And love
Chap 66 Trouble on the island
Short, but not sweet! Just to prove that I'm not Pollyanna.
Early February, year 1
Breakfast time for the boys. Patrick had suckled his fill from Eddie's left breast, which is now empty; Eddie thinks. Now it was AJ's turn. Mother would occasionally feed them simultaneously; but it was a challenge to properly position them, so she rarely did that. Her milk had come in strong so the boys were always satisfied. AJ was quite sensitive to ambient noise or commotion. Most any disturbance in the environment would interrupt his 'concentration', and he may not restart his feeding. In that case mom would pump, so there was always a supply of mother's milk in the fridge. In that case, there was always a willing volunteer to offer him a small bottle so he didn't miss his needed nutrition.
AJ was nursing quite well, when he paused his suckling. It seemed as if someone had pressed the pause button, on the DVR player mid-movie. In 5 seconds or so he resumed feeding. Eddie had noticed this occurring 2-3 times per feeding – for the last several days. She hadn't had time or opportunity to talk with her husband.
Cassie, come here please, she had texted her oldest daughter.
"What's up mom?" Cass whispered in Eddie's ear when she slipped in to the nursery.
"Watch AJ," Eddie mouthed.
Cassie sat down cross-legged on the floor and observed her brother. Within 5" he did it again.
Cassie's eyebrows shoot up, her mouth opened and she covered it with a hand. She motions to herself and then to mom, she mouths ME TOO. Indicating that the same thing had happened when she fed AJ recently.
Eddie mouthed LATER, and Cass slips out of the room.
888888888888
After the boys were fed and changed, they were placed in their double swing. They were soon asleep.
Eddie gathered her family in the FR. She & Cassie described what they had seen. Jamie starts to pace.
"Have any of you seen anything like this?" Mom asked.
"I have," Mal admits. "I didn't know what to think, and AJ went on feeding so I didn't say anything. I'm sorry, mommy."
"That's ok, sweetie. All of us need to be very aware if anything unusual happens with our boys, don't be afraid to tell daddy or I if anything concerns you. Our boys depend on us to take good care of them." She and Jamie exchange looks, a 'talk later' look passes between the parents. Dad has a cloud over his head.
"When did these spells begin to occur?" Jamie asks after the girls have left the room. He is very upset.
"Just this week, I first noticed them last Saturday. I have been meaning to talk with you-
"Eddie, you should have raised an alarm immediately!" His voice is rising rapidly. His posture is ridged. His face is red blotched.
"I know, but at first, they were so brief and AJ was completely normal otherwise. I did call Casey today and get the name of a pediatrician. I was going to talk with you tonight, to see when you are free to come with AJ and me to see the doctor." Eddie is in tears now. She collapses into Jamie; he surrounds her with his arms in a very stiff embrace.
'I thought I could trust her with the kids. Can I?' He lets go of Eddie, "Sit down please. I'll take care of this!" He hurries off, "Cassie, come to the nursery, please." He enters the boy's room, she soon appears. "Pack a bag for AJ, and grab your GO BAG! You and I are taking AJ to Stony Brook, NOW!" He leaves her to follow his orders; he disappears into the MBR to grab his bag. As he turns to leave, he runs into Eddie entering the room.
She stops him with a hand to the chest. "What are you doing, Mr. Reagan?" She is scowling.
"I am taking care of my child! Get out of my way," he barks.
She moves to stay in front of him. "If our son needs immediate care, his mother will go with him, and you!" This is obviously escalating.
"Well, it seems that you've had the opportunity to do just that! And you did nothing!" Pointing a finger at her chest.
"I told you that I got the name of a pediatrician-
"After how many of these spells? Huh?" He turns toward the bed; when she takes a step into the room he whirls around, knocking her off her feet. As she is scrambling to get up, he exits the MBR. He locks the door from the outside and goes in search of Cassie and AJ.
888888888888
TXT to Mal & MR: girls, please come unlock mommy's door!
The girls scamper to comply.
"Where are daddy, Cassie and AJ?" She asks her daughters.
"Cassie ran upstairs," MR tells Eddie. "She was muttering not again!"
"SHIT! Sorry, after all the progress we've made with her!"
"And dad and AJ?"
"Dad ran out the front door with AJ and 2 bags," Mal adds.
Well, I need to go after him. Mary Rose, you stay here with Cassie and Patrick. Mal, come with me, please. Everybody leaves your phone on! Mary Rose, Cassie is in charge – try to keep her calm. Mal & I need to grab our bags, meet me at the Porsche." She hugs and kisses all 3 girls – and is off.
Mary Rose scampers upstairs and collapses into Cassie's arms.
Eddie squeals out of the driveway & activates blue-tooth. She has Mal with her.
"Stony Brook medical center," she instructs. After getting the first set of directions she tells Siri, "Call grandpa Frank!"
"Frank Reagan is busy. Shall I interrupt?"
"Yes, interrupt!"
"Please verify interruption with the password."
'SHIT'! Thinking. "Mary Margaret Reagan!"
"Password accepted, interrupting."
"Frank Reagan, who in hell is this?"
"Frank, it's Eddie. I need your help!"
88888888888888
TBC