A Chance for a Better Life
Chapter Thirty-One
When Eddie woke up and found the note, she couldn't do anything besides smile. She knew her husband's day had been long, and she loved him for the break. When they all got home, he had her favorite salad and a chocolate shake. The kids were full and tired and ready for their baths and bed. They'd be able to complete their homework while they were out.
Once the kids were in bed, Eddie and Jamie finally got a chance to talk. Jamie was tired and ready for bed too.
"How was your first day?"
Jamie wasn't sure what to say. He didn't want to worry Eddie; he knew his job did that enough. "It was a good day. I'm glad to be back under Renzulli's command. I worked the desk in the morning and then spent all afternoon in meetings. I may have some long days getting to know everyone here. It's not often someone takes over a patrol platoon and didn't come from patrol."
"You'll do great and work as much as you need to. I hired Kelsey today. She said that the both of you had already spoken, but the final decision was mine. Thank you for talking to her. Without knowing your new schedule I wasn't sure when we'd get to talk to her together."
Jamie hugged his wife and smiled. "I know, and I'm glad that you're not mad. More so because I think I'll be working doubles at least once a week."
"Be careful. This baby needs to know his or her dad, and you're a really great dad. The smiles on their kids' faces told her that they'd had a good night, and she knew she'd hear all about it the next day."
"I know and I am. I know saying don't worry is unrealistic, but I do everything I can to make it home safe each night."
The exhaustion of the day was setting in. Jamie was ready to crawl into bed and get a good night's sleep because he knew that he may not get a lot of sleep for a while and that was before the new baby was even born. He hoped to have the 7-6 cleaned up before the baby's born.
The rest of the Jamie's week is spent getting to know the officers in his command. Being a boss was something he figured that he'd become someday, but when he was considering those things, he was still working in legal for Boston PD. He didn't think promotions would be available to him because of his name and his dad.
His first meeting with Lt. Flemming went as well as the rest of his week because he hadn't gotten a chance to look into anything yet. After talking to Flemming, all thoughts of the 7-6 being cleaned up before the baby's born were dashed. Flemming said that he can't tell anyone about what's going on at the 7-6, and that included his dad. In addition, as a sergeant he didn't have a partner. There were only three people involved in this case, Lt. Fleming, captain Renzulli and himself.
Life at home was better. Kelsey was a great help and even stayed after he got home some days depending on how tired he looked apparently. The kids loved Kelsey; they would spend hours playing each day.
Jamie was determined to do one more thing for Eddie, and he knew that she wouldn't like it, but he wanted to have someone come in a clean for a few days a week. They were spending a lot of their time keeping the apartment clean when they could be doing other things. It was a reminder of why he always liked living in small places, they were easier to keep clean, but two kids and another on the way changed their needs.
Since work didn't end up being as calm as he'd hoped, time with family was more important than cleaning the apartment. Sometimes Jamie just needed a break, and his only hope was that one finally came when the 7-6 was back to being a great place to work.
Jamie's days were filled with both his regular responsibilities and having to clean up the department. After his first month he'd finally made some headway and got some proof on a small group of detectives who had faked some evidence in some of their cases in order to get arrests. A friend of his contacted him and let him know all three of those cases were under review with the innocence project. Two of the three had evidence that the arrests were unlawful, and his friend thought that they were convenient arrests. Wrong place wrong time for those who were currently sitting in prison. Jamie couldn't help but imagine himself there had his life been different. One of the three had been homeless as a child, then entered the system, and then he aged out. All he was doing was trying to survive with no help from anyone.
It wasn't gonna be a good day. He had an appointment at the DA's office, and he knew it wasn't going to go over well when Erin heard about what he'd done. He was concerned that what he was doing was going to cause waves throughout the department. He hoped everyone involved took responsibility.
The appointment at the DA's office lasted the entire day because he was a part of three cases, and he was and wasn't surprised to see his former brother-in-law as one of the attorney's working with the Innocence Project. He could only guess that his law practice was doing well enough that he was taking cases pro-bono.
Jack was relieved to Jamie taking part in taking down corrupt cops. He and Erin had different views when it came to the police department. None of the Reagans realized that he left the DA's office because he was sick of the corruption that happened under that roof. He admired his former father-in-law and former brother-in-law for stepping up and stopping the corruption in the department.
"Hi Jamie, how have ya been?"
Jamie sighed. He wondered how much Jack actually knew what was going on with his own family. "Good, busy. I've been working a lot."
"I heard that Nikki is babysitting for you a guys a couple nights a week. How'd you get Erin to conceded and let Nickki start working?"
Jamie couldn't help but laugh at the look on Jack's face. "I reminded her that all four of us began working when we were Nikki's age and that she needs to start managing some things in her own life." Jamie had to hold back rolling his eyes. Getting Erin to let go of some control of anyone in the family younger than herself. "Eddie was able to help her understand how it would be good work experience while she isn't far away if Nikki needs help."
"I'm happy. Erin and I have been fighting about this for a while. She and I both had jobs, and I see so many kids and deal with so many people even getting out of law school who don't understand what it's like to work all day. I don't want that for Nikki."
"I know how Nikki feels. She gave me a hard time when I started working in high school. Mom and Dad were worried, and I understand why, but they understood and supported me when I got the job."
Jack sighed. He still loved Erin, he'd always love Erin, but she needed to let those who she loved to be themselves. When he was dating Erin, she'd been so hard on Jamie. Once he'd learned that Jamie had been very sick for a long time, he'd better understood her concern. "Thanks Jamie and thank you for being a good role model for Nikki. She's told me a lot about her and your two kids. Congratulations on the adoption and the baby."
"Thanks Jack. It's been a busy year."
The meetings with the DA's office not only take all day, but they are extended into the next day. Jamie had found enough evidence for the DA to take the ADA's who had the cases and put them in front of a grand jury. Jamie wanted everyone responsible for those who had been wrongfully imprisoned.
He'd already heard that attorneys were threatening to quit. Erin had four in her office. She'd called and told him to stop this insanity. Much like a conversation they'd had at dinner when Erin tried to explain that they had their own way of handling these situations. She didn't have all the facts or evidence.
Both Jamie and Eddie knew that Sunday dinner wasn't going to be fun and that the kids were going to get asked to leave. Jamie didn't want the stressful situation for the kids or Eddie. Eddie didn't want the stressful situation for Jamie. He'd been working long hours, and she was worried about him because she knew more was going on than he could tell her about. She understood, but worried.
Jamie decided to meet with the peacekeepers. There were five kids at the table each week. It was one thing to discuss your ideas freely it was another thing to yell at each other for not getting your own way. Eddie and Jamie would never let their kids act in that way and the adults should know better.
His dad and grandpa both had glasses of whiskey in hand, and they were laughing about something. After the week he'd had it was a great sound to hear. Unfortunately, he knew he was going to stop their good moods.
"Jamie! Can I get you a drink?" Henry loved when he got to see his grandchildren during the week. It would've been better had his gg's been here too, but he had a feeling that his youngest grandson needed to talk.
"Please and make it a double." After the week he'd had he really needed a drink and what he hoped were a couple friendly ears. He'd been getting messages from both Danny and Erin the last couple days.
Frank could only imagine what Jamie's week had been like. He had a rough week, but Jamie had carried most of the load. He was able to hide away in his office and do a couple press conferences. After meeting with Renzulli he knew that things at the 7-6 were tense and they thought Jamie was a rat. "I've heard it's been a long week, but according to Renzulli you're handling everything well."
Jamie laughed. "Eddie might argue that I haven't been. Then again, I haven't been home much."
"Jamie, I know you've had a hard week, but you did the right thing. We can't have cops or ADAs out there manipulating the evidence in order to lock innocent people up. They put three innocent people away and left the actual criminals out on the street because they wanted to go out to dinner or whatever their excuses are. What's important is that you've gotten those detectives out of the 7-6."
"I know dad. I really am doing okay at work. What I'm more worried about is Sunday dinner. Erin and now Danny have been messaging me constantly about everything that they think I've done wrong because they don't like the way I've handled things."
"Danny's already called me because he's worried about his arrests being questioned. Just so you know at this time we are going on a case-by-case basis. Things will change going forward. I know the chiefs want to bring you in so they can learn from what you found, and we can prevent this in the future."
"That's great. I'm glad that something good for the department is gonna come from this." Jamie sighed.
Frank smiled. His youngest was always thinking of everyone but himself. "Now why are you really here?"
Jamie got up went to the front window. His favorite window, because it was the one that allowed him to see everything outside when he was stuck inside while he was sick. Looking out this window as a child always gave him hope. He needed Erin to back off and understand that he wasn't attacking the DA's office or trying to tell them how to do their jobs. He was following the law. "Dad, Erin's been very adamant that I overstepped my position. She isn't happy that the NYPD arrested two ADAs."
Frank had heard things at all of the DA's offices had been tense since Jamie moved forward with his investigation into the Brooklyn DAs. There had been more waves throughout the DAs office then the NYPD. "The arrests were legal, and as I understand with the full cooperation with the Brooklyn DA. He wanted to make it clear that this can't happen again."
Jamie smiled. His dad would find out as much of the full story as he could. He wished his sister either did that or waited to pass judgement. "They are, and I never went in their asserting any authority. Erin keeps yelling that I should've let the DA investigators arrest the DAs. Part of me thinks that she's being a big sister and trying to educate me how to do something and another part thinks that she's acting like Danny where she thinks it's okay for her to tell me how to do my job. Either way she needs back off, and if she goes off about anything at dinner Eddie and I already have a plan to get the kids out of the house."
"You think it's gonna be bad enough that you want the kids out of the house?"
Jamie hung his head and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I do, and Eddie's heard some of the calls and seen some of the messages and we're concerned for all of the kids at the table, but ours are the youngest. Can you talk to Erin?"
"I will. I'll make it clear that if she wants to talk to you about the case it has to happen before or after dinner. Pop or I will keep the kids busy during that time."
"Thank you. I gotta go. I promised Eddie that I'd be home in time to put the kids to bed."
Frank felt bad that Danny and Erin were making Jamie's life so hard. Jamie only wanted to make things better for all of them and for the public. Jamie was great at his job and his actions were going to make big changes in the city.
Jamie got home in time to start bath time. He loved this time of night and couldn't wait until his family grew. Now that Eddie was pregnant, they hadn't ruled out the thought of it happening again or adopting a child a year or two younger then the baby. Jamie knew what it was like to have siblings but have a large age gap. He didn't want that for any of his kids. It didn't really matter to he or Eddie how their family grew, they just knew they wanted it to grow.
Sunday came too fast. Jamie and Eddie had a plan in place if things got to heated, in case his dad wasn't able to come through.
Mei Lin and Isaac loved Sunday's, but they knew their dad had a rough week so they'd been doing everything that they could to be able to make him happy or smile. They could both tell that he was worried about dinner but didn't understand why. When church was over both kids wanted to play at the park before going over grandpa's. It was the first day that week it hadn't rained, and they both yearned to be outside.
"Daddy, daddy, please?" Mein Lin really wanted to play outside. She didn't care that she was in her church clothes.
"Please daddy. We will be good at dinner." Isaac pleaded with his sister.
Jamie smiled. They were trying so hard. "Okay, but we only have a half hour and then we are gonna walk to grandpas because I'm gonna let Momma take the car."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" They both shouted in unison.
Eddie made her way back to the house with Danny, Erin, Frank, and Henry. Henry and Frank could see the tension the two oldest seemed to have with the youngest and they were hoping that everyone could be adult about things, but they both had their doubts. At times it seemed as if Danny and Erin would never leave their tumultuous teenage years. It didn't help that Danny had kitchen duty although thanks to Eddie, Danny's days in the kitchen had greatly improved.
An hour later when Jamie and the kids arrived all three were all smiles. The time outside and together had done all some good. Jamie was ready to handle whatever his siblings threw at him.
Henry made mac and cheese because he knew the kids would love it. He didn't care about what the adults thought. This was always his time with his GG's and he didn't get enough time with them. He couldn't wait until the baby was born. He never imagined that he'd get to see Jamie's family and he would do anything to help keep the peace.
Erin and Eddie were finishing setting the table. They both hated the weeks that Danny didn't have the kids. It was two fewer places to set. Unlike previous weeks it had been done quietly. Erin hadn't even asked about the baby. All Eddie hoped for was that things settled down before the baby arrived.
Dinner started peacefully as it usually did, but ten minutes into the meal Jamie noticed Erin and Danny trading looks and he was prepared. Fortunately, the kids were hungry after their time at the park, and they were almost done eating. Nikki would be able to take them into the kitchen.
Jamie was waiting for it, and he was right. He barely swallowed his last bite of food before Erin started.
"Jamie, you cannot go into any DA's office and just arrest the attorneys. We are on the same side." Erin said as calmly as she could get out. "I've got attorney's coming into my office each day saying that they will quit if something like this happens to them."
Jamie sighed. "Erin, the arrest was made with the knowledge and the approval of the DA. All regulations were followed, and I cannot talk about it anymore than I already have."
"I guess it's the same concerning the detectives that were arrested." Danny questioned. He saw the stressed looks on both Jamie's and Eddie's faces and realized that his and Erin's plan shouldn't move forward. Danny was coming to realize how much he and Erin had hurt Jamie over the years, and it had to stop.
"It is. Everything was by the book. It had to be the risks are too high. No one is above the law."
Eddie put her arm around Jamie in a show of support. One that Jamie needed, but the rest of the family wasn't far behind her.
"You're right Jamie. I'm sorry I overreacted. I shouldn't have assumed that you didn't follow the correct procedures." Erin lamented. The stress of everything was getting to her.
Jamie could just smile. It wasn't often that Erin admitted that she was wrong. Frank and Henry were both relieved that a big fight didn't come out and the older children seem to have realized that Jamie didn't do what he did to hurt anyone.
With the family crisis averted Jamie could concentrate on his day meeting with the Chief of D's and the chief of Patrol. He didn't want to be there, but he'd been requested by both chief's and his captain. If McNichols didn't like him already she'd really dislike him now. He had three days to prepare.
Renzulli had been dealing with backlash from a couple of the surrounding precincts because he'd already put some new procedures into place. They seemed to be working, but he wouldn't really know how well for a few months.
The night before the big meeting Jamie wasn't able to sleep hardly at all. His brain wouldn't shut off. This wasn't his first time meeting with the higher ranks. It was something he'd done all the time when he was working for Boston PD. Eddie and the kids made him a big breakfast, so he'd be able to concentrate better. She had a feeling that the only thing that would really help him would be for the meeting to be over.
Jamie was happy that his dad hadn't arrived at the meeting yet. So far everything was going okay. The chief's hadn't started fighting yet, but Jamie was concerned that was going to change. The longer that the meeting was peaceful the more progress that was made. Jamie had been both a patrol officer and a detective. In his mind neither job was easy, and he hated how detectives treated the patrol officers. They all kept the city safe in their own ways.
The meeting lasted for three more hours. At times it was tense and although his dad never joined. Lt. Gormley did, and he helped them find some common ground. Overall, it was a long and beneficial meeting that would lead to more of the same. They still had a lot to work out.
They set a weekly meeting that would stand for the next month at least. Jamie worried that this would become a normal meeting. He'd seen it happen often enough when he worked for the Boston PD. He just wanted to be able to focus on patrol. He was looking forward to the next day.
It felt like months since Jamie's been transferred and he had yet get to really know his platoon. Renzulli knew it was stressing Jamie out, but neither one could really do anything about it yet.
Jamie had a plan. It meant that he would be spending even less time at home than usual, but he had to show his platoon that he was there for them. Thank goodness for Kelsey. Jamie wondered if they gave her a raise if she'd be able to work more hours. He knew how much the extra money could help with school.
As Eddie entered her third trimester her exhaustion won out most days. Working full time, two five-year-olds, and a husband who was working more hours than she thought humanly possible didn't help anything. Henry had been bringing food over a couple times a week. He loved seeing Eddie and his GG's. They were such happy kids, and he couldn't imagine life without Jamie or them in it. Adoption had changed their lives in so many ways.
Eddie was counting down the days until their little girl arrived. They'd picked a name but hadn't told anyone yet. Erin asked each time she saw either Jamie or Eddie, but neither one would give up the name. They hadn't told Mei Lin or Isaac either because they knew that they'd say it the first chance that they got. All they knew was that they were getting a new baby sister.
She was down to thirty days. Thirty days until she'd arrive and neither she nor Jamie would be getting any sleep. She was thankful that there hadn't been any other big things happen at the 7-6. Renzulli had even been checking her on her too, and Marie was bringing over food too.
Jamie had been called in to cover for Sergeant McNichols. Someone that neither one of them liked that much. She's currently a thorn in his and Renzulli's sides, but they cannot do anything about her yet. Jamie already knew who he wanted Renzulli to replace her with too. Rachel Whitten. She's a sergeant out of the 2-9 and she's done some pretty great things there. He knows that she would do the same at the 7-6 and he'd have a good partner. Right now, that was a dream. He'd talked to Renzulli about it, but nothing could be done yet. Mainly because she and Jamie were the same rank.
Jamie was still working towards cleaning up the 7-6 and he and Renzulli would succeed. It was just going to take some time.
Eddie was ready for their baby girl to make her entrance into the world. Sleeping had been getting harder it seemed each night, but she'd been able to sleep throughout the day. Mei Lin had taken to following her around the house and waiting on her every chance she could. She wanted to take care of her mommy. Isaac was equally as clingy with Jamie, but since he was spending so much time at work his task was more challenging.
Kelsey made a point to come and help each morning get the kids ready for school and she'd take them to school. She knew Eddie was fully capable but knew any help would be appreciated. She hadn't seen Jamie in weeks, and she felt bad for him and Eddie. She didn't know how Eddie managed it all.
Danny was worried about both his sister-in-law and his little brother. Jamie was burning the candle at both ends. He wondered how Jamie was standing no less chasing all of the kids around the back yard at Sunday dinner. He could tell he was tired. Despite living in the same building, the only time he'd seen his brother was either at dinner or work.
Danny wasn't sure if his dad knew how many hours his brother was putting in. A beer in Bay Ridge seemed logical.
"Danny what's going on? We don't see you during the week very often?" Frank asked, and Henry was watching the room carefully.
Danny sighed. His dad's response was why he didn't do this often. He hated to admit it, but he usually went to his little brother for help with his problems. He and Erin were too different, and usually ended up fighting instead of working through anything. Going to his dad or grandpa hadn't been as easy as it once was since his divorce either.
"I'm worried about Jamie. He's working too much!"
Henry sighed. He agreed but knew that Danny had a habit of overreacting.
Frank was having similar thoughts to both Danny and his dad. He wasn't sure how to handle Jamie's situation or what to tell Danny. He was still figuring things out himself. Before he could say anything else the front door opened again. He expected it to be Erin. She's been dealing with some hard cases, and they'd already had lunch once earlier in the week because she needed to talk some things out.
"Hey dad, grandpa. Danny, what are you doing here?" Jamie was tired, but happy to have only worked a single tour and had actually gotten off on time.
"Jamie!" Frank was relieved to see his youngest son. He would always worry about Jamie more even though he seemed to be his kid who handled all situations the best. "What are you doing here?"
Jamie smiled. He tried not to react at each of their reactions, but he couldn't lie it was really hard. "I got off work and Eddie's doing a mommy and me night. I was asked to not come home until bedtime."
Danny couldn't help but laugh. Jamie's family was so used to him not being home that they kicked him out when he could be. "Seriously. Wow! I can't believe Eddie didn't you want home. You look like you could sleep for a week."
"Son, are you really doing, okay?"
"Jamie, you look like you could use a drink. What can I get you?"
"Just a beer. Thanks, pop." Jamie looked at the three older men who were all studying him. "I'm okay dad. The new job hasn't been what I expected it to be, but it's okay. I'm just tired too."
Danny didn't care what his dad or grandpa had to say. He knew that he was acting more like his old self, but he didn't care. "Just tired too, Jamie remember when I was going through the divorce, and you told that I needed to change my priorities?"
Jamie wasn't sure where this was going, but it felt like it was going in a negative direction. "Yes, but my situation is different."
"How?" Henry asked. He did want to see another one of his grandchildren go through a painful divorce. It was hard enough watching Erin and Danny. He still missed Linda; Jack's disappearance helped keep the peace at Sunday dinners.
Eddie and I have an understanding. I work two blocks from home. I take most of my meal breaks at home. I've seen the kids and Eddie everyday even if I can't make home to sleep. If I'm working a late tour, I usually make it home to tuck them into bed. In some way shape or form I see my family every day."
No one in the room knew anything about it. Although none of them were surprised. Jamie had always managed to do the impossible. "I'm looking forward to the baby arriving and being exhausted for a completely different reason."
All three of the older men laughed. The knew what he said was true. Henry loved seeing this side of Jamie. He's a great dad.
"Can we order a pizza?" Jamie's stomach rumbled as the question.
The laughter continued and Jamie joined in this time. It helped that he could see his grandfather getting his phone out to order from their favorite place. Jamie didn't really care what was on it as long as there wasn't any olives he would eat it. With the four of them at the house they would get minimum of three pizzas and Danny would probably eat one all by himself. The more he thought about it, he could eat one himself too.