The Reagan Siblings

Apple Sauce and Juice

Jamie Reagan's birthday fell on a Sunday that year. He had wanted to go to his favorite restaurant, but older brother Danny had firmly said 'no.'
"Why not?" Jamie almost wined.
"Because Linda is super close to the due date, and after the last time, I'm not taking any chances." Danny and Linda Reagan had been married for six months when news of a baby came. Six months into the pregnancy, two freak accidents happened. Danny, his partner, and five other police officers were shot in a mass shoot out. The stress of that situation took its toll on Linda. The stress, coupled with anxiety and fear, sent the mother into premature labor. The father was in surgery, the mother was frantic, and the baby wasn't breathing. They had lost their firstborn, which caused Linda to develop an anxiety disorder. Once healthy, she was prescribed antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills. Danny blamed himself, and Linda blamed herself. When they discovered they were pregnant again, Danny almost demanded Linda stop working. She couldn't do that, instead, miraculously, she was promoted to an over-seer job. Which meant she was behind a desk most of the time, filling Danny with some relief.
Jamie understood the worry and fear, so he settled for pizza and an ice cream cake instead. Pizza boxes littered the Sunday dinner table where the Reagans gathered.
Looking around, Linda asked, "where's the applesauce?"
"Why would you need apple sauce?" Joe wondered, taking a swig of his beer. Three months ago, he had turned legal drinking age. Since all Reagan men drank beer and whiskey, he was developing his palate.
"To put on the pizza, duh!"
"There's some in the closet, dear," Mary answered, not questioning the weird combination. After all, she had been pregnant four times- she was well familiar with the weird cravings.
"I'll get it. It's where it's always is, right?" Danny wondered, standing up.
"Yup."
"Can you bring me apple juice too?" Linda looked over her shoulder.
"Want ice?"
"No. Gross."
"She says while her husband gets apple sauce for her pizza," Jack Boyle smirked, never really liking the sweet girl or her husband.
"You try carrying a little human in your stomach." Linda shot back. "Besides, ice waters juice down. Then it's icky."
"That a fact?"
"Yes."
"One juice and an apple sauce." Danny placed the items in front of his wife before he sat down.
"Thank you.... when do we get to eat the cake?"
The family smiled at Linda, finding her pregnancy amusing.
"Can we eat it now?" Jamie wondered, grabbing another slice of pizza.
"Jamie, we're still eating," Frank smiled, amused at how fast the pizza was going. Between his eldest who was always eating, his pregnant daughter in law, and his now teenage son going through a growth spurt, no wonder Sunday dinner had become more expensive.
"Linda, What're you hoping for?" Erin wondered, feeding her three year old.
"A girl. But I'm okay with a boy, too."
"What about a boy and a girl?" Joe smiled, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not having twins! But if I were, I'd want one girl and one boy."
"What about you, Danny? What do you want?"
"Health. That's all I'm asking. Boy, girl, squid, doesn't matter. As long as Linda and the bay are healthy, I'm happy." He put his arm around Linda's shoulders, making her smile. She really wanted the same thing: health.