Sorry for the delay, major computer issues. This chapter will be split in two parts. Liam is five and Bridget/Emma has just left. The chapter is response to a request of Jay as father when Liam was younger. He is just learning the ropes of being a full time father and trying to juggle it all. On top of that, it takes place during the episode Weigh Station
where Jay had a price on his head and allowed himself to use as bait despite the possible consequences.
Marked Man
Jay jerked awake and wasn't immediately sure where he was. He squinted into the darkness, trying to remember and trying to figure out just what it was that had pulled him from his slumber. He looked over into the blackness and saw a figure—a very short figure and then instantly recalled where he was.
"Hey buddy," he said in a sleepy voice as he looked in the direction of his son. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"I don't remember," the five year old said.
"Do you want me to tuck you back into bed?" Jay asked as he sat up.
"I'm thirsty," Liam stated, standing still, surrounded by darkness.
"Okay, well, then let's get you a drink," Jay said standing up trying to steady his tired legs. "Come on," he said ushering his son to the bathroom where the glow from the nightlight was enough to see. He got the small batman bathroom cup down from the cabinet and filled it halfway with water and handed it over.
Liam slurped it down in a few gulps and handed it back to Jay. "I'm done," he announced.
"What's the rule if you get up during the night?" Jay asked, concerning the rule both parents insisted on to avoid early morning dashes to the bathroom.
"I have to go to the bathroom," Liam said as he rubbed his eyes.
"Okay then, can you see enough? I don't want to be cleaning the floor."
"I can see. I do good. Mommy doesn't like to clean the floor either," he announced.
Jay leaned against the door frame, trying to stay awake enough to care for his son, but not too alert so that he couldn't fall back asleep. It had been a rough day—a really rough day. He had already known he had a bounty on his head, as he had killed Jacob Bembenek, who was drawing on them in a standoff, causing his brother Oscar to take out a hit on Jay. But honestly he hadn't taken it all that seriously until a shot that had been meant for him had hit Maddie, a bartender that he had been flirting with only minutes before the rampage. She had been hit in the neck and the assault had sent her to the hospital in grave condition. He felt awful, heartbroken and responsible for her precarious condition.
"All done," Liam announced as he stood up on his stool and washed his hands. Clearly Bridget had instilled good habits into the boy.
"Back to bed then," Jay said taking Liam's hand and guiding him back to his bedroom. He had spoken to Erin about staying at her place and she had agreed, but with the shooting and Liam needing to be picked up from the sitter's he figured they had better stay at Bridget's apartment for the night. He was nearly certain that nobody was aware of its existence.
She had been gone for six weeks. Six long weeks of Liam asking when she would back and him realizing he had absolutely no idea. He had even scraped together rent money to keep the apartment in case she showed back up. She had loved the apartment. The bedrooms were small, but it had a sunny living room and a decent sized kitchen. Plus Liam's school was two blocks away and a park three blocks the other direction. The neighborhood was working class and the L stops weren't all that plentiful, but it was affordable. She always said that it had felt like home; she had loved the city, even in the winter.
Liam climbed into his bed, his police bear was laying on the bed next to his pillow. It had been Bridget's idea that he go to Build A Bear and make one for Liam for his last birthday. He dreaded going down to Navy Pier and doing it, but when he had mentioned it to Erin, she had pushed him to see it through and they had gone together so it wasn't as bad as he had initially feared. And, Liam loved it. Bridget said he slept with it every night. And he brought it with him to Jay's every weekend that they shared.
Jay pulled the covers up after Liam had burrowed underneath them. "How come you don't sleep in Mommy's bed?" Liam asked sleepily.
"Because I don't want to mess it up," he said quietly. He had slept in the bed upon occasion, but Bridget had always been in it at the time. Now, he had a sinking feeling that she wasn't coming back anytime soon and sleeping in the empty bed would just confirm that.
"She won't care. Besides you can fix it before she gets back," Liam said.
"Tomorrow night we're going to spend the night at Erin's house," Jay said trying to deflect the conversation as he felt powerless to fix anything concerning Liam's mother.
"Who's he?"
"She. Remember, you met her once or twice. I work with her."
"Oh. Okay. Can I bring my dump truck?"
"We'll see," Jay said as he leaned over and kissed his son and headed back to the couch.
With the next morning came the newfound get-ready-for-school chaos that Jay was still learning to tame. He had never been responsible for getting Liam ready for school before Bridget had left and he was discovering that keeping a five year old on task was much easier said than done.
"Did you brush your teeth?" Jay asked as he pulled his shirt over his head and searched for his lost cup of coffee.
"I'm still eating," Liam huffed, spooning little toasted O's into his mouth.
"Well hurry, we have to get you to school." Jay said, giving up trying to locate his coffee and switching his attention to finding the boys backpack. "Did you have homework?"
"I don't know." Liam said shrugging his small shoulders. "Mom always checks my bag before she cooks dinner and I do it when she's cooking."
"Well, I don't cook dinner, so that would explain why that failed. And I never check your backpack," he whispered to himself. He was going to have to get it together if he was going to be successful at this full-time dad thing. He had no idea how much work it was to be the primary parent. He was used to working Liam into his schedule not working his schedule into Liam's. And he never had to worry about school, homework, play dates and early bedtimes. He wasn't sure he if was going to be able to adjust to this change in lifestyle and he hoped he wouldn't have to for long.
He looked over at the table to see that Liam was gone. He assumed he was brushing his teeth and getting his shoes on—he assumed wrong. "What are you doing?" He asked when he tracked down his son in his bedroom, shirtless and playing with his Lincoln logs.
"Playing." He said without looking up.
"Where's your shirt?" Liam pointed to the corner where the wadded up shirt lay. "Why is it there?" Jay asked.
"I spilled milk on it."
"Well, let's get a new one then," he said heading towards the dresser and opening the drawer that held the boy's shirts to find it empty.
"There are none. Everything is dirty. Mommy does laundry on Saturday." Liam said as he continued to build his Lincoln Log wall.
Jay squeezed his eyes shut and wondered what else he had failed at. He found a long sleeve shirt in the closet and went over to Liam. "Do you want to put it on or do you want me to help you?"
"It's too hot for that one," Liam complained as he looked at the sleeves.
"We can make it short sleeves," Jay said.
"How?" Liam asked curiously.
"Like this," Jay said taking the shirt and going to the drawer in the small desk in the corner of the living room, Liam trailing behind him. He held the two sleeves together and then cut right through them. "Ta da, short sleeves."
"Ooooh, Mommy will be mad," Liam said taking the shirt from Jay and looking at his father's handiwork that revealed two battered looking sleeves.
"Well, she can be mad at me then," Jay said, thinking it would be great if she walked in and got mad right now. "Hurry and brush your teeth and get your backpack. We have to leave now. Where are your shoes?" He asked as he slipped the shirt over Liam's head.
"I don't know," Liam said still standing there.
"Move it!" Jay ordered as he began to scan the room for a set of tiny footwear.
Fifteen minutes later he had just gotten the kid to school as the bell rang. He had texted Voight to tell him he would be a little late just as Erin pulled up with a cup of coffee and a smile. "Yeah, shacking up with me will help the morning routine."
"Except we have to come all the way to West Town to get him to school."
"He's smart and it's Kindergarten, can't he skip?" She asked.
"Sure, but then what do I do with him?"
"Good point," she replied, as she pulled away from the curb.
The question of what to do with Liam was weighing heavily on Jay's mind. Bridget had left him numerous names and phone numbers of sitters, his current daycare provider among them, but most were in her neighborhood. Jay didn't have anyone, because if he had a conflict he just took Liam home. He had never felt so overwhelmed in his life and that wasn't even counting the bounty on his head.
"What are you thinking about?" Erin asked.
"How I'm going to pick Liam up at 3:30."
"Doesn't he have a babysitter?"
"Yes, an at home daycare. But, I don't really feel comfortable with him being there without me being around. I'm sure that Oscar Bembenek knows I have a kid, what if he knows where his sitter lives?"
"How would he know either of those things?"
"Someone broke into my apartment. There's evidence everywhere that a child lives there. A child that looks like me. I doubt he believes I have randomly picked up a kid off the streets."
"But no evidence of Bridget. He can't know about Liam's connection to the West Town apartment or the babysitter."
Probably not, but I feel like I can't take that chance."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Something that I thought I never would."
Pat Halstead opened the door later that afternoon and looked right at his grandson and smiled. "There's my boy. How are you champ?"
"Good," Liam giggled as he held Jay's hand.
"What's going on?" Pat asked Jay, the smile that had just been there was now gone.
"Work is a bit crazy right now."
"And Bridget?"
"She's still on her trip," Liam said brightly.
"Liam, why don't you go see if you can find the chocolate chip cookies that I bought and can't seem to find."
"If I find them can I have one?"
"You bet you can."
"Yay," Liam said as he took off into the house where Jay had grown up.
"So how long is this trip supposed to last?" Pat asked.
Jay inhaled deeply and looked off into the distance. "I don't know."
"I'm sorry son," Pat said, his face genuine. "She was a good mother, this doesn't seem like her. Do you think she met someone?"
"I don't know that either. But I can't see her leaving Liam for man."
"Yeah. So how long do I have my grandson for?"
"I'll pick him tonight."
"What time?"
"I'm not sure when I'll get off."
"You have to figure out your hours, your son needs consistency."
"I'm a detective Dad, my hours vary."
"Priorities son, priorities."
"Grandpa, I found them!" Liam yelled from the house.
"Well, let's get some milk then," Pat said closing the door, leaving Jay standing there. Jay just shook his head and left.
On the way back to the district he stopped at a Target and bought Liam two pairs of pants, shirts, a package of underwear and socks. It was faster than doing the laundry.
The rest of the day was a mix of aggravation and frustration. He had texted his father twice to check on Liam, but neither text was ever answered. It didn't surprise Jay, but still pissed him off. The sun had set long before Jay finally made it back to pick up Liam. Looking at his childhood home held so much meaning, yet meant nothing at all. How he wished for his mother to still be alive. She would have cherished becoming a grandmother. She had survived long enough to meet Liam, but not long beyond that. He climbed from the car and knocked on the front door. A minute later his father answered.
"I tried to call you," Pat said, blocking the doorway. "It's getting late."
"I know it is. I texted you a few times today and you didn't answer," Jay volleyed back.
The metaphor was so obvious, communication was never their strong suit, never were they ever on the same page.
"Is Liam ready to go?"
"He's watching TV, half-asleep. It's 7:30. A kid his age needs a regular bedtime."
"He has one. It's fine Dad. Can I come in and get him?"
"Why don't you just leave him here? He can sleep in your old room and I can take him to school in the morning." Pat suggested.
"Because he's coming with me. I'm his father." Jay argued, despite the fact that the plan made great sense and would make his life a hell of a lot easier.
"Then you need to start acting like it son."
"Daddy!" Liam shrieked as he galloped towards the door, barely able to see Jay on the other side of his grandfather.
"Hey kiddo. Why don't you get your shoes and backpack okay?"
"Are we going home?" He asked.
Jay, wanting to avoid another chapter of an unpleasant conversation, just told Liam yes.
"Mommy's house or our house with the broken door? Did they fix the door?" Liam asked, speaking of the door that had been bashed in, the message from Oscar Bembenek that Jay had explained to Erin earlier.
"Broken door? What's he talking about? And why have you been at Bridget's apartment? What is going on?" Pat asked.
"Get your stuff son," Jay instructed Liam who just shrugged and retreated back towards the living room. "The door at my apartment was knocked in."
"So fix it. Was it kids?"
"Probably not."
"Are you in danger?"
"It's fine. We're fine."
"You going back to Bridget's place tonight?"
"No. We're staying with a friend of mine."
"Who's that?"
"Erin."
"Who's he?"
"She. She's my partner."
"What is going on Jay?"
"I'm ready," Liam announced as he popped back into view. "Bye Grandpa," he said reaching up for a hug.
Jay stood and watched the exchange, relieved this time that Liam had interrupted. After the embrace was over, Jay stretched out his hand and Liam grabbed it and hopped over by his dad as Pat just shook his head and closed the door.
Before picking Liam up he had gone back to the apartment in West Town and grabbed some of Liam's toys and put them in a garbage bag. "I got some of your stuff so you can have a few toys at Erin's."
"Did you bring my dump truck?" Liam asked.
"No, it was too big, but I did bring your army men, some books, cars, your train, coloring books and crayons," Jay listed, pretty proud of himself.
"I want my truck." Liam complained.
"Buddy, Erin lives near downtown, there's no place nearby with a sandbox." Jay had bought the truck at a store that carried all kinds of used items several months ago. The truck was an old metal Tonka truck that was nearly as big as Liam. He also knew one of his favorite activities was going to the park with his mother to play with it in the sand. Apparently the truck connected his two parents, and now Liam had felt as if he was the one had been left behind.
Liam folded his arms, the seatbelt coming across his booster seat. "We'll do other things, I promise. All the big buildings are downtown near her apartment. We can explore." Jay suggested. But when he looked back waiting for a reply, Liam was already sound asleep.
Once he pulled into the underground parking garage at Erin's apartment building, he glanced back to see Liam still sleeping. He got out of the car, rummaged in the backseat, put Liam's backpack over his shoulder, pulled the garbage bag out and carefully unbuckled his son. He gently pulled the boy from his seat and grabbed the bag and shut the door with his foot. He somehow managed to get his load up the apartment, kicking the door with his foot to gain entrance.
Erin opened the door and immediately took the bag and backpack while Jay went over to the couch and laid Liam down, who of course, instantly woke up. "Where are we?" He asked rubbing his eyes.
"You're at my house," Erin said walking over. "Do you remember me?"
Liam continued to rub his eyes as he looked up. "I think so."
"It's late kiddo, lets get you ready for bed," Jay said. "Crap, I forgot his sleeping bag."
"Does he need it to sleep?" Erin asked.
"I figured I'd have him sleep on the floor next to me on the couch," Jay said. "I told him it would be like camping."
"I'm not having a five year old sleep on the floor. You and Liam are going to take my bed."
"I can't do that," Jay protested.
"Sure you can. That way he can fall asleep in the bedroom and you won't have to move him. It's fine. I've slept in much worse places."
"It will only be for a few days, until this issue gets sorted out."
"It's fine Jay. Really." She assured.
Jay realized he wasn't going to change her mind, so he nodded and rummaged in the garbage bag and pulled out a pair of pajamas. He had been so proud that he remembered them. He then grabbed the package of underwear and ripped them open. "Pick a pair." He said.
"Where are the ones with the cartoons on them?" Liam asked.
"They're dirty, so I bought you some new ones."
"But there's not pictures on them," Liam pointed out, frustrated that his dad clearly wasn't understanding the problem.
"No, but they are all kinds of colors. You can pick out whatever color you want." Liam just sat there looking disappointed. "We'll get yours clean this weekend. You can help me pour the detergent in. But right now you can pick from these. Then we'll put your pj's on, brush your teeth and get into bed. And if you hurry we'll have time to read a story," Jay said holding up one of the colorful choices he had purchased.
Liam finally chose a blue pair and followed Jay into the bathroom where he got changed. Jay handed him the small toothbrush, once again proud of himself that he had grabbed it. "Where's my sparkle paste?" Liam asked.
"You're what?"
"Sparkle paste? Like the kind I use at your house," Liam pointed out.
Jay realized that he had forgotten the bubble gum flavored toothpaste that Liam had liked and always used. Bridget had always called it sparkle paste as she told him that it made his teeth sparkle. "I forgot it. We'll get some tomorrow. You can use the mint gum flavor this time," Jay said pulling a tube from the medicine cabinet. He put a little dot on Liam's and handed it to his son.
Liam stuck his tongue out and touched the little white blob. "Yuck, it burns," he said.
Jay blew out a mouthful of air and prayed for the patience that was rapidly departing. He took the brush and ran it under the faucet. "There, there's hardly anything on it."
Liam put the brush in his mouth, made a face and spit. "It's still yucky."
Jay took the brush back, rinsed it entirely off and handed it back. "It's all gone now, brush or no story time."
Liam made a face, appeared to contemplate a tantrum, but shoved the brush in his mouth and dragged it around for a minute, before Jay finished up, ensuring every corner had been covered. Then they told Erin goodnight and Jay tucked Liam in and laid down next to him and read a short story, Liam already nodding off before he was finished.
"Okay, he is about the cutest thing in the world," Erin said once Jay had closed the door behind him. "I still can't believe that you're a father. Is his mother blond?" She asked concerning Liam's blond locks.
"Strawberry blond," Jay replied as he plopped down next to her. "His hair will probably darken up as he gets older. He went to bed late and is going to be awful to get up in the morning and I have no idea how long it's going to take to get to his school tomorrow." Jay said as he pulled the garbage bag closer and pulled the Target bag all the way out and yanked the tags from the new jeans and shirts.
"You bought him new clothes?"
"All of his are dirty, what was I supposed to do?"
"Laundry."
"When am I supposed to do that?"
"Bring his stuff tomorrow night, there's a laundry room on this floor with several machines, we'll get his cartoon underwear all clean. And we need to get that dump truck, he described every inch of it to me while you were rummaging for clothes. I feel like I'm in a relationship with it."
"You're a riot, you know that," Jay said smiling.
"Oh, I know. I know." Erin agreed.
That night as Liam laid diagonally, his tiny feet next to his father, Jay dreamed of his own mother. He had driven up to the house, just as he had today, Liam ran out of the car and raced towards her open arms and she scooped him up and hugged him tightly. Then, once Jay got to her she reached out and pulled him close and whispered how much she loved him.
The commute to get Liam to school was about twenty minutes longer than Jay had anticipated, causing them to be late to school and work. Also, the pants that Jay had bought were too loose and kept falling down, causing Erin to whip out her sewing kit and make a fold in his waistband to cinch it tighter. And as predicted Liam was tired and cranky in the morning, but had gotten over by the time he slurped down his juice box and sugared cereal that Erin had purchased from the drug store down the street from her apartment. Since they were late Jay had to walk him in and take him to the office to sign in. Once he had done that, they told Liam he could go to his classroom, but as he began to walk away Jay called him back.
"Grandpa might pick you up after school," Jay told him.
"Okay," Liam said as he nodded, turning to leave.
"Wait," Jay said calling him back again. "It might be me or Erin though."
Liam had turned and taken the few steps back to listen to his father again. "Okay. Bye Daddy." He then turned and walked away.
"Liam," Jay yelled out again causing Liam to stop and turn once again. "If none of us come then go with Miss Melanie from daycare okay?"
"Okay," Liam sighed.
"Don't forget you need the codeword if it's anyone but me or Miss Melanie."
"Okay Daddy," Liam said, his voice full of exasperation.
"Liam," Jay called one more time causing his son to turn around with his eyes huge and fighting a smile at this little game. "Come here please," Jay asked. Liam walked back to him and stood until Jay scooped him up and kissed him. "I love you little man. Do you remember how much?"
"More than I can ever know," Liam replied.
"That's right. Go on now."
"Are you sure?"
"What's the codeword?" Jay tested.
"Cubbies."
"Good job." He said holding his hand up for a high five that Liam reciprocated.
Finally he let Liam go and stood as he watched him disappear down the hallway and around the corner.
"Aww, what a good daddy you are," Erin said as walked up to Jay.
"How'd you get in here?" He asked.
"The badge has its privileges," she said. "Is he going to remember all those scenarios?"
"I told the office. You have to be on the pick-up list, which by the way, I just put you on. But you also have to know their seven digit student ID number."
"He'll be okay," Erin assured.
"God, we are so late," Jay said as he looked at his watch.
"I texted Voight, told him we were starting in the field. It'll be fine."
"Maybe for you, but I'm not his favorite like you are."
"Maybe you're not his favorite, but you're with me, so you get some slack. Let's go to the apartment and get some of Liam's clothes. I am not stitching up more pants at 7:15 in the morning," she said.
They drove the few blocks to the apartment to find a few more things for Liam. Jay unlocked the door and swung it open, looking around to ensure that everything was as it should be. It was just as he had left the day before.
"Cute place," Erin said stepping inside.
"It was what was affordable with two bedrooms in a decent neighborhood." Jay said.
"Well, you could help her out," Erin stated.
"What? I do. I pay more than the minimum for child support. Plus if Liam needs anything extra I help out with it."
"Aww," she said finding a picture on the bookshelf of Jay holding Liam who had been a chubby cheeked toddler. She looked around, seeing a small table nesting near the kitchen. The living room had a loveseat and a coffee table as well as the bookshelf that was full of fiction and nonfiction alike. Just off the living room were two bedrooms, split by a bathroom. A double bed in a one a twin in the other. Jay went into Liam's room after having grabbed another garbage bag and dumped the hamper into it, along with scooping up all the wayward clothes that adorned the floor.
"Ahhh, the dump truck," Erin said looking down at her feet.
"He's going through a heavy machinery phase." Jay said with a lighthearted grin.
"What about you? Do you have any clothes here," she asked as she picked up another picture of Liam and Jay that was on the dresser.
"First day of Kindergarten," Jay explained.
"It's sweet that she has pictures of you in the apartment for Liam. Is there any of Bridget?"
"No. She hated having her picture taken. That picture," he nodded towards the Kindergarten picture, was supposed to be the three of us, but she backed out of it, gave some stupid excuse."
"So, since you are still wearing your clothes from yesterday, do you think you could find anything for yourself?"
"I—we—no, not here," Jay finished.
"Oooookay," she said dragging the word out. "Then we need to go to your apartment."
"Yeah, you're right. If Sarge sees me in the same clothes—well it won't look good."
"No it won't."
They made a few stops for actual police work before getting to Jay's apartment, Erin getting out of the car and grabbing the booster seat and slinging into the trunk. "Hard to be tough cops with a booster seat in the backseat."
"No kidding," Jay said smiling.
"You have to be careful Jay."
"What? I am."
"You're a single parent now. You don't know if or when Bridget might come back and you are all that Liam has."
"My dad, well, he's around. My brother—I think he's in New York."
"Great choices. A man you don't get along with and another that you can't even locate. It's just that I'm not sure you are taking this bounty thing seriously enough," she said as they arrived at Jay's door. It had since been repaired, complete with new locks and keys that Jay had been able to retrieve from the landlord the day before.
"I can see how much you love Liam, imagine his pain if he ever lost you."
"Yeah," Jay said, his face a suddenly tight with emotion. "Let's go."
They picked out some clothes for Jay and a few more books and clothes for Liam and headed back out onto the streets. The day was speeding by when Jay finally made his decision. "Hey Dad," he said into the phone, his body rigid, his face taut with stress. "Can you pick up Liam from school? Can you just do it for me please? Then do it for him. I can't explain right now, but I'm asking you for a favor, don't think of it for me, but for him, for Bridget," Jay said. Bridget had always ensured that Pat have time with Liam and his own father always seemed to like her much more than he did Jay.
Finally Pat agreed and Jay gave him the codeword and student ID number and promised him that Liam was expecting him.
"How'd that go?" Erin asked after hearing the one-side conversation.
"Awful. But he's going to do it."
"Why not have him go to daycare? I really don't think they know where it is." She said hitting on the discussion that they had had earlier.
"You know that they broke into my apartment. Liam has a bedroom there, there are pictures of us, they know I have a son and what he looks like. I'll feel better if he is with my father as opposed to daycare. The neighborhood, my old neighborhood, it spots strangers the moment they make the wrong turn. If someone they don't recognize pulls up to his house, well I feel better if Liam is with him.
"But I want to pick him up earlier than later if at all possible." He added.
"Duly noted," Erin said. She was beginning to realize all that extra work that came with having a child or at least a child who didn't currently have a mother. Though if Bridget was still around, she and Liam would have probably been taken into protective custody for their own safety.
With their eye on the clock they made it to Pat's place a little after 5:30. Jay knocked on the door and waited seemingly forever for it to open. "Well, look at you at somewhat of a reasonable time," Pat said, once again standing in the doorway.
"Yep," Jay said tightly. "Is he ready?"
"Didn't expect you so soon. He had a snack around four when we got home so he's just starting to get hungry now. He has homework, his teacher wrote a note in red so you had better pay attention to it. Oh and we stopped by a store on the way home to pick up something."
"Hi Daddy," Liam said standing there in a new White Sox shirt. "See what Grandpa got me—and this too," he said grabbing a throw pillow with the same logo on it.
"Nice," Jay said smiling. "Get your stuff and we'll go home."
"Our house or Erin's?"
"Erin's," Jay clarified.
Liam turned and scampered down the hall. "He's a great kid." Pat said.
"Yes he his," Jay concurred.
"Bridget has done a great job with him."
"I've had a part in raising him as well," Jay pointed out.
Pat ignored his son's words. "The codeword, Cubbies," he said shaking his head, "was that aimed at me?" He asked. He had been a lifelong and die hard White Sox fan and had tried to raise his son's to be as well.
"No, Dad. Not everything revolves around you, we've had the word all month. I change it on the first. I had no idea that I would be asking you to pick him up. But don't worry, I won't be doing it again."
"You going to keep him away from me now?"
"What? And miss our great heart to hearts. I learn so much from you—like what not to do. Liam, you almost ready?" Jay shouted.
"Jay, your son has codewords, clothes that don't fit him, you cut off the sleeves to his shirt yesterday, which is one of the reasons I bought him a new t-shirt as it appears that he could use it. You juggle childcare as if he were in a shell game. This is not how to raise a child."
"Like you're an authority on that." Jay, out of patience pushed past his father in search of his son. He knew that if Pat had put up a fight he wouldn't have made it by him so easily. "Liam, let's go," he shouted.
"I'm coming," Liam called out from down the hall.
Jay went searching and found him tying his shoe, messing it up and starting all over again. "Here, I'll tie it," Jay said squatting down. He made quick work of it and had Liam retrieve his jacket and picked the boy up, backpack and all and marched to the front door. "Thanks for picking him and taking care of him. I do appreciate it," Jay said tightly.
"Wait, wait, my pillow," Liam said reaching out.
Pat picked it up and gave it Liam. "His other shirt is in his bag. Tell me what is going on? Why this sudden need for my help?"
"Liam go to Erin," he said pointing out his partner who was standing by the car wrangling with the car seat. The boy did as he was told, proudly showing her his new pillow.
"It's complicated and part of that complication is that I am suddenly a single father. The woman that you hold so dearly, has abandoned our son and left me to figure it all out. I have a complicated job with a lot of moving parts. I thought it would be nice if you could have some time with Liam, but clearly it isn't going to work out. But I do appreciate you taking him the last few days."
"Are you in trouble?"
"Nothing that I can't handle."
"I told you this job was dangerous. I told you that going into the army wasn't the best idea. Maybe now you'll understand why you should have listened to me." He finished his speech and shut the door. But as Jay clomped down the front steps he opened it again. "I'll always help with Liam," he called out.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Jay mumbled quietly, much as he had when he was a kid. But this time his father didn't demand to know what he had said. He just watched his son go.
"Well that was heartwarming," Erin said, speaking of the conversation as she finished getting Liam buckled in. "Your endearing relationship with your father makes me not miss having one."
"A day in the life of the Halstead father and son melodrama. This needs to end, I can't continue to deal with this." Jay said as he looked back at the house.
"Then what Jay?" Erin asked as she pulled out. "What about the apartment in West Town? Can you scrape up another month of rent? Liam's daycare? Where are you going to get sitters? What about his school?"
"I don't know, I don't know and I don't know." Jay said looking back at Liam who was clutching his pillow already drifting off to sleep. "I can't afford to pay another month of rent on her apartment, I barely scraped it together last month. I'll need a new apartment in more family friendly area, babysitters in my neighborhood. I'm saving on child support, but all that money and more is going towards childcare.
"I keep thinking, what if she doesn't come back and then I think, what if she does come back?" Jay said checking to see if Liam was asleep.
"Why don't you just take over her apartment; keep Liam in the same school and daycare?"
"Because it is Bridget's apartment, and it will only confuse Liam. And she might come back, then what, I'll have to find another place."
"Find a place near a college. A friend of mine has a two year old and she said college kids are a great source of child care. Plus they often have daycare programs."
"Good idea."
"Depaul is a great college. That might be a place to start."
"Like I can afford a place in Lincoln Park."
"Bucktown is nearby. I have another friend who lives there, she loves it. It's near the 606, the college, decent schools, family friendly. You can walk a lot of places."
"But the college is across the river and the Kennedy Expressway," Jay pointed out.
"An easy Uber trip. And I bet you can find a two bedroom for under $1,800. I'll help you look."
Jay glanced into the backseat again at his slumbering son. "Then help me find a ton of babysitters. Ones that will stay late, come in early and possibly stay the night," Jay said realizing just how complicated his life had suddenly become.
To be continued...