Hey folks. Thank you for everyone to reviewed and helped me sort out everyone's ages. A few people pointed out that Callie probably wouldn't have opened up that quickly and under normal circumstances I would agree with you. I just saw it as her being tired of having to shoulder the burden alone and finally just breaking down for a brief moment. I don't know how long I am going to make this story, but I wanted to focus on Callie and Jude as opposed to trying to write anything romantic between Brandon and Callie (not that I don't think it's there, it's just not in this story).
Once everyone was home, the house retuned to its regular level of noise and chaos. Once food arrived everyone settled at the table and shared stories of school or work, sometimes talking over one another, but sharing their days with each other like any other family would. Jude talked about how he got a B- on one of his Math tests and everyone was really proud and praised him for the steady improvement he had been showing. When they started to clear the dishes Stef asked what everyone's plans were for the weekend. One by one, all her children shouted something: Brandon was spending some time with his dad, Mariana was going to the mall with Lexi and Jesus was going to a friend's house to play video games. Jude looked over to Callie as they were the remaining children in the room.
"Are we still going to visit her?" Callie almost dropped the dish she was handing Lena. Once she recovered her composure she smiled at her brother.
"I haven't permission yet buddy, but if Stef and Lena say it's ok then yeah we'll still go see her." The adults in the room shared an identical expression of confusion.
"Cool, I'm gonna go make sure I have a clean shirt to wear." Jude went running out of the room and Callie could hear him run up the staircase and she hung her head and let out an exasperated sigh before looking up to see Stef and Lena waiting for an explanation.
"I'm sorry I didn't ask you sooner, but the date got away from me. I understand if you say no, but I always take him to see her."
"Take him to see who Callie? If it's somebody from your past, I'm not sure…" Lena was cut off quickly when Callie shook her head.
"It's our mother." Stef bit the bullet and asked the uncomfortable question.
"Callie, forgive me if I'm being rude for asking, but I thought your mom was…" Again Callie jumped in.
"Dead, yeah she is. Look, I was 8 when she died, Jude was just barely 3 and he doesn't remember much about her. Every year I take him to her grave on each of our birthdays, on her birthday, on the day she died and during the holidays. We sit there and he talks to her and I tell him stories about what he can't remember and then when it gets to be too much we go home. No matter what foster home we were in I always made sure we visited her. If you don't want us to go I understand, but…"
"Callie, we wouldn't dream of stopping you from paying your respects and visiting your mom. If you tell us where the cemetery is we can give you a ride, save you from having to take the bus." Lena offered with a small smile.
"That would be great, but I don't want to be too much trouble."
"It's no trouble, I can take you both in the morning if that's ok." Stef offered.
"Thank you." That was all that Callie said in response and right at that moment Jude came running back into the kitchen holding up two shirts.
"Callie which one?" Callie reached over and did the classic mom test and smelled both shirts.
"Neither until I wash them both buddy. I'll go throw them in the wash and then you can take your pick ok?" Callie left the room to go start the laundry and Jude looked over to Stef and Lena.
"Did Callie ask if it was ok?"
"She sure did and Stef is going to give you guys a ride to the cemetery."
"Callie said it was ok for you to come with us?"
"She did, why is that weird?"
"She never let's anyone come with us. Then again I guess no one ever really asked before."
"I'll stay in the car, you two can still have your alone time with your mom without me in the way." Stef tried to assure the boy.
"It's ok, our mom would have really liked you, you can meet her if you want." Jude offered up the opportunity like Stef would be meeting someone face to face.
"I'd be happy to meet her sweetheart." At that moment Callie came back into the kitchen and ruffled Jude's hair.
"You're all set buddy."
"Thanks. I told Stef that she could meet mom if she wanted to." Callie looked a little lost for words but turned to Stef.
"You don't have to if it's too weird for you."
"I won't if you just want it to be the two of you, but otherwise I'd be happy to join you. Or I could wait until you go visit her during the holidays, maybe on Mother's Day."
"We don't go on Mother's Day." Both kids said at the same time and Callie had this far off look in her eye.
"Excuse me." Callie walked past Lena and into the backyard, leaving her brother in the kitchen with two very confused adults.
"Did I say something wrong?" Stef asked Jude. He shook his head no, "we tried one year when I was 5 and Callie cried for three days afterwards, we never did it again after that. She says it hurts too much on Mother's Day, other days are ok, but not that one." Jude followed his sister into the backyard and sat down next to her on the grass like they had earlier in the day. This time there were no songs being sung and it was Jude who put his arm around his sister and comforted her. Stef and Lena watched from the kitchen with sad expressions on their faces.
"We're going to have to do something to distract them when Mother's Day comes around." Stef noted before she could realize what she was saying.
"They are staying until Mother's Day?" Lena asked with a hopeful smile. Stef finished her beer and started to walk out of the room as she answered, "if I have my way, they're staying for every Mother's Day."
Sorry if this is short, but I wanted to throw another chapter on this story. I will probably go back to the first chapter and correct the age stuff later just for the sake of continuity.