Mariana found exactly what she wanted, but it was definitely more than five dollars. "Please, Mommy!" She begged. "I won't ask for anything else on this trip or for a really long time."
"No. That charm bracelet is eleven dollars and ninety-nine cents before tax and before you put any charms on it. I said only five dollars. Find something else." Jesus still hanging on to Stef's hand was pulling her arm toward the candy as she tried to hold them both still.
"Please, Mommy!" Mariana said starting to cry. "I really need this bracelet. I will share it, I promise! I won't get anything at Disneyland…"
"I said no." Stef said with her voice oozing with frustration.
Lena saw the situation from across the room. "Callie, I need you to go get Mom's hand because I need to go talk to your sister."
"I don't need anything from this store after all." Callie said putting down the magnet she found. "I will just go with you."
Lena started to ask again, but saw the Mariana situation becoming a bigger scene all the time. "Fine." Lena walked over to Mariana with Callie in tow. "Mari, we need to leave the store now and have a talk outside. Do you understand me, Sweetheart?"
Mariana wiped away a few tears a nodded. Lena used her free hand to help her up and guided her out of the store. "Okay, boys, we are leaving in two minutes." Stef announced.
"Is this your first time here?" A man around Stef's age asked her.
"I came here as a kid, but it is the first time for the rest of my family." She was still a little embarrassed by the tantrum Mariana just threw in the store. "It is a little hard, you know, to afford to buy anything at a shop like this. My daughter has expensive taste."
"I know the feeling, I have a few little ones of my own. We are just in here for the bathroom, though. There's actually a gas station just outside of the park that sells almost the same stuff for a much more reasonable price. You might try again there. I know they have children's shirts two for five dollars. They might have bracelets."
"Thanks for the hint! We will load up and go there." Stef said nodding to him. She went to find the boys to leave. Jesus had picked up a candy bar which she pried from his hand.
Lena had Mariana basically talked down by the time they got out of the store. "Since you could not act appropriately in the store just now, you will not be able to get anything. Do you understand that?" Mariana nodded with a tear still falling which Lena caught with her free hand. "Now then, we are going to start walking to the car."
"Mommy says we are going to get things at another store because someone told her they are cheaper there!" Jude said coming over and interrupting the moment.
Mariana's eyes lit up. "May I get something at the other store?"
"No, in fact, you shouldn't even ask on the rest of this trip." Lena answered simply and Mariana once again started sobbing loudly.
"Quit being a baby." Callie said under her breath in a way only Lena heard, saying exactly what Stef always wanted to say when Mariana did this.
Stef noticed that Callie had some sort of attitude with Lena, but was a little busy with the boys herself. Jesus was continuing to try to drag her around while Brandon was also sticking closer than normal. "Hey, B, would you go to the car and get out a couple of water bottles, please?"
"Would you go with me?" He asked a little tentatively.
"The car is just right over there." Stef said pointing. "I can see you all the way there and all the way to take them to Mama. If I go with you I have to take Jesus. It would really be a big help to Mama and me."
"They would be for Mama?" He thought for moment. "Sure. Should I get water for all three of them?"
"That would be perfect." Stef tossed him the car keys and Brandon went to the car sort of eagerly which seemed odd after his resistance earlier. Jude followed his brother, but came back toward Stef with an odd look on his face. "I can see that you also think some people are acting a little differently than normal, Little Man. Do you know what is going on?"
"Not really. All I know is that Brandon and Callie had a fight last night about something. I didn't really understand it. Do you remember why they were fighting, Jesus?"
"They weren't fighting." Jesus lied trying to look at Stef sincerely. "No one is acting weird."
"Hmmm, well, I actually haven't seen them talk hardly at all today when I think about it. Brandon has been fairly quiet, maybe I should talk to both him and Callie." Stef said halfway to herself.
"No, Mommy!" Jude said very seriously. "I just remembered that Jesus was right. They weren't fighting."
"And now my two little boys are lying. Remember that your mothers always know these things."
"It wasn't exactly a fight… Callie told someone that Brandon was not really her brother last night. It made him mad at her. Then we heard some stuff when we were supposed to be sleeping. I guess it was about how Callie was right."
"So, you all over heard the conversation between Mama, Ashley, and me last night? We were trying to be very quiet. How did you go about hearing?"
"I didn't hear. I stayed in my bed. It was Brandon that was listening at the door. He said…" Jesus took the opportunity to elbow his brother and signal him to be quiet.
"Well, I think I am going to take a walk over by Mama. I will trade her kids for a little while and see if I can get the rest of the story that Jesus didn't want you to share.
Lena had Mariana calmed down again and was also making her way to Stef. "Are you all ready to get in the car?"
"Almost. First, I think we need to have a little conversation with our two oldest." Stef saw Callie cringe a little and scoot her body closer to Lena's. "Perhaps, though, that could wait for later."
Lena attempted to get a little space between Callie and herself, but Callie wouldn't allow it. "I agree that it needs to happen, but I am thinking it might have to happen after we get back to the hotel. If you want to trade me kids, I will get the rest of the kids settled. I am going to ride in the back with them and give you some Callie time."
"Sure. I would love to have my little bug as my co-pilot." Lena easily got Jesus. Stef reached out a hand for Callie who refused to take it.
"No! I will not go to the car with you! I only want my mama. Not you."
Stef took a step back definitely feeling hurt before gathering her wits. She looked around and saw that people were staring at them again. Callie was definitely too old to act this way, and Stef was confused by her sudden regression. "I do not want to do this here, Callie, but if you push it will happen. Now, take my hand and go with me to the car."
"I will only go with Mama." Callie still insisted soundingeven younger.
"Fine. You won't go to your party tonight. You can stay with your Mama and me while everyone else eats ice cream and plays games. Do you understand?"
"Whatever." Callie said releasing Lena's hand and walking off on her own toward the car.
Stef started to speak, but Lena stopped her. "That conversation definitely needs to happen. Gather up the other three. I will take this one and check on that one."
"Better yet, I will take Jesus. You just go talk to Callie." Stef said getting Jesus back.
Lena found Callie sitting on the curb by the parking lot. She sat down next to her silently for a few seconds. "I have noticed that you haven't been yourself today, Baby. Can you tell me what's going on?"
"It's just not fair. Mariana just acted like a baby in that store and I am the only one who doesn't get to go to the party tonight. She should be in just as much trouble or more."
"Why do you think Mom and I would be so mean to you?"
"You aren't being mean. Only she is. I don't do anything and I am already in trouble."
"So, what about the fact that you went off and hiked almost the whole way to the check-in station without us after we both said no?" Lena asked scooting a little closer.
"Jesus did that, too and he gets to go to that party. Besides, all I was doing is keeping him safe. It is what any big sister would do. It should be Brandon in trouble for not following both of us." Callie justified only to herself.
"When you knew Jesus was wandering off, did it ever enter your mind to come tell one of us?" Lena asked putting an arm around her daughter. "I think you also wanted to hike more. Your little brother is just an excuse. What do you think?"
"I know that she told me to stay and then I didn't." Callie said looking remorseful. "But, Jesus has great ideas sometimes. I sort of wanted to see what he was going to do. When I found out he wanted us to go by ourselves to the bottom, I got him to turn around. I even told him that you both said no. I am the only reason you ever found him."
"And you were part of the reason he got so far. However, you were avoiding Mom before then. She invited you to sit with her and you went out of your way to sit somewhere else. You didn't want to walk next to her most of the morning." Lena pointed out.
"I think it is because she is my stepmom and not my real mom. Even though you didn't give birth to me, you are basically my real mom; Stef and I can only be steps. Ashley said that her step mom was mean to her. Brandon said that I couldn't be anyone's favorite because he is the only one who belongs to either of you. I told him it wasn't true, you picked me. He said that you and Stef told Ashley that I was harder to deal with and that you both liked him best. Then today, I watched. Brandon didn't ever get in trouble. Stef gave him the quarter for the binoculars to see down in the canyon. He didn't have to hold someone's hand like a baby. He even ate two cookies at lunch even though you said one. Ashley and Brandon were both right, steps aren't as good as real kids. I just get in the way."
"By that standard, I am Brandon's stepmom. Do you think I feel that way about him?" Lena questioned.
"I guess I never really thought about it like that." Callie was quiet again for a moment. Lena just sat close seeing Callie consider it. "No, I don't think you are like that to Brandon. You are a much nicer stepmom than Stef."
"And he is the only one of my babies who is not fully adopted by both of us. He is the only one who could ever truly be labeled as a stepchild. Mom told Ashley last night that we had no steps in our family. That means that all five of our babies belong to both of us. We need to spend some time together tonight, I think, to get all of these feelings sorted back out. Mom loves you every bit as much as she loves Brandon. If she said you were harder to deal with, she didn't say it in a mean way. Mom herself is hard to deal with sometimes and she knows it. I just find it strange that you went from telling someone you were Mom's favorite to avoiding her as an evil stepmother."
"Oh, Mom isn't evil!" Callie said suddenly looking back up at Lena. "Mom is amazing. Other than you, she is my favorite person in the whole world. Definitely one of the good guys."
XXXX
"When are we going to leave?" Mariana whined from inside the car. "It is hot in here."
"We will leave when Mama is done talking to Callie." Stef answered. "Your door is open and you have cool water to drink. You will be fine."
"How come Callie is talking to Mama instead of to you? She hardly ever does that. Even when you aren't home, she always wants to talk to you and not Mama." Brandon pointed out clearly annoyed like the others that they were having to wait.
"No reason. Sometimes everyone just needs their mama." Stef said trying to sound very confident despite her actual feelings. Brandon and Mariana shared a knowing look completely seeing through their mom. Stef noted their look and lost a little more of her resolve.
"Is Mama really going to sit by me?" Jude asked from one side of the long seat in the back. "I really want her to sit here. I saved it just for her."
"Mama said she was going to sit in the back with you all, so I am sure that she will sit wherever you left space. She would probably prefer to sit on the middle row, though. Mari, how about you move back to give her that seat."
"Why does Callie get to ride in the front again?" Mariana continued to whine. "Brandon got to sit up front yesterday and so did Callie. Jesus got to ride up front this morning. It should be my turn."
"Sweetheart, stop the whining. Until you grow a little more, it can never be your turn. It isn't safe. You can ride up front in the car, but the van says you have to weigh sixty-five pounds due to the airbags. You are just lucky that you are not in a booster seat still. That's why Mama is coming to the back to sit with you and Jude."
"Then I shouldn't have to move! Make Brandon move to the back so that Mama can sit next to me!" Mariana said nearly going back into her tantrum again.
"If you start that again, Miss Thing, you will be staying back with us tonight, also. I am not going to listen to your crying. Now move like I asked you to."
Mariana wiped away her tears and sent a glare towards her mom. "Brandon was right. You do like him best because he is your kid."
Stef looked questioningly, but then saw Lena approaching the car as soon as she got there, she started directing her children. "I want Jesus up front with Mom. Brandon and Callie in the middle row, and Mariana and Jude on each end of the back seat. I will sit between them. We will have no electronics on the way home. Jesus may talk to Mom. Everyone else may talk until we are finished at the gas station and then everyone needs to try to rest a little. You do not have to sleep, but you must all sit silently. We have had a long, hot day, and everyone could use a little quiet time."
XXXXX
"It says here that you have five children. Are the other two coming later?" The girl asked Stef from the desk.
"Not tonight. This time only these three will be here. Either my wife or I will be back to pick them up when this is over. I assume you still have our phone numbers?"
"Yes, everything is here. And you are the one who wants me to check for ID when you come back."
"Well, actually I am the one who would like you to check everyone's ID, not just mine. But yeah, I can see you have a good memory." Stef gave Mariana, Jesus, and Jude one more hug each and sent them over to the group of kids already gathered.
Stef started walking toward the parking lot knowing she would have to hurry to pull off her surprise. She got in the car and drove to a nearby Target. Within ten minutes, she picked out everything she needed and headed back to the hotel.
XXXX
"Mama, I didn't bring anything that looks nice." Callie said looking through her bag again.
"Mom won't care. Just take a shower and put on whatever you have that is clean. Besides, I thought you were my daughter who didn't like to dress up for anything."
"I didn't say that I wanted to dress up, I just want to look okay. All I have left is shorts and my basketball shirt from this year. I was going to wear that home tomorrow."
"You could wear your Grand Canyon shirt, I guess. Really, though, it doesn't matter. Mom is probably just going to wear whatever she has as well. I know I am not worrying about what I am going to wear. This is not like the dance or anything. Go get in the shower right now so that Brandon will also have time."
Callie grabbed the clothes she had and went into the bathroom to shower. Stef got back to the room right after Callie left. "Hello, wife and babies!" She greeted.
"It took you a lot longer to drop off the kids tonight." Lena said looking at the clock. "Did anything go wrong?"
"No, I just ran to Target to pick up a few things." Stef held up the sack. "Where are the kids?"
"Callie just got into the shower and Brandon is in the bedroom looking for his clothes. What did you get them?"
"Oh just some stuff." Stef said dismissively with a grin. She walked into the bedroom. Brandon had sorted out his clothes and was currently sitting on the bed the boys had slept on waiting for his turn in the bathroom. "Hey, B. I got you a couple of things." Stef reached in her bag and handed him a plaid button up shirt and a rose. "I thought this shirt would look nice with your khaki shorts. The rose is for you to give to Mama."
"Does Mama… I mean, do you think…" Brandon started uncertainly.
"If you are trying to ask if Mama wants to go with you tonight, she really does. We are really disappointed in your choice to prey on Callie's insecurity. However, both Mama and I love you very much. In fact, there is really nothing you can do that could stop us from loving you. It has become evident that you need to spend a little time with us so we can prove it to you."
"And Callie?" Brandon said looking up to meet his mom's eyes.
"Is your sister and she will always be your sister. I think the two of you probably need to talk a little. It might be that an apology or two is in order." Stef reached over and patted Brandon's leg. "Right now, though, I need to go give your sister a few things before she is out of the shower."
Stef tentatively knocked, but realized Callie wouldn't be able to hear over the shower. She quietly opened the door and left the new purchase on the floor of the bathroom. She waited outside the door to hear the water turn off and Callie's shriek of delight.
Callie came bouncing out of the bathroom a few minutes later in her new sundress with leggings. She had expected to see Lena, but when it was Stef, she approached her mother shyly. "I love it, Mom! How did you know?"
"I just know my girl. I saw it and I knew that it was made for you." Stef pulled in Callie for a tight hug. "I will spend every day proving how much I love you if that is what it takes. Tonight is about the four of us reconnecting. Mama and I think we should do this more as you go into middle school and I agree."
Callie allowed a few tears to fall as she leaned in closer. Her anger and fear melted away in Stef's arms. "I love you, too."