An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

A Strange Call

LENA POV

"See ya Mama! And thanks for the awesome time today! YOU ROCK!" Corey shouts running into the house with his backpack and things as we had just gotten to Stef's. I had parked in her driveway seeing her car as Stefanie, Callie, Frankie and Jude hop out as well. "Mama DUKES, I'M BACK!"

"You're welcome." I yell after him laughing as I exit my car and follow behind the girls up the walkway now seeing Stef at the door.  She does look rather pretty as her growing hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and I can see she just got home herself for she is still in uniform as she laughs hard at Corey and pulls him in for a hug, one that he happily seems to return.

"Bye Mama." Frankie says hugging me tightly as I kiss both Jude, Callie and Stefanie goodbye as they all head inside. I can see they are still rather hesitant to show any affection towards Stef, except for Callie as I make eye contact with her, and we both exchange warm smiles.

"Hey, Len." She says kissing my cheek as I blush feeling her squeeze my hand. "You look like you got a tan today."

"Oh, probably did. I swam a bit with the kids," I say as I run my hand over my drying curls, for I needed to head home and shower for my date. "Hey, did you get off late?" I ask her my keys dangling in my hands as she rolls her eyes.

"Yes. Same crap as always." She laughs now. "Do you want to come in? You're welcome, you know. Want something to drink or eat?"

"Oh um, I need to get going soon, but before I do I need to talk to you for a second. Out here."

"Sure." She closes the door behind her stepping out onto the porch a look of concern on her face. "What's up? All okay, babe? The kids act a fool today?"

"It's not related to me or our kids, Stef, but umm, Sandra called me this morning." I whisper.

"Come again?"

"Yeah. Um..." I gently grab her hand as we head down her walkway because I really did not want to chance any of the kids possibly overhearing. "Julius mentioned to her that Tess and Jillian are together, and she called me early this morning."

"Okay?" She looks back at me, confused.

"It was weird, but you know, I haven't heard from her in ages, years actually. Have you?"

"Um no, the last time I spoke to Sandra was, crap...I think I was still in New York? I think she kinda fell off the planet along with Jillian which is why none of us knew they were even divorced."

"Right. So when she called me, she sounded off. Alarmed but trying to act like she wasn't, ya know. She kept saying Trina was there for her, and how she met Trina and stuff like that. It was almost like she went into hiding? I don't know, but you're better at reading those kinds of signals in people. I couldn't get anything out of her, but she said she'd rather talk to us in person and that she missed us terribly and wanted us to meet Trina. She suggested that we meet in Redding with Gary, Marty, Julius, and Philip. She wants to talk to all of us, and her wife, Trina, will be there for us to meet. I told her I'd let her know I spoke to you, and she kinda wants to do this sooner rather than later. I mean she wants an answer by Tuesday." I say as Stef rubs the back of her neck appearing just as confused as me as her eyes grow more intense.

"That's a hell of a lot."

"I know. I know it is."

"Redding, huh? Did she look at a map or what?" She laughs as I join her.

"Yeah, I guess Trina did and found what she felt to be a halfway point? I know it's kinda inconvenient, and maybe you can get her to spill over the phone? She just sounded...I don't know, Stef. I have a feeling her marriage with Jillian was bad. Like, maybe there was a reason we stopped hearing from her and seeing her. Jillian disappeared too. I don't know, it's weird."