Lena and Stef walked into the house with their fingers intertwined. Lena's car was still missing so it was safe to assume that the girls were not yet home. Stef and Lena had only spent a few minutes deciding what they were going to do with their big kids and spent most the way home discussing the baby. They had not quite decided how or where they would tell the kids, but knew that it should be tonight. The exciting news alone was another to keep Lena's moods swings at bay for the moment. Right away, Stef noticed that Jesus had sweat practically dipping off of him and he was drinking a bottle of water.
"So, I see you found the water, Son? Did the girls see it, also?" Stef asked Jesus who looked back at her with confusion.
Jesus looked at his bottle of water. "I am not sure what you are talking about, Mom. I put water in the fridge yesterday. We have lots. Mariana and Callie know where it is kept… Where are the girls anyway?"
Brandon was shooting daggers with his eyes at Jesus by this time. "Jesus, you remember that the girls just said they were needing something at a store. They just left for a store a couple of minutes ago, Mom. They should be back anytime."
Lena frowned some and Stef answered, "What did they say they needed, Brandon? We texted on the way home and said we were going by a store. It just doesn't make sense they would leave after that, does it, Lena?"
"No, Stef, it does seem odd they would leave the house after our text. Unless, maybe, they were already out of the house by then. Do you think that might be what happened?"
"Yes, Lena, that would make sense. Jesus, did you see your sisters when you were out of the house a few minutes ago?"
Jesus looked shocked and then very guilty. His impulsivity did not make him an extremely good liar. "No… I mean, I was doing my homework here…"
"Oh, Lena, our middle son was doing his homework here. That would be exactly what he should been doing. I do not see any of his work, though. And he has not explained why he is so sweaty and needs a shower. I can assume that Jude and B were also inside the house, but they look comfortable." More seriously this time she said, "Try again, Jesus."
"I, uh, finished my homework and then went outside a few minutes. I didn't think it would be a problem. I didn't even leave our yard…"
"Excellent, Jesus, I would like to check over your math since you had a hard time on yesterday's work. Go get it for me." Lena and Stef made eye contact.
"Well, Mama, I was actually needing a little help getting started with it. Maybe you could help me with it in a little while?"
"I thought you said you were done with your homework?" Stef was interrupted by the girls coming in the front door. "Oh, Mama, look, our lovely daughters are now home. Jesus, you will have to wait for later, something more demanding is going to take our attention for a while. Go ahead and get your homework."
Jesus grabbed his back pack from the floor and took out his math work. He knew he was in trouble, but figured his moms could be distracted with the girls long enough to get his homework done at least. Now Brandon was the only one of the boys who had not even started on his homework, but he figured he could get his done later that evening.
Stef and Lena shepherded the girls up the stairs and decided to divide and conquer. Stef grabbed Callie and took her into Callie's room and Lena led Mariana into the master bedroom.
XXXXXX
"First, Bug, I would like to see your phone." Callie handed her phone to Stef who looked through the text messages. "Okay, so the only messages you sent this afternoon were to me. Ordinarily that would help your case, but when you were texting me, you were lying to me. I can't protect you when you don't tell me the truth. Part of being your mom is knowing where you are and what you are doing. What if something had happened?"
"Stef, nothing happened. Mariana wanted to go to the mall and we thought we would have plenty of time to get there and make before you guys finished at the doctor's office."
"Did you consider asking permission? It would have been a whole lot easier than lying. You obviously knew that both of us were just a text away."
"Would you have said yes?"
"Touché. Callie, you are making a lot of progress with trusting us and we are trusting you more also. When we find out that you have been lying and sneaking around, it is like taking a giant step back. The reality is, Love, that I tracked your phone when you texted. I knew you were not home. For that matter, I knew we were not out of water."
"Wait, then you lied to me, too."
"What do you mean?"
"You said that you would pick up water on your way home since you were out. Did you pick some up on the way home?"
"Hmmm… You are right. I did not pick up water because I knew we didn't need any. Here's the deal, though, Bug, your mama and I did not want you to drive too fast on the way home. We told you that to make sure you thought you had enough time to make it back safely. Callie, I am not sure if you understand this completely, but we love you and we only want the best for you." Stef reached out and hugged the girl tightly and kissed her on the forehead. "Now, your mama and I still need to discuss the final consequences of this escapade, but I can promise that you will not be driving anywhere for a while. I am also fairly certain your homework is not done, right?" Callie smiled a little at Stef. "Go on downstairs and do your homework at the table with your brothers."
XXXXXX
"Mariana, I know I have been sort of crazy recently, but I remember telling you to go straight home and do your homework after school. Is that what you remember?"
"Yes, Mama, but Callie and I needed something and sometimes you are really late coming back from your appointments. We thought we could just get it really fast and still be home in time. We just didn't want to bother you."
"You know that Mom is going to want to see your texts, right? Is there anything you want to tell me before she looks?"
"I sent a few texts to Brandon…. But I only sent him texts so that someone would know we were okay. Callie said she sent ones to Mom. Things have been strange around here lately and we just thought we could handle this." Lena started crying. "I am sorry, Mama!" Mariana reached out to hug Lena.
"I am sorry that my kids feel like they need to go to each other instead of to me. I am the one who has made everyone crazy. I have pushed my babies away…."
Mariana knew this was the sort of thing that Stef had warned about and watching Lena cry made her tear up some. "Mama, it isn't your fault. Callie and I knew what you said and then we went to the mall anyway. It's okay. You aren't making us crazy, I promise."
"Miss Thing, Mom and I need to talk about what we are going to do about this. For now, go join your brothers at the kitchen table and get your homework done. I love you, Mariana."
"I love you, too, Mama!"
XXXXXXXX
"Okay, Lena, what are we going to do with them?" Stef and Lena were now reclining on their bed with their fingers intertwined again. All five kids were downstairs. Four of them were doing homework and Brandon, assumed finished, was helping Jude.
"I want Callie to keep her phone. It is the only way we have to know where she is at all times. Mariana, though, should lose hers for a while." Lena was always concerned about losing Callie after she ran away.
"The phone is always effective for Miss Thing. I agree. I already told Callie that she would be losing some driving privileges. Maybe they can both be grounded."
"What they did was really not that bad… Maybe they should just be grounded until Monday. Today is Thursday, so that is just basically the weekend. It is enough to send a message, what do you think, Stef?"
"A weekend is good. What about Jesus? He also wandered off, but left his phone at home. He obviously had not done his homework either. Is a weekend good for him also?"
"Sounds perfect, only he should have to keep his phone on him at all times. Now, if we can just keep Jesus and Mariana from fighting while they are both forced to stay here the whole weekend… that would be a miracle."
"Leave that to me, Lena." Stef leaned over and kissed Lena. "We should tell them our news over dinner. Maybe we could go out somewhere? We never take the kids out… Heck, we never go out either. It will make the night special."
"Stef, if we cannot keep track of the five kids we already have, what are we doing having another? I want this baby more than anything, but six kids? We are crazy, aren't we?"
"Crazy in love with each other, with the five kids downstairs, and certainly with the one on the way. We knew going into this that it wouldn't be easy. When I look at our babies, I cannot think of which one I could live without. This baby will be the same." Stef gave Lena another kiss.
XXXXX
Sometime later, Stef and Lena walked back downstairs to their family again with their fingers intertwined. "Okay, Babies," Stef announced loudly, "First, Mariana, Jesus, and Callie, all of you are grounded until Monday. If we hear any fighting or arguing it will be extended. Mariana, we will hold on to your phone this weekend. Callie, we want your set of car keys. Any questions?"
"Mom, why am I grounded?" Jesus questioned genuinely looking confused.
Stef answered him smugly. "I know that you left the house and lied about it. Next time take your phone, though. It is there for you to communicate with us."
"What about Brandon? He didn't do his homework and he had Talya up in his room while you were gone. Is he in trouble also?" Jesus did not see the justice in getting in trouble if Brandon got off. Brandon was again looking at his brother with a murderous look.
"Is that true, Brandon?" Stef asked being fairly certain Jesus was telling the truth.
"Yes, but we were doing homework, I swear. We have a test coming up in Trig, we just thought it would be good to prepare for it together. No big deal."
"I've got this one, Stef. Brandon, you are also grounded until Monday. Jesus, that counts as arguing, you're grounding has been extended until Tuesday. Anything you need to tell us, Jude?"
Jude wasn't about to tell his mothers what Brandon was really doing upstairs with Talya. He was still trying to keep things upbeat and positive. "I just finished my homework! I am sorry I didn't finish before you got home, but I tried. Oh, and Mom, I told Mama earlier that I got an A on my history test that Mama helped me study for! It is a 93 to be exact!"
"Have we told you recently that you are our favorite?" Stef joked and Jude nodded slightly. "Well, Mama, I think this boy needs a Mama sandwich, what do you think?"
Lena and Stef got on either side of Jude and hugged him close. They both kissed his cheeks. Jude smiled. He thrived on physical affection. His older siblings knew they were loved, too, and it didn't really bother them when Jude was called the favorite. If the truth was told, he was their favorite also.
"Okay, Jude and miscreants, your mama and I are taking you all out to eat in half an hour. Jesus, take a shower, everyone else, clean up a little. We aren't going anywhere too fancy, but I would like to take clean children in clean clothes."