"Mr. Bill said that this time the judge really might want to talk to you all." Stef said as they got settled in the waiting room. "Don't be afraid to answer his questions honestly."
"So, I should tell him that you threatened to beat me this morning?" Callie asked.
"Only if he asks you why you smell so nice and look so clean." Stef answered calmly not wanting to give Callie the time of day for non-serious questions.
"Will it be the same judge as last time?" Jesus asked.
"I think so. It is the same name on the docket at least. He said he wanted to see this case to the end." Lena answered Jesus giving him an extra pat on the shoulder.
"What if he says no? Will we have to move out?" Mariana asked with a few tears in her eyes. Voicing what the other four kids were thinking.
Lena sat down next to her and pulled her onto her lap. "If he says no, we try again. I don't think he will, though. Last time he made it sound like he was on our side, remember? Mr. Bill said that this judge likes to make sure that children find forever families. That is what we are doing."
"The set up for this is the same as the other court days. Mama and I will be sitting with the twins. The rest of you will sit on the front row with your grandparents. If the judge wants to hear from you, he will say so. Then you will stand up and address him. Understand?"
When the family was called, they went through the normal procedure of settling everyone. The grandparents did make this easier as Jude was more than happy to sit on Dana's lap and play with her phone. Frank slipped into the back and then made his way to sit down next to Callie.
"Welcome back, young man. I guess you all are back to make this arrangement official. The first thing I would like to do is talk to the two children being adopted today. Could both of them be brought to my chamber for a few minutes?"
Bill stood up to take Jesus and Mariana back there. Lena slipped her hand into Stef's. They were quiet, each left to their own thoughts and worries. "It is almost over." Stef said in barely above a whisper a while later. "Then our family will be complete."
Lena gave her an odd sort of look, but there was not a good chance to explain her feelings before the twins came happily back out to join them with suckers in their hands. Both promptly unwrapped them and put them in their mouths.
"I want one." Jude said quietly. Both Sharon and Dana checked their purses, but neither one had a sucker. Jesus also heard his little brother. He had already put his candy in his mouth, but it took it out and passed it back to Jude. Jude happily put it in in own mouth much to Lena's disgust and Stef's delight.
The judge saw it and laughed. "I don't think I really need to call back the other three minor children, but do any of you have anything you would like to say?" Jude raised his hand. "Yes, little one with the sucker. What is your name?"
Jude took the sucker out and stood up. "I am Jude. Mommies said Jesus was my brother forever. Is that right?"
"Well, that's what we are deciding here today. Would you like that, Jude?"
"Yes. Jesus is so much fun. We play cars together and he lets me wear his old clothes sometimes. Jesus is a great big brother."
"He seems like it. What about Mariana?"
"Mariana used to do my hair before I had to get it cut. She sometimes paints my nails and she plays dress up with me."
"And do your moms have time for everyone?"
"Yes. Mama tucks me in bed every night and Mommy does too if she isn't at work. Mama reads with me every day after school. Mommy likes to play outside with us. We play game sometimes and watch movies."
"Well, Jude, it seems like you all have a very nice life together. Do the other two of you agree with him?"
Callie and Brandon both nodded until Stef turned around and gave them a look. She always liked out loud answers and was prompting them it was also polite to the judge. "Yes, sir." Callie said standing up. "Just last week both Mama and Mom took the day off from work to go with us on our field trip. They both go to all of our school events and parent-teacher conferences. Mama says that DNA doesn't make family, love does. She also says that even if we cannot adopt my brother and sister they will always be part of our family."
"You are Callie, correct?" Callie gave an affirmative answer. "What would you like? Would you like to have Mariana and Jesus as your permanent sister and brother?"
"Yes, sir. They really already are."
"Do you all get along?"
Callie smiled a little. "I love all of my brothers and my sister. We do fight sometimes, but never for long. I can't even imagine my life without all of them."
"Thank you, Callie. How about you, Brandon?"
Sharon sort of pushed him to his feet. "I like both of them. I share a room with Jesus. He destroys my things sometimes, but he is my brother."
"Ah, a little brother who likes to bother his older brother's things. I have a little brother, too. Do you want them both to be adopted?"
"Yes. I would like to stop coming to court every few months and I would like everyone else to know they are my brother and sister. There's enough to go around."
"Thank you, Brandon. I am assuming from all of the paperwork that you ladies filled out that you are sincere with this adoption. I have seen the kids' school records, medical records, and their evaluations by counselors. Based on all of this information and the input the kids have all given I am pleased to let Stefanie Marie Adams Foster and Lena Elizabeth Adams Foster that you two have just become mothers to a Jesus Antonio Adams Foster and a Mariana Elizabeth Adams Foster. I am guessing you would like to take some pictures now?"
The whole family rushed up the judge to shake his hand and take pictures. Afterwards, they all went to eat. "You all did very well in the courtroom today!" Stef gushed kissing each one again. "When we are finished eating, we are going to go back to our house for some presents and cake. How does that sound?"
"Are there going to be presents for everyone?" Jude asked.
"Yes." Sharon said. "This is a big deal for the whole family and we have gotten something for everyone to celebrate."
"Am I getting a unicorn?" He asked next.
Sharon winked at him. "You will just have to wait and see."
Frank looked uncomfortable. "Why is my grandson asking about unicorns? Aren't those a little girly for him, Stefanie?"
"He is allowed to like anything he wants, Dad. He read a book about a unicorn recently and he has developed an interest in them. It is not a big deal…"
"You better not be turning another grandson of mine into some sort of gay pansy. Next you will be telling me that he likes the color pink and wants to play the piano like his brother."
"I do like pink, Grandpa! My unicorn book was pink. Maybe I am a gay pansy, too. What is that?" Jude asked not really thinking his grandfather would ever be derogatory toward him.
The other kids were now staring wide-eyed at their grandpa and Brandon almost looked tearful. Stef finally broke the silence. "I need to see you outside for a minute, Dad."
Stef and Frank stood up and walked out. Sharon followed after a few minutes. The kids were looking confused and disturbed. "Go ahead and eat, Babies. Everything is okay. Mom will be back in a few minutes." Lena said to reassure them.
Stef and Sharon did return a few minutes later without Frank. It was obvious that Stef had been crying. She put on a brave face for the rest of the family as she didn't want to put a damper on the day. "Grandpa had to go home."
"Will he be out our house later for cake?" Jude asked innocently.
"No, I don't think so. He is busy this afternoon and evening. Eat, please."
"Well, since tonight is a school night it is not a good night to make a tent, but tomorrow night I am hoping we can do that. Do you guys have any new ideas of how we can make it better that last time?" Sharon asked changing the subject. The kids had done most of the work on her last visit and most of the blankets fell on them during the night.
"I was thinking we should use the chip clips to hold the blankets together." Callie offered. "I think that would make them stay together better."
"I was also thinking we should use a bigger blanket. Moms have one that is big enough for their bed in the closet… It would make a better tent, I think." Jesus joined.
Soon there was happy chattering all around except Mariana who was strangely quiet. "What's up, Baby?" Lena finally asked her quietly while everyone else was still talking and eating.
"I was sort of invited to a sleep over for tomorrow night. I want to go, but I also want to make a tent with them."
"Is the sleep over at Jordyn's house?" Lena asked. Mariana looked embarrassed and nervous. "If it is, it is okay. Mom and I don't really like her, but if she is a good friend to you we have decided you can go there."
"Really, Mama? I do want to go. Almost all the girls in my class are going to be there! I can do the tent another time."
"Our only condition is that you will take my cell phone with you. If something happens that makes you uncomfortable, sad, or you miss us, you call or text Mom. We will talk to you or come get you depending on what you need."
"I can go to the party and I get to have a cell phone! You are the best, Mama!" Mariana said once again looking happy. "It is going to be great and she is going to be a good friend. Will you take me to a store to get some snacks before I go there?"
"Sure, Baby. As long as it is that those snacks are not the only reason she is letting you go. Real friends don't make someone bring something for friendship."
"I know, Mama, I know."
XXXX
Sharon did give Jude a stuffed unicorn that looked very much like the one in the book. "Thank you, Grandma! I love it. I am going to sleep with my unicorn every night. It isn't like a real one, but it is close!"
"You are very welcome, Jude."
He also got a copy of his favorite unicorn book and a movie from his moms. Dana and Stuart gave him his own 3DS and a game to start him off.
Jesus got a few new games for his 3DS from Lena's parents and his moms gave him the skateboard he had been wanting for months. Sharon gave him a helmet and knee pads.
Dana told Mariana she was taking her to have her ears pierced which she had been asking about for years. She also received some earrings, necklaces, and bracelets appropriate for a nine year old. Her mothers gave her a locket with a picture of her with each of them taken when she first came to live there. Sharon gave her a basket with a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash like the ones Lena used.
Callie was given a similar locket only with pictures of her with her mothers. The one of her and Lena from when she was about a year old and the one with Stef the first time they went to the beach. She also got an iPod. Sharon knew she was getting that and gave her an iTunes gift card. Callie was thrilled and immediately started asking her moms when she could use the computer.
"Later, Baby. We promise you can do it later tonight." Stef assured her.
Brandon also got an iPod and an iTunes gift card. Stef and Lena gave him the new piano book he was wanting.
As the presents were being finished up, Stuart interrupted a little. "I believe that we have one more present to give."
"For real? It has already been about like Christmas for all the kids. What else could they possibly need?" Stef scoffed still a little hurt by her father.
"This is for the whole family." Sharon said as Dana brought out a large new framed family picture that had been taken in the courtroom earlier. "We sent it in and picked it up after lunch. This seemed like a day to remember forever."
XXXX
"It isn't going to be the same without Mariana." Callie grumbled only working half-heartedly on the tent with all her siblings, except Mariana. "I cannot believe Moms let her go over to that girl's house. What were they thinking?"
"They were thinking that Mariana has to learn to for herself sometimes. I am glad you like to protect her, but you won't always be there to hit bullies in the nose for her." Sharon tried to remind her gently.
"Yes, but, Grandma, Mari…" Callie quickly looked around a lowered her voice. "Hits like a girl. Believe me. Grandpa Frank didn't teach her to throw a punch right. She can't and probably won't defend herself. Instead she will probably come back without her shoes and new sleeping bag. All because Moms were stupid enough to send her over there." The other three kids looked worried at that comment until they heard Stef's voice.
"Callie Marie, watch what you are saying!" Stef called from the kitchen. "If your mama heard some of that drivel that just came out of your mouth she would lecture you until you were twenty-two. You do not call your mothers stupid nor do you talk about hitting, especially not in the context that girls cannot hit."
"How did you hear that, Mom?"
"I can always hear you, Bug. My ears tune in when my kids are taking in quiet voices. If you have a problem with something we decided come talk to me, Baby. Next time I hear you say that we are stupid, I will have your iPod for a while."
Callie rolled her eyes and Sharon shook her head a little. "Probably not the time."
"Fine, Mom, I will come talk to you about it." Callie said angrily stomping into the kitchen. "That Jordyn girl is a bitch and we both know it. You sent her knowing that the other girls are going to be mean to her. She would have had fun with us tonight and instead you sent her into harm's way. What kind of mother are you?"
Stef took a deep breath and tried to count to ten before answering. Her counting was interrupted by Lena entering the room with her hands on her hips. "Callie Marie Adams Foster, you know what I said before about you using that word. You will be on dish duty every night for a week. Curse words are only for uneducated or uncreative people, not for my children. You are allowed to talk to us about our decisions, but you are not allowed to be disrespectful which you have just been. Go upstairs right now while Mom and I decide what else we are going to do with you."
Callie gave another big eye roll before dramatically stomping up the stairs and slamming a door. "Well then, Mama, what are you thinking we should do with our ten year old who already knows better than us?" Stef asked after a few more seconds.
"I think you go and explain why we made this choice and then you take her new iPod. That's what you said was going to happen if she called us stupid again and that is pretty much what she did. Between that and dish duty, I think we have it covered unless you think differently. I trust you to do whatever you think needs to be done. I sure hope this is not what she is going to be like as a teenager…"
"What are you going to do while I am taking care of our wayward daughter?"
"I am going to make dinner for our family. The kids will want to eat in the tent and the rest of us will be eating on the couch since all of the chairs and stools are in use. So, I am thinking chicken with vegetables. Simple to make and eat."
"Sounds great." Stef said giving her wife a kiss. She wandered into the family room to see the progress on the tent. The other three were still happily working with Sharon. "Callie will be joining you all again in a little while."
Stef walked up the stairs slowly. She wasn't even completely sure which room Callie took herself to. Dana and Stuart had been napping in Callie's so it was fairly safe to say she wasn't in there. Jude's room also didn't seem likely. The boys' door was open so Stef peeked in there first even though she had definitely heard a door slam.
Finally, Stef made her way to her own bed room. She walked in not even bothering to knock. "Well, Bug, here we are. Is there anything you would like to say before I start?"
"Not really, Mom. I figure that you are going to say that you love me a lot and that's why you have to do this… Just get it over with." Callie said assuming that Stef was there to spank her which hadn't happened now in over a year.
"I do love you a lot. I was sort of hoping for an apology. This isn't something we can just do and have it over with… Actually, we need to talk." Stef sat down next to Callie and put an arm around her daughter. "Mama and I did let Mariana go somewhere that we really didn't want her to go. For your information, we sent her with a phone so that if something happens she can call immediately and we can come get her. I think that is better than how you sent her to the same place not that long ago, yes?"
"Yes, but that was before I really knew Jordyn. Now I would never let her go over there. A cell phone is good, but she will probably just give it to Jordyn. I just don't understand why you let her go."
"Well, Bug, I let her go for the same reason as I let you go to Jordyn's house to get her that day a few weeks ago. Obviously you didn't believe Mama and me when we said Mariana could not go there. You let her go. I knew that you let her go there and I didn't stop you. Sometimes growing up requires having some space to made bad choices. Mariana will learn. You will too. Also, if you sister gives away her shoes, sleeping bag, Mama's phone, or anything else we will take her back down there to get it back. We are the moms here, not you."
"I still don't get it. None of this makes any sense to me at all. So can we just get to the part that you tell me what you are going to do with me? I mean, Mama said there would be dishes for using the word, but is that it?" Callie asked flippantly.
"Mama recommended taking your iPod as well. I am beginning to think you are needing a little more. What do you think you deserve, Callie?" Callie looked at Stef with some embarrassment showing she knew exactly what she deserved for her actions. She actually realized her actions had been building to this point for some time. "Hmm, that's kind of what I thought. I guess, you don't have to understand right now why we make the choices that we make. Just trust we will make the best ones we can. I love you very much, Baby. That's why I am going to do this even though it is about my least favorite thing about being your mom…"
XXX
"I am sorry, Mama. I should not have called you stupid or used that word even to describe Jordyn. I am not Mariana's mom and I told have to understand." Callie looked at Stef to see if she could be done. "I still want to stay in the tent with the others, but I understand if you say no."
"Go on back to the tent, Baby." Lena said giving Callie a hug and a kiss. "Enjoy your time tonight with Grandma and your brothers. Although, if I ever hear word like that come out of your mouth again whether directed at your family or someone else, there will be more than a week of dishes to wash, I promise."
Callie gave Lena another hug. "I understand, Mama."
Sharon came into the doorway in time to see just the last part. Stef walked over beside her. "So, Stefanie, I guess I was wrong. This is still working."
"It was exactly what we needed this time, at least and that is all that matters right now. We are expecting a call from Mariana still. This could be a long night."
