An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

Summary of the Day

STEF POV

It had been one hell of a night, and that dinner was enough to make me want to down three bottles of gin, and if I never had to look at that gallery woman ever again in life, I'd be fine.  Having Mike there as a buffer did help, but it did nothing to take the slight tinge of pain I felt seeing the way Denni looked at Lena at times. It was still such a hard fucking ass pill to swallow, but hey, I was grateful Lena and I were forming a close friendship and that we didn't blow up at each other when she pulled me outside to her backyard to talk.

Hell, I really had been on my best behavior, but the the truth was, I couldn't stand that fucking woman and the quicker she left the fucking better. How she spoke, how she talked about things, just ugh.  She was fucking nothing to write home about in my book.

As I quietly change out of my uniform, once I again I see Frankie passed out in my bed along with Jude now, I lock my gun up in my new safe and head to check on the rest of my kids to see them pretty much passed out. Kissing them all goodnight and quietly closing their doors, I head into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. 

I was damn sure relieved to be home as I glanced out my window seeing my mother's RV light still on. It had been a bit since I had spoken to her, other then asking if she could watch the kids here and there, because she had just royally pissed me off when she told me she spoke to Lena about us. I mean granted I loved my mother, I really did, but she sometimes just couldn't stay the hell out of my business.

Washing my glass out I slide my flip flops on and find myself knocking on my mother's RV. The last thing I wanted to do was spill about tonight considering I had vented to Mike like crazy when we left, but at the same time I don't know maybe my mother would have some other kind of insight as I see her open the door.

"Well, if it isn't my beautiful and favorite daughter!"

"Ma, I'm your only daughter." I say shaking my head as she looks back at me smiling.

"Oh, you know what I mean, baby. But, I'm glad you decided to visit me, Stefanie. I thought you'd be mad at me for life! Come on up, honey, and tell me about your night!" My mother smiles as I climb the steps of her RV and she hands me a cold glass of pink lemonade.

"Oh, stop being so dramatic, Ma," I roll my eyes as I light a smoke taking a seat across from her. "How were the kids tonight? They ask where I was?"

"They were fine, baby. And you told them you were picking up OT. Only little Jude told me he had his doubts, and Frankie of course asked when your OT was over. But, I tell ya, that boy is so observant. Reminds me so much of Johnny."

"Oh really?" I sit back as I puff my smoke, crossing my legs as I try to relax after that fuck up of a dinner with Denni.

"Yes. So intuitive and smart!" She smiles at me as she lights her own smoke and watches me. "What's wrong, baby? Was the dinner that bad?"

"Could have been better," I answer vaguely as I sip my lemonade and pick up one of her tarot cards, seeing it's the Star card which makes me laugh softly as I set it down for this was the very card Lena had drawn for me when she drew cards for me on base...back when I was shy and trying hard to come out of my shell.

"Ya? That bad? Did you deck her ass?" She tries to joke as I glare at her now and snort.

"Really, Ma? Did I deck Denni? Why the fuck would I do that? Mm? Make Lena angry and bitter with me forever?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe she has a mouth on her and said some things to piss you off!" She laughs as she smacks her leg, and I roll my eyes again, puffing my smoke.

"She did piss me the fuck off, but what's new? She's an asshole and a fucking no-it-all, something which is not appealing. I don't know what Lena sees in her."