"Dr. Torres?"
Callie opens one eye from the on call room and turns her head toward the nurse standing at the door. "What's up?"
"I know you said not to wake you, but, Your daughter's school is on the phone. They're asking to speak to you."
Callie gets to her feet and shakes her head in frustration as she picks up the extension.
"This is Doctor Torres."
"Dr. Torres, this is Natalie Hartmann."
Callie nods, "Right, you're the after school director. What's up, is Sofia okay?"
Natalie hesitates. "She's... having a rough day in after school today Dr. Torres. I think it might be best if someone can come and pick her up."
"Right. Of course. Um, someone will be there to pick her up in 30 minutes." Callie sighs, and hangs up the phone. She fishes her cell phone out of her pocket, and notices the school had attempted to call twice before.
Knowing that Mark has just begun a 5 hour surgery, She fires off a text to Arizona who is home with Corrina, who woke up with a sick stomach in the middle of the night. "Any way u can pick up Sof? After school called. She needs to be picked up."
a second later, her wife texts back "Corrina just puked all over our kitchen floor. Can't leave house. sry"
Callie exhales slowly, and gets her purse out of her locker. Thankfully, her afternoon was light, with no elective surgery scheduled whatsoever. She breezes past Owen on her way out of the E. R.
"I'm out,kid emergency" she yells, and looks back only to see him nodding that he had gotten the memo.
"Dr. Torres." Natalie Hartmann greets her with a smile. "Thank you so much for coming."
"Is Sofia okay?" Callie asks, looking around for some sign of her daughter.
Natalie motions to the girls bathroom. "She locked herself in the stall in the girls bathroom Dr. Torres. I think she may have had some kind of accident."
Callie nods quietly, "Okay. Thanks for calling Natalie." She sighs, and heads for the girls bathroom.
"Sofia?" she calls softly, "Mommy's here. It's okay to unlock the door sweetheart." Her heart breaks as she can hear Sofia sniffling quietly.
"Mommy?" Her tiny voice echoes throughout the bathroom. A moment later the bathroom stall unlocks, and Sofia emerges. Sure enough, Callie can tell she's had an accident.
Callie kneels down. "what happened Sofia?"
Sofia's chin quivers. "I was... I was just playing with the jump ropes, and I didn't even have to go and then I did and- she stops short
"what?" Callie wipes her daughter's tear stained face
"Cadence laughed at me and called me a baby!" She wailed.
Callie silently wraps her daughter in her arms. "Accidents happen sweetheart. You're not a baby. It's okay."
"I'm sorry mommy." she whimpers.
Callie kisses the top of her head, "Stay here okay? You still have a change of clothes in your cubby in miss Jessica's class, right?"
Sofia nods, hiccuping a moment later.
Callie emerges from the bathroom and heads for Sofia's classroom. She is relieved to see Sofia's teacher sitting in the room.
"Dr. Torres!" Miss Jessica smiles.
"Jessica! Hi, I just need to get to Sofia's cubby, she had an accident, so, we're gonna get her changed, and head home." Callie explains.
"Here let me help you out" Jessica shows her to Sofia's cubby.
"Dr. Torres" She starts slowly
"Oh, please, call me Callie"
"Callie, I'm glad you happened to stop in today. I've been meaning to call you to set up a meeting" Jessica continues, "I was wondering if you and Dr. Robbins and Dr. Sloan could come by here on friday, around 4? I know it's a lot to ask, but, it's necessary.
"Is Sofia okay?"
Jessica nods, but there is something in her tone that Callie finds somewhat unconvincing.
"what is it?" Callie asks, "You don't have to hold back."
"I just have some concerns about Sofia. We can discuss them on Friday though, okay?"
Callie nods. Deep down, she had seen this day coming. She knew her girl was bright, and beautiful. But the fact was, there was always a chance that being born so severely premature would impact Sofia's life somewhere down the line. Up until kindergarten, Callie, Arizona and Mark had considered themselves unbelievably blessed when it came to watching Sofia develop. But she knew.
"We'll be here on Friday at 4" Callie says quietly, turning to leave the classroom.
Jessica smiles kindly. "Thank you Dr. Torres."
With a heavy heart, Callie returns to Sofia, who is waiting patiently for her mommy to return.
"Alright kiddo." Callie smiles widely at her. "Let's get you changed, and then we'll head home."
Sofia's face brightens "Tonight Auntie April comes over!" she reminds Callie, who, up until that point had completely forgotten.
"That's right! Mama and I are going to go out, and you and Corrina are going to stay and play with Auntie April."
"Why can't you take Corrina with you?" Sofia whines, as Callie ties her shoes, and carefully places her wet clothes in the plastic bag at her side.
"Sof. We've talked about this." Callie patiently responds.
"I hate it when she's there! She messes everything up!"
"Sof. She's only been there one other time during your big girl time with Auntie April. It's not a big deal."
Sofia crosses her arms. "I don't want her there during big girl time! She's a baby! She's not a big girl! She can't do big girl things like Auntie April and I do! Mommy no! She can't be there!" She is beginning to melt down as Callie buckles her into the backseat of her car.
"Sofia. It's not up for discussion. Corrina is staying home. Mama and I are going out, and you guys are staying home, and I'm sure,I'm positive actually, that Auntie April will make it fun for both of you."
Callie can feel her patience beginning to wear thin as Sofia continues to melt down in the back seat.
"I don't care, I don't want her to be there!" Sofia sobs angrily, and in one swift movement, removes her sneaker, and launches it into the front seat in protest.
Callie's eyes bore into her daughter from the rearview mirror.
"Grounded." she declares. Luckily, they have just pulled into the driveway.
"No! Mommy I'm sorry I'm sorry I won't be bad again!" Callie feels as though she is dragging her 5 year old daughter into their house.
"Go upstairs Sofia. I'll be up there in a minute." Callie's teeth are clenched tightly.
"What happened?" Arizona emerges from the kitchen with Corrina in her arms.
"She threw a shoe at me while I was driving Arizona. She took off her shoe, and threw it into the front seat." Callie breathes hard. "I... I just need a minute."
Arizona nods. "Take a second. Come on, she's up in her room, just... take your coat off and take a breath before you go up there."
"How's my baby?" Callie can feel her blood pressure returning to normal. She strokes Corrina's cheek and frowns. "Still no break in the fever huh?"
Arizona puffs out her lower lip and shakes her head. "her tummy's not good." but the bight side is, I'm quite certain there's nothing left in there to puke." She kisses her baby's forehead and grimaces. "I wish her fever would break. I'm afraid April will have her hands full when she comes over tonight."
"Did you warn her?"
Arizona nods, "I called her this morning. She said she's fine with it. She also mentioned she has something she needs to ask us when she gets here. I think she's got some big news."
Callie's eyes widen "Do you think Matt finally proposed?"
Arizona grins. "I think he may have. At any rate, she's on her way, and we, my lovely, gorgeous, talented wife, have a night off duty for the first time in months.
Callie sighs. "We need to discuss something. Jessica needs to meet with you, Mark and I on Friday, at 4. She has "concerns."
Arizona nods and slowly exhales, "Okay. Friday at 4. I got it."
"Thank you." Callie says returning to her feet. Alright. I need to go upstairs, and talk to Sofia.
"Be strong" Arizona winks.
"Sofia?" Callie quietly enters her room. Sofia is sitting on the edge of her bed staring at her hands.
"Do you hate me, Mommy?" Sofia doesn't look up.
"Sofia. I don't hate you. Sometimes, you do things I don't like, like today when you threw your shoe into the front seat. That's not okay. But I don't hate you. I could never, ever hate you."
"I'm sorry I threw it." Sofia wipes her eyes.
Callie sighs. "Once, I threw an entire can of opened refried beans in my mom's kitchen because I didn't want to eat them."
"You did?"
Callie nods. "I got in big trouble."
"I'm in big trouble huh?"
Callie sighs. "You're in trouble, but, not big trouble. Listen, Mommy understands, you haven't had a great day, but Sofia, listen to me. Don't ever, ever, ever do that again, do you understand? Mommy was driving when you did that, It's not okay, it's unsafe, and it could have really put us in danger. Do you understand?
Sofia nods solemly. "Can I come out of my room?"
Callie thinks for a moment, "You can. But Sofia, listen to mommy, no more tantrums tonight. Not a one. Not about dinner, not about Corrina. Or I'll have Auntie April send you right back up here, and there won't be a big girl night. I know how much you love this, you look forward to big girl night every year, don't you?"
Sofia nods her head quickly.
"So that's the rule. We can go downstairs, but you need to be a nice, kind, polite girl, and you need to be sweet to your sister. Corrina's tummy has been bothering her all day, and she doesn't feel good."
"Corrina's sick?" Sofia's eyes fill with concern as Callie nods.
"Come on Mommy, Let's go downstairs and keep her and Mama company." Sofia sweetly pulls Callie to her feet.
Arizona throws Callie a glance as they enter the kitchen. "Everything okay?" She turns to Sofia.
Sofia nods quietly.
Callie holds her arms out for the whining toddler in Arizona's arms. "Come here my love. Let's give Mama a break."
Corrina lifts her head off of Arizona's shoulder long enough to find a comfortable place in Callie's arms. She quietly sticks her thumb in her mouth as Callie strokes her fine blonde hair.
"Corrina!" Sofia claps her hands to get her sister's attention. "Do you know what tonight is?"
Arizona grins. "I don't think she does Sof."
Sofia grins proudly, "Corrina, it's Big Girl night!" and proceeds to tell her little sister all the fun things that big girl night includes, right up until Auntie April rings their doorbell.