ALTERNATE ENDING 1, CHAPTER 9
The next morning, Stef awoke first and went into the bathroom for her morning ritual. She came out wrapped in a towel with one wrapped around her head and sorted through her clothing. She was busy when she heard quick small footsteps and then the door open.
She looked over knowing it was one of the kids and not surprised by which. "Hi Callie."
Callie looked back and forth between her sleeping Mama and Stef looking over at her. She turned and ran down the hallway. Stef could hear her open another door. Then, she ran downstairs. Stef decided she'd gone far enough. She chased her down and found Callie about to open the door to outside when she swooped her up.
"Your Mommy's not here baby. Remember?" Stef kissed her as she brought her back over to the sofa and sat her on her lap.
Callie wriggled more but Stef held on tight. "Callie, look at me." When Callie quieted and looked over at her Stef began, "I know you miss your Mommy but she did say goodbye before she left. And you know she's going to be back as soon as her business is done."
Stef carefully released the wriggling girl and she glared over at Stef. She crossed her arms over her chest and buried her chin in her chest. This time when she turned and ran, it was up the stairs. Stef made it up just in time to have the door slammed in her face. She opened the door in time to see Callie launch herself on top of Lena.
"Ooomph," Lena groaned holding her stomach.
"Callie!" Stef yelled louder than she meant to. Callie began crying and turned to her Mama. She looked at Lena struggling to get up and breathing heavy and she jumped off the bed and ran past Stef into her room. Stef heard the door slam shut.
"Are you okay babe?" Stef went to her immediately.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just, go and get her." Stef nodded and turned and followed Callie.
Just as Stef figured, Brandon had awakened to the loud noises and yelling and was crying now himself. Stef picked him up shushing him and rubbing his back as she followed Callie's cries that were coming from the closet. She opened it up to see her sitting there crying into her ladybug stuffed animal. Stef's heart broke for her.
"Aw, Cals." She figured the first thing was to deal with the easiest thing first. "Brandon, can you be a big boy for Mommy?" when he nodded she continued, "I need to talk with Callie. Why don't you go and get in bed with Lena and we'll be right there in a few minutes." She kissed him and Brandon nodded and sniffled and ran off.
"Hi ladybug." Stef sat on her knees on the floor outside the door. She didn't want to crowd her. "I'm really sorry I yelled a minute ago. I was just really worried about Mama. You know we have to be really careful with Mama with the babies inside her tummy."
Callie just continued crying into her stuffed animal. Stef smiled and came up with something. "Ladybug, I'm not leaving, I'm coming right back. Okay?" As expected, she got no answer and she ran into Lena's room and got her phone and ran back. She opened up her video's folder. "Remember this?" Inside was a video of Callie at her birthday party with the ladybugs tattooed to look like they were running up and down her arm. Callie was twirling her arm around to show how they climbed up and ended on her face laughing that deep belly laugh that small children have. "They're crawling all over me." She said through her giggles.
When Callie heard her own voice, she looked over. She smiled a little remembering and then she looked up at Stef. Her tears weren't gone yet but they were slowing.
"That was a happy day and such a great party. Brandon wants to have one just like it." Stef said.
Callie smiled wider and started to come out but then stopped. "That's when Mama got hurt. Now she's sick." Callie started to cry in wails that wrenched at Stef's heart. "I didn't mean to hurt her." She said through her tears.
"Aw baby, Mama knows." She said as she held her tight and stroked her hair. "It's just you have to be careful is all. I'm sorry I yelled. I was just a little worried and it came out the wrong way. You didn't do anything wrong though. No one's mad at you."
"My Mommy left." Callie hiccupped.
"I know baby but you know how much she loves you. And she'll call and write and you know she's going to come back soon too. And guess what?" When Callie looked at her inquisitively, she said, "Brandon and I are moving in here to keep you and your Mama company. Do you think that'll be a good idea?"
"You'll have to ask my Mommy first. I'm not sure she would like that or not." And with that, Callie got up and ran towards Lena's room.
Stef sighed and followed. She needed to hurry and get herself and the kids dressed. She'd have to talk this out with Lena more later.