"Hello, is this Lena Adams? This is Charles from social services in Chicago." Lena heard as she answered an unknown number on her cell phone one morning.

"Well, I used to be Lena Adams, but now I am married and I am Lena Adams Foster. What can I do for you?"

"Congratulations on your wedding. I am assuming you married Stefanie Foster who you adopted Jude with a little over six years ago?"

"Yes. We got married shortly after adopting Jude and we have been together happily ever since. I am assuming that you are not calling about that, though." Lena said knowing she had a lot of work to get done and needed to hurry this conversation along.

"You are correct. Actually, I was calling to let you know that there was an accident last night. Your kids' biological mother was killed along with two other people when the driver of her car drove headlong into traffic on a highway. The driver was quite drunk and was treated at a hospital before being arrested. There is some reason to believe that he is the biological father of Jude and perhaps Callie."

Lena was trying to absorb all of this information when she realized he had stopped talking and was waiting for a reply. "So, what does that mean to us? I mean, Callie and Jude are both ours still, right?"

"Of course. No one is contesting that. No, Colleen Jacob's mother contacted us to let you know in case you want to bring the kids back here for the funeral. It will be Saturday. I know this is short notice, but no one really knows these things ahead of time. She said her grandchildren would be welcomed to sit with the family. She would really like to see them. You know she helped with Callie quite a lot before you got her."

"I did know that, yes. I will need to discuss all of this with my wife and then Callie and Jude if necessary. Can you give me a phone number or website to get all of the details of the arrangements in case we decide to do this?"

"Absolutely. I will send you an email with that information right now."

"Thanks for letting me know."

"You are welcome. I am sorry for your children's loss that they don't even know about yet. I will be in touch soon. Good bye."

"Bye." Lena pressed the end button on her phone. She then looked up flights and hotels for the weekend. She wanted to be completely informed before talking to Stef.

Finally, Lena called Stef, who was also at work. "Hey, Love!"

"Hi, Babe. I just got an interesting phone call from social services in Chicago." Lena started slowly.

"Do Callie and Jude have another baby on the way? I am not sure if that is doable right now. We finished the diapers and daycare stage, right?"

"It isn't a baby. Actually, it is a funeral. It seems that Callie and Jude's biological mother was killed by a drunk driver last night. Their biological grandmother would love for them to attend and to see them. She hasn't seen Callie since she was a few months old and I am not sure if she ever saw more than a picture of Jude."

"That is not something I was even considering. When is the funeral? Are we going to do it?" Stef asked getting on her own computer and looking up the same information Lena had been looking at.

"Saturday and I am not sure. In some ways this opens a can of worms that I am not sure how we can ever close. On the other hand Callie has had questions about her background. This could answer some of them. I know very little about her grandmother although I did meet her once. I am not sure if she is a person I want Callie in contact with."

"I can see that. Why isn't she raising Callie and Jude? I mean, I am glad we have them, but if she is a nice, able-bodied person why would she have allowed her daughter to give up her children to strangers?" Stef asked.

"I am not really sure. I know that she did take care of Callie much of the time before Colleen signed over her rights. This lady was at that back of the courtroom the day I adopted Callie. I did let her say good bye when she told me who she was. I am really not sure, though, except she said she just couldn't do it. Do we do this, Stef?"

"I think we owe it to Callie to at least discuss it with her. I am looking at ticket prices and it is clear that we cannot all go. With five kids we would need two hotel rooms and the flights would be incredibly expensive. It is nice, though, that we know have the freedom to leave the state with all of our kids." Since the adoption the family had made a road trip to Arizona one weekend about a month ago just because they now could.

"Even just one of us going with the two of them will put a serious dent in our Disneyland budget, though. It really wouldn't be fair to use our vacation money that way." Lena and Stef had recently clashed on Lena going over budget redecorating the kids' bedrooms and now she was almost being too sensitive toward it.

"Part of our emergency budget could go into it. This is sort of an emergency. Besides, Disney isn't going to happen until the summer anyway. We have months to build that budget back up. I can still take extra shifts to make it a little faster. It would be a strain, but we could do it. I am going to take an early lunch. I can be there in an hour or so. We can discuss it more in person and then call Callie into the office for her opinion after we have decided."

"Sounds perfect. I am looking forward to seeing you! I love you, Stef!"

"I love you, too, Lena."

This time pressing the button to end the call Lena felt a little better. With Stef she could weather any storm even this one that seemed huge. Lena looked over her list of things that needed to be done and choose the most monotonous work that would allow her mind to keep thinking while she was completing tasks. Going to Chicago might offer Callie some closure, but also might stir up some feelings of insecurity. In reality, Lena knew it would be some of each.

When Stef knocked Lena had processed enough to talk more logically about the issue at hand. She let Stef in, shut the door, and kissed her. "I love you, Stef. Thanks for coming over here."

"I love you, too, and you are welcome. You know, though, that anything that concerns my wife or my babies is a priority for me, right?"

"Yes and I also love that about you." Lena answered with a smile. "I have really been thinking. If this is something that Callie really wants to do we should do it. You can get off work and you can fly to Chicago with her and possibly Jude to attend the family gathering and the funeral. The three of you can come back on Sunday. The other kids can stay in school and I will be home with them for the weekend."

"I agree, but I think we should change it to you going, especially if Jude goes. You know Chicago better than I do, you are better at helping our kids with emotional sorts of things usually, and you are their mama. Both of those two were given to you first. Plus, you met Callie's grandmother and you are the one she is expecting to see."

"Well, so we call Callie to the office first and talk to her. What about Jude?"

"I think we get Callie's opinion first. She is ten after all and she did spend several months with her mother. Jude never knew her and he is little. If Callie isn't interested we have no real reason to tell Jude what is going on at all."

"This all hinges on a ten year old then?" Lena asked grinning a little.

"I think so. Go ahead and call her over. I am sort of interested in her opinion."

XXXX
Callie was sitting in class sort of staring out the window when she saw her mom park and walk into the building. She looked at the clock and thought it was a little odd. Her mothers often had lunch dates when it was possible, but it was usually a little later in the day.

"Callie, can you come work this one out for us on the board?" Callie's teacher interrupted her thoughts. Callie slowly stood up and walked up to the board not exactly sure which problem her teacher was referring to. Soon she found it and easily worked it. "Thank you Miss Adams Foster. Please, pay attention in class."

"Sorry." Callie said sitting back down. Whatever the reason Stef was here must be big because she knew that Stef was supposed to be at work right now. Whichever kid got her to school was going to be in serious trouble that much was clear. The last time Stef made a trip at this time of day was for Jesus. No one wanted to be in his shoes that day. He got in a fight over someone calling Jude weird. Callie let her imagination go thinking of what sorts of trouble one of her siblings had gotten themselves into. Her thoughts were once again interrupted.

"Excuse me Ms. Tilling, I need Callie in the office right now." Lena said over the intercom.

Callie became nervous as she walked toward the office. She was hoping that Stef had not found the area on the wall that she and Mariana had been trying out different nail polishes since their room had still not been painted. Or that Stef had found the dress Callie was forced to wear to the adoption that she wadded up and put under her bed to avoid wearing it again. Maybe, she reasoned, her teacher had contacted Stef to let her know that Callie wasn't paying good attention in class.

Callie arrived in the office. "Um, Hi Mom, Hi Mama…" She stammered.

"Hey, Bug." Stef said putting her arms around Callie and kissing her head. "Go ahead and have a seat."

"Okay… I am really sorry." Callie said trying to seem sincere, but failing.

"About what, Sweetheart?" Lena asked trying to look her daughter in the eyes.

"You know, about whatever you called me in here for. I will do better…"

"I certainly hope so." Stef said only getting a small glare from Lena. "How are you going to fix it?"

"I am not sure." Callie was unable to get good read on the situation. "What did you find?"

"I am not sure either, Bug. What exactly are you referring to?" Stef questioned leaning a little closer to Callie making her giggle despite herself.

"Nothing… Am I not in trouble with you?"

"No, should you be in trouble with us?" Lena asked.

"Of course not…. Then why did you call me out of class?"

"Well, I got a call from social services in Chicago and, well, I don't know how to tell you this, but it is about your birth mother…"

"Are we going back there to get another baby? I think our house is full, Mama. Do you remember having a baby?" Callie interrupted.

"No, there is no baby, but for the record, you really are your mom's child." Lena said glancing at Stef before looking back Callie. "That's exactly what she asked. No, there was an accident last night, Baby. Your birth mom, Colleen died. Her mother has invited you to come to the funeral."

"What about Jude? Isn't he my real brother? Does he have to go, too?" Callie asked all the sudden turning sullen.

"Jude is your brother and also Colleen's son if that's what you mean by real." Lena said correcting Callie slightly. "We are not going to force anyone to go. We wanted it to be an option if that's something you would like to do. We thought we should talk to you before Jude since you are older. So, what are you thinking?"

"I am thinking that you two say that you are my mothers, but now you are saying that Colleen is my mother." Callie snapped back.

"No, Love, she is just the one who gave birth to you. We are the ones who have raised you, we just wanted to open this up to you. If you don't want to go, it is not a big deal. We will just politely decline." Stef answered laying her hand on Callie's leg.

Callie squirmed from her mom's touch. "Do that. May I go back to class now?"

"Sure, Callie. Remember, Baby, we love you." Lena said to her daughter's retreating figure.

XXXX

Callie knew that Lena and Stef were both going to want to talk to her after school so she found ways to make herself as busy as possible. First she took over an hour for fifteen minutes worth of homework. Then she insisted on reading over her twenty assigned minutes knowing Lena would never interrupt her from reading. Then she was called to dinner.

"So, did all of you have a good day at school?" Stef asked trying to sound cheery.

"Yes." Brandon said. "I got a good grade on my social studies test and my teacher loved the story I wrote last night." Brandon's grades were much better now that Lena was once again making him do all of his homework.

"That's great. Anyone else?"

"My day was good, too, Mommy. We read about trains during reading group and then we got to color pictures. Then I got all of my adding problems right on my work in class. My teacher gave me a sticker with a train just like the story." Jude said with a very happy look.

"Did you bring home your train picture, Jude? I didn't see it in your backpack." Lena said.

"No, Mama, it is hanging in the hallway. You can look for it there." Jude turned back to Stef. "Mama hung up my work with the train sticker on the refrigerator with my Jude magnet."

"I see. I will have to go look at that with you after we finish eating. You are doing great work."

Jude beamed and Callie scowled again. "I am finished eating and I am leaving the table." She announced standing up.

"No ma'am you are not. Your plate is almost untouched. Sit back down, please." Stef said sending Callie a look. Callie glared, but sat back down not wanting to make any more waves and started eating quickly.

"Lexie and I are going to do our science project together. Can she come over this weekend to work on it?" Mariana said sensing there was tension and trying to get the attention off of Callie.

"That will be fine. One or both of us will be home all weekend. Jesus, anything remarkable today?"

Jesus was busy squirting ketchup on his second portion of chicken. "Um, no. Everything was fine. I had no problems at recess or at lunch."

"That's not true, Moms. He ran laps all recess and had to sit by himself at lunch." Mariana reported. "The other kids said it was because he…"

"That's enough, Mariana." Lena interrupted. "I have already spoken to his teacher and we don't need to discuss this as a family."

"Now can I be done?" Callie asked. "I am full, I promise."

"No. Now you are going to sit there and continue having dinner with your family. That's what we do right now and you are going to be part." Callie stood up and stomped off anyway. "Excuse me, I am going to get our other family member and bring her back to dinner." Stef said standing up.

Callie went into her own room, laid down on her bed, and started to cry. She didn't even hear Stef knock or come in. Stef looked over at Callie and all of her anger toward her left. She sat down on the bed next to her. "Oh, Baby, it is going to be okay. Talk to me, Bug"

"It is never going to be okay." Callie sobbed moving over a little more making space for Stef to lie down next to her on the bed.

"Is this about Colleen, Baby? It is okay to be sad about that. I know that you sort of wanted to meet her again, but we just can't control what happens sometimes."

"This isn't about her, it is about you and Mama." Callie said continuing to cry. Stef sat back up and pulled the ten year old onto her lap and held her tightly.

"Tell me how this is about us."

"You say I belong to you, but then this happens and you are willing just to put me on plane and send me to those people I don't even know. Don't you want to keep me anymore?"

"Oh, Callie. That is not it at all. Look at me, Baby." Stef cupped her chin so that Callie would look at her. "We thought you understood, Mama was going to go with you to Chicago. She would stay with you all the time and bring you back to me. Colleen's family has no right to keep you and they understand. We just thought you might want to go and meet these people from your past. If you don't want to, you don't have to."

"Mama would be with me?" Callie asked looking back up at Stef.

Stef took her thumbs to catch the last few tears. "The whole time. In that case do you think you want to go?"

"Yes. I want to say good bye to Colleen and I would kind of like to see my real grandmother."

"Don't forget you have two other very real grandmothers, Bug. We don't really like you putting that word in there because it makes it seem like others are imaginary or something. She is your birth grandmother, I guess."

"Okay, then, I would like to meet my birth grandmother. I don't remember her at all, but Mama said she helped take care of me. I would like to meet someone who knew me as a newborn."

"I bet you were cute… but if four year old you was any indication, I bet you were a handful as a newborn."

"Actually, I think if I understand the stories right, I was a very easy kid until I met you." Callie teased Stef grinning a little again.

"If that's what helps you sleep at night. Really, I think you were running circles around your mama. Now, I think there is some sort of dessert downstairs if you would please join me for the rest of dinner."

Callie sighed. "I want to wash my face first, I don't want the others to know that I have been crying."

"That's fine. I will wait for you right here." Stef said lying back down on Callie's bed. "Hmm, that is odd. I think I can see something under your bed." Stef reached down between the head of the bed and the wall and pulled out Callie's crumpled dress.

"Can that be another one of our secrets?" Callie asked eyeing the dress that her mother definitely recognized.

"Yes, but first I am going to have to wash it and you are going to iron it. Mama would have a fit if she saw it treated like this. It wasn't cheap you know."

"I know."

"She might also ask you to bring it on your trip. I better get it into the washer tonight. You go wash your face while I try to deal with the dress."

A few minutes later both Stef and Callie joined the rest of the family at the table. Lena was just getting ready to serve the dessert and she was pleased to see the other two made it back. "So, how about you Mom, anything exciting at work?"

"Mostly paperwork, I'm afraid. However, I am planning to have the weekend off just to spend with my kids. How does that sound?" Lena caught on immediately that their trip to Chicago was on.

"Great, Mom! I have been waiting for you to have a weekend off so we can work on that ramp for my skateboard! Are we going to build that this weekend?"

"Sure, Bud. That sounds like it could work out really well."

"Callie and I have been waiting still to get our room painted. Could that happen this weekend?" Mariana asked.

Stef looked at Callie who shrugged. "I am not sure. Actually, Mama and I would like to talk to Jude for a moment while all of you eat dessert."

Jude looked surprised, but followed his moms to the back porch. "Jude, sweetheart, we have something important to tell you. Your birth mother died last night in Chicago. Callie and I will be going to the funeral. I wanted to know if you wanted to go, too."

"All the way in Chicago? That's where I came from, right?"

"Yep. The last time we were in Chicago was to get our Little Man. This time it would just be you, Callie, and Mama. You would get to meet your birth mom's mother and maybe some other people who knew her. What do you think?"

"Will my daddy be there?" Jude, just like Callie, had also discovered that he had a father out there somewhere. With Mike around less, it made him more curious if he had someone like Mike to spend time with.

"Um, probably not, but we don't really know for sure." Lena said thinking about the information she was given that the drunk driver was likely his father.

"What is a funeral like?"

"Well, you all would get all dressed up and go sit in a church or a chapel. Someone will talk about Colleen's life, you will go to a place to bury her, and then have a family meal probably. The rest of the time you would just be able to get to know different people who are part of your past. Funerals are all about saying good bye to someone who has died. In your case there will also be several hellos as you haven't met most of those people."

"Was Colleen my mom like you two are my moms? Did she love me like you?"

"I am sure she did." Lena said softly. "She care enough about you to carry you in her tummy for nine months and then find a safe family for you."

"So, do you want to go, Jude?"

"Yes. Then I will come back to my real family, right, Mom?"

"Absolutely."

"Should I go pack my nice clothes?"

"Let's go back to dessert and then I can help you pack." Lena said getting Jude's hand and taking him back to the table. "Well, I got some news today that is going to make this weekend a little odd. Callie, Jude and I are going to Chicago for a funeral. We are going to get tickets tonight and then I will know exactly when we are leaving, but I know it will be soon. Definitely, Mom will be picking up the rest of you all tomorrow and Friday from school. She will be with you all weekend."