Chapter 3.
"Mom?"
Stef opened her eyes to morning sunlight streaming through the window and Mariana kneeling beside her.
"Mom, what are you doing in here?" Mariana whispered. "And when did Callie come home?'
Stef stretched and sat up. "Well, honey, I found her late last night and brought her home. And I slept in here because I wanted to keep an eye on her."
Mariana nodded. "Oh. You know, I'm really happy that she's home. I know I didn't want to share my room at first, but it felt weird without her in here. I missed her."
"I did too," Stef agreed, trying to massage away the crick in her neck. Her back ached, as well.
"Shouldn't we wake her up for school?" Mariana asked.
Stef shook her head no. "Nah, we'll let her sleep. I'm gonna keep her home for a day or two. Mom'll bring her homework home." She reached out and tousled Mariana's hair. "But you, my love, had better get down to breakfast before there's nothing left." They both knew that anything set on the table would be inhaled by the boys immediately, so it was every man, or woman, for themselves.
Mariana looked back at Callie, then stood up and went downstairs, and Stef grabbed her bedding and tossed it into her room as she descended down the hall. The boys and Lena were sitting at the table, eating cereal. Mariana took her own seat, and poured herself a bowl of granola, while watching Jesus dump spoon after spoon of sugar into his bowl. "Yuck," she mumbled. "Hope you like getting your teeth drilled."
"Sure," Jesus nodded, teasing. "It's only my favorite pastime."
"Really, though," said Lena, sliding the sugar bowl away from him. "Less is more, kiddo."
"Lena said Callie's home," Jude chirped, looking up at Stef. "Is she really?"
"She sure is, buddy," Stef nodded.
"Where is she?" he asked through a mouthful of Froot Loops.
"She's still sleeping, honey," Stef told him, sitting down. "We didn't get in until late."
"Oh." Jude's mouth turned down in a frown. "I wanted to see her." He looked nervous, as if afraid Callie would disappear.
"I kind of want to see her too," Brandon chimed in. Stef looked from Brandon to Jude, who was glaring at Brandon with disgust. If looks could kill, he'd be a goner.
"Everyone can see her after school," Stef replied. Lena gave her a pleading look, though, and she softened. "Except Jude. Come on, buddy." She gestured to him, and both he and Lena followed her upstairs. She opened the bedroom door, and let them in. Jude gripped Lena's hand, and she walked him to Callie's bedside.
"Callie," Jude whispered loudly, nudging her arm.
Callie opened her eyes a little, yawning. "Jude." Jude rested his head on her chest, and she hugged him.
"I'm sorry," he told her quietly. "Please don't leave again. I love you."
"I won't, baby," she replied sleepily. "Thanks. I love you, too." She patted her brother on the back before he stood up.
After Jude moved aside, Lena bent down and gave Callie a kiss. "We were worried sick about you, honey," she told her.
Callie looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry, Lena. I didn't think you guys would miss me so much."
"Why wouldn't we miss you, Callie?" Lena asked. "You're part of the family. We care about you very much." She patted her hand tenderly. "We love you, sweetheart."
"Thanks," said Callie.
When Lena and Jude left the room, Stef tugged the blanket back over Callie's shoulders. "You go back to sleep, honey. Come down when you're ready, and we'll have breakfast."
When Stef returned to the kitchen, it became clear she'd missed something in the last few seconds of which she was upstairs, because back at the table, Jude scowled as he shot daggers at Brandon.
"What's going on?" Stef asked. "Are you okay, Jude?"
"Ask him," Jude mumbled, nodding toward Brandon.
"B.?" She eyed her eldest son questioningly.
"It's nothing," he told her. "Don't worry."
It's always something when they say it's nothing, Stef thought, as Brandon stood up.
"I forgot something upstairs, " he said, turning toward the stairway.
"If you forgot it, it's not that important," Stef told him. "Go on to school, hon. You'll be late." Brandon looked at the stairs regretfully, then went out the door, the rest of the family following. "Have a good day, everyone!" Stef called. "Love you!"
Once everyone was gone, Stef picked up the phone and dialed the police station. "Hello," she said, once the chief took her call. "Umm, I hate to do this to you guys, but I need to take a few personal days from work." She shifted her weight from foot to foot as she talked.
"Can I ask why?"
"Yes," Stef sighed sadly. "It's my daughter. We've had a family crisis, and I need to be here for her. Mike knows the situation, and I'm sure he'll cover for me." Just then, she became aware of a presence behind her. From her peripheral vision, she saw that it was Callie. "It will only be three days, tops," she explained. "I just need to make my daughter my first priority right now. I hope you'll understand."
When she hung up, she turned to Callie. "Good morning, sleepyhead." She brushed Callie's hair back from her face, then gave her a hug.
"Good morning," Callie replied. Her hair was a mess, and the circles under her eyes seemed to have gotten even darker. She watched Stef curiously as she looked at her with concern.
Stef took Callie's arm, leading her to the table. "Have a seat, slug-a-bug. I'll make you a big breakfast." Callie sat down, and she set to work, making pancakes, eggs, and bacon. As she cooked, she thought back to the morning's events. Something was most certainly going on between Jude and Brandon, and even more curious was Jude's apology to his sister, earlier. Then, there was Brandon's determination to go upstairs before leaving for school. She sensed all three instances were connected, and had something to do with Callie's departure. She just didn't know what happened, exactly, but she resolved to get the whole story.
Once the breakfast was done, she made Callie a plate, with a stack of pancakes covered in butter and syrup, two eggs over easy, and a few crisp pieces of bacon. Then, she poured her a glass of juice, and set the meal in front of her, before fixing her own plate. "Did you sleep okay?" she asked, picking up her fork.
"Sure. I guess so," Callie shrugged. She took her own fork, and began wolfing down her breakfast.
Stef considered telling her to slow down, but she knew she must be half-starved. "If you want more pancakes, there's plenty, honey," she told her. They ate in silence for a while, as her mind wrestled the possibilities of what was going on with the kids. She knew it was against her better judgement to ask Callie, but maybe she could ask without actually asking?
"Jude's really glad you're home," she said. "He missed you a lot."
Callie's face shadowed with sadness at the mention of her brother. "I know."
"I have to ask, though," she ventured. "Did something happen between you two? He apologized to you earlier, and I wondered if you had a fight or something."
"I don't want to talk about it right now," Callie told her plainly.
"Okay," said Stef. "You don't have to, baby. But, you know, if or when you're ready to talk about anything, you can come to myself or Lena. We'll always be there to listen to you. I want you to know that."
Callie considered her words thoughtfully. "Thanks, Stef," she nodded. "I'll remember that. Excuse me." She stood up and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Stef asked, more suspiciously than she probably should have.
"I'm just going to the bathroom," Callie told her. "Am I under house arrest?"
"Of course not," Stef sighed, managing a small laugh. "Go ahead." Normally, sarcastic remarks from the kids didn't fly with her, but she tried to keep it in mind that this was Callie's defense mechanism, maybe because the conversation was going somewhere she didn't want it to. It was her way of distancing herself before her emotions took over. It was worrisome, however, and Stef couldn't help but wonder just how long it would be before everything Callie was bottling up would come out.
