Chapter 23.

"Here you go, my babies," said Stef, bringing a box labeled 'kitchen' to the door. "We're almost done."

"Thanks so much for helping us, mom," said Callie, reaching out to hug her. They had been gradually moving their things to the new apartment all morning, in a rush to get settled.

"No problem, sweetheart," her foster mother replied. "I'm happy to do it."

"Before we move this load, does anyone want a cold drink?" Brandon asked. "I'm parched."

"Sure," said Callie.

"I'll have whatever you've got," Stef added. "We've been working hard. It won't hurt to take five."

Brandon went to the fridge, and took out three cans of soda. He passed on to Callie, then his mother, and leaned against the counter and popped open his own, taking a long sip.

"So, you two seem excited about your new place," Stef observed.

"It just worked out so perfectly," Callie told her. "I can't wait to fix it up and make it our own."

Stef smiled. "Sounds like someone is nesting."

Callie nodded, her eyes shining. "Yeah. I guess I am. It will be nice to have the extra space."

"Is it a one- bedroom?" Stef asked her.

"No," she replied. "There's a smaller bedroom too. It's so cute. It would be the perfect size for a baby's room. I mean, if we had one."

Brandon turned to her, his eyebrow raised. "Are you trying to tell me something, Cal?"

"No," she laughed. "I was just saying..."

Stef pursed her lips thoughtfully. "You guys are using protection, yes?"

"Yes," they replied in unison, not at all shocked to be asked such a personal question by their mom, who never held back anything. It was as natural as being asked; 'are you wearing socks?'

"That's good," she nodded. "I'm glad you're being responsible."

"We both want kids eventually," Brandon told his mother. "I mean, we've talked about it a little, haven't we, Cal?"

She nodded, remembering the day before.

"Well, you've got a long time to think about that," Stef reminded them. "You're both so young. You're practically babies yourselves. Hold off a while, and wait until you're out of school, and you're really ready to be parents."

"Don't worry," said Callie. "We will." Her words were bittersweet as she spoke them. She knew her foster mother was right; it was best to wait. And she didn't plan on having a baby right away. But with everything over the last few days; seeing the apartment, feeling so close to Brandon, it wasn't hard to entertain the thought of starting a family of their own.

"I know you will, honey," Stef told her. "You both have good heads on your shoulders."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "I'll get it," said Callie, hurrying to answer it. It was Robert and Sophia.

"Hi, Callie," her younger sister chirped.

"Hi, baby," Callie answered, pulling her into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Sophia asked if she could help you move," Robert explained. "I didn't think you would mind if I brought her by."

"I don't mind," Callie assured him. Deep down, she was a little bit annoyed that he hadn't called first, although she was always happy to see her sister. "You want to come in?"

Robert nodded. "I think I can stay for a few minutes." His jaw tightened when he saw Stef, and the tension in the room became thick. Callie took her place next to Brandon, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"Hello, Robert," said Stef, reaching out to shake his hand.

"Stef," he politely replied. "Nice to see you again."

"How's your wife?" she asked.

"She's fine," he nodded. "And yours?"

"She great," she told him. "Enjoying the Winter break from school." She smiled at Sophia. "How about you, sweetheart? Are you enjoying your break?"

"Not really," Sophia replied honestly. "I love school."

Stef laughed. "Robert, I think you have the perfect child."

"Sophie's a good kid," he nodded. He turned to Callie. "How's the new apartment? Are you getting settled?"

"Yeah," she nodded, twisting her soda can in her hand. "Not so much the unpacking, though."

"Well, it'll be good for you to have a place to yourself," he told her. "Less distractions from your studies that way."

Callie turned to Brandon, giving him a pained look. Apparently, her father hadn't gotten the memo that the two of them were moving in together, and she wasn't looking forward to filling him in. "Umm..." she muttered. "Well, it won't be entirely to myself."

"What do you mean?" he asked. "I thought Caitlin had a new roommate."

"She does," Callie replied. "I'm not talking about her. The new apartment is for me and Brandon, actually."

Her father's face went pale, his brow furrowed. "Honey, don't you think you're moving a little fast?"

She shrugged. "Well, no. We're both sure that this is what we want."

"Did you know about this?" he asked Stef.

"Yes, I did," she replied.

"And you're okay with it?"

"I am," she nodded. "Callie and Brandon love each other, and I think they deserve to be happy. I trust their judgement."

"Well, I think this living arrangement is a little inappropriate," he patiently explained. "Callie is only twenty years old."

"Come on, Soph," Brandon whispered. "Let's bring these boxes to the car." Callie watched him lead her out the door.

"So is Brandon," Stef pointed out. "And they're both very responsible. Anyway," she added. "I actually feel better knowing Callie won't be alone. It's a scary world out there for single young women."

"Look, I know your family does things differently than mine," he interrupted. "But I don't believe in letting my children run wild."

"Neither do we," Stef replied. "But we don't believe in treating them like property, either."

"Unfortunately, Callie isn't your daughter," Robert told her in a slow, measured voice. "She's mine, and you don't get to make decisions about her. You're not her mother."

Stef looked as if she'd been punched in the gut. Callie's heart ached for her. Clearing her throat, she turned, looking her father in the eye. "Don't you ever say that again. She is my mother. And so is Lena." Her eyes welled with tears as emotion flooded over her.

Robert studied his daughter, his face softening with regret. "Callie, honey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Don't!" she snapped. "Just leave me alone. Please."

He nodded, looking down. "Okay. I'll go." He looked to her hopefully. "Will we see you at Christmas?"

She nodded slowly, turning away.

Once her father was gone, Callie approached Stef, who was taking things out of the kitchen cupboard and roughly tossing them into a box. The stiffness in her shoulders, and her silence, told Callie that she was upset.

"Mom?" she said softly, laying her hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

Stef nodded, covering her hand with her own.

"Look at me," Callie pleaded. "Please?"

Stef turned around. Her eyes were wet with tears. "You know, Callie," she sniffled, trying to keep from breaking down. "I don't think I could love you more if I'd carried you myself. I can't help but think of you as my daughter."

"Don't listen to him," she sighed, wrapping her arms around her foster mother's ribs.

"Sweetheart, he's your father whether you like it or not," Stef breathed. "I think I've overstepped my boundaries this time."

"You are my mother," Callie told her. "In every way that's important." She took Stef's face between her hands, looking deep into her moss-colored eyes. "Mom. I love you."

Stef hugged her tighter, rubbing her back. "I love you too, slug-a-bug." She pressed a tender kiss to Callie's damp cheek.

"I hate him," Callie breathed, when they finally let go of each other. "I wish I'd never even found out about him."

"Don't say that, sweetheart," said Stef. "You don't mean it."

"Yes I do," she insisted.

"Sophia would feel pretty awful if she heard you say that," her foster mother gently told her. "And your father means well. He really does love you." She dabbed at her wet eyes with a tissue. "You haven't exactly made it easy for him."

"What he put me through wasn't easy," she reminded her.

"I know it wasn't," Stef nodded. "I'm just saying, when I was young, I used to tell my dad I hated him all the time. But now that he's gone, I would give almost anything to hug him one more time. My biggest regret is not having a better relationship with him. I don't want you to have to live with something like that, baby."

"It's just hard," she sighed, her chin trembling. "I can't forget what he did."

Stef nodded slowly. "I hope you change your mind about that someday."

"Mom?" Callie asked.

"What?

"Do you think Brandon and I should still move in together?"

"Do you think you'll be happy living together?" she asked her.

"Yes," she nodded. "I'm happier than I've been in a long time." Now that she thought about it, when was the last time she'd been truly depressed? She'd had good and bad days, especially while she was in England, but those aches of sadness were nowhere near what she used to feel; they never drove her to fantasize about swallowing a handful of sleeping pills, or to pick up a razor blade and hold it to her wrist. Brandon's love gave her hope.

"Then," said Stef. "I think you should do what makes you happy."

"Callie," said Brandon, the afternoon of Christmas Eve, as they were preparing to go to the Quinns' for dinner.

"Yeah?" she asked, pulling a brush through her hair. She went over to him and straightened his tie for him, so it hung neatly against his shirt.

"I love you," he told her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

She smiled and nodded. "I love you too." She gave him a perplexed look. "What's up?"

He swallowed hard, looking into her eyes. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But it's hard for me to feel right about this if it's causing tension between you and your father."

Her breath caught in her throat as anxiety washed over her. "You're not... are you?"

"No," he quickly explained. "No. Not at all." He leaned in to kiss her. "Relax, baby."

"Then what are you saying?" she asked.

"I'm saying," he told her, "that I'm going to ask Robert for permission to marry you."

She let out a quick breath of relief and joy. "Oh."

"Is that okay with you? I won't do it if it's not."

"It's fine," she nodded. "But you don't need to ask his permission. It's my choice, not his."

"I know," he insisted. "But he's your father, Callie, and I want him to know how serious I am about you. It's the respectful thing to do. And maybe then, he'll feel better about us living together?"

Callie sighed, knowing that Brandon was right. "Okay," she finally agreed. "You know what? You're right."

"So can I?" he asked. "Please?"

She nodded again. "Yes."

To Be Continued