Different way of Finding You
Chapter One
"Mariana! let's go you have to eat breakfast before school" Lena called up the stairs. mornings were very busy in the Adam-Foster household. With three busy teenagers there's a lot of chaos. Jesus sat at the breakfast bar shoveling eggs in his mouth and rushing to finish his algebra homework. Brandon is racing around the house trying to find his sheet music that he needs for a music lesson. Stef had to leave early for work this morning so it was just Lena today. Just when Mariana came rushing down the stairs with perfectly tamed hair, Lena's phone rang, she answered on the third ring when she realized it was a social worker.
"Hey Bill is everything alright" she asked.
"Yes it just I have to ask a huge favor, I have a 5-year-old girl here named Callie, her mom is already in prison and her current foster home can't take care of her anymore would you be willing to take her in it won't be for long" Bill concluded
"Bill we already have three teenagers, a 5-year-old is a lot" She said but Lena was tempted to say yes.
"Please Lena I would not be asking if it wasn't important, she is sitting in my office and I can't keep her here for long" Bill said with urgency in his voice.
Lena thought for a moment "Okay I will drop my kids off at school and then come pick her up at your office" Lena agreed knowing Stef would not be happy about this. They figured everything else out and said goodbye. Lena got the kids to school and told Monte she would be taking a personal day. On the way over to social services she called Stef. When Stef answered Lena immediately started talking.
"Stef please don't be mad, but I agreed to take in a five-year old in for the time being, her name is Callie and I promise it won't be forever." She said without pausing.
"Lena why did you do this without asking me first?" Stef yelled and Lena knew that she was rolling her eyes.
"I am sorry honey, I was gonna talk to you about it, but Bill was in a crunch" Lena said
"It is okay, I wish you would have talked to me about it, but I can't be mad at you for having a big heart, but just remember babe we can't save all the children, tonight we need to talk and talk to the kids but, I am excited to meet Callie" Stef said noticing how sorry Lena was and Stef was excited to have a five year old in the family. She misses having young kids in the house to say silly things and get a kick out of the simple things. After Stef and Lena hung up. Lena pulled into the social service building and quickly found Bill's office. She knocked and was let in.
"Hello Lena thank you so much for this again" Bill said. Lena nodded and smiled. She noticed a little girl with curly brown hair playing with blocks on the floor. Bill got to her level,
"Lena this is Callie" he said helping the little girl up "and Callie this is Lena" he added
The first thing Lena noticed about Callie is her beating brown eyes, they were so beautiful.
"Hi Lena" Callie said in barely a whisper as her hair went into her face.
"This is Callie's bag it has a few outfits,an old barbie doll and a few pictures she doesn't have much" Bill informed Lena as he handed her an old backpack and a booster seat. After all the details were sorted out they walked out. Lena asked for the little girls hand to walk through the parking lot. Callie looked unsure at first, but grabbed her hand and walked to the car. Lena tried to talk to Callie as they drove but she just looked out the window.
Callie and Lena spent the rest of the day together, the girl still did not say much, but she colored and helped Lena bake cookie and make lunch. Stef thankfully got home before the kids. She said hello to Lena first, then Callie.
"Hello I am Stef" She said
"I am Callie" She said still as quiet as when she meet Lena.
"Have you seen your room yet?" Stef asked, Callie nodded. For the time being she would be staying in Mariana's room. The moms are planning on moving Jesus and Brandon together and then Mariana in Brandons room because having a teenager with a 5-year-old in the same room can be difficult.
Callie did not seem to interested into what Stef was saying, but more into her coloring.
"So what are you coloring" Stef asked.
"It my old house, it had a backyard and a swing set, but then mommy did something bad so she had to go away." Callie said, her smile disappearing. Stef noticed how sad Callie was.
"Look at our backyard and we don't have a swing set but we have a lot of fun things in the garage to play with" Stef said pointing to their yard. and she saw a smile slowly form on the little girls face. She lead Callie outside and got some toys they had in the garage. She played with Callie outside and even if the girl didn't say much, she would smile every once in a while. Lena watched Stef and Callie interact and knew it was a good choice, now she just had to convince her other kids that it was a good choice. Lena asked them to walk home so they would be home any minute. She wondered how they would react. Lena's thoughts were interrupted by three teenagers storming through the door. Lena was in the kitchen when they came rushing in looking for something to eat after a long day at school. Brandon noticed Callie outside playing "tag" with Stef first.
"Who is that?" Brandon asked and Mariana and Jesus turned around to. Lena cleared her throat.
"That is Callie, she will be staying with us for a little while" She said. All the kids looked at her.
"What?" They all said at the same time. Mariana looked excited though, she always wanted a sister and Brandon and Jesus just looked confused.