Cocococococococococo
Stef and Sharon followed Mike and Brandon outside. Mike held open the passenger side door and Stef opened up the back door. "If I have to sit next to him, we may not make it there."
The ride was mostly silent until they got to the house. Then, Brandon's nervousness and excitement started to overtake him. "We have to hurry! They already started without us!" He practically screamed as they pulled in behind a row of cars.
"It's Okay Bud. People are just arriving like us." Stef rubbed his arm.
"But, Callie's my best friend. That means I have to be there first thing. We're already late."
"We're not late and it's going to be fine, B. See we're here."
They showed their invitation and were invited inside. Brandon ran for the back and stopped. When everyone caught up to him to see what had stopped him, their breath caught as well.
Once you get to the back of the house, you exit the kitchen through patio doors. The doors led to a double sweeping staircase. From the landing, they could look out and see everyone having fun below. The backyard had been turned into a private carnival. There were booths set up everywhere and people strolling all over the yard. There were ribbons flowing through the air and a large luminary waiting for dark to fall. Stef signed Brandon, Sharon and her into the guest book and took Brandon's hand and headed down. They left their presents on the pile next to the door.
They had been wandering around taking in everything when Brandon pointed and shouted, "There's Callie." He pulled his hand away and took off running. Sharon looked at Mike and Stef then went after him.
"If you know what's good for you Mike, stay away from me." Stef strolled in the opposite direction. She looked around for Lena but couldn't find her. She began walking around the games center and still nothing.
"Stef, hi." Timothy said.
Stef wheeled and found him behind her. She hugged him and said, "Timothy, hi. How are you? Nice to see you." Stef had been fond of Timothy when they first met and Lena had been telling her a lot of tales involving her, him, and her sister Lisa. Apparently the three of them had been like the 3 musketeers.
"I'm good. Thanks. The party looks like it's going to be a smash. But Dana's parties usually are."
They chatted for a few minutes and then Stef excused herself to find a drink. At least she wasn't the one driving so she didn't have to be a teetotaler tonight.
Finally, Stef's eyes fell on Lena. She was holding baby Ethan over by the face painting booth with Gretchen, Callie, Brandon, Sharon, Lisa, Jaleyn, Kelly, and Garrett. Stef strolled over and put her hand on Lena's back. When she turned toward her, Stef said, "We need to talk."
Gretchen smirked and stood closer to Lena.
Suddenly, a hand comes up between them. "Hi, I'm Mike. I'm Stef's husband."
Stef's mouth drops open while Gretchen turns to Lena and says, "And she's married too!" while laughing.
Lena blanches and walks away quickly while everyone else looks anywhere but at the scene in front of them.
Brandon walks up oblivious to the tension going on and says, "Mommy, can I get a Spiderman face? Callie has bugs all over her. Look."
Callie shows Stef her arm that has ladybugs on each side painted to make it look as if it's crawling up her arm and onto her cheek. She's giggling in that childlike way of pure bliss as she says, "They're crawling all over me."
"I see Ladybug. Sure B, why don't you go do that now. Mommy will be right back in a few." Stef says as she's watching Lena's retreat.
Sharon sees the fury on her face and quickly guides the kids back to the face painting station. Stef turns on Mike fuming.
"Exactly what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"I was introducing myself."
"As my husband? You and I are over Mike. Permanently. I know that you got the divorce papers."
"Look, Stef. I'm here trying. We belong together. I just want my family back."
"No. We don't. We never did. You can leave whenever. We'll take a cab back. But, this is over." with that Stef turned and ran after Lena.
"Stef. Stef!" Mike called after her.
Lena was already back in the kitchen when Stef caught up to her. "Lena. Lena!" she grabs her arm as Lena tries to pass her while ignoring her the entire time.
"This is not the time Stef."
"I'm really sorry for that. I don't know what the hell is wrong with Mike. I know he got the divorce papers already. "
"Do you know how embarrassing that was Stef? In front of my family!" Lena was livid.
Stef pulls Lena into her. "I'm so sorry baby. I really am." She kisses her repeatedly as Lena keeps trying to pull away. But, Stef is stronger than Lena so she was unable to free herself from her arms. Stef continues kissing her and rubbing her back until Lena relaxed in her arms.
"What exactly is going on Stef? I called you like 20 times this past week and you completely ignored me and now you come to my house like this. And what the hell is Mike doing here?" Lena was not wanting to completely give in to her. But, she really had missed her this week.
"I know baby, I just… I'm sorry okay. Mike took the invitation that said you'll only be allowed in with this invitation. He basically showed up at our house this morning and refused to give it back and leave. Brandon was getting so upset. I didn't know what else to do. Unless I wanted to cause a huge scene, there was nothing I could do. I figured his driving us here couldn't hurt anything. And if he wants to add salt to his own wounds so be it. I had no idea he was planning this. He did get the divorce papers. He just doesn't want to accept that it's over." Lena didn't appear to like this explanation but she seemed willing to accept it. "As for me, it's just seeing the whole Gretchen thing. I mean, I know that there's still issues to resolve and things are going to be really messy. I get that. But, you were together for years. You loved her. And now she's living with you."
"She isn't living with me, she's visiting with our daughter on her birthday. And that's no excuse for shutting me out, Stef."
Stef took a deep breath and tried explaining. "I've never been in love before. With anyone ever. I.. I didn't know that this is how it feels. And you were in love with Gretchen. Before all of this. I got jealous. And I've never been jealous of anything or anyone. It's just… you and this means so much to me. I'm afraid it'll be all gone and when it happens there won't be anything of me left.
"There is no all of this. I told you that I loved YOU Stef. I did love Gretchen once. But, that was my past. You are what I want my future to be. You have to trust that. And I don't plan on betraying your trust."
"I know. But, that's the problem. Trusting that you won't betray me is like… just walking on a tightrope without a safety net. It's hard." Stef had light tears falling from her eyes by now. "And I'm not the best at it. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry OK. Just, please be patient with me." Stef kissed Lena again and this time Lena wound her arms around her neck and kissed her back.
They smiled and kissed for a few minutes more. Then Lena pulled away. "Come on. We have to get back out there." They walked outside hand in hand.
The rest of the party went smoothly. Her parents were prominent members of the community so they had a lot of influential friends. The mayor of San Diego had even shown up.
Stef and Sharon were impressed. They were humble working class people and for them it was a little overwhelming but, they were also extroverts so they were able to get through the night just fine.
Stef, Sharon, and Brandon all gave a video testimonials to the videographer. Stef avoided Mike for the rest of the party and he thankfully stayed away.
They sang happy birthday and did the cake cutting. There was a really great shot taken by the photographer of Callie, Brandon, Garret and Jaleyn surrounding the cake before Callie blew out the candles. The party proceeded without further incident of which Lena was grateful for. Her mom had done a great job.
"We have a long drive ahead of us don't we? You think we should call it quits?" Mike asked as he watched Brandon yawn for the 3rd time.
Lena was busy with her family and taking care of Callie and really didn't have time for her right now so Stef said, "Sure. You take Brandon and my Mom and I'll meet you all at the car while I go and say goodbye."
Stef went to Lena and pulled her aside. She kissed her and then held her for a while with their heads pressed against one another. She was glad that they had made up. "Brandon's falling asleep. Mike's going to take us home so I can put him to bed. You want to do something tomorrow or do you have plans?"
"Well, we're staying here for the night so maybe we could get the kids together for some swimming. With school starting in a few weeks there's going to be less time for everything."
"Okay. But, we'll make time for us my love." She kissed Lena deeply. "Why don't you call me tonight after you get settled in? I don't think we've ever had phone sex."
Lena chuckled. "Yeah, that won't be happening tonight either."
"We'll see about that woman. Goodnight. I love you."
Stef jogged out to the car and hopped in. The drive was quiet for a while until Brandon started remembering things to tell them about the party.
"Remember Mommy, when Callie had the ladybugs all over her?"
"Yes B. That was great."
"And I can keep my Spiderman face Mommy? I really love it."
"We'll have to see Bud. You definitely have to take it off by tomorrow."
"I want a birthday party just like Callie's. When's my birthday Mommy?"
"It's not for a while yet bud. You've only been 4 for a few months."
Mike chimed in. "I don't think you're going to have a party like that one. They must be loaded. We'll do something fun at home on your birthday though B."
"Why can't I have it at Callie's house?" Brandon asked sulking. It was getting past his bedtime and he was starting to get whiney.
"That's not their house. That's Lena's Mom's house. Lena's house is the one with the tree in the backyard that you and Callie like to play on."
"So?"
"So, Callie's grandparents threw her that party bud. And you just have me and Grandpa. And we don't have houses like that. So, your party won't be like that but it will be fun." They were almost home and Sharon was really hoping that they could make it there without incident.
"But, Mommy loves Lena. And if they get married then her parents will be my grandparents. And then they can throw me a party like that."
"What are you talking about Bud?" Mike asked laughing as they pulled up to the house. "Mommy loves us. We're her boys. You and I make Mommy happy. Mommy doesn't love Lena."
"Yes she does. They kiss and sleep in the bed together and Mommy says she loves her. Mommy doesn't love you Daddy. She's not happy with you. When Mommy's with Lena, she dances, and sings and has fun with us. When she's with you she's just mad or sad all the time."
"What the hell is our son talking about Stef? What's been going on here?" Mike shouted.
The car got quiet for a while and then Sharon said, "Tell your Dad bye while we go in to bed Brandon."
Brandon had jumped at hearing his dad yell and now he was a little afraid he had done something wrong. He said, "Bye Daddy" and gave him a peck on the cheek before running out of the car.
"What the hell has been going on Stef? I have a right to know. Have you been two timing me?"
"You were never one timed, Mike. We have been separated for well over a year. And we've barely talked in that entire year. I told you that I was a lesbian. And that our marriage was a mistake. That is why I had you served with divorce papers. So that we can both be free to live our lives."
"You are my life Stef. I can't live my life without you."
"You'll find someone who can make you happy Mike." Stef pitied him in that moment and felt bad for her part in involving him in something that she had known but wanted to run away from for years. Tears were streaming down her face but she had to make sure that he understood. "I married you to make my Dad happy. And you seemed happy enough. I thought that was enough. But it wasn't. It just made me hate myself more and more everyday. "
"Look, you're a really good man and when you show up, you're a good Dad. And I'm really sorry for you, and for me that it's taken this long for me to accept myself. But, we have both been miserable for years. That's because this wasn't supposed to be."
"I wasn't miserable Stef. I love you and Brandon. You just, you can't do this."
"I'm sorry Mike. But, it is already done." With that Stef jumped out of the car and ran inside.
Mike sat outside in turmoil. This was the first time in a long time, that he had actually felt like crying. He hit his fist into the dashboard repeatedly. His Father had always told him that you fight for your family to the death. "No. This is my family. I won't let this happen." He put the car in reverse and headed back to the party.