An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

I'm Here For You

LENA POV

"Mama, please don't be mad. We're really sorry," I hear Frankie say as it is now 10 AM on Saturday morning, and I've been doing their laundry since after breakfast.

I had spoken to Denni way into the morning hours last night, and God, did I miss that woman. I missed her more than anything, and we planned on meeting up to run tonight, and I'd head to her apartment tomorrow night after I dropped the kids off.

Looking up now from grabbing clothes from my dryer, I see a sheepish look on Frankie's face as I am alarmed. I know I shouldn't be when it came to this child, but I always wonder what happened next when she gave me this all too familiar look.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"Well, ummm, see, before you get mad, Stefanie is 18, and ummm, she asked me to help her with her hair, but it didn't go as planned," she says as she nervously plays with her fingers, and I try not to show the alarm I am now feeling, for these two girls always seemed to keep me and Stef on our toes.

"Okayyyy...what sort of thing did you do to her hair, Francesca? I really hope you didn't try to relax it yourself. You have to really know what you're doing with that stuff or her hair will fall out. Also, Stefanie doesn't have hair like you or me," I frown as I try to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

"Oh no, Mama. Nothing like that, but ummm, we can't get it out of the sink."

"Get what out of the sink? Where's Stefanie?" I look behind my daughter and see no sign of Stefanie anywhere as Frankie sighs loudly.

"Try not to scream too loudly, Mama," she says as she motions me to follow her, and we pass Corey on our way to the bathroom, and he is snickering.

"You guys are toast!" He says loudly as I frown at him as I see Stefanie emerge from the bathroom with a bonnet on her head, looking at me shyly.

"I'm so sorry, Aunt Lena. I didn't mean to ruin your sink." She says as I walk past her to see my once ivory sink now a bright blue as I look at it then back at her head which she has covered.

"Stefanie," I say as I shake my head, reaching out to snatch the bonnet off her head as I see nothing but bright blue hair which looks like a tangled hot mess, and I wonder what the actual hell these two girls were thinking as I try to remain calm. Stefanie had her long braids in just last night as I see them in a plastic bag on the sink, for her and Frankie must have cut them out as well before they did this disaster.

"Francesca, go get a bucket of warm soapy water and bring the bleach with you as well as a scrub brush," I say as she stands there staring at me like she has no sense. "GO! NOW!"

She runs off as I turn to look at Stefanie who has giant tears running down her face, and I move to take her face in my hands. "Look, it looks worse than it is. I'll help you, okay?" I look in her eyes as she shakes her head sadly. "Hey, love, look at me." I take her hand and have her sit on the side of the tub as I sit on the toilet seat.

"I'm so sorry, Aunt Lena. The box made it look so easy, and I wanted to look different. I hate that I look like her!"

Searching her eyes I hold her hands in mine. "Like who? Your mom?"

"I'm back. What do I do, Mama?" I move to look at Frankie with the bucket of water and bleach as I take the bleach and pour a tad in the water.

"Go grab the rubber gloves from the garage, then come back and scrub my damn sink." I frown as I move to open the little window above the tub and come back to look at Stefanie's hair before grabbing my shampoo, conditioner, oil and some old towels. I wasn't pissed at Frankie because I get she was trying to help, but I'd talk to her afterwards.