Sundays are supposed to be easy, should be slow and lazy, a day to sleep in. Instead, Hailey is startled awake by a door slam and the resounding shout of frustration down the hall from her bedroom that comes from her three year old and she groans into her pillow.
She reaches out blindly for her phone on the nightstand, only lifting her head when her hand finds the device, and peeks an eye open at the screen.
7:48AM.
She drops the phone and presses her face back into the pillows, groaning again at the fact that barely eight in the morning could even remotely be considered sleeping in. She can already tell it's going to be a rough morning if her daughter is throwing a tantrum this early and wonders what could have happened already to upset the little girl.
Hailey kicks off the covers and rolls out of bed, head slightly aching at the impending onslaught of a migraine that she hopes she can fight off quickly enough.
She leaves her bedroom and heads out into the hallway, still in her sleep shorts and a tank top, and sees her daughter's door closed. She knocks once and turns the handle, peeking her head in to see Avery sitting on her bed. She's got welled up tears in her eyes and she's clutching her favorite teddy in her lap.
Hailey enters the room and makes her way over to the twin sized bed, sitting down next to the little girl. "Are you the one making all that noise so early?"
Avery lifts her head and despite the tears, she furrows her eyebrows and pouts her lip in annoyance.
"Yes I am," she huffs out a little too strongly.
"Avery," Hailey warns, raising her eyebrows at the little girl. "Why don't you tell mama what's bothering you instead of not being nice about it?"
"Auntie's the one not being nice!" She says loudly.
"Why is auntie not being nice?"
"She put me in time out!"
"Why did she put you in time out?" Hailey questions, knowing full well that Vanessa had to have a good reason to do such a thing and knowing it doesn't happen very often.
She watches Avery take a deep breath and then her words come tumbling out quickly. "She said I have to wear my duck boots today 'cause of the rain and I said it can't rain 'cause it's park day and she said I still have to wear 'em just in case and I got mad at her."
"What do you mean you got mad at her?"
"I threw my cup on the floor and spilled my orange juice and called her stupid," she says quietly now, looking down at the teddy in her lap.
Hailey nods and reaches a hand toward the little girl, placing a finger under her chin and making her girl look up at her. "It sounds to me like you weren't being very nice and auntie was right to put you in time out. Did you say you're sorry?"
Avery shakes her head slowly, a guilty look on her face.
"I think you owe auntie an apology after your punishment is over," Hailey suggests, moving her hand over the little girl's head and running her fingers through her curls. "Did she put the timer on?"
Avery nods and points to a bookshelf across the room. "She said four minutes and I can come downstairs when it goes off."
Hailey stands from the bed and goes to the shelf, looking at the small kitchen timer sitting on it, then turns back to face Avery.
"You have less than a minute left," Hailey tells her calmly. "I'm gonna go get dressed really quick and then I'll come back and we'll go downstairs together, okay?"
Avery nods and Hailey leaves the room, closing the door behind her, and heading back to her bedroom again. She lets out a sigh as she runs a hand through her hair, and gets ready for the day.
The timer sounds off from down the hall for a few seconds as she finishes getting dressed and she slides a hair tie onto her wrist before picking up her phone and stuffing it in her back pocket.
She heads back to her daughter's room and knocks again before pushing open the door. Her girl is right where she left her, still sitting on the bed and holding tight to her teddy bear.
"You ready to go downstairs or do you wanna stay up here for a bit?"
Avery shakes her head and slides down from her bed before running to her mother, who leans down and picks her up.
"I'm sorry mama," Avery croaks out against her neck, teddy still in hand and her little legs dangling on either side of Hailey's torso as she settles her girl against her chest.
"I know you are," Hailey tells her, running a hand up and down her back gently. "But it's not me you have to say sorry to. You probably hurt auntie's feelings and that's not okay."
Avery nods against her shoulder in response and Hailey pats her on the back.
"Come on," she says quietly, turning on her heel and carrying the little girl out of the room.
When they get downstairs, Vanessa is on all fours on the kitchen floor with a frustrated look on her face as she's just finishing wiping up a puddle of orange juice. She glances up at them as they enter the kitchen and Hailey offers her an apologetic smile as she sets Avery on her feet.
Vanessa leans back on her knees as Avery approaches her and wraps her little arms around the woman's neck. "I'm sorry for makin' a mess and callin' you stupid auntie."
Vanessa frustrated face softens as she brings her arms around the little girl, squeezing her tightly before pulling back to look at her. "Thank you kiddo. Wanna try some breakfast again?"
Avery nods and Vanessa stands to her feet, lifting the little girl into her arms and carrying her over to a stool at the island.
"I got her, V. Go take a shower or study or do whatever you need to do. It's your day off too. I would have thought she'd sleep a little later this morning," Hailey tells the brunette.
"Thanks Hails," she smiles gratefully, dropping a kiss to the top of Avery's head before leaving the kitchen and trekking upstairs.
Hailey stands on the other side of the island, leaning against it on her elbows and looking across the countertop at her daughter. "Cereal or waffles?"
"Waffles please," Avery mumbles.
Hailey bustles around the kitchen, dropping two Eggo's in the toaster and pouring a fresh cup of juice for her daughter. While Avery eats, Hailey makes up a cup of coffee and gets some yogurt for herself. It's a slow, quiet morning after that, Hailey settling Avery in the living room to let her watch some kid's show for a bit.
"Mama?" Avery calls out before Hailey leaves the room.
She turns back to face her girl on the couch. "Yeah babe?"
"Can we still go to the park today?"
"Yeah, we can still go to the park," Hailey smiles softly and nods toward the large wall clock. "I'm gonna clean up a bit first. I'll let you know when it's time to leave okay?"
Avery nods and Hailey disappears into the kitchen.
She's not sure how much time passes between cleaning the kitchen and doing a couple loads of laundry when Avery appears next to her in the kitchen, clutching her teddy bear with a hopeful look on her face.
"Can we go yet mama?"
Hailey looks up from pulling clean dishes out of the dishwasher and shakes her head at her daughter. "Soon babe. I'm almost done here."
Avery rolls her eyes and as much as her little attitude should probably annoy Hailey at this point after what she woke up to, it takes everything she has inside of her not to laugh.
"But I wanna go now," Avery whines. "What if it rains like auntie said and I can't go on the swings today? They're my favorite!"
"I know they're your favorite, but if it rains we will find something else to do that is just as fun, okay?" Hailey tells her.
The little girl huffs again, but mumbles out a quiet "okay" before turning away from her mother and disappearing back into the living room. It really isn't often that her daughter has this much of an attitude or throws a tantrum and she thinks she might have jinxed herself after her conversation with her partner the day before.
Her phone goes off a moment later and she grabs it from her pocket to see who's calling, shaking her head at the irony and mumbling, "Speak of the devil."
She swipes a finger across the screen to accept the call and brings the phone to her ear. "You better not be calling to tell me we have a case, Halstead."
"Well, hello to you too," Jay says from the other end of the line. "Rough morning?"
"You have no idea," Hailey sighs, running a hand through her hair. "If you're not calling about work, I'm going to assume something has come up or you've changed your mind about today, and honestly, that's fine. It might even be for the best now."
"Whoa, Hailey, slow down," he says at her rushed tone, a laugh echoing through the line. "It's not about work and I'm not calling to tell you I'm not coming. I just had a question. I texted earlier, but you hadn't responded so I figured I'd call."
"Sorry, this morning has been a bit crazy. What's up?"
"Would it be okay if I bring something for Avery today?"
"Something like what?"
"Something to win her over," he says, and she knows he's smirking at her through the phone.
"You wanna bribe my three year old?" She asks him, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder now as she finishes putting away the dishes.
"Well I'm basically going to be an uncle to her and that's what uncles do. I don't foresee my knucklehead of a brother having kids any time soon so I have to practice with yours," he tells her.
"Jay, you don't have to bring her anything, really. In fact, I would ask that you don't. You don't need to give her gifts to make her like you. Just be your usual charming self," Hailey says.
"You think I'm charming?"
She rolls her eyes even though he can't see her and reaches her hand up to hold the phone against her ear now. "Is that all your ego got out of what I just said to you?"
"No," he says, "So no presents?"
"No presents."
"Alright, fine. What happened earlier though? Everything okay?"
"Avery's just in a mood today," Hailey tells him. "You sure you still wanna hang out with her?"
"Well, like you said, I'm charming so I'm sure it'll be fine."
"I'm never complimenting you again."
Hailey hears him laugh again through the phone and then, "What time should I meet you?"
She glances over at the time on the stove to see it's a little after ten. "Is eleven okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine. I'll see you guys in a bit."
"See you then," Hailey says, ending the call just as Vanessa enters the kitchen a few moments later dressed in comfy clothes with a towel wrapped around her head.
"Uh-oh, I know that look. She didn't make another mess did she?" She asks as she heads for the fridge and Hailey lets out an annoyed sigh. She pulls out a bottle of Gatorade and turns back around to face her friend.
"No, but she's definitely in a mood today and I have no idea why," Hailey says to her friend. "What exactly happened earlier anyway?"
"I told her it might rain and to make sure she wears her duck boots and she flipped out. That kid really loves the swings," Vanessa tells her.
Hailey shakes her head, blowing out a sigh of slight annoyance. "I can't even remember the last time she threw a tantrum like this."
"You sure you wanna take her to the park at all then?"
"Yeah, it should be fine. Besides, I don't think punishing her twice is exactly the thing to do here. I already told her we would go and it's not like an attitude from her is a regular thing," Hailey says.
"Nice to know you actually read those child psychology articles I send you," Vanessa teases, a devilish smile forming on her face. "And who knows, maybe your partner will be able to cheer her up. Is that him you were just talking to?"
"Don't start this again," Hailey groans, turning away from her and heading for the entry way to pull on her boots.
"How can you ask me to do that when you went on a date with the guy yesterday," Vanessa says, loud enough for her friend to hear.
It's quiet for a moment and then Hailey rounds the corner into the kitchen. "Because it wasn't a date, it was just breakfast. We eat together all the time."
Vanessa hums out a response, sipping her sports drink through smiling lips.
"I'm serious, V. Don't get any crazy ideas. That is not happening between me and Jay. Ever."
"Why not? He seems nice and he's good looking and he has a good job."
"No."
"Come on! You haven't dated in, well, you haven't done anything with anyone since I've been here with you and Ave, at least not that I know of anyway. Maybe if you got some you'd be a bit less stressed out all the time."
"You really are relentless," Hailey breathes out, pulling her hair up into a ponytail.
"All I'm saying is you should put yourself back out there and have a little fun."
"Maybe I should, but it's not going to be with Jay. He is - Jay's my friend. A really good friend and we work together. He's like a brother to me."
"A brother?" Vanessa snorts. "Yeah, okay."
"You're being ridiculous."
"Am I though?" Vanessa asks, eyebrow raised and a smirk still planted on her face.
"Yes, you absolutely are," Hailey says.
"Maybe you're just in denial," Vanessa continues, leaning against the island on her elbows.
"Maybe you're just seeing things that aren't there. You met the guy once. Why don't you go play matchmaker with someone else or yourself for that matter? You don't date either."
"Yeah, but I don't date because I'm trying not to flunk out my last semester of college. Gotta keep my eye on the prize," Vanessa says, bringing her drink to her lips again.
"And I don't date because I have a crazy job with crazy hours and I also have a kid to think about. I can't exactly be bringing strange men around all the time. That's a disaster just waiting to happen."
"Yeah, but Jay isn't strange. He seems very normal and fine. He is so fine."
"Stop it," Hailey says before turning toward the living room. "Ave! Let's go!"
"I'm just saying."
"Uh-huh, sure ya are," Hailey says. "Can I leave now?"
"Oh, you mean for your second date with Jay?"
"It's not a date," Hailey groans again. "He's meeting me and Ave at the park so he can get to know her a little bit. Plus, he's great with kids so maybe he'll actually be able to cheer her up like you said."
"So he's nice, he's handsome, has a good job, and he's great with kids? If he's great with kids that means he likes kids."
Hailey shoots her friend another glare, eyebrows raised almost threateningly. "Vanessa."
The younger woman raises her hands in surrender, but keeps the smile on her face. "Alright, alright. I'll let it go for now. Go, have fun on your date that's not a date."
"I hate you," Hailey tells her with a teasing grin as Avery comes trotting into the kitchen.
"No, you don't," the younger woman says before looking down at her pseudo-niece. "See ya later kiddo. Have fun with mama!"
"Bye auntie," Avery says with a wave of her little hand.
Vanessa waves back with a smile and the mother and daughter head to the front door, Hailey helping her pull her rainboots on despite the little girl's disgruntlement, and they make their way out of the house to Hailey's Jeep. Hailey gets the little girl buckled into her car seat and rounds to the driver's side, buckling herself in and turning over the engine.
As she drives, Hailey peeks back at Avery through the rearview mirror and sees her staring out the window.
"Hey, Ave?"
"Yes mama?"
"Do you remember my friend from the other night when we had pizza?" Hailey asks her.
She catches the little girl's nod through the rearview and then hears, "Yeah, the police man."
"That's right. He's gonna meet us at the park today. Is that okay with you?" Hailey asks, turning her head to look at the little girl when she stops at a light.
"Okay," Avery says, her voice small and unsure as she twists the arms of the teddy in her lap. "You gotta get the bad guys today mama?"
"Nope, no work or bad guys today."
"Why is the police man coming?" She asks.
"Him and I work together a lot and he thinks you're pretty awesome. He just wants to say hi."
"Oh. Okay," Avery says quietly, and then, "Mama?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"Your friend is nice, right?"
"He's the nicest," Hailey assures her, smiling at her through the mirror and when her girl smiles back with a toothy grin the nerves and the chaos from this morning start to slip away.
A few minutes go by in silence until Hailey pulls up and parks on the street beside a large park. It doesn't seem to be too crowded, but she doesn't see Jay's truck yet, and when she looks at the clock on her dash she sees it's about quarter to eleven. She kills the engine and turns in her seat to look at Avery who has a smile on her face as she stares out the window.
"You okay, Ave?"
"I don't think it's gonna rain mama," Avery says quietly, looking out at the blue sky through the car window with a happy smile on her face.
"I don't think so either," Hailey says.
She gets out of the car and goes around to the other side of the Jeep, pulls open the rear passenger door, and helps Avery out as she jumps down to the curb. The little girl grabs onto her mother's outstretched hand and they walk through the grass, Hailey leading them to a bench behind the set of swings.
Hailey takes in her surroundings like she does every time she's out with Avery, clocking the handful of kids on the playground in the middle of the park, the few lingering adults nearby. Either parents or nannies, save for one man alone at the opposite end of the park. He's turned away, facing the other direction and paying no mind to any of the kids, just the dog at his feet so she figures he's harmless.
"Can I swing mama? Please?"
Hailey looks down as Avery tilts her head up with a hopeful smile and she nods, walking them over to the swing set and lifting her up onto a seat and steadying her.
"Remember what I told you before?" Hailey asks.
Avery nods as she wraps her little hands around the chains, holding tightly to them. "There's no back so I have to hold on and tell you when I wanna stop."
"That's my girl," Hailey says, smiling at her.
She moves behind Avery and gives her a light push, watching as she moves through the air. There's a big grin planted on her little face as she tries to pump her legs to keep herself moving.
"You'll get it babe, keep trying," Hailey says, encouraging the little girl on who keeps moving her legs as best she can.
It's moments like these when Hailey realizes just how quickly time is seeming to fly by, how pretty soon her daughter isn't gonna need her anymore for something as trivial as pushing her on the swings at a park. But that time hasn't come fully just yet so Hailey pushes the thought to the back of her mind as she watches her girl. She's smiling happily and laughing loudly as she squeals and asks her mother to push her higher.
Hailey gives her another push, slightly harder to get her further in the air, her blonde curls swaying freely through a light breeze.
She gives her a few more pushes and then the little girl turns her head to look back at Hailey. "Mama? Is that your friend?"
Hailey looks over the little girl's head and sure enough Jay is walking toward them with a shy smile on his face. He doesn't appear to any presents with him, but he does have two cups of coffee in his hands and something else nestled under his arm that she can't quite make out.
"Hey," Hailey says, smiling at him in greeting.
"Hi," he says back almost awkwardly. He stands off to the side as Hailey helps Avery come to a stop on the swing and he looks down at the little girl, lifting his hand and waving to her. "Hi Avery."
Hailey's not sure she has ever seen her partner look this unsure of himself, this out of place, and it makes her want to laugh, but she doesn't want to make him feel bad so she holds it in, making a mental note to tease him about it later. She kneels down on the ground next to her daughter, noticing the hesitant look on her girl's face despite already having met her partner before today.
"Remember what I told you in the car?" Hailey asks her, then leans in and whispers, "He's the nicest, I promise."
Avery gives her mother a quick nod and glances up at Jay, a tiny smile of shyness peeking out. "Hi."
He takes a step forward slowly, not wanting to startle the little girl, and kneels down in front of her with an arm's length distance between them. He sets the coffees in his hands down on the ground and pulls a plastic bottle from the crook of his elbow.
"Do you by any chance like apple juice?" He asks her, raising an eyebrow and smiling charmingly at her.
Avery nods again. "I love apple juice."
"Well, that's good because I brought some for you," he tells her before glancing at Hailey and silently asking for her permission. His partner just nods and smiles, and he hands it toward Avery.
"It's okay," Hailey assures the little girl when she glances at her mother.
Avery takes the juice from his hand with a quiet "thank you" as she looks up at him, shyness still prevalent as she eyes him curiously.
"You're welcome," Jay says.
"What do ya say we go sit for a bit to talk with Jay and you can drink your juice, huh?" Hailey suggests, reaching up to brush some hair out of her girl's eyes. "I promise you can play after."
"Okay mama."
Hailey helps her girl down to the ground and the trio makes their way toward the bench behind the swings. She sits down and lifts Avery up to sit between them, and then Jay passes her one of the coffees he brought with him.
"I thought you were joking yesterday," Hailey says gesturing to the coffee.
Jay shakes his head, smiling at her. "I don't joke about coffee."
"Clearly," she says, smiling back at him as she lifts the cup appreciatively and tilts her head down to Avery. "Thanks by the way."
"No problem," he says, glancing down at the little girl between him and his partner. "Want me to open that for you?"
"Yes please," Avery says looking up at him and holding the bottle toward him.
He takes it from her with that same polite smile on his face and unscrews the top of the bottle before pulling a straw from his jacket pocket. He unwraps it and places it inside before passing the drink back to Avery.
"Thank you very much," she says sweetly, and Hailey smiles at the interaction, glad to see the little girl's coy behavior starting to fade away as she sips through her straw and swings her legs over the bench seat.
The little girl has always been cautious around strangers, mostly in part to her mother and auntie teaching her what to do or say should something ever happen, but once she warms up to someone she's right back to her usual talkative and bright eyed little self.
"You're very welcome," Jay says back, bringing his coffee cup to his lips.
"So you found it okay," Hailey says a moment later, glancing at the park surrounding them.
"Yeah, it was fine. You guys been here long?"
"Nah, maybe ten minutes or so," Hailey tells him.
He responds with a slow nod, his gaze falling from his partner to her daughter between them, and then he leans his head down just slightly to be almost eye level with the toddler.
"So Avery, what is your favorite thing to do at the park?" He asks, trying to make conversation as best he can with a child he barely knows, but he notices the way her eyes light up at his question.
"Swings!" She says excitedly, holding her juice in her lap. "I like slides too, but there's always big kids on 'em and they're not very nice sometimes."
"How could anyone not be nice to you?" Jay asks and she shrugs her little shoulders at him making him chuckle. "Want me to take you over there so you can play? Or we can go back to the swings, your choice."
"I got a question first," she says, scrunching her nose and eyebrows adorably and he chuckles again at the sight.
"Ask away kiddo," Jay tells her.
"Your mama's friend right?"
"Yes, I am."
"Does that mean you're my friend too?" Avery asks and he smiles fondly at her immediately.
"It absolutely does," he says.
Avery glances between him and the playground then, seemingly unsure of something until she looks back at Jay beside her. "Ok. Maybe if you take me to the slide it will be okay 'cause you're bigger than the big kids."
"I think that sounds like a great idea," Jay tells her. He stands from the bench and stretches his arm out, extending an open hand to the little girl. "Come on!"
Avery looks up at him, another curious glint in her eye, and then she turns back toward Hailey. "Can I mama?"
"Sure ya can. Do you want me to come with?" Hailey asks her.
It's not as if she doesn't trust Jay with her daughter, but it is only the second time they're spending time together and the first time doesn't exactly count given the circumstances.
Hailey holds back a laugh as Avery tilts her head, a too pensive thought on her face for a three year old, but then the little girl shakes her head. She sets her juice down beside her and looks back up at Jay, staring at him for another moment before placing one of her little hands in his. She jumps down from her seat and the two walk the short distance to the playground hand-in-hand.
Hailey watches them as Avery climbs up steps and ladders, and Jay follows after her along the perimeter of the equipment. When her girl makes it to the top of the playground tower she goes down a big, spiraling tunnel slide, meeting Jay at the bottom and a big grin stretches out over Hailey's face when she hears her girl's squeal of excitement.
They stay out on the playground for a bit until Avery meets a new little friend as she makes her way up the tower again. Jay stands back, watching the little girl almost protectively now.
He watches her for a few more minutes before making his way back to the bench and takes a seat next to his partner, but his eyes don't leave Avery. "She made a new friend."
"Awe, how's your ego?" Hailey teases and he side-eyes her with a single raised eyebrow and a playful scowl.
They watch the little girl run through the mulch, a big grin on her face as she plays and squeals happily with a couple kids now.
"Ya know, I still don't get it," Hailey says after a few more minutes pass by in silence between them.
"What's that?" Jay asks.
"How you're not pissed at me for not telling you about her sooner," she says, glancing over at him for a second before her eyes go back to her daughter. "I feel like if the situation was reversed and I found out you had a kid I didn't know about for six months, I might be just a little pissed at you."
"Do you want me to be pissed at you?" He asks, eyebrows scrunching together.
"Well, no," Hailey says. "Maybe? I dunno. It's a complicated situation I guess."
"I don't think it's that complicated at all to be honest," he says quietly.
"What do you mean?" She asks him, looking back at him even though his eyes are still straight ahead and watching her daughter.
"I mean, I was hurt and maybe I still am, but I'm not pissed at you," he says and it's another tone of sincerity that doesn't surprise her, but still somehow manages to catch her off guard. "I understand why you kept that part of your life a secret, Hailey. I'm not exactly an open book either, ya know? It's not like I go around broadcasting my life for the world to see. Your personal life is your business."
She gives a slow nod as she takes in his words and then he looks over at her, his eyes finding hers quickly.
"I wanted to be angry Hailey. Hell, I thought I should be, but I don't. I just – I don't feel that."
She nods again because she's not quite sure what to say so she smiles softly instead and turns her head to watch over Avery who is just about to go down the slide again.
"You know, she was in such a little diva mood this morning. A trip to the park and twenty minutes with you, and now she's as happy as can be."
"I have that effect on people," Jay tells her with a smirk that has her rolling her eyes at him yet again.
"She can be pretty shy when it comes to new people. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised though considering how charming you are."
He doesn't miss the tone in which she says it, an obvious dig at their earlier conversation, but he smiles regardless and nods.
"She really is a great kid, Hailey. And she is so smart. Pretty sure her manners and vocabulary are better than Ruzek," he jabs to make a point and it makes her laugh at their friend's expense.
"I guess I did something right then," she says.
He shakes his head at her. "That kid hit the jackpot with you for a mom."
"Thank you," she whispers, glancing back at him. She smiles proudly, but finds herself reaching for her nearly forgotten coffee to try and distract herself from the way he compliments her and smiles too softly at her.
"So where's Vanessa today?" He asks her then and her smile grows instantly at the mention of her friend.
"At home studying probably. She's a senior in college and has midterms soon, and biology is apparently the bane of her existence."
"College? Ya know, I thought she looked a bit younger than us. How'd you meet her?"
"She was sixteen, working at some restaurant. There was a robbery one night while she was working and I was the responding officer. I don't know what made me do it, but I gave her my contact info and told her if she ever needed anything to reach out," she tells him pausing to take another sip of her coffee as she glances between him and Avery. "She reached out about six months later for some job reference and we kept in touch after that. When I found out I was pregnant, she was in school and working three jobs to afford tuition and rent, so I made her a job offer."
"And so she became the nanny," Jay finishes.
"Only at first. Both our lives were a mess back then, but we ended up helping each other out," she tells him, looking at him with a fond smile as she thinks of her friend. "Now I can't imagine my life without her. Avery adores her, with the exception of this morning when she threw a tantrum and called her stupid."
Jay laughs and she shakes her head at the memory of earlier as she glances back over at him. "She's just a part of the family now."
"You're amazing, do you know that?" He breathes out suddenly, eyes wide and soft and in awe as he stares at her.
"All I did was give her a job," Hailey laughs, shaking her head again.
"You probably changed her life," Jay tells her, tone quiet and with purpose as he speaks the words and stares at her with soft green eyes.
That prideful feeling he had for her the day before at the diner grows in his chest and he realizes, not for the first time, just how remarkable his partner is as a person.
"Well, she saved mine," Hailey whispers, breathing through the tightness in her chest and trying to ignore the way he's looking at her.
She swallows hard and looks away from him, breaking the stare they've been holding for a few seconds too long, and glances down at her phone to check the time. It's already after twelve and she looks back out at the playground, spotting Avery just coming out of the slide again.
"I should probably get her some lunch before she turns into a gremlin," she tells her partner, forcing a laugh and hating the slightly awkward air that hangs between them now. Jay just nods as she stands to her feet and walks toward her daughter.
"You wanna go and grab some lunch babe?" He hears Hailey ask the little girl and he smiles at the sight of her nodding her head excitedly. Hailey reaches for her hand and they make their way back over to him, an excited smile still shining over Avery's face.
He stands to meet them when they get back to the bench and he looks down at his new little buddy. Her little face is red from running and playing, and he grabs her juice and hands it to her.
"Thank you!" Avery says gratefully before drinking it down quickly and he just smiles at her.
"Did you have fun kiddo?" He asks when she lets out a large gasp from drinking.
"Yeah! I got to go down the slide so many times!"
"I saw! And the big kids stayed away. Looks like your plan worked," he tells her and she nods her head again.
"It really did work!"
Hailey watches their interaction with another smile on her face, feeling almost guilty for having to break up the new friends, but she can tell Avery is getting tired and she needs to eat lunch before she goes down for a nap when they get home.
"Thanks for hanging out with us," Hailey says then, looking over at her partner with a tight lipped smile.
Jay glances at her and nods before kneeling down in front of Avery. "I had fun hanging out with you today. You're a very cool kid Avery Charlotte Upton."
"I had a lotta fun too. Thank you for playing with me," Avery says, a toothy grin aimed up at him and no shyness to be found anywhere on her cute face.
"You're very welcome," he tells her before standing to his feet and looking at his partner. "I'll see ya tomorrow?"
Hailey gives a nod and opens her mouth to speak, but then Avery tugs at her hand and says, "Is Jay gonna have lunch with us mama?"
He smirks at both the invitation and the look on his partner's face as Hailey looks completely caught off guard by the idea. She glances over at Jay then back down to Avery, not quite sure what to say as her girl looks up at her with hopeful blue eyes.
"I think Jay might already have other plans baby," Hailey tells her and the little girl's face drops.
His new little buddy looks up at him with bright blue eyes and a slightly puckered bottom lip, and then she says, "Please Jay?"
"Maybe he can come with us another time, okay?" Hailey suggests to her daughter. She looks back over at Jay, her eyes saying what she doesn't want to say out loud. That getting lunch together wasn't part of the plan and she's sure and certain he doesn't wanna spend his entire day off hanging out with a colleague and her kid.
He knows Hailey is giving him an out, but he doesn't take it as he kneels back down in front of Avery and grins at her. "I would love to have lunch with you."
In an instant, her pout is gone and she's beaming up at him again while Hailey tilts her head with a curious gaze on him.
"You really don't have to – "
The look he gives her makes her button up her mouth and she smiles sheepishly as he stands back on his feet.
"There's a burger joint not too far from here. Feel like walking?" Jay suggests.
"Sure," Hailey smiles, reaching for Avery's hand and Jay disposes of the coffee cups and juice bottle, and they make their way out of the park.
The spot he suggested is less than two blocks away and by the time they arrive and get seated in a booth, Avery is talking their ears off. Hailey is certain that if she hadn't put the little girl in the inside of the booth next to her she would have sidled up right next to her partner instead.
It should probably concern her how quickly her daughter has warmed up to him, how enamored she seems to be with him, but Hailey pushes the thought to the back of her mind, knowing how shy she may be at first and how when she likes someone, it's all downhill from there.
A waiter comes to their table a few minutes after they sit down and takes their order of burgers and fries all around. When they leave, Avery goes back to shooting off question after question at Jay.
"Do you have a star? Like my mama," she asks him.
Jay stares back, raising an eyebrow curiously. "A star?"
"She means your badge," Hailey offers and he nods.
"I do. I don't have it with me though. I left it in my truck."
"Oh. I want a star like mama's. She doesn't let me play with it anymore 'cause I dropped it in the toilet one time."
Jay snickers from his seat, glancing at Hailey who shakes her head in reminiscence.
"I don't let you play with it anymore because you almost flushed it," Hailey says, reaching her hand over in an attempt to smooth out the mess of curls on the little girl's head.
"It was an accident!" Avery argues back in a playful tone, her shoulders shrugging.
"I know baby," her mother says, but Avery is already transfixed back on Jay.
"What's your favorite color?" She asks him, sitting up on her knees next to Hailey and looking at Jay across the table.
"Blue. What's yours?" He shoots back with a friendly face and a raised eyebrow.
"I like blue too! Mama says my eyes are a pretty blue, but I have to look in a mirror to see 'em," she tells him.
"Your eyes are definitely a pretty blue. I think you got those from your mom," he says too casually and if he notices the way Hailey's cheeks flush at his words, he doesn't let it show.
Avery gasps then, causing Hailey to turn toward her in alarm thinking something is wrong, but the little girl just looks at her mother and reaches her hands out to press her palms against her cheeks. "Mama, look at me!"
"What?" Hailey asks, grinning and looking back at her girl with a matching tone of excitement when she realizes she's okay.
Avery stares at her mother, looking into her eyes and then grins back at her. "Your eyes are a pretty blue mama!"
Hailey lets out a laugh and lifts a hand, placing it over one of Avery's. "Well, thank you baby!"
Avery drops her hands and turns back to Jay excitedly, tilting her head at him with a curious look on her face. "Your eyes are green!"
"Yep, I didn't get the pretty blue eyes," Jay tells her with a feigning sigh of disappointment for the toddler.
"Nope, you got pretty green ones," Avery says simply.
Hailey throws her head back, laughing loudly. She ignores the teasing scowl on her partner's face and just shakes her head at him as their food arrives. She smiles appreciatively at the waiter, thanking them when she sees her girl's kid sized burger already cut down into more manageable portions for a three year old to handle.
The three of them dig in, enjoying their meal and Hailey and Jay make mindless small talk as they eat their food, Avery too engrossed in dipping her French fries in ketchup and enjoying them happily to shoot off any more questions for the time being.
When they've finished eating and their plates have been taken away, the waiter returns with the check which Jay reaches for before Hailey can even try to.
"What are you – "
"It's on me," he cuts her off, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket.
"Jay – "
"I couldn't get breakfast yesterday," he reminds her. "Just let me be a gentleman, okay?"
She rolls her eyes at him, but shoots a smile at him none the less. "Thank you."
He nods, grinning at her, and hands the check and a credit card to the waiter when they come back to the table. They head out soon after the bill has been paid, a still perfectly blue sky greeting them when they step outside, and the three of them make their way down the sidewalk.
Jay glances over at Hailey as they walk, Avery trekking along between them and holding tight to her mother's hand.
"So I had a thought," he says then.
"That's scary," Hailey teases, catching the curious look on his face.
"I'm gonna ignore that," he tells her. "You know about the district thing next weekend right?"
She turns her head toward him. "The picnic?"
"Yeah," he confirms. "Why don't you guys come? Antonio's bringing Diego and Eva, and Ruz is bringing his nephew. Lots of other kids will be there."
Hailey nods her head again, slower this time, as she realizes what he's really suggesting and she breathes deeply to try and suppress the nerves building inside of her.
"I don't know," she shrugs.
"It'll be okay Hailey, I promise," he assures her, looking at her with familiar soft eyes.
She sighs, tilting her head and glancing down at Avery before meeting his eyes again. "I'm just supposed to show up and say, 'surprise everyone, sorry I didn't tell you about the almost four year old I have' and hope they don't hate me?"
"They're not gonna hate you," he tries to assure her again, but she shakes her head at him.
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do. You can't keep her a secret forever ya know?"
"You sound like Vanessa," she says to him as they turn the corner and arrive at the park again.
Jay walks with them to her Jeep, keeping silent on the topic as Hailey opens the back door. She gets Avery settled into her seat and then Jay appears behind her, grinning at the little girl.
"I had so much fun with you today, Avery. Thanks for hanging out with me," he tells her.
"Me too! A good park day!" She says back excitedly and he laughs, nodding his head.
"I'll see you later," he says with a wave that is quickly returned by the little girl and then he closes the car door.
He follows Hailey around to the driver's side and she looks at him nervously, hands stuffed into her pockets fidgeting with her keys.
"I promise they won't hate you," he says quietly.
She nods slowly, breathing out a long sigh. "I'll think about it, okay?"
"Alright, fair enough."
"Thank you again for lunch and for coming today. She likes you already," Hailey tells him then, glancing to the backdoor.
"It's that charming personality of mine," he teases.
"Ugh," she groans, "You're the worst, ya know that?"
"Pretty sure you don't mean that," he smirks at her. "But you're welcome. I had a great time. She really is a cool kid."
She can't help grinning at that because despite the tantrums and the sometimes bratty behavior, her girl is pretty damn wonderful.
"Thanks," she whispers, not sure what else she can say to that. "Enjoy the rest of your day off and I'll see you tomorrow."
He nods, smiling softly at her now and takes a step back. "See ya tomorrow partner."
He watches as Hailey gets into the car and just before she reaches to close the door she's shaking her head and then the back window is going down.
"Bye Jay!" Avery calls out to him, another toothy grin plastered on her face.
He grins instantly, looking back at her. "Bye Avery!"
"Pretty sure my kid likes you more than me now," Hailey teases from her seat.
"Well, I'm - "
"If you say anything remotely egotistical, I'll never speak to you again," she warns with a playful glare.
"Now I know that's an empty threat," he laughs and she shakes her head again.
"Bye," she says then, closing her door. The window goes up a moment later and he watches them drive off, a smile still etched on his face as he makes his way back to his truck.