DETECTIVES - Jay Halstead (2)

52- Best years

Amelia - 3 years later

I repeated my vows in my head as I walked around the kitchen, fixing three plates of breakfast.

"Boys! Breakfast is ready!" I shouted, setting the table and putting the plates down as I heard jumping around and footsteps running. I glanced behind me and saw Jay chasing James around until they arrived in the kitchen.

"You're getting faster everyday, Jamie." Jay spoke, acting like he was out of breath. James happily smiled at his father, climbing up on his chair. Jay ruffled his hair then turned to me, smiling. He put his hands on my hips and pulled me closer, softly kissing me on the lips.

"Yuck," Jamie gagged at the sight of us, making me laugh. I jokingly kissed his cheeks multiple times. The toddler giggled, his hands reaching up to my cheeks- stopping me and kissing my left cheek gently, even though he left a little drool in the process. Jay and I both sat down at the table.

"Bon appétit." I happily said, smiling at both of them. We dug in, taking our time to enjoy the food as well as each other's company. We had places to be and things to do today, but all of that could wait until a few hours.

I observed Jay and James messing around with a smile on my face. I had been right all along, I knew Jay would make an excellent father. He was as caring as ever and he loved teaching our boy different things. Together I think we made quite a great pair of parents to James. He was a well mannered toddler who usually knew when to have fun and when to settle down. Of course, he'd sometimes become a little monster- but nothing we couldn't handle. I was as happy as ever - all thanks to the two boys in my life.

-

I stood in the middle of the dressing room with a glass of champagne in my hand. The four women by my side let me contemplate it for a little while before I breathed in and out deeply and turned to them.

"I want to make a toast to all three of you." I looked at my mom, Hailey, Kim and Natalie. "Without the four of you, I truly don't know what I would've done. You made the last few years so much easier and I couldn't ever thank you enough. So, to you." I raised my glass and they followed with tears in their eyes as we all took a sip.

"Well, I want to make one to you." Hailey spoke up, smiling. "I have to admit that I was a little suspicious of you in the beginning, didn't quite trust you." She chuckled, "But Amelia, you have grown so much since we meet you and you have been so strong through everything. I admire you for that. You do everything with such grace and calmness that I can't even begin to understand. You are such a great person and you have worked so hard these past few years to build all that you have now. You deserve it and most of all, you deserve this day. This day that is all about you and about love and appreciation. So to you, Amelia Davis - and to everything you've survived." She raised her glass and I watched her in awe - tears filling up my eyes.