The Sweetest Devotion (The Affair Series Book 2)

What Makes Hearts Melt

STEF POV

After reading a letter Diane got about a job offer in Boston I just couldn't deal with it right at this moment. I just couldn't and what didn't make matters any easier was a text from Lena saying she was back in town and wanted to talk.Shit. I only had myself to blame for this as I called her up to many times shit faced drunk and spouting out a bunch of shit at the mouth. Damm it was just like me to do that and I'd have to face up to her for I knew she would show up at my job or my apartment. 

Yes I admitted alcohol was a problem as Rita reminded me and so was my consumption of it for it made me do stupid shit. Real stupid shit.  Nethertheless I texted Lena back saying I would come over tomorrow and face her. Yeah we needed to talk and it was true I was avoiding her like the plague.

As I had finished my errands I found myself sitting outside the diner Frankie worked at. Pushing all my other issues to the side I really didn't know if it was the right time or maybe it would never be the right time to talk to her. However, I was never one to give up especially when it came to my babies as I excited the police cruiser and headed inside. Glancing around I looked straight ahead as I saw Frankie talking to her friend who looked right at me. Mariana and I had words a few times but she had since mellowed and let me know on more than one occasion that Frankie was ok. Hell I got it that she was looking after her friend as not even a few seconds later Frankie turned around to look right into my eyes. Her gaze was nervous as she surprisingly walked up to me and looked right at me. With her expression growing softer and one that reminded me of Jude I could only let out a small smile myself and all I wanted to do was hug my baby and let her know it was ok. But that might be a boundary she was not ready to cross yet and I understood it.

"Hi." she whipseed shyly.

"Hi love."

"Can we talk?"

"Of course baby. Um, I'm off today if you want to maybe have lunch outside somewhere? I mean it's up to you no pressure."

"Sure. That sounds ok." She said as Mariana ran over handing her her jacket and bag. Exchanging my own smile with the young latin girl Frankie and I headed out as she followed behind me.

"Um we can walk to the pier if you like. There is small cafe there with benches looking over the ocean. Sound ok?"

"Yeah. That sounds fine." Walking quietly together there was so much I wanted to say to her but just didn't know where to start. She was polite as usual and always had been. Maybe it was how she was raised but I needed her to tell me how she was really feeling with no filters. Ordering a few hot dogs with colas we took a seat on a far off bench so that we could talk in private as I watched the waves crash hard against the rocks feeling the silence grow between us.  Maybe there really were no right words to start this conversation as I glanced over to her her eyes so fixed in front of her.

"I'm sorry I ran off on you that day Stef." She blurted out looking more upset then I realized. Her eyes were tearing so much as I put my food and drink down gently cupping her cheek with my hand. It seemed to be ok for she didn't pull away if anything she moved closer to me.

"Hey you don't need to apologize. You have nothing to apologize about sweetheart. Nothing. Look I didn't want to tell you on a sidewalk like that. I mean who would want to find out that way. MM?"

"I know but I don't usually run from people. I just didn't know what to say or to think."

"It's ok love. I probably would have ran too. Although I'm good for that." I laughed as she couldn't help but grin at me reminding me so much of Jude as well. "Baby it's not an easy thing. I know that and when I came to see you for the first time on my own in the diner I really just, I just wanted to hear you talk. I wanted to see what you sounded like and how you interacted with friends and stuff and I knew you were struggling with things. And I knew you lost your parents and I just, I couldn't sit home knowing that and not doing something. I couldn't sit here and not know if my baby was ok. So when you started to talk to me  I just listened.I listened and looked for anything familiar. But in no way did I ever, ever intend to mislead you. Ever and I apologize if I did." Seeing her face grow even more sensitive I could feel tears form in my eyes as it was the most open I had been in years to anyone. Shit did this kid have some effect on me just as much as Jude did.