Chapter 26.

Lena

The shower and change of clothes refreshed me, but they didn't wash away the heaviness in my heart. I guess you never feel quite whole when someone you love is in the hospital, instead of with you, where she belongs. Stef was always on my mind, and I wouldn't feel better until she was healthy again and safe at home.

I walked the hospital hall until I reached the nurse's station. My spirits lifted a little when I saw that my favorite nurse was on duty; she always took the time to check on Stef and update me on her progress. "Hi, Shelly," I waved. "I'm here visit Stef."

Shelly smiled. "Of course. Your wife is certainly popular today."

Her comment confused me, but I shrugged it off. "Well, thank you." I turned and headed to Stef's room.

Stef was asleep. The pain meds she was on knocked her out. I hated to wake her up. Maybe it was selfish of me, but I just had to, so I could hear her voice before I went home for the night. I loved a chair that had somehow gotten pushed close to her bed, and leaned down to kiss her cool forehead. "Stef, baby," I whispered, stroking her hand. "Can you wake up for me, honey?"

I brushed back her hair and kissed her again, and she finally moved, opening her glassy eyes. "Callie?"

"No, baby," I smiled. "It's me. Lena."

"Where's my baby?" she asked. Her voice was think and dry. "Callie, she was just here."

"Honey, I think you were just having a dream," I said gently. "Do you need a drink of water?"

She nodded a little, so I poured her a glass from the pitcher on the bedside table. "Here you go, sweetie." I put the straw to her lips so she could drink.

"I wasn't dreaming," she said, when she was finished. She seemed a bit more coherent now. Her eyes lit up. "Callie came to visit me today. Lena, she called me mom. And she told me she loves me."

I nodded, starting to believe her. Shelly's comment made sense now, and it explained how the chair got moved, anyway.

"Don't be upset with her," Stef told me. "She just wanted to see me."

"I'm not upset," I promised. "Not at all." I could see in Stef's eyes what Callie's visit had done for her; how much it meant to her. Maybe seeing our daughter was what she needed to help her heal faster. There was more to healing than doctors and medicine.

Holding her hand, I gave her one more kiss. "Why don't I let you go back to sleep, baby? I know you're tired."

"Okay," she said. "But first, Lena, I need you to do something for me."

"Sure, honey," I nodded. "Anything."

"I want you to go to the judge and ask him for a continuation on the case," she told me. "Tell him what happened to me, and ask for more time."

"Are you sure?" I asked her.

"Yes," she said. "I can't let my babies down. I'm going to be there for our girls, no matter what."

I looked into her determined face, and tears stung my eyes. "Okay, sweetheart. I'll go first thing tomorrow. I promise." I kissed her hand, then tucked her in. "Goodnight, hon. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you to," she said. "Goodnight."

Callie

I missed Stef the most at night. Even seeing her that day couldn't replace her goodnight hugs and kisses. Feeling lost, I wandered downstairs. Brandon's old guitar was laying on the living room couch, and I picked it up and ran my fingers over the strings. The house was so quiet. I strummed a few notes, filling the silence with a sad tune that I made up as I went along.

"What is that? It's pretty."

Jumping, I looked up to see Lena standing in the living room doorway. I shrugged. "Nothing. I was just messing around."

"You really have talent." She came over and sat down next to me on the couch. "Do you want to talk about anything, sweets?"

I shook my head, wondering if she knew what I'd done earlier. "No, I'm fine."

She reached over and squeezed my shoulder. "Well, if you ever do want to talk, just know I'm always here for you."

"I know," I nodded.

"I love you," she told me, lifting her hand from my shoulder to touch my cheek. She smiled a sad smile; she looked so tired.

I smiled back, biting my lip. Lena was the first person to take a chance on me and Sophia; families weren't exactly lining up to take us in, but she saw something in us that no one else did, and I could never forget that. My love for Lena came slowly; it wasn't the instant bond that Stef and I had, but it was just as strong. Lena was my mother too, and I loved her with all my heart. And I was ready to tell her so. "Lena?"

"What is it, honey?" she asked, pushing back a lock of curly hair that had fallen over her forehead.

"I just wanted to say..." I took a shaky breath, and reached up to touch the bridge of my nose. "I love you too, Mama."

Lena's eyes filled with tears, and I blushed, feeling a little embarrassed. She folded me in her arms and hugged me. "Oh, Callie." She kissed my temple and hugged me tighter. "Thank you for telling me that, angel."

"I'm not an angel," I sighed, feeling guilty. I pulled away a little. "I lied to you today." And like that, the truth spilled out. "I didn't go to the library. I went to the hospital to see Stef."

Lena laughed a little. "I know you went to to the hospital today, honey."

I furrowed my brow. "You do?"

She nodded. "Mom told me when I went back to visit her."

"And you're not mad...?" I ventured.

"I'm not thrilled that you lied and broke hospital rules," she admitted. "But seeing how happy it made mom, I wouldn't take that away for anything. Seeing you meant the world to her. And personally, I don't see what it would have hurt to let you and Sophia see your mother. The rules are very black and white, but you girls are part of the family too, just as much as the other kids are."

"I was just so scared," I confided, tearing up. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course you can," she nodded. "Anything."

"I never got to say goodbye to my mother," I said softly. "I was mad at her the night of the accident, and I-" I looked up at the ceiling, trying to stop my tears from rolling down my cheeks. "I didn't kiss her goodbye."

"Baby," Lena breathed, taking me back in her arms. "You've been holding onto that for a long time, haven't you?"

"I was worried that if Stef died, she would never know how much I love her," I said. "I didn't want the same thing to happen again."

"Mom isn't going to die, honey," she assured me. "I promise. But now I understand why this was so important to you." She planted a kiss on top of my head. "You can't change the past, Callie. I hate to think you've been hurting over what happened between you and your mother all these years. You were just a little girl. Why not let it go? She knew you loved her, baby. I guarantee that."

""I'll try," I said, leaning into her. "Thanks... Mama."

"Any time, sweetie. Like I said, I'm always here for you."

Lena

The next morning, I asked the kids to walk to school, and just as I promised Stef, I went to the courthouse, before the judge had a chance to get busy with any other business. His secretary looked up at me through her narrow glasses. "Can I help you, ma'am?"

"I'm here to speak to Judge Carter, please," I said politely. "My name is Lena Adams Foster."

She looked over at the glass doors across the lobby. "He's just coming in, Mrs. Adams Foster."

I followed her gaze. Perfect timing. "Thank you so much." I approached the man carefully and respectfully. "Excuse me, Judge Carter?"

He turned to me, looking the slightest bit annoyed. "Yes?"

"Please, I need to speak to you," I said. "I'm sorry to just come up to you like this, but it's very important."

He nodded. "Fine. Give me five minutes, and I'll have someone call you back to my chambers.

"Thank you, so much," I smiled.

True to his word, five minutes later, I heard his secretary call my name, and I went back to speak to Judge carter. He let me in, and I sat down across from him. "What did you need to discuss with me?" he asked.

I took a deep breath. "It's about my foster daughter, Sophia Jacob's case."

He nodded, rifling through some paperwork. "Yes."

"There's been a family emergency," I explained, trying to swallow the lump in my throat that I felt whenever I thought of Stef. "My wife has been shot," I told him. "She just had surgery, and she's recovering in the hospital. She's making progress, but there's no way she'll be well enough to attend the hearing. As you can imagine, her injury has been hard on all of us."

He nodded. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"I spoke with her yesterday," I went on. "And she asked me to come to you today and request a continuation on the case, until she's strong enough to attend, for the girls' sake. They've been through so much trauma. We both feel like they need both their mothers there with them. Please?" I help my breath, waiting for his answer.

"It's a little close to the court date to make any changes now..." he said.

"Please, your honor," I pleaded.

He shuffled his paperwork some more. "Alright. I'll grant it."

"Really?" I asked.

He nodded. "Is a month enough time?"

"A month is perfect," I said.

"I'll mail you a new court date," he promised. "Tell your wife I wish her a speedy recovery."

"I will," I smiled. "Thank you so much, sir."

To Be Continued