Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Mama, why isn't Brandon coming?" Callie asked for the fifth time since Lena told her that Stef was coming over for dinner.
Lena turned and almost tripped over her again! That was the fourth time in the past half hour. Lena had waited until they got home from school to tell Callie that they were having company. Since moving, Callie had taken to clinging more. Even though Lena kept telling her that this was not a play date for her, for some reason, Callie just couldn't stay focused on the answer she had already been given repeatedly.
Lena checked her watch and hoped that Stef would show up soon. "Because lovey, Brandon's with his Dad tonight. You'll see him in school Friday."
"Is my Mommy going to come?" Callie had just spoken to Gretchen via Skype last night and she had told her that she wasn't going to be in town until Callie's birthday.
"No, baby. Not tonight."
"Is our baby going to come?"
"Well, it's still inside of Mama so I guess in a way, it will be here." Lena still had no idea if it was a boy or a girl or if she wanted to know yet.
The door rang and Callie looked at it then, at her Mama. She knew better than answering phones or opening doors. She knew all about stranger danger and she would never speak to someone unless Mama or Mommy told her they were safe.
Lena turned quickly and almost tripped over Callie again. "Honey!"
Callie followed Lena to the door as she opened it hoping that she had brought Brandon. He had become a good friend of hers. She saw Stef alone without Brandon. She sighed and went into the living room.
Both women watched and then turned to one another laughing. "Good to know I'm always welcome." Stef laughed.
"She was just hoping that maybe you had brought Brandon with you, even though I told her 5 times already that you weren't. Come on in. You look beautiful. " Lena stepped aside and let Stef pass through. Stef had changed after seeing her Dad into a beautiful solid blue top and jeans that were tight in all the right places and beautiful high heels. Stef did a silly little curtsy around for Lena.
Lena laughed, "Callie baby, come and say hi to Stef." As Callie walked back in the room, she whispered, "Manners this time."
Callie looked up at Stef and then held out her hand, "Hi Mrs. Foster. Why didn't you bring Brandon?"
Stef shook her hand, "Well hello Callie girl. You can call me Stef. I didn't bring Brandon because he's spending time with his dad. You should see him soon though. Is it alright if I have dinner with you and your Mom?"
Callie sighed loudly again," I guess. The food's already done. Mama made me wear a dress for this." She said quite seriously. "My Mommy calls me Callie girl. Did you get that from her?"
The two women looked at one another over her head. "Uhm, no, it kinda just popped into my head. That is one beautiful dress you have on there. Is it ok if I call you Callie girl too? Or would you like a new nickname?"
"No, that's fine I guess."
"Well, let's eat." Lena said a little too brightly. She didn't want Callie getting into discussions about her Mommy right now. Especially since she wasn't sure what all she was thinking about the situation herself.
They walked into the dining room and got themselves situated around the table. The meal progressed without further incident.
Brandon was concentrating really hard. He didn't get to spend time with his Dad often. And even though he hated sports, he still could get through it if it meant his Dad was with him.
"So Bud, how ya been?" Mike was leaning on the side of the batting cage encouraging Brandon from the other side.
"Good. I love school. I have a bunch of new friends."
"That's great, Bud. Does your Mommy have any new friends?"
"Oh, yea. She's got a lot of new friends too. I think Callie is my best new friend. And Jaleyn. And Garrett. And Jaleyn has a baby brother, Ethan. He's still a baby but he's ok. I guess he's my friend too. And – "
"Hmm. How bout you tell me about Mommy's new friends?"
"There's Lena, and Jenna, and Kelly, and Timothy, and –"
"Kelly a boy or a girl?"
Brandon laughed, "She's a girl. She's Garrett's other Mommy. Callie has two Mommies too. And there's –"
"So, does Mommy spend a lot of time with Timothy?"
"Oh, yea. Mommy spends a lot of time with Timothy."
"And does she like Timothy a lot?"
"Yeah, she likes him alot. Dad, I'm hot."
Mike shot a text over to Stef. Brandon says that he's feeling really hot. "Really? You thirsty? Come on out and grab some water."
Brandon says, "I'm so thirsty, I could die." Then he does an exaggerated falling over.
Mike laughs and snaps a picture. He sends it to Stef with the words," He says he feels like he could die."
"Here, Bud. Drink up."
Cococococococococococococococococo
They had just finished dinner and were about to have dessert when Stef got the first message. She knew from the tone that it was Mike and was prepared to ignore it until she remembered he had Brandon. When the second one came in she gave a little yelp and started scrambling for her things.
"What's wrong?" Lena asked as she chased after her.
"Brandon's with Mike. He says that he thinks he might be dying. I have to go. I'll call you." Stef threw over her shoulder as she kept running, and jumped into her car and left.
Callie walked up to Lena and asked, "Can we call Mommy now?"
cocococococococococococococo
Stef decided texting and driving be damned, her boy needed her. She texted Mike, where are you?
We're at the batting cages.
I'm on my way.
Stef broke every driving law in order to get there. When she pulled up and ran inside, Mike was yelling into the cage, "That's great Brandon. Next time put more shoulder into it."
"What the hell just happened?" Stef yelled.
"Hi Stef. What's going on? Why are you dressed like that and why are you running and yelling? Where have you been? You weren't at the house when I picked up Brandon."
"Because you told me that my son said he thought he was dying after saying he was really hot!"
Brandon had come over after hearing his Mom yelling. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew she was really upset. She looked like she was about to cry. He ran over to her and threw his arms around her. "I'm OK Mommy. It was just a joke. I didn't mean it."
Stef wrapped her arms around him and pulled him to her tightly while glaring at Mike. "Come on Brandon, we're leaving. Grab your stuff and come on."
"Stef wait. Look, I'm sorry. The texts were just jokes. We need to talk though. Brandon was telling me about your new friends." Mike said following them as Brandon threw his things into his backpack.
Stef gave him a drop dead glare. "Don't you dare say another word to me, if you know what's good for you." She picked up Brandon and his backpack and started walking fast to her car. "Get in your seat and hook it up, baby."
"Stef wait! We're still married and you owe me answers."
Stef glared at him again. "I owe you nothing. What I owed you, you've already taken tenfold. And we are over. This ends now!" She drove off with Mike looking after her with a puzzled frown. He jumped out of the way to avoid her backing over him.
"Stef! STEF!" He yelled after the moving car.
What the hell just happened? He thought. She was the one lying to him. He could tell from that outfit that she had just come from seeing someone. Now she was acting like he had done something to her. How dare she!