"The trouble is, you think you have time." - Buddha

"Hailey Anne, please answer the phone...we need to talk."

Hailey pulled the phone away from her ear, silencing the fourth voicemail from her mother, all of which she had ignored. She hadn't spoken to her mother in years so that fact that she was calling, and multiple times at that, surely didn't mean anything good. Hailey let out a sigh, sliding her phone into the back pocket of her jeans and bracing herself against the counter in the break room. With her head hung low and her mind a million miles away, she didn't notice Jay walking into the room until he was right beside her.

"Everything okay?"

He asked, raising his hands in surrender when she jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Yeah. Sorry. I'm good."

She forced a smile onto her face, one she knew wouldn't reach her eyes but hoped Jay wouldn't notice. He did, of course, but he let the issue drop for now and returned her somber smile. Hailey held his eyes for a moment, taking in the concern and worry that swirled behind them. She blinked quickly when it became overwhelming and tucked her head down again, giving Jay a sheepish look before turning and heading out of the break room. At her desk, Hailey decided her best bet was to silence her phone for the remainder of the shift with the thought that maybe if she ignored her mother long enough she would give up whatever issue was so pressing. Hailey struggled to return her focus to the case they were working, eager for any distraction to pull her away from her thoughts. Jay, to his credit, didn't bring it up again. But Hailey wasn't oblivious to his frequent glances her way.

Five hours later Hailey found herself sitting in front of her locker, free to head home for the day but with seemingly no desire to do so. She rubbed her face with her hands, moving to place pressure against her temples and the throbbing headache that lingered between them. Her phone lay next to her, the screen black and gloriously free of any messages, though she had yet to turn it on. Footsteps entered the locker room and once again Jay was giving her a concerned look. Just as she had been doing all day Hailey sent him a forced smile, one he saw right through.

"Beers?"

He quirked an eyebrow in question, staring her down as he waited for her response. She debated telling him no, that she didn't feel up to company tonight. But she knew that Jay wouldn't let her off that easy and if she was being honest with herself she didn't really want to be alone either. She gave him another smile before nodding at his offer, watching as his face shifted into relief. They gathered their things in silence and quickly made their way out to the parking lot. Jay tossed his bag in the back of his truck before leaning on the bed to watch her. Hailey lingered by her drivers side door for a minute, lost in thought once again. She wasn't sure how long she stood there but when she brought herself back to the present she found Jay looking at her concerned again.

"Hailey?"

He trailed off, raising his eyebrows in a worry, his eyes searching hers for any hint of what was going on.

"I'm good."

Another fake smile as his eyes lingered on her face.

"Where to?"

Jay pushed himself off the truck, tossing his keys back and forth.

"Anywhere but Molly's."

Hailey replied after a moment, deciding she didn't want to be surrounded by her coworkers and friends tonight. Just Jay. Jay she could handle.

"Beers at your place then?"

Jay suggested, his brows furrowing again when she immediately shook her head no.

"Not home either."

He searched her face for a minute before nodding and climbing into his truck. Hailey followed suit, sliding into her own car and watching Jay back out of his spot. She knew where he was headed, another little hole in the wall bar they had discovered on a stake out one night. A place where they would go when the day or the conversation was too heavy for Molly's. She followed his taillights turn for turn, but when they pulled into the bar's parking lot she was surprised that the journey was a blur. Hailey gave herself a shake in an attempt to pull herself together and then stepped out into the night air with Jay. She followed him into the bar, thanking him quietly when he held the door open for her. They grabbed a beer each from the bartender and then found a table in the very back, per their usual. Jay let her sit in silence for a moment, sipping away at their respective beers. When it became apparent that she wouldn't be the one to start this conversation, he set his beer down and leaned his elbows against the table.

"Let's talk about it."

So straightforward, so matter of fact, that Hailey couldn't help but smile briefly at him. He didn't even know what 'it' was but she knew he was ready to listen regardless. To be honest, she didn't even know what "it" was or if there was even an "it" at all. Although her gut told her otherwise. Hailey's relationship with her mother had been all but severed years ago when the abuse and the coverups had become too much to handle. When her mother started using the same lies on Hailey that she had grown up hearing repeated again and again, to teachers, to friends, to anyone who asked. Hailey refused to be a part of it any longer and had given her mother the ultimatum of take the help now or never hear from me again. Unfortunately, but with no surprise to Hailey, her mother had brushed her off once again leaving Hailey to turn and run from the situation as fast as she could. So the fact that her mother had reached out could mean nothing but bad news.

Once again, Hailey pulled herself back to the present to find Jay's eyes locked on her. She tugged the corner of her mouth up in a sad smirk while picking at the label on her beer bottle. She didn't know where to start, how to explain any of this to him. Jay knew a limited amount of her past but she wasn't sure it was enough to grasp what she was currently experiencing. With a sigh, she pulled out her phone and set it on the table between them earning a confused glance from Jay.

"My mother called today. Four times actually."

Hailey all but whispered, staring at the threatening object on the table.

"What did she want?"

Jay asked, understanding flashing across his face.

"I don't know."

Hailey shrugged, taking a sip of her beer before continuing.

"She left a voicemail that said we needed to talk but didn't explain further. I honestly can't handle any of that drama. I haven't talked to her in years, why should I now…"

Hailey trailed off, leaving the unspoken 'but' between them. Jay nodded knowingly, taking a sip of his own beer.

"But if you don't…"

He spoke softly, watching as her eyes reddened with the threat of tears. He didn't need to finish his statement for Hailey to know what he meant. He knew as well as she did that if she didn't talk to her mother that the unknown would eat her alive.

"Yeah."

She whispered out, blinking away the tears in her eyes. They fell into another silence while Hailey finished her beer, a million miles away once again.

"It's been years… I couldn't handle just standing by while I knew what she was going through. I turned my back on her when she needed me the most."

Hailey blew out a puff of air, wiping her face with her sleeves.

"Hailey...you did what you could. She didn't want the help. That's not on you."

Jay tried to reassure her, leaning closer to her over the table. Hailey nodded in agreement, knowing deep down he was right.

"I can barely handle the thought of talking to her, I can't imagine talking to my dad."

Hailey shook her head, overwhelmed by the thought.

"Baby steps."

Jay sent her a smile, earning a slight smirk from Hailey.

"Yeah, always time for that later right?"

Hailey let out a cold chuckle, sharing a look with Jay as she took a drink of her beer. Jay slid his hand across the table, nudging her phone towards her with a small smile. Hailey let out a sigh and picked up the phone, pressing the button on the side to turn it on. As the screen lit up, two missed calls and two voicemails flashed in front of her face. Hailey swiped it open and put the phone up to her ear, letting the first message play.

"Hailey...please.."

Her mother's voice came across softer this time, more emotional, almost broken and the sound crushed something inside Hailey. Jay watched her face the entire time but she couldn't look him in the eye as she let the next message begin.

"Hailey...this is not...Hailey it's your father. Oh how I wish you would answer me. Hailey, something has happened. He...he died. Your father is dead."