And Love
Chapter 10 Sinking ship?
SUNDAY BRUNCH
"Did you get to church, bro?" Joe asks Jamie.
"Yes, I made the 7:30 mass."
"I went with daddy! Mommy was a sleepy head." Mal pipes up.
Eddie gives her spunky daughter a glare.
"Did you like it," Paula asks her.
"Yes, I'm learning the hymns. I couldn't understand the preacher though."
"It will get easier as you get older, kiddo." Her dad opines.
"Do you have a reservation, sir." The hostess asks Joe.
"Yes, Hill, party of 5."
"Ah, yes, right this way. I see we need a booster seat?"
"Yes," Eddie agrees. Mal frowns. They get a booster seat.
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After ordering they start to talk.
"I thought a lot about this last night." Paula starts.
"I did too," Eddie adds. "Frankly, I don't see a need for you to expose yourself to the whole Reagan family."
Jamie sucks in a breath, Joe smiles.
"Thank you, Eddie. I had reached the same conclusion. I wonder what you think of that, Jamie?"
"Well, I can see why you might come to that conclusion, but-
"But once Joe becomes a known entity, the Reagan appetite for facts, the story, will be insatiable! Believe me!" Eddie poses.
Silence . . . all look to Joe.
"I agree with both points," Joe declares. "I am not going to disappear though." He looks around.
The food arrives just in time.
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BAY RIDGE
Erin has just popped the roast in the oven. She goes to the sunroom to join her dad and grand-father.
"Has anyone heard if Jamie and his new family are joining us today?"
"No word, so I assume that they won't be with us," Pops opines.
Silence as they look from one to the other.
Frank breaks the quiet, "Erin, have you made any personal progress in dealing with your feelings towards Eddie?"
"Not really."
"If Jameson can forgive her, Erin, why can't you?" Pops wonders.
"I don't know, I really don't. I just got in a very negative frame of mind towards her, and I just cannot shake it. I even have had 2 lengthy confessionals with Father Mark – no help!"
Frank and Pops look at each other, sorrowful expressions on their faces. They don't know what else to do. They do not want to have only 1 of an Erin/Jamie duo at family dinner. AND when Jamie doesn't attend neither Eddie nor Mal will either. They don't see a solution.
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BACK TO BRUNCH
The food is almost gone, appetites sated. Joe looks to Jamie.
"Uncle," He grins. "What thinkest thou?"
"What if you and I put on our Kevlar and attend dinner next Sunday? Assuming we survive, we report to this family and go from there?"
"I want to go, daddy. I want to talk to auntie Erin."
Mouths drop open; Eddie puts an arm around her daughter. "Really?"
"Yes, I feel sorry for her."
Eddie and Jamie exchange looks; "It could work," Jamie whispers.
Eddie looks dubious, but eventually nods her head. "You need to watch her closely, babe."
"Agreed. We will just have to let things happen, not manipulate."
"Yup," Eddie smiles.
Mal is excited.
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EDDIE'S AAPARTMENT
"Mal, time for bed, let's go," it's Jamie's turn for the bedtime routine. After bath and jammies, he reads her a story. Then prayer time – they kneel at the bedside and Jamie prays then Mal: "Dear Jesus, please be with my auntie Erin. Help her not to hate my mommy, please. Watch over me while I sleep, amen."
"Thank you for the nice prayer, sweetie." Jamie kisses her good-night and tucks her in. He makes sure the nightlight is on and leaves the room.
He joins Eddie on the couch, "Mal said a very nice prayer babe. She included Erin in it."
"She has a good heart, doesn't she?"
"She really does. You have done a great job raising her, sweetheart."
"Thank you, but I am very glad you are with us now. I think she will blossom with a great dad. I love you, Jamie!" She pulls him down for a long kiss.
"I love you too, Eddie!"
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SUNDAY DINNER
Pops had been surprised when Jamie called and told him that there would be 4 extra for dinner. He tri ed to pry the 4th name from Jamie, he did not succeed. He had to dig 2 extra leaves for the table out of the closet; and arrange for a larger roast. He was thrilled to oblige!
The foursome arrived in Jamie's mustang. Coming in the front door, Eddie and Mal saw Erin sitting in a comfy chair at the far end of the living room. It appeared that Erin was looking through some family picture albums. 'This is perfect' Eddie thought. She motioned for Mal, and the young girl understood; she walked over and stood by Erin's side. "Can I look at the pictures with you, auntie Erin?"
Erin was startled at first, "Yes, let's look together. Hop up on my lap, Mal." The girl does, and Erin starts explaining the pictures to her young niece.
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MEANWHILE IN THE KITCHEN
Jamie, Joe & Eddie Walk in. Danny, Linda and the boys are not there yet.
Jamie speaks, "Dad, Pops, I would like you to meet officer Joe Hill; Eddie's TO."
They shake hands, Jamie continues "And, coincidently, my nephew."
"Well, I'll be damned," Frank retorts. Pops chuckles. Frank continues "When Pops and I saw you briefly at the hospital, Joe, we both thought there was something going on. You must have quite a story."
"Yes, I am sure," Pops adds as he shakes Joe's hand again, vigorously!
"Well, I will share what I can at dinner," Joe cringes, this already feels uncomfortable.
"What you can?" Pops scowls.
Frank is puzzled.
As agreed beforehand, Jamie steps in. "We have met and talked with Joe and his mother. She has asked that we share a limited or condensed story of what happened twenty-five years ago or so."
Joe and Eddie nod in agreement.
"Wow, another Eddie/Jamie situation!" Pops huffs.
Danny bursts into the kitchen, Linda and the boys close behind. "What did I hear about a limited story, not again!" Danny moves aggressively towards Joe, Eddie steps into the way to block Danny. They collide and Eddie is inadvertently thrown backwards into the china cupboard. Her head strikes the glass, breaking it. Broken shards of glass produce several lacerations around her left face and neck, she SCREAMS – "HELP!"
Blood starts trickling down from several cuts, Joe backs up in horror, Linda grabs a towel and applies pressure as she cradles Eddie's head in her lap. Henry hustles to get more towels, Frank calls 911 and shouts for a bus; plus, he calls for his detail. Jamie dashes toward the LR, knowing that Mal would react to her mother's scream; he intercepts her and gathers Mal in his arms. "Stay with me baby, your mommy fell and broke some glass. It looks bad, but won't be serious." (he doesn't know this for sure, he's just trying to comfort Mal and himself).
Erin passes him, headed for the kitchen intending to help.
Danny is standing stock still, saying over and over "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
The ambulance arrives in 5 minutes. The EMT personnel take over, with Linda's ongoing help. Fortunately, neither the carotid artery nor the jugular veins were involved. They secure pressure dressings, and get Eddie onto a stretcher ready for transport.
Jamie has Mal in his arms, he comes close so Mal can see that her mommy is awake and can talk to her.
"Mommy, will you be ok, please?" She is crying.
"Yes, sweetie, I will be ok. The doctor at the hospital needs to give mommy some stitches. I will take an ambulance ride with auntie Linda."
"Can I come with you, please?"
"Sweetheart, you can ride with me and your daddy, in my boatmobile!" Frank interjects.
"Really?"
"Yes, really," Jamie squeezes his dad's forearm in thanks. He turns to his older brother, "And you, please don't show up at the hospital! PLEASE! We will settle things later."
Danny starts to argue, Linda gives him a disgusted look. "He will stay away, won't you Daniel Reagan?"
Danny backs off, and shuts up. For once. Erin wraps an arm around his shoulders and leads him to the LR. They sit together on the couch; Danny continues to mumble "I'm sorry, so sorry." Erin continues to rub his back.
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Frank's detail arrives and the PC, Jamie and Mal are ushered into the SUV and follow the bus to St. Vic's. Jamie had given Joe the keys to the Mustang so he could follow them to the hospital.
The family are shown to a small, private waiting room. Jamie takes Mal to briefly see her mother, then back to the waiting room. He has her small backpack with her little lamb and some books.
The plastic surgeon on call is paged and should arrive within the hour to suture Eddie's lacerations; the patient and her family wait.
Joe whispers something to Frank, who then asks Mal if he can read her a story. She agrees, pulls out a book and scrambles up into her grandfather's lap.
Joe motions to Jamie, and the two slip out into the hall. "Jamie, I am really sorry, but I don't want to be a Reagan. Not right now."
"I can understand that. Can you, Eddie and I, still be friends even if you don't want to consider us family?"
"Yes, of course. And Mal obviously. Here are your car keys, I'll catch a cab home." He places the Mustang keys in Jamie's hands, they embrace and he turns and walks to the elevator.
Jamie shakes his head, then turns back to the small waiting room. 'What a mess!'
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TBC
A/N: Thanks to the reviewer who compliment me on how I am writing Mal. In the 1st story, "Faith", the little girl just struck me as a very empathetic youngster. Eddie had gone to great lengths to make sure that her daughter knew who her daddy was; even having his picture by the child's crib and talking about him. I hope I'm not overdoing it. If you feel that I am, please let me know. Gently, of course. 😉