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Jay stowed his backpack in the trunk before turning and looking at his wife, "You're preparing everything?" he asked softly. Erin nodded, gently placing her arms around his neck, kissing his lips, "Take good care of the two of you. I love you."
"I love you too." Jay smiled. He glanced over at Jesse, who was listening to music on his headphones, waiting for them to leave. He gave his wife a last kiss on the lips and then sat behind the wheel. They had to drive for a few hours before they arrived on the trail parking lot outside of Chicago and then have to walk a few more miles. From time to time Jay looked at his son, who was always listening to his own music and staring out the window. Actually, he imagined something else under father-son-bonding-time. For example, a conversation to get to know each other better. He wondered if he had been so quiet at Jesse's age.
"What do you listen?" Jay asked curiously. Jesse pulled a button out of his ear and looked at him questioningly. He barely understood his father's words through the loud music, but he realized he was talking to him. Jay repeated his question and Jesse shrugged, "Differents," he mumbled. Jay nodded and pointed to the Bluetooth icon, "Let's hear."
Jesse hesitated for a long time. His music was not earth-shattering. Partly it was chart hits, old classics like Red Hot Chili Peppers or hardcore punk like Rise Against.
"What kind of music do you like?" Jesse asked while connecting with the GMC's Bluetooth. He was unsure which song he should play. His playlists differed in mood and genre.
"I don't know if I have your genre," Jesse added quickly. Jay looked at him briefly with a horrified look on his face. How old does he think he is? "I have no Beethoven or Mozart," Jesse added.
"You don't really think I hear such music?" Jay asked stunned. Jesse just shrugged unknowingly with his shoulders. They did not know each other long enough to know each other's musical taste. Jesse choose a song.
"Good choice." Jay grinned. He knew the music. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Can't Stop. "You'll hardly believe it, but my first album I ever bought was from Red Hot Chili Peppers."
Now it was Jesse who looked at his father in horror. Jay noticed his expression and added, "Well, I'm not as old as you think." It was crazy how the genes get through. They have not known each other for so long and yet they hear the same band. Maybe they discover more similarities.
On the trip, they listened to songs from Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication, Snow, Under the Bridge and more. After about 2 hours Jay parked in a parking lot at the edge of the forest. They grabbed their backpacks and the tent.
At some point, Jesse strolled slowly behind his father. He held his smartphone in the air in search of mobile phone reception. After all, he only listened to his music online and without internet he could not hear any music.
"If you keep up the pace, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving at home," Jay said. He was annoyed by the extremely slow pace of the teenager. Even a senior with a crutch would be faster. Theatrically, Jesse sighed loudly and walked quickly past Jay. Jay now had trouble with all the luggage (his backpack and the tent) to withstand the speed. However, it was the same as in the Army, where they did such practice.
Towards the early evening, her tent finally stood by a small lake. Subsequently, Jesse reluctantly accepted his father's request and fetched wood. "You're not serious now?" Jay asked, staring at his boy in disbelief. Jesse held a stick in each hand, "You wanted wood. You didn't say how much."
"Fine. Then don't complain if it gets too cold for you," Jay said, but the teenager just waved it off. Now Jesse sat on a jetty and let his feets dangle into the lake. He was bored, there was no internet and the batteries of his iPod were empty. He had no choice but to enjoy nature. He has never been outside Chicago. Here in the woods by the clearing it was so calm.
After a while, Jay sat next to his son. He just looked at him silently. His brown hair, the light freckles, a few similarities were evident. His brown eyes reminded him of Camila. It was still a mystery to him how it happened then, but the longer he knew Jesse, the happier he was. It was as if Jesse was missing in his relationship all these years. Jay thought about what would have been Camila never concealed his son. He would know Jesse better, would not have missed all of his milestones. But now... Jesse is a teenager and in a few years he will go his own way. He wanted to use the short time he had with the teenager. Jay was determined to show that he was not the man from Camila's stories. He wants to show him that he is not a liar nor a traitor.
"Tell me more about you," Jay said. Jesse glanced up at him before turning his gaze to the lake. He just shrugged his shoulders, as he often did. There was nothing to tell. Everything one had to know about him was also found in his file. Drug deals, school beating, bad grades...
"Do you like the Blackhawks?" Jay asked curiously. After all, they were his favorite team. He has often been in the stadium with his brother, Will. But he would like to share such trips soon with his son. Of course, Will can come along.
"That's an ice hockey team, right?" Jesse asked. Silently, Jay nodded. The question sounds like Jesse does not care. As if a game visit with his son was not possible, because Jesse was not an Ice Hockey fan.
"I know the Cubs and I played baseball," Jesse said. "I like skateboarding, sometimes I play soccer and I hate school. I like to watch fantasy movies."
Jay listened intently to his son. It was not much the teenager said about himself, but he now had a weird feeling. A feeling as if he knew the boy for a long time. A feeling as if he had raised him. He realized that the more time he spent with the teenager, the more he discovered the good side of the boy. He knew the school record. He knew that Jesse is a sporadically present student with bad grades. But since he lived with them, Jesse was not missing one day at school. His grades improved. He was a good student now.
"I have tickets for a Blackhawks game next week," Jay explained, looking questioningly at Jesse. He nodded hesitantly and grinned shortly at the detective. Spending time with him made fun. Besides, he has never been to a stadium or ice rink.
"Do we want to go swimming?" Jay asked. The blue lake offered a good refreshment opportunity. Especially because the temperatures were very summery warm on the day. Jesse shook his head. He hated swimming.
"Come on! Somehow we have to occupy ourselves." Jay winked, took off his shoes and shirt and jumped into the water.
"Come on, Jess!" Jay shouted and splashed some water to the teenager.
"It's cold!" Jesse said, though the water was actually pleasantly warm.
"Do you have anything electronic with you?" Jay asked. Jesse shook his head. It did not work out here anyway. Before he knew it, Jay pulled the teenager into the water. Jesse struggled hard. Only with great difficulty could the boy stay afloat. Jay saw how panicky Jesse was trying not to go under. So he grabbed Jesse under his arm and held him tight. Jay regretted his act very much. He should have listened to Jesse. He should not have just pulled him into the water. Jay swam back to shore, pulling Jesse with him.
"You can't swim," Jay said shocked as they arrived ashore. Jesse nodded, pulled his legs to his chest and shivered.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't know," Jay said, "I'll never do it again, I promise you." Nervously he looked at the teenager sitting in front of him, "Jess?" Jay asked softly.
"Carlos did it too. I was 4 or 5 years old when he threw me into the water and ducked under me." Jesse stammered.
"He's in jail. He will never hurt you again." Jay said and bit his lip, "I'm so sorry," he repeated. He had to expect that Jesse might not be able to swim. But he saw it as a matter of course. He got the chance to spend time with his son and screwed it up. Jesse may hate him even more than before.
"Can we do something else?" Jesse asked.
"Yeah, of course." Jay breathed out, "If you want to learn to swim, I can teach you."
Jesse shook his head, "No."
When they realized that the sun is slowly setting, they set fire to the campfire. Of course, Jay also took marshmallows with him.
"This is my first real vacation." Jesse admitted. His mom did some trips with him, but only in Chicago. Jay looked at him in surprise. He knew that Camila was in need of money, but the fact made him sad.
"And certainly not your last. We own a family cabin in North Wisconsin and I'm sure we'll be traveling over the next vacation," Jay said, "Just the three of us."
"That would be really great." Jesse smiled. They sat by the fire for quite a while. Jay's eyes kept shifting to the clock. It was already dark and they only saw with the help of the campfire.
"Is everything alright?" Jay asked worriedly. The previous incident simply did not let him go.
"Yeah," Jesse whispered. It was actually embarrassing to admit that he could not swim. But his fear of the water was far too great.
"Are you sure?" Jay asked.
Jesse nodded, "I'm not mad at you. You didn't know that." Jay frowned. He still had a bad conscience.
"Why do we do this trip?" Jesse asked curiously. It was a mystery to him why they left from Saturday to Sunday. Especially only the two of them.
"I want to get to know you better," Jay replied.
"And we go extra in the forest?" He looked at his father in horror.
"I wanted to make a real men trip and that doesn't work with Erin." Jay admitted with a grin. Jesse smiled slightly. He liked the idea a little bit. During the evening he became calmer. Although they chatted a bit about different topics, but the teenager was not very talkative.
"I'm tired," Jesse explained, straightening up slowly.
"You can stay awake for half an hour," Jay smiled, earning a surprised look from his son. Even before Jesse answered, Jay continued, "Do you seriously think I'm not looking when is my son's birthday?"
Jesse just shrugged his shoulders.
"Let's celebrate in your birthday?" Jay winked. After all, it was the first birthday of his son, which he was allowed to witness.