Keeping It in the Family (Linstead)

Chapter 63

More than a week had gone by since Jay and Erin had made the decision to go and speak to Hank Voight to try and learn more about adoption. More specifically, to learn what it was like to actually have an adopted or fostered child. Jay knew there would be many differences to having a baby of their own. He wasn't sure Erin was fully aware of that herself.

Parking his car outside Voight's house, Jay felt uncertain to say the least about what he was about to walk into. He was yet to even have a proper conversation with Voight about dating Erin, who was to all intents and purposes his daughter. In a way, Jay figured that was a good thing. If Voight had a problem, it wouldn't have been kept a secret. That wasn't the former sergeant's style at all.

"You okay? You seem pretty tense," Erin said from the passenger seat.

"I feel pretty tense. Genuinely don't know how this is going to go. Feel like Hank trying to take my head off is as likely as him offering us advice."

"You don't know him on a personal level, Jay. You only know Sergeant Voight. If our relationship proves anything, it's that Sergeant Lindsay is separate from Erin Lindsay."

"Yeah, and I don't know if I'll ever be totally comfortable with that either," he replied. But, he told himself, trying to get his head around that was nothing like as bad now as it had been when she had first returned. That had been the most turbulent, mentally tortuous time of his life.

"What I'm saying is, Hank is retired. He's not your boss anymore. He's my foster father. Approach him that way."

Jay laughed. "Not sure that's helping. Can see what you're saying though. Come on, let's go in."

They got out of the car and walked up to the front door. Jay tried his best to keep Erin's last bit of advice in mind. If at all possible, he had to start building a new relationship with Hank, not as his former boss, but as Erin's foster father. He tried to rationalise that Hank at least knew he wasn't a total prick, and wouldn't treat Erin badly. That had to be any father's primary concern, didn't it?

Erin rang the doorbell. It didn't take Hank long to open it. After all, Erin had sent him a text to say they were on their way. He was wearing jeans and a smart black polo shirt, and to Jay he looked in excellent health. His retirement was serving him well.

"Hi. Come in," Hank said. Erin walked in first, and they shared a hug. Jay hadn't seen them do that before. He figured Hank's stroke had changed their dynamic a bit, bringing them closer together in some ways.

"How are you?" she asked him.

"Doing really good," Hank said in what came about as close as he ever got to a cheerful tone. He then offered a handshake to Jay. "Jay. Good to see you."

"You too, Hank," Jay said as they shook hands, finding it a challenge not to call him Sarge or boss. "You look well."

"Feeling pretty good. Got a gym in the basement now. Hit it pretty much every day. My doctor seems to think it's likely to avoid me having another stroke, not make me have one. Seems a bit counterintuitive when you first think about it."

Jesus, he's even trying to crack jokes, Jay thought as he laughed. Well, it was a friendly welcome, and that was what mattered. If this was going to be a hostile conversation, he would have known by now. He wondered if Erin had said something to Hank ahead of time, or maybe even some time ago, warning him off giving it the over protective routine.

"Go through and sit down," Hank said. "Can I get you drinks? Coffee? Wine, Erin? Beer, Jay?"

"I'll have a beer with you," Jay decided.

"I'll have orange juice if you have it," Erin said.

"Coming up."

Hank went through to the kitchen while Erin and Jay went into the living room and sat down together on one of the two couches. The TV was off and the house was quiet. Jay's mind tried to tell him that he ought to whisper, like he was a kid who needed to be on his best behaviour in a library. It was a very peculiar feeling. Erin soon got rid of it by speaking to him normally.