Keeping It in the Family (Linstead)

Chapter 85

Ahead of his visit to Hank, Jay had needed to come up with an explanation to offer Erin other than, 'I need to go visit your foster father to talk about proposing to you.' The best he had been able to come up with was saying he wanted to take Clementine to a donut shop, and stop off to see Granddad Hank on the way back.

Erin seemed to have accepted it at face value, so far as he could tell. It was not unheard of for one of them to take Clementine out to get some one on one time with her, which was important to do occasionally. Things like that strengthened bonds, and that was absolutely vital.

"Did you enjoy that, Clem?" he asked as she finished her chocolate sprinkles donut. He was still worked on the regular glazed one that he had chosen. They were sitting in his car, with the engine running and the heating on against the cold Chicago evening air.

"It was great, thank you," Clementine said happily.

"You've got a bit of chocolate on your chin," he said with a smile, pointing to the corresponding spot on his own chin.

Clem used a finger to get it, then licked the chocolate off it. "I'm looking forward to seeing Hank," she offered.

"That's great," Jay said, meaning it. She only had one grandparent, so it was important that they also had a strong bond.

"He makes me laugh."

Hank Voight being remarked upon for his humour seemed odd to say the least to Jay, but it showed what a good granddad he was. He finished off his donut and got ready to drive. "Time we went to see him. Put your seatbelt on, Clem."

On the road, Jay chose his route carefully. The fastest way from the donut shop to Hank's place would have taken them past the Lakeside Mall, and he had no intention of going near that place with Clementine in the car.

Even with the detour, it took only ten minutes for them to arrive. Jay let Clementine run up to the front door and knock on it. The way she repeatedly hammered on it would leave Hank in no doubt as to who was there.

The door opened just as Jay got to the porch.

"Who's breaking into my house?" Hank said. "Hey, it's Clem!"

"Granddad Hank!" she cried excitedly, hugging him.

"Less of the granddad, kiddo. Go on, in you go."

Clementine raced inside, heading for the living room. Meanwhile, Jay and Hank shook hands.

"Good to see you. Everything okay?" Hank asked.

"Yeah, all good. Clem loves coming to see you, you know that?"

"Yeah, and she'll love it even more when she realises I..."

"Hank got a PlayStation 5!" Clementine shouted, coming back out of the living room. "I didn't know you play games."

With Jay and himself now inside the house, Hank shut the front door. "I don't play games, sweetheart. The PlayStation is for you. I bought an MLB game for it. So, if Jay says it's okay for you to play it..."

"Of course," Jay said, not that he really had an option. Even if there had been an option though, he would have said yes. Clementine didn't have a games console at home, and hadn't had one at her birth parents' place either. The chance to play one, especially with a baseball game, would be incredible fun for her, he felt sure. "Clem, what do you have to say to Hank?"

"I... I've never had a PlayStation before," Clementine said, and then she started crying.

Jay went to go to her, but Hank was closer and got there first, crouching down to hug her. Jay's heart hurt. He was well aware that she wasn't crying over a games console, she was crying because she had thought of her parents. He often thought about them too, wondering if they were able somehow to look down on their daughter, and hoping that the love and care that he and Erin were providing would meet with their approval. He liked to think that it would.