AND LOVE CHAP 130
REST IN PEACE
BAY RIDGE – SUNDAY
Sarah had been invited to dinner by Paula and Joe. She had met them during a Sunday dinner at Jamie and Eddie's, and was glad to find and make new friends.
Mal had joined her mom and aunt Linda in coordinating the dinner at the ancestral family home. They had planned 4 oven baked chickens, from scratch mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, aunt Deborah's WW rolls and accompaniments. The old house smelled fabulous!
After the blessing and filling of plates the conversation started.
"So, I hear you have opened an orphanage ON THE ISLAND," Danny started with.
Jamie glared; Eddie snickered.
"No way, uncle Danny," Mary Rose huffed. "We are helping people! Like you should do!"
"Hey! I help people!" Danny retorts.
"Yeah, by shooting them," MR comes back. She sits up straight.
"Well . . . I do more than that, missy!"
"Why do you carry a gun? If not to shoot people?"
"For protection. It's dangerous where I work." He's digging!
"Well, work somewhere else then."
"I have to-
Linda gives him a serious elbow.
"Ouch!"
All the kids (5 of them) giggle. Aunt Linda showed him who is boss! Is heard from several lips.
Danny glares at his wife; she glares right back.
Frank redirects things, "How are things in school, kids?"
"Cassie has news!" Mal explodes.
Cassie blushes.
"Cassie?" Aunt Erin prompts, like prodding a witness.
She raises her head, "I am the lead photographer for the school paper."
"She gets to boss Joshua Allen!" Mary Rose blurts out.
"The quarterback?" Sean wonders.
"You know him?" Cassie mumbles. She was hoping to slide under the radar.
"Sure! Best QB on Long Island. Has his pick of several good universities!"
The table looks to Cassie.
"What?" She smirks.
"Have you met him?" Sean, Jack B & Frank ask.
"Of course."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"What's he like?"
"A jock, I guess. But . . . ah, kinda nice. Not so stuck up as I thought he would be." She blushes a tinge.
Jamie and Eddie look at each other. 'What was that blush'?
Erin cannot keep quiet any longer, "Nicky, any news we should know?"
Jack B gives her an astonished look. "What? Erin! Our daughter is an adult woman. She will tell us what she wants to, when she wants to. The info you are fishing for is PERSONAL and PRIVATE. Period."
"Jack, you don't know what I'm looking for."
"BULL! You want to know if she and Jimmy have had SEX yet!"
"Jack-
"What does a bull have to do with this?" AJ whispers to Mary Rose. "Later," she whispers back.
"No dad, I need to say this-
"Not here-
"Yes, here. Kids, close your ears. I do not care if they have or have not. What I care about is safety! And I am certain that our daughter will do it safely! Whenever!"
"Thank you, daddy," Nicky whispers. She grasps Jimmy's hand and squeezes. He smirks in return.
Cassie relaxes a little.
Small talk resumes, heading for dessert.
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St. Bridget photography lab
"This sure is different, isn't it?" Josh remarks as he and Cassie walk in. They just finished a photo shoot of the football team for an upcoming special edition of the school paper. The edition will highlight St. Bridget's sports teams. Football, basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer. It will be published the last month of the school year. So, there will be tons of prep work. It will all be pulled together 4 weeks before the end of the school year.
Cassie and Josh are the 2 staffers; Cass in the lead. Sheryl had been on the team, but she missed 4 weeks with mononucleosis and dropped out. Cassie decided not to request a replacement; she figured she and Josh could handle the work. And it was going well.
"Different? How so?" Cassie wonders as she sits down at her computer work station and plugs her memory chip into the slot.
"Well, haven't you seen pictures of ancient (he wiggles his eyebrows) photo labs? The dark room with red light. The rows of film hanging from a clothes line. The trays of developing solution. The staff with green eye shades. And more."
"No, I can't say that I have." Cassie admits.
"Well. I have a TIME-LIFE special book on it. I'll bring it and show you, if you want to see it that is." He turns away, as he lightly blushes.
"Yeah, I'd like that," Cassie mumbles. "Say, I will combine all of our football pictures and put them on two thumb drives. A duplicate drive for each of us. Since football is your sport, why don't you take first crack at that section. Ok with you?"
"Yeah, thanks Cassie. I'd like that. How soon would you like to see the 1st cut?" He smiles sweetly.
Her heart flips. "Is 2 weeks ok, Josh?"
"That's fine. Thanks Cassie."
They turn to their workstations and get down to work.
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IN THE DESERT
Eli lays prostrate on the road as the vehicle approaches. His arms are outstretched before him; he has laid his dagger crosswise in front of his hands. Evidence of non-aggression and submission.
The vehicle comes to a stop 30' in front of him. He hears the crunch of boots on gravel. The approach stops, he sees a hand pick up the dagger. "Rise."
He gets to his feet, only looking straight ahead. He is face to face with an army officer. He is relieved to see Iraqi army insignia. "Your name?"
"Eli Abdul, son of Mohammed."
"Mohammed Abdul?"
"Yes, sir."
"Ibrahim was your brother?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Why are you alive?"
"I am not sure, sir. My father was shot, he fell backward on top of me. I passed out. When I came to, it was night. When I turned the head of the body so I could see the face, it was my dead father. I passed out again."
"Very fine dagger."
"My father's. It was stuck in his belly. I removed and cleaned it."
"Where are you going, son?"
The address of son relaxed him a bit. "America, if I can, sir."
"Why America?"
"My mother left us, to go back to America where we lived for 8 years. She is there, if she made it."
"Your father and brother are dead."
"Yes, sir. Can you help me, please?" He holds out his hands, palms up in a supplicant gesture.
"Come with us," he motions to the rear of the stopped truck. It is a 2-ton lorry. Eli scrambles into the rear. He joins 5 soldiers. The officer gets in, and they are off.
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ON THE ISLAND – HOUSE PHONE RINGS
"Hello, Reagan residence."
"Eddie, Donna Blake here. On Saturday I will be making rounds at several area dairies. I don't expect major problems. Would Mary Rose be available to accompany me?"
"Well, we have nothing planned, family wise. Let me ask you this. Could 4 y/o AJ come with his sister? He'll be no trouble, I'm sure. He often helps her in the barn."
"If you are sure he won't get in trouble, or freak out, I'm ok. I will be there at 07:30 for pick up. Youi can call or TXT if plans change."
"Great, thanks Donna. Bye."
"Bye, Eddie."
"Mary Rose, AJ! Office please!"
SATURDAY 07:15
"AJ! You ready?" Mary Rose shouts as she tumbles downstairs. As she passes the boys' room, AJ comes out rubbing his eyes. "Come on, I think mom has a grab and go breakfast for us."
"I do," resonates from the kitchen. "Come and sit for a few minutes," mom urges them.
"What about lunch, mommy," AJ asks, still half asleep.
"In your backpack, sweetie."
"Thank you, mummy," AJ mumbles with a mouthful of pop tart.
"Your ride is here in 5!" Dad shouts. "I have your jackets and boots."
"Boots?" AJ's eyes go big.
"Cow pies, AJ!" Mary Rose rolls her eyes. "This will be interesting," she whispers to Eddie. "Extra pants?" MR adds.
"Backpack," Mom whispers back.
2" and Donna honks 3 times.
They are off.
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VETERNARIAN ROUNDS went very well. AJ stuck by his sister's side. He learned to deftly avoid the cow pies.
"Sissy, they do look like pies, sort of. Don't you think?"
"Yes. But don't you dare say that to Mal or mommy."
"Why not?"
"Because they sometimes bake pies, silly. Callkng these pies is rather disgusting."
"Oh . . . I get that, I guess. I'm tired." (This is the 4th dairy they have visited)
"Here take my phone, I'll start some music for you."
"Thanks, sissy."
MR starts an easy listening playlist. AJ slumps down by the wall, listening. He rocks to and fro, humming and occasionally slapping his ears.
When she and MR are done, they come to pick AJ up. Donna pauses, holding out an arm to stop MR. She watches AJ for a few minutes. 'I wonder'?
They collect AJ and head back, dropping Mary Rose and her brother at home.
"Mommy, we are home!" AJ shouts.
"Did you have a good time, sweetie?"
"Yes, I even saw a cow named bossy!"
"Really?"
"Yup, and I only stepped in two . . . ah . . . –
"Cow pies?"
"Yes. But sissy said I shouldn't call them that."
"Why not?"
"Cause you and Mal sometimes bake pies."
"Oh, sweetheart. We can tell the difference."
"Good! Cause I don't want to eat that . . . ever!"
"None of us do. And Mal or I will NEVER serve that. Im promise!"
"Good!"
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LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
One part of Henry's estate had already been settled. The large fund set up for Frank to disburse to the family over time (Jamie and Eddie's CA vacation e.g.). The rest required some maneuvering between Frank and the trustee; an old family friend of Henry and Betty's. This has now been finalized, and the final settlement can be accomplished. The one large complicating factor was Danny's windfall, from the fraud funds recovery. This was further complicated by Dannys absolute refusal to disclose how much he had actually received initially. And how much remained. Linda had no precise knowledge, so could be of no help. Frank and the trustee made their best, fair guess.
The total amount would surprise many. Henry was after all a cop. PC yes. Frank knew much of the specifics, and the total. If asked, he would say that his dad had made many shrewd investments over the years. Including not a few very high stakes poker games. A strategy Francis Reagan would NOT recommend! To anyone. After losing once to his dad, he SWORE off of that!
BAY RIDGE FAMILY CONFERENCE, Attendees:
Trustee: John Doe
Children: Francis Reagan
Grandchildren: Danny, Erin, Jameson (And spouses)
GG children: Jack, Sean, Nicole, Cassandra, Malina, Mary Rose, Patrick, AJ
Other: Joseph Hill
Disbursements:
Frank: Control of the fund previously mentioned; Henry's share of the Bay Ridge home PLUS all of Henry's possessions in and about said home.
Danny: $25,000.00. Linda: $50,000.00
Erin: $125,000.00 Jack B $0.00, a token amount was debated, and decided against. It was felt this would be a slap in the face. Jack agreed when announced.
Jameson: $50,000.00 Edit Marie $50,000.00. Assistance with the purchase of their LI home was considered.
GG children: $50,000.00 each. Funds to minors to be kept in trust by parents; until age 18.
Joseph Hill: $75,000.00 Joe was flabbergasted. Most were pleased to see it.
Nobody made much of a stink. Danny groused some; but to complain too loudly might entail more disclosure than he was willing to make. He decided to keep his powder dry.
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TBC