** A/N: That actually wasn't too bad. Aside from the the inbred vampire who just wanted attention, the one guy who was having a convo with himself that I can't even remember, and junie who thought that she had something to do w my note because of timing. This is actually an answer to a convo I've been having for the past week with another writer, I only got what, 7 negative comments. And for every one of those there were 2 sweet ones. Everyone else that was nasty that I didn't list, you weren't even memorable enough for me to do so. That chapter was up for less than 24 hrs. and got over 212 hits. I think the 7 nasty ones out of that were pretty good odds. I'd take them any day. And, a deal's a deal. As long as the chapter before gets over 200 reads then I will post a new chapter. Even though the chapter before it only got 152 reads which confuses me but oh well. So, here it is. And thanks for all the people who were sweet or used basic common sense.I'm great on having 212 hits per chapter in less than 24 hours! :D. And whoever said it was only 200? I said AT LEAST. the p.a.b. who got mad about me blocking her. Why would I not for that language?

CHAPTER 10

The rest of the evening went well. Everyone exchanged contact info and made some tentative plans for the upcoming days. Stef was even able to let her guard down and joke and laugh a bit.

As they got up to part ways, Sharon and Lena made plans to get the kids together tomorrow since they lived so close and Brandon had declared Callie his new best friend.

Brandon had told Callie goodbye and Sharon was doing the same with Lena. Callie just continued staring at Stef. Finally, she said, "My Mommy died."

Lena who had been speaking to Sharon looked over at her daughter and her face fell. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her entire body was filled with sorrow.

Stef's breath caught in her throat. She took a big gulp and looked at Callie. She bent down to her level and whispered, "I'm really sorry for your loss." Before she knew what she was doing, she had wrapped the little girl in a hug. Callie pulled away from her and stood closer to her Mom.

Lena and Sharon finished making plans and then each went in their own direction.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Lena kept glancing at Callie in the backseat on the short ride home from the beach. She had been really shaken when Callie told the strange woman that her Mommy was dead. Lena hadn't been sure how to respond.

She knew she needed to speak with Callie more about the situation. Jude wasn't due for a feeding for a while so she instead chose to have Callie help her give him a bath. After that she and Callie took a shower together. They then jumped into bed. Lena fed Jude while Callie absently played with his hands.

"So, Callie, you know you can talk to Mama about anything. We don't keep secrets or tell lies right?" Lena paused to get a response. When Callie just nodded without saying anything more, she continued, "Was there something you wanted to talk about with Mama? Maybe something about Mommy?"

"No," was the only response she got.

"Are you sure?" Callie nodded her head and yawned. Lena could see her eyes getting heavy and her breathing started to deepen. Callie clutched at her stuffed lady bug. Lena decided to put it on the back burner for now. She leaned over and kissed her. "Goodnight my little bug."

Lena put Jude in his crib. Then laid herself down and went to sleep.

Coco

Brandon and Sharon chatted nonstop about their new friends while Stef felt as if every step she took was weighted down. She cursed Mike and did the best she could to hold back her tears. They got to the house and she asked her Mom if she would bathe Brandon because she needed a few minutes to herself. She hugged Brandon and smiled at him as he went inside with Sharon. Stef collapsed on one of the deck chairs and cried.

What was she going to do? Mike's actions just kept coming back to haunt them. She felt guilty and ashamed of Mike and now of herself.

She couldn't tell Lena the truth about who she was on a beach in front of everyone. But, she feared that Callie soon would. The girl hadn't taken her eyes off of Stef the entire evening.

And when she said her Mommy had died. Stef nearly collapsed on the spot. How do you say you're sorry for someone being taken away from you unnecessarily?

Sharon came out and said that Brandon was already asleep. "He barely made it to getting his head on the pillow," she laughed. "He plopped his head over and was just knocked out. We should've gotten him some friends before. I'm glad he's made some now. They were such nice people."

"What's wrong with you?" she asked Stef. She had noticed Stef acting reserved during the evening but had put it aside. Stef could never keep a secret. All Sharon had to do was ask her if she was lying after she told a whopper and Stef would immediately answer yes.

Stef looked over at her with tears streaming down her face. "Mom, that was them," she explained quietly.

"Them? Them who?"

"The ones that Mike hit." Sharon's eyes widened and Stef averted her face.

"Oh my God," was all Sharon had to say. She covered her mouth with her hand and lowered herself into a chair. "She told me that her wife had died recently. And that her son was a miracle baby who had been born in an accident but I never put it together." Sharon looked over at Stef, "She seemed to recognize you a little. I didn't know you had ever met."

Stef reddened. "I kinda snuck into her room at the hospital," she said with an impish look on her face. She shrugged her shoulders. "I just wanted to see what all had happened for myself. She was really out of it. She called me Raquel. I didn't think she'd remember. She didn't really seem to tonight. Just thought I looked familiar."

"Well, what are you going to tell her? You know she's the vice principal of that school Brandon's going to be going to. And oh my God, that little girl talking about her dead Mommy. Did she see you too?" Sharon slapped her hand against the side of her head and cradled it.

"She was there as soon as I got there. I'm not sure if she remembered or not. I guess we'll find out soon one way or the other. Didn't you two make plans to take the kids out tomorrow?"

Sharon turned to her with wide eyes. "Do you think we should cancel?"

Stef chewed on her lower lip and shook her head. She ran her hand across her thighs. "I don't see a point in bringing it up if they don't. And Brandon's so excited about finally having a friend." They had all been worried about him in that department. Everyone in the family was an extrovert. Making friends had never been a problem for any of them. Brandon though was quiet and shy. For him, social interactions were a struggle. It would be a shame to take his first friend away from him. "He was more taken with Callie than with the other kids."

"Anyway Mom," Stef rose and kissed her mother. "I'm exhausted. I'm going to turn in. Good night. Love you."

"Love you too honey." Sharon rose to follow her daughter. They each went to their rooms and tried to sleep.