Why You Have Backup

Ch 3

"There you are," Jay stood from the booth and affectionately greeted Erin with a long kiss.

She laughed and bit her lip before sliding into the booth. Jay sat across from her and grabbed her hand. He folded it with his and couldn't help but smile. He was so happy that they finally had a house to themselves. He was so relieved that they were done with all of the Bunny drama. But most of all he was extremely proud to call Erin his wife. It seemed like such a foreign title, but he loved it. He loved her.

"So how'd it go at Med?" Erin asks, accepting a glass of water from the waitress.

Jay nodded and folded his fingers with hers. "Will didn't get much from the victim before she died. Without any wounds, they don't have much on why she died yet."

Erin nodded.

"Also . . ." Jay licked his lips. "Will wanted to talk. So it took me a little bit longer to finish up."

"Is everything okay?" she asked, sincerely interested.

"Yeah. He's just . . . the whole Natalie thing."

Erin got the idea and takes another sip of her water.

The waitress approached them again and holds up a paper and pen. "What can I get you tonight?"

Erin ordered a salad and leaned back in her seat, her beautiful sandy-brown highlighted waves falling a little longer just past her shoulders. She let her hair grow a bit since the engagement, and Jay liked it. Of course he liked it when it was really short, but he liked a minor change after having the same Lindsay for so long.

Jay ordered the same, and Erin arched an eyebrow and smiled. Once the waitress left she leaned forward and their hands met again.

"A salad, huh?"

Jay shrugged. "I'm not that hungry. It's also a healthier decision."

Erin laughed a little into the sleeve of her grey sweater, falling almost past her fingertips.

Jay couldn't help but smile at her. Her laugh was so contagious.

"Hey," Erin says after a few comfortable moments of silence. "I got a call about an hour ago."

Jay nodded. "All right . . . who was it from?"

"H.A.C.," she replied. But when Jay gave her a puzzled expression she clarified. "Hope Adoption Center."

Jay's eyebrows raised themselves. Adoption?

"I guess they call everyone nearby a little while after they marry. Trying to get some kids homes."

Jay pursed his lips, slightly shocked by what Erin was considering. He waited a few moments before replying. "It's been six days, Erin."

Erin nods and sighs. "I . . . I know. I'm just . . ." she bit her lower lip and seemed to let go of the topic by realizing Jay wasn't interested at all.

"I mean, maybe . . . just not . . . now. We're still paying off the bills from the decorations. I just don't want us to chew more than we can swallow."

She nodded and forced a small smile, but adjusted her hair and looked down at their hands.

"Erin." Jay squeezed her hand a little. "I'm not saying it's something I think we should push away. I didn't even know you wanted kids."

She looked up immediately. She started to say something, but averted her eyes and cut herself off. "It's not so much I want kids as I don't want a kid to have to go through what I went through. You know, have horrible parents and go homeless until someone finally loves them. Or have no one ever love them at all."