Chapter Twenty
"Are you sure we should be making such a big deal about this, Linda?" Danny asked his wife as they hug a colorful Welcome Home banner over the inside of the doorway.
"Yes, your father has been in the hospital for two weeks, he missed two Sunday dinners, we should celebrate him beating the odds and making it home."
Danny nodded, "Sean said that it was really a close call this time, honey. I was thinking of talking Jamie and Eddie about Dad staying with us for a while, so you could monitor him."
"I talked to Jamie about it the other day and he said it's Dad's choice," Linda replied. "Personally, I think he and Eddie would like a break. Jamie's mostly recovered but Eddie's health isn't that great, the babies are coming and Jamie is occupied with that…Still, we have to face that Frank's body is failing, but his mind and his stubbornness…"
Danny nodded, it was humbling for him to see his father so sick. Danny crossed the room and held Linda tight. "I love you so much," she whispered to Danny. "Seeing everything your brother has gone through and now Dad…we're very lucky."
Danny rubbed Linda's back and smiled, "Let's finish getting this ready. Jamie's text said they would be here by 3 and it's nearly that."
Erin, Lila, Rita, and Molly were busy in the kitchen preparing a lovely eye round roast, mashed cauliflower, and au gratin potatoes. They baked fresh rolls, made gravy, and Molly put her special touch on a Peppermint Patty cake.
"Lila, look at your belly, you're getting your front all wet!"
Lila laughed, "This belly is getting in way of everything all ready and I still have fifteen more weeks. Oh, Rita, can you hand me that gravy boat and a towel?"
"Why don't you sit down, Lila?" Erin suggested. "Your Mom will have our hides if we're over working you."
Lila sighed but was grateful to get her weight off her legs. Her legs had been cramping and aching lately and her side throbbed. She didn't mention these petty little issues to her mother or her husband, they both had plenty of problems. Steven still hadn't healed his relationship with his parents, the baby shower would be a test of their will. When they learned about her fall, there was no attempt to communicate with their son or to offer support.
"You feeling okay?" Rita asked taking over on the gravy station. She was rapidly becoming a full-fledged Reagan helping with family dinners and gatherings.
"Yes," Lila replied. "The babies are doing well, the doctor is happy but…I think I laughed at my mother to early. She told me how sore she was carrying me and Joey because of her size and well…"
Molly smiled, "Can happened as ye go inta the third trimester. If ye knead the muscles like this…" Molly moved to Lila and started to knead her side. "It releases the pressure. The ligaments of yer uterus are stretchin to let is grown and have room. Ye are tiny, ye might even have trouble breathin before they come."
Lila sighed, "Dr. Mianni says that I'll probably deliver by 37 weeks and the babies are right on schedule. I'm starting to figure out their little personalities now. Steven and I have to get cracking on the house hunting. We have it narrowed down but if we want to be moved in by the time the babies come we have to act sooner rather than later."
"Well, what's holding you up?" Rita asked. "I could help you out, I mean I handle mostly commercial properties but I could give you some advice."
"Thank you, Rita, but it's mostly Steven's pride," Lila replied. "He's agreed to take the down payment from Mom and Dad but it's sticking in his craw having to do that. I told him we could look on Staten Island but it's too far out for his Engine Company."
"Well, you can look at some fixer uppers, houses that are less modern…" Lila nodded, "That's a good idea. Can you e-mail me some listings to go over with Steven?"
Rita agreed to do that later that night after the welcome home party was over.
"Hey, you ladies nearly ready in here?" Linda asked pushing the kitchen door open. "Jamie and Eddie just pulled up with Frank."
Eddie pushed the front door open smiling as the entire Reagan family turned to greet their patriarch. "Careful Dad," Jamie said gently.
Frank was still weak needing his cane and Jamie's arm to get inside. Jamie wheeled his oxygen and held the long tube while Frank crossed the threshold barely able to get to the chair before having an exacerbation.
Jamie held up his hand to keep the family from crowding in and massaged his father's back to ease the coughing spell. When it passed, Jamie offered water. Frank sipped it then leaned back with a bright smile on his face. "Well, if being in the hospital for two weeks gets me my entire family for a Sunday dinner with a few new additions, then it was worth it. Do I smell roast beef?"
Lila smiled, "Yes, Aunt Erin, Molly, and Rita have been working hard on it. Welcome home grandpa."
Lila leaned over to kiss Frank's cheek. The babies tumbled in her belly as she did so. Lila took Frank's hand, it was cold but still strong with he squeezed and placed it on her belly. "They're so happy you're home too."
"Wow…How do you like that? They are very active little ones aren't they?" Frank laughed. "You two make sure you let your Momma get some sleep."
Nikki stood off in the corner of the room. Her husband and son were busy with the other Reagan men talking shop, or in their case, listening to shop talk. She missed direct contact with her grandfather over the years, he was much closer to Lila now, but that was her decision. Nikki wanted to be independent of the Reagan name, the move to Boston did that but it cost her precious time too. Seeing her cousin's belly round with the twins and how much Frank enjoyed feeling the little ones kick stung, it stung a lot.
Nikki moved back into the fray, a false smile on her face. Lila sat down next to Frank, Eddie going to get both of them something to drink. Linda pulled Eddie aside, "Did you and Jamie speak to Frank?"
Eddie nodded, "We did and he told us in no uncertain terms he is doing his living and if God sees fit his dying in his house and in his bed. I'm sorry, Linda. I know Danny wants to spend more time with him. Our door is always open. We have the extra room, you guys can stay here whenever and however long you want to."
Linda smiled, "I think maybe we will stay some nights. The truth is Eddie, Danny's starting to have a harder time getting around and driving, you know. His sight is not what it used to be but will he get glasses, no he's stubborn."
Eddie laughed, "Jamie is like that too with his brace and his cane, but I insist. To be honest, Linda, if Jamie falls and breaks a hip, I can't take care of him, not on the new medication I'm not. No way."
"You look good, Eddie, you really do, so something is working."
Erin poked her head into the kitchen, "Am I missing a senior Reagan woman pow wow in here?"
"No," Eddie replied. "We were just talking about how stubborn our men are, but you knew that you warned us at our weddings they were impossible. And I think my Jamie, as he gets older, is getting worse. Danny at least seems a little more reasonable."
"He is, except for the glasses," Linda laughed. "Maybe when Jack and Rita start giving us grandchildren, he'll want to see them up close and decide to do it then."
The ladies talk turned to weddings and babies once more while Steven regaled the men with the story of his latest fire at Colin's request.
"It wasn't a hero type situation," Steven informed him. "We got the mom and two of the kids out but the father had run in after their dog and got himself trapped. There was no way we could get to them, my Captain pulled us out."
"That's horrible," Nikki's son Patrick spoke up. "Why didn't you just push ahead anyway."
"Well, Patty, when your CO gives and order," Frank began.
"Uncle Danny never listened to that stuff." Danny was Patrick's hero.
"No, I never did and look where it got me, offered Chief of D's by my kid brother when he took over the Commissioner's chair. No offense Jamie but I just couldn't do it, beside I was too old even for your new protocol about non field officers. By the way, did you push Benson?"
Jamie shook his head, "We had our come to Jesus meeting when she got in Joey's way, and she's backed off. It's about trust, any leadership role is about trusting the people you hire. Joe proved her wrong too, they finally caught the SOB last week and because of Joey's technique, Jenna is going to be testifying." Jamie was beaming with pride.
Joey blushed, " It worked this time but let's face it, Dad, anyone who gets me is going to give me a harder time, just like Uncle Danny and just like you when it was Grandpa in the chair."
"Well, when I take over," Jack commented. "I'll cut you break…"
The ladies smiled at the sound of laughter coming from the living room. The meal was all ready to hit the table. Eddie, Linda, and Erin began carrying things out.
With the entire family seated around the table, there were sixteen people surrounding it, Jamie sat at the head on one side, Frank on the other side. Eddie smiled at Jamie, he had a rough two weeks, they all did with the risk of losing Frank, but he'd pulled through, proving the strength of the Reagan clan once again. Jamie looked across the table at the man who he based his life's choices, "Dad, I'd be honored if you'd lead us in grace."
Frank smiled, "I'd be honored to lead," he replied. "Bless us oh Lord…"
A/N: Frank may have been down but he was certainly not out. It was challenging but fun to write about the entire family coming together to welcome Frank. The Reagan men have hard heads, it's by the grace that their women can be even harder.
Next Update – May 22nd – Jamie prepares to write a big fat check for Lila and Steven; Steven shocks Lila with a question at the doctor's office.
