Chapter 1- First Words
Morning has become Lena's least favourite time of the day. No matter how much she put in the night before her kids and wife were always disorganized when it comes to getting ready for school and work. "Lena, I can't find my black tank top? Did you wash it last night?" Stef asked as she came into the kitchen with her loose pj top still on and holding her diapered 18-month baby girl close to her chest.
"Yes. Put her down so I start feeding her." Stef placed the mocha 18-month old baby in her highchair. "It should be hanging on the hanger with your top." Lena opened the mashed baby food placing it on the table with the spoon and closed the bib around the little girl's neck.
"Frankie." Lena said to gain the baby's attention. Putting the first spoonful into her mouth was the easiest it was what came afterwards.
"Mama! I can't find my backpack!" Lena tried to focus on getting the second one in.
"Come on Frankie open the hanger for the airplane." Lena made the airplane noise with her lips. Frankie just opened her mouth and then closed it when she heard footsteps coming from the stairs. Trying to turn in her chair to see who it was, was a task that she just couldn't complete.
"Mama. I can't find my backpack." Said a 16-year-old Jude, as he jumped the last two steps into the kitchen. "Hey Frankie." He kissed her forehead and the baby clapped. Lena took this opportunity to put the spoon in the baby's mouth.
"Yeah Frankie!" Lena clapped along with the child. Turning her body towards Jude. "Did you look by the door, where it has been since forever?" Jude turned and leapt up the stairs. "And how many times has mom and I told you to stop jumping the stairs!" Lena yelled as she got Frankie to eat a couple more spoonsful of mashed carrots.
Putting the lid back on the food, Lena walked to sink to warm a wash cloth to clean her messiest child. She heard the slamming of feet on their hardware floor, "Jude will you please stop that!" Turning around Lena found her wife standing there in her detective uniform. Consisting usually of a blazer, a collared t-shirt, and either jeans or black pants. Today the blonde with went black pants to match her brown blazer
"Sorry." Stef said as she kissed a messy Frankie. "Here, I'll clean her." Stef held her hand out for the washcloth.
Walking around the table she grabbed Stef's face and kissed her. "Thank you. Just make sure that she doesn't get you dirty. I haven't been able to wash your other tops or pants." Lena walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs to their bedroom to get herself ready for the day.
"Hmm maybe mommy should do more for mama if she will get rewarded like that." Stef said her baby voice as she moved the washcloth to the mocha hands. "Yes, she should." Stef blew a raspberry on the baby's clean fat cheek.
Frankie clapped and smiled her 3 teeth grin. "Hey mom. Frankie!" Marianna squealed as she saw her favourite little sister. "Are you a cutie? If she is all clean can I dress her?"
"If you want to check her as well sure." Stef said as she looked at clock counting the minutes until she and the kids had to leave.
"Ok." Marianna lifted Frankie out of her chair. Frankie automatically reached for Marianna's newly straighten hair. "No Frankie I just spent hours on my hair." Frankie didn't care as she grabbed a piece and started to pull.
"Let's get you into something pretty. How about the purple dress?" Marianna asked as she walked out of the room.
"Where's Frankie?" Lena asked a couple minute later, freshly showered. Her hair is still damp and she smells like lavender.
"Went upstairs with Marianna to be beautified." Stef laughed as she poured a cup of tea for her and Lena. Lena knowing full well that she will get a cup of coffee on the way to work. "Are the dudes ready?"
"Yup Jesus is dressed and just brushing his teeth than he will be down here for a bowl of cereal and Jude is reading in the living room. He's just waiting for everyone else."
"He is our favourite one, right?" Stef crooked her head to the left.
"So far yes." Lena pulled Stef into a hug just wanting this quiet moment to last. Lena's wishful thinking didn't last very long.
"MAMA! MOM! Get up here!" Marianna's voice travelled through the house. Lena looked at Stef with a worried a face. She was thinking the same thing, something terrible happened to Frankie.
"We are coming. Don't do anything!" Stef yelled up the stairs as she told Jude to come upstairs just in case they needed an extra set off hands.
Marianna heard three sets of feet running up the stairs. Stef threw the door open, "What happened?"
Stef was confused she saw Frankie happily bouncing on Marianna's lap in her purple dress. Marianna sat Frankie between her legs, "She spoke her first word." Stef looked at Lena with an open mouth.
"What!? Frankie do it again come on what did you say." Jude said as kneeled on the bed.
Frankie looked from Jude to her moms, back to Marianna. Opening her mouth and then giggling. They all sat in anticipation of the baby to talk. Frankie clapped her little hands together, "Mama!" Her sweet loud baby voice cleared the air. Stef clapped her one over her mouth and the other grabbed Lena's hand.
"Frankie say it again." Lena walked closer to her, while Jude had his phone out recording to send it Callie and Brandon who are both away at school. He knows that they will be having a family FaceTime so those two can hear it live.
"Mama!" She said with the excitement as the first two times. "Mama! Mama!" Frankie continued to clap her hands and smile.
"I taught her how to say that." Frankie stopped talking to find the voice that she knew was her big brothers. The 4 other occupants in the room turned towards the door. Lena and Stef have moved from the doorway to the edge of the bed to be closer to the talking baby.
Stef turned to look at her second oldest son in his maroon t-shirt and board shorts. He walked into the room. Lifting his baby sister on his lap, he tickled her belly. "Frankie, where is mama?" Jesus asked. Frankie looked hard at each person, her squishy little baby face was all serious and all adorable. Finding her mama, she pointed. Stef gasped as Lena plucked the baby form her son's lap.
"Yes, you are smart girl." Lena kissed her cheek.
Frankie clapped her hands-on Lena's face, "Mama!"