AND LOVE CHAP 128
FAMILY PLANNING
ON THE ISLAND – 11:00 PM
Nicky slips in the back door. Her uncle Jamie is sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a long neck. She stops short.
He holds out his hand; "Keys, sit."
Trembling, she hands him the car keys and sits. "Geez, am I in trouble?"
He looks stern, then laughs. "No, no. Not at all. I am just practicing for later. We've got 3 girls, you-
"JAMESON REAGAN! What did you do to this poor LADY?" Eddie storms into the kitchen; in her PJ's, bunny slippers and robe. She stops, hands on hips, a scowl on her face.
"Nothing, nothing. I was just practicing for-
"Practicing? For what? For whom?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Cassie . . . Malina . . . Mary Rose."
She holds her pose for 30 seconds. Then laughter descends. She hopes he's kidding.
He's not.
Eddie sits, "Well, Nick, more history?" She asks with a smirk.
Nicky blushes, "Yup."
"Good," Jamie hangs up the keys. He grabs Eddie's hand and drifts off to bed.
Nicky shakes her head, and heads for the stairs. 'Damn, they really do trust me.'
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MIDDLE ISLAND
Eddie is picking up their dry cleaning at Midway Cleaners. On her way in she notices a HELP WANTED sign in the window. After giving the lady her ticket, she inquires.
"What kind of help do you need?"
"Oh, grandma here," she points to a little old lady sitting by the front window. Grandma is sewing, obviously repairing clothes. Piled around her are stacks and stacks of clothing; either done, or yet to do.
"She needs help. She wants to cut back. But we can't let her do that."
"I know a lady, she was a seamstress in the old country."
"Where?"
"Iraq."
"Can she work here. Work permit?"
"She is an American citizen, I believe."
"Oh, can she come in? So I meet her?"
Eddie takes a business card. "I give to her."
Eddie collects her clothing and is on her way.
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BAY RIDGE – SUPPER
After they get started, Jack pipes up. "Erin, there is something you need to know."
"Oh, what?"
Frank perks up his ears. Living with these two can be an adventure. He thinks back to himself and Mary Margaret.
"It's about Jimmy Collins."
NOW everyone is listening.
"Oh, what now?" Erin puts down her fork.
"Who was it that pierced the veil and viewed Jimmy's juvie record?"
Erin looks at him, frowning. "Me, why?"
"What did you see?" Jack frowns now.
Frank braces for impact.
"He was charged with rape, at age 17."
"And?"
"No word of a trial-
"Why no trial, Erin?"
"Charges dropped, I assume."
"No notation why?"
"No. What's this about, Jack?"
"Well. I was the defense attorney, Erin."
She stares for a moment, then "WHAT?"
"Yes, Erin. There was no rape, no assault. The supposed victim broke down during a deposition-
"I've seen you break people! You can be vicious-
"I can do my job, damn well!"
"Hmpf . . . was that what this was? A damn good job? Destroying a young woman under questioning?"
"Like you do on the witness stand? Ms. Prosecutor? Huh?"
Frank wants to be somewhere else!
Erin slams her chair back against the kitchen island, gets up and stomps up the stairs.
"Guest room tonight?" Frank mutters. "Been there, done that."
"You and Mary Margaret? I don't believe it!"
"Oh yeah. Believe!"
"Frank, what happened was panic during consensual sex. No rape, no assault. She finally admitted it. Jimmy told Nicky the whole story, in my office."
"How did Nicky take it?"
"Not an issue. Nick has come to know Jimmy very well. She trusts him."
"How well?"
"No, dad. Not going there. She's 22 you know."
"Does Erin know that?"
"Not going there either."
"Understand." Frank gets up and heads to "the cabinet". He pulls down two tumblers and a bottle of amber liquid. He holds out the bottle, and looks to Jack.
His son-in-law nods. Frank pours. He thinks back to Pops doing the duty not long ago. 'Damn'.
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ON THE ISLAND – AFTER SCHOOL
Malina dashes into the house, her sisters in hot pursuit. "MOMMY! MOMMY! It happened, I'm gonna die!" She dashes into the office and collapses in her mother's arms, weeping.
"What is it baby girl?" Eddie holds her 1st born tightly.
"I'm bleeding, mommy. Will I bleed to death? It's awful!"
Cassie gets to the doorway and pauses, and mouths 'menses' to Eddie – who nods in acknowledgment.
"No, sweetie. You aren't going to bleed to death. We talked about this, remember?"
"Kinda. Can you tell me again?" Mal sniffles.
"Yes, after supper. Did you get it taken care of at school?"
"Yes. Cassie helped me. (Eddie mouths thank you to Cass, who nods) We got me cleaned up. Oh, my clothes are in my backpack."
"We'll take care of that. Did your teacher know what was happening?"
Mal, Cassie and Mary Rose burst out laughing. When they can contain themselves, Cassie talks. "It was her gym teacher . . . Mr. Lawton!" ROTFL "He was so flustered . . . he didn't know what to do! He just stood there, wringing his hands. And saying 'Oh my, oh my!'"
More ROTFL
"Your gym teacher, and he didn't know what to do? Hell (Oops) he teaches physical ed for god's sake!"
Eddie joins ROTFL
Jamie walks past, stops and backs up. "What's so funny ladies?"
They tell him, he joins ROTFL
"We are doing a refresher after supper," Eddie tells him. "Wanna join in?"
Blushing, he says "Ah, no." He walks out.
"Does daddy know?" Mary Rose asks.
Eddie just nods. Then ROTFL
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FR AFTER SUPPER
"Daddy, come! You need to know this," Mary Rose tugs at his arm.
"Yes, baby. I know this." He shrugs her hand off of his forearm.
"You do? When did you learn it?"
"Health class in high school."
"Really! Then you can help mommy teach us!"
"I'm sure she will do just fine." He hears a muffled "chicken" from the FR. He hustles to the office.
Eddie gathers her daughters 'round. She sends the boys – with a Legos kit – to the office. Nicky and Sarah join the family circle. Eddie had saved some pictures and illustrations from when she had her hysterectomy. She knew they would come in handy one day.
After explaining the anatomy, she gets to the cycle. "Every month a woman's womb prepares itself for a baby. The ovaries put hormones into the blood stream to get the lining of the womb ready. In approximately the middle of the month one of the ovaries releases 1 egg."
"Like a chicken's egg?" Mary Rose pipes up.
"No, very much smaller. You would need a microscope to see it."
"Wow!" The girls exclaim. Sarah and Nick nod, Eddie is doing a good job.
"If the egg doesn't get fertilized, it passes on out of the body. The lining of the womb – that was ready for a fertilized egg, dies and comes out too. It looks a lot like blood. And there is a lot of blood with it. This process happens every month. Until an egg sticks to the lining of the womb, and grows to be a baby.
"So, starting now, and about every 28 days, you will bleed Malina. We call it menstruation. That's why you need to have supplies with you when your menses is about due. We call it your period. Boys don't like to talk about it."
"Why not?" Mal wonders.
Sarah and Nicky giggle, Eddie gives them the stink eye.
"Daddy didn't either, I think he was embarrassed." Mary Rose giggles.
"So Mal, we need to make sure your pack has enough supplies. So, you can keep clean thru the day."
"Cassie has already helped me pack for tomorrow."
"Thanks Cassie," Eddie tells her oldest daughter.
"You are welcome, mom." She remembers her 1st period!
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Davenport, Erickson & Jackson
In one of their recent phone conversations (becoming frequent between the ladies) Annie had asked if Eddie was going to be spending some time in Manhattan any time soon. Eddie said yes. Annie said that there was something she wanted to discuss with Eddie. She said it was legal related, wouldn't be specific. Eddie agreed to meet – at Annie's office over lunch.
When Eddie arrived, she was surprised to see Professor Chapman of NYU waiting also. Annie soon came out, welcomed them and escorted them back to her office. Eddie was surprised to see that Annie had moved up to a corner office. She commented on that.
"Yes, I've had 3 extremely large wins lately. As dad is close to retirement, he decided to trade office apace with me. I'm not complaining!"
"Wow! Of course not!" Eddie congratulated her friend.
Annie opened the catered lunch tray; they took selections and started eating. Soon, Dr. Chapman started the discussion.
"At NYU-Law we have had 2 recent students earn their JD in 2 years. Through a combination of distance learning, challenging courses and on campus classwork. As I am overseeing Nicole Boyle's training, Annie and I have talked. And you-
"No, no! STOP!"
Annie reacts. "Eddie, what's the matter. We just-
"STOP! I must talk this over with Jamie."
"Well, we-
"No, let me share the story."
They both nod.
"About 10 years ago, Jamie went for a promotion from sergeant to lieutenant. It took him 18 months. During that time, he kept me in the loop every step of the way. He asked my advice; had me quiz him; had me read to him; I was totally engaged. He succeeded!
"Good for him!" They both exclaimed.
"Then a couple of years later I got the bug to upgrade myself from paralegal to lawyer – more income. I was a wife; mother with 2 daughters; income producer. I went as far as talking with an admitting counselor at Columbia. All without saying a word to Jamie – my husband, the love of my life! To say that created a problem between us – would be a gross understatement. I am not going there again! You have said enough to tweak my interest. But I must not hear another word . . . certainly not make any decision without talking with Jamie. I'm sorry."
Silence. Finally, Annie speaks.
"Well Professor. If you are seeking an exhibit of marital love, one just fell into your lap!"
"Yes, it has."
Eddie blushes and drops her head. "I learned a lesson, we both did. And we made a promise, never to do that again. Either way. So, I have heard enough to talk with Jamie. If after that I want to discuss it, my options. I assume I can call or TXT Annie and get the ball rolling?"
"Yes, you can."
"Let me say-
"STOP! I'm sorry, but no more. Annie, thanks for the lunch." Eddie stands. Bows her head slightly and exits.
"Well, that was rude!" Professor Chapman snorts.
Annie looks at him like he has 3 heads.
"What's that look?" He says with a sneer. "It was very rude. She wouldn't even listen!"
"As I said, that was love! I will wait a few days, then touch base with her. If she wants to explore this, I will let you know. Is that acceptable, Professor?"
"Yes, but remember we have a very limited number of slots for this, Annie."
"I remember. Thanks for bringing this to my attention."
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8 DAYS PREVIOUSLY*
Eli Abdul comes to his senses. He is freezing cold. It's night and he is outside, alone. There is a heavy weight on top of him – it is a body! No, two bodies! He struggles to free himself, then sits up. He squints in the darkness, there is a half-moon low on the horizon. He turns one head so he can see the face of the person. He faints!
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TBC
Based on an idea from skyross19. You set me to thinking! Thanks, why not? My mind just took off; this will be an interesting arc. I will do my best to honor, and be respectful of a culture I know so little about. If I err please comment; kindness is appreciated.