Sweet Family Of War - Book 7

Moving Forward

STEF POV

"Do you want me to just cut it, honey? I don't mind." I hear my wife ask as I glare back in the mirror at myself hating how much my hair had grown in the past few months.

Unfortunately, I put scissors to it and cut it unevenly to my ears and made it look even worse. This year had really done a number on me and it was damn near showing on my face. "Or go to the salon. The salon does a nice job on my hair, Stef." I turn to her seeing her dab some lipstick on and I can't help but admire her beautiful face and curls.

"Definitely not. You know I hate those places, babe. And they better do a nice job on your hair if they know what's good for them," I say as I sigh and pull back my messy hair in a short ponytail and ignore my reflection in the mirror while I finish buttoning my uniform shirt. "You ok about today, love?"

"What do you mean?" Her voice is higher pitched which signals to me that she's nervous.

"Your new job, baby." I smile at her as she puts her earrings on looking even more beautiful than ever.

"I mean I'm ok about it. I'll be glad to work again, and pay you back all the money I lost and..."

Looking at her I grab one of her hands, bringing it to my mouth and softly kiss it as her big brown eyes look into mine. "You do not owe me anything, my love. You getting better is all I care about and us getting better. That's all."

"Stef, I owe it to this family." Lena says shrilly while I grab her slim waist and pull her close to me.

"Baby, shhhhh," I whisper as she looks at me sadly. I brush my hand down her soft cheek as I kiss her softly. "It's okay. We've talked about this many times, and I don't need you beating yourself up anymore, okay? MM?"

"Do you think I'm a failure since I can't get a job anywhere but for Walker Scott as a perfume girl? I mean, c'mon, Stef. I really ruined everything," she says sadly as I lean in and kiss her nose.

"You ruined nothing. Plus, you're still working on your art, right? You'll be okay, my love. We'll be okay," I pull back and wink at her as she nods and sighs.

"I better get going. But ummm, I'll be home in time to make dinner. Callie is helping me tonight. She insists she make the meatloaf since she just learned how in her home ec class last week."

"Okay, love. I'll try not to work a double again like I have for the past five days," I laugh awkwardly as I reach for my gun belt.

"Stef, just focus on your health. You do need rest, and I worry about all the stress that's been on your plate," Lena grabs her purse as I place my gun in the holster on my side.

"Ahhh, I'll be fine, Len. Trust me. I have a meeting at 5 anyway; so, hopefully that'll push me to NOT take that OT they've been begging for weeks," I wink at her as she opens our bedroom door and I follow her close behind.

"Yes! Your meeting! You can't miss it," Lena giggles as I swat at her behind as Frankie walks out of her room, glaring at us as usual.

Since I took her door off the hinges to her room a few months ago, she has been cold as ice to both of us. Even during family outings, and when I take her out she hasn't said more but two words to me. I know she is angry with me, I know she is VERY angry with me, but what choice did I really have as she still had continued to act a fool with her words? Her mouth was rude and her behavior was unacceptable regardless of the fact that I knew she was having a hard time with Lena. That had not changed much either, and if it was possible she said even less to her.

The entire thing broke my heart for it took time for me and Frankie to get close, and I missed the closeness we had in New York where we'd bake together, she'd talk my head off, and she'd confide in me about anything and everything. I'd give anything to get that time back sometimes and the connection we seemed to make while watching movies and baking. What didn't help either was, I knew she kept asking to live with Mike, which hurt like hell, and Lena and I were just trying to figure out how to help this child.