AND LOVE CHAP 166
Disrespect
A/N: I hope your brain doesn't explode. This just flew out of my fingertips as I typed. I couldn't stop it.
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BAY RIDGE
"I brought Chinese!" Jamie announces as he comes in the back door. "Shall we eat in here?" He has come to discuss issues with training officer detective Danny Reagan. He occasionally picks his dad's brain. Not to solve problems for him, but to gain from his father's vast experience.
"No, we need more room for this," Erin states with malice in her eyes & voice as she stands in the doorway to the dining room.
Danny stands right behind her, his hands on his hips. A scowl on his face. "Thought you'd sneak one by me? Sorry, kid. It ain't happenin'."
Jamie takes a deep breath. He has dreaded this.
Frank appears and starts, "Jamie, I tried."
The PC holds up one hand, "This family should have known that there was a zero-tolerance policy on pulling a stunt like this. "You have shamed the PC, current and past, and yourselves. I hope I brought enough food for everyone. Good-by, and DO NOT FOLLOW!" And he is gone.
"Jamie, wait." Erin bursts out the back door, to bring back her brother. She is stopped short by detective Nucifero's upraised hand. "Stop, ma'am. We have orders to detain anyone who seeks to interfere with the commissioner's movements. Please back off."
Erin pauses momentarily, then returns to the kitchen.
Jameson gets into his black SUV and the detail drives to the island. The PC is treating his protective officers for dinner at the Bayside Café.
MEANWHILE
"Dad, can you believe that?" Erin is really pissed.
"Erin, you just shamed the NYPD PC! What in hell did you expect?" After he speaks, he turns around and sits in a chair at the dining room table. His shoulders slump, Kelly sits in the chair next to him; arms entwined. She slowly rubs his arm, "I am so sorry, Frank. Neither you or Jameson deserved that." She lays a peck on his cheek.
Danny explodes, "What do you know about this family, you b-
"Daniel, GET OUT!" Frank has had all he can take. He's with his youngest. Jamie earned his rank in every way possible. In disrespecting him, Danny and Erin have shamed their father and grandfather too. And that is too much. Just too much.
Now Frank can kick Danny out. But what about Erin and Jack? He had been hoping all along that something like this wouldn't happen. What a pickle!
"Frank, may I dish up some dinner for us?" Kelly whispers softly.
"Yes, please."
She kisses him on the cheek again and disappears into the kitchen. She finds Danny quickly shoving food into Tupperware containers.
"Excuse me, may I fix a plate for Frank and myself?" She politely asks.
Danny wisely steps aside. He doesn't want to risk more of his father's wrath. Or hers.
Kelly fixes two plates, grabs two bottled waters from the fridge and returns to Frank. She sets the plates down and sits by his side. "Shall I say grace?"
"Yes, please."
"Heavenly Father, all we have is of Thee. Accept our thanks; and bless us, as we continue to do Thy will. AMEN." Amen echoed by Frank.
After dinner Kelly took their plates to the kitchen. She found the room in shambles. Soiled food containers everywhere, food spilled about, utensils strewn about, fortune cookie wrappers all over the place. Obviously, Linda hadn't had time to do any cleanup. She never would have left a kitchen looking like this. And Erin?
This surprises Kelly. Where is Erin?
Jack comes in the back door, softly closing the door behind himself. He picks up an unopened fortune cookie, "Ok?" As he holds it out.
"Yes, Jack. We're good."
He nods as he proceeds upstairs.
She puts their plates down, and goes back to Frank. "Are you ok? I have some cleanup to do."
"Some?" He smirks.
"A lot. Anything else you need?"
He tilts his head up, puckering his lips.
She snorts as she lays one on his lips. "Your lip brush tickles."
"It's supposed to."
She pats his cheek, "Good answer."
Kelly returns to the kitchen and gets to work.
After 10" Frank appears. He grabs a dish towel and starts drying dishes and utensils.
Erin still hasn't appeared before they retire to their main floor suite.
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BAYSIDE CAFÉ
The PC's SUV pulls up into a VIP reserved parking space. Jamie gets out and leads his crew inside.
Abby spots Jamie; she waves and comes to greet his crew. "Hi Jamie, I see 6. Will there be more?"
"No Abby, just 6 of us. I am treating my protective detail."
"Wonderful, I will be right back with menus and water for everyone." She hurries off, picking up some finished plates from a table she passes.
"Is she as good as she seems?" Tom Nucifero asks Jameson.
"Better. Abby is extraordinary. Michael, our chef, is her father. He's a navy man."
"Oh, cooked in the service?" Sid commented.
The answer was obvious.
Abby returns quickly, setting H2O and a menu in front of each person. "A beverage, tonight?"
They each order a drink. They note that there is a small wine list, no beer or spirits. No comments, yet.
"I'll return with your beverages, and take your dinner orders." She scoots off, just as the over door bells chime. A mother/son duo enters.
Abby turns, looks and waves them to a table. Her smile brightens, if possible.
Abby exits the kitchen, a large tray on her shoulder. She stops by the new diner's 1st and drops off menus and 2 glasses of wine.
Jamie's table is next. Everyone receives the beverage they ordered. "What would you all like?"
"Abby, does Michael have any specials tonight," Jamie asks.
Abby looks at his menu and frowns. "I'm sorry, Jamie. There should be a specials sheet in every menu."
2 table mates hold up a light green sheet. Abby chuckles, "There it is. Anyway, daddy got a special shipment of walleye pike 2 days ago. You can have it pan fried in butter, or oven baked; the baked will take 15-20 minutes. With the usual potato, vegetable or green salad of choice. And, oh-
Auntie Deborah bursts through the door, "Whole wheat rolls, hot from the oven folks." She hurries thru the dining room, through the swinging door and into the kitchen.
Abby doubles over with laughter. "She is always doing that!"
"Are they good?" Sid asks.
"Gone in 30" or less, unless diners are light."
Everyone placed their dinner order, with a WW roll.
Jamie excused himself, got up and went to say hello to the mother/son duo that just came in.
"Paula and Joseph, hello. Have we just lost our fine waitress?" He grins at Joe, who drops his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Joe mutters.
Paula pats her son's hand, "I'll keep him under control, Jameson." She and Jamie laugh.
Joe glares at his uncle.
"Just so you know, I will be watching for PDA."
He laughs and heads back to his table just as Annie and Gregg Walk in.
"Hey, Jameson!" Gregg barks. "Looks like an owners meeting."
"Could be," Jamie remarks as he follows them to their usual table. He gives Gregg a bear hug, Annie an embrace and peck on the cheek. His table is wide-eyed.
Abby brings out glasses of wine and menus for the newcomers, then moves to Paula & Joe for their orders. As she turns to head for the kitchen, Gregg catches her eye. He orders the walleye for both of them; Abby hustles off.
"Jameson," Baker starts, "a little cozy there, eh?" She knows the relationship; others at the table do not.
"My ex-fiancé. Annie and Gregg are close family friends."
"The little lady knows that?" Sid raises an eyebrow.
"Yup, in fact she insisted on it. Relax folks."
"So, an owners meeting?" Nick wonders.
"Yes-
Abby appears with their food. She serves flawlessly, asks if there is anything else – there is not.
"Owners – when Eddie and I became aware that Bayside was available we took the long view."
"Long view?" Baker questions.
"Yes, our 8th grader Malina, is very good and interested in the culinary arts. We got some family interested, and purchased for her to grow into."
"Risky," Sid commented.
"Yes. And at first, she was somewhat skeptical. But it didn't take long for her to get excited. We are just starting to discuss with Michael and Abby how to get Mal started."
"At the bottom, boss." Baker advised.
"Yup, probably bussing tables and washing dishes."
"Will she agree to start there?" Tom Nucifero puts out there.
"Yes, our kids were not born with silver spoons in their mouths."
The table chuckles, and several nod. That's what they would expect from their down-to-earth PC, Eddie and family.
There were several positive comments about the walleye. None had tasted it before; they wanted it again.
Jamie kept an eye on Joe and Abby. They were friendly, but behaved themselves. He expected that of Abby; Joe was a wild card for him. He needed more input.
While his table ate dessert he went and sat down with Annie and Gregg.
"Do you two come up here often?"
"We try to at least once a week. We've done several reviews," Annie tells him.
"Do you have data for us?"
"Yes, let's get together and talk."
Jamie nods. "Abby & Joe?" Jamie wiggles his eyebrows.
"Warm," Gregg comments.
Annie gives her husband an 'I can't believe you said that' look. "Damn HOT!" She corrects him.
He frowns at her.
"Open your eyes, Gregg!"
"Yes, ma'am."
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SUNDAY ON THE ISLAND
Jamie and Eddie had invited Frank and Kelly to join them for church and dinner. Mal was preparing GG Betty's baked chicken. All mouths watered with the aroma as soon as they entered the house. The meal was a smash hit.
"Mal, you should cook this for Bayside," Kelly suggests.
"I have thought of a special section of the menu – GG's Specials," Mal responds.
The adults pause, put down their utensils and stare at their chef prodigy.
"Wow!" Eddie exclaims. "That is a great idea."
Jamie, Frank and Kelly all smile and nod.
Mal blushes, 'what did I say?'
LATER
After a light supper, Kelly offers to help Mary Rose with chores.
Frank snorts – "Well mister, when is it your turn?" Kelly chides him. He ignores her. On her way to the barn, Kelly sees the next-door lady out in the back of their house. To get acquainted, she waves and steps to the fence. The older lady responds.
"Hi, I'm Kelly. We haven't met."
"Yes, I'm Gladys. Do you live here, too?"
"No, Frank and I live in Bay Ridge. In Brooklyn. We are spending the day with his son's family."
"Oh, Jamie and Eddie?"
"Yes. It's so nice of you to lease them some pasture."
"We are happy to do it. It was unused otherwise. Harold was telling me the other day that he'd like to sell to them. We are moving into a retirement village in 3 months."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. And guess what; the neighbors on the other side of us hope to sell also. They have a tiny house, probably a tear down. But they have 15 acres of good pasture land. Our 2 properties would make a great parcel. Great for grazing all the horses Jamie and Eddie's barn can hold. Don't you think?"
"Yes, yes, I agree. Nice to meet you, Gladys."
Kelly reverses course, retreating to the house. She enters and shouts, "Frank, Jamie! We must talk!"
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TBC
A/N: The tight, impregnable Reagan clan's Richter meter is quivering.