Thanks to jlmayer, libllama, decadenceofmysoul, and monkeybaby for your reviews. Big thanks to everyone else for reading, liking and continuing the story.
Contains references to 3x2 and 3x3, though occurs mostly during 3x2.
Saturday morning Anna was making breakfast for her brothers when her cell phone rang. "Hello?" Anna asked when she picked up the phone after seeing her boss's number on the ID and hearing his ring tone.
"Anna, my favorite waitress, it's Mr. M," Lou said. He sounded happy and almost like it was up to something.
"Got that from the caller ID and the voice. What can I do for you?" Anna asked.
The suspicion ran high in her voice but he ignored it. "I know that this is very late notice and you can feel free to say no."
Anna's heart sank. There went her day with her brothers. "You need me to come in."
"Raylynn called off. If you could come in until four I'd greatly appreciate it."
"Let me check with my cousin real quick and I'll get back to you."
"Okay." He didn't sound so happy anymore but there was still a hopeful tone in his voice.
Anna hung up and called Nicky. Erin picked up. "Hello?" Erin asked.
"Hi, Aunt Erin, is Nicky home?"
"Sure, Anna. Nicky!"
"Hello?" Nicky said moments later.
"Hey, how would you like to babysit for your favorite cousins?"
"What's going on, Anna?" Nicky asked.
"My boss just called. Asked me to cover a shift from 10:30 to 4:00. Mom's asleep and Dad's at the market or working or something. All you have to do is watch them for a few hours and maybe feed them lunch if Dad's not home or Mom's not up."
"Do you really have to work?"
"'Fraid so. Every chance I get until ... Anyway, can you do it?"
"Hang on, let me ask Mom," Nicky answered. After a quiet, background conversation, Nicky was back. "Mom says okay. She'll drop me at Grandpa's then I'll take the bus there. Be there soon," Nicky told her.
"Thanks, Nick," Anna said. She hung up then told her boss that she'd be in as soon as Nicky showed up.
"Anna, what's going on?" Jack asked as he came downstairs.
"It's nothing. I have to pick up a shift so Nicky's going to come over and watch you guys until Mom gets up or Dad gets home," Anna told him. Jack's face fell and Anna knew instantly where his mind was going. His parents already worked so much and now his sister was giving up a day of hanging out with him to do the same thing. "Come on, Jack. If you want something special for your birthday this year you'll let me work."
"I miss spending time with you."
"I know, bubba, things will slow down, I promise."
"Yeah, sure." Jack sighed. He grabbed the milk and poured it on his cereal then put it back, all without looking at his sister. Anna hung her head feeling bad. That's when Sean came in. He grabbed his breakfast in a zombie state; he never really woke up until after breakfast, and sat down at the table with his brother. Anna smirked and joined her brothers at the table. Just as Sean started to wake up, Nicky came through the front door.
"Sean," Anna called, getting her brother's attention. "I've got to get to work. Nicky's going to hang with you guys for a while so do me a favor and treat her better than you treat me." Sean blinked at couple of times but after a moment nodded. "And keep your voices down, Mom's still asleep," Anna said. She turned to Nicky and flashed a smile. "Thanks again, Nicky, got to go." Anna raced out the door and took off for work.
It was a long hard day, not that she thought it could compare to her mom's nights at the ER or her dad's days on the job, but it, on top of her homework, babysitting, chores, Kyle, and the occasional work out, had her drained. She had no idea how her mom did everything she did to keep up. When she got home she flopped down on the couch as her brothers were playing some video game and Danny watched them. "Anna, come here a minute," Linda said.
Anna sighed but dragged herself up off the couch and into the kitchen. "Yeah, Mom?" she asked.
"Didn't I ask you to watch your brothers today?" Linda asked, staring down her daughter.
"You did and I planned on it but Mr. M called and another waitress called off last minute so I called Nicky. She wasn't busy and it's been a while since she's hung out with Jack and Sean so she came over. Not once were they home alone. She was here before I left, I promise. My brothers were in no danger. On top of that, you were upstairs. If they needed anything, they could have just asked."
"That is not the point, Anna. I asked you to be here and you promised to. You weren't."
Anna realized exactly where her mom's mind had gone. Waking up to find her niece babysitting her boys instead of her daughter, while not a problem, was disappointing. She was glad her daughter had gotten someone to watch the boys instead of leaving them home alone, but she was disappointed that Anna had broken her promise. "Yes ma'am. I'm sorry." She looked down regretfully.
"Next time you'll let me know."
"Yes, ma'am." Anna nodded. Linda drew her into a close hug then sent her back into the living room to play with the boys.
On Sunday after church Anna sat down in the living room and tried to work on her homework without falling asleep. About five minutes or so later, Jamie sat down next to her. She hadn't even gotten through one homework question. "Everything okay?" he asked.
"Just fine," she answered.
"Yeah?" Jamie asked, craning his neck to look at her face carefully.
"Yeah." She smiled brightly to try and convince him. It was just too bad the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Really? Because I can't remember the last time you went a week without talking me."
"Just got busy I guess. Teenage girl."
"You know, just because we're not working on your car together, doesn't mean I don't care anymore."
"I never said or thought it did."
"Anna, look at me." Jamie turned her chin towards him and waited until she turned her eyes up at him. "I understand being a teenager. Teen drama, friends, boyfriends, family, it's all tough. You need someone; I'm still here for you."
"I'm fine, Uncle Jamie, really."
"I'm not saying you're not. I'm just saying I miss talking to my niece."
Anna stared at her uncle and he felt like an ant under a magnifying glass. She studied him for a few moments then smiled. "I'm sorry, Uncle Jamie. Guess I just got distracted."
"How many hours a week do you work?"
"About 26-ish."
"At the diner?"
"Yeah, plus a few hours now and then babysitting."
"On top of school, Kyle, and friends?
"Yeah. It's not that big of deal."
"How do you do it all?"
"I just do. You learn to juggle."
"Okay." Jamie said. He watched her for a moment then wrapped her in a hug. Though he was worried about her, he knew that if he suggested she was doing too much and should cut back, she'd cut back on telling him things. Anna leaned against him, soaking in the warmth and support he was providing. It felt good to let go for a moment or two. Then that moment was broken.
"Hey, dinner's ready," Erin said, peaking into the living room. All through dinner, Anna was quiet and ate her dinner. Though talk went on around her, she had to focus to stay awake. "Anna, are you alright?" Erin asked as Linda excused herself to make dessert and Danny joined her in the kitchen.
"Yeah, just fine. A lot on my mind," she answered as convincingly as possible. She was much more successful this time.
"How'd your talk with Kyle go?" Henry asked.
"You really want to know that?" Anna asked.
"Why wouldn't I?" Henry challenged.
"Because I'm your granddaughter and you remember me being just bigger than the size of a football?" Anna asked.
"Anna, are you coming to my birthday party this weekend?" Nicky asked, changing the subject.
Anna looked at Nicky and flashed her a grateful smile until it hit her what Nicky just said. "Not if it's on Saturday," Anna said.
"Why not Saturday?" Sean asked.
"Anna's got a hot date on Saturday," Jack taunted.
"And Uncle Danny's okay with that?" Nicky asked.
"Stuff it, Jack. You know you'll be 13 next year and you'll be dating soon. Payback's a real—"
"Anna, don't swear at your brother!" Frank warned.
"Yes, sir. Dad better be okay with it, it's homecoming. Sorry, Nick, but I'm not missing my junior homecoming for your party when you couldn't be at mine," Anna said.
"I was at your birthday," Nicky protested.
"You were here for Sunday family dinner because it's required. You were not at the Sweet 16 party that Beth threw for me even though you were invited."
"And I apologized for that."
"Nicky," Jamie encouraged.
"Okay, okay. You're off the hook. The party is on Sunday."
"Great, can I bring a friend?"
"As long as said friend is Jim," Nicky answered. Anna stared at her cousin around her uncle. "What? He's cute."
"Yeah, so? I'm pretty sure he has a girlfriend."
"Who has a girlfriend?" Danny asked, reentering the dining room with cheesecake.
"My friend Jim," Anna filled him in.
"And why is that important?" Danny asked.
"Did I hear something about homecoming?" Linda asked, rejoining the table.
"Uh ... yeah. It's Saturday night from 8-10. I was thinking maybe on Wednesday we could go look for a dress."
"You want to wait until Wednesday?"
"Tomorrow Kyle is taking me to get my car looked at at a body shop and Tuesday I have to work until 9."
"We could do it tomorrow night," Linda suggested.
"Don't you have to work tomorrow?" Anna asked.
Linda thought for a moment then nodded. "Isn't there something else you want to ask?"
Anna stared at her mom confused. She couldn't think of anything else she needed to ask. It hit her when she glanced at her father. "Do I really have to ask to go to homecoming?"
"You know what I've told you about assuming and asking for forgiveness instead of permission."
"Yes, ma'am. Homecoming is on Saturday. May I go with Kyle? I'll even be home before curfew," Anna tempted.
Linda stared at her daughter and shook her head. "I see what you did there. No matter what I say you're going to take it about Kyle and not the dance."
Anna smiled innocently. "I don't know what you mean."
"You know exactly what I mean," Linda answered as Danny tried to hide his smirk. He wasn't as good at it as his father was. "Don't encourage her to be like you," Linda told her husband, gently backhanding him on the arm. Linda sighed and glanced at her husband. "Okay, fine. You can go and we'll see about finding you a dress on Wednesday."
"Thanks, Mommy," Anna grinned.
Monday after school, Anna followed Kyle to the body shop and was surprised that Kyle was super friendly with the man behind the desk. They talked for a few moments before Kyle took Anna's hand and lead her back outside. They talked about the latest Giants' game until a different man walked up. "Kyle, my boy, how are you doing?" he asked.
"Great, Tom. This is my wonderful girlfriend Anna. Anna, this is Tom, he owns the place." Tom and Anna greeted each other and shook hands. "She needs a little body work done and you're just the guy."
Tom looked Anna over and walked around behind her for a second. "I don't know what you're talking about, Kyle. She's perfect just the way she is, besides I don't do human body work," Tom told him, coming to stand back in front of them.
"Uh ... that's kinda creepy," Anna said.
"Mechanic humor. Sorry. Let's see him," Tom said.
"This is Cam," Anna said, nodding to the Camaro.
"Nice," Tom commented. He walked around the car, pausing now and then to look at a particular scratch or ding and finally crouched next to it and looked under the car. "Tell you what, I know it's a long time, especially for a teenager to be without their car, but if you leave it here for the next two weeks I'll get him done up right. Fix up the scratches, pop out the dents and a new paint job in some places as well as check the undercarriage for rust. My calendar is kinda full so it'll take a bit but from what I can see it shouldn't be too hard. Normally for supplies and labor it would cost you 850 at a regular body shop but I'll cut you a great deal. Kyle is a good friend of my kid, and he brings me in a lot of work plus he tells me you're a student athlete so 500 and we'll call it even. That's basically just supplies."
"That is a really great deal and I'd love to take it but I work two jobs, saving for college, and looking after my brothers on top of school, with the way financials are right now ... 500 is just out of my reach. I'm sorry for wasting your time like this." She smiled sadly and looked up at Kyle. "I'm really sorry."
"Wait, what do your parents do?" Tom asked. "Maybe I can give you another discount."
"That's really nice of you but I don't want any special treatment."
"I'd do it for free because you seem like a really great girl and it's a really great car and Kyle can't stop talking about you, but the guys in there will rag on me for doing another Camaro for free. If I have some justification, it'll shut them up," Tom explained.
Anna looked up at the sky and bit her lip pondering over whether or not to mention it. Finally she sighed. "Okay, my dad is a cop and my mom is an ER nurse at St. Victor's hospital," Anna admitted as she looked back at Tom.
"Your dad's a what?" Kyle asked outraged. "I though Todd said your dad is a Marine."
"The Marines believe that you never stop being a Marine," Tom said.
"See, my dad is a Marine. Served two tours overseas after the towers came down. Now his full time job is being a cop. I may not have corrected Todd but he's the one that told you my dad is a Marine. Is it really that big of a deal?" Anna asked softly as she looked at him.
Tom interrupted, feeling a bit awkward. "Listen, I've got a hero's discount I give to all families of civil servants. $400 and we'll call it square. Will that make you feel better? Can you do that?" Tom asked.
Anna watched Kyle for another moment or two but when he didn't say anything, she turned back to Tom. "Yes, I think I can do that," she admitted. "Thank you so much. You didn't have to do that but I appreciate it."
"You're welcome. Let's step inside and do up some paperwork then we'll be all set." Anna and Tom went inside and he took a clipboard from the desk then he helped her fill it out.
Once that was all done Anna handed over her car keys and stepped back outside to find Kyle leaning back against the grill of his truck facing her general direction with his eyes shaded from the afternoon sun by reflective sunglasses. She really couldn't tell what he was thinking so she took a stab in the dark. "You're mad at me for not telling you about what my dad does now for a living?" she asked.
Kyle sighed heavily. "I should be. How could you not tell me? Do I look like I can't be trusted with that? Is it really that big of a secret?"
"It's not really a secret but it's a deal. I love my dad. I always will no matter how strained things get between us but I start telling people my dad is a cop and people put two and two together. Before you know it, all they'll want to talk about is 'oh your dad is a cop and your last name is Reagan. Does that mean you're related to the PC?' I don't like being known as that Reagan. The kid that can never be invited to a party because she's a CK and will break it up or harsh the vibe. You know the reputations kids of cops have at school. I don't want to be one of those kids. It shouldn't matter what my dad does for a living, it should just matter what kind of kid I am."
"I get it. I know how people react to that. I'm not mad you didn't tell me, I'm a little angry that you didn't correct Todd when he said your dad is a Marine, but I get why you want people to think he's a Marine. There are a lot less questions and you get invited to a lot more stuff. Do you know why I don't talk about baseball?"
"Not really. I figure it's because I hate the Yankees and Jim told you talking about them in front of me would cause a fight," Anna said, sticking her hands deep in her pockets.
Kyle smirked. "I should let that be my answer. I really should. It wouldn't make me look like an idiot." Kyle scoffed. "Really it's because I don't understand it. I kinda get the stats, they're not that different from football stats when it comes to games back and wins and losses but the rest, the rules, fouls, strikes, balls, walks ..." Kyle shrugged. "I don't get it. I check the scores and the standings so I don't look like a complete moron but give me football any day."
"Have you ever been to a game?"
"My uncle goes from time to time, Yankee Stadium. Been with him a couple of times, he's even tried to explain it to me but it just doesn't stick."
"Look, I won't hold it against you. You forgive me for not telling you about my dad then I'll forgive you for not understanding baseball. Nobody's perfect. In fact for me, if we could just jump from Super Bowl to Spring Training, I'd be all set. I hate March Madness. Can't stand basketball. Watching them bounce a little ball back and forth and back and forth, it drives me up a wall. Though hockey and football have the same concept, basically, at least in those sports you get fights."
"I guess we're even."
"You want to really be even? Something that sets me apart from most girls?" Kyle only stared at her, open to her secret even if he didn't say so. "I hate romance movies. I love me a good comedy, and any action movie is must see but romance ... If I can avoid it, I'll avoid it like the plague. Kissing, crying, sappiness, I can't take it. Real life is never like that."
"Well ... That's different." Kyle pushed his sunglasses back up his nose as Anna shifted her weight. "Get in, I'll take you home." Kyle walked around to the passenger door and opened it for Anna. She climbed up on the seat and looked at him.
"So, homecoming is this weekend ..." Anna prompted.
"Already got the tickets and my suit, just let me know what color your dress is so I can match my tie. My cousin says that's the proper thing to do."
"So you just assumed I'd go with you?" she asked as he shut the door. He swallowed and walked around the truck slowly, almost as if he was giving himself time to come up with a good, pacifying answer. He climbed inside and turned to look at Anna, finally pushing his sunglasses up to the top of his head.
"My mom warned me, but I didn't listen. I'm sorry for assuming. Anna," he smiled softly, "would you like to go to homecoming with me?"
"I'd love to go. I'll text you as soon as I get a dress," Anna told him. "And my dad is going to want to question you when you pick me up."
"I figured as much."
"And um ... my cousin is having her Sweet 16 party on Sunday night. I was wondering if you wanted to come."
"Family going to be there? You mentioned having dinner with them every Sunday."
"Yes, they'll be there. If you want to see how Saturday goes first with my dad, then we can do that." His face instantly relaxed.
"I think we'll do that."
"Okay." Kyle took her home and dropped her off.
To my previous reviewers, ki4pak, kirbyschoice, and the guest Alex, I miss your reviews. I do hope you're still reading this and enjoying it.