AND LOVE CHAP 140
Revelation
Thursday evening ON THE ISLAND
Cassie and Josh are doing chores tonight. AJ wanted to help, but Cassie convinced him to stay in the house with the promise of a guitar lesson by Josh. Her boyfriend picked up his ears at that. He knew she wanted to talk, about something private. He dragged his feet, she noticed.
"Josh, I asked my mom if I could go on the pill."
He froze, "Uh, Cass. Isn't that a little early . . . I mean, for us?" He's working in Hero's stall. He hopes she didn't see the look on his face. He forks up the last bit of soiled straw, then wheels the wheelbarrow outside to the manure pile. He piles a fresh bale of straw into the barrow and comes back inside.
"Don't you . . . you know, want to have sex with me?" He can hear a quiver in her voice. She's in Maddie's stall, her back to him.
He comes into the stall, places his hands on her shoulders and turns her around. "Cassie, yes, yes. I do! It will be my 1st time and I very much want it to be with you. But I don't feel ready. You are 15, almost 16. I am 17, almost 18-
"But when? I love you, Josh!" She wraps her arms around his neck.
"And I love you, you know that! I've been thinking all along, not just since we met. That I wouldn't do it until college. And with the right girl."
"Am I-
"YES, definitely!"
"And you are too. The right guy, I mean." Giggles.
"So, is it ok if we wait until college?" Josh proposes.
"Yes. Me a freshman, you a sophomore. Ok?"
"It's a date, Cassandra!"
They kiss deeply. And get back to work.
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BEDTIME, MBR
"Jamie, Cassie told me that she and Josh worked things out."
"Oh, and?" He pauses with only his PJ shorts on.
"No homeruns until college. Both of them in college."
"Is that the best I can get?"
"I think so. Pushing for more will not work."
"You're probably right."
"Always am!"
Dressing for bed proceeds. Before undressing.
Was that 1st part really necessary?
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SATURDAY MORNING
"When is grandpa coming?"
"Is he really bringing a girlfriend?"
"Eww. I can't believe that!"
"Be nice, kids. It's grandpa Frank."
"I know. I don't think I can keep from laughing!"
"Mary Rose! Don't you dare!"
"Mommy, can I stay in the barn?"
"NO! You can give them a tour."
"And lock them in with Joseph? And tell him to kick ass!"
"MARY ROSE! DON'T YOU DARE!"
Silence.
"Babe, I don't like silence."
"Ditto.!"
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CHIME
EVERYONE looks at their phones.
"It's grandpa!"
"Oh . . . she's pretty!"
"Of course, grandpa wouldn't bring someone ugly."
"KIDS!"
"I see uncle Gregg driving in."
"Were they invited too?"
"Are we going to survive this?" Jamie and Eddie whisper to each other.
CHIME
"Will somebody get the door, please." Eddie begs.
"On it," Jamie responds. He opens the door, shakes dad's hand, and gives the lady a conservative hug. He thinks he recognizes her from someplace.
"My son, Jameson. Kelly O'Shea of NY-1." Frank introduces.
"Ah, that's where I recognize you from! Sorry about that, ma'am."
Mal and Mary Rose dash downstairs, slapping nametags on everyone as they go. She stops at the sofa table in the entryway, "Kelly, right?" Kelly nods through a laugh. Mary Rose scribbles KELLY, slaps it on her guest's chest and hurries on.
LOL fills the foyer.
CHIME
"It's uncle Gregg and aunt Annie!"
"Did you invite them?" Jamie whispered to Eddie.
"No."
"I did," Mal breezes by. "Uncle Gregg is bringing the burgers, and Aunt Annie the buns and condiments." Mal opens the door and sweeps them in. "Kitchen's this way," and she, Annie & Gregg disappear.
"We have lost control before whatever this is even starts," Eddie mouths to Jamie.
Kelly wraps her arms around Frank and whispers in his ear, "I'm going to like this family of yours."
Mary Rose cruises into the kitchen, "Name tags! Mal, you didn't tell me about the ON THE SHORE folks!"
"Sorry," Mal shouts. Then, "Daddy, I hope the grill is working!"
"We're on it!" Jimmy and Nicky shout as they cruise in the front door, through the house and out the back door.
Cassie and Josh enter, stand still in the foyer and look around puzzled.
"Nametags yourself, and find Jimmy and Nicky please, thanks." Mary Rose hands Cassie tags and a black marker and is off.
"Ah . . . ok?" Cass is flummoxed. Josh takes the supplies, "2-minute drill," he announces to his girlfriend. He grasps her wrist and heads to the back door.
Frank grasps Kelly's wrist, leads her to the FR. They plop down in a love seat, "I don't think they will notice us here." They cuddle. And a kiss or two.
AJ wanders in, takes a look, and moves on.
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"Who is that in the family room?" Gregg asks Annie softly.
Annie peeks around a corner. "OMG! It's Frank Reagan and Kelly O'Shea of NY-1."
"No!"
"Yes. Don't say anything. I guess someone invited Jamie's dad, and he brought along a guest."
"A guest? Like the hottest, most inquisitive investigative reporter in 3 states! What's she up to? Does Jamie know, he just became PC. I haven't seen it in the news yet."
"If she gets a whiff of that-
"Uncle Jamie, how does it feel to take grandpa's place?" Nicky hollers.
Those who have seen Kelly and know who she is, freeze.
"Damn," Annie whispers to Gregg.
Kelly looks at Frank, eyes wide. He shrugs. "I thought you knew."
"You thought I knew! Oh boy, Francis Reagan, you owe me one!"
"You want me to do your job for you?"
"Hmpf, we'll see about that. Jameson Reagan, may I have a moment, please?"
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Kelly O'Shea gets a 24-hour head start on an exclusive. She argued (begged, pleaded, threatened) for more time. No dice. Garrett already had a press release drafted. Later in the day it was released, to howls and shouts of collusion. All denied, of course.
Baker handled the deluge of calls and emails with her usual aplomb. Jamie is thankful that she has stayed on at her post. A more competent and loyal gatekeeper could not be found.
Garrett set up an interview for Faith Adams' Sunday morning show on NY-1 TV. Cassie tagged along just to watch the video production.
SUNDAY NY-1 TV
"Welcome Commissioner!" She smiles brightly.
Jamie grins, in spite of himself. "That still sounds strange."
"So, Reagan the 3rd?" She smirks.
"No, no, Jameson the 1st," they both laugh.
"The press release hinted at a very new and different way of doing business at the -top of the NYPD. Can you give my audience some insight into that?"
"Certainly. When 1st offered the position, I declined. My reticence centered around my family. Eddie and I-
"Your wife, Edit Janko?"
"Correct. We have 5 children; 3 girls and twin boys. My family is very important to me. I would not commit to a job where I was on duty 24X7X365."
"So, you worked out a compromise?"
"Yes. We will have a core executive team. I remain the PC, but we will have an on-call system. So that my family time is preserved, as much as possible."
(*Full explanation at the end)
"Has that team been chosen?"
"Some, not all."
"I assume that when the full team is chosen, we will be the 1st to know. We are NY-1 after all." She winks.
"I think a general press release is planned. Sorry."
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AFTERWARDS
Faith asks, "Jameson, is there any chance of interviewing Edit? I don't think a commissioner's wife has ever been heard from. I think that would be fascinating."
Jamie pauses. "I think they have been content to maintain a supportive role, in the background. I will pass the request on though."
"Thanks, that's all I can ask for. Thanks for the interview."
"Thank you, Faith."
They shake hands and part.
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BAY RIDGE
Kelly had brought Thai for supper, from Siam Café in SOHO. Neither she nor Erin were cooks of any ilk. The added variety was much appreciated. Alston's (Mac & Cheese) seemed to be the only restaurant on speed dial in Erin's phone. That dish was past its 'sell by' date!
"This is really good, Kell. One more reason to add you to our table," he grins.
She smiles, leans over and gives him a firm kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Frank. I'm glad to be here."
Erin resists an eye roll. Barely.
After Frank and Kelly retire to his downstairs bedroom, Jack and Earin look at each other.
Erin can't resist, "And the family thought you and I were weird. Now?"
"Go with the flow, babe." He gets up to clear the table. She helps, then they slip upstairs.
A quiet house that night.
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Cassie finds some time to talk with mom and dad in the office.
"Josh and I talked about . . . you know, ah-
"Sex?" Dad smirks.
"Yeah . . . mom told you that I asked about the pill. Right?"
"Yes, she did." Jamie and Eddie look at each other. "And?"
"We came to the conclusion to wait until both of us have graduated HS, at least."
"There are many ways to express your love, you know," dad expresses.
"We know. And I see you and mom do that every day. You have a marriage that I would like to emulate someday."
"Oh, Cassie. We make mistakes, I did just the other day." Eddie admits.
"And I forgave her."
"That's a beautiful thing. I hope I can do the same."
"You can, and you will!"
They all felt relieved as they parted.
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Josh had not been able to play in the catholic league football playoffs. He was greatly disappointed. He was able to be on the sidelines; encouraging his teammates, and occasionally offering a piece of advice. One thing he saw, and told his backup QB about resulted in a touchdown. He received many backslaps and a few ass pats. It felt good to be of use.
The coach made note of his helpfulness and willingness to chip in where he could, in his file. It would be noticed down the line.
The team went for pizza to celebrate their 3rd place finish. Josh and Cassie were the center of attention. He announced his full-ride football scholarship to Rutgers University. He would be moving into a sports team's dormitory in mid-July. After his senior year. Cassie was thinking of a graduation present; something that would help each of them keep the other in the forefront of their mind.
His teammates could tell that the couple had something to discuss. They left earlier than they might, so the two were left alone.
"Josh, I am thinking about a graduation gift for you."
"Cassie, go easy, please."
"I will. I'm thinking of something we give each other. That will be a reminder of . . . ah, each other. You know?"
"I can go for that. What have you thought about?"
"I have thought of name bracelets. Framed pictures. Promise rings-
"Promise rings? What do they signify?" Josh wrinkles his nose.
"I would wear your ring; you would wear mine. That would be a promise to only date each other."
Josh thinks, and gradually smiles. "I like that. I like that a lot! I probably won't be able to wear it during practice or games. But otherwise, it would not leave my finger. Say, what about making them our Christmas gift to each other?"
"Really?"
"Why not?"
"Ok, let's do that. We can find time to shop, for a design we both like!"
"Yes!" They seal the deal with a kiss.
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THE GANG'S ALL HERE
Jamie and Eddie are hosting Nicky's graduation as a full-fledged paralegal.
Attendees: All the family plus Josh; Annie/Gregg and Annies partners (pressure); Jimmy, duh; Kelly O'Shea (What is she?); Sarah Abdul; Dr. Casey Nelson.
Annie's partners take turns cornering Nicky and extolling the virtues of working for their firm. She hears them all out, smiling all the while.
Eddie of course has already talked with Nicky about being partners. Nicky feels very comfortable working with Eddie. But the ceiling out here on the island isn't quite as high as working in Manhattan. It will be a difficult decision.
One factor Nicky will be considering is family. This is complicated. A home with her mom is one thing. Her mom and dad, newly remarried is another. Then there is grandpa Frank; AND Kelly! Wow!
Jamie and Eddie & kids really seem like her 1st family now. But that doesn't feel right in some ways.
Jimmy
It feels like they are close to commitment. If they do, and he becomes top man at Brooklyn Porsche; then living closer to Annie's firm might tip the scales for her.
On the other hand . . . ugh!
She and Jimmy need a serious talk. NOW!
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TBC
The core executive team will take their turn on call. They will be 1st called if top level administrative assistance or advice is needed. They are not PCs. They will be depended on to know when THE PC needs to be called to assist or advise them. This is similar to my being on call as a physician. All of the doctors in a group know their roles, know who is on call that night or weekend, and know who is the BOSS. Being "on call" changes none of that. It works.