An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

Redding Mornings

STEF POV

The morning air was so nice as I had gotten up around six in the morning to make breakfast for everyone. I had to admit this place was simply breathtaking and a place I'd love to bring Lena back to along with all our kids. Making a mental note to check in on them and my mother around nine I smile as my mind goes back to last night.

Lena and I certainty had an amazing night dancing at the bonfire, fucking in the hot tub and making love until the wee hours of the morning. It had been rather intense and the both of us had crashed sometime before the moon went down and the sun came up. But me being me and the person who didn't need many hours of sleep I snuck down here to the kitchen letting Lena sleep in only to see Philip making coffee.

Instantly I smile for I loved Phil and we had really developed a strong and close friendship that I cherished and when he asked me to be his best man of course I was delighted. Ecstatic if I was honest.

"Good morning, babydoll," he grins shutting the coffee maker and turning it on, and I wink at him.

"Morning sweets. Sleep well, honey?" I ask grabbing a mug.

"Oh definitely. Julius smoked a little too much last night; so, he crashed in the living room. I never heard him come to bed, I was too far gone," he laughs as I pull out the cream as the coffee begins to drip.

"He is on my shit list ya know," I roll my eyes as Phillip leans against the counter and stares at me.

"Ya, I figured. Listen Stef, I know that he messed up telling Tessy to come to the bakery to talk to Stefanie, and I told him that. I mean, he shouldn't have considering those damn letters and we don't know Tess' state of mind and, Stefanie is the main priority. I think he just didn't think."

"Mm, well, I'll speak to him at the right time and I'm not mad at you love. But, right now, I'm gonna make some breakfast for everyone." I wink at him again as I pour myself a mug of coffee before pulling out the ingredients for cinnamon rolls thinking now of my little girl who I missed a great deal. Frankie.

"So, how is Callie doing in New York? She happy?"

"Oh yeah. Big time. I spoke to her yesterday quickly and she sounds so happy."

"You know it's nice that you and her are so close and that you are close to Mike still. I mean that's important and he's a good role model."

"He really is. I'd never guess that years ago but, he's a good guy. Oh and my mother said the bakery is ok." I say measuring out the flour as Philip pours himself a little more coffee and begins to gather more of the ingredients for me.

"So, not for nothing Stef but last night you and Lena seemed pretty close. Closer then you have been in a really long time."

"Yeah, feeling that way." I smile adding some baking soda to the mix.

"I can tell not to mention that you look like you are on cloud nine, baby. I take it judging from last night that things seem to be working out like you planned, huh?" He whispers looking right at me as he hands me the milk.

"I hope so, Philly. Honestly, Lena spilled some pretty heavy stuff last night, and well, I know she meant them. She's been saying a few things. It just sucks that it took her getting high and relaxed to spill them," I say as I mix the dough and he turns around leaning his back against the counter.

"Like what, baby? She's mad at you? What?"

"No. We haven't been mad in a long time and it's not even that simple."

"Ok, then what? No ones up I would hear." He reassures lifting his glasses up on his face.

"She loves me. She's still in love with me, but she's scared. She wanted a baby with me. But,....she has a girlfriend Phil, I mean this girlfriend loves her. At least that's what she told me on the way up here."