Boxer or Blonde
Chapter 8 Magnificent View
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5 WEEKS LATER – EDDIE'S APARTMENT
"Now, about your invite? The one you passed on last time? Pizza night, remember?" Eddie opens the talk.
"I remember, I decided that it was premature. Too early after I lost Olive."
"Did it involve her?"
"Indirectly."
"Indirectly? How so?" Eddie is puzzled.
"Well, I was going to go up to the Catskills that weekend."
"Ah, you had planned to go, and propose up there. I'm so sorry, Jamie!"
"Thanks, Eddie. So, I did the trip . . . and buried her ashes in what I think was her favorite spot."
"Oh . . . Jamie-
"I really didn't want to go alone . . . but it was just too soon to ask you to do that with me."
"I, we would have gone with you."
"I thought you would; but I backed out and didn't ask. The trip went ok."
"I'm sure, it's a beautiful area."
"It is. There is a magnificent view from there, you should see it."
"I'd like to."
"Really?"
"Sure. She was a great friend to Lizzie and me. As I've told you, I'll never forget the night she stopped me from making the biggest mistake of my life. I owe her a lot."
"Would you go with me when I go up there to visit her . . . ah, grave?" Jamie frowns at the thought.
"Yes; I would want to bring Lizzie along. She would never forgive me if I left her out of something like that."
"I can see that. I was thinking of going up next month. If we can schedule time off together?"
"Let's do that, partner."
"OK, let's."
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1 MONTH LATER
They left Friday 10:00. He planned for the hike, visiting Olive's 'grave', and hike back to the cabin all to be done on Saturday. Then drive home on Sunday after breakfast.
The drive up was filled by Lizzie's excited chatter. When the child was occupied with a toy or doll, the partners filled the time with easy, light talk or banter. They avoided talk of the 'mission'. That would come after bedtime for the young girl.
The cabin was 45" off the highway, on well-maintained gravel roads. Jamie had programmed the GPS with the coordinates of the cabin, so they found it easily. The cabin had 2 queen sized beds; it was planned that Lizzie would sleep with her mom.
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AFTER SUPPER & BEDTIME FOR LIZZIE
Jamie and Eddie are sitting on the front porch steps, talking.
"Olive told me about these mountains. Her dad would bring her up here yearly; the only really good memories of him that she had. About age 8 things changed. He started drinking to excess; physically abusing her mom, then her. She took to boxing to defend herself. He tried to rape her once, only once. She laid him out with 2 solid punches. He never tried again."
"I bet! I can just see that," Eddie grinned.
"She wanted us to come up here, to start making new, good memories for us. We were 10 days away, damn!"
"I am so sorry, Jamie. So, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"Well, she described a favorite spot, in quite detail. I came up here and buried her cremains; taking pictures and such so that I can find it again."
"Was that legal?"
"Technically, no. You gonna tell?"
"You know I won't!"
"I know, sorry for asking."
Jamie continues, "Her ring is with the ashes. I hope to visit; pray for her. Remember what could have been. Is that too morbid?"
"No, it's rather beautiful, I think. Thank you for including us, Jamie."
"You are very welcome. I wouldn't want to share this with anyone else." He gives her shoulders a soft squeeze, then lets go.
Eddie gets up from the porch steps where they are sitting; she walks a few steps away, not wanting him to see her blush. She stops, standing still.
"Good-night Eddie," he says softly. She hears the door open and close. He went inside to get ready for bed.
Ok Janko, now what?" She asks herself. She goes back and sits on the steps until she hears his bedroom door close.
'Will he have room in his heart for another love?' She thinks. 'Maybe after some time.'
Can she muzzle her brain, and let her heart lead the way? Was it safe to do that? She didn't want to dishonor Olive, who had been such a wonderful friend to Lizzie and herself . . . she decided to take her cues from Jamie. Let him guide her, them. This could be an amazing, or disastrous weekend. She was hoping for the former. It's just a weekend with partners and friends, right?
She goes inside, locks the front door, and gets ready for bed herself. When ready, she joins Lizzie in their Queen bed. She tosses and turns for a long while before sleep comes.
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02:00
"NO, NO, DON'T SHOOT. BABY, GET DOWN!" Jamie is shouting, thrashing around in his bed.
"Mommy, wake up! Uncle Jamee is in trouble," Lizzie shakes her mother.
Eddie wakes up, she hears the commotion in the other bedroom. She jumps out of bed, throws her robe on, and runs into Jamie's room. She kneels on the bed and throws her arms around Jamie; holding him tightly and whispering in his ear. "Shh, it's all right Jamie. I'm here, I got you. You're safe. Shh."
He stills and looks around, a wild expression on his face. "Eddie?"
"Yes, Jamie, it's ok, you are ok. I have you, you are safe."
"Eddie? Olive?"
"She's gone, I'm sorry. You loved her so; she's safe now. We will see her tomorrow." She tries to reassure him.
"We will? Are you sure? She was shot, I wasn't there! I could have helped her! Eddie, I'm so, sorry!" He begins to cry again.
Lizzie climbs onto the bed. She puts her arms around her Uncle Jamee. "Jamee, I'm here. We love you; we'll be all right."
He looks at her, "Lizzie?"
"I'm here. You want me and mommy to stay with you?"
"Will you, please?" His tears slow and stop.
Eddie doesn't know what to think. 'Out of the mouth of babes!' She thinks.
Jamie looks at her and Lizzie. "Will you stay with me, please?"
"Yes, we will," Lizzie promptly assures him.
"Yes," Eddie softly whispers. He heart is pitter pattering!
They straighten Jamie's bed; Lizzie and Eddie curl up on either side of him. They all get a restful sleep.
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BREAKFAST – SATURDAY
"Jamee, wake up, mommy is making breakfast!"
'I could get used to this' he thinks as his systems come online. "What is mommy making?" he inquires.
"Scrambled eggs, bacon and toast! Yummy! What do you want to drink, Jamee?"
"Is there coffee?" He asks.
"Coffee? Yuck, I hate coffee!" Lizzie turns up her nose.
"Well, I know for a fact that your mommy loves coffee," he grins.
"I know, but it stinks up the house!"
"Ah, problems in River City?"
"I don't know, we don't live in River City, you know."
"It's a figure of speech, little one."
"Mom! What's a figure of speech?"
"Ask your Uncle Jamie!"
Jamie groans. "Later, sweetie, later."
"After we eat?"
"Yes, way after," he whispers.
"What was that?" Lizzie frowns.
"Later, come and eat. The table is set." Eddie hollers from the kitchen.
Jamie & Lizzie dash to the table. Jamie offers grace and they eat.
Eddie already has their food prepared and the backpack stuffed. Jamie will carry that, she will carry beverages, Lizzie will carry a ground blanket. Everyone has a job to do.
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They set off at 09:00. It takes them 2 hours. There are times Lizzie gets tired and Jamie lifts her up to his shoulders. She giggles at that.
As they approach where he thinks they will find the grave, he begins frequently checking the pictures on his phone. After 10" they find the spot. He had cleared the area a little and planted a low shrub. The plant is alive, and had grown. Jamie had brought along 3 small fertilizer stakes; he drove them into the ground in a triangular shape around the shrub. Then he slowly poured 1 bottle of water around the plant.
Then he asked Eddie and Lizzie to hold hands in a circle. He recited Olive's favorite Bible passage and said a prayer. Then he took a selfie of the 3 of them. After a few moments of meditation, they spread the blanket and ate lunch.
After eating they gathered their things and began the hike back to the cabin.
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AFTER SUPPER & BEDTIME
Jamie & Eddie again sit on the front steps; they enjoy the cooling air, the quarter moon and the stars. The Milky Way paints a band of white across the heavens. They hear the occasional sound of crickets, the howl of a coyote and the hoot of an owl. It is so relaxing, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
"Jamie, have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a setting like this?"
"Yes, but then I wonder what I'd do for work. Or, would I miss having friends and neighbors?"
"Yeah, I get that. But, wouldn't it be nice to have a retreat up here? A place to get away, to decompress once in a while?"
"Definitely."
"Jamie, are you having frequent . . . you know-
"Nightmares?"
"Yes . . . I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry."
"No Eddie, you are the one person I feel comfortable talking about that." He scoots closer and reaches for her hand. She willingly grasps his hand, interlocking their fingers.
"I have been getting nightmares or bad dreams, 1-2 a week. They seem to be decreasing though."
"Thar's good. That really scared Lizzie last night. Though, she slept great after we joined you."
Eddie's heart is racing, she knows she is blushing; it's a good thing they are out in the dark.
"Eddie, will you and Lizzie join me again tonight?"
"Ah . . . I-
"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"No, I'm ok with it."
"Really?"
"Yes, really!" Eddie yawns.
Jamie softly laughs. "Sounds like bedtime for another girl!"
"Yeah, that hike really took the starch out of me."
"Another figure of speech!"
"Shut up! I get the bathroom 1st! She gets up and dashes inside.
'DAMN, I really could get used to this!'
All 3 have another great night's sleep.
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Sunday Jamie fixes breakfast. He lets Eddie take the wheel for the 1st leg home. They get back to NYC just at supper time. Eddie invites Jamie to stay for supper; they order Lizzie's favorite pizza. After thank-you and good-bye he is off to his own apartment.
Both partners have a lot of thinking to do!
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TBC