Chapter 5

The Long Hours

When the sun came up, Stella's alarm clock was just going off. She got up went in to the bathroom brushed her teeth and took a shower got dress for work.

She walked in checked on the kids they were still asleep; so she went into the kitchen and started breakfast for them. She was just getting the kids breakfast done when Joe knocked on her door. Stella went to the door and told Joe "be quiet the kids aren't up yet." "Joe apologizes for being so loud coming in."

Stella set their places, her son's plate and Gabby's high chair. She looked at Joe and said "what's so important that you'd show at 7:30 in the morning" I just got word about the new account were taking on today Just then Stella interrupts him and said "I thought that wasn't till next week." "Yea so did I Stella" Joe replied but the owner is coming in this afternoon and he wants to meet the person that's going to be working on it with him; or I would have waited until I picked you up at our usual time, "well thanks for the heads up warning Joe" Stella replied.

Just then she heard her babies get up. Good morning sweethearts how's my babies this morning? Christian stood there rubbing his sleepy little eyes trying to come awake; I've got your breakfast all done sweetie. She helped her son to the table and then she went back to get Gabby cause she hadn't come fully awake yet so she was able pick her up before she started to cry. She brought Gabby out and placed her in her high chair and gave her; her breakfast also.

She looked at Joe and told him go sit down while I get ready; gather up what the kids need while were out today. When she came back out she got the kids ready and then she packed up the diaper bag and out the door they went.

Joe helped her out with the kids to get them into the car especially Gabby's car seat it was hard to anchor in. They all got in finally and got started to work. On the way to work Joe told Stella that starting today they had to work late. Okay Joe, but "what do I do with the kids?" Joe told her "I got someone to stay late and keep an eye on the kids while we work."

They get to work and Stella put the kids in the daycare center gave them each a kiss and told them I'll see you at lunch time, her son looked up at her and said okay mom we'll see you then. Her and Joe went up to their office to start their day.

Come lunch time they went down to the kids, they were all playing and Jessica looked at Stella and said, "Hi, how has your morning gone?" The kid has had a wonderful time. Your son drew you a picture of all of you working together here and Gabby has had a better day than yesterday.

They all ate and it was time to get back to work but before she left she told the kids she come down and check on them perodic until we get done.

During the evening Joe made a remark about for the next couple of weeks maybe having grandma come out to stay with you so the kids would have a familiar person there with them while you put in the late hours. Maybe your right Joe! I'll call mom and see if she can get away or not, but for right now lets focus on this account.

At lunchtime Stella called her mom to see if she could. The phone rings and all the time it's ringing Stella not sure how to ask her mom for help cause she's not sure how her mom is going to react to the favor. Just then her mom answers the phone hello her mom said; Stella said "hello mom how are you doing?" "Were fine out here " but I've ran into a small snag out here, I need to know if you can come out here to stay a couple of weeks to help watch the kids here at home?

Her mom asked, "What happened to the day care Joe offered you?" He held to his word but mom these next two weeks the hours are going to be late and I really don't like nor want the kids out late with a stranger watching them and at home they'll have all of their toys and their own beds; all of my stuff arrives today that Joe had shipped out here from L.A."So will you come?" Stella asked.

Her mom said "yes, I'll catch the first flight out in the morning and I should be there by lunchtime okay." "Thanks mom " Stella said I'd see you in the morning at lunchtime. I'm not going to tell the kids about you coming out I want it to be a surprise to them. Bye mom.

Stella hung up the phone and picked up her purse and started to go when a woman down the hall yelled Stella Joe's looking for you. She motioned to her co-worker Sara that she heard her; and Stella went on down to her kids to see them.

Jessica greeted Stella at the door and Christian right behind her and Gabby was in her walker right behind her big brother cooing and reaching her hand out to him wanting him to play with her and the rattle she was holding. Stella just smiled at Jessica and looked at her son who was covered in chalk dust… Jessica was trying to explain what happened when Stella looked at her and told her to relax that he plays with chalk and paints at home. Jessica was so relieved cause she thought she'd done wrong. Stella asked "Jessica what she was going to be doing the next two weeks in the evening hours?" Nothing much be honest up until Joe built this new office I didn't have a job I just come out of school for daycare and hadn't had chance to look for a place of employment. Well see me after work tonight I 'd like to chat with you. And just then Joe caught up with her. He looked at Stella and before he could ask her she motioned for him to step out of the daycare center so the kids wouldn't hear her. Stella told her son she be right back in she needed to tell her boss (partner) something and she be right back in.

Once she had him out in the hall she told him that their grandma was coming out for a couple of weeks while they put in the late hours. When Joe heard this he got a big smile on his face; Stella asked him why he was so happy about this news and thinking quick on his feet he just said" now I know your have your mind on work knowing your kids are at home safe with grandma that's all' hoping she bought that lie. "Oh is that all she asked." Yes! That's all now let's get back to work.

While lets go have a bite to eat cause we only have a few hours until quieting time. Then we have a big account to work on.. They go back in to the kids and ordered pizza and that put a smile on Christian's face. The pizza arrived and Stella made sure that her son ate and Gabby ate her lunch, which were applesauce and mac & cheese, she cleaned up the kids and then went back to work and put in the rest of her day, she was looking forwards to spending time with her kids before the long hours started.

Joe caught up with Stella and the kids to tell her that he was wrong on the night they started the late hours it was tomorrow night not tonight. So he told her to give him a few minutes and they could go; she agreed that give her time to talk to Jessica about lending a hand with the kids at the condominium that way she's not out of a job for two weeks.

Jessica was helping Christian put his stuff in a book bag he carries his art stuff in when his mom asked him to go check in on his baby sister for her; while he went and did that she looked at Jessica and asked her if she continue to help watch the kids at the house stating tomorrow night cause my son has gotten to like you and he's had enough up evil in his life the past three weeks with the move and getting use to a new bed and all I just don't want to upset him any more and my mom will be there to help as well I thought you could look after him while mom took care of Gabby with both of them in a new home and my mom not knowing the ends and outs of the house having you there to take care of one would ease the pressure on mom until she tells you she doesn't need the help. How's that sound and you still have a job as well? Fine; but you really don't have to pay me to help I love watching your kids they're so good and Christian and I are in the middle of a story too, oh one thing Jessica you can't let the kids know this is a surprise for them when grandma comes tomorrow at lunchtime. Just then her son came back and asks when are we going home mom and before she could answer him Joe said let's go home kids.

At home Stella got a bite of dinner and the kids are playing in the front room when the phone rings and its grandma on the other end asking for Stella. Christian yelled mom its grandma wanting to talk to you, I'll be right their baby boy you talk with grandma while I finish this up. All she was making was hot dogs for dinner. She made his plate and put him up to the table and was sitting there feeding Gabby her dinner of beef stew and pears, peas talking to her mom; and the reason for the call was to tell her that when she booked her flight to New York they had a late flight going out and she was on it and in the air already. Well that's good but you'll have to catch a cab from the airport to the house cause I still don't have a car yet. That's okay the flight's not a direct flight to New York there's a lay over in Illinois so I won't arrive until ten o'clock anyway I just wanted you to know I was on my way to my three kids, thanks mom I love you too see you soon.

Well what grandma want mommy? You'll find out soon just finish your dinner and get ready for bed it's been a long day honey and mommy's tired and starting tomorrow I'll be putting in longer hours to get this new account going good.

So Christian did as his mom asked he went put his jimmies on and brush his teeth then came back out and looked at his mom and said, "Would you feel like reading a story to us mommy?" Stella looked at him and asked if she could finish up the dishes first. Okay I'll go play until your done.

Stella finished the dishes then went to the front room to tell her son it was time for bed and he wasn't there so she went to his room and found him laying in the middle of his toys sound to sleep, so she did her best to pick him up without waking him and tucked him into his bed and Gabby had crashed right after dinner.

The only other person that had to get ready for bed was herself, so she did just that got ready for bed.