Jay had spent the last few days trying to get ahold of Erin but had no luck. He had only received a text from Kim saying she was safe but nothing more and he was missing both Erin and the baby terribly. Erin had just started to show and he missed laying in bed talking to her belly already.
He missed everything about Erin; the way they'd lay together in bed after a long day and just talk for hours, the way Jay would pull Erin into the shower with him and she'd pretend to be annoyed but secretly loved it, the way she'd come up behind him when he was making breakfast and wrap her tiny arms around him. She had only been gone for three days and Jay already missed her so bad he could feel it in his chest.
He was in a tough place. He knew he needed to get to the bottom of the situation with CPS but was also terrified of his world inevitably changing. He was now going to have to prepare for two kids instead of one, and potentially on his own.
He grabbed his phone and dialed the number Erin had left on the table. He got lost in thought as the phone rang, trying to figure out how he could possibly have fathered a child and never knew about it. He thought back to his previous relationship before Erin; he and Abby had never been anything serious and weren't even together long enough to conceive a child. He thought back to anybody else it could've been and as soon as the case worker on the line picked up it hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Jay had been so lost in his own thoughts he hadn't even heard anyone pick up on the other line.
"Yeah, hello, uh...this is Jay Halstead. I think you spoke with my wife a few days ago."
"Ah, yes, Mr. Halstead. We've been waiting for your call. Your daughter Ella was dropped off here by her grandparents. They've had full custody of her but unfortunately aren't able to care for her any longer and have you down as next in line to take care of her."
Jay blinked rapidly, fighting tears that threatened to fall as all of his memories came back to him at once. Why was this happening? And why was it happening now?
"And um, her mother? Where's her mother?"
"Her mother signed her rights over to her parents the day she was born. We have no way of getting in touch with her."
Jay pounded his fist against the table in anger. He couldn't believe what he was hearing and that all of this was being piled up on him. He wanted to scream and throw his phone against the wall.
"Mr. Halstead? If you're not capable of taking her at this time, we can always find another home for her."
"No….no." Jay knew even if Erin was mad now, she would be even more upset if she found out the entire story and knew Jay opted not to take care of his own child.
"I'm on my way now. Tell her not to worry, I'm coming."
Jay hung up quickly and dialed Erin's number one more time. He knew she wouldn't answer but he had to give it a shot anyway. This time when it went to voicemail, instead of hanging up he decided to leave a message.
"Er, it's me...god, I miss you so much. I don't know how to say this, or if I even want to say this over the phone but, I'm going to pick up our—my—our daughter. I have so much to tell you. Please call me back so I can explain. Please. I love you so much."
As Jay pulled into the parking lot of the building, his phone dinged and he instantly lit up when he saw the text was from Erin. His smile quickly fell as he read the message from her.
Jay, please leave me alone. There is nothing to talk about at this point. Go take care of your daughter and I'll take care of mine. Don't call or text me again.