Chapter 6 – Month 2 Continued

It was late Friday afternoon and Intelligence was wrapping up for the week. They'd closed out a case that had occupied them most of the week and so far, nothing new had cropped up. Everyone was emotionally drained, so no one mentioned Molly's. Hailey was supremely grateful. She was running out of excuses not to socialize with her teammates. They're probably tired of asking me, too.

Voight was still at a meeting downtown. A few minutes ago, he'd texted Hailey not to wait for him as he didn't have anything new to report. Kevin and Dante had departed five minutes earlier – Kevin to take Jordan and Vanessa to a basketball game and Dante to his sister's house where the family would celebrate their abuela's 70th birthday with a big dinner.

"Kim, have you seen my keys?" asked Adam.

"Really? Your keys? Not in your pockets, or jacket or desk?"

"Nope. Checked all the normal places." He looked around the bullpen, hoping he would spot them somewhere. Then it hit him. "Hang on. Breakroom. I remember going to get coffee after we came back." He trotted in there and sure enough, his keyring was sitting by the coffeemaker.

"Found them!" he called out.

"Thank goodness. Did not want to spend the night here," sighed Kim as she locked her desk. She glanced over to Hailey. "Any plans this weekend, Hailey?"

It was an innocent question. Hailey knew they were concerned and trying to be solicitous. She also knew her answer would be boring. "Oh, the usual – laundry, grocery shopping, hitting the gym."

Kim nodded thoughtfully. "Those are all necessary activities, but let's face it, not very exciting."

Hailey laughed. "No, I guess they aren't.

"You know, we're not completely settled in the house, but why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow night? Mak's been asking about you."

"Yeah, maybe you can help unpack some of Kim's boxes," added Adam. "She must have a hundred."

She swatted his arm. "Hey, I don't have that many."

"Darlin', I don't think all of them are Mak's toys and books," said Adam.

"I, uh, . . ." Hailey knew they meant well and in truth, she had no good reason not to go.

"Come on. It'll be fun." Kim could be very persuasive. "Please."

Hailey allowed a small smile to creep onto her face. "Okay, sure. I'll be there. What time?"

Kim looked at Adam. "Is seven good? Adam's itching to try out his new grill."

"Seven's perfect," he said. "And I won't set the backyard on fire. That's really what Kim's worried about."

"Should I bring a fire extinguisher?" asked Hailey with raised eyebrows. "There's one in the apartment."

"We should get one for the kitchen," said Kim, grabbing Adam's arm. "I'm serious. You never know when there might be a grease fire."

"Ha, ha. You guys are funny," said Adam as he shook his head. "Just bring your awesome self, Hails. We promise you won't go home hungry."

"Will do," confirmed Hailey.

Adam and Kim gathered their stuff and left. Adam threw an arm around Kim's shoulders and pulled her close. Hailey watched until they disappeared down the stairs. Seeing them like that made her miss Jay even more. She had yet to hear from him today.

Their invitation was very sweet and she had not seen Makayla recently. She made up her mind to enjoy the evening. It would beat sitting around hour after hour wondering when, or if, Jay would be able to call or text.

Saturday Evening – 7 p.m.

"Aunt Hailey!" shrieked Makayla. She wrapped her arms around the petite detective. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too, Mak."

The little girl looked behind Hailey. "Where's uncle Jay?"

Hailey had almost gotten used to the question. "He's working . . . out of town."

Mak accepted her explanation without further questions. "Okay. Can you hug him for me when he comes back?"

Tears pricked the back of Hailey's eyes, but she put on a brave face. "You bet I will." And I'm not letting him leave ever again.

Kim noticed and said, "Honey, why don't you show Hailey your room?"

"Want to see my room? Mom and Adam said we can paint it purple. That's my favorite color."

Kim smiled. "Actually, it's going to be lavender."

With hands on hips Mak said, "Everybody knows that's just light purple."

"I stand corrected," laughed Kim. "Our resident paint expert has spoken. However, I'm not sure Adam is aware of that distinction."

"I would love to see it," said Hailey.

"Great." Mak took her hand and dragged her up the stairs. "I have a new puzzle, too. It has like a zillion pieces!"

"Probably not one of our better purchases," mumbled Kim.

Dinner was fun. There was lots of talking and laughing. Adam mentioned some remodeling projects they might do in the future. Then Mak piped up, "Can we paint the downstairs bathroom purple, too?"

Adam looked to Kim and shrugged. "Fine by me. I think that's a color even Disco Bob could boogie to."

Mak snorted with laughter. "You don't boogie in the bathroom."

Then Mak brought up a subject she'd been pestering them about. "Can we get a puppy now? We have a backyard."

Adam sighed. "As much as I would love to get you a puppy, that's not manageable right now with our work schedules."

Mak looked so defeated that Adam quickly added, "Now your mom and I haven't discussed this, but what about, I don't know, maybe a hamster or gerbil?"

Kim was a little worried at what Adam might have in mind. For all she knew, he could suggest a giraffe or kangaroo. But now she was mentally ticking off the advantages of such a pet.

"Okay, let's think about this," said Kim. "A hamster or gerbil is small, doesn't have to be walked at all hours of the day, doesn't eat much and lives in a cage."

"Unless it escapes," said Mak gleefully. She seemed to relish the idea of one running up and down the stairs and hiding under the couch or beds.

"Easier to clean than a fish tank," said Hailey.

"There is that," said Kim. She nodded at Adam. "I think that would work."

Adam looked pleased at having come up with a puppy alternative. "Alrighty. How about next weekend we visit the pet store?"

"Yay! I can't wait!" said Mak. If it was up to her, they'd go this very minute.

"Makayla, you'll be responsible for feeding it and cleaning the cage," said Adam.

"Sure, I can do that. I'm gonna name it Max."

"What if it's a girl?" asked Hailey.

Mak thought for a second. "Maxine!"

The adults all laughed. "Are we good at this parenting stuff, or what?" asked Adam.

"This was an easy compromise," said Kim. "Everything won't be like that."

Adam considered that. "I know, I know. So, I'm gonna bask in this small win for now."

Kim smiled and reached over and gave his hand a squeeze. "That's why we're in this together."

"Okay, who's ready for some Key lime pie?" asked Adam.

"Me!" said Makayla. "I'll help you cut it. Last time you messed up the whole pie."

"Hey now. You don't have to tattle on me," laughed Adam. "I never said I was good in the kitchen."

Adam and Kim stood in the doorway and watched Hailey drive away. "It was a good evening," said Adam.

"It was. Hailey really seemed to relax and enjoy herself," said Kim.

"We gotta keep an eye on her," said Adam.

"Agreed. We owe that to Jay. Maybe I'll suggest we go for mani-pedis or a massage."

Adam closed and locked the door. "Yeah. Something so she won't be sitting at home pining for Jay."

Kim was loading the dishwasher and cleaning up the kitchen. "Need any help in there, babe?" called Adam from the living room where he and Makayla were huddled on the couch.

"I'm good. You two watch your dinosaur show."

"I believe we'll do just that. Right, Mak?"

"Right!" She unfurled her dino blanket over both of them. "I'm ready."

Kim turned out the kitchen light and came into the living room. There she was confronted with a stack of boxes. "May as well get started on some of these."

"Or you could sit with us," said Adam. "Those boxes will still be there tomorrow."

"I'm only doing a couple. That way I'll feel like I accomplished something."

"I hear you," said Adam.

Adam didn't think he'd be all that interested in dinosaurs. Surprisingly, he got sucked in. After ten minutes, he said, "Huh. Didn't know that."

Makayla turned to him with a frown. "You don't know much about dinosaurs, do you?"

Adam laughed. "You got that right, kiddo. I really only know about catching bad guys. But I'm learning."

Another few minutes elapsed. Suddenly, they both gasped and flinched when a particularly gruesome reenactment of a dinosaur battle lit up the screen. Makayla buried her head against Adam's side and closed her eyes tightly.

He looked down at her. "I don't know. Should kids be watching this stuff? For that matter, should adults? It's pretty violent."

Cautiously, Mak turned her head back to the TV and cracked open one eye. "Yeah! That was awesome!" She poked him in the ribs. "And you're a cop. You see gross stuff all the time."

"Well . . . not all the time."

Sometime later, Kim came back downstairs. She found her two favorite people asleep. Either the dino battle had worn them out or the current documentary about "The Mysteries of Black Holes" was not as compelling. Mak was snuggled into Adam's side under her blanket and his arm was around her shoulders.

Kim smiled. My little family.

Jay called while Hailey was driving home. "Hey, you," she said.

"Hey." He could tell she was driving by the way her eyes darted left and right. "Are you coming from the District or a crime scene?"

"Thankfully neither. Makayla, Kim and Adam invited me to dinner at Disco Bob's house. It was fun."

"Okay. That's nice."

"Yeah. Mak wanted a puppy, but Adam talked her into either a hamster or gerbil."

Jay made a face. "Don't think I'd like a rodent for a pet. But that's just me."

"Well, for a cop family it's more practical."

"True."

"Oh, and Mak wanted me to give you a hug from her."

"Wish I could get a hug from both of you."

"I know."

"Hailey, do you want me to call back when you're actually home?"

"No! I'm about a minute out, so don't go anywhere."

"Copy."

The minute passed and Hailey was talking once more. "I've parked and am heading in."

"Good. Be aware of your surroundings. It's late." He heard the key in the lock and then the front door closing.

"Wait, are you a cop or something?"

"I'm a lot of things, but right now I'm speaking as your concerned husband." He watched as Hailey laid down on the couch. She propped the phone up against a stack of books.

"Excuse me, is that my hoodie you're wearing?"

Hailey looked down and fingered the soft material. "It's a blue hoodie I found in the closet. Or rather our closet."

They both knew it was his and Jay smiled.

"Enough about my evening. How's it going down there?" Even as she spoke, Hailey felt her eyelids threatening to close. She wanted to stay awake for Jay, but it seemed to be a losing battle.

"One minor skirmish this morning." He paused and shook his head. "Sometimes it's hard to tell if we're making progress."

"Uh huh," mumbled Hailey.

"Hailey, go to bed."

"Uh huh."

"Wish I was there to tuck you in. Love you," he said softly. Her eyes had already closed. He hoped she heard him. He wasn't sure.