There Is Enough To Go Around

Chapter 10

Christmas Eve

"Jesus, seriously. Could you hold still for a couple of minutes?" Stef asked her son irritably. He had run off his pills the night before, and wouldn't be able to get his refill until the afternoon. The Foster family was trying to get some last preparations and cleaning done before Lena's parents were supposed to arrive for their Christmas together. However, someone was making it a little difficult.

"Sorry, Ma...I am just trying to help." He mumbled as he tried to clear the leftover plate off the counter, before dropping it on the floor. Stef clenched her fists together, as she tried to control her temper. It wasn't his fault. It wasn't his fault. Mila's eyes got wide as she witnessed the scene from her high chair, where she was finishing her breakfast.

"Okay Jesus, just...go outside and burn off some energy, please. I will clean this up." Stef tried to say calmly, as she looked for the broom.

"I will help you clean up Mom...I am sorry..." He said as he began to clean up the glass with his bare hand.

"Put that down right now...please. Take Mila with you outside if she is done."

Jesus rolled his eyes and groaned, but decided not to argue today. He seemed to ruin everything he touched. Stupid ADHD. He looked over at Mila, who already had pushed her plate away from her, and lifted her arms, indicating she was done and wanted out.

"Outside Jesus. Me." The little one commanded as she continued to whimper slightly to get out of her chair. Jesus smiled, and carefully lifted her out and put on his jacket and hers, before leading her out in the backyard. It had rained the night before, causing there to be mud puddles everywhere. Mila eagerly jumped into one of them, since she was in her rubber boots. Jesus joined, making it splash over the pair. She giggled, as the mud smeared on her face.

"I am the mud monster! I am going to get you, little girl!" Jesus roared, as Mila playfully screamed before running away from her older foster brother. He let her run in front of him, playing as if she was too fast for him before he scooped her up and the pair fell over into another mud puddle.

Lena groaned as she finished cleaning both bathrooms of the house. Not that she didn't like her parents coming over, but it was always stressful, particularly her mother. Lena loved her mother dearly, but they didn't always see eye to eye, and she liked things to be...perfect. Once Lena made it down the stairs, she noticed how quiet the house was. Jesus had been bouncing around the house all morning, and she couldn't imagine him being cooped up in his room.

"Stef, where is everyone?"

"Brandon took the girls to the store to get some last-minute things, and Jude is upstairs I think. Jesus is outside burning off some energy with Mila." Stef replied, as she sipped her coffee at the counter, proud of her plan and arranging skills. But Lena just looked horrified.

"Outside? The same outside where it was raining all night and now has flooded our yard?"

"Yeah?"

"And you let our fifteen-year-old ADHD son out there with a three-year-old? And just before my parents are supposed to show up?" Stef's eyes lit up, instantly knowing her mistake. The mothers raced to the window in the kitchen that overlooked the backyard. And sure enough, there was Jesus and Mila, laying on the mud-stained lawn, every inch of their bodies covered in mud and dirt. Lena held her hand to her face, as Stef couldn't help but laugh. If Lena wasn't so stressed out, she would have thought their adventure and bonding moment was cute.

Lena went to the porch with a couple of towels.

"Hey! You two, in the house, right now!"

Mila looked at Jesus, suddenly frightened at Lena's raised tone. She had never heard her be that loud. Jesus smirked slightly, before picking Mila up. She clung to him as they neared Lena.