And love
Chap 27 Refuge in tragedy
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL
In the surgery waiting room Jamie is talking with Paula Hill, Joe's mother. "Joe sustained a gun shot wound to the upper right chest. He is in surgery as we speak; I signed the consent."
"Why did they accept your signature? I thought that I was his only next of kin on record? I mean no offense, Jamie."
"None taken. I guess Joe added me , so he could have a contact here in town. I was not aware of that."
"What have you heard of his condition?"
"Nothing yet-
"Family of Joseph Hill, please," a nurse in scrubs calls out.
Jamie puts his phone on speaker and steps forward. "I am Jamie Reagan, his emergency contact. I have his mother Paula on speaker," Jamie holds his phone up.
"Very well, I am nurse Jennifer Wells. Doctor Abrams asked me to update you. Officer Hill is doing well; his right lung collapsed due to the gun shot. The torn lung tissue was repaired and the lung reinflated. It will require a chest tube for 4-5 days while healing takes place. He should be out of surgery and into recovery in 45-60". He will be in ICU for starters; someone will come get you when he is settled and you can do a short visit. Any questions?"
Paula speaks up, "Did he code at any time?"
"No, ma'am."
"Any blood transfusions?"
"No, ma'am."
"Thank you very much!" Jamie and Paula both exclaim.
Jennifer turns and leaves; Paula stays on the line.
"Jamie, I must come over and be with Joe. Can you assist me with finding a place to stay for a while? Maybe a couple of weeks?"
"What about his place?"
"No, he is a very private person."
"Well . . . let me think." Silence for a minute,
"Stay with Eddie and me, please."
"But I hear you have a house full of girls!"
"Yes, but I have an idea. I'll call you soon. You go home, pack, and get ready to come to NYC."
"Ok, I will. Thanks Jamie."
"You are welcome. You are family, you know."
"I guess. Bye."
"Bye, Paula."
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When Frank arrives, he takes a seat by Jamie. "What do we know, lieutenant?"
Jamie updates the PC, then has a question for his dad.
"Joe's mother wants to come from Rhode Island to be with him for a while. I offered for her to stay with Eddie and me. To do that, would it be possible for our gaggle of girls to have an adventure and stay with you and Pops?"
Frank is stunned. "Wow! I'll have to call him. If he agrees, it's ok with me. Have you asked Eddie?"
"Not yet. I will talk with her and you check with Pops."
"Will do."
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Eddie has been doing quite a lot of her paralegal study and work at home. She has her laptop all set up for this; thus, she can do this at Bay Ridge and be with Henry and the girls. This will ease the load on GG somewhat.
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"Girls, pack your bags! You are going on an adventure!" Eddie shouts as she and Jamie burst through the door early in the afternoon.
The 3 look up, shocked. They are in the FR watching FROZEN. "What's up mommy?" Mary Rose asks.
"Daddy and I are having a house guest, partner Joe's mother. You 3 are going to spend a few days with GG and grandpa Frank!"
"Yippee!" Mary Rose is thrilled. Cassie looks to Mal who whispers in her ear, "You'll love it. Don't worry."
"What do we pack?" Mal wonders.
"Clothes, toiletries, jammies, toys, books and so forth," Eddie instructs. The girls dash to their room.
"You are going to supervise this, right?" Jamie asks Eddie. "Of course, while you pack a cooler of snacks and drinks."
"On it!"
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MEANWHILE
Pops had called Linda for help. She is off work, so she comes over and helps him set up rooms for sleeping. She brought along Jack and Sean.
"Do you think the girls will want to sleep all in the same room?" Pops wonders.
"Eeeeew!" Sean sneers. "NO!"
"YES," Linda insists. "This will be one giant sleepover! The girls are gonna love it. They won't want to leave Pops!"
"Well, I think Erin's room is largest," Pops suggests.
They view Erin's, Danny's, and Jamie's rooms; the difference is negligible, but Erin's room is slightly the largest.
They arrange beds in Erin's room; it will be a tight fit. But these 3 won't care.
They empty Jamie's room of the bed, making it the play room. They move Erin's desk in there so that room has 2 desks. Afterwards all are pleased with the result.
"Why didn't we think of this years ago?" Jack surmises.
Linda and Pops roll their eyes.
Pops treats the hard workers to a snack; they exit just in advance of the gaggle of giggles!
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Mal, Mary Rose and Cassie burst into Henry's kitchen.
"GG, we are here," Mary Rose exclaims as she runs into his open arms. Mal is close behind, Cassie holds back.
"Cassie, my dear, come here." Pops opens his arms for her too. He embraces her, she is stiff at first – then melts into his warmth. "You are part of this family too you know."
"Thank you, s-
"No, no, no sir around here! It's Pops or GG as my darling Mary Rose likes to say. You girls go upstairs and see what you think."
The girls dash up the stairs. After a pause . . . screams, giggles, laughter and shouts of joy are heard. They rush back down and swamp Henry with hugs and kisses on his cheeks. Even Cassie is getting in on the excitement! She just might make it after all!
All the while Eddie and Jamie are seated at the kitchen table, enjoying a cup of coffee with Pops.
"When do you expect Paula to arrive?" Henry asks.
"I'm thinking between 10 PM and midnight," Jamie posits.
"We did some arranging for her, I think she will be comfortable," Edie adds.
"I am sure she will appreciate it. Have you heard any more about Joe?"
"Yes, dad called. He is out of surgery and resting in ICU. Eddie is going in for a short visit tonight, I think."
"Yes, I plan on it. Unless there is a disaster here," she looks askance at Henry.
"My dear, the girls will be fine. Why don't you two go up and see what Linda and the boys helped me set up this afternoon?"
The 'old folks' climb the stairs, follow the giggles, and are amazed. Jamie is first to stick his head into the giggle room and is met by a flying pillow. He is surprised and knocked on his ass. Eddie offers him a hand and a smirk.
"You knew that was coming, didn't you?" He scowls at his wife.
"Didn't you hear that moment of silence?"
"You don't hear silence!" He insists.
"You hear the absence of noise. You would make a terrible mommy!" She grins.
He can't argue with that.
They look around; Eddie wishes she had something like this when she was a girl! And a GG like Pops!
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BAY RIDGE 24:00
Frank's cell rings. Bellevue hospital. Joe ?
"Frank Reagan here. Who is calling, please?"
"Frances Reagan?"
"Yes , who is this?"
"This is doctor Abrams; I cared for Joe Hill earlier."
"Yes , I remember. Is he ok?" Frank's heart sinks.
"Ah, yes. But I have another problem. Daniel is your son, correct?"
"Yes."
"Daniel, Linda and their sons have been in a car accident."
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TBC