"Ok baths and bed for you girls" Will said as they walked into the house Sunday night after family dinner. Harry and Maya had gotten extra hugs from everyone, and Callie could see having to say goodbye had put Harry in a bad mood. It was later then usual, but they all had the day off tomorrow and Callie was hoping they would all sleep in.
"Harry you can have 30 minutes of your TV time if you want" Callie said.
"Will you watch with me?" Harry asked. He had been clinging to Will or Callie for the past two days, Callie hated seeing him like this.
"I will, let me go get cloths for the girls you pick a show" Callie said she went into the girls room pulling out their PJ's to bring to Will in the bathroom.
"Look Elizabeth I'm a ghost. BOO!" Maya cried putting the wash cloth over her head. Elizabeth stared at her wide eyed for a minute and Callie wondered if she was going to cry and then suddenly she burst into a fit of giggles so hard that Will had to hold her up to keep her for falling backwards into the water. The sight of this made Maya laugh too and yell boo again making Elizabeth laugh harder. Callie watched the girls sadly before going into the living room she sat down next to Harry.
"Can we watch Jesus's game?" He asked finding one of the old ones recorded in the DVR.
"You bet" Callie nodded.
"Even when I live with my grandma I'm going to watch jesus play, I'm going to always cheer for his team" Harry said.
"Jesus will be very happy to hear that" Callie smiled at him. They settled into the couch as the game started. Harry was quiet but he seemed to find comfort watching Jesus play. Even though she had seen the game before Callie still winched when her brother hid the ground flying backwards.
"When I get big I want to play basketball like Jesus" Harry said, before Callie could answer her phone rang and she got up taking it from the kitchen table. Katie's name was on the screen. Callie sighed, She probably just wanted to talk about court tomorrow, Callie thought about ignoring it, she didn't want to deal with this tonight, It could wait until tomorrow morning. But her judgement got the better of her and Callie put the phone to her ear.
"Hey Katie " She said.
"Callie, I'm sorry to bother you, I didn't want to call you tonight but something came up" Katie said. Callie glanced at Harry who was watching TV still and went through the kitchen into the back yard.
"what's wrong?" Callie asked.
"The grandparents have denied the adoption"
"they got denied!" Callie cried.
"No they denied it themselves, they just left to fly home, they said they never signed up for both just Harry, I told them we were not going to separate them and they decided they can't take both."
"They..they refused the kids, after all that time, all those visits" Callie cried, she was mad, she was beyond mad. How could anyone not want to care for two such sweet children? They had put so much work into this adoption and then just changed their minds. They had flown home no explanation to the kids, not even a goodbye.
"How is this supposed to make Harry feel! How do I tell him they just up and left him and he's not getting adopted" Callie asked more to herself then to Katie.
"Do you want me to come by and…? Katie started.
"no, no thank you I have to do this" Callie said.
"Ok, I'll be in touch within the next few days and we can talk more, in the meantime do you mind keeping them a few more weeks while I figure something out?"
"Of course not, take your time" Callie said. They said goodbye and she hung up the phone going back inside. Will was just closing the door to the girls room after putting them to bed, he gave Callie a smile.
"They were both asleep the minute they laid down. I don't even think I had Elizabeth fully dressed and she was asleep." He said.
"Katie just called" Callie whispered so Harry wouldn't hear them.
"And?" Will asked. Callie pulled him into their bedroom shutting the door.
"The grandparents decided they didn't want to adopt them, they just left." Callie said.
"What!" Will cried and Callie knew he was thinking the same thing she was.
"We are keeping them a few more weeks while Katie figures something else out. We have to tell Harry, and I have to call Lena to make sure he can go back to school tomorrow, and unpack their stuff" Callie said running through a list in her head.
"Ok hey, one thing at a time, let's go talk to Harry, do you know what you want to say?" Will asked.
"No, god no. Sorry buddy your grandparents didn't want you anymore your still a foster kid." Callie said sarcastically.
"Hey, come on, I'm going to go tell him to hop in the shower, why don't you call your moms, get him back in school, and I think you need some advice" Will said gently. Callie nodded, thank god Will was always the level headed one. She needed him at times like this. Will left the room closing the door again and Callie picked up her phone deciding to try Stef first.
"Hey baby, you just left you miss your moms already?" She asked teasing her.
"Our social worker just called" Callie said.
"What did she say?" Stef asked instantly becoming serious.
"The grandparents decided not to adopt"
"Oh no" Stef sighed sadly.
"I have to go tell him but I have no idea how. How do you tell a kid his family didn't want him?" Callie sighed.
"What about Maya?" Callie heard Lena's voice and knew Stef had put her on speaker phone.
"She doesn't fully understand thank god. I mean we talked about it so much but she doesn't know this side of foster care. I'm not worried about Maya, but this is the second time in a few months this has happened to Harry. I just actually called to make sure he can go to school Monday" Callie said.
"Yes of course I'll take care of it" Lena said.
"Thank you" Callie sighed, at least that was easily solved.
"What are you going to say to him love?" Stef asked again.
"I don't know, I just…he's been though so much, I wish something good would happen to this kid." Callie sighed.
"Sweetie his time will come, everyone's does, yours did." Stef said gently.
"Jude was right" Callie muttered.
"What?" Lena asked.
"Jude, he said Harry was so much like me, he was right, we have the same story, this kid needs his happy ending, and not when he is almost 16 years old" Callie said.
"Baby you just have to be honest with him, he deserves that and let him be mad or upset or whatever he is going to be. But he will be ok." Lena said as Callie heard the water in the bathroom shut off.
"I better go talk to him before he goes to bed" Callie said
"Good luck baby" Stef said.
"Thanks"
"See you at drop off tomorrow?" Lena asked.
"Yeah, yes you will" Callie said with a little smile before she hung up and opened the door to her room.
"Ready?" Will asked.
"Nope, let's do this" Callie said making her way down the hall into Harry's room with Will behind her.
"All my Pj's are packed, Will said it was ok if I wore these pants to bed, can I?" Harry asked as Callie came in smiling at him sitting on his bed reading a book.
"Of course, but Will and I actually wanted to talk to you about something." Callie said sitting down on the end of his bed as Will leaned against the wall next to them. Harry looked worried, Callie thought back to how many times her moms had talked to her like this, how nervous is always made her.
"Nothing is wrong, we want you to know we love you very much" Callie said and saw Harry soften a little.
"You remember when we were watching the game and my phone rang? Katie called me." Callie said.
"What did she say?" Harry asked.
"She said that… your grandparents are very sorry but they don't think they can take care of you and Maya." Callie said gently.
"Tomorrow? they can't take us tomorrow?" Harry asked.
"No, they meant, they can't take care of you, ever" Will said.
"Why not?"
"We don't really know why, they just don't think their home is the best one for you and Maya. That means they care about you very much, they want you to be happy and well take care of even if it isn't with them" Callie said gently.
"No! No it's not fair!" Harry yelled.
"I know, I know honey it's not fair" Callie nodded.
"I am so tired of this! I just want to stay in one place" Harry cried.
"I know, and Katie is going to find you that pace" Will tried to assure him.
"But I don't want to leave here, I don't want a new home" Harry said.
"Hey, hey buddy look, no one is making you leave ok. Your not leaving tomorrow, not until we find you and Maya a home forever and ever. But until we find that you are not leaving here" Will said sitting down next to him. Harry seemed to calm down a little bit.
"We don't have to leave tomorrow?" He asked.
"No, Will is going to go take your boxes back out of the trunk and tomorrow you are going to school and everything will be just the same" Callie said gently.
"Ok" Harry agreed.
"Ok" Callie nodded.
"Your going to be ok, you will find the perfect home, but until you do you'r going to stay right here with us ok?" Will asked. Harry nodded again leaning his head on Callie's shoulder.
"Ok, We love you, I know this is confusing but it will turn out ok, your going to get your happy ending" Callie said pulling him into her side for a hug.
"Will you read to me?" Harry asked turning to Will.
"Yeah, just a few pages thought it's already late and you have school" Will said gently as Harry handed him the book. Callie gave him a kiss goodnight and went to check on the girls. Elizabeth was asleep in her crib sucking her thumb happily, Callie gave her a kiss on the forehead, thankful Elizabeth would never have to deal with foster care. She crossed the room to Maya's bed. Her blankets were thrown off her little body. Callie covered her back up tucking her in tightly, Maya had a bad habit of falling out of her bed. Callie brushed her hair from her forehead. in two short weeks Maya had grown on her, she followed Callie around like a shadow when they were home always wanting to help her with whatever she did. Callie saw a lot of both her sisters in Maya making her feel like she knew her so well already. Callie got up closing the door going into her own bedroom, Will came in a few minutes later.
"He's asleep"
"Thank god, that actually went better then I thought." Callie said.
"I just feel bad, poor kid he's just so run down from it all" Will said sliding into bed next to Callie.
"He just needs to be adopted, he needs that security" Callie said.
"He will get it, I know you, you will fight for those kids, they will be ok" Will said.
Callie let Harry sleep in the next morning since they had been up late and drove him into school late. They walked into the office so she could sign him in, if any of the teachers were surprised to see him no one said anything except smile at him.
"Lena! Lena!" Harry cried bursting in Lena's office before Callie could stop him. Lena looked up from her desk surprised, along with some parents who were sitting in her office.
"Sorry! Lena's busy bud she will come see you at lunch" Callie said making a grab for Harry's hand but he jumped to quickly ignoring the other adults in the room going to Lena's side.
"I get to stay with Callie" Harry said happily as Lena swiveled her chair to put her arm around him pulling him closer.
"And we are so happy. I'm sorry it did't work out with your grandparents, but we are glad you can stay a little longer while we wait to find you a family forever" Lena offered him a smile.
"It's ok. I like waiting for my family at Callie's house, can you and Stef and Frankie come over for a party tonight!" Harry asked.
"A party?" Lena asked glancing up at Callie.
"Oh bud they might be busy…" Callie started shrugging at Lena.
"But your not! please your like my grandma" Harry said. Lena looked surprised but recovered, faster then Callie did who felt her mouth drop open. They had never refereed to her moms as anything besides Lena and Stef to Maya and Harry, she was surprised Harry had picked up on that.
"I think a party sounds wonderful, what time should we come over?" Lena asked Harry.
"How about you take me home from school so Callie can clean, the kitchen is messy and we can go right to my house" Harry said.
"Harry!" Callie laughed.
"Well it is, you said so yourself" Harry said. The other adults in the room laughed, Callie had forgotten they were there.
"That sounds good if it's ok with Callie" Lena said as she glanced at Callie.
"Can they Callie, please! I'm tired of saying good bye" Harry said.
"They can, that sounds good, how about we order a pizza?" Callie asked.
"Oh sounds like Frankie and Stef will be in heaven." Lena smiled.
"And me" Harry agreed.
"Oh say bye, we have to get you to class" Callie said. Harry wrapped his arms around Lena giving her a hug before walking back to Callie.
"Sorry for the interruption" Callie said to the parents in the room.
"No problem, we were talking with Mrs. Adams Foster about enrolling our son here, and I think we just made our decision. This sees like a very warm and welcoming place" The women said with a smile.
"Oh it is, I mean, the principal is top notch" Callie smiled putting her arm around Harry as they left.
"So are you on such a friendly basis with all the students?" Callie heard the man ask as the door closed behind them. Callie smirked. Good luck to Lena trying to talk her way out of that one.
"Hello, I heard there was pizza" Stef said as the front door opened.
"Hi, come in" Callie smiled greeting her mom with a hug.
"Well this was an impromptu dinner party" Stef said following Callie into the kitchen.
"Yes for you and me both, it seems Harry came up with the idea on his own. But I couldn't say no. He was so happy to be able to see you guys again" Callie said.
"Well we are glad to see him again. Poor kid this must be some emotional roller coaster" Stef sighed.
"It is for all of us. This is twice we thought we were saying goodbye only to turn out we didn't have to" Callie said.
"Well momma just called they are on their way home now."
"Will just took Elizabeth with him to get Maya at preschool" Callie said.
"Are you expecting anyone else?" Stef asked eyeing the big boxes of pizza.
"Jude and Mariana already had plans for the night, Brandon has a concert and the baby has a cold so Megan is home with him. But Jesus said he might swing by so I figured it was best to be prepared" Callie said making Stef laugh.
An hour later they were seated around the table munching their pizza.
"This is good, we should have pizza night every week" Frankie said.
"Yeah! we should have chocolate pizza" Harry cried.
"Yeah!" Frankie said.
"Maybe not every week, but next time we should have make your own pizza night. Remember we used to have those?" Callie asked looking at her moms.
"Oh yes, the best way to use up the leftovers in the fridge, throw them on some dough with some sauce." Stef laughed.
"Do you remember one time we were all upset about something, we made a banana pizza with whipped cream, banana slices and chocolate chips" Callie asked.
"Oh yes, with chocolate sauce drizzled on top" Lena said with a smile.
"That was by far the best pizza I have ever had" Stef nodded.
"Where was I!" Frankie cried.
"You were not born yet" Callie laughed
"No fair! You guys did all the fun stuff before I was born" Frankie sulked.
"We will make it up to you and make Banana pizza again some day" Stef assured her. The doorbell rand and Harry jumped up from his seat.
"It's Jesus!" He cried running into the living room With Callie and Maya behind him.
"Hey you know your not allowed to open the door" Callie said as Harry reached for the handle. He stopped just short of turning it.
"Ok but hurry, Jesus is always hungry" Harry said making Callie laugh. She opened the door with a smile expecting to see her brother and was surprised to see Katie standing there.
"Hi" Callie said surprised as Will popped is head into the room. Harry immediately hid behind Callie.
"Hey, I'm sorry to bother you but I got a call from another foster family, we are moving Harry and Maya to them as soon as possible" Katie said.
"I'm not going!" Harry yelled as Will stepped in picking Maya up.
"I figured they would still be all packed to today would be…" Katie started.
"NO!" Harry screeched. Stef stepped in taking Maya from Will as Will pried Harry off of Callie.
"We need to…" Callie said gently pushing Katie from the doorway following her onto the porch.