The sink was full of dishes. The sides littered with take-out containers and rubbish waiting to be thrown away. The washer was full of wet washing and the dryer was the same. Jay needed a day off to sort this place out. The kids were starting to run feral, thank God for Grandpa Hank. He had been a life saver since Amy died, it had been a year. It had been a drunk quickie behind Molly's that started it off, they had never really clicked but when she found out she was pregnant with the twins he stood by her, they moved in together and they tried to get along. Truth is since they came back from Afghanistan, neither had their heads screwed on. Jay had joined the police department he knew its what he was good at progressed through the ranks and had made detective three years ago. Amy joined the fire department as an EMT, she was settled at station 51 had friends and family their but she found out that drugs kept her awake when she needed it. Helped take the edge of the nightmares she had been having, only problem was she didn't know when to stop. Jay had been undercover she was alone with the kids and had been in a tough spot at work. Instead of reaching out she downed enough pills to knock a rhino out. It was too late when Kim found her, the twins had been crying which sparked a neighbour's concern. Kim had taken the door down when there was no answer from Amy, she was on the sofa she just looked like she was sleeping. It hit Jay hard, the twins didn't understand at one and a half they were too young and are just used to it being Jay now. Amy long forgotten by them. They were happy though; Jay wouldn't give them up for anything. He just wished there was a cleaning fairy to help him clean up after them.
A knock on the door dragged him from his thoughts, the kids were running round the kitchen island and his coffee was cold. He opened the door the cold from outside hitting him as he stood to the side to let Kim and Adam in. The three of them had been close for years, they had been through so much together as work colleagues and as friends. Jay was embarrassed about the state of the place, even more so when Kim sat him down and started cleaning. Adam was playing with the kids, he was chasing them making them scream and run round even more, tears slipped from Jays eyes. Big giant tears ran down his face, the love he felt for the kids and his friends just overwhelmed him. Kim's arms wrapped round Jay from behind, he gripped on to her hands and worried his bottom lip, trying to stop the tears from consuming him.
"I need help, I appreciate you guys helping but I need real help, I don't know what to do or where to start?"
"We're here Jay, we actually wanted to introduce you to someone. Not to date but she's a friend who is a Nanny. She is looking for work and is amazing with kids. Mikayla loves her, I know she is older than the twins, but just look at her resume and do a deep dive on her background checks whatever you need to do? I won't be offended, and neither will she as I haven't told her about you yet. She just got back from D.C, she will be at the party tomorrow. Just think about it."
"So, you have been talking about this between yourselves?" The doorbell stops him. He opens it finding Hank, Trudy, Kevin and Antonio and his wife.
"Hey, guys what's going on?" all of them walk in stand around his kitchen. "Oh, OK so this is an intervention, right? I'm not hiding things as good as I thought I was, right?"
"Look Jay, we love helping, it's an honour to be in the kids lives and we love you but, you are not you! We miss you at Molly's and its not a bad thing to have help." Trudy is brave enough to say.
"I can't thank you guys enough for all your support and guidance this last year. I know I need help and I'd like to get a nanny but don't know where to start and I will have ups and downs, but I also know you guys will be there to help through this. So? What's next, how do I do this the right way."
"Kim has a friend," Hank starts to say.
"I told him!"
"OK so I ran her through the system and she's good on paper. Meet with her offer her the job if she wants it, we got you Jay!"
Tears stream down his face; and they all pat him on the back and let him have his moment. Then he's up and drying his face on a tissue. Taking a deep breath he looks at the family surrounding him.
"Right let's get cleaning, I can't let her see the mess this place is in. She's goanna run a mile." They all laugh and take a room.
Hailey's brother's spare room wasn't the best, but it was home for now. Kim had called her the night before; they had been friends for years and was excited to get in touch with her after she came back from DC. They had met for coffee and talked for hours and today she was going to Mikayla's 6th Birthday party. Hailey was desperate to find a job, her last family had moved to New York, she wanted to come home she missed her brothers and her friends more than she thought she would. Right now, she was looking through her wardrobe to find an outfit to wear that was 6th birthday appropriate. Jeans and a t-shirt with her leather Jacket would be good for today. Her phone rang it was her mom, she declined the call for the 100th time, she was from a broken family, her dad was abusive, and her mom took it, and in turn the kids took it to, as soon as she was eighteen Hayley left. Broken relationships and jobs littered the path behind Hayley, she was determined to put down roots this time she needed to put her head on straight and sort herself out. First on the list was to get through today.
Showered, dressed and out the door Hayley was on her way to Kim's. The sun was shining, and it was the perfect day to have a birthday party. She could tell Kim was up to something, she couldn't decide if it was setting her up on a date or finding her a job, she prayed it was the latter as she really didn't want a man in her life right now. Arriving at Kim's the party was in full swing, Kim had a toddler attached to her hip and another trailing behind her, their matching strawberry-blond hair, and green eyes, indicated that they were twins, she guessed about two, they were adorable. Mikayla was so excited to see Hayley she abandoned her friend and almost knocked Hayley over.
"Hey birthday girl! Are you having a good day?" she laughed.
"Yes thank you! Mum and Adam say we are going to have cake soon and Grampa Hank is on his way and my best friend from school is here!"
"Wow I'm so happy you ae having a great time."
The twins had been watching the exchange cautiously, looking from Kim to Hayley then Mikayla to Hayley again. Jay had been watching too, Hayley walked in the room and the air shifted around him. He couldn't not look at her, she was bubbly, animated but not over the to, there was an energy all round her. The twins hadn't stopped looking at her either, like a moth to a flame Jacob was in front of Hayley staring at her, and Lydia was watching from her perch on Kim's hip. Jacob was the bravest, he held his cup up to Hayley and asked her to open it "Open please?" in his own cute way, bending her knees Hayley got down to his level, not taking the cup off him she talked to him and showed him how to open it.
"Here sweetie watch," twisting the lid the straw popped up and she acted excited and shocked at the pop, "POP!" they laughed, shutting the lid again so she could help him open it himself the second time.
"Pop" Jacob said and laughed at the game they had made Lydia fussing to get down and join in with her juice cup. Their new word was now Pop. The pair followed Hailey and Kim into the kitchen and Jay left his spot on the couch to watch them interact. He had decided now was a perfect chance to watch them, even though Hayley didn't know about the job offer, he had looked her up this morning, there was nothing on her record that indicated she shouldn't be around his kids her last employer was an FBI agent named Maggie Bell. He had rung her and spoke to her this morning also. He felt like a creeper at first but now after watching them together he knew that it was the right thing too do. Kim caught his eye and smiled at him raising her eyebrow at him. He raised his eyebrow back and nodded at her.
"Hayley, this is Jay, He is a detective I work with in Intelligence. He's the Twins Dad."
Standing up from the floor Hayley waved at Jay "I'm sorry I think I may have started something there!"
"Hey, its ok, nice to meet you."
"Yeah same." Lydia was pulling her hand again trying to get her to help with the colouring they had started, Mikayla and Jacob had joined in, but Lydia wanted Hayley to help. Sitting back down they coloured and chatted while Kim and Jay sorted the kitchen, talking between them-selves. Hayley could feel Jay was watching them, when a voice from the other room made Hayley stop what she was doing.
"Where's Kim?" Trudy asked Adam.
"I'm in here Trudy"
"Hey chuckles, hey kids how are we doing today?" placing the box on the counter before the kids all jumped on her.
"First its Detective chuckles and second they are good slept all night thank god! Hank had them this morning so I could work and then we came straight here. How's Mouch doing?"
"He's fine on shift so isn't coming, I'm sure he does it on purpose."
Hayley felt like she was intruding on a family moment and slowly made her way out of the room. Her phone rand as she was heading in the other room her brother Tommy.
"Hey, are you ok?" Kim made Hayley jump as she approached her.
"Jeepers Kim! Yeah Tommy, he wants to me to meet up with Mom and Dad, it's so not happening Kim, it's a good job Danny had a spare room. Sorry, I shouldn't be moaning at you, ignore me. I s there anything I can do?"
"Hey! stop, Moan away, and no we are good, Hank is here so we cam do the cake now" Kim walked away and started to get everyone to sing to the birthday girl.
"Saw you sneaking away, how are you doing Goldilocks?" Trudy stood next to Hayley, they looked at each other and Hayley walked away into the front of the house, Trudy followed.
"I'm sorry. If you want me to leave you alone I will. I just wanted to say hello. I haven't seen or heard from you in a while, missed you."
"I haven't told anyone about my parents, if they ask how we know each other what do I say? Can't exactly tell them you arrested my dad and saved my life multiple times. They would have questions I'm not willing to answer. I can't believe you are so close to Kim, we met at college like an hour after you dropped me of, we were in the rooms next to each other. I'm sorry I didn't stay in touch, I just wanted to forget it all."
"Hey. No need to apologise, its all good am just glad you stayed safe and alive, from what I just heard you stayed away from your parents so its all good. What are you doing now? Work wise I mean?"
"Well, I was in DC. I'm a nanny, my last family moved to New York, They wanted me to go with them, but I wanted to come home, although now I'm wondering if I did the right thing. I'm staying with Danny he's never in, applying for Jobs with no luck and then Tommy keeps ringing, He wants us to be a happy family and forget everything ever happened. I don't know it's a mess." They had found a room that was quiet, and had sat on the couch in there, Lydia and Jacob had followed them, both climbing on their knees and falling asleep. "How are you? I see you are married" they smiled, and Trudy told her about Mouch and how happy she was. Movement from the door saw Trudy say
"Chuckles got something of yours here! You want it?" Jaywalked in the room.
"Sarge! we talked about this its Detective Chuckles and no thanks you can keep him."
Standing Trudy passed Jacob to his dad and headed out of the room, looking at Jay,
"Detective Chuckles this is Goldilocks, she's a nanny and needs a job. I've known her since she was 12, she's a good person I can vouch for her."
"Trudy! Oh my god!" Looking at Jay she shook her head, "I'm so sorry Jay, you really don't have to listen to her, God she is so embarrassing."
"She is sort of my boss, so I do have to listen to her. I am looking for a nanny, are you really looking because I think they like you?"
"I am looking yes, never applied for a job a birthday party before! I can get you my resume," Jay looked at the floor looking embarrassed, "Let me guess Kim already gave you it right?"
"She did I'm sorry. My friends staged an intervention and Kim told me about you. I've looked you up and spoken to Maggie. Who by the way doesn't want me to hire you, she is hoping that you will move to New York still! That is good enough for me, I want you to take the job. That is if you want to of course." He had sat down on the couch next to her, he had turned so he could look at her, their eyes met, and something happened he wasn't expecting, a build up in his chest a feeling he had never felt before, not in this strength.
Hayley had felt it too, she wasn't sure what to say, she needed this Job but the feelings she was having were ones she shouldn't feel towards him.
"Can we at least meet properly to talk about this, you can see the house we can go through their day and go from there?"
"Ok, when is best for you and their mom?" Hayley didn't see a ring he was a cop though, maybe he didn't wear one.
"She isn't, she actually died last year, So it's just us." He looked at Jacob in his arms. A sad smile ghosted his lips.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry. I didn't know."
"It's ok, so shall I expect to see you tomorrow?" He looked at her feeling hopeful.
"Yes ok. Thank you again for the opportunity."