Chapter 6 – Where is Brandon and My Daddy
Stef watched her partner for a minute pace across the living room. She was trying very hard to keep the smirk off her face and the giggles buried deep in her belly. Lena, usually the calm one, was in a state of stress Stef had never witnessed before and for the most part it was unfounded.
"Love everything will be ok….you don't have anything to worry about," Stef said taking her hand and pulling Lena to her.
"I have never been away from her Stef," Lena explained hoping to convey her emotions.
"I know…you're only going to be gone for what 36 hours max."
"That is 36 hours longer than I have ever been away from her. What if she needs me for something? What if she gets sick? Or has a nightmare?"
"I am going to start getting a little offended in a minute Lena," Stef said trying to lighten the mood.
"I am sorry….I know she is good hands."
"We are going to be fine. I am going to pick her up from school and the two of us are going to dinner and pick up some movies. Mike is taking Brandon for a few hours but he will be home by 7 so we can all watch a movie and then it will be bedtime. I have done this parenting thing before love….we are going to be fine."
"I am going to miss her so much….and you," she added leaning in to give Stef a soft kiss.
"At least I am getting a little love here," she said with a smile. "Just think of this as practice."
"Practice? For what," Lena asked confused?
"For when we go away for a weekend and the kids stay with my mom," Stef said with a shy smile.
"A weekend away huh? You have thought about that?"
"Well, yeah I was thinking maybe doing something special for you birthday."
"I would like that," Lena added a kiss to show Stef she didn't have to be shy.
"First we need to get you through the night….I think Callie will be handling this a little better," she said with a smile as her girlfriend pouted.
"Stupid administrator's conference in LA," Lena mumbled.
"The sooner you get going the sooner you can get back here. Call me when you get there and I will call you before I put the kids to bed so you can say goodnight."
"And in the morning so I can talk to you all before my morning meeting."
"I promise. You can text me anytime I won't be working so there should be no reason you can't reach me. However, don't go calling the FBI if I don't answer a call right away. I will have two 6 year olds running around my hands will be full."
"I won't call the FBI but if I don't hear back from you within the hour I am sending in the SWAT team."
"Fair enough….I love you and everything will be fine."
"I love you too."
After a long kiss goodbye Lena was out the door and on the road. Stef took Callie's overnight bag up to Brandon's room and put it on the airbed she already had set up. She had a spare room but both Brandon and Callie liked to have sleep over's although they no longer shared a bed.
Stef kept busy throughout the day paying bills, running to the food store and doing some cleaning. It wasn't long before she was at the school to pick up Callie. Not entirely trusting her ex she checked to make sure Mike had already picked up Brandon before she left.
Instead of dinning out Stef took Callie to the movie store first to pick up a couple movies and then picked up a pizza on the way home. Callie was thrilled to be having pizza as that was not a regular occurrence for her. Stef could tell something was slightly off with the little girl but figured it had a lot to do with Lena being away for the night….it didn't seem to affect her to much though so Stef let it slide for now.
When they got home Callie took the movies into the living room while Stef got the pizza and drinks. She carefully carried two plates and two drinks into the living room and set them on the coffee table.
"You have the movie all set for us," she asked?
"Yup I already put it in," Callie said proudly.
"You did huh….your getting too big little miss….you're going to be off to college soon. Here is your pizza if you want more just tell me and here is your juice."
Stef made sure Callie was all set before she started the movie. She was shocked when Callie managed to polish off a piece and a half of pizza before settling back on the couch with her no spill cup.
"Stef," Callie said in a questioning tone.
"Yeah sweets," Stef said turning her full attention to Callie as it looked like she wanted to talk about something.
"Where is Brandon?"
Stef was a little caught off guard by the question. Thinking back on things Callie had never been over when Brandon was with Mike which was amazing since she and Lena had been together for over a year. Mike only took Brandon over night one weekend a month and Stef always tried to work during that time to keep her mind busy. Mike would take Brandon for days throughout the month but just once overnight. Of course Callie would ask this question now when Lena wasn't around.
"Brandon is with his daddy today they are out to eat right now."
"How come Brandon isn't always with his daddy?"
That was a good question, Stef thought to herself.
"Well, his daddy and I don't live together anymore and it is harder for him to see Brandon like he would want to," Stef tried to explain the best she could.
No matter what Stef's feelings were towards Mike and how active a roll he was playing in Brandon's life one thing she would never do was speak bad about him to the kids. If she needed to vent it would be to Lena and it would only be when she was 100% certain the kids could not hear her.
"Doesn't he miss Brandon? I miss you and Brandon when I don't see you for a day."
Stef tried to hold back to tears hearing Callie's confession. She loved this little girl like her own daughter and her love just grew more.
"I am sure he does miss Brandon sweetie but sometimes adult things come up that keeps him away."
"Is adult stuff going to come up with you too?"
"Never sweetie….nothing is more important to me than your mama, you and Brandon."
"Most of my friends have mommies and daddies….Brandon has a mama, mommy and daddy….where is my daddy," Callie asked innocently.
Stef's heart stopped while simultaneously broke inside her chest. Stef knew Lena had discussed with Callie the fact that she was adopted and what that meant so she wouldn't be telling the little girl something she didn't already know….but how exactly was she supposed to explain this.
"While it does take a mommy and a daddy to have a baby….not everyone has a mommy and a daddy at home. Some kids have two mommies and some kids have two daddies and some kids have grandparents or aunts and uncles at home. You remember when mama told you about being adopted?"
"Yeah mama said love creates a family and she loves me more than the whole wide world."
"She does love you more than the whole wide world…and the two people responsible for creating you loved you because they made sure you found mama where you would be happy and cared for."
Stef hoped that would satisfy the young girl and not bring on more questions like where to babies come from. That was definitely something she would save for Lena to deal with.
"Well I am lucky because I have a mama, a mommy, Brandon, grandpop, grandma, nana and pop-pop that's a lot."
"That certainly is a lot you're a very lucky and very loved little girl."
Stef was thankful when Callie snuggled back into her side and focused her attention back on the movie. Brandon got home a little later that night and instead of a movie Stef and the kids played a game before she started their nighttime routine. It was slightly more challenging getting two 6 year olds bathed alone but she managed just fine.
"Ok you two….both went to the bathroom and had your bedtime story. I will be in my room is you need me…sweet dreams kiddos," she said kissing both kids on their foreheads tucking them in.
"Night mommy," both kids said in unison.
Stef was exhausted by the time she fell into her bed. She had called Lena to say goodnight to the kids but she didn't talk to her long because she still had a bedtime story to read.
"Hey love," Stef mumbled into the phone.
"Well you sound ready to pass out," Lena chuckled.
"Yeah that's about right. I have an eventful day around here today."
"What happened," Lena asked not to worried seeing as how she just spoke to both kids.
" Well Callie asked me where Brandon was today and I told her he was at his dads….which she had some questions about."
"Like what?"
"Why Mike isn't around more, wouldn't he miss Brandon because he isn't around….you know all things that broke my heart for Brandon while wanting to rip Mike's out."
"Oh stef I am sorry…I didn't even think about explaining that Brandon goes to his dad sometimes."
"It is not your fault I didn't think about it either….usually I am working when Mike takes B overnight and therefore you two aren't around that night either. So I explained things the best I could….she said she misses us when we aren't around for the day…I swear I love that kid more every day."
Lena couldn't help the smile spreading across her lips.
"She is out little sweetheart."
"She asked me another question."
"Oh boy what was it?"
"She asked where her daddy was."
Silence. Stef started to wonder if Lena was still there.
"Umm love are you still there?"
"Yes…sorry umm what did you say."
"Well I asked her if she remember what you told her about being adopted and she did….love makes a family and you love her more than the whole wide world…..and I explained that the people that created her loved her because they made sure she found you. I explained not everyone has mommies and daddies…some have grandparents or aunt and uncles…..she seemed ok with that. I hope that's ok I was a little caught off guard."
"That is perfect Stef. Thank you and I am sorry you had to deal with that alone."
"It ok…we are going to run into things that are going to be awkward but we will get through them…however your explaining to her where babies come from because I get the feeling that question isn't too far off."
"Deal," Lena said laughing.
"Hurry back I miss you."
"I miss you too….I will be home by 8."
"You going to stay here," stef ask?
"Is that an invite?"
"You know you don't need an invite."
"I will be there by 8 for the night."
"Love you."
"Love you back….get some sleep."