Is It A Dream?

Bonding

"You okay, Linda?" Frank wondered once she came back in.
"Yes," she sat down, "Sorry, everyone. I just-"
"No, it's okay," Eddie interrupted, "no need to explain."
Linda smiled, I like her.
Dinner went smoothly afterwards, and Linda and Eddie washed the dishes.
"You really didn't have to wash the dishes," Linda dried a cup.
"It's okay, I wanted to. I've interacted with nearly everyone but you. So, I wanna know, how long have you and Danny been married?"
"Twenty two beautiful years," Danny responded, kissing Linda's cheek. He tried to steal a piece of pie, but Linda stopped him.
"Hey! No pie. I may be dead, but I remember what the doc said. More veggies, less sugar."
He rolled his eyes, "Yes, Nurse."
Eddie smirked, "you like listening to music while washing?"
"Yup," Linda opened her phone and clicked one of her favorite playlists.
Eddie's mouth dropped open, "is that Stay With Me Baby? By NKOTB?"
"You know it!" Linda smiled widely. Hopefully, Eddie shared her love for the band.
"Oh, I used to have the biggest crush on Donnie Wahlberg!"
"Whaddaya mean, used to? Thirty some years later, and I still love 'im."
"He's your celebrity crush?"
"Ha!" Danny laughed from the island, "more like unhealthy obsession."
"I am not obsessed."
"The 98 photos from your camera roll says otherwise."
"Wow." Eddie remarked, handing Linda a dish. "You're just gonna let him win?"
"Well, he doesn't have a celebrity crush. So how can I get back at him?" Linda put the dish away.
"See? I always land on top." Danny smiled, eating an apple.
"I land on top lotsa times."
"Are you two always like this?" Eddie moved her finger from pointing at Linda, then Danny, and back again.
The married couple looked at each other and shrugged, "guess so."
"I wanna be that way with Jamie."
"I'm sure you'll have something like this," Linda put a bowl away. She wondered how she could be talking normally, after what she went through. Maybe it was a good thing, maybe she was pretending it didn't happen?
"Jamie tells me you used to baby sit him," Eddie called the older woman out of her thoughts.
"Yeah. For a while, I did." Linda took a seat next to Danny.
"Was it fun?"
"Honestly, we both ended up falling asleep more often than not."
Eddie smirked and sat across from them, "oh yeah?"
"Yeah, cause it was always late for Jamie, and I had nothing to do, so I sorta... I fell asleep." Just the word 'sleep' sent chills up her spine. Maybe she wasn't as well off as she thought...
They chit chatted for a while, until Linda started feeling sick. "You do feel warm..." Danny frowned, "we better get going. Congratulations, Eddie."
"Thanks." She watched Linda and Danny gather their things, then leave with their boys. She hoped Linda would be okay- for some reason, the cop really liked the nurse. She wasn't sure why.
*********
"Do you think I'm sick?" Linda wondered as she sat in bed later that night.
"You probably just have a little bug, that's all." Danny sat next to her, facing her.
"No, I mean... do you think I'm crazy?"
"I don't think you're crazy."
"But I should be really bothered by all this, and I am, I just-"
"Linda, you're not crazy. We'll call the doctor tomorrow and set up an appointment."
"Okay." She was too tired to argue. Seeing Dr. Bennett would do her some good.