Chapter 56: Our Family
Author: zeusfluff.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals though. Date Started: 1/20/24. Date Finished: 1/21/24. Enjoy!
Jamie had his hands full carrying Eddie's things for her. He'd signed them up for their second Lamaze class. Eddie was slowly trudging forward a little ahead of him. He was happy to see the door to the conference room open. As soon as the couple entered the conference room, Eddie had to stop and rest with her hand resting on top of the banquet table filled with food.
"Let me just sit and catch my breath for a second babe. Then we can find a spot up front. I don't want to sit in the back again. You do remember what happened last time right?"
Jamie's eyes widened and he shook his head.
"Nope. Wouldn't want that to happen again. Besides, you ate this time and there are snacks being provided now. You doing ok?"
Eddie nodded and slowly made her way up to the front of the room and picked a spot on the end. Pointing to the floor, she watched as Jamie set her things down. He put her pillow in the exact place she wanted it. Eddie scrunched up her nose and shook her head.
"Nope. Not right there. Over to the left a little more."
Jamie did as Eddie asked and moved her pillow a little more.
"Right here?"
Smiling and satisfied, Eddie nodded. Carefully lowering herself onto her pillow, she let out a groan of slight discomfort.
"Oooh. I wish your son would stop doing somersaults in there. That and I think he's in a boxing ring. He keeps punching the bottom of my rib cage."
Jamie felt a pang of sympathy. Sitting on the floor behind her, he placed a hand over her belly and rubbed it a little.
"Hey bud, calm down in there. Your making your mom uncomfortable."
Eddie sighed and then grinned as little feet stopped their movement.
"That's better."
Four other expectant couples all entered the room. Jamie kept his attention on Eddie. One couple set up to the left of them. Jamie inwardly winced when he heard the woman to the left of them speak to him.
"Doctor Reagan? I didn't know you were in this class."
Jamie was about to respond, but Eddie stuck her hand out for the woman to shake.
"Hi. I'm Eddie. I'm his wife. It's nice to meet you… What's your name?"
The woman shook Eddie's hand awkwardly.
"Mckena Starnson. Is this your first?"
Eddie shifted and Jamie began massaging her lower back.
"Actually, this is our second. A boy. What are the two of you having?"
Mckena waved her hand in the direction of her husband.
"Sorry, that was completely rude of me. This is my husband, Andrew. We're having a girl. Kind of nervous about all this. What did you do with your first?"
Jamie watched for Eddie's reaction. She kept her cool and made idle conversation.
"Well, Jamie, sorry Doctor Reagan here was very reassuring and put to rest my anxieties. As I'm sure he's done for you for the last 7 months. Despite everything though. I ended up having our daughter somewhere other than the hospital."
Mckena's expression softened.
"Did you give birth to her at home?"
Eddie shook her head and came up with a quick story.
"Incidentally we were shopping for baby clothes when I went into labor. Had our daughter Cora right there in the store."
Jamie watched Mckena's reaction.
"Wow. That must've been terrifying. I don't know what I'd do if something like that happened to us. So, what do you do for a living Eddie?"
Eddie smiled and straightened up slightly.
"I work for the NYPD. Been with them for the last 7 years. What do you do for a living Mckena?"
Mckena gave Eddie a strange look.
"You have such a dangerous job. Do you ever think of changing professions?"
Eddie stood her ground.
"I've never actually thought about it. No. I wanted to help people and keep bad guys off the streets."
Mckena nodded, but Eddie could see it was insincere.
"Since you were asking, I own a fortune 500 company. We take vacations to The Bahamas twice a year. Come to think of it. You do look familiar."
Eddie got a pit in her stomach.
"I do? Where do you think you've seen me before?"
Now it was Jamie's turn to get a pit in his stomach. Mckena gave Eddie a strange smile.
"I think I remember now. Your dad is Armin Janko. He cheated my family out of their life savings. He's a thief. I started my own company to gain back every penny he stole from us."
Eddie's nose flared and she managed to get to her feet.
"What did you just say?"
Mckena smirked at Eddie and repeated herself.
"You heard me. Your dad is a thief."
Eddie was brimming with anger. Jamie planted himself between the two women and placed his hands on Eddie's shoulders.
"Eddie. Come on lets go. We can find another class to get into. It's not worth it. Come on. Take a breath and relax. Let's go home."
Jamie watched as Eddie balled her fists. Nodding, she looked Jamie in the eye.
"Ok let's go."
Jamie let go of Eddie's shoulders. He leaned down to grab all of Eddie's things when he saw her swing and give a right hook to the woman in front of her.
"No one calls my dad that!"
Jamie grabbed Eddie from behind.
"Eddie. That's enough. Come on your going to get us kicked out."
Mckena held a hand against her cheek.
"You'll be hearing from my lawyer. I'll sue your ass! Every penny you earn will be mine!"
Jamie was quick to gather up Eddie's things and carefully steered her out of the conference room. They found a quiet place to sit and relax for a few minutes. He could see Eddie was huffing a little.
"Eddie relax. Just breathe. You shouldn't have let her get to you like that. Listen, if it makes you feel better, I'll have another OB take her as their patient. You and I both don't need that kind of drama or stress in our lives. I'll talk to Erin and see what we can do if and when Mckena presses charges against you."
Eddie took a few deep breaths and nodded. She suddenly felt vulnerable.
"Jamie I'm sorry. It's just, no one gets to call my dad that but me. It's an old wound that festers when someone brings that particular subject up."
Jamie nodded and ran a hand up and down her right arm.
"We have our family."
To Be Continued…
A/N: So, what'd you guys think? Let me know! Thanks!