The Redo.

Uno

We woke up early Monday to prepare for his first day of school and my first day of work, my graduation from the academy had been last week, my dad had hosted a giant party at the gym, family and mostly his friends in attendance but still I was so grateful for him. He had made an insane amount of food and took Santiago to Party City for decorations where they spared no expense, picking the finest disco balls, dinosaur themed back drops, and Spider-Man piñata. It was hilarious and lasted well into the night, taking the time to catch up with all the family I hadn't seen often for the better part of 10 years.

I made omelets and pancakes while he was in the bath, yelling from the bathroom as he rambled off question after question about the new city, new school, and new house. The kid was a ball of energy, always had been, and not usually one to get nervous but recently our life was one massive change after another, so with all the patience in the world I answered each and every question he threw at me.

I help him get dressed in his new school uniform, tugging off the tags as he towel dries his shaggy black hair. I kiss the crown of his head after he pulls on a white polo, getting to work on finger combing some cream into his hair and wrapping a hearing aid around the shell of his left ear. Leaning down and locking my arms around him as he giggled and leaned into me.

"Your going to do amazing corazón, I know it's a little scary but you just have to be yourself, kindergarten won't know what hit 'em" I whispered into his ear as he squeezed his little arms around my waist, looking at us in the mirror and pulling a silly face with his tongue stuck out.

"Now get to the table, we need to leave after breakfast" he jumps up and runs in the direction of the kitchen as I quickly change into the outfit I had picked out lastnight. Fixing my hair into a high bun and applying some moisturizer and light makeup.

Santi's school is only 15 minutes away and drop off is quick as I park in the drop off line and Santi gives me a kiss on the cheek from the backseat then jumps out of the car, I can't help but laugh as I watch his Spider-Man backpack nearly bounce off his shoulders as he scurries over to one of the adults in a reflective vest, I blow him a kiss as he looks over his shoulder and gives me one last wild wave.

The drive to the precinct is quiet, I pass the time by humming along to an old country song on the radio and force my hands to loosen their painful grip on the steering wheel. The building is bustling as I make my first stop at reception, speaking with an older gentleman who gives me directions to Captain Maynard's Office. Hustling my way up the large set of stone stairs as my eyes take in my new surroundings, goose bumps rising on the back of my neck as my heels slow to a stop in the middle of the bullpen.

"Officer Moreno!" I spin around at the sound of the yell, Captain Maynard is sitting behind her desk with an officer in the chair across from her, that will take some getting use to I muse to myself as I make my way over to the severe looking woman. The woman sitting across from her is no less severe, looking incredibly displeased as she slowly rises to her feet.

"This is Field Sargent Athena Grant, your senior partner. She'll be showing you the ropes while you get your bearings with us here at the LAPD, there's none better" the Captain is obviously very pleased with herself as she leans back in her chair and Sargent Grant directs me across the bull pen and to our desks that had been pushed up against each other.

My first day went relatively smooth, Sargent Grant seemed unflappable with the amount of shit she dealt with on one 12 hour shift, she wasn't exactly chatty but I could see she was slowly warming up, laughing from the drivers seat when I open a video of Santi my dad had sent me, we had picked up carry out from a little Chinese place and were eating it in the air conditioned patrol car.

In the video Santi was talking about his first day of school while shoving a massive piece of pizza into his mouth, smacking lips and all. I could hear and see my dad laughing as the phone trembled, my dad really was excited to be spending more time with Santi.

"Abuelo is taking me out for ice cream because I had a good first day and ate all my dinner, maybe he will take you too if you have a good day?" Santi stares him down with furrowed eyebrows and very serious expression, the kid didn't mess around when it came to food that's for sure, but I was glad he had a good day given how worried he was about starting at the new school. I shoot a quick text back and slide my phone back into one of the many pockets on my uniform.

"Your son?" It's the first time Sargent Grant has asked me about my personal life, so with a smile I pull up a picture we had taken together just before moving from Oceanside, we had spent the entire day at the beach and ended it with pineapple slushies and churros.

"Santiago, he turns five soon" is all I get to say before the radio chirps to life, dispatch giving us our 6th call of the day, a noise disturbance in a normally quiet neighborhood. Weren't they all.