Author's Note:
First, as always, thank you so much for reading, reviewing and enjoying this story. It's been the greatest adventure story-wise with so many different paths, opinions and reactions. I do feel like I lost some readers because of the first ending but for those of you who stuck around, thanks a million.
What I envisioned for this story when I first started the first version was completely different to what it ended up being. The first ending, for one, was not ever part of my original plan. Stef and Lena were to have hated each other from the start and battle instantly with Callie being firmly on Lena's side but with all my readers hating Stef so much I had to give her a break and Lena was the only way to do that.
Several people also hated the way that Lena treated Stef and some even hoped that they wouldn't end up together but the way I see it is that as a mother, Lena would do anything to protect her child and that includes pushing away the person trying to break up her family even if it was her daughter's biological mother; but also realizing when you need help and asking for it and trying to get it any way you can when your daughter's life is at stake. Isn't that what any mother would do? I know I would.
Some of you felt that this story moved very slowly but I like things to be as realistic as possible. Both Stef and Lena were afraid to destroy the fragile bridge that they had finally built, they weren't sure how Callie would react and they were simply just afraid of being rejected. Had they been just strangers things might have moved faster but with all their convoluted history and Callie hanging in the balance, they both felt it was safer to just steer clear of romance.
I often forgot that for the math to add up, Stef and Lena were much younger in this story and often very mature for their age. Callie was twelve when Stef finally found her which made Stef only twenty-seven and that made Lena twenty-five at most. At twenty-five or twenty-seven (or even thirty one for that matter) I know that I wasn't prepared for any of this.
In this story Stef's parents were not the same as they were in the first one because Stef never died. The only reason that they tried to make amends with Callie was because they lost their daughter and realized just how precious and fragile life can be. Here, they are still driven by society and do not want any part in the scandal that was Stef's teenage pregnancy. They never knew or loved Callie and it was only Stef's death that helped open their eyes.
I never made it part of the story because it seems just too… happily ever after... but I do like to believe that Max eventually does find someone he falls in love with. So many people hated him and felt he interfered where he wasn't invited but it's mentioned that his nature is to win which is what makes him a great lawyer in the first place. Stef was a great friend and obvious love interest as well which made this case even more desirable. His life was different from the rest of them - he had all the wealth, upbringing and privileges that Stef had but also the supportive and accepting parents that Lena had and so he didn't struggle much in life.
I'm not sure of any medical procedures so my drama for Callie's heart may have been just that - drama, but it was necessary for the sake of the story. Also while I try to keep my story consistent I sometimes miss details or contradict them so for that I'm sorry.
But this story (both versions) has finally come to an end and it has been so much fun to write. Once again thanks for reading and I hope you continue to read whatever I post next.
Lots of Love,
Junebug