Lena did come home for lunch. She was concerned when Stef told her that Callie had a second panic attack, but was pleasantly surprised to hear both her wife and daughter laughing in the kitchen. "Hello, Loves!"
"Mama!" Callie yelled excitedly. "Wait just a minute. We aren't ready for you yet!"
"Okay…" Lena said putting her purse down. "I will wait right here. Is it going to take much longer?"
"No." Callie answered. Lena could hear the table being noisily set before Callie appeared in the room. She hugged Lena. "I am glad you came home with us for lunch. We have made you something special."
"Oh, really? And what exactly did you and Mom cook?" Lena asked smiling.
"I made your pasta salad just like you. Mom just supervised and helped cut up the vegetables. We also made ice tea. Come see how we decorated the table."
Lena walked into the kitchen and saw the fanciest decorations an almost eleven year old could muster. "This looks beautiful. I guess you and Mom have had a very busy morning."
"Not really. We went to that appointment and then picked up the stuff to make the salad on the way home. While the pasta was cooking I started working on the table. It is part of our homework. Our family has to spend more special time together."
"That is homework we can all enjoy. I brought you some other homework from school. Maybe you and Mom could spend some special time working on that this afternoon? Then when we all get home maybe we can make pizza together and turn on some music for an Adams Foster dance party night. What do you think?"
"Are we going to play a song so that Jesus can practice his break dancing? I think it is really neat the way he walks on his hands and spin on his back."
Lena really didn't like that aspect of having a family dance night. That was the precursor to breaking something. However, she also knew it really was the kids' favorite part. They all considered Jesus to be almost professional with his dancing. Neither mom considered this to be the case. "If you and Mom can move absolutely everything breakable out of the family room, maybe."
XXX
Stef and Callie worked on Callie's homework first. Then they went to clean the girls' room. Stef was able to repair the drawer and most of the posters. Callie hung the posters back up, folded her clothes, and made her bed. It was nearly three when they finished. They had just enough time to make the cookies and work on the family room while they baked before everyone else came home.
Jesus came bursting in the front door first. "Hey, Mom. Before Mariana talks to you, it wasn't my fault. It was the kid sitting next to me that did it, not me. My teacher even believed me, I didn't even get a note home or anything. Mari is not even in my class and she doesn't know…"
"That's a mouthful there, son. Callie has a little surprise for you in the kitchen. Go join her in there."
Jesus again took off almost running. His medication was mostly worn off by this time of day. He did slow down a little as he rounded the corner when he remembered his fight with Callie that morning. "Hi, Callie."
"Hi, Jesus. I made you some cookies. They are peanut butter chocolate chip and I even put sprinkles on this one for you." She handed him a cookie and he took a little bite. "I made them because I am really sorry about this morning. You are my brother, just like Jude and Brandon."
Jesus then took a bigger bite of cookie. "It's okay! Thanks for the cookies!" He said with his mouth mostly full.
"Only two, Jesus, I don't want them to spoil your dinner. And don't talk with your mouthful." Lena said coming into the room.
"But Mama, Callie made them for me. I should get to eat all of them." Jesus said taking his second cookie and grabbing for another.
"Callie's not your mama." Lena said grinning at her son, but still grabbing the third cookie out of his hand and taking a bite. She chewed slowly and swallowed trying once again to model for Jesus the correct way. "These cookies are very good, Cals! Did Mom help you make them using my recipe?"
"Not exactly…"
"How exactly did you two make them?" Lena said realizing the reason behind the slight taste difference was not using the whole wheat flour and the unrefined sugar that she had been using to help with Jesus's energy levels.
Callie's face fell slightly. "We sort of bought the dough at the grocery store and then bought chocolate chips to put in them. Mom said they would be just as good. Are they not just as good?"
"No, they are very good. You did great! How about you two go and get the others so they can get a cookie? Then I will put the others up for dessert tonight. I will even pour all of you a glass of milk."
"Okay." Jesus ran back out of the kitchen to get the others.
Callie hung back a moment. "Are you okay, Callie?" Lena asked as she poured the milk.
"Yes, I just feel kind of funny."
Lena put the milk away and walked over to Callie to hug her. "You know that I love you very much, right? Are you feeling scared or out of control?"
"Not really. It is more that guilty feeling. I should be grounded or something for all I did this morning. Instead, I stayed home with Mom and other than the appointment, I had a great day. When am I going to be in trouble? I mean, it is not like you guys to not tell me these things."
The other kids started coming into the kitchen and Lena grabbed Callie and pulled her into the family room. "You apologized to your brother and even showed him an act of kindness by making the cookies. Mom said your bedroom was all fixed up and your schoolwork is mostly done. So, as far as I know, you are not in trouble with us."
"I asked Mom for coffee this morning. She said no and I begged. Then I had some anyway. We also went to Grandpa Frank's house this morning after my appointment. We didn't tell you before. Now am I in trouble? You don't like that kind of thing."
"Not really, but the coffee is really between you and Mom. She has been giving you sips for years. If anything, I would be slightly irritated with her about that. As far as seeing your grandpa, Mom actually texted the plan before she did it. I honestly did not even realize you missed him so much. Before you even ask, I do not consider the panic attacks to be your fault. Now, are you hiding something else?"
"Well, one time a long time ago I…"
"Let me rephrase that, anything else recent?"
"No, there is nothing else."
"Then you aren't in trouble. I think you should help us make pizza and attend our dance party without guilt. After all, it is part of your homework and your grounding for taking Jude swimming."
XXXX
"So something that Mama and I hadn't told you guys that we probably should have is that we have a plan if something happens to us." Stef said at dinner that night.
Jude dropped his pizza and stared in shock. "Is something wrong? Are you sick? Is that why Callie was acting weird today? I don't want you to die, Mommy!"
"No, Baby, Mommy is fine. We just wanted to let you know that we do have a plan for you guys. We aren't going to leave you with strangers. Grandma said she would move here to help whichever one of us was left with you. It will be okay."
"I hate this! It isn't fair!" Jesus said jumping up.
"Calm down! What isn't fair, Jesus?" Stef asked.
"You guys are getting a divorce like Carlos's parents! I thought we were all happy, I should have known something was up when Mama left town for the weekend. So who is moving out?"
"Divorce?" Brandon questioned while Jesus was still talking. "Will I have to stay with you, Mom? I would rather stay with Mama, is that okay?"
"So, if we all get divorced maybe I could go to whatever house Jesus isn't in?" Mariana said still upset by her small argument with him on the way home.
"We aren't getting a divorce." Stef said once seemingly mostly to herself as her children's chatter didn't stop. She stood up. "WE ARE NOT GETTING A DIVORCE! Mama and I are very happy together and with all of you."
All the noise stopped and the kids looked back at their mother. "Then why did you bring it up?" Mariana asked.
"It wasn't on purpose, I assure you. All we were trying to stay is that you can all feel secure because Mama and I are going to take care of you and we are very happy together. If something happens that changes things we have a plan for you. Now, to answer more of your questions, we are intending to keep all of you together. We are all one family."
"If we aren't getting a divorce and no one is sick can we have our dessert cookies now so that we can dance? Please, Mommy?" Jude pleaded.
"Sure." Stef glanced over to Callie who seemed happy to have gotten the information out there even if it went disastrously. "Callie, go get the cookies, please."
Callie happily gave each person another cookie which pretty much finished off all that they had made. "These cookies are very good, Callie. I think we should bake together more often. I can show you all of my secrets just like my mama showed me."
"I would like that. Then I can show my kids someday. That would be neat!"
"I could show you how I do it, too…" Stef said winking.
"That's what we did this time, Mom. You buy cookie dough and try to not burn it. I want to learn how to do it like Mama. I have helped lots of times but never gotten to really learn it."
"On that note, I believe it is the girls' turn on dishes tonight and the boys' turn to clear the table and wipe down the counters. And what about you, Little Man?"
Jude sighed loudly. "I need to help hold the dustpan while Mama sweeps and I need to wipe down the table and chairs. But when will I be big enough to help with the dishes? I have already lost two teeth, I can get my own cereal in the morning, and I can ride a bike without training wheels. Why do I still have to do the baby jobs?"
"Because you are our baby, Jude. That's why. There is no need to grow up so fast. The others are older than you and were probably older than you when they started doing the dishes." Stef explained.
"Definitely older." Lena confirmed.
"That's not true. Jude is six. The first time I helped with dishes I was five. Remember? I stole that car and I had to do extra chores? By the next year it was a regular chore for Callie and me. Jesus was the only one who didn't have to help with dishes at six." Brandon said taking his first group of dishes to the kitchen.
"He's right." Callie said agreeing with Brandon. "We also had already learned to sort laundry and could wash windows by his age. He is way behind."
"If that's the case, it is only because we needed you two to learn things early because having five kids six and under was difficult. It helped to have two very mature six year olds."
"And because you treat Jude like a baby." Mariana added.
"See Mommy, everyone one else knows it, too. So when can I help with the dishes?" He asked again.
"Tomorrow night it is the boys' turn. We can see how it looks then. Really, though, doing the dishes isn't super fun. I think helping Mama sweep is much better." Stef said ruffling his hair.
"No, it isn't. When you do dishes you get to use the good smelling soap and a sponge. I have to sit on the floor to hold the dustpan. Dishes are way more fun. Plus, they all got allowance when they started washing dishes. Will I get one, too?"
"Ah, so it really all comes down to the money. That makes way more sense. Mama and I will talk about it tonight. You might be old enough to handle your own money now."
"Of course I am, Mommy." Jude said grabbing the dustpan.
XXX
"Nothing got broken." Stef said moving the last of the furniture back into the family room. "I would say this was a very successful dance party. I personally loved Jesus's rendition of the worm. Do you think we should at least show him a youtube video on how it should look or just let it go?"
"We should definitely let it go. The video would probably just give him more ideas. He doesn't need that. I actually think we have time for one more song." Lena said pressing play on her phone and grabbing her wife to dance.
"Oh, I agree." They danced slow and close for the whole song. Stef leaned in to kiss Lena slowly and passionately. "We should probably take this upstairs."
Lena giggled and grabbed Stef's hand as they rushed toward the stairs. "Did you talk to Mama yet, Mommy? Am I getting an allowance?" Jude asked at the top of the stairs basically ruining the mood.
"I thought we just put you to bed." Lena said looking at Jude.
"You did, but I was still awake and I wondered. So did you?"
"Nope, but right now you need to go back and get into your bed." Stef easily picked up him up and threw him over her shoulder and gave him a playful swat making him giggle.
"Are we going to go back to Chicago and see Linda again sometime now that we know her? Callie said we couldn't invite her to Christmas, but will I get to see her again? She is family." Jude asked when Stef and Lena went back into his room to get him tucked back in.
"Is that bothering you still, Baby? We may see her again sometime. It wouldn't be until summer, definitely. You are right that she is family. She is just a different kind of family. It is hard to explain." Lena said giving him another kiss.
"Like Ana?"
"Much like Ana." Stef agreed also giving him a kiss. "Now, sir, you need to close your eyes and try to go back to sleep."
"Night Mommies. I love you." Jude murmured as he closed his eyes and quickly started to drift off to sleep.
"We love you, too." Lena replied. They went back into their own room and began getting ready for bed. "Is Ana currently out of jail?"
"As far as I know, yes. Why?"
"I would like to set up a few visits for the twins. I know they are completely officially ours now, but I don't want this to become something they will regret later. Maybe we could have a once a month visit somewhere like the park or the mall or something. We are their mothers, but they will always also be part of Ana just like Callie and Jude will always carry around a little bit of Colleen despite the fact they did not even know her. What do you think?"
"I think you are right. The visits will be hard, but maybe less hard than they were before the adoption. At least in this case we can stop them whenever we want. All of this and even what Jude was talking about before leads me back to wondering. Are you sure you do not want to have a baby? One that will always carry around part of you? I did have those experiences with Brandon. I would not look forward to midnight feedings again, but any baby we made would be special. Jude is growing up. We do need to start giving him an allowance like everyone else, but we could start over with a new one."
"Where would we put another child, Stef? Our big house that was huge with three very small children is cramped with five mid-sized ones. I cannot even imagine how much the kids will be tripping over each other by the time they are all teenagers. There is not room for three kids in any of the bedrooms. If we had a boy I guess it could share with Brandon? That wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. No, I am positive that we do not need another baby right now."
"We could find a space for one more to live. I know we don't need a baby, but if you want one we can have one. Just like you don't want the kids to live with regrets over their birth families, I don't want you to live in regret of not having a baby."
"I won't and I will let you know if I came to a time that I want a baby for real. Now is just not the time. It is not just the space in the house. It is the time. If today is any indication our hands are full of babies. Let's get all of ours healthy before discussing this again."
"I can work with that. In that case, do you think we could go back to what we didn't get to do last night?"
"Only if you lock the door…"
Suddenly they heard a knock at the door. "Mommies!" Mariana moaned from the other side of the door. "My tummy hurts and I think I am going to puke! Can I stay with you guys tonight?"
"See, no more babies. Just twelve more years…" Lena said grinning and opening the door for Mariana.
