Will had already left for work when Callie's alarm went off the next morning. Callie quickly got herself ready for work. She had court today which meant she had to take extra time to do her hair and chose a nice outfit. The whole time Callie was hoping that Harry had a day like yesterday and didn't slip back into the way he was on Saturday. Callie crossed the hall going into Harry's room.
"Hey, hey buddy it's time to wake up" Callie whispered. Harry waved her away with his hand and Callie felt herself take a deep breath. So far today was not looking promising.
"You have school remember, you and going to have so much fun. You know I went to that school. It's a lot of fun" Callie said talking loudly as she moved about his room picking out clean clothes making a note to go shopping for new ones for him today if she had any extra time.
"Come on I'm making pancakes for breakfast" Callie said. she knew she was bribing him but she was already feeling the time crunch.
"blue berry?" Harry asked sticking this head out from under his blanket.
"Yes" Callie nodded.
"Fine" Harry said.
"Ok so you get up and I'm going to go get Elizabeth ready then come eat" Callie said as she left his room going further down the hall into Elizabeth's room. She woke the baby up getting her dressed and they went into the kitchen as Callie quickly mixed up breakfast. She was surprised when she heard the TV turn on going into the living room.
"Hey buddy if you are all ready for school you can come and sit down at the table breakfast is almost ready" Callie said.
"No" Harry said not taking his eyes from the TV.
"No? Well TV is not an option in the morning we have to eat and make your lunch and get ready to go" Callie said.
"My mom lets me watch TV when I eat" Harry said.
"Well in this house we eat at the table" Callie said as she flipped off the TV.
"I don't even want to to to your stupid school! I hate school! My mom doesn't make me go!" Harry screeched in anger.
"Well It's against the law for kids to not go to school so you have to go" Callie said stopping herself before she said that was probably why Harry couldn't live with his mom right now.
"I don't want to go to your stupid school! I want to go to my school" Harry yelled.
"Well that is not an option right now, come eat your breakfast" Callie said.
"I won't and you can't make me" Harry glared at her crossing his arms.
"Your right I can't" Callie said going back into the kitchen. She gave Elizabeth some pancakes and sat down to eat herself but Harry did not come in. Callie sighed putting the rest away and packing him extra snacks in his lunch knowing he would probably be hungry by then. She gathered her work bag and Elizabeth's bag for daycare and Harry's backpack.
"Ok it's time to go" Callie said walking into the living room with Elizabeth toddling after her.
"But I'm hungry" Harry said.
"Well I told you to come eat breakfast" Callie said trying not to raise her voice.
"I forgot" Harry said giving her his best puppy dog eyes.
"Well you will have to eat it in the car because we are going to be late" Callie said reaching into his lunchbox and pulling out a cheese stick and fruit bar.
"I thought we always had to eat at the table" Harry mocked. Callie sighed, he was fighting her and she was pretty sure he was winning.
"I'm going easy on you today because it's the first day of school. Next time you choose not to eat breakfast you will have to wait until lunch, come on" Callie said leading him out the door she locked it behind her and put all their bags into the car. She was already going to be late today, she didn't have time to butt heads with him.
By the time they got to the school Callie was behind schedule but really didn't want to miss introducing Harry to Lena. She wanted Harry to have a familiar face in the building on his first day.
"come on this way" Callie said scooping Elizabeth up leading him down the familiar path to the administration office knocking on the door before going in.
"Hi sweetie" Lena said glancing at her watch as Callie held the door open, Harry hesitated before going in. Elizabeth let out a squeal seeing Lena practically throwing herself from Callie's arms.
"Hi baby" Lena smiled taking Elizabeth as the little girl patted her cheek affectionately.
"You were almost late" Frankie said as Callie first noticed her little sister sitting on the couch in Lena's office.
"Hey little one" Callie gave her sister a smile.
"You must be Harry, it's so nice to meet you. I am Callie's mom Lena, and this is Callie's sister Frankie" Lena said greeting Harry.
"Hi" Harry muttered not meeting her eyes.
"Sorry we are late, Will had to leave early today and I was on my own this morning" Callie said giving Lena a look letting her know there was more to the story
"Of course it happens, Harry let's go show you to your classroom" Lena said.
"Ok" Harry just nodded.
"You have Mrs, Finnly as a teacher, I had her when I was in second grade. She's really nice but don't chew gum in her class. She makes you throw it out even if it is a brand new piece" Frankie chattered to him as she lead the way skipping down the hall.
"Rough morning?" Lena muttered as the two women followed them.
"He refused to eat, then wanted to eat just as we had to leave. He's testing me and I think I'm losing" Callie sighed.
"Well it's ok to lose sometimes. Sometimes it's not worth the fight. You will both feel better after he has been at school today." Lena said.
"I hope so, thank you for gutting him this spot" Callie said.
"Well i'm principal now, I have the power" Lena winked at her as Frankie stopped in front of a classroom.
"This is my class, you co come visit me if you want. And we have lunch at the same time, after the bigger kids. Do you want to eat with me?" Frankie asked. Harry looked down at his feet but he nodded.
"Great!" Frankie didn't seem bothered by his lack of words, it just meant she could do even more talking.
"I usually eat with my friend Sarah but you can sit with us, we sit at the blue table under the tree don't forget ok?" Frankie asked. Harry just nodded again.
"Ok" Frankie accepted his answer.
"Harry your class is right over here" Lena said leading the way across the hall
"thank you for helping him out today" Callie whispered to Frankie.
"Your welcome" Frankie gave her a smile that still reminded Callie of when her sister was a baby.
"Have a good day, we will be over for supper"
"Ok, bye sissy" Frankie gave her a wave before going into her classroom as Callie went across the wide hall just as a women was stepping out of her classroom. Callie vaguely recognized her from when Frankie had her a few years ago.
"Oh this must be Elizabeth, oh my goodness we have heard so much about her, she got so big I haven't see her since she was itty bitty" Mrs, Finnly said cooing at Elizabeth who quickly hid her face in Lena's neck. Callie smiled her thanks, both her moms loved showing their granddaughter off but Lena was the one to show them every single picture of the baby in her phone whenever she got a new one.
"Rachel this is Harry, Harry, this is your teacher Mrs Finnly." Lena introduced them.
"Harry, it is so nice to meet you, I am so glad you are going to be in my class" Mrs Finnly said.
"Not for ever, I'm going back to my mom soon" Harry told her firmly. Lena shot Callie a look and Callie just nodded understanding her question. Yes this was pretty typical for him.
"Of course, well we are glad you will be here for a short time at least, come on in and put your things down" Mrs Finnly said.
"Have a good day buddy, Will will pick you up in the playground after school" Callie told him.
"And if you need anything come right to my office, I'll check on you at lunch" Lena added. Harry rolled his eyes but nodded going into the classroom.
"Oh I hope he has a good day" Callie sighed as the door closed.
"He will, it's different at school" Lena said as they started walking back to her office.
"It's still ok we come for dinner?" Callie asked
"Are you kidding, your mom is counting on it" Lena said making Callie smile.
"Good, I'll be coming right from work but Will is taking the kids over at 5:30."
"Why don't I pick up this girl from daycare when I get out and she can hang out with mom while I cook." Lena said as Elizabetth reached up tangling her fingers in Lena's curls.
"Are you sure?" Callie asked.
"Of course? It would keep mom out of my kitchen while I'm cooking, and Will can give Harry some one on one time after school before seeing everyone again." Lena nodded.
"That would be helpful, ok thank you" Callie nodded reaching out her arms for Elizabeth. The toddler hesitated but finally let Callie take her.
"I swear she thinks your her mother" Callie sighed making Lena laugh.
"Have a good day baby" Lena gave her a smile
When Callie pulled into her moms driveway that evening Will and Harry were just walking up.
"Hi, good timing" Will smiled greeting her with a kiss.
"Hi, how was school?" Callie asked anxious to hear what Harry had to say.
"It was good, Frankie and I ate lunch and then Lena said we could play on the beach. Lena said on Friday if you pack my bathing suite she will take me and Frankie swimming in the water after school. Can I? I'v never been in the ocean before" Harry said excitedly.
"Umm yeah, wow you sound like you have a great day" Callie smiled
"I did, I like that school, it's better then my other one" Harry nodded as Callie lead them up the walk.
"I am glad you like it" Callie smiled opening the door.
"Hello" she called.
"HI! come on it" Stef said from where she sat on the living room floor with Elizabeth and Frankie. Elizabeth jumped up running to greet Callie with a sloppy kiss as Stef was right behind her.
"Mom, this is Harry, Harry this is my other mom Stef" Callie said.
"Harry, it is really nice to meet you" Stef said shaking his hand.
"hi" Harry nodded.
"Want to come play outside with me. Mom was going to play kickball" Frankie cried. Harry looked up at Callie as if asking and Callie nodded.
"Great, Will you want to come?" Stef asked.
"sure" Will nodded and the four of them went out the front door as Callie went into the kitchen.
"I don't know what you did, but you worked your magic and that kid is back to the way he was Sunday." Callie said putting Elizabeth down in front of the doll house in the nook. Lena smiled at Callie.
"He's a good boy, your right he is testing you."
"Ok so what's the secret? How did one lunch with you turn him back around?" Callie asked.
"Well he wasn't testing me, he was shy but Frankie got him talking. Plus I am not his foster patent. I'm like the foster grandparent. Grandparents can give into things" Lena said.
"Momma" Callie sighed.
"Sweetie it's just the timing. He was glad to be home, he was glad to see you. He had a good say at school but he was glad to see Will. He will go back and forth until he is settled you know that" Lena said.
"I just wish I knew if he would be here long enough to be settled" Callie sighed looking out the window at Harry running around the fence laughing as Stef was chasing him with the ball pretending to run as fast as she could. Frankie was jumping up and down cheering him on and Will was laughing watching it all.
"Oh baby it is just what parenting is, and kiddo I hate to say it but karma comes back around." Lena said.
"what do you mean?" Callie asked.
"Oh I seem to remember a little foster girl in this house who loved testing her moms her first few weeks here" Lena said raising her eyebrows at Callie.
"Who? Mariana?" Callie asked playing dumb.
"Oh yes that's who I mean." Lena sighed making Callie laugh.
"I know, and I was expecting it but I just thought I would handle it better" Callie said.
"Well I think you are doing a fine job. You don't think mom and I doubted every decision we made with you kids. No parent is perfect, and you will lose your patients sometimes and that's ok. It's ok for him to see you are human" Lena said gently.
"He looks so happy" Callie said still watching them.
"He is, and that is because of you guys" Lena assured her.