I am back! Another great round of camping! I sadly think I am done for the summer :( but I do have my annual zip line trip in 2 weeks! I love summer! Thank you again for all your feed back. I can't express enough how much your reviews mean!
The Fosters
"This is Stefanie Foster" Stef said into her phone as she buckled her seatbelt while turning on the car. "I am scheduled to come in about fifteen minutes from now, however I have a child that got sick on her way to school this morning. I have to get her home and settled. I am guessing I am going to be about twenty minutes late."
Callie grunted beside her as she leaned against the window. "Or I could stay, and you could be on time."
Stef leaned over and placed her hand on Callie's knee silently hushing her.
"What?" She raised her eyebrow "Really? No I was not aware of that, or maybe I missed it some how." She smiled a little as she listened to the person on the other end. "Yes, things have been a little crazy in my house. They are doing alright, first day back for most. lot of tears and anxiety this morning" She said honestly "Yeah, actually we don't think she's sick with the flu it's where she got shot is infected. It's caused her a lot of problems…" She nodded playing with her blonde hair. "Well thank you for the kind words, that means a lot to me. Yes. Yes.. Great. No.. You just made my day. I am going too.." She nodded again "Gonna spend the day curled up with my lady bug until her doctor appointment! Thanks again for all the support! My family really is going to be just fine. I appreciate you checking in. See you tomorrow."
Callie raised her eyebrow as Stef hung up the phone and put it in the cup holder. "You're not going to work today?"
Stef shook her head "No, apparently I am scheduled for one more paid day off. With a note saying first day back to school Stef with fam"
"And you didn't know?"
"I think they thought Mike told me, but I just remember hearing I was off last week." She put the car into drive home. "Good thing I called" Stef smiled "I would have gone home, put on my monkey suit and showed up for nothing."
"Monkey suit?" Callie asked with a slight smirk "Really?"
"No comments from the peanut gallery" She shook her head. She kept one hand on the steering wheel while she reached over and placed a hand on Callie's knee. "I know you're upset about not being there today, and I know it's because you want to be there for mama."
Callie snuck a sideways glance at Stef to see where she was going with this.
"And baby, I can't tell you how thankful I am for you. I love that you want to look out for mama. So thank you."
The girl raised her eyebrow was she really thanking her. "I love that trait about you" Stef said stealing a glance at her girl "When you decide to let someone in and love them, you love hard, you love fiercely, you love protectively. Mama always says I am like that too."
Callie gave her a small smile at the thought. "You and mom say I am like you all the time."
"You are" Stef nodded as she squeezed her daughter's knee. "Just, learn from me, let others love you fiercely back."
Callie looked to Stef and thought about what she said "I am trying."
"I know you are little one." She assured her "Just keep working on it." She pulled into the drive way and unbuckled "Alright, here's the deal kid, are you listening?"
Callie nodded as she rested her hand on the door handle ready to get out. "You're going to go inside, go up and change put on a pair of sweat pants and crawl into mine and mama's bed. Not the air bed, my bed."
Callie nodded "K"
"You're going to take a nap" Stef "At least an hour, then we'll watch a movie and eat lunch and lounge around together until it's time to go get your sister and your mother for doctor's appointments and backpack shopping. Understand the plan Stan?"
Callie nodded "Yes, ma'am"
Stef winked at her. "Alright, get a move on it miss lady bug, hop to it."
"Are you going to nap with me?" Callie asked grabbing her books from the back seat.
Stef shrugged "Maybe, I'll be with you, I may not nap but work on some grown up boring stuff while you nap."
Callie nodded "K.."
"Five minutes of freedom" Stef pointed "While you go change."
"K" Callie said again but hesitated for a second.
"What's up love?" Stef asked seeing the hesitation.
Callie took a deep breath then shook her head "Never mind. See you in a few minutes" She then took off running into the house before Stef could stop her.
"Whoa, tornado" Sharon called as the girl whisked by her.
"Everything okay darling?" Sharon asked as Stef came in seconds behind Callie "Is Callie okay?"
"She's not feeling well at all" Stef said as she headed for the living room seeing Stuart and Dana sitting there. She plopped down on the couch next to Dana who wrapped her arm around her. Stef leaned in putting her head on Dana's shoulder.
"Tough morning huh darling?" Dana asked smoothing some of Stef's hair with her hand.
"Um honey, are you going to be late for work?" Sharon asked sitting on the coffee table in front of Stef.
Stef propped her legs on her mother's lap, Sharon began to massage Stef's ankles as she waited for her daughter to talk. It was obvious Stef just need a moment and was clearly soaking up some TLC from her own mother's.
"I have the day off" She said after a minute "Someone gave me this day off, donated a sick day to me. My coworkers are amazing"
"That's good" Sharon nodded "I am glad, I think with all the pulling and running of this day you needed it."
Stef inhaled through her nose then let out a sigh "It was so much harder than I thought it would be. The look on Jude's face as we walked him to his classroom door. Those big eyes so unsure but trying to be so brave."
"He's such a sweet boy, such a tender heart" Dana commented "I could just eat him up."
"Oh me too" Stef let out a small laugh. "So darn cute. Oh his little face this morning.. Augh"
Sharon patted Stef's legs "He's going to be alright doll. He's got you."
"Then the girls found out their backpacks were ruined, by blood" Stef shook her head "And it took everything in me to not throw up. The thought of my little girls bags covered in some dead child's blood… Even if they were the shooters.. I.."
"Oh sweet child, that is a rough morning" Dana said softly patting Stef's leg. "How's Lena Elizabeth handling everything?"
"Like a stud" Stef shook her head "She's so strong this morning! I was and am in awe of her." Stef closed her eyes and smiled a bit "But you guys would be so proud of Mariana! She looked ready to cry for half a second. I thought for sure I was going to have a big Mariana melt down on my hands, but that girl took a deep breath held her head up high and put on her Miss Thing attitude and waltzed into that classroom like no bodies business! It took everything I had to not run in there and smother her with proud mama tears and kisses."
Stuart laughed at the thought "That's my girl!"
Stef opened her eyes and looked over at him and winked "And Jesus, oh that baby boy of mine. He was so calm all morning, he kept his sister's calm, he encouraged Jude." She paused and her eyes began to tear up a little bit "And he held my hand and kissed my cheek in front of his peers."
"Aww" Both Dana and Sharon squealed at the same time
Stef nodded proudly "Yeah, he's a rock star."
"How about Brandon?" Sharon asked "How'd he do?"
"You know, Brandon processes very quietly. He takes things in and turns it around his head. He thinks. He doesn't vocalize his feelings right away." Stef explained "I mean some things he vocalizes right away but stuff like this he just thinks on it. He was supportive and wonderful. Just quiet."
"Understandable" Dana said as she kissed Stef's temple. "What about the whirlwind that ran up the stairs?"
"My Callie bug?" Stef smiled "She's not feeling well. I could tell she wasn't feeling super great at bedtime last night. She tried to hide that she wasn't feeling well this morning, but Lena and I could tell she wasn't feeling the greatest. At breakfast she claimed she wasn't hungry so Lena and her decided to split a breakfast and Callie probably ate a quarter of her half. By the time we got to school, she was pale and emotional irritable as heck. The kid about lost it over her ruined backpack."
"Poor baby" Sharon said softly "I know it's just a bag, but it's another thing that is different now."
"Yeah" Stef sighed "I know, my poor kid. She then was very dismissive of Lena and I. Threw up those big walls of hers and stormed off into her classroom. Just full on Callie walls. I thought we wouldn't see her until the day was over, but less than a minute later she bolted out of the classroom and threw her arms around Lena so forcefully she almost knocked her over. Lena just knew, and we called her out on it. She admitted she wasn't feeling good." Stef closed her eyes "Then we battled with her for about five more minutes, on the fact that we wanted her to go home. She did not want to leave Lena. That was killer on me."
"Because she wanted Lena over you?" Sharon asked "I know Callie, tends to gravitate towards you."
Stef shook her head "No, not because of that. Because her heart was so full on protecting Lena, it was painful to take her away from her. Such an important deal to her."
"Sweet baby" Sharon shook her head "She's gone through a lot in life."
Stef closed her eyes and nodded "Mmmhmm my little spitfire that one."
"Just like her mom" Sharon teased tickling Stef's legs.
They heard shuffling sound and looked up to see Callie coming into the living room. She'd changed into sweats and left on Lena's hoodie. Stef wondered if she could get away from the girl at some point to wash it, She'd been wearing it for almost four days now, and knowing the girl she'd want to wear it to school tomorrow.
"Hello Angel" Dana greeted Callie with a big smile
Callie shifted from foot to foot rubbing the bridge of her nose
"Yes, my love?" She asked never lifting her head from Dana's shoulder.
"It's been over five minutes" Callie said quietly "And I am grounded and you.. said five minutes.."
Stef sat up and patted Dana's knee "I am being summoned"
Callie quickly shook her head "No, no of course not stay with your mom. I just wanted to make sure I was following the rules."
"No, you're fine" Stef assured as she rose to her feet.
Callie looked at Dana "Mama, said I should have you make grilled cheese for lunch."
"Oh she did?" Dana smiled as she shook her head her eyes lighting up. "My sweet sweet Lena Elizabeth. Your mama loved those when she was a kid. They were pretty special to us, When it's time for lunch I'd be glad to make you one, sugar."
Stef gave Dana her best puppy dog eyes as she stuck her lip out in a pout. "What about me?"
Sharon shook her head and Dana laughed "I'll make you one too of course. I couldn't leave you out."
Stef shook her head "No, you couldn't. I'd probably have to eat the one you made for Callie and then my daughter would starve and it would all be on you."
"Go, take a nap" Sharon pointed up the stairs "Now"
Stef laughed and nodded "Yes, mom" She looked at Callie as she pulled her along with her. "See, even I have a mom to answer too."
"So when I am old, I'll still have to say yes mom to you?" Callie smirked
"I am not old" Stef warned "Watch it kid. I know where you sleep."
Callie rolled her eyes but smiled as the two made their way to Stef's room.
The two made their way to the bed and Callie crawled to Lena's side of the bed. She propped herself on the pillows and then pulled her phone from her pocket.
"Nuh nuh, uh uh, what are you doing lady?" Stef asked crawling next to her "It is nap time, not phone time."
Callie stared at the screen "I am just texting mom. She said I could."
"You can check in with her after nap, Callie" Stef said leaning over and snatching the phone from the girl's hands who let out a little whimper of a protest. Stef held the phone in her hands and leaned down and kissed her daughter's cheek. "Mama, wants you to take a nap" She ran her fingers over Callie's forehead. "As soon as you wake up, we'll call her and check in. I promise though. She's okay."
"You thought we were okay last Monday" Callie reminded Stef as her big worried eyes locked with Stef's.
Stef knew the girl was feeling helpless, because she in fact was feeling the same way. "We have to trust that they are baby. We can't live our life in fear."
Callie blinked back a tear "I know, but it's hard. Bad stuff has happened to me before, but this time it's harder to shake."
Stef leaned on her side and ran her fingers through Callie's hair soothingly "I know, because it's something you can't control. It's bigger than you are, and there is more than one person you love involved. It'll get better. I promise."
Callie curled her finger around her nose and closed her eyes and nodded she was exhausted and she didn't have it in her to fight her emotions any longer. "This is what I wanted" She said tiredly
"What love?" Stef asked leaning closer placing her lips to Callie's forehead she was warm.
"This, my hair" her voice was so tired and quiet at this point Stef almost missed it. She then realized that Callie had been craving physical touch. She wanted Stef to play with her hair be there with her. She just didn't have the voice to ask for it.
"Sleep, my baby" She whispered "I am not going anywhere" She promised as she kept running her fingers through Callie's hair until long after she's fallen asleep.
The Fosters
FB
"But mommy" Lena's eyes were huge as a tear slid down her cheek. "I never miss school. I get perfect attendance!"
Dana inspected Lena's stomach
"I know, and I am proud of you for that Lena" She nodded "But honey you have the chicken pox.."
"Make them go away" She sighed as she fell back onto her pillow.
Dana shook her head "I can't sweetheart"
Lena's eyes were big "What am I going to do today? I don't want to spend the day by myself!"
Dana shook her head at her third graders dramticnes.
"Lena Elizabeth, don't be dramatic. I will stay with you. We will watch movies, and play some board games. I can read to you. It's going to be okay. Will that make you feel better?"
Lena's lip was still quivering "I wish, I was going to school, but I am glad you're staying with me."
Dana sighed "Is there anything that I can do that will make you feel better?"
Lena tucked her identical twin bears under her arms and bit her lip "Maybe?"
Dana narrowed her eyes "Are you going to tell me?"
"Maybe, for lunch you can make grilled cheese?" The child asked quietly batting her lashes
"Oh Lena" Dana shook her head "Those are so greasy and unhealthy"
"And so yummy, mommy!"
Dana took a minute and studied her daughter she then reached out and tugged on one of Lena's wild curls. "Tell you what, how about I make you a grilled cheese sandwich today, and any time you are at home sick.. Not counting the stomach flu.. I'll make you grilled cheese sandwiches. That will be our thing..."
Lena's eyes lit up "Like a tradition?"
"Exactly" Dana nodded "It will be our little family tradition."
Lena out a tired sigh and tucked her hands under her thighs to not scratch her tummy like she wanted to. She knew her mother would not like that. "Someday, when I am a mommy and I have a little girl of my own I am going to make sure she has grilled cheese on days she has to stay home."
Dana let out a small chuckle "And what if you have little boys?"
Lena giggled "Maybe I should have said when I have children some day, I'll make sure they get a grilled cheese on a stay home day. I am going to have lots."
"Of grilled cheese?"
"No, mommy" Lena smiled "Children. I want to have a big family and we'll all eat grilled cheese together and you can come too and daddy and we'll be happy together!"
"Don't lose that dream baby" Dana whispered to her "It's a good one. Now close your eyes and rest. When you wake up we'll have grilled cheese."
Lena obediently closed her eyes tucking her bears in close "I think I am going to dream about my some day family right now, and grilled cheese."
Dana rolled her eyes and laughed "Oh, Lena Elizabeth how I adore you."