting that particular mess behind us."
Jenny's visit to the Montecito a few weeks before had enraged Danny and despite Mary's repeated assurances that she was okay, he couldn't seem to let it go. A call that afternoon from the DA informing them of the plea deal that had been reached with Mason Greggs had sent Danny into another tirade about Jenny and her meddling.
"I know I keep bringing it up, but I just don't like you handling things like that on your own."
"Excuse me," Mary argued, "I'm perfectly capable of…"
"Oh, you're more than capable, baby," Danny cut her off. "The way you handled her was amazing. Even the Chief of Police was impressed, but that doesn't keep me from worrying about you when things like that happen. This pregnancy hasn't been the easiest and you remember what the doctor said about your blood pressure. If I didn't feel better about having you close by during the day I'd try to make a case for you taking your maternity leave early."
"Danny, I've still got six weeks to go and besides–work is the least of my stressers at this point." Mary was still staring out the window and she didn't notice the look that settled on Danny's face, but there was no mistaking his mood when she heard his next words.
"I'm so sorry…about everything."
Turning to her husband, Mary softly ran her hand along his arm, "Danny, stop blaming yourself. None of this is your fault. We just have crummy luck." Since her seatbelt prevented her from kissing his face, she pulled his right hand from the wheel and brought it to her lips before placing it on the swell of her abdomen. As they pulled up to the club gate and Danny waited for the guard to issue their pass, he took the opportunity to unhook his seatbelt and lean across the seat–placing a much-needed kiss on his wife's lips. "I love you and all I've ever wanted to do is protect you."
"I know…I love you, too. And our luck is going to change. Just based on the law of averages---I would think it has to." They both smiled, lost in each other's eyes as the guard stuck the pass to the inside of the Camaro's windshield.
"Last cottage on the right, sir."
"Thanks," Danny said, heading down the driveway, his hand still resting on Mary's stomach.
---
Despite Jillian's attempt to turn the shower into a co-ed affair, the party had broken into two groups right after dinner. The girls were currently watching Mary open gifts while the guys had moved out to the veranda to discuss decidedly more manly things than binkies and breast pumps.
"That was Davis with an update," Danny said to Ed, closing his phone and rejoining the group, some of whom had lit up cigars.
"They get anything useful from that kid's confession?" Ed offered a cigar to Danny, but he refused, knowing that if Mary tasted one hint of that on his tongue he'd never hear the end of it.
"Some. Getting his father involved has really helped his 'memory' of certain things. Of course, it's taken them almost a month to convince Mr. Burns that his son could actually be involved in something like this."
"They're still keeping him in protective custody, right? We can't afford a repeat of the Hinojosa incident."
"Yeah, he's probably got more guards on him than the President right now."
"And Paul Ford? What about him?" Mike said, as he handed Danny a beer.
Danny shook his head no before answering, "I think he'll probably go to his grave protecting his brother. The good news is that Burns Sr. apparently owns quite a few pieces of property around the world and they're hoping Chester might be using one of them to hide out."
Mike was still focused on his friend's latest refusal, "What's up with you, man? No cigar, no beer…I think you're officially whipped."
"Ever since Mary got pregnant the taste of cigars makes her sick and the doctor doesn't want her driving anymore so I need to stay sober."
A few of the other guys rolled their eyes and Danny's friend Roger snorted in laughter, encouraging the others to join him in taunting Danny with shouts of "whipped" and a few comments about apron strings. Ed watched Danny's features change from calm to annoyed before the younger man walked to the edge of the patio, staring out at the golf course, "Say whatever the hell you want, but I have a hard enough time keeping my wife safe from outside influences. I'm not going to risk her life by being stupid."
All the guys fell silent and Ed noticed the contrite looks on everyone's faces. Mike was the first one to speak, "I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean…"
"No, I'm sorry," Danny sighed, turning back around to face his friends. "I didn't mean to snap at you–at any of you," he insisted, looking at Roger. "I've just been on edge lately."
"It's okay, man. I was just teasing you," Roger clapped him on the shoulder and held out his hand for Danny to shake. "I was a nervous wreck before both my kids were born and I didn't have near as many things going on as you do."
Before anyone could say anything else there was a tap on the French door and Jillian's smiling face beckoned them back inside.
"Gentlemen," Ed broke the awkward silence, "I think it's time to rejoin the ladies."
---
"Please tell me that's not for the baby," Danny laughed as he noticed Mary holding up a lacy red teddy.
"Actually," Delinda broke in, "that's for you, Daddy."
"Thanks, but red really isn't my color," Danny deadpanned.
"Very funny. I just thought you and Mary might want something to look forward to after the baby comes."
"You mean poopy diapers and 3AM feedings aren't enough?" Danny teased, taking a seat next to Mary who was still surrounded by boxes, bags and tissue paper. "What else did we get?"
"Danny, don't be rude," Mary scolded.
"What? I just want to make sure none of our friends are cheapskates," Danny told her, peeking into some of the larger bags.
"It takes one to know one, McCoy," someone yelled from the back, eliciting a round of laughter from the group.
"Well, there is still one more present," Ed told them, heading for the door.
"I'm pretty sure we got them all, Ed," Mary said, looking around the room to see if there was anything left unwrapped.
"No, Jillian and I got you a car seat."
"Eddie," Jillian said, shocked. "You're not supposed to tell them. They're supposed to open it."
"Well, I figured they'd be a little distracted by the wrapping so I wanted to make sure they knew what was inside." Jillian rolled her eyes at Ed's explanation, but she couldn't help but smile. He would never let anyone know it, but Ed had spent weeks searching for the perfect gift. He had even gone online and done all the research himself.
"So, what are you waiting for?" he questioned gruffly, holding the door open. "The gift's outside."
"Outside?" Mary asked as they all got up to follow, "Why would you leave the car seat out….," Mary's voice trailed off as her jaw dropped to the floor. Sitting in front of the cottage was a brand new silver Volvo SUV wrapped in a huge pink bow.
"Omigod," Mary whispered to herself, tears forming in her eyes.
Danny was decidedly less subtle with his declaration of "Holy crap."
Everyone stood along the porch as Ed walked to the car and opened up the back door. "See? Top of the line--safest car seat on the market," he said, pointing to the carrier already securely fastened into the backseat. When Mary and Danny were still speechless he smiled, "And the Volvo got pretty high ratings too."
"Ed," Mary finally found her voice. "I don't know what to say? This is…this is too much."
"Nothing is too much for my grandbaby," he said, beaming from ear to ear and Mary launched herself into his arms, sobbing onto his shoulder. Uncomfortable with the display, Ed awkwardly patted Mary's back before his eyes met Danny's in a desperate plea, "Uhh, Danny, you wanna help me out here?"
Danny chuckled a bit as he pulled Mary from Ed and turned her into his own embrace, kissing the top of her head.
"I'm sorry," she said, wiping her eyes. "It's beautiful, Ed. Thank you so much."
"Yeah well," Ed started, but soon noticed that the crowd was watching him expectantly. "What's everyone staring at? Get back inside and eat some cake….NOW." That put an end to any emotional displays and everyone laughed a little as they filed back into the cottage to enjoy the rest of the shower.
Danny watched as Jillian put her arm around Mary and led her back inside, the younger woman still expressing how surprised and grateful she was.
"Don't you be going all gooey on me either, McCoy."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Danny assured him, but both men were still smiling.
"Because this was just a practical gift," Ed continued to explain. "A convertible's no place for a baby seat and that car of Mary's is getting old."
"We were planning on trading it in."
"Well, now you can just sell it and put the money in little Edwina's college fund."
"Edwina?" Danny asked, his eyes wide with horror.
"Did I forget to mention that part of the deal?"