Linstead - Broken hearts

Chapter 6

Wednesday

Lindsay's morning was the same as always. She woke up, took a shower, and decided to wear a black suit with a lightly V-necked blouse, simple and delicate earrings, and applied minimal makeup.

"I can't believe you woke up on your day off," Erin smiled at her sister, who was sitting on her bed.

"It's your first day at a new job, a seemingly better one, with your hot boss... I saw more pictures of him. You definitely should..."

"If you finish that sentence, I'll throw cold water on you," Erin threatened the younger sister, who laughed and shrugged. "I'm off..." she said after finishing everything.

"I'm happy for you. It's going to be a great day," Samantha said.

"Thanks, Wednesday..." Erin gave her a goodbye kiss and started to leave the room, but stopped and looked at her sister. "You can lie there, but if you mess up my bed, I want to see it exactly as I left it when I get back..."

"Yes, Mom..." Samantha said, throwing herself onto Erin's queen-size bed as the woman left for her first day at CID.

On the way, she decided to buy a coffee. Normally, she would make it at home, but since she was in a hurry, she thought buying one would be quicker. Big mistake: the line was enormous, and she didn't want to be late on her first day. So, she sighed, knowing she'd probably be hungry all morning, and gave up.

She was excited about the job. It was the first time she'd have her own team. She wanted to meet them, understand their routine, and see how they worked. She felt like she did when she was heading to the police academy at 21: the butterflies in her stomach, the fear of not being capable, but it was outweighed by the certainty that she was doing what she was born to do.

She remembered being asked about chance or destiny. Well, Erin wasn't sure, but she believed that everything she had gone through in her life had a purpose. And that purpose was precisely the job she had been hired for.

☠️🖤☠️

Jay Halstead's day was more chaotic than usual, which is typical when you have two children. They have a routine, but, well, have you ever taken care of kids? Sometimes they follow the routine, sometimes they don't. Today, Jay wanted them to stick to it, but it wasn't that kind of day.

Despite Jesse growing up, for some reason, today he seemed like a baby in the clingy phase. He didn't want to go to daycare; he wanted to stay with his dad and be held. Since the moment he woke up, Jay did everything with his son clinging to his neck. They showered together, breakfast was made with Jesse in his arms, and everything Jay did in the morning was with his son or, if not, he decided not to do it. He even spent a few minutes lying on the couch watching "Paw Patrol," but even then Jesse wouldn't let go.

Maya was calmer, and Jay was thankful, as if she knew her brother needed their dad. However, just when Jay thought everything was going well, his mini lawyer started to get upset over not finding a matching shoe. So, the mini lawyer and stylist joined the scene.

Jay wasn't the perfect dad and had his flaws, but incredibly, today he was patient. Even with his son in his arms, he made the most of the moment. It wasn't every day that Jesse would ask to be held, or that they would bathe together talking about body parts. Jay knew he wouldn't always be sitting on the couch watching CGI dogs chasing villains while preparing to do the same, but in real life. He savored those moments, which were unique and rare and, unfortunately, wouldn't last forever. Instead of worrying about the delay, he focused on enjoying it.

He even laughed when he rushed upstairs with his son in his arms to figure out the reason for his daughter's complaints. He was as patient as he could be, perhaps due to the guilt of thinking that, on a day when he wanted to go to work, his youngest wanted to be a baby again and his eldest was acting like a 15-year-old on Erin Davis's first day on the job.