Chapter Seventeen
Eddie came downstairs in the gown she selected with Lila, Linda, and Erin. Her golden hair was swept up in a twist and her make up perfectly applied. Jamie was waiting in his dress uniform at the bottom of the stairs. "Oh, Eddie," he sighed. "Oh baby, you look so beautiful."
Eddie smiled and reached for Jamie's hand, "Thank you…You don't look so bad either Commissioner Reagan." Eddie leaned up and dropped a kiss on his lips.
"You two look so great!" Lila gushed taking several pictures on her phone. "You go have a fabulous time, don't worry about Grandpa, he and I are going to make lasagna and play Gin rummy." Lila hugged her Mom and Dad as the babies tumbled and kicked inside of her. "You saying bye bye to Grandpa and Grandma?"
Eddie smiled, "You take it easy all right?" She ran a gentle hand over Lila's swollen belly.
"I will, Mom, don't worry. You two have a good time."
Arm in arm Jamie and Eddie headed off to the ball while Lila sat down on the couch next to Frank. "So you want to make lasagna or call out for Indian?"
Frank laughed, "I'll just get my wallet, you order what you want and get me that chicken."
"You always did let me have anything I wanted," Lila replied. "I'm so glad you are feeling better and Mom is feeling better. I can't believe I only have fifteen weeks before these babies come."
"You getting nervous?" Frank asked. "Because you don't have to be, you know we are all going to be there for you no matter what."
"I know, Steven's Dad finally called him last week. He said they want us to call them when I go into labor and his Mom is interested in being at the shower, so…"
"Oh that's big of them," Frank rolled his eyes. "They are letting a grudge against me steal this moment from Steven and that…" Frank tapped his fingers on the end of his chair.
"Steven is fine with things like they are. We just want to enjoy the rest of the pregnancy and prepare for our family. When you and Grandma were going to have Uncle Danny, were you really obsessive about things like childbirth class and stuff?"
"No," Frank replied quickly. "Your Grandma thought that men had no place in those things, she and your Grandma Betty did things in the old Irish Catholic way and everything was fine. I was there when your Dad came. He was the tiniest of all my kids, even smaller than Aunt Erin."
"Mom said she was small too, I was small…These babies will be small…I hope," Lila laughed.
"You'll do fine," Frank laughed. "Order our dinner."
Lila placed their food order while Frank did his medicine without being asked. He didn't want a spell to upset his granddaughter.
Meanwhile, in a ballroom in Manhattan, the rest of the Reagan clan was gathered for the Policeman's ball. Jamie held Eddie's arm as they stood with the Mayor and other city officials on the receiving line.
"You look lovely, Mrs. Reagan," said the wife of a newly elected councilman. "That dress is so flattering."
Eddie smiled, she felt ugly and fat especially with so many of the younger ladies around her. "Thank you so much," Eddie replied with a smile. She looked up at Jamie, "Almost over honey," he whispered. "Then you can sit down for a little bit. I'm dancing with my wife tonight though."
"You bet," Eddie whispered as Joey and Molly came down the line. "Oh my goodness," Eddie smiled at Molly in a royal blue halter gown. "You are so pretty, I love that dress."
"Are we at your table?" Molly asked. She was shy and this crowd was a little intimidating for her.
"Oh yes, with Jack and Rita, Danny and Linda too," Eddie assured her. "Go and get a drink, we'll be over soon."
Joey kissed his mother's hand, "You look great Mom. Just like in your wedding picture…"
"You are a very bad liar, Joseph Patrick," Eddie laughed. "But thank you anyway."
Thirty boring minutes later, Danny escorted both Linda and Eddie to their seats. Jamie had a few more hands to shake but being on her feet was getting tiring for Eddie. Linda ordered them each a Blood Mary, "It's a special occasion, the two of us out with our men, Erin is actually here with a date…all is right in the world. Rita, how is the wedding planning going?"
"It's good. I was going to ask if you want to come with my mom and me when we go to pick out the dress. You always look so put together, I'd love your opinion."
Eddie smiled, it seemed that it was easier to be the mother of the groom than the mother of the bride. She hoped to have that experience soon. She watched Joey with Molly, and believed in her heart he had found his soulmate.
Jamie finally appeared just as the salad came, "Sorry, I could not get away from the Phillip's wife, she loves to gossip and thinks I love to hear everyone's business."
Jamie ordered a drink and relaxed at a table full of family. He didn't like these busy social events, it was, like his father before him, his least favorite part of being commissioner.
"Hey Lila," Frank called. "Honey, I don't have enough cash in my wallet and they are cash only. Do you have any?" Frank's COPD was limiting his strolls to the cash machine that week, the weather was changing and the Brooklyn air becoming more humid.
Lila checked her purse, "No, Mom has a stash upstairs. She won't mind if I put it back," Lila replied.
Lila headed up the steps to get the money just as the headlights of the delivery car appeared in the driveway. As Lila searched her mother's jewelry box, the doorbell rang. Frank got up and headed for the door, "Hi, my granddaughter is getting the money, she'll be right down."
"Coming Grandpa," Lila called retrieving the money and heading downstairs. As Lila reached the last four steps, the back part of her clog shoe shifted and caused her ankle to turn sideways. Lila reached for the bannister with both hands to catch herself, however the quick movement knocked her off balance causing her to fall hard on her back and slide down the three remaining steps.
Frank heard Lila cry out before she hit the last step. He turned and with the delivery man, who was now on a first name basis with most of the members in the house, ran to where Lila lay on her side holding her belly. "Stay still, did you hit your belly?"
Lila was crying so hard she wasn't able to answer her grandpa. "Lila, sweetie pie, you have to try to breath and answer me. Did you hit your belly?"
Finally she shook her head, "My back…" she sobbed. "Grandpa…my babies…"
Frank thought about calling a bus but it would be faster if they went with the delivery man. "Gurav, is it? I'll call your boss and explain personally but I need you to drive us to Lutheran hospital."
"Oh yes, sir, for Miss Lila," was the fast reply. "I can help…" The thin but muscular boy lifted Lila and hurried with her to the car with Frank hot on his heels, the delivery food now forgotten.
"This next song goes out to Commissioner and Mrs. Reagan, a special request by the Commissioner."
The strains of Kenny Rogers, Through the Years began to play. Jamie stood and led Eddie out on to the dance floor pulling her close to him. "We have our song," he whispered. "But this one means more I think. I can't remember a time when I didn't love you."
Eddie's eyes misted over as she laid her head on his chest. "I love you," she whispered. "I'm sorry I've been…"
"Ssh," Jamie whispered as Danny and Linda joined them on the dance floor followed by Jack and Rita and Joey and Molly. Soon most of the married or engaged officers and detectives had joined their commissioner and his wife, not one couple, with maybe the exception of Danny and Linda as much in love as Jamie and Eddie were in that moment. They had no idea what was going on back at their house, each was to wrapped up in the perfection of the moment.
When the music ended, Jamie bent and placed a soft kiss on Eddie's lips. Joey came to escort his mother back to her chair once Molly was seated, it was time for Jamie's speech. This was Eddie's favorite part, she loved to hear him talk and see him enjoy his success.
As Jamie began to speak at the hall, Gurav pulled up to the ER at Lutheran Hospital with his precious cargo. He ran inside to get a nurse while Frank tried his best to console Lila. "It's all right sweet girl, Poppa's going to make it all right." She had called him Poppa when she was very little.
Gurav reappeared with a team of nurses and stretcher for Lila. Slowly the team of medical professionals placed the still crying Lila on the stretched and hurried her inside. "Set up IV access and page OB. How far along is she?"
"Uh, six months or so…She's due in September…" Frank couldn't quite remember Lila's due date but he did remember the phone number to the hall where the ball was held every year. "Excuse me, I need to use a phone. I have to call my son and get the father's phone number."
The nurse handed Frank the phone from the desk and got him an outside line. With shaking hands he dialed the hotel, "This is Former Commissioner Frank Reagan, I need Detective Meyers from the Policeman's Ball right away and I will hold for her."
"Grandpa!" Lila was calling as the doctor came to examine her. "Where's my grandpa?"
Frank sighed, he'd go to her in just a minute. "Hello, Detective Meyers," came the greeting.
"Meyers, it's Frank Reagan. I need you to get to Jamie or Eddie and tell them to come down to Lutheran Hospital ER, Lila fell, and tell them we need the smoke eater forthwith."
Meyers heart caught in her throat, her sister lost a baby after a fall on the pool steps last year. "I'll get him, he's just finishing his speech."
"Thank you, just have them come down, I think that Lila might need them." The call ended, Frank hurried over to the cubical where Lila was. "Grandpa, it hurts, I'm scared."
"I know you are, honey. I called the ball and your parents and Steven will be here soon. Hold tight to my hand. The doctor is going to be here soon." Frank stroked Lila's forehead kissing her head as they waited.
Detective Meyers was waiting for Jamie when he finished his speech. He saw her sign and headed off the podium among thunderous applause in her direction. "Sir, your father called. You and Mrs. Reagan are needed at Lutheran hospital, your daughter fell. He asked for us to escort her husband."
Jamie nodded, "Dispatch a unit from the 6-5 to his Engine Company and call my detail. We'll be leaving in five minutes."
Eddie knew something was wrong as soon as she saw Jamie hurrying towards her. His limp was very exaggerated when he moved quickly and he didn't do it often especially in public. Eddie stood up and hurriedly meet him half way so he wouldn't fall, "Jamie, what's wrong?"
"We have to go, the detail is out front. Lila fell and Dad took her to Lutheran hospital ER," Jamie told Eddie nearly breathless. "Get your purse and have Jack make our excuses, come on."
Eddie hurried back to the table, "Jack, your uncle wants you to make excuses for us. Lila fell and Dad took her to the hospital. We have to go."
Danny and Linda also rose to join then followed by Erin, Joey, and Molly. Eddie held up her hand, "No, we'll attract attention leaving as it is. Leave a little after we do in shifts and meet us, if something horrible has happened I don't want Lila to have any unwanted media attention."
Linda quickly nodded and gave Eddie a hug, "Tell her we love her."
Eddie took her bag and with Jamie quickly departed for the hospital hoping and praying when they arrived they would find their daughter and their grandchildren in good health.
A/N: The review syncing issue has hindered my ability to reply to your reviews as I like to do. I realize some of you found the last chapter a little dull because it only involved Steven and Lila. One of my Guest reviewers mentioned they liked angst, the next few chapters will have that, no worries. In fact, most of this series is dramatic and angsty after this installment with the exception of Jamie and Eddie's post retirement vacation. I will begin taking requests for their destination(s) now. For those that mentioned they prefer chapters with the whole family, I just finished a later chapter and it contains all the Reagans. This story is written ahead, so I do not adjust chapters based on reviews, sorry about that.
Next update – May 16 – The family gathers at the hospital to support Lila and Steven.
