And love
Chap 33 Dinner & adoption
A/N: In this AU story I am arbitrarily placing Danny and Linda's home in Brooklyn (not Bay Ridge). If anyone violently disagrees, let me know and I will work in a real estate deal.
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BROOKLYN
Linda agrees and Paula accepts; so, Paula goes 'home' with Linda and the boys. The ladies will share Linda's king-sized bed. The next morning at breakfast they talk.
"It's just so hard being so far away from Joe, especially with his dangerous job," Paula expresses.
"This incident really brought that home to you, didn't it?" Linda commiserates.
"Yes, it did. I wonder-
"You work in the ICU, correct?"
"Correct. For 18 years."
"That's a lot of experience. I know that the ICU at St. Vic's, where I work, is a bit short staffed. Would you consider moving to NYC?"
"I would, but I'm afraid that I would get caught up in the Reagan thing."
"Reagan thing," Linda is puzzled.
Paula hangs her head.
Linda reaches across and takes her hand, squeezing it lightly. "You can tell me; I keep secrets very well."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"I had dinner with Joe, Jamie and Eddie a while back. I told them the story of Joe Reagan and myself. My Joe heard it for the 1st time!"
"Danny and Jamie's brother Joe?"
"Yes. We were in the NYPD academy together." Paula goes on to tell Linda the entire story.
"Wow, I can see and hear it now."
KNOCK KNOCK
"I'll get it," Paula says. It is Jamie, she lets him in. He joins them in the living room.
Just then Sean comes out "Mom, can Jack and I have some snacks?" He looks around, "Hi uncle Jamie."
"Hi Sean, how is the neck coming along?"
"It's really sore."
"Did you talk with Eddie?"
"Not yet."
"Do you have her number?"
"No, I don't."
"Get your phone," Sean does and Jamie makes Eddie a contact for his nephew. "Call her, she'll have some good advice for you."
"I will, thanks uncle Jamie."
"No problem." Jamie nods.
"Sean, we are having a very confidential talk here. Please, you and Jack stay in your room with the door closed," Linda asks.
Sean looks puzzled.
"Please, promise," she asks again.
"Ok, I promise." He hustles to the kitchen, grabs some stuff, trots back to the room and closes the Door firmly.
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"Ok, where were we?" Linda surmises.
"Jamie, I just told Linda all about your brother Joe and I." Paula explains.
"Oh," Jamie whispers.
"We were talking about Paula maybe moving to NYC to be close to her boy." Linda adds. "And working in the ICU at St. Vics."
"Then I said that I was afraid of getting caught up in the Reagan thing." Paula admits.
"Wow, again!" Jamie expresses. "Let me tell you what happened between Erin and me; after the family conference."
Linda's stomach knots up. Paula cringes.
"I started to explain Paula and Joe . . . just the bare facts." He reaches over, smilesand squeezes Paula's hand. She smiles in return.
"She asked if mom and dad knew about the pregnancy. I said no, and that Joe didn't know either. SHE EXPLODED ON ME!"
"What did she say," Paula whispers.
"You don't need to know, really."
Paula cocks her head, Linda does too.
"No, you don't need to know. I told her I wasn't going to walk down that road with her again, and walked off. I didn't even get to tell her all that I was going to say."
Paula cringes, "So, what do I do?"
"My advice?" Jamie asks.
"Please," Paula nods.
"I think it would be a relief for both you and Joe two be closer together. But, have you and Joe talked since he heard the entire story? Are you two, ok?"
"Yes, we are ok." Paula smiles.
"Let me say this; Joe has told me that he doesn't feel like being a Reagan, right now. I understand. We left it that Eddie and I are friends; I am sure that Eddie would agree that you can slip right into our friends' circle. No questions asked!"
Jamie stands and draws Paula to her feet; they embrace tightly. Linda stands and joins them.
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SUNDAY DINNER
Eddie, Linda and Paula cooperate on a portable dinner. The 3 ladies plus Jamie take it, picnic-style, to Bellevue hospital. They have cleared it with Pops; he has it marked on his FOOD calendar.
They have arranged with hospital administration for the use of a conference room. One tricky part was explaining to Danny who Joe and Paula are. THE STORY: Joe was Eddie's TO, taking over from Jamie. And until she dropped out to pursue her paralegal career. They have subsequently become friends. It is true, if not the entire truth. They will cross that bridge later.
Both patients are brought to the conference room in wheelchairs, they are thrilled. They feast on fried chicken, potato salad, corn cut off the cob, Linda's homemade rolls, lemonade and apple pie ala mode. It's a good thing they don't have to walk back to their room.
Conversation is light, thankfully. Eddie talks about her progress towards becoming certified as a paralegal. Jamie and Joe tell light stories about NYPD life, Danny especially tunes in to those. Paula tells about her decision to make the move to NYC and be closer to her son; and starting the job search; starting with St. Vic's. Linda shares the progress that she and the boys are making. Then Danny and Joe tell about their progress.
All in all, they spend 2.5 hours before nursing staff come to collect their patient and return him to the room. Both men profusely thank the ladies and Jamie. All proclaim the dinner A HIT!
In the car on the way home both Paula and Linda were weepy. Paula especially was amazed and grateful for the family support. She understood Eddie and Jamie's commitment to friendship. She hoped that any negativity from others wouldn't negate that. She and Joe would need to tread cautiously; she wished that wasn't the case. She will pray about that.
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RING
Eddie's phone lights up, Gwen's picture shows.
"Eddie here, hi Gwen."
"Hey, is Jamie nearby?"
"He is now!"
"Hi Gwen, Jamie here. What's up?"
"I have good news regarding Cassie. Your adoption hearing is next Thursday at 10:00 AM. Can you both make that?"
" YES!" They both exclaim. "All of us will be there! Do you foresee any snags?"
"No, I don't. I've talked extensively with CPS and they are not going to oppose this. There are no opposing parties, your references are impeccable. Any opposition would literally come from out of left field."
"Ok, we'll pray that leleft field remains locked down tight." Jamie muses.
"Amen," Eddie whispers.
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THURSDAY 10:00 AM FEDERAL COURTHOUSE
The Reagan clan is out in force, supporting Jamie's family. He, Eddie and the girls are all there supporting Cassie, their soon-to-be-sister.
"All rise!" The bailiff calls out. They comply.
Judge Nelson McDougall enters and takes his seat. All sit down.
"Bailiff, read the proceedings." The judge orders.
"This is the adoption request of Jameson and Edit Reagan; to adopt one Cassandra O'Brian."
"Is there any opposition?"
"No, sir-
The doors at the back of the courtroom burst open. In enters a tall blond woman flanked on each side by a federal marshal. Heads swivel. Mouths drop open. Jamie and Eddie, alone, recognize this woman. Their blood runs cold.
She, they, march up to the bench and stop. She speaks.
"Kelley O'Brian in opposition, your honor!"
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TBC