My deepest apologies for the long delay on this chapter. The last few weeks have been crazy busy with one thing and another and my time for writing has been limited. Additionally, I kept remembering scenes I wanted to include and found myself writing and rewriting and editing and inserting. You get the idea. Anyway, I hope to get back on a more regular schedule, but I cannot promise. I have the ideas, but they don't always transfer to the written word as smoothly as I would like. Again, thank you for your patience and for the absolutely lovely plethora of reviews. I hope you enjoy.
Pick Up: Chapter 17
Nicky held her breath as the phone rang. When it was answered, she sent up a quick prayer and pasted a smile on her face.
"Hi, Eddie."
"Hey, Nicky."
"How are you?"
"Let's see. I can't sleep on my back or on my stomach. Actually, I can't sleep much at all between the heartburn and the constant need to pee. My boobs hurt. None of my clothes fit right. Even my shoes don't fit because my feet, like the rest of me, have gotten fat. The apartment is too small but house hunting is a bust. I'm having a hard time fitting behind the wheel of my car and now we're going to have to get rid of one of the ones we have to get something with a back seat that will hold a car seat. I'm having trouble making decisions on this stupid birth plan and your uncle is no help because he says it's up to me. I'm constipated and I'm stuck behind a freaking desk."
"Oh. Sorry."
Eddie sighed. "But other than that, I'm great. How are you?"
"I'm good."
"Sorry for unloading on you like that."
"It's fine. I'm always available to listen."
"It's just not going like I thought it would. And Jamie's trying so hard, I don't want to complain to him."
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind. He loves you, Eddie."
"I know. And I love him and he's just been so stressed and I don't want to make things worse for him, you know."
"Maybe if you talked to each other…"
"Maybe. Look, can we just change the subject?
"Sure. What did you think about dinner last night? Was that wild or what?"
"Yeah. It was pretty unexpected," Eddie replied.
"What did you think of Lucy?"
The line went silent for a few moments.
"Jamie doesn't like her. He thinks she's a lying, manipulative con artist who's using your grandfather."
"Yeah, that was pretty clear. I guess he hasn't changed his mind?"
"Oh, no. He spent most of the evening ranting and raving about not understanding how Frank and Henry could be taken in by this woman."
"But what did YOU think of her?"
"Um…I don't know…I mean…this just all kind of threw me for a loop I guess. This was not something I ever expected from Frank. I'm still kind of in shock and haven't really thought much beyond that."
"I have. A lot. After the dressing down Pops gave us, I couldn't sleep last night. Spent it tossing and turning. And thinking. About how protective Grandpa was and the way he looked at her. And how Pops jumped to support her. And how scary it must have been to be facing us all like that, being pregnant and scared and alone and having all those risk factors."
"Yeah," Eddied said softly.
"So I got dressed and went to the hospital to meet her when she got off work. I apologized, took her to breakfast and we talked. Some about her, but mostly about me. She really wants to get to us all."
"Oh."
"I like her, Eddie. She's nice. She really seems to care about Grandpa and about Pops. She's anxious to do what's best for her babies, but she's worried about causing problems with his family. And we did nothing to put her mind at ease about that, did we?"
"Not really."
"Anyway, I ended up offering to help out with the last few details about the wedding. Cake. Flowers. Photographer."
"Uh huh."
"I'm also going with her tomorrow afternoon to look for a dress. And I was wondering if you're free if you might like to go with us," she finished in a rush.
"I don't know. I don't think Jamie would like it if I did."
"Probably not, but I didn't ask Jamie, I asked you, Eddie."
"It's just…"
"Look. I know Jamie is upset about this whole situation, but you still get to decide who you want to be friends with. I think it will be really nice to have a little more estrogen in this family and she could really use another friend or two. And you have a lot in common."
"Because we're both pregnant?"
"That. And you're both strong, intelligent women working in demanding, male dominated professions. Both cute blondes. You've both got a soft spot for Reagan men. Like to help other people."
"I'm not sure."
Nicky sighed. "Okay. I just remember how much fun we had when we all went shopping for your dress. Making fun of the really ugly ones. Taking pictures. Just hanging out and getting to know each other a little better. But I understand if you don't want to bring up a subject that Jamie is being unreasonable about."
"He's not being…well…maybe. A little. I'm not sure why he's so upset."
"I'm sorry, Eddie. I shouldn't be criticizing your husband to you. I'm just frustrated with him and my mom and Jack giving her such a hard time and not even giving her a chance."
"No, you have a point. I remember being nervous when I joined this family, and as far as I know, everyone was happy for us and supported us."
"A little surprised, but, yeah, we were."
"You know what? You're right. Frank has been a great father and father in law. In fact, he's been a better father to me than my own father. He even gave me away at our wedding. Told me he'd always have my six. I think I owe him the same. I'd love to go, if you're sure it's okay with her. We have a doctor's appointment in the morning, then I'm free for the day."
"It's just a regular appointment? Nothing wrong?"
"No, everything is fine. It's just a regular monthly check," Eddie assured her.
"Good. I'll check with Lucy later and let you know," Nicky told her.
After a few more minutes, the two said their goodbyes and disconnected.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Anthony walked into Erin's office and dropped several folders on her desk.
"This is what I've got on the Cooksey shooting. Knocked on doors, canvassed the neighborhood, asked for security camera video."
"Let me guess," she sighed, reaching to pick up the folders. "No one saw anything, no one remembers anything, none of the cameras recorded anything."
"Nothin,'" he replied.
"So we talk to our victim again, see if we can find another angle to work."
"On it, Boss," he told her, turning to leave.
"Anthony," she called, halting his exit, "Have you done anything on that matter I brought up this morning?"
"Your Dad's fiancee?"
"You mean the con artist giving him the works?"
He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Good."
She sighed heavily.
"I shouldn't have asked you. As much as I really want to find out the dirt on this woman, it's really not a matter for this office. Yet."
"Oh."
"Oh?"
He shrugged.
"I didn't take it as a request from my boss. I understood it as a friend asking for help. Something I'd be doing on my own time with other resources I have."
"Other resources?"
"Yeah. Can't use official channels for personal stuff, and my general distrust of people has me wanting to know about the people I deal with. Looked into the guys running the home Mom's in. Guys Vivian sees. And now, Sophia starting to date…found some other places to find info. Sometimes even better than what I can find through our sources, since some of it probably isn't from exactly sources that could get us warrants, but it's enough to get me a place to start digging on stuff for my personal peace of mind."
"I can't really ask you to use your own time for something personal for me."
"I don't mind. Your dad's a good guy and I'd hate to see him conned, too. He's also a smart guy with good instincts and I'm sure he's checked her out. I doubt I'll find anything he missed, but if it will give you some peace…"
"Well, I've found that a lot of men tend to overlook the red flags when a pretty girl smiles at them and gives them a sob story. I'm just concerned that any checks he did may have missed some stuff because he thinks he needs to 'do the right thing' by her and their supposed kids."
"Kids?"
She rolled her eyes. "Twins, apparently. Making the alleged pregnancy extremely high risk, which is why they have to get married so quickly…so that he and Pops can take care of everything while she sits around and eats bon-bons or something."
Anthony nodded.
"I'll take a look, see what I can find out about her and all it'll cost ya is dinner.'
"I've seen you eat, Anthony. That's no small fee," she replied, grinning.
"Eh. You can afford it."
"I can. Occasionally. And, thanks. I appreciate your help."
"Not a problem," he told her. "One question, though."
She raised an eyebrow and he continued.
"What if she's clean? What if there's no dirt to be found?"
"She's almost 50 years old, Anthony. She lives in one of the largest, busiest, craziest cities in the world. There's no doubt in my mind that she's done something at some point in her life that she wants to keep secret from my father. Something that will make him see that she's not the sweet, helpless damsel in distress that she presents herself to be."
He sighed. "I'll look, but I can't guarantee I'll find what you want."
"I have faith in you. I have to protect my Father."
"I'll let you know what I find."
XXXXXXXXXX
Danny was getting the last of the meal ready as Sean set the table. Abigail had called after work and told him about the lunch with his dad.
"I've been invited to my boss's wedding this Saturday," she told him. "He said I could bring my boys and my gentleman friend. Do you think you might be able to come with us?"
He considered. "I'm not sure. It seems like I have something going on, I just can't remember offhand what it was."
She laughed, then sobered. "Are you planning to go?"
"Yeah," he told her, "I am. I told them that I would be there for them, and I will."
"You're still not happy about it though."
"Not completely," he admitted. "But I'm more comfortable with it than I was in the beginning. Now that I've actually met her. Talked to her. Watched her and Dad interact."
"I agree. I really think she's good for him. He seems more…relaxed, I suppose."
"Content. Even with all the drama going on at dinner Sunday, they'd just look at each other or touch hands or something, and the tension levels dropped."
"How bad was it?" she asked.
He sighed. "Bad enough. I had a few minutes to talk with her in the driveway before we went inside. Told her that I had decided that I would support Dad. And her. Even if I don't totally agree. He has the right to make his decisions."
"That's a very sensible thing for you to realize," she told him.
"Yeah. I have these flashes of brilliance from time to time."
"You do. Asking me out was certainly one of them."
"It certainly was," he replied, his tone filled with affection.
"They said that Joe was friendly towards her."
"He was. Probably thinking about him and his mom."
"I could see that," she said.
"Nicky seemed to be on the fence. She was the one to notice that Dad had taken his wedding ring off and asked him about her. I honestly think that her main hesitation was because of the way her mother reacted."
"Well, apparently she decided which side of the fence she was on. Lucy said she came to the hospital this morning and they had breakfast together and Nicky ended up offering to help with the last minute wedding details."
"That's good, at least."
"I'm guessing Erin was not pleased."
"She was not. She and Jamie went into attack mode right off the bat. How she had to be lying and using him."
"Completely unlike your first reaction, thankfully."
"Yeah, well I had someone to straighten me out."
"But Jamie and Erin don't?"
"Erin's probably the most hard headed of us all. I'm not sure what it will take to bring her around."
"Time, maybe? If she sees how good they are together."
"Hopefully."
"And Jamie. He's usually so level headed. So willing to give people the benefit of the doubt," Abigail said.
"Usually, he is. And if he's not, Eddie puts him on the straight and narrow. But right now, neither one of them is exactly behaving normally. Eddie rarely speaks up and always seems to be watching Jamie to see how he reacts when she does."
"You don't think he'd hurt her or anything, do you?"
"Oh, no. It's not like she's scared of him, more like she's worried about stressing him out more. I really don't think he would ever hurt her, but I have kept an eye on them. Honestly, I just think they're both a little freaked out by the whole 'baby on the way' thing. I know I was and I didn't have Jamie's need to do everything perfectly."
"Yeah. Brian was pretty tense when I was pregnant, too. I guess while we women are excited and planning for the nursery and taking care of the baby and all that, you men tend to be focusing on being able to provide."
"We do. And I know he's pretty frustrated about the whole housing situation. He had told her they would be in a house before the baby gets here and that's looking less and less likely. He wants to work more so they'll have more money, but he also wants to be with her. She feels guilty that she had to take so much time off because of the morning sickness and him having to take care of her and that affected their income."
"Hopefully, they'll get things figured out pretty soon."
"I hope so. I've got enough to figure out with my own kid. I haven't got the time to do it with them, too."
"Jack, right?"
"Yeah. Jack."
"That seems so out of character for him."
"It does. He's always been the sweet, sensitive one. Got his mother's heart. While Sean got my mouth."
"That sometimes engages before your brain does."
"Exactly. But in this case, Sean was the quiet one, willing to wait and see, while Jack jumped right in with the attitude."
"Any idea why?" she asked.
"None," he told her. "When we got home last night, he claimed he had homework and shut himself up in his room. When he gets home tonight, we're going to hash this thing out."
"Just don't be too hard on him. There's something else going on for him to be lashing out against someone," she reminded him.
Danny had just set the last bowl on the table when they heard a knock on the front door. They looked at each other.
"Since when does your brother knock?"
"He doesn't," Sean replied, heading to see who it was. "It's Nicky."
"Guess she heard I was making my famous spaghetti casserole for dinner," Danny called back.
Trailing her cousin into the kitchen, she smiled and hugged her uncle.
"I was actually looking for Jack." She held up a book. "He asked if he could borrow this when I was finished with it."
"He should be here any time now," Sean told her. "Should I set another place?"
"We got plenty," Danny assured her.
"Sounds good, Thanks."
Taking off her jacket, she started rinsing used dishes and loading them into the dishwasher.
"What about that dinner last night?" she asked casually. "Was that crazy or what?"
"It was certainly one for the books," Sean agreed.
"What did you think about it?" Danny asked, turning the question back to her. "You seemed unusually quiet about the whole thing."
"I think the whole thing was a bit of a roller coaster. Surprise, at first. That he was seeing someone. Had a girlfriend, as you said," she commented, grinning at Sean. "But I was happy, because I know that, even though he'll always love Grandma, he's been alone for a long time."
"He's not alone," he cousin protested. "He's got all of us."
She rolled her eyes at him. "So do you, but you've still been texting that girl in your English class a couple of hundred times a day."
"Yeah, but that's different," he told them.
"Different. Seems I heard that word used alot at dinner," Nicky reminded them.
"Yeah, it was."
"Though I'm not really sure how Grandpa meeting someone, getting involved with her, and wanting to marry her is any different from any of the rest of us doing the exact same thing," she said.
Sean shrugged. "I guess it's really not, except that it's Grandpa. And it happened really fast."
"And he has the same right as any of us to do so."
"You didn't say anything at the time."
She sighed. "No, I didn't. Like everyone else, I guess, I was surprised and trying to figure out just exactly what I thought. Then Mom and Jamie blew up and that left me kind of speechless."
"Yeah," Danny added. "That bit about him cheating on Mom was a head scratcher."
"Guess that would sting, with you and Abigail getting serious," Sean commented.
"Abigail?" Nicky asked. "Grandpa's Abigail?"
"Oops," Sean mumbled.
"No. My Abigail. Your Grandpa has a Lucy, not an Abigail."
She gave him an exasperated look.
"If you mean Detective Abigail Baker, then, yes. We've been seeing each other for several months now, trying to keep it quiet while we figure out if it's going anywhere," he admitted, glaring at his younger son.
"Sorry."
Danny grinned and shrugged. "Oh, well. We're both planning to attend the wedding on Saturday and figured we'd kind of go public with the relationship then. Though we should probably make sure it's okay with Dad and Lucy. Don't want to steal their spotlight."
"I don't think either of them is much for the spotlight," Nicky said. "In fact, they might both appreciate not having all of the focus on them."
"Probably, but I still want to check."
"Good idea." Drying her hands, she turned to the men. "Did Jack have anything to say about the evening?"
"Had too much to say at dinner, but he clammed up afterwards. When we got home, he said he had homework and disappeared into his room."
"That just didn't seem like him," she said. "Any idea what's going on in his head?"
Danny and Sean looked at each other.
"None whatsoever."
Conversation stopped as they heard the front door open then close.
"Jack?" his father called. "Is that you?"
"Yeah," he replied. "I'm going to my room to study."
"Why don't you come have dinner first? I made that spaghetti casserole you like so much and your cousin is joining us."
"Which cousin?" he asked.
"Your favorite cousin," Nicky called back, grinning.
The blonde poked his head into the kitchen. "You've changed, Joe."
"Hey!"
She smacked him lightly and he grinned back at her.
"What's the occasion?" he asked, reaching to snag a crouton from the salad.
"I brought that book that you were wanting to borrow," she told him. "And your dad asked me to stay for dinner and I thought it would be nice to get to talk."
Jack gave them all a studied look. "But not about yesterday."
"I think we need to talk about yesterday," his father corrected gently.
He turned to leave. "I've got a lot of homework."
Danny moved to block his retreat. "After dinner."
"Not hungry."
"Then sit with us while we eat."
"I really don't want"
"Please."
Reluctantly, Jack took his seat, the rest of the family moving to the table as well. After grace was offered, portions were served up and everyone started eating.
The silence stretched until the young man finally spoke up.
"If Grandpa is free to make his own decisions about this woman, why am I not allowed the same? To think and feel what I want?"
Danny looked over at his eldest.
"Of course you're free to think and feel what you want. What you're not free to do is to act like an ass and be rude and obnoxious. Especially to someone that your grandfather clearly cares about."
"Does he really? Or is he being pressured into marrying her?"
"Your grandfather doesn't generally do things he doesn't want to do," his father reminded him.
"Maybe he's pressuring himself, because he feels it's the right thing to do."
"Wouldn't feeling something is the right thing to do MAKE it the right thing to do, at least for him?" Nicky asked.
"But it's NOT right," he protested. "Not with her."
"What do you have against Lucy? You don't even really know her," Nicky asked.
"I know enough," Jack spat from between clenched teeth.
"Like what?" Sean asked.
Jack shook his head.
"Nothing."
"What?"
"She's not…"
"Not what?"
"She's not Grandma!" he finally shouted.
There was silence as the others looked at each other.
"No, she's not."
"And she can't replace her. No matter what."
Danny put down his fork and leaned forward, watching him closely. "No one is replacing anyone, Jack."
"Like Jamie said: that's kind of what it feels like. Grandma gone. Uncle Joe gone. Here's a new wife and new kid."
"Do you also think I'm doing that? Replacing your mom with Abigail? Because we've talked about it and you…both of you…assured me you were fine with the two of us seeing each other. Taking that trip together. And you've got to know that that is an indication that things are pretty serious."
"No. I told you, I'm fine with the two of you being together. So are Will and Tommy. Sean and I kind of figured you two would be getting engaged pretty soon and we're good with that."
Sean nodded his agreement.
"That's what's got me confused, Son. Your Grandma has been gone a whole lot longer than your mom. Your Grandpa has been alone a lot longer than I have been. It would make more sense for you to have a problem with me dating…worrying that I'm looking to replace your mom. Which I am most definitely not doing."
"I know that."
"I'm just trying to understand. Why do you feel your grandpa is replacing grandma, but I'm not replacing your mom?"
Jack stared at his plate, clearly struggling with what to say. Finally, he sighed.
"I remember Mom. I remember the sound of her voice. Her laugh. That line between her eyes when she was really pissed off and how loud she could yell. I remember how her hugs felt. How she smelled. That soap that she bought and we weren't supposed to touch because she needed something feminine in a house full of men. I remember that piercing whistle she could do."
"We always knew when she was at our games," Sean agreed.
"I remember the way she combed her fingers through my hair. How she would tell me that I stink and needed a shower or she was going to hose me off in the back yard. The way she would bury her face against your chest when we watched scary movies. The way her mashed potatoes tasted better than any others I ever tasted."
"Me, too," Danny replied softly. I still have that bar of soap in a case in the table beside my bed."
"I remember all that stuff about Mom, and I know I won't forget. But…"
Nicky spoke up. "You don't remember that about Grandma."
He looked at her, stricken, and shook his head.
"I look at pictures and I try so hard to remember her voice. And I can't. And I should be able to."
"I don't really remember her at all," Sean admitted.
"You were both still pretty little when she died," Danny reminded them.
"She loved you. So much. I remember right after you were born, Jack. It was probably your first time at a family dinner. She was sitting in the living room, rocking you and just staring at you and there was so much love on her face. And I felt a little jealous, because she was my Grandma. But she motioned me over and pulled me up in her lap and told me that more people to love just means more love in our lives and that having another grandchild to love didn't mean she and Grandpa loved me any less."
"Yeah?"
"And she loved spending time with us. She'd take us to the park or the zoo. Or just play with us in the backyard. She would read us stories. When you got to pick, it was always 'Green Eggs and Ham' and you would have her read it over and over and over. And she would always do it."
"But I don't remember that!" he told them, his frustration clear. "Not much of it. And I'm afraid that I'll forget even more. All the things she was there for. The family dinners. Vacations. Christmases. Birthdays. She won't be there. But Lucy will be. Beside Grandpa. Where Grandma should be. And maybe my mind will start replacing her and I'll forget."
"You won't," Nicky assured him. "We'll pull out the family photo albums and the old home movies and look through them."
"Those were all destroyed in the fire," Jack reminded her.
She thought for a moment. "I know Mom transferred a bunch of old tapes to disc. We can make copies of those for you. And I'm sure Grandpa has some videos and pictures he'll let us make copies of."
Danny shook his head. "I'm sorry, boys. I should have thought about all of that."
"It's okay," Jack told him. "Things were pretty crazy and we were focusing on the more immediate things we needed."
His brother added, "It's not like we couldn't have spoken up."
"And if you want to talk about her, I'll be happy to."
"Me, too," his father added.
"And I know Grandpa would, too."
"Yeah. I'm sure his new wife would love for him to talk about his first wife," Jack replied, rolling his eyes.
"I really don't think she'd mind," Nicky told them. "When we had breakfast, she said that she didn't expect us to stop talking about Grandma. That she knows that we all still love her. That Grandpa still loves her. And we always will. And that she's still a very important part of our family, even if she's not here with us physically. She has no intention of trying to fill her shoes."
"Good. Because she couldn't."
"She knows that," the young woman snapped back. "But Grandpa said she's making her own place in his life and I think she can do the same with the rest of the family if we'll give her a chance. Like Grandma told me, having more people to love means more love in our lives."
"You think she and Grandpa are in love?"
She considered for a moment. "No. Not yet. But I think they'll get there. They care for each other a lot. She put up with all that stuff yesterday because she knows our family is really important to Grandpa."
"Although…" Sean said, then paused.
"What?"
"When Grandpa came in after walking her to her car. He said that anyone who didn't want to support them didn't need to come to the wedding and Jamie asked if he was choosing her over the rest of us and he said, no, that he loved us all."
"He was pretty upset. I wonder if he even realized he said that," Danny wondered.
'So, you don't think he meant it?" Sean asked.
"Maybe not," Nicky answered, "But I do think they'll end up in love. There's clearly something between them."
"You said you had breakfast with her?" Danny asked.
"I did. After Gramps chewed us out, I did a lot of thinking and very little sleeping and I came to the conclusion that he's right. Grandpa deserves another chance to have someone in his life."
"He has all of us," Sean reminded her.
"She means he needs sex, too," Jack commented.
"That's not what I meant, though I'm sure he still enjoys it." She looked around the table. "Yes, he has us, but he needs someone to be his partner. His equal. Someone that he can be completely open and honest with. Be himself with. Someone who isn't his father or his child or grandchild."
Danny nodded. "Yeah. It's a different kind of intimacy."
"I just really got a good feeling about her," she told them.
"Why? Was it something in particular that she said or did?"
"Not really. Several things, I guess. The way they were together at dinner. Supporting each other. The touching. The looks. The way she talked about Grandpa. How easy it was to talk to him. Trust him. And I got the impression she doesn't trust easily."
"No, she's survived some pretty bad stuff," Danny told them.
"Like what?"
"Her husband died. She had a kid that died. Your mom dying tore me up, but the thought of something happening to either one of you…" Danny stopped, overwhelmed by emotion. He looked at his youngest. "When you had that bike accident and the doctors told us that they weren't sure if you'd wake up. It just about gutted us. I can't imagine having to bury your child. When your uncle Joe died, I saw so much pain on your Grandfather's face. It took a piece of him and I didn't know what to say or to do because I couldn't understand, fortunately."
"But Lucy can," Nicky added. "Like I said, he needs…deserves… a partner. Someone who can understand him in ways the rest of us can't. She's a really good listener and she's good at getting people to talk. She's a good person and she's good for Grandpa."
"I think so, too," Danny agreed.
"Grandpa seemed happy," Sean said. "And Pops really seemed to like her, too."
Nicky focused her attention on Jack.
"Other than the fact that she's not Grandma, do you have any real reason to dislike her so much?"
He shrugged, looking down at his plate.
"When you put it like that, it sounds kind of ridiculous."
"Because it is," his brother chimed in.
"Thanks," Jack told him, sarcastically.
"No problem."
The older boy turned to his cousin.
"No, I don't have anything against her personally and Grandpa does seem to really like her, so if you're asking if I'll be nicer to her, I guess I can do that."
She smiled broadly.
"Thanks. I'm sure she'll appreciate that."
"Why is this so important to you?" Sean asked her.
"Because Grandpa seems to really like her. I like her. And I think it's time for some more women in this family. Right now, it's just me, mom, and Eddie. Even if your dad marries Abigail, she's got the two boys, so we'd net 1 more guy. Eddie and Jamie are having a boy."
"And if both of their babies are boys, we become even more powerful," Sean teased.
"I'm praying hard for at least one girl," Nicky told them. "And, as an added bonus, Lucy isn't in law enforcement."
"What have you got against law enforcement?" he uncle asked, pretending to be offended by her comment.
"Nothing. It's just difficult being surrounded by it all the time."
Both of the boys nodded their agreement.
"She could also probably help you out studying the medical stuff," Sean told his brother. "Since she's a doctor and all that."
"True. Personal resource," his father added.
Jack nodded, picking up his fork and starting to eat. "Very true."
After the meal, the three cousins took care of the cleanup, storing the leftovers away and loading the dishwasher before Nicky headed for home. She hugged her uncle, who whispered a 'thanks' in her ear, then Sean and Jack.
She paused for a moment, then started digging in her purse, finally pulling out a tube of hand lotion. She opened it and sniffed, then handed it to Jack.
"Jasmine," she told him. "Grandma loved the smell of Jasmine and she had scented spray and lotion that she used and that's what she smelled like."
He stared at her, then squeezed out a small amount and smelled it. His eyes filled with tears and he nodded.
"That's it."
When he reached to hand it back, she shook her head.
"Keep it. I can get more. I think you need it right now."
He hugged her again, then turned and went to his room, closing the door softly.
"I'll talk to Mom and Grandpa about getting copies of pictures and videos for you," she told Danny.
"Thanks," he told her again. "You're my favorite niece."
She grinned at them before turning and heading into the night.
"Text me when you get home!" he called.
Her response was a wave and a 'Thanks for dinner!"
XXXXXXXXXX
She still had a couple of hours before her shift, but Lucy walked through the emergency room, her mind considering those in the waiting room, trying to gauge the business of the night ahead as she sought out certain staff members.
She had awoken to a text message from Nicky, asking her if it would be okay for Eddie to join them the next day for dress shopping. Lucy had agreed, glad that the other woman was willing to give her a chance. She hoped to find an ally in the other woman at the tablet who wasn't born a Reagan.
Finally catching sight of her quarry, she crossed to touch the woman on the arm.
"You're early," Sohalia told her, glancing at her watch.
"I am, but I wanted to be here when you get off. I need to talk to you about something," she told the other woman..
"Hali's in trouble," the young man standing next to her said in a sing-songy voice.
Lucy turned to him. "Actually, I'd like you to join us as well, Bart," she said. "Come find me in the breakroom when you're finished."
She changed quickly into her scrubs, once again noting a tightness in certain areas. It was probably time to order some larger sizes. Grabbing a medical journal from her bag, she took a seat in the breakroom to await her two closest friends from the staff.
When the two finally came in, she set the journal down and looked around the room, making sure they were alone.
Bart held the chair for Sohalia before taking his own.
"I didn't do it, nobody saw me, and you can't prove it," her favorite physician's assistant told her with a cocky grin.
"Oh, but you did, I did, and I can," she teased back.
The older woman rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What's up?" she asked Lucy.
She took a deep breath and leaned towards them.
"I know this is really short notice, but I was wondering if you and your husbands are free on Saturday."
"Depends," Bart told her. "If you're having a cookout with barbecue and beer, we're free. If you're moving and need help with a grand piano, we've got plans. Busy all day long."
"Well, the weather is a bit cool for a cookout. I am moving, but I don't have much and I most certainly don't have a grand piano."
"Where are you moving?" Sohalia asked.
"You're not leaving St Vics, are you?" Bart added.
"Not far, and no, not permanently. And not for a few months yet," she answered. She took another deep breath and continued. "I'm getting married. And I'd love for the two of you and Rajesh and Sly to be there."
"Frank?" the nurse asked.
Lucy nodded. "Francis."
"I didn't know you were dating anyone, much less seriously," Bart told her. "Who is this Frank or Francis or whatever?"
"He's the very attractive, very well dressed mustachioed gentleman who has shown up here a couple of times in the last couple of weeks asking for her. And, he sent her a huge flower arrangement last week."
"Sounds like a keeper."
"I think so," she agreed.
"Does this mean the two of you have worked out those complications you were worried about?" the other woman asked.
"Actually, the complication got even more complicated and that's the reason we decided to get married."
The other two looked confused.
"I'm pregnant," she explained. "With twins."
"Oh."
"Yeah. Kind of a huge surprise."
"That doesn't mean you have to get married," Bart told her gently. "Lots of women raise kids on their own. And if anyone can do it, Dr Lucy Makenna can."
She smiled at him. "I appreciate your confidence in me, but I don't know that I could. I'm absolutely terrified. I don't know the first thing about kids or families and I'm sure I'll screw up."
"Of course you will," Sohalia assured her. "No parents are perfect."
"My parents sure weren't," Bart confessed. "Both functional alcoholics with no time for me or my brother, but look how well I turned out!"
Lucy laughed. "You did. But Francis already has grown kids and he's an amazing father and grandfather and he really wants both of us to be able to be a major part of our children's lives. And it seems that the best way for that to happen is for us to be married. It also means that there is someone who can easily take responsibility for them if something should happen to me."
"Is that likely?" Sohalia asked, her concern clear.
"I'm high risk. Older. Multiples. High stress job. Small build."
"Higher risk of preterm labor, preeclampsia, diabetes…"
"Exactly."
"But are you sure marrying this guy is the best option? I get that you want to do the right thing for your babies, but is it the right thing for you? How long have you known this man? What's he really like?"
"I'm sure," she assured them. "We haven't known each other long, but we've spent a lot of time together, discussing this situation and just getting to know each other. He's a really good man and I've come to care for him deeply. And I believe he has for me as well."
"What does he do?" Bart asked. "Halia said he was well dressed…"
"Three piece suit. Tie. Expensive, quality stuff. Well groomed."
"Sounds like a politician, a lawyer, or a mobster," the man told her.
"Far from it," Lucy told them, laughing. "His name is Francis Reagan and he is the commissioner of the New York City Police Department."
"A cop?"
"Retired. The commissioner is a civilian position, appointed by the mayor, but he was on the force for years."
After a few moments, Bart reached over and took her hand.
"This is what you want?"
"It is. I think it's the best option for us and I do really enjoy being with him."
"Then I'm really happy for you."
"Me, too," Sohalia added.
"Then you'll come? Because it's a small wedding and everyone else there is his family or friends and I would hate for my side of the church to be completely empty, since I don't have family."
The other woman looked up from reading a text message.
"We will be there," she assured Lucy.
"Likewise," Bart told her.
Smiling, she thanked them, gave them the details, and they took their leave.
She looked at her watch and decided she had time for a phone call before her shift started. Wondering for a moment about how quickly she had come to enjoy the sound of his voice, she pressed the 'call' button, listening to the ring at the other end.
Henry heard his son's phone ring and knew instantly who it was from the delighted smile on his face.
"Give her my love," he told him, heading into another room to give them privacy.
"Will do," he said, swiping the button to accept the call. "Hey."
"Hey, yourself," she replied.
"Did you sleep well?"
The older man smiled, happy to see his son smile, to hear the joy in his voice as he and the young woman at the other end talked about the minutiae of the day.
She was the best thing to happen to this family in years, he decided. He just hoped the rest of the family would come to that realization soon.
Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed. I do want to reassure you that this is going to be a Frank/Lucy focused story. I know this chapter had very little of them. I will write the other character some, but I started this because I felt Frank wasn't getting enough attention (on the show or in the fanfiction world), so he and this relationship will continue to drive the story. I really like the show and love all the characters and am enjoying exploring them, but it will mostly be in relation to their interactions with Frank and Lucy. One of the sections I went back and added was the one between Erin and Anthony. Since there were several comments about the use of business resources, I wanted to clarify where my mind was on that. Hope it made sense.
Please continue with the reviews. Each and every one of them means so much to me. I love knowing people are reading and enjoying. It drives me to persevere, even when I'm struggling with a scene.
Sorry for the long, rambling note. Thanks for reading it, too. Off to start the next chapter.