Without his gun and badge Jamie remained home to help take some pressure off Eddie. In a way he was glad for time spent away from the precinct not missing seeing the glares as he walked by.
Jamie reached into the mailbox and pulled out their mail. In the background both of the kids were upset, arguing over a toy. Joey liked it cause it flashed and vibrated, Mary Rose liked to take it apart and see how it worked.
She had just pulled out the bulbs when Joey discovered her and began to exert his frustration in the only way he knew, to squeal and thrash his hands.
Jamie dropped the stack of overdue bills and hurried over to his son, standing in front of him signing, "Stop! Tell Daddy what's wrong."
Joey's little hands flew telling Jamie that Mary Rose broke his favorite toy. Jamie sighed, "Mary Rose, how many times do I need to ask you not to open you brother's toys. Give it to me now."
Mary pouted but obeyed before skipping off to find Eddie.
Eddie was six months along and big as a house. She swore she was bigger than with the twins at nine months. "What's wrong with my girl huh?"
"Joey's no fun and Daddy takes his side cause he's a boy. It's not fair!"
Eddie sighed, "How about you and Mommy go get pretty? We can get manicures down the road. You can get pink."
Mary Rose jumped and clapped her hands. Henry had been helping them with bills and giving them money for Eddie to have prenatal massage or to get the kids treats.
"All right, get your shoes, I"ll tell Daddy."
Eddie waddled to the kitchen where Jamie was putting the lights back in the toy.
"I'm going to take Mary Rose for some Mommy time, we're having some troubles..." Eddie told Jamie as she went over to the washing machine. She opened the lid and found all the clothes still in the water. Frustrated she reached out her foot and kicked the machine hard.
"Baby, I'll fix it...you take Mary and have fun okay, try and relax while your there." Jamie kissed Eddie's cheek. "Promise to be careful."
He sighed again watching Mary Rose take Eddie's hand walking out with her to the local nail salon. Jamie smiled at his son signing what do you want to do buddy? Joe walked closer to his father signing back can you teach me to play catch?
Smiling, ignoring the pile of bills, the mountain of laundry that couldn't be done because the machine wasn't working Jamie took his son to the backyard for father son time. Just for a short time he needed to get away from the problems and enjoy time with his boy.
Joey showed an aptitude for catch. Jamie felt perhaps his deafness he could focus on the ball. Jamie tossed him the ball at least twenty times, and Joey caught it at least fifteen times.
"Way to go, Buddy," Jamie praised. "How about you come inside with Daddy now and help me fix the washing machine."
Joey signed back, "Mommy kicked it."
Jamie laughed, "I know she did, Mommy's upset a little bit because things are breaking."
"Ill help , "Joey sighed wanting to win favor with his Mom.
Jamie got out the tools and worked with Joey to restore the functionality of their washing machine. By the time Mary Rose and Eddie got home with ice cream for both the boys and sporting manicures the wash was in the dryer.
"Hey, there's my two girls..."
"Look at my nails daddy, I got pink." Mary Rose held out a hand to show off her new freshly polished nails, receiving a kiss to the top of her head from Jamie smiling.
Joey's hands started flying excited to tell Eddie about catch and fixing the washer with his Daddy. Eddie smiled giving his head a rub signing well for that you can have some ice cream, you were a great helper.
Joe eagerly took the cup of vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinklers his favorite. Jamie guided Eddie to sit on the couch with the kids while he cooked. In mid chop of a particularly stubborn potato the pile of bills Jamie set aside caught his eye.
Knife in hand Jamie stared back hoping an idea would come to him that could help them. Setting the knife and potato down on the cutting board Jamie went to the pile of bills sorting through them. At the very bottom sat a whit envelope with red letters reading Harvard Law on the top right corner.
A twinkle sparked in his eye as he returned to the counter quickly finishing prepping dinner. With the pot on starting to cook Jamie joined his family in the living room. "Eddie I kept my law license so I can join a firm part time take a few cases until the situation with my family resolves."
Eddie stared at him scrunching her face but Jamie continued, "at least it'll get the bills paid for now and the hours won't be as long I can even maybe work from home some days."
"It isn't that Jamie.." Eddie leaned forward rubbing her stomach, face twisted in pain.
"I think I'm going into labor.."
