And love
Chap 72 Home and away
ON THE ISLAND
02:00 FRONT DOOR CHIME
Jamie pads to the door, it's his sister-in-law Linda, 2 suitcases in hand. Her head is hanging, she appears to be exhausted, shoulders slumped.
She raises her head as she hears the door open. "Jamie, do you have a patch of floor where I can sleep?" She's been crying.
"We can do better than that," Eddie says from behind him.
A thundering herd tumbles down the stairs. "Aunt Linda, what's happened?" The girls cry out.
"Do you need a place to stay?"
"You can sleep in my bottom bunk. I don't use it. Right mommy?"
"My lower trundle is nicer!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"QUIET! Let's go up and take a look; let aunt Linda choose," Eddie restores order. "Jamie will bring the suitcases; Cassie, bring a fresh set of towels, please."
Linda is amazed at how easily the family falls into line; even Jamie. 'What am I doing wrong?'
Eddie leads the way up to the girl's bedroom. At first look Linda is impressed. While it isn't a model home, for 3 girls it is very much in order. She thinks back to her girlhood, or to Jack and Sean's room and the comparisons pale. This family is something else, it really is. Another tear falls as she remembers the home and family she just walked out on. 'Am I doing the right thing? Yes, a little shock therapy is the order of the day.'
Eddie looks at the supposedly spare beds. Mary Rose's lower bunk, Cassie and Mal's lower trundle should have clean sheets. They don't.
"Girls, why do these beds have used sheets?" She frowns.
The girls look at each other, each not wanting to explain. (Not that it's a terrible explanation) Finally, Mal speaks up. "Well, once in a while we switch up, for fun you know. We sleep in each other's spare bed. It's not often mommy, and we-
"Stop. It's ok, really. I just wish you had told me so we could put clean sheets on when we do bed laundry. Ok?"
"Yes, mommy," they all express. They come to Eddie for a hug and kiss on top of the head.
Linda is nonplussed, to say the least. 'Is it too late for my family?' She groans inwardly.
Eventually she chooses the lower bunk. Mary Rose promises not to chit chat all night. Her sister's chuckle; their little sister glares at them. Mommy does make Mary
Rose get a clean set of sheets. Linda starts to help change the bed, Eddie intervenes, "No, it's her responsibility. Isn't it?" She looks sternly at her daughter. "Yes, it is," she goes about her duty.
"Would you stop it!" Linda exclaims.
"What?" Eddie is puzzled.
"You just keep piling it on. Perfection after perfection!"
Eddie and girls look at each other, "Just stick around, the warts will show," Eddie laughs. The girls laugh with mommy, piling on her and becoming a pile of giggles on the floor. Linda piles on.
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BREAKFAST? BRUNCH?
Linda wakes up to the heavenly aroma of coffee. She looks around – there is a bed above her. And she is alone! What? Then she remembers:
FLASHBACK
The drive home from Jamie's had been hell. Danny would not stop blasting Mary Rose, Eddie, anyone and everything. He called vegetarians and vegans some vicious names. She held her peace, knowing it was best to stay out of his way. When the kissed good-night, it was hard, almost violent. In bed he didn't stop. He tossed and turned, continually muttering obscenities. It actually scared her. Finally,
"Daniel, please stop! We both need our rest; I need to work tomorrow."
"WORK! Hell, another day answering phones. Your need to sleep? Go to the couch."
She bursts into tears.
"Oh, stop that." He rolls over to face the wall.
Linda calms a little. After his breathing becomes deep and regular, she slides out of bed. Quietly, she packs 2 suitcases and slips out the front door. With a heavy heart she locks the door and heads for the island.
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Linda gets up and tugs her jeans and t-shirt on. Leaving herself bare-footed, she pads downstairs. The house is quiet except for Eddie's voice, emanating from the home office. She pokes her head in the doorway. Eddie is on the phone; she holds up 2 fingers – indicating she needs a couple of minutes to finish her call. Linds nods and turns toward the kitchen.
She finds a carafe of coffee on the warmer; it is only a quarter full. She gets a mug from the cupboard and is ready to pour when Eddie appears. "That's undoubtedly stale, I'll make a new pot," as she takes the mug from
Linda's hand. "Sit, and I'll see what we have for brunch."
"Brunch?" Linda looks at the wall clock, "Oh . . . it's 10:30! I guess I was really tired."
"Yeah, after yesterday I don't doubt it."
"Yeah, then there was the drive home and last night! Well, a s much of last night as I spent at home."
Linda proceeds to tell her tale of woe.
"Wow, I'm so sorry. What can we do for you and Danny?"
"I just don't know. This job problem is eating him alive. I'm over my head. I wish he would accept some counseling."
"Can you and I do something fun today," Eddie asks.
"Oh, I'm sure you have work to do. Don't let my problems interfere."
"Nonsense. I'm working from home mostly. One nice thing about that is the supreme flexibility of hours. There is something that I've wanted to do for a while. Now that I have a helper . . . come with me!" Eddie has a mischievous grin on her face.
They get the boys nursed, changed and bundled up – along with a fully stocked diaper bag. They put on jackets, scarves and boots – then out to the barn. They secure the boys, in their spare car seats, against a barn wall and pull-out Joseph's cart. The two ladies work together to rig up the harness; they get the donkey all set then turn to AJ and Patrick. Using blankets and short bungee cord, they secure them in the cart bed just behind the driver's seat. The ladies sit together on the seat; deciding that while there is room, they will be more comfortable if one of them sits down next to the boys. They find a couple of cushions for Linda to sit on and Eddie gets herself situated on the driver's seat.
Eddie sighs, "This better be worth it. I'm sure it will be."
"Where are we going?"
"Farmer's market at Middle Island. Let's go Joseph!" Eddie slaps him lightly with the reins, and they're off.
"Linda, can you TXT Jamie and tell him where we're goin? Never mind an outburst, just reassure him."
Linda cringes, but does as Eddie asks.
TXT
LR: Eddie, boys and I off to farmer's market. Joseph pulling cart. Eddie says DO NOT WORRY!
5" later
JR: WHAT THE HELL! Have her call! NOW!
"Eddie, I think a wart just got ripped off," Linda voices.
"Angry?"
"Upset for sure."
"I better call." Eddie stops Joseph and changes places. Linda protests, Eddie reassures her; they start while Eddie calls.
"Lieutenant Reagan (Formal last name)."
"Ok, it's paralegal Edit Janko."
"What are you doing, Eddie?" He's calming some. 'Remember your recent lesson, buddy!'
"Some diversion therapy for your sister-in-law, and your wife. The mother of your kids. We're only going to the farmer's market."
"Middle Island?"
"Yup, what would you like for supper?"
"Thinly sliced, sauteed zucchini in a peppered white sauce."
"Wow, getting specific aren't we."
"You asked." He smirks.
"I did, be safe babe. Love you," Eddie adds.
"Love you too!" He grins.
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TXT
E to girls: Linda and off to farmer's market, Joseph pulling cart. Any requests?
Cass to E: Fresh fruit, please.
Mal to E: Corn on the cob. Oh, fresh green beans. Thanks, mommy!
MR to E: You have Joseph? Is he OK? You didn't ask!
Mother chuckles at the response from her youngest daughter. So typical. They are surprised she hasn't tried to move into the tack room, yet. She and Jamie have their response ready. MR will not like it. Period.
The ladies arrive home last. After the gang cooperates with bringing all the purchases into the house, unhitching Joseph and putting away the tack; Mary Rose stays to rub down her donkey, give him some water and a little feed. "Are you ok, boy? Mommy didn't work you too hard, did she?" She secures him in his stall and comes into the house.
Cassie helped Mal prepare supper while Eddie and Linda filled Jamie in on their adventure. While he wished he had known ahead of time, he didn't make too big a fuss.
Linda again compared this to what would have happened in her house. As Eddie had commented while they were riding; Jamie and Danny are two very different men. Both Reagan's, but oh so different.
Supper consisted of:
Hamburger steak, corn on the cob, yellow squash in a peppered white sauce (no zucchini today), leftover baked potato diced & fried. Accompanied by aunt Deborah's whole wheat rolls, finished by chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Linda wondered if it was Sunday dinner. Eddie assured her that this was a tad fancier than usual. Mal et al agreed.
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FOOD WARS?
A family discussion as follow-up to the Sunday lamb chop fiasco was overdue. During the ride Eddie and Linda had talked. Eddie had invited her to join in. Linda was hesitant; Eddie said that this was as good a time as any to see the family in action. Linda finally agreed – if it was OK with everyone. It was.
"Has anyone researched vegetarian or vegan diets? Eddie started.
Both Mal and Mary Rose raise their hands.
"Ok, who wants to go 1st?"
Mal looks to her sister, who yields the floor to her older sister. (L amazed)
Mal starts. "My sis and I have talked, a lot. (MR nods vigorously) We have found several options to an EAT EVERYTHING diet. They include,
A lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet. This includes all non-meat foods PLUS dairy products and eggs.
A kosher or halal diet. This is #1 plus 'clean' or 'permissible' meats, as proscribed in scripture. Either the Bible or the Quran.
A pescetarian diet. This is #1 plus fish. The type of fish can be debated, e.g. kosher rules.
A pure vegetarian diet. This excludes all meat; but does not go as far as our next category.
A vegan diet. This excludes all meat; any animal derived products even honey, as it is made by bees.
There are other strange derivatives, but these are the main categories."
Mal pauses, she looks to her parents.
Eddie and Jamie look at each other, stunned. That was incredible. Linda was blown away.
As the father, Jamie starts; "Mary Rose, what are you thinking? You and your sister have done much research and talking, obviously. And sweetie, I'm not blaming you for your reaction that Sunday. Never. And everyone, throw your 2 cents into the pot, please."
Linda thinks she has landed on Mars.
"Daddy, I'm sorry for Sunday. I just was caught by surprise."
"I know, and that's ok. But now, what do we do? Maybe think about all the information Mal has provided us? Beautiful job, sweetheart." He blows her a kiss.
"I don't think I can vote on a final decision in one night," Eddie declared.
Several heads nod in agreement.
"Does anyone wish to offer an opinion tonight?" Dad asks.
"I might suggest that we try some dishes in option #1, while we are thinking about it," Cassie suggests.
"Does anyone object to that?" Eddie asks.
No objections are raised.
"Can we do that, Mal?"
"Yup, I would like to do that. I'm not sure GG will be much help though." Malina asserts.
"Well, you can teach him a thing or two!" Jamie declares.
The group bursts into laughter.
"Do not tell him I said that!" Jamie blushes lightly.
They disperse for final daily chores. Mary Rose goes to the barn to tuck Joseph in after his tough day. Cassie checks to see if there was any critical laundry to attend to. Mal thinks about meals for tomorrow. Aunt Linda checks on the boys and finds Patrick in need of changing; she attends to that. Eddie checks her email and finds 2 that require replies; she does that. Eddie also finds that she needs to be in the city tomorrow bright and early.
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After the girls retire upstairs, and while Eddie feeds the boys, the adults talk.
"Darn, I forgot all about my phone today. Danny must be frantic!" Linda panics.
"Relax Lin," Eddie assures her. "I had Cassie get your phone from your jeans and give it to me."
"He must have called 100 times!"
"Just 5 . . . maybe 6."
"What did he say?"
"You don't want to know."
Jamie is watching a tennis match.
"What did you tell him?"
"You don't want to know that either."
"EDDIE!" Linda is trying to search her sister-in-law.
"Jameson Reagan, take your sons so I can defend myself!" Eddie screams through giggles.
Unfortunately for her, he is doubled over with laughter.
"Your ph . . . one is . . . in my office."
Linda dashes to the home office and grabs her phone from the desk. She comes out, thumbing thru the missed calls. She sits down. "Why didn't we hear it ring? EDDIE! You had it on silent!"
"Of course. You didn't want to hear from him, in the state he was in. Believe you me."
"Now what do I do?" Head in hands.
"Stay here a few days. We need a little nanny time," Eddie grins.
"Yes, stay. The girls and I will love it," Jamie grins too.
The ladies high-five.
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TBC