A/N So, I realize it has been almost a year since I last posted on this story. Strangely enough, I had like 3 more chapters ready to go when I checked this morning... Life has happened, but I think I am back. Sorry for the long wait.
"So, all three of my sons now have now broken arms during their early elementary days." Stef said when she got home from work around midnight.
"Yes, two of them in the very same tree. If I didn't like it for other reasons, I would cut it down tomorrow morning myself. And, I think you missed the boys' new game they picked up from Mike. I love it that Brandon has a father to spend time with and I love that Mike accepts our other children, but I hate it when he rough-houses with them. I mean, Jesus already puts his hands all over everyone else without having a game to play where he can continuously hit his brother…."
"My dad played with me like that and I have turned out okay. It is good for our boys to have male role-models. You said yourself one time recently that Brandon could use some toughening up. That is the kind of thing my boy cousins played and I did sometimes, too."
"Don't tell me that boys will be boys…." Lena said hating that phrase more than anything.
"I didn't."
"But I know you were thinking it… Anyway, then when I was putting the boys to bed, Brandon said that he didn't need me to put him to bed anymore. Jesus confirmed it. Mike let both boys get settled and turn their own light off. I knew they were big for it, but I really liked that special time with them."
"We still have Jude." Stef reminded her wife now pulling her in for a hug. "I am sorry they are growing up. I have been doing my best to keep them little. Just like you have said before, we are going to have to let them go. Middle school is coming. They do need to learn to do more for themselves."
"I hadn't felt this crushed since the time when Brandon said he no longer wanted me to kiss him at school. I know it is important to respect him and the boundaries he is setting, but at the same time it hurts. This is just one more way that I feel like I am losing them."
"We are losing them. My mother reminded me again today when I called about Jude that Callie had every right to be embarrassed last night. I guess I need to keep in mind that she is coming into some years where she is going to be feeling out her own way. I may have to loosen my control and that scares me, too." Stef gave her wife an extra squeeze and another little kiss. "So, how did Jude do tonight? Any lasting effects from the concussion?"
"Not really. I kept him awake until his bedtime. I have been checking on him every now and then, but so far he seems fine. He did insist that since he was sort of sick he got to sleep in our room tonight…"
XXX
"Okay, Babies, the car is leaving for school in five minutes. Make sure you have your breakfast finished and your backpacks ready to go." Lena announced gathering up her school bag. "Tonight, I am going to a class with Daphne. Mom is picking up everyone right after school today since I have a meeting. She has to be at work, by four, but we did not hire a babysitter so I need everyone on their best behavior." Lena looked pointedly at Jesus.
"Am I in charge, then, Mama?" Callie asked grabbing for another piece of bacon.
"No, I have asked Daphne to keep an eye on you actually. She stayed with you on Saturday and it went okay. Mom and I trust her." Callie and Brandon looked at each other during that phrase and both smirked. "Go get your backpacks, please!"
"Mama, my throat hurts a little. Like it is a little scratchy. Maybe I could stay home with Mom today?" Mariana asked.
Lena looked at her and then kissed her forehead knowing that this was Mariana's favorite way to get out of something she did not want to do. Her daughter was not warm. "Not this time. If you start to feel worse, though, let me know." While she was at it, she took a good look at Jude. He also looked fine. "Same goes for you, Buddy. If your arm hurts or you aren't feeling well, come find me."
"I have to go to school today, Mama, so I can show everyone in my class my new cast! Remember you said I could take a marker and have everyone sign it?" Jude said talking quickly.
"I remember. I just want you to take it a little easy. You are also still recovering from a mild concussion." Lena smoothed out his hair a little and looked around again. "Where did Jesus go?"
Lena got four sets of shrugged shoulders as a response before Brandon answered. "I think he went back upstairs for something."
Lena let out her breath slowly. "Go get him, please, B. Everyone else to the car. I hate being late on Monday mornings."
"And on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, Mama. You also hate being late those days." Jude reminded her.
"Yes, you are right. I hate being late for work in general. However, Mondays are particularly bad. If I start the week running late, I feel like I run late all week long." The two older boys came running down the stairs and Jesus had a definite bulge in his pocket. "When we get to the car, Jesus, I need you to take out whatever toy you are trying to take to distract yourself in class today. In the meantime, get to the car."
Jesus had to be reminded one more time on his way out of the car to leave his toys there. He begrudgingly obeyed his mother. If Callie hadn't grabbed his backpack, it would have been left in the car with the toys. "You don't want to start off the week forgetting this."
He gave her a smile. "Thanks."
Jude still liked to hold Lena's hand on the way into school and the other kids followed behind at their own pace. Lena continually glanced back to make sure they were all coming. "Okay, babies, meet Mom here right after school." She told them at the door to the office. "Have a great day and learn something!" Mariana and Jude both gave Lena another little kiss and she hugged both of them tightly. The other just smiled and waved.
Just before lunch, Mariana came back into the office with a note from her teacher to check her temperature. Mary did and then went to get Lena. "Well, the good news is that you only need to take half a sick day this time and the meeting can be rescheduled for next week." Mary said showing Lena the thermometer.
"She said this morning that she wasn't feeling well. I guess she was telling the truth… Stef is actually at home today, so I am actually going to call her while you check Mariana out for the day. Maybe she can even take her by an urgent care this afternoon just to make sure everything is okay."
Lena picked up her cell and started to call when Brandon appeared in the office looking a bit flushed himself. "I don't feel very good, Mama. My throat hurts really bad."
Lena started to kiss his forehead and then used her hand instead. "I do believe you are also warm. I was just getting ready to call Mom to pick up your sister. Perhaps I should go check on the others and leave the calling to Mary."
Sure enough, Jesus and Callie were also sick. Jude was the only healthy one of the group. When Lena got back, Stef was already there to pick up the kids. "I want to go with Mama!" Mariana whined. "She always knows what to do to make me feel better."
"Mama always stays with us when we are sick." Brandon joined in Mariana's whining. "It won't be the same. Please, Mama?"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, B, but this time, I think I am taking all of you to the doctor and then home. I am home today and Mama needs to stay at work. Besides, who do you think stayed with you the first four years of your life when you were sick?"
"Maybe Dad or Grandpa?"
"Nope. I did. You will all be fine." Stef said ushering them toward the door.
"I really want to go with you and all, but what if we have to get shots at the doctor's office?" Callie asked suddenly stopping. "Mama always holds my other hand where it doesn't hurt so bad."
"You, too, Bug? I was the only one with you when you got shots once you just don't remember. It was fine and we will all be fine this time." Stef answered noticing the normally boisterous Jesus was the only quiet one of the group.
"I do remember, that's why I am bringing it up. You didn't hold my hand the same way, you said to be tough. I screamed. You said I shouldn't get a sucker because I was not brave enough. Then the shot made me sick…."
The other kids also remembered and started looking toward Lena a little more. "Don't do this guys, I gave her the sucker anyway. I was kidding. You probably won't need shots anyway. That all happened a long time ago."
Lena looked less sure all the time. "How hard would it be to reschedule the meeting?"
"It doesn't matter, Babe, I have this. We will all be fine. I will call you after we go to the doctor." Stef answered with the kids still giving Lena sad eyes as they were finally herded out the door.
"I still need to reschedule the meeting. Stef goes to work this afternoon. I bet anything they all have Strep throat again…"
"I will get the meeting rescheduled right now. Your diagnosis would make great sense. We had two students go home with Strep yesterday. One of them was in Mariana's class…."
XXXX
"Does anyone want anything special for lunch?" Stef asked as they got back in the car after visiting a nearby urgent care.
"I'm not very hungry." "My throat hurts too much." "Mama usually makes us soup." "I just want to go home."
"I see. Well, before we can go home, I need to go pick up your medicine at a pharmacy. Maybe I can get some canned soup there to fill your little bellies. It may not be the same as Mama's, but it is better than nothing. Then we will go home and get all of you into your beds."
"We always stay in your bed when we are sick. That's Mama's rule." Mariana reminded Stef.
"Whatever then. I guess I will give all of you soup and then tuck all of you into my bed. I can take care of you just as well as Mama." Stef pulled into a parking place. "We are going to make this stop quick if we can. So, I will turn in the prescriptions and then we will find the soup together."
"Can't I just stay in the car?" Brandon asked laying his head against the headrest. "My head hurts almost worse than my throat. Please, Mom?"
Stef hesitated. On one hand, she wanted all of her sick babies with her on this trip into the store. On the other hand, she could see they were all feverish and exhausted. Going into the store would also expose the whole population to Strep. Finally, though her original thought won. "No, the car is too hot for you to stay in here while I get the medication. You will all have to come in with me. I am sure there are benches to sit on near the pharmacy part. You all can sit there while I get the soup by myself."
The four sick children trudged along behind Stef. She got them settled on the bench and turned in their prescriptions. She realized quickly that she recognized most of the people in the pharmacy department of the store from the urgent care they had all been at together earlier. The thought somewhat disgusted Stef and she made a mental note to never hang out in that area unless it was necessary.
Stef left the kids and picked up a few cans of chicken noddle soup with vegetables that seemed to be the closest to what Lena often served the kids. Then she went to join them on the bench to wait for their medications to be ready. "What does Mama do while you wait like this?"
"Mama never brings us to the pharmacy when we are sick. She sends you to get the medicine later." Callie pointed out laying her warm head on Stef's shoulder.
"I guess I didn't consider that." Stef smoothed Callie's hair and Mariana practically climbed on her mother's lap. "I got you all some soup. It won't be like Mama's but I think it will make you feel a little better." Stef held up a can of it.
"I really wanted tomato soup!" Mariana whined. "I like Mama's soup, but if I can't have that, tomato is best."
"No, it isn't! I like what Mom picked out." Callie said defending Stef. "Except it might be a little better if she had gotten the kind without so many vegetables."
"Mama says vegetables are important when we are sick, but I wish you had gotten the kind with beef instead of chicken…."
"How about you, Jesus? Do you have an opinion about what soup I should get instead of this?" Stef asked her almost comatose son.
"No… just want to sleep. No soup…. Not hungry."
"Well, how about I go back to the soup and see if I can find some that you all would really like to eat while you keep waiting here?" Stef didn't wait for a reply, instead she gently removed the girls and stood up. On the way to the soup she texted Lena. "It is hard to be a good mother to my kids when their Mama is perfect in every way. In case I don't tell you often enough, I love you, Babe!"
XXXX
Daphne was a little surprised Stef's car was in the driveway when she was dropped off at the house. Then she remembered that she as going to work this afternoon. Lena even offered Daphne the chance to babysit a little again today.
Daphne walked into the house expecting to find Stef downstairs. She was puzzled when Stef was nowhere in sight. "Stef?" She called hesitantly.
Stef heard the door open and assumed it was Daphne. The kids were finally all resting quietly so she was taking a few minutes to herself. Instead, she made her way downstairs before any of her babies woke back up. "I'm right here, Love. How was your day?"
Daphne started at Stef for a moment unsure of what to make of this question. "Well… I was at school, so that's kind of what it was like today."
Stef came and gave Daphne an awkward sort of hug. "Nothing eventful then?"
"Not really. I mean a girl at school had her baby today. I guess that will happen to all of us soon enough."
"Did she have the baby at school? That would make for a very eventful day." Stef asked with slight teasing in her voice.
"No. That would be gross." Daphne said giving Stef an odd sort of look. "How was your day? You got to just sit at home all day and do nothing right?"
"That does sound like a nice sort of day, but alas, it is not possible right now. Actually, I did laundry this morning. You will find yours folded on your bed ready to be put away. I also oiled your bedroom door since I noticed it was squeaking." Stef and Daphne both looked toward the stairs when they heard a little noise. "Oh yeah, and I brought home four of my kids from school with Strep throat. You are to avoid my room at all cost. It would not be good for you or the baby to get sick right now."
"So, if I have to stay away from them, how will I babysit for them when you go to work?"
"Mama, rather Lena, is coming home after school. She rescheduled the meeting for later. She is who the kids want when they are sick anyway." Stef said with a slight shrug of her shoulders.
Daphne walked into the kitchen to get a drink and was shocked. In the few days she had lived here, the kitchen had never been this big of a mess. "What is up with so many bowls of soup on the counters?"
"It was an attempt to make the kids happy. Lena always makes them soup when they are sick. I thought I could do the same. They really didn't eat it, though. It wasn't the same as Mama's soup… They demanded me to sing to them… My song wasn't the same as mama's song… Mariana wanted me to rock her like Lena used to when she was small and I guess still does when she is sick…"
"Let me guess, it wasn't the same as when Lena does it." Daphne said with a little smirk.
"Exactly. You get the picture. My mom says that I did that when I was little also. I wish sometimes that she would just have sympathy and not point out that I deserve all of this for how I treated her. Moms can be just as hard to deal with as the kids sometimes, you know?"
Daphne was interested in Stef's rant. She had never experienced anything quite like it. To be honest, she really didn't know about this mother daughter relationship Stef was describing. It sounded kind of nice to have someone who knew you so well for so long; someone who had been there before and by the very conversation help you to know you could survive. Daphne just couldn't quite express all of that to Stef. "Whatever."
