And Love
Chapter 20 Stop digging, climb out!
There she stands, his everything. The reason he gets up in the morning and fights to make NYC a safer place to live, work and play. She is crying, has been for a while. And he is the cause of her tears. Damn!
He opens his arms wide; she takes 2 quick steps into his warm embrace. Now it feels good, not like the cold, stiff embrace of yesterday. What happened, what's the difference?
Pops slips out of the room, into the sunroom.
Jamie leads them to the kitchen table and they sit. Eddie starts to talk; he stops her with a finger to her lips. He grasps her hands, lacing their fingers together and begins to talk to her.
"Eddie, I . . . we need to stop doing this to each other."
She looks up at him, puzzled. "Jamie-
He stops her again. "Let me tell you about my day yesterday. Please?"
Eddie nods in assent, clinging tightly to him. Her tears have stopped.
"Yesterday started out to be a slow day. I decided to go visit Kara . . . it had been a long time."
"I saw her a few weeks ago. I haven't been as faithful with my visits as I should have been." Eddie admits.
Jamie nodded knowingly.
"Turns out that she had awakened 1 hour before."
"Really! I must go see her!"
"She remembers parts of your visit 3 weeks ago. She had been tying to wake up for some time."
Eddie tenses, 'Oh my God, no!'
Jamie notices, but continues. "She remembered something about you going back to school to become a lawyer. She asked if you had really done that. I said you were thinking about it. But, guess what I was thinking?"
Eddie starts sobbing.
"I was thinking; DAMN, THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS! EXCEPT ME, THE HUSBAND!"
Eddie is beside herself with self-disgust, loathing and more.
Jamie goes on; "But guess what I have concluded? I need to STOP IT! I need to let it go because it is corroding the most precious relationship in the world to me! I've told you that I love you, and that nothing will ever change that. I must begin living up to those words – and I will. I promise I will, Eddie!"
Her sobs slow. "I don't deserve-
"That's my decision, sweetheart. Please don't ever think you don't deserve anything I freely give you. You, Mal and Mary Rose mean the world to me. I don't care if 100 more people tell me that they knew about your thoughts; you have asked for my forgiveness, and I have freely given it. We have both promised that we will ALWAYS talk these kinds of things over with each other. We need to, we must stop digging the hole deeper and climb out! I promise I will do just that. Will you join me?"
"Of course, I love you so much Jamie!"
"I love you, Eddie!"
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LIVING ROOM
"Where are the girls?"
"At home with Betty."
"Isn't she in school?"
"At NYU, yes. She had a light day so she could watch the girls."
"That's nice."
"Absolutely. So, what should we be doing?" Eddie asks, slyly.
"I can put some dancing music on the stereo and let nature move us." Jamie suggests.
"Sounds dreamy, Mr. Reagan."
He does – "May I have this dance, Mrs. Reagan?"
"You may."
They dance the afternoon away.
At one point, Henry passes by, he sees the young couple slowly dancing. He smiles, thoughts of himself and his Betty dance through his mind. His smile grows as he continues on his way.
Eventually they make their way up to his bedroom. The walls blush and cover their eyes.
Making up, indeed!
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BETTY & THE GIRLS
Betty is in the kitchen making a snack. The girls have just gotten up from a nap and are snuggling on the couch. Their sibling friendship is a thing of beauty.
"Will mommy and daddy ever make up?" Mary Rose wonders.
"Of course, they always do," Mal replies.
"How do they do that?" The little sister is nosey today.
"That's grown-up stuff."
"That is what you always say!"
"It always is."
"SNACK READY" Betty announces.
"We will talk more later," Mary Rose mutters as they scamper to the kitchen.
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Jamie and Eddie make it home just before 5 PM.
"Hi girls," Eddie exclaims as she wraps her arms around them in a bear hug.
Daddy is right behind. "Who would like some pancakes for supper?"
"ME," two young girl's shout.
"Perkins here we come!" Jamie announces.
After they clean up, and change clothes, they are off.
They park and hustle in, the excitement palpable. They are soon seated and the girls given kiddies menus. Mal ignores hers; Mary Rose begins to color.
Everyone orders their favorite, with a little parental assistance. Eddie even allows the girls to have an ice cream sundae for dessert. She hopes the sugar high won't be too severe, and that everyone will get to sleep before dawn.
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IN BED
"Jamie, is there more to say?"
"I'm done. Do you have anything to add? Do I need to say more to reassure you, love?" They are facing each other, looking deeply into each other's eyes.
"No, I'm good." Eddie assures him. "I want to go see Kara Saturday. Is that, ok?"
"Surely. Do you want to take the girls?"
"I think Kara will want to see them. But-
"But, what?"
"I thought that my visit may-
"Yes, I will come too and take the girls with me after Kara meets them. Then you two can visit."
"How do you do that?"
"I know you."
"Yes, you do!"
She rolls over, covering him and starts kissing.
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HILLCREST REHAB
After Kara has been wowed by Mal and Mary Rose, Jamie takes the girls to a nearby playground.
"Kara, it's so good to see you awake," Eddie gushes.
"Yeah, it's so good to be awake. I was trying to wake up for a while."
"Yes, Jamie told me." Eddie agreed.
"Was that a problem? I mentioned something I remembered you saying when you visited last. Did that create trouble?"
"I created my own trouble. He was so good to me when he went for lieutenant; he kept me in the loop always. He asked my advice."
"And he should have."
"Yes, but what did I do in return?"
"Eddie, no!"
"Yes. I didn't tell him anything! I didn't tell him that I was thinking about it; I didn't ask for his advice; I didn't ask what he thought the impact on the girls would be; NOTHING!"
"Why, Eddie?" Kara is astonished. This doesn't sound like Eddie Janko.
"I don't know! I cannot explain or justify it. I feel terrible."
"And Jamie?"
"He has forgiven me! Just like that. I don't deserve it, Kara!"
"You listen to me, and listen well! That sounds like Jamie Reagan. If he forgives you, he means it, sister!"
"That is exactly what he said!" Eddie is weeping.
"And he meant it . . . take the win, honey. Look at me . . . my husband hasn't been to see me in 5 months! I am not sure if I have a husband."
"Kara, don't think that." Eddie now cries for her friend.
"What should I think?"
"Do I have your permission to go and kick ass?"
"Yup! See if the nurses have a current address!"
"Will do, see ya later."
"Alligator!"
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"I have an errand to do; you should drop yourself and the girls off at home."
Jamie looks at Eddie. "That sounds like something you will need me along for."
"Maybe."
"We can drop the girls off at dads."
"Are you sure?"
"Let me call," he does, it's ok.
BAY RIDGE
The girls are brought into the house and introduced. They quickly make themselves at home.
"I have some picture books to show someone," Frank says.
"And someone can help me make supper," Henry says.
Mary Rose goes with Frank; Mal heads to the kitchen.
Soon the aroma of corn bread baking is obvious; then chili is simmering on top of the stove. Mal and Pops share a low-five. "Thank you, sweetie!"
"You are welcome GG!" They laugh and hug.
Frank and Mary Rose share a big, comfy chair and start thru a picture book.
MEANWHILE
Eddie drives, and heads to an address in Queens.
"Is this where Kara and Dylan lived?" Jamie thinks not.
"Not as I remembered." Eddie is puzzled.
They walk up to the door and knock. A tall, elegant blond woman answers the door. "May I help you?"
"Hi, I am Eddie and this is Jamie, my husband. We are friends of Kara and Dylan. Is he home?" Eddie rocks on her feet, expectantly.
The woman looks confused; "My husband Dylan Wilson is out. May I ask who Kara is?"
Eddie and Jamie look at each other. She has a picture of Dylan and Kara that she gave to Eddie. Should they push it? What have they stepped on?
"Our mistake, we'll double check our info," Jamie apologizes. As they turn to go, he holds up his phone and berates Eddie for screwing up – all the while taking a selfie of the lady. Back in the car he sends the photo to TARU for facial recognition.
They drive to a nearby MacDonalds and wait.
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TBC