Sorry for the delay folks I had a huge assignment due for my PhD program and it just about killed me. Thanks for hanging in with me.
After a few months of Callie getting called away for different rescues, everybody started to get used to her having to leave randomly during dinners or being absent from different family gatherings. It took time, but everyone was beginning to get used to the feeling they got when they watched her leave, always hoping she would come back safe. All that to say the last few months had been busy for everybody. School was back in session, which meant Lena and Jude were back at Anchor Beach during the day. Jude was busy preparing to audition for the senior showcase, much like his two older siblings had done their senior year. Much like Callie, he kept what he was performing to himself and didn't ask for help, insisting that he wanted it to be a surprise.
When the night of the auditions came, Callie made sure she had the night off, barring some huge emergency. She and Luca were going to meet the family at the school before the performance and Stef suspected that a part of Callie didn't ever want to step foot back in that school, if for no other reason than their principal had remained the same. Lena had reserved the front row for her family and of course she was tasked with saving a seat for her boss. As Stef flipped through the program Lena could feel her anger bubbling just below the surface.
"If you keep it up, I'm gonna make you go sit in the car while the performance happens."
"I don't like her Lena. I never really did and after all that bullshit she put Callie through I really didn't like her, but now…she's lucky Callie's been busy or else she'd be real sorry she's been giving her baby brother a hard time."
"We agreed not to tell her about all that. She has enough going on and I don't need her and you storming the school to defend Jude's honor. This is not as bad as it was with Callie, she just knows which buttons to push."
"And that doesn't bother you?" Stef's bighting question was met with a hand in her face as Lena saw her boss walking toward them and they needed to end this conversation before Stef got really heated and couldn't be stopped.
"Lena, Stef, nice to see you both here. Last one of these for you guys. Exciting times." Stef forced a smile, but she still looked pissed.
"I see most of your family is here, but I don't think I see Callie. I would've thought she'd be here on her baby brother's big night." Stef stood up, but was cut off again, this time by a force behind Karin.
"You thought correctly ma'am." Karin turned around to see Callie and Luca standing there, both with fake smiles on their faces. Luca was in a button down shirt and tie, but Callie…Callie was in uniform.
"Callie…Mr. Russo, so glad to see you both return for this event."
"Wouldn't have missed it." Callie took a step forward, invading her former principal's personal space.
"I hear congratulations are in order. Your mother told me about the engagement. When is the wedding?"
"Not sure yet. It'll be a longer engagement though. We want to get settled in at work and be able to plan a nice wedding. We're in no rush." The lights flashed off and on to signal people to take their seats and Luca was glad to nudge Callie towards her chair as he sat himself next to Stef.
Stef leaned over and whispered, "she didn't work today, why is she wearing her uniform?"
Luca glanced at Stef with a knowing grin. "You know perfectly well why she's wearing it." Stef settled back in her chair with a satisfied grin across her face. Callie wanted to put that little bit of the fear of God into Karin and remind her that messing with Jude, even just a little was a very poor life choice. The lights went out completely and the program started. Jude was set to perform towards the beginning so the family didn't have to wait long before he was set to perform next. The stage lights came on softly at first, only bright enough to see Jude standing there with a guitar in his hands.
That was enough to surprise his family, who knew the boy could sing, but never had any idea he knew how to play the guitar. The intro music was soft and Stef was sure she had heard this song before and it didn't take long for her to place where she had heard it.
When the calls and conversations
Accidents and accusations
Messages and misperceptions
Paralyze my mind
Stef looked over at Callie who looked like she was already close to crying, telling Stef that she remembered that day in the backyard that started…well everything. She remembered the song she sang to her baby brother to soothe his fears and it appeared that he remembered it too.
Busses, cars, and airplanes leaving
Burning fumes of gasoline
And everyone is running
And I come to find a refuge in the
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay
Jude didn't use pictures like Callie had when she did her audition. He stuck with the guitar and his voice and honestly, he didn't need anything else. He had his family's attention along with everyone else's.
Monkeys on the barricades
Are warning us to back away
They form commissions trying to find
The next one they can crucify
Jude shot a look at his principal and both Callie and Stef felt a little proud at the not so subtle jab at the woman that none of them cared for.
And anger plays on every station
Answers only make more questions
I need something to believe in
Breathe in sanctuary in the
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay
Children lose their youth too soon
Watching war made us immune
And I've got all the world to lose
But I just want to hold on to the
Jude turned and looked Callie dead in the eye as he finished the song.
Easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The easy silence that you make for me
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
And the peaceful quiet you create for me
And the way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay for me
The way you keep the world at bay.
The music played out and eventually the last note died and that silence was soon replaced by a substantial applause from the audience. Of course the family were all on their feet and so was Karin if for no other reason she knew better to stay seated with Callie Foster mere feet away. The other performances continued throughout the rest of the evening and they were all good, but Callie was confident that Jude would get one of the spots in the senior showcase.
Sure enough, at the end of the performances, they lined the students up and one by one announced those who had been chosen to perform later that year. Unlike with Callie, they did not have to wait till the very end of the list, as Jude's name was the third one called. Again, the family was on their feet cheering and brushing away tears. The final names were called and the program ended. Callie knew she had a few minute before Jude would appear from backstage and she took her opportunity to move next to her mother who was speaking to her boss.
"Another Foster family success story, wouldn't you say so Principal Sanchez?"
The older woman nodded and smiled, "your brother did a lovely job Ms. Foster. Clearly music unites your family. He is a very gifted young man."
"He is, extremely gifted. I knew that since he was born. I know that because until we found our moms, I raised him. I think in the last few years you forgot that, so allow me the chance to remind you." Callie stepped closer to the woman and Lena wasn't sure what to do, but Stef kept her hand on Lena's shoulder, silently telling her to let it happen: Callie knew something was up and she was going to fix it right now, her way.
"I changed diapers, played toys, read books, soothed fevers, tended to bruises and busted lips from the abuse we endured. I walked through hell with that boy and he will always be my first and greatest love and until the day comes when they place my own son in my arms, he will always be my little boy. My moms are his parents and I will not ever undermine what they did for us or how much they love him: he is their son. However, you would do well to remember that he was my son first and I will protect him as such probably forever. I don't know what you've been up to because my mothers have kept it secret thinking that I didn't need the stress because of my job." Lena and Stef both felt their stomachs flip a little: Callie knew they had tried to keep it a secret and they only hoped she wasn't mad.
"I'm not mad at them for it though. They were just doing what good parents do: protecting their child, no matter how old they get. That aside: what they don't know and what you must've forgotten is that I have eyes and ears everywhere, so everything you ever did that was unprofessional against my brother, I know about it. Now, he is about to come from backstage and I will not overshadow his achievement with the level of anger I feel towards you in this moment. So I will make this simple and brief. If I hear one more thing about you coming for my brother, I will beat down the door of every school board member until someone listens to me and starts calling for your resignation. My mothers always made them listen when you were messing with me, but they only ever saw me as a juvenile delinquent that you were being hard on, but Jude…he's the perfect kid, so they would never let it slide if they found out you were bullying an honor roll student." Out of the corner of her eye, Callie saw Jude hugging his friends and she knew her time was up.
"You once told me that I was on thin ice with you, well now the tables have turned. He is almost a man and he has two parents who love his fiercely so he doesn't need me to protect him, but he has me to do it anyway. He may not be my "son" anymore, but he is and will always be my boy and I will ruin everything you ever valued in your career if I hear anything more about you hurting him. Do I make myself clear?"
Karin nodded her head and Len noted how very pale her boss looked.
"Very clear Ms. Foster. But, listen…Callie, I…" Callie held up her hand and turned her head away from her former principal.
"I don't need or want your explanation. You actions are inexcusable; I just wanted you to hear that from me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to go celebrate with my brother and our family. Have a good evening ma'am." Callie straightened her uniform in a little display of power before walking away from Karin and heading over to where Jude was hugging Mariana. Stef quickly took her place in front of Karin.
"Well, my daughter took the words out of my mouth. You were smart enough to leave the twins alone, but you just couldn't resist going after her baby brother. That was a truly terrible choice on your part because she has gone to jail defending that boy so there is literally nothing that she won't do for him. That being said, he's my son, Lena's son and I don't like this game you've been playing with him and it ends tonight or so help me God the next thing that will end is our career in education. Understood?" Karin never liked dealing with an angry Stef, but dealing with her right after dealing with a pissed off Callie was almost more than the woman could handle. The only response she could muster was a simple head nod.
"Good, then I'll see you at the senior showcase and then graduation. Enjoy your night Karin." Stef left Karin with Lena and went over to congratulate her son. Karin looked to Lena as if she expected one more blow to come from her. Instead Lena just shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't think there is anything I could say that hasn't already been said. But just so we are clear. If you think I value my job over my child, you are wrong. If it costs me my job ok, but you will stop inappropriately interacting with my son or there will not be a school in California that will hire you after I drag your name through the mud. Goodnight Karin." Lena walked away from her boss and walked to where Jude had finally gotten to hug Callie and every was a mess of tears because of it.
Jude was now much taller than Callie and his voice was no longer soft and docile: he looked and sounded like a man, something that broke his mothers' hearts. Their baby was not a baby anymore and Callie felt that pang of hurt in her heart too. But more than that, she felt a huge swell of pride for Jude and all he had done, both tonight and in school in general.
"You remembered." Jude let go of his sister and kissed her forehead before handing her a tissue.
"I'll never forget. That day, that song…it changed everything for us Callie. If I forgot everything else, I would remember that day and that song." Callie hugged him again, this time both of them holding on a little longer than they needed to.
"I'm so proud of you and I cannot wait to see what you do the next time you perform. You'll be amazing."
"I won't be better than what you did. I don't think I could ever touch that performance, but I'm gonna try."
"Oh Jude. You are going to so good that my performance will be permanently forgotten. You'll shine the brightest out of all of us. I've always known that would be true." Jude pulled away from his sister with big tears in his eyes.
"If I shine ever, at anything, it's because you lit a fire in me when I was little and you never let it go out. You made me this way…you and moms. And I will not ever let you forget that." Jude lost his resolve and ended up pulling Callie back into him and you could see his body shake as he cried and Callie just let him cry. Her tears flowed just as steadily, but she knew that Jude had been through a lot and he needed this moment to feel everything and deal with what he was feeling. When Jude had calmed down he pulled away from Callie and she gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.
"You shine at everything baby brother…absolutely everything." Jude smiled wide and brushed the tears from his eyes. Callie stepped aside and went to talk to Brandon who was talking with their former music teacher who still taught at the school. Jude soon felt a strong hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Luca behind him with a proud smile on his face.
"That was really something buddy. You nailed it." Jude let his soon to be brother-in-law hug him and tears once again welled up in his eyes. Luca held the boy tightly for as long as her needed before letting go and handing the boy a handkerchief.
"I just wanted it to be special for her."
"It was buddy, she felt it, I know she did."
"I want to make the showcase really show my journey with her. Is that terrible? Do you think moms will be upset? I just…we never would've survived to even meet Stef and Lena if not for all the things Callie did. I just want to take this opportunity to show her that I know what she did and I'll never forget it." Luca smiled and began to tear up himself.
"I think your moms will understand Jude. Maybe talk to them about it. Explain it like you just did to me. It's ok to want to tell your story: your's and Callie's." Jude looked a little lost in thought as he looked over at his sister.
"She's special."
"I know she is buddy." Luca stood shoulder to shoulder with Jude as they looked at Callie talk to former teachers as she smiled and laughed along with Brandon.
"I know she is."
So again, super sorry about the wait, but sadly school has to come first. I am happy to listen to any ideas of chapter you would like to see. Someone complained about them getting married young. They aren't getting married right this minute and when they do, it's fiction so deal with it. I'm giving them a long engagement for a reason, but it may not seem long in the story because I don't want to be writing this story forever. Anyway, let me know your thoughts and any things you want to see in this story in the coming chapters. Thanks for sticking with me.