The Halstead Freckles - [Linstead] ✓

4. - You and Me Got a Whole Lot of History

She woke up in her bed and it seemed weird, because she remembered falling asleep in the living room, waiting for Jay.

She got up and went to the kitchen. She figured Jay was already up because she could smell coffee. She was right. He was standing next to the coffee maker, sipping from his cup and staring through the window.

"Morning." she said softly.

"Hey," he said as he turned around to face her "want some coffee?" He didn't wait for her to answer, he was already pouring her a cup.

"Thanks." she said just above the whisper.

"So, what are we gonna do today?" Jay asked and smiled.

"I was thnking about taking Oli to the zoo. We always went there on his birthday and he really loves it." she smiled back.

"We're going to the zoo?" an excited voice behind them said.

Erin turned around and saw Oli, still in his pyjamas, with a big smile on his face.

"Only if you want to." she said to him.

"Yay!" he jumped up and down and then hugged her tight.

They got ready and after an hour and a half, they were already at the zoo gates.

"Can we go see the lions first? And monkeys? And tigers?" they couldn't shut the kid up. He was so excited. He knew mom had an exhausting job so trips like this were a rare thing. Only for special occasions. They went to the park a lot and she played basketball with him sometimes. But the zoo, the movies and McDonald's trips were for special days. Like birthdays.

"We have a lot of time, sweetie. We can go see everything you'd like." she smiled down to him and held his hand so he wouldn't be too excited and ran away to see a seal or something like that and then get lost.

They saw a lot of animals and after a few hours, Oli was exhausted and so were Erin and Jay.

"Mommy I'm hungry. Can we go eat?" Oli whined.

"I like that idea." Jay agreed.

"Okay, where do you wanna go?" Erin asked.

"I don't really care, as long as they have food." Jay shrugged his shoulders.

"I was actually asking Olly." Erin chuckled.

"Oh, sorry." he smirked and scratched his neck.

What was that, Erin thought. Is Jay Halstead actually feeling nervous around someone? That never happens. Well, it happened only once. When they started dating. He was feeling nervous around her back then, but it faded eventually. And here it is again. It was pretty amusing for Erin. For Jay, not so much.

"The place we went last year." Oli said, not noticing anything unusual between the two.

"Yeah, I liked it there too."

They went to search for a small restaurant, inside the zoo. They found it pretty quick and Oli ran to pick the best table. Erin sat down across from him and Jay sat next to her.

Jay ordered spaghetti with meatballs and when the waitress asked Oli what he'd have, he said "I'd like spaghetti, too, please" with the sweetest smile.

The waitress smiled back and asked "The ones like your daddy or some other way?"

The question was completely innocent but Erin was silently freaking out. What has she done.

"Jay's not my daddy." Oli shook his head and smiled as polite as he could. He was raised well.

"Oh, I'm sorry." the red-haired waitress smiled apologetically.

Erin wanted to say that she shouldn't worry about it, but Oli was faster. "It's okay. And yes, I would like the ones with meatballs, please. I think they're really, really yummy."

Erin calmed down a little. When she was the one to order, she thought that it could be a spagetti day so she ordered the same as the boys.

When they were waiting, Oli was playing with the napkin and then he suddenly interrupted the two adults who were making small talk, doing some catching up.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Why don't I have a daddy?"

Erin froze in her seat. She knew this day would come. But she wasn't prepared. She wasn't preapred for this day to come now. It was actually a little strange that he didn't ask in the past four years. But it didn't bother Erin, so she decided not to open that door. Not then, not ever. Just if he'd ask. But I guess the waitress unintentionally opened that door for him.

"Baby, um..." she started, but didn't actually know where to start.

Jay decided he had to save her. He realized she was just as prepared for this as he was. It was just that maybe his position right now was a little better.

"You know what I think buddy?" Jay said and Oli focused on him then "I think that you'll meet your daddy when he's ready. I think that, maybe he's out there somewhere, wanting to meet you and tell you he's your daddy so bad, but he just can't. Not yet."

Oli blinked a few times to process everything Jay has said. "Oh. Okay." his smile appeared again.

Erin exhaled out the breath she didn't realize she was holding in.

As soon as Oli's attention went back to the napkin, Jay turned to her. "You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded her head and ran a hand through her brown hair "Thank you." she looked deep into his eyes, just to show him that she really meant what she said.

"Of course." he smiled back to her and reached for her knee under the table and squuezed it gently, but firmly. She didn't flinch this time, but only smiled at him. She liked the feeling. She missed it. A lot.

After their late lunch, Oli wanted to go to the playground in the park near the zoo. And of course they couldn't say no to this cutie, so the playground it was.

He decided to try out the swings, but refused for them to help him. He turned four yesterday. He was a big boy now. What would people think?

So they sat down on the nearrest bench and watched his attempts to swing. They chuckled when he gave up and decided the slide was way more fun.

Erin eventually leaned her head on Jay's shoulder and inhaled his scent. It was just like she remembered. He didn't complain either.

:)

hi hello hey. i know it's been a while but this week has been crayz and the next one will be as well. but then school's over so i'll write more then, that's for sure.

anyways, leave a comment and vote, i'd like to know what you think:)

*history by 1D*