On Wednesday Callie looked out for Stef again. She waited anxiously for the woman to show up so that they could spend a few more minutes talking. The sense of comfort and peace that Callie had felt on Monday was enough to make her crave Stef's attention. Each time the door opened she would turn excitedly hoping to see her but each time it wasn't the cop Callie felt like a little kid who's balloon had just popped.
"Earth to Callie." One of Callie's coworkers said while the two were on their break. "You better finish your smoothie, we only have like five minutes left."
"Sorry." Callie shook her head as she focused on the chocolate and peanut butter smoothie she'd barely touched in the last ten minutes.
"What has you so lost?" The girl asked curiously as she grabbed Callie's smoothie for a sip since hers was already finished.
"Nothing really, was just expecting someone to come in today, but they didn't." She answered casually.
"A boyfriend?" The girl asked teasingly, excited about some juicy gossip.
"Just a friend." Callie replied, once again glancing at the door as she heard it open.
"Guy friend?" The nineteen year old enquired.
"Nope, and before you ask me if I'm gay, she's about forty years old." Callie responded amused.
It had been a long time since she'd been this casual and carefree and she owed it to Stef. The woman's minimal attention had made Callie feel just a little bit more self-confident and self worthy. It helped that the people she worked with didn't know much about her life and no one knew about them being runaways for she'd told each of them the very same lie she told everyone - until she made up a new one for Stef.
"Kill joy." Callie's friend groaned as she handed back her smoothie and went back to work.
"Please Callie, please." Jude practically begged on Thursday afternoon. "There'll never be a day where I have no homework again and they said I could come back sometime."
"Jude, you don't know these people." Callie groaned, nervous about sending Jude back to that house, especially since Stef hadn't come to see her in two days.
"They aren't going to kill me Callie." Jude said dramatically. "I just want to play with Jesus again. He's really good and if I can play basketball then maybe the kids at school won't tease me so much." He reasoned.
Callie stared at her brother, knowing that he had a point. He was constantly teased for being 'too girly' and learning some tips to a popular sport couldn't hurt and neither could him having a friend and some fun. It also wouldn't hurt if they gave him something filling and health to eat again. Plus her ever-growing curiosity about the family added just that extra bit of motivation.
"Okay." Callie finally said, causing Jude to jump up and down in excitement. "Just remember, watch what you say." She warned clearly.
"I will." Jude replied confidently. This story had been repeated so often that Jude sometimes felt it was the truth. "Thanks Callie."
"Also, I'll pick you up at seven." Callie added. "I'll wait for you by the realtor's house." She explained, referring to the guy they'd described during their game.
"Okay." Jude agreed. Thankfully his nine-year-old self was too young to question why Callie didn't just come to the house.
"Jude, you're getting pretty good at that." Lena exclaimed as Jude shot his seventh basket in a row. "You been practicing?" She asked.
"Not really." Jude replied. "I can only get the close ones in and only from this angle." He pointed out.
"Still better than last week right?" Lena encouraged.
Jude beamed as he aimed and shot another ball and even though he missed the shot he was still pleased at the praise he'd gotten.
"You think you boys could take a break?" Lena questioned as she watched the boy pant heavily. "I have some groceries in the car that need to be taken to the kitchen and then some popsicles in the freezer just waiting to be eaten."
Jude smiled widely and grabbed a bag from the car and ran inside almost as though it was his own house.
"What are you making?" Jude asked as he sucked on his green apple popsicle and watched Callie paint a piece of chicken with a paintbrush.
"Lemon Mustard Chicken." Lena replied, dipping the brush back into the sauce. "Once I finish basting this I need to work on the salad and dessert, would you like to help me?" She offered, fond of the young boy.
Jude nodded excitedly and proceeded to finish up his popsicle at double speed. He had fun playing with Jesus but sports weren't really his thing and he was more than ready for a change.
Twenty minutes later Lena and Jude were sitting side by side - Lena cutting up the vegetables for the salad and Jude out rolling dough for the apple cinnamon rolls. Lena was asking Jude more about himself and this time Jude was asking almost as many questions as well. He now knew that there was a third kid who was always practicing the piano and a second mom but she wasn't home. He also learned that Lena was a vice-principal which surprised him slightly for he never thought a vice-principal could be any fun.
"So do you like yell at kids and stuff?" Jude questioned.
"Sometimes." Lena laughed in amusement. "I try not to too often though."
"My vice-principal's scary." Jude responded. "And whenever someone gets sent to his office you know they're in trouble."
"Which school do you go to?" Lena asked curiously.
"Johnson Elementary." Jude replied. It wasn't the best school in the area but it also wasn't too bad. The teachers were caring and dedicated and so far no one had brought a gun to school. "Where do you teach?" He asked back.
"Anchor Beach." Lena replied as she pulled the chicken out of the oven and then put a piece on a plate for Jude and handed it to him with a knife and fork.
"Where's that?" Jude asked, having never heard of the school before. He hungrily took a bite of the food, barely blowing on it to cool it down.
"Here, in San Diego. It's right on the beach." Lena smiled, fond of the school she worked for. She watched Jude carefully as she put the apple rolls into the oven to bake.
"Cool." Jude's eyes widened in excitement. "We have a playground." He offered like a consolation prize.
"That sounds fun." Lena smiled back, wondering how many things on that playground were in actual working condition.
"Did you eat anything?" Callie asked Jude as the two walked back home.
"The most delicious chicken ever." Jude responded. "And she sent back three apple rolls - one for me, one for you and one for our mom."
"Nice." Callie smiled, glad that Jude was full at least. It wasn't often that he got meals like this and she knew that ideally he should be getting more of it.
"I even got to help make them." Jude added proudly; his basketball accomplishments long forgotten.
"Was it just Lena and the twins again today?" Callie questioned curiously.
"Brandon was there too. He's like a piano pro." Jude explained. "He only stopped playing for like a minute to get some water."
"No one else?" Callie asked, wondering where Stef might have disappeared to. Maybe she was just working but then why hadn't she stopped by the store for two days?
"Nope." Jude responded and then added more information as an afterthought. "They have another mom but she wasn't there."
Callie sighed in frustration. She already knew she wasn't there - what she wanted to know was where she was and why she was suddenly keeping her distance.
That night Callie was back on the streets while Jude was sound asleep at home his stomach filled with nutritious chicken and delicious rolls. Callie had eaten one but then saved the last one for Jude to take to school the following day. She had to admit that the two times she'd eaten something Lena had made she had enjoyed it immensely.
Callie stood on the curb with two other girls waiting for someone to come and buy her services for the night. Business had finally picked up again after the raid less than two weeks ago and customers were now regular. She knew it wouldn't be more than a couple of minutes before someone showed up and she was ready - her hair and makeup were perfect, her condoms were on hand and her contraception pill was under her pillow.
"Here they come." One of the girls smiled seductively as a group of three young men pulled up towards them. "Ready to party?" She asked as she sauntered over to the car.
Callie followed, waiting for one of the guys to approached her but her mouth went dry and her heart beat faster when she noticed the same new guy from a week ago show up. After the performance she'd given that night she was sure she'd never see him again but much to her surprise, here he was, and to make things worse - he was drunk.