Chapter 27: Meeting Liam
Author: zeusfluff
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. I do own all originals. Date Started: 12/29/24. Date Finished: 1/1/25. Enjoy!
Eddie had to admit she was nervous. Sadie was 6 months old. She was growing up fast. Jamie had taken half a day and Eddie a full to that they could visit Liam. They now sat in a conference room at Saint Benjamin's hospital. Or rather Jamie was sitting in one of the chairs around the large conference table. Eddie was pacing slightly.
"How are you so calm Jamie?"
Jamie reached a hand out to stop Eddie from pacing.
"Hey Ed. Take a breath. Once you hold him in your arms, you'll fall in love with him. To be honest, I wasn't fully prepared for the power he had over me. But it was like when Patrick was born, do you remember what that felt like?"
Eddie took Jamie's hand and pulled herself towards him.
"I remember everything. I remember when you placed him in my arms. The way he immediately stopped crying and opened his eyes, looking straight up at me. You told me he couldn't see very well yet because he was brand new… But I felt he could see me."
A woman from child services entered the room with Liam in her arms. Jamie smiled and the woman approached the couple.
"Hi Jamie. You must be Eddie. Janet Marlinson. ACS. Are you ready to get to know Liam?"
Eddie nodded as Janet gently placed Liam in her arms. Liam made gurgling noises and Eddie smiled down at him.
"Hi Liam, my name is Eddie. You're a handsome little boy. Look at that big yawn. These tiny eyebrows."
Janet sat on the edge of the conference table and watched Eddie and Liam get to know one another.
"Jamie tells me you have six other children?"
Eddie again nodded and rocked Liam a little.
"Yes. Cora, Patrick, Keena, Maisie and Kaitlyn. Cora is 13. Patrick is 11. Keena, Maisie and Kaitlyn are 8. Then there is Sadie. She's 6 months old."
Janet smiled and her eyes went wide.
"Wow. Triplets. That can sometimes be a heavy load. Six kids."
Eddie beamed, and Jamie held her hand.
"We do our best. Plus, we have lots of family to help out."
Janet nodded and made some notes on her phone.
"I see that you were recently promoted to Sargeant, Eddie. How has that been, adjustment wise?"
Eddie looked up from Liam and gave Janet a confident look.
"It's been a pretty smooth transition. I do my job every day and I protect and serve the citizens in this city."
Janet turned her attention to Jamie who was making faces at Liam and waving at him.
"Hi bud."
Her tone turned serious as she looked down at her phone and then up at Jamie again.
"Jamie, you have quite an impressive record. You've received numerous awards for providing excellent patient care. The one that sticks out most for me is that you've delivered a whopping 20,000 babies. That's quite an accomplishment. I see that you've recently transferred to this hospital from Saint Victor's. You were the Chief of Obstetrics over there. Why the sudden change?"
Jamie answered honestly.
"I needed a change. Better hours here and better pay. Being here I can spend more time with my family."
Janet nodded and made another note on her phone.
"That's good. Children need good stable homes."
Jamie kept subtly eyeing Janet. He was getting mixed signals and Eddie, even though she had her focus on Liam was picking up on them. Shifting slightly. Eddie listened to Janet and Jamie speaking as she traced Liam's tiny nose.
"Well, the two of you seem like a very well-adjusted couple and experienced parents. This is just a meet and greet today, I'll be by your home to do an inspection to make sure everything is in order. What day works for the two of you?"
Eddie traced Liam's nose one more time and then looked over at Jamie, they needed to make the decision together. Nodding at one another, they both answered in unison.
"A week from next Tuesday work for you?"
Janet nodded and smiled down at Liam.
"That's perfect. 10 am ok?"
Jamie shook hands with Janet and then watched as she took Liam from Eddie's arms, placing him back in his car seat. Eddie spoke to him as Janet buckled him up.
"It was very nice to meet you Liam."
Liam cooed and his eyes began to get heavy. A nurse escorted Janet and Liam out of the conference room, and Eddie sat for a moment in the rolling chair taking everything in. Jamie scooted closer to Eddie and took her right hand in his left one.
"What's on your mind babe?"
Eddie gave a tiny smile.
"Liam is a handsome little boy. I can't get over that beautiful baby. But seriously, what happened to his mom? You never did tell me? Also, I have like ten different things on my mind right now."
Jamie's expression softened even more and he took both of Eddie's hands.
"Whoa. I didn't realize you had so much on your mind babe. I'm here for you, always remember that. Liam's mom could barely take care of herself. She figured leaving him here at the hospital would give him his best chance."
Jamie saw the fire in Eddie's eyes.
"Why would she give him up so easily?"
Sighing, Jamie did his best to try and help her to understand.
"Ed, she could barely take care of herself. She's giving him his best chance. He'll have a good home. With us if we pass the home inspection."
Eddie seemed to relent slightly, but she shook her head and looked down at her hands that were intertwined in Jamie's.
"I guess I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around that fact bub. He's an innocent. I guess I just want to ask her why."
Again, Jamie sighed and squeezed both of her hands.
"She could be anywhere in the city babe. Besides, it was her choice to give him up for adoption. She's giving him his best chance."
Eddie felt her shoulders slump.
"Your right bub, he will have a loving home with us if we check all the boxes and we pass all the background checks. You don't think my dad being in jail will have an impact on this process, do you?"
Jamie took a moment or two to process what Eddie just said.
"Everything will work out Ed. We've got this."
To Be Continued…
A/N: So, what'd you guys think? Next up: we see Janet Marlinson arrive at Jamie and Eddie's house to meet the kids.