AND LOVE CHAP 141
Choices
ON THE SHORE
Nicky is having dinner with Annie & Gregg. "Thanks so much for having me, guys. There are a couple of things I need to talk with you about. She smiles as she takes the last bite of her chicken Kiev. "This is really great! I've never had it before."
"One of Gregg's specialties," Annie boasts about her husband, her chef.
"Thank you, dear. I aim to please."
"And you do!"
Nicky rolls her eyes.
"So, what's 1st," Gregg asks.
"Annie, about work."
"What about it. I think you got plenty of propaganda from my 3 partners at Jamie and Eddie's the other day."
"I did! I'm wondering about part-time vs. full-time. What would you require me to do?"
"Well, as a starter part-time would be ok."
"For how long? Until I needed to declare my intent?"
"Well, that's hard to define. It really is. What are you thinking?"
"Well, let's shift gears. Uncle Gregg, what about Jimmy? I mean might he be shifted to Brooklyn?"
"Well, what difference would that make?"
Silence.
"Oh . . . I think I see," Annie muses.
"Yeah . . . I am juggling too many balls here."
"Nick, why don't you lay ALL your cards on the table. Then we will look at them and see if we can make sense of the situation?" Gregg posits. (He sounds like the business genius he is!)
"Good idea. There is:
Where am I going to live?
Where am I going to work?
Jimmy and I feel close to becoming engaged.
Where will WE live?
Where will he work?
Gregg finds 5 3X5 cards and writes on them:
N live,
N work,
J/N engaged,
We live,
J work.
He lays them in front of Nicky.
Annie is grinning in admiration!
"Ok, Nicky. Pick up the most important card, and hand it to me."
She hesitates not a second. She picks up #3 and hands it to Gregg.
He smiles, "Ok, now what do you need to do?"
"But, the others?" She wrings her hands.
Annie grasps Nick's hands to still them. "Nicky, all the others hinge on #3. Don't they?"
"Yes."
"So, you need to settle that one, then the rest will fall into place. Believe me, they will."
"That is, and should be your #1, Nicky." Gregg smiles.
Annie nods.
A peace settles over Nicky. She knows what she needs to do. She gathers up the cards and stuffs them in her purse. She hugs Annie and Gregg in turn.
As she prepares to leave, she turns and says "Jimmy and I are going to play cards!" She grins.
Gregg roars with laughter, "That's my girl!"
Annie hugs him tightly, her cheek on his chest. She already has her ace up her sleeve!
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MRS. Henderson
It is late September; school is underway and Annie has told Eddie that the Porsche Gregg and Jimmy thought of for Cassie's graduation present might be gone soon if they don't act on it. She and Nicky have joined Gregg, Annie & Jimmy on a visit to the little old lady. They are all in the Honda, the back seat a little tight. Jimmy popped the Tom & Jerry DVD into the entertainment system; some laughing, some eye rolling ensued.
Their first stop was the garage out back where Mrs. Henderson met them. When she opened the door, the ladies almost fainted. There was the most beautiful car they had ever seen.
A 2017 Porsche Panamera; bronze, 4-door, high performance tires, unblemished. Gregg had assured them that he and Jimmy had been servicing it regularly; it was in like-new condition.
Eddie turned away, "No, no, we can't do this!"
Mabel Henderson stepped over to her. "Mr. Wells said you are looking for a high school graduation present for your adopted daughter."
"Yes, our daughter." Eddie cannot believe this.
"And she has a special story. Please come in and tell me that story."
"Ok."
Mabel took Eddie's arm and led the group inside.
(Gregg had warned them that this might take some time.)
They sat around the kitchen table. "I have tea or coffee, plus crumpets with jam or marmalade. The crumpets just came in yesterday from my cousin Gertrude in Liverpool. They are fresh, you will love them."
She graciously served them; they were blown away with the crumpets!
"Now dearie, tell me about Cathy."
"It's Cassie, Mabel dear." Gregg corrected her.
"Oh my, Cassie. Is that short for something?" She asked Eddie.
Yes, Cassandra."
"Cassandra," Mabel repeated softly. "What a lovely name. Now, what's her story?"
Eddie has gained confidence, through Mabel's gentle manner. "It's a long story; it started with my BFF suffering a head injury and going thru a long coma." Eddie shared:
Kara a cop; coma,
Dylan being kidnapped. Kelley O'Brian,
The 'secret room' in Bridgeport,
Cassie handing Kara a phone to call Eddie,
The Kara/Dylan rescue,
Cassie being a stowaway to escape a terrible home environment,
Cassie's parents' murder/suicide,
Jamie and Eddie taking Cassie in,
Adoption attempt & success despite opposition,
Eli friendship,
Eli & family to Iraq,
Eli killed,
Eli not dead,
Working with Josh, friendship,
Spring Festival attack,
Now Cassie & Josh & college plans.
2-hours later not a dry eye remained.
"Well, Eddie. I am confident that Gregg and I can work something out. I want Cassandra to have that car. My grandson has moved on to bigger and better things. In his mind at least. You and Jameson sound like wonderful parents. Cassie is blessed. Thank you so much for sharing her story."
Eddie and Nicky helped Mabel clean up.
They departed with light hearts.
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BAY RIDGE
Frank and Kelly are relaxing in the sitting area after the 'kids' have gone upstairs to bed. Or to enjoy their own ensuite sitting area. Frank hands her a tumbler with 1 finger of JD. He has his own 1 finger of scotch. They've yet to compromise on that. They are in no hurry; with anything.
"When are we going to come out?" Frank puts out there.
"Are we in a closet or something, Frank?" Shed takes a sip.
"No, I guess not. It's just that my family has some very persistent and very nosey people in it."
"Like news reporters?"
"Worse, way worse!" He takes a sip.
"Have I met them already?"
"No. The worst are Danny and Erin."
"Hasn't word gotten around yet?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Those we met Saturday may not see or talk to those two for a while."
"Ah, I see. And What do we tell them when we 'come out' of wherever we are?"
"You are a delight to talk with. Did you know that?"
"I was wondering why you're keeping me around."
"I like you, a lot. Your company keeps me sane."
"Well, I'm not a mental health professional. You know."
"I know." He finishes his scotch.
She finishes her JD.
She gets up, offers him her hand and leads him to their downstairs bedroom suite.
Good-night in Bay Ridge.
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TBC