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“Sean got into his first-choice college,” Eddie mused, causing Jamie to look over at her briefly before returning his focus to the road.
“I know,” he said slowly, sounding bemused. “There were fists banged against the table in celebration, remember? Erin’s wineglass nearly toppled over at least three times. It would’ve been hard to miss.”
“No, I know, it’s just…” She shook her head, smiling sadly. “When we first became partners, he was in, what, the third grade? Fourth? He was this little kid you always had funny stories about from Sunday dinners.”
“Still get plenty of funny stories from Sunday dinners out of him,” her husband pointed out, coming to a stop at a red light. “You’re just there to hear them in person now.”
“And I’m very glad for that,” Eddie assured him, wrinkling her nose as she smiled over at him. “But that’s not what I’m trying to say.”
“Then what are you trying to say?” Jamie questioned, confused.
“He’s growing up, Jamie,” she clarified, shifting in her seat as she leaned back against the headrest. “All of them are. I mean, Nicky’s across the country, Jack’s out of state for college, Joe’s…” She trailed off at the look on her husband’s face, finishing her statement with a hesitant, “…wherever he is. I know he’s a new addition to the family, but he’s still your nephew, our nephew, and it’s just… they’re all out there.” She gestured out the window, indicating the world around them, then heaved a heavy sigh. “And now Sean’s going to be out there, too, and who knows what’s going to happen? The world is this terrifying place, Jamie, and…”
“And it always has been,” Jamie cut in gently, cutting off his wife’s rambling before she could talk herself into a panic attack. “And it probably always will be, but hey. Hey.” He reached over with the hand not on the wheel to hold Eddie’s. “All four of them have got good heads on their shoulders, and they know they will always have a safe haven with us. If the world gets too terrifying, they know they have people they can turn to.” He lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing her fingertips. “They know we love them, Ed. They know you love them. They know that you would do anything for them. At the end of the day, making sure they know that – that’s all you can do.”
“Yeah.” Eddie exhaled heavily, suddenly exhausted. “Do you think we’ll be able to convince our kids to stay close to home? Because Columbia is – I mean, it’s a great school.”
“You ever want to have that conversation with our future children, I know of at least two people who’ll automatically take your side,” he informed her wryly, smiling at her when she glanced in his direction. “I think maybe we should worry about the infant stage of our future offspring before we concern ourselves with first-choice colleges, though. Also, the pregnancy stage,” he tacked on, causing her to laugh. “I hear that’s an important part of it, at least.”
“I’ve heard that, too.” Her amused smirk faded into something softer as she looked over at him. “You’ll hold my hair back if your child decides to give me terrible morning sickness every day, won’t you?”
“Of course, I will,” Jamie said without hesitation. “And I’ll make sure to set my clothes out and shower the night before so that we both still make it to work on time.” He grinned when she simply rolled her eyes. “Hey. When we've got kids of our own, It’ll be great.”
She smiled. “It will be.”
"And I will absolutely risk getting written up to hold your hair back, if that's what's needed."
"Aw," she drawled playfully, pressing a hand over her heart. "You really do love me."
"Yeah," he replied, no trace of teasing in his own gaze. "I really do."
"And you'll help me convince them to go to Columbia?" she checked, only half-kidding.
Jamie chuckled. "In, what, two decades' time?"
"Yes," Eddie nodded seriously.
"Absolutely. I'll put it on the calendar."
"You do that." She smiled. "Love you."
He squeezed her hand. "Love you, too."