AND LOVE CHAP 113
Land mines
ON THE ISLAND – HOME OFFICE
RING
Eddie's cell – it's Annie.
"Annie! Eddie here, what's up?"
"Hi, Eddie. Can we talk about paralegal services?"
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Eddie turns to Nicky; smirks then click to turn on the speaker.
"Paralegal you say? BTW, Nicky is on speaker. Ok?"
"Sure. Here's my problem. We have 2 paralegals working for our 5-lawyer firm. Marsha is f/t, Darren is p/t. Darren is leaving December 31. Even though Marsha doesn't do quite f/t work, she won't take on more. So, come January 2, we will be seriously shorthanded."
"Wow, Annie. Nick and I were just discussing that career." Eddie turns to Nick and motions for her to speak.
"Yes, aun . . . er Annie. I'm living with Eddie and Jamie right now, while I evaluate my career path. I've been watching aunt Eddie work, and I really like what she does."
"Eddie, may I ask you where you got your training?" Annie asks.
"My 1st law office, Manhattan Family Law did some. My formal education was though Columbia University-Law."
"So, a combination of on-the-job and CU-Law?"
"Exactly."
"Did you feel well trained when you started?"
"Yes, I did. What are your plans for a replacement?" Eddie is curious.
"Well, I have done the training here in our office in the past. Working with NYU which is close to our office."
"Annie, that's interesting. Because I have completed 2 years at NYU before I took this break." Nick puts in.
"Wow! Would you like to talk about this, Nicky?"
"Sure. But I was going to ask aunt Eddie if she could do part of my training. She and I get along great! At least from my perspective. Would that work?"
"I don't see why not. Can we set up a time and day to meet?"
"Yes, let's see-
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BAY RIDGE
"Alston's mac & cheese. How quaint, mom." Nicky observes.
"Hey, no complaints from the peanut gallery," Erin huffs right back.
"Well, thanks for having me over this evening. I need to tell all you something." Nick smiles.
"Should we put on our chastity belts," Her father jokes.
Erin swats his chest.
"Ow!"
"Baby!"
"I'm just getting used to that, again!" Jack rubs his chest.
"What is on your mind, Nicky?" Grandpa Frank gets down to business. It's been a challenge living with these two.
"As I live with Eddie and Jamie, I have been watching aunt Eddie work."
"As a paralegal, right?" Jack asks.
"Yes. And I rally like it. I've talked with Eddie, and expressed my desire to do that for a career."
"Why not a lawyer?" Erin seems disappointed.
"Well, this would get me into a solid legal career sooner. And I would have 2 family, well almost family, to help me get started."
"2 almost family? What does that mean?" Frank thinks he knows. And he doesn't like it, not one bit.
"Eddie and Annie. They-
"WHAT? Annie Davenport?" Erin is furious.
Frank can't believe his ears.
Jack doesn't even try to suppress a laugh.
"Yes. Eddie is a paralegal, you know. And Annie's firm is losing one at the end of the year. And Annie has worked with NYU-Law in the past when she trained a new paralegal. So, the three of us are meeting Saturday to talk about this. I wanted you to know; and see if you have any advice for me."
"It sounds like a done deal." Erin leans back and crosses her arms in front of her chest.
"I think that's a reasonable thing to investigate, Nick. Go for it," her dad supports her.
"Thanks dad."
Erin scowls.
Frank shakes his head.
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ON THE SHORE
"Wow! Something smells really good, babe."
"Chicken Kiev. Love! We haven't had it in a while." Gregg announces.
Annie hangs up her leather jacket, toes off her boots and sets her valise on the entryway side table. "Do I have time to change?"
"Yes, it's keeping warm in the oven. Take your time, get comfy."
"How comfy shall I get?"
"Depends on what you want to do after supper, babe." He wiggles his eyebrows, unseen.
She knows he did that.
She comes out in a light blue halter top, black skinny jeans and stocking feet. The perfect casual housewife look.
Except her chignon is still up. Oh well, he can handle that later.
"Will you pick a wine please?" He lets her do something.
She picks White Zinfandel. A pink blush from the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. Perfect. A favorite from their wine selection. Not quite a wine cellar.
As they eat, he asks, "News from the firm of D/E/J?"
"We're losing a paralegal." She pauses.
"Oh . . . OH! Eddie is-
"Yes, we talked. Guess what?"
"Ah, she is over busy?" He guesses.
"Maybe, but Nicky wants to become one."
"No!"
"Yes. We are meeting, the 3 of us on Saturday. At Eddie's."
"Can I come along? Please?" He will beg, if he has to.
"The Chevelle?"
"No, the barn and horses. And 1 donkey, Joseph."
"You must be kidding me. Mary and Joseph?"
"Actually, Mary Rose and Joseph."
Annie spits out a little wine. "Don't do that, Gregg Wells!"
"TRUTH!"
"I've got to see this."
"Saturday."
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ON THE ISLAND – Saturday
"Where is my little friend, Mary Rose?" Gregg shouts as he and Annie come in the front door.
"I'm here, uncle Gregg," as she rushes into his arms. "Are you here to see the barn and my animals?" She is excited.
"Your animals?" He cocks his head.
"Well, our animals."
Gregg turns to Annie, "May I be excused, dear?" He pecks Annie on the cheek.
"Of course, babe. Us ladies have work to do."
Jamie and AJ join them and they head to the barn.
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HOME OFFICE
"Nicky, what did your parents say when you talked with them and grandpa Frank?" Eddie starts.
Annie is surprised, "Frank?"
"Yes, mom and dad now live at Bay Ridge."
"Wow! Fireworks?"
"At times, I'm sure. Anyway, my dad is supportive. Mom is disappointed, or worse." Nick relates.
"So, what does that do to your decision?" Eddie wonders.
"Nothing, I want to do this. Let's plan, please." Nicky is ready to start.
Annie begins, "Ok, what if we do this-
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THE BARN
"This is really nice Mary Rose! Which one do I get to ride?" Gregg asks.
"Betsy, the gray mare." She points to Eddie's horse.
"The old gray mare . . . the song, you know!" Jamie mutters.
Gregg laughs. Mary Rose swats her dad's arm.
"Mary Rose, do you want to ride or take the cart?" Dad wonders. "If we use the cart then all the kids can join us."
"Let's do that, daddy."
"Good idea, I'll text mom."
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HOME OFFICE: Annie & Eddie
"Mom, may I stay and listen to your talk with Annie?" Cassie asks.
"Is that OK?" Eddie looks to Annie; who thinks for a moment, then nods ok.
"Just a moment, I need to be sure everyone is ready to ride," mom grins. She returns in 3" and they start.
"I wanted to explain something to you Eddie. Apologize, and make a promise." Annie opens with.
"Wow, that sounds like an opening statement, counselor!"
"Sorry, habit. Anyway, here goes. I really like how our families interact. I hope we can continue, and build a solid, family friendship."
"I agree," Eddie says. Cassie nods, vigorously.
"You know that Jamieand I had lunch at my office recently?"
"Yes, he said he called you and asked for advice about Cassie and Eli. We are hoping to help the situation."
"He did, and he brought sandwiches. Well, during that visit I did some mild flirting."
"What?" Eddie looks shocked.
"That's what my apology is for. I'm really sorry, I truly am. Thus, my promise."
"Go on," Eddie is no longer smiling.
Cassie is tense; what will her mother do?
"I learned something that day. Something I should have known. Jamie and I must not be alone 1:1! There are still unresolved feelings; it's too hard to keep them locked up. At least for me. I am truly sorry, Eddie. I promise this will NEVER happen again. I hope you can forgive me."
Annie looks down, then up to Eddie.
"Does this destroy the budding friendship between us? Our families?" Annie looks sad.
Cassie raises her hand, Eddie nods.
"Thank you, mommy. I really hope we can still be friends. Us kids really like uncle Gregg and aunt Annie. We realize they aren't really our aunt and uncle, but it feels like it." She reaches out and squeezes a hand of both ladies.
"I think you will realize that I need to talk this over with Jamie?" Eddie looks to Annie.
"Absolutely." Annie shares a soft smile.
"While Jamie and I talk, I'll say this. It feels like you are sincere, Annie . . . so, yes, forgiven. The rest, we shall see."
Eddie opens her arms and draws Annie and Cassie into a hug.
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ON THE TRAIL
Jamie is riding Hero; Gregg is on Betsy; Mary Rose and AJ are sitting up on the seat of the cart with Mal and Patrick in the cart's bed. They are leisurely ricing east on the trail on Long Island.
"I hope I am not telling tales out of school when I tell you this," Gregg softly begins. He and Jamie are trailing the cart a way behind. Keeping the kids well in sight. "Annie has been quite worked up about something."
"What?"
"Ever since she and you had lunch at her office . . . she has been really worried."
"About? And why are you sharing this with me, Gregg?"
"It involves you . . . she's ashamed about how she acted. Her lite flirting . . . as she called it when she told me."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She planned on apologizing to Eddie today. And promising that it won't happen again. She is heartsick that this will put the kibosh on our budding friendship. Between our families that is. I share that concern." Gregg looks to Jamie, a sad look on his face.
"Wow! That is something that Eddie and I will need to discuss. Between you and me . . . I felt that she was out of line. But I didn't call her on it. And I asked for the meeting, and offered to bring lunch. And . . . God, I even brought her the sandwich I knew she preferred."
"I really like you, Eddie and the kids. I hope-
"So do I, Gregg. So do I."
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ON THE ISLAND – BEDTIME
"Jamie?"
"Yeah?"
"Annie and I had quite the talk today."
"I know."
"What?"
"Gregg told me about her bad feelings, and that she planned to apologize to you today."
"Really. Well, what do you think about the friendship between our families?"
"Do you trust Annie . . . and me?" He posits.
"Do you trust Annie . . . and yourself?" She returns.
"Give me a couple of days? We'll talk more?"
"Of course," they kiss and snuggle. Soon they are in dreamland.
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1-PP PC's OFFICE
THE NEXT DAY
Detective Baker bursts into Frank's office, interrupting a meeting with 4 captains. "Sir, a mob of protestors just invaded the 2-9! Shots reportedly fired!"
Frank looks at the captains, "Who is in charge at the 2-9 today?"
"Lieutenant Jameson Reagan, sir." Captain Espinoza reports.
"Abby, my detail STAT!" He hurriedly gets up, grabs his coat and rushes out the door. The captains in hot pursuit.
As he passes a doorway he shouts, "Sid, with me NOW!"
Lieutenant Gormley grabs his gun, shield and jacket and runs to catch up.
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TBC