Jamie's Encore
Chapter 15 New Vistas
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Reagan Sunday Dinner
Instead of giving Erin and Danny copies of the San Diego paper with Caitlin's picture in advance of dinner, Frank kept those copies and passed them to his kids after the blessing was said and food had been passed.
They took the paper and unfolded it, looked at the full-sized font-page picture and the headline, and looked at each other.
Niky, Frank and Henry looked between the two siblings, awaiting a response.
"Why are you giving me this, dad?" Danny snorted. "This isn't the New York Times."
Linda glanced at the picture and headline. She made a face and dropped her head.
Erin said nothing, she just lowered her head, finding her plate of food very interesting.
Frank felt the need to open the discussion; "The next morning at breakfast, I told Caitlin that in all my years attending concerts I have NEVER been moved as I was by her performance of the Moonlight Sonata. Her 1 encore."
Pops weighed in, "When she started the 3rd movement, attacked really, she brought the audience to their feet! They remained standing throughout that movement and then started a standing ovation the likes of which I've never heard!"
"So?" Erin squeaked out.
Danny shrugged.
Linda snorted.
Sean looked puzzled.
Jack was looking down, sheepishly.
Nicky began to cry, hiding her face with her hands.
"Nicky, what's wrong?" Erin started to rub her back.
Nicky moved away. "The way you and uncle Danny have treated her is . . . shameful. I don't know what else to say, mom. I'm sorry."
Pops just had to add, "And . . . Caitlin suggested that I move to San Diego and live near them. I'm giving it serious thought." He waited to see what response he would get.
"You can't do that!" Erin exploded.
"Why not, Erin?" Henry posited.
Henry's demeanor is making Frank nervous. He and Pops had talked a little about that idea; he didn't think his dad would really do it. But he could be pushed in that direction if enough vitriol was thrown about. And it seemed like that was close to happening.
"You just can't, that's all. This family is fractured enough. Please don't make it worse." Erin was shedding a tear or two now.
Danny was keeping his head down. He, Linda and the boys were slowly eating.
The dinner turned into a rather somber affair.
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MONDAY EVENING
Nicky stopped by her grandpa and grandpa great's house after classes at NYU. She wanted to talk. They sat in the sun room.
Nicky started, "I am seriously considering a transfer to SDSU – San Diego State University." She paused.
"Because of the recent family controversy?" Frank inquired. "Isn't that rather drastic?"
"Well, that has me looking west again, yes. Before I settled on NYU, I had been accepted at USF. The only reason I didn't go there was no family or friends. Now with Jamie and Caitlin in San Diego, I wish I was out there. I love all my family, but I just feel that I need to spread my wings. You know?"
"I know exactly, kiddo," Pops mutters. "Maybe you and I should go west, huh?" Then he looks at Frank and wonders.
Frank Reagan gets a sad look on his face.
Henry and Nicky can't bear it.
Frank gets up and moves to the liquor cabinet. He sets out 3 whiskey glasses, and pours 1 finger of scotch in each. He brings the glasses over and hands one to his dad, then one to Nicky.
Nicky takes the glass with trembling hands. "Grandpa, I'm not quite that age."
"I'm not going to card you. Sip it slowly, and never tell your mother."
"Understood!" She takes a sip, and frowns. "Do you really like this stuff?"
"At times, it soothes. Take it slow, if you don't like it, leave it." Frank whispers.
"Grandpa, if Pops and I both move-
"I know, I know." Frank takes another sip.
"Nicky, girl, I am fully in favor of you going west. For myself, I think an extended vacation or two each year makes more sense. Maybe even with Francis. But, my roots here in NYC are just too deep. I'm not moving permanently." Henry admits.
"Dad, if you really want to-
"If I really wanted to, I would. I don't, and I won't."
"Thank you," Frank whispers.
Nicky lets out a big sigh. The next day she emails her request for transfer to SDSU and calls her uncle Jamie.
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CORONADO CONDO
"Caitlin Mckenna, who is calling?"
"Hi Caitlin. This is Nicky, uncle Jamie's niece."
"Hi Nicky! What can I do for you?"
"Is my uncle in, please?"
"Yes, I'll put him on the line."
"Jamie! Your niece is calling." She hands him the phone.
"Nic, what's up?"
"I've emailed a transfer request, to SDSU. If I come out there, can you and Caitlin help me get settled?"
"Whoa! Sure, but have you talked this over with your mother?"
"No, but with the way she and uncle Danny talked about Caitlin . . . I'm not sure I really want to. It was terrible at Sunday dinner. I started crying!"
"I'm sorry, Nic. Of course we will do all we can to help you. But I strongly encourage you to keep your mom in the loop. You will be a sophomore, right?"
"Correct. Thanks so much. Can I talk with Caitlin again?"
"Yup, here she is," Jamie hands off the phone.
"Nic, what's on your mind?"
"I just wanted you to know how fantastic I thought your concert was."
"Well, thanks. I hope you can come out for more."
"I'm sure I can. I am transferring to San Diego State. I'll be a sophomore. I'll let you and uncle Jamie know more soon. Bye."
"Bye, Nicky."
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NYC
"Nic, who was that on the phone?" Erin pops into her daughter's room.
"Geez mom, a little privacy, please!"
"You were talking about San Diego. Who was it?"
"Uncle Jamie and Caitlin, if you must know."
"And what was the call about, young lady?"
"Ok, I'm transferring to San Diego State. For next year. Jamie told me to keep you in the loop."
"Is your uncle encouraging you to do this?"
"Mom, you know that I wanted to go to USF this year. Well, I've decided that I really want to go west. And now with Jamie out west, I have family there. Can you support me in this, please?"
"We'll talk tomorrow. Good night."
"Night mom."
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San Diego Eddy V's Prime Seafood
Jamie is taking Caitlin out for a celebratory dinner and dancing. He has heard that the piano and soloist at this place are top notch. Of course, he has an exceptional pianist with him, if he can ever convince her to play.
And, he has something special in his pocket!
Unbeknownst to him, Caitlin has a surprise of her own for him. He had told her where they were going for dinner. She had done a little prep of her own! She had talked with the pianist and the vocal soloist.
This should be interesting!
"Reagan for two," Jamie tells the hostess. He has his girlfriend tucked tightly to his side.
"Yes, if you will follow me, please."
They are seated close to the piano; a lovely female vocalist is crooning classic Broadway show tunes.
"I wonder if the gentleman at the piano would let you tickle the ivories?" Jamie whispers to his girlfriend.
"Shall I ask?" She whispers back, with a smile.
They have their beverages and have placed their dinner orders.
"Sure, you know how I love it when you play."
"Ok." She rises and steps over to the piano when the current song is finished. She whispers to the vocalist and pianist, then takes the bench.
Jamie has gotten a funny feeling in his stomach.
Caitlin plays a rather grand introduction, then the vocalist (a sexy contralto) starts to sing:
Why do I do just as you say,
Why must I just give you your way,
Why do I sigh, why don't I try to forget,
It must have been that something lovers call fate,
Kept me saying I have to wait,
I saw them all,
Juat couldn't fall, until we met,
It had to be you,
It had to be you,
I wandered around, and I finally found,
The somebody who,
Could make me be true,
And could make me be blue,
And even be glad,
Just to be sad – thinking of you.
For nobody else gave me a thrill,
With all of your faults, I love you still,
It had to be you,
Wonderful you,
It had to be you!
Caitlin slipped off the bench, the pianist slipped on and continued with the song sans vocal.
She took the three steps over to Jamie, curtsied and kneeled. She held out her arms and asked, "Jameson Henry Reagan, Will you marry me?" The restaurant hushed, waiting for him to speak.
Jamie kneeled in front of her, spread his arms wide and said, "YES, I'll marry you. I guess one ambush deserves another!" They fell into each other's arms as the place erupted in clapping and cheers.
The wait staff began circulating with small flutes. "Champagne on the house," was announced as the place quieted down.
Throughout the evening, as diners left, they stopped by to congratulate the pair.
Their dinner soon arrived. They found the food to be just as good as advertised. After eating they danced for 30 minutes or so, then enjoyed dessert. As Caitlin took her 1st spoonful of the crème Brule that she had ordered, her spoon clinked against something; She pulled out a ring! She cocked her head, "you were going to surprise me, weren't you?"
"Yeah . . . may I?"
"Of course." She grins.
She hands him the ring; using a moistened napkin, he cleaned the ring then slid it onto her finger.
She held up her hand for all to see and they applauded again. Jamie reached across the table for another kiss.
They headed home for their own private celebration.
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TBC
A/N: Unlike BB I am going to pull Nicky (and Jack) back into the story. And the narrative will be almost exclusively west coast. Is this too complex?