AND LOVE CHAP 155
Home Sweet Home
BAY RIDGE
Erin Reagan storms through the back door and into the kitchen. Kelly is at the stove, working on supper. Erin stomps through to the front coat closet; almost running Kelly over. As she is hanging up her coat, she vehemently voices, "How do they dare do this? They have no right! We are her parents, after all!"
She throws her valise on the couch, and plops down beside it. Jack and Frank are in the sunroom watching TV. Frank looks at his son-in-law, "You going to defuse?"
Jack shakes his head, "Nope, be my guest."
"She's your wife."
"She's your daughter."
"I handled her for 22 years, sort of. You signed up to try again."
Jack accepts defeat; he throws his NYT aside and walks to the LR. He sits gingerly at Erin's side. "What has your panties in a twist?"
She snorts a little laugh. "Do you really want to know?"
"Well, I want the volcano to not be erupting when I take her to bed."
"Take me?"
"I had plans for tonight."
"You did, huh?"
"Yup, and you figured highly in them."
"Um . . . good luck Jack."
"Maybe you need to start with a tepid shower?"
"Not cold?" She raises an eyebrow.
"Naw; don't want the evening to be a dud. So, what's going on?" He hopes Erin has cooled enough to start this discussion.
"Have you heard about Nicky and Jimmy?"
"Yup . . . engaged. So?"
She glares, "Moving in together! In Jamie and Eddie's barn!"
"With Joseph or Hero?" He's toying with her. (I thought he had learned?)
"Upstairs, idiot!" She gets up, starting to pace.
"With the kids? Hey . . . they might learn something. Not a bad idea, Erin."
She lets out a disgusted sound and walks into the room where her dad is still sitting. "Dad, have you-
"I have heard. And the issue is?" He looks down at his crossword puzzle.
"Does anyone . . . is nobody concerned-
"NO!"
The men are unanimous on this.
Erin stomps upstairs. A door slams.
"Where are you sleeping?" Comes from the sunroom.
"Not sure yet," from the LR. "The upstairs has options."
"Yes, it does. Sometimes you need them."
"Voice of experience, Frank?"
"A little."
"Hm."
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NYPD 1-PP
ADMIN TEAM PLUS BAEZ & CURATOLA
"Chief Baez, report please," Jameson Reagan requests.
"Thank you, sir," Chief of Detectives Maria Baez starts. "Detective Curatola and I have reviewed Detective Reagan's request for a Chief of training position thoroughly. He presented no needs assessment or rationale along with his request. As we studied things, we could find no need for this new position either. We cannot recommend approving this request."
Thank you, Maria. Detective Curatola, do you concur?"
"I do, sir." Jacqui nods.
"Well team, thoughts?"
No one has a positive thought in support of the request.
"Abby, ask him to join us, please."
She escorts Danny in. He takes a seat, she retakes hers.
"Detective Reagan, you presented no rationale in support of your request. Have you thought of any since your submission?"
Danny slouches, "Well, I feel that being senior trainer deserves that designation. It adds prestige, sir." He spits out the sir.
The PC looks to Maria, "Is he designated senior trainer now?"
"No."
He looks to Danny. "What's this all about?"
"Forget it," Danny snorts, stands and stomps out.
They all look stunned, except Jamie.
"Maria, what's your team's report on Detective Reagan's job performance?"
Jacqui takes over; "Skills, A. Temperament, C-. Interpersonal relations, D. Paperwork, D-. Overall, C-."
Captain Wells asks, "Given that; if we needed a Chief of training, would you recommend Danny Reagan?"
"No, sir." Both agree.
"Have you given him the job performance review, as required?" The PC asks.
"Not yet sir. That is scheduled this afternoon."
"Very well. Is anyone in favor of his request?"
No hands raise.
"Ok. Ladies, do his review with him as scheduled. Tell him that this team declined his request."
"Yes, sir."
"Further thoughts?"
None. On to other, routine business.
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STUDENT DRIVER
ON THE ISLAND
Gregg pulls up in the bronze Panamera, again. He thinks this will be Cassie's final lesson. If she does well, he may encourage her to take the drive test this week.
"This car again?" She's surprised.
"Yup. Let's go. Downtown Middle Island." He has traffic cones placed where she can practice parallel parking. After success 3X, she does it for real. In the downtown retail area. After another success 3X, they go for a final drive.
"STOP!"
She stomps on the brakes, sending him hard into his seat belt.
"You failed that, Cass."
"What? Why?"
"Too abrupt."
"You didn't give me any warning. Or instructions."
"True. That is what the tester will do. Now, park over there and we will talk."
They do, and she gets it right after 2 more tries. She drives to the DMV and glory be, there is a tester available. She takes her driving test and passes with a score of 80. She walks back to Gregg on rubber legs.
"Shall I drive home?"
"Yes, please."
"MOM! I PASSED!"
Mom and siblings congratulate her.
She awaits the arrival of her NY-DL in the mail. She has the paper proof of licensure. She can drive all alone!
Now the debate over cars could begin. Jamie and Eddie knew that would be solved, but not until Cassie's HS graduation. Could they find a cheap used car in the interim. They asked Jimmy and Gregg to advise.
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EASTER
Jamie and Eddie have decided to attend mass with grandpa Frank this year. All the Reagan women (Ladies and girls) have new pastel easter outfits. Complete with white bonnets, white gloves and shoes. Picture taking was wild – both pre and post church service. The extended family occupied 4 rows of pews. Friends old and new were amazed.
Afterwards, they all congregated at the Bay Ridge ancestral family home for easter dinner.
In the LR there were some stunning pictures taken. The group with Erin, Kelly, Linda, Nicky, Eddie, Annie, Cassie, Mal and Mary Rose was SPECTACULAR! A finer group of ladies was never before seen in Bay Ridge!
Grandpa Frank had tears in his eyes. He couldn't help longing for Pops, Mary Margaret and Joe (And a plus-1) to be present.
Dinner was a coordinated affair; all the ladies took part. With 2 extra leaves in the table, the dining room was packed with 14 adults. Jamie and Eddie's 4 kids were in the kitchen, along with sullen Jack and Sean Reagan.
Ham, oven baked salmon, scratch mashed potatoes, yam and green bean casseroles plus sides & trimmings sated every appetite.
Pecan pie or chocolate cake (Small servings please) topped things off. Or packed things down.
After dinner they talked or played table games until folks started to drift home.
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AFTERGLOW
Afterwards Frank, Kelly, Erin & Jack sat and talked.
"That was wonderful," Frank appraised. Kelly nodded, wrapped in his arms.
"Yes," an exhausted Erin agreed, wrapped in Jack's arms.
Jack just nodded, as he sipped from a mini snifter of brandy.
"I wonder if we'll ever do that again?" Frank wondered.
"Those same people? I doubt it," Erin mused.
"Probably not. We can try, though." Kelly added.
After 30" of mostly silence, they drifted off to their suites.
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A NEW BABY
Gregg came through for Jamie and Eddie. He had been told that cost was paramount. At Porsche Huntington they took in a Ford escort hatchback; 4 years old, 90,000 miles, dark red. Jimmy had thoroughly checked it out and assured Gregg that it was in very good shape. Gregg and Annie had decided to make this their contribution to Cassie's graduation present. Jimmy and Nicky had squeezed their way into this deal.
Gregg called Jamie and Eddie, and they agreed thar this car would work. Two days later when Cass came home from school; "Look out the back door, sweetie," mom told her. She looked.
"WHAT? MOM! What's that ribbon doing on the barn door?"
"Go and see, baby."
Cassie hurries to the barn and opens the door.
"MOTHER! HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?"
There sits the dark red Ford escort. A big white bow on top. Tucked under a windshield wiper is a card.
Cassandra,
A birdie told us you needed a car,
A girl shouldn't be housebound,
Annie & Gregg, Nicky & Jimmy
She tucks the card in her backpack, takes off the bow and throws it in the back. She opens the driver's side door and sees 2 sets of keys on the dash. She picks them up, putting one set in the glove compartment and one in the ignition. She sits and starts her baby – she purrs (they both purr). She carefully exits the garage and drives around the house to the front driveway. Entering the front door, she sets her pack down and calls out "Anyone for a ride?"
Her 4 siblings stampede past her, almost running her over. "I think that was a YES," Cassie mutters as she heads back out to her baby.
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TBC