Fighting For Us - Book 4

Breakfast Spills

LENA POV

"You weren't kidding, Jules! What time did you even get here? What the hell?" I laugh as I had only woken up a few minutes ago as I walked sleepily into the kitchen. Last night had been rather stressful and when Stef called to check in I could hear the heartbreak and anxiety in her voice. She still had not been able to reach either Jerry or Tess which was concerning, for Tess always called when she made it back home.

Realizing it is after seven 'o'clock and Stef still isn't home I figure she got caught up with an arrest as I smell coffee and bacon. Julius is singing and is even wearing an apron as he flips what looks like gourmet french toast on our small stove.

"Gooooood!!!!!! MORNING, Sunshine!!!!!" He squeals as I rub my eyes and reach in the cupboard for a mug.

"Stef isn't home yet?"

"No, ma'am. She usually home by now?"

"Around this time." I grab the coffee pot as I pour a good amount taking a seat.

"Kiddies still sleeping???"

"Yup. Long night." I say rubbing my eyes as he turns to look at me. I knew he wanted to know what me and Stef were talking about last night for that was just his nature.

"Soooooo not to pry!! What was up last night? All ok?? Because you looked like you had seen a ghost." He says handing me a plate of french toast and bacon.

"Well, it's Stefanie, Julius, and it's rather serious."

"Starlette? What in the world did she do now? That girl deserves a whipping! Her and her damn mouth need a come to Jesus moment!" He frowns as he sits across from me and takes a bite of bacon then stands to grab the rest of the french toast.

"Well that's just the thing. We found out her boyfriend is hurting her. Physically."

"Whatttttt???? Are you kidding!!!" He says whipping around almost dropping the food. "Tess never mentioned this to me this morning when I saw her. Oh shit...Oops!!"

"What? What do you mean saw her?" I ask looking in him dead in the eyes as he swallows hard.

"Oh did I say saw her? I meant least night, silly!"

"How did you see her last night if she left in the afternoon?"

"I mean morning! You know when she was here. Duh, you know me and my timelines!" He waves his spatula, his cheeks now bright red.

"You are a crappy liar, Julius! And this is important! Is Tess still here? Are they all still here? Answer me!"

"Ok, ok! God! Calm yourself, MOCHA! Jerry and Stefanie, Star, Starletta or whoever, left. But Tess stayed. She's at her hotel, honey and didn't want to worry you or Stef and needed a break from Stefanie."

"Goodness." I say rubbing my forehead.

"But I guess she doesn't know about Mr. Abuser?" He says taking a seat once more and looking concerned.

"No, she doesn't. And Stef's been trying to reach them. And it's all I can do to get her to not fly out there cuz God knows she just can't take anymore vacation time. But I understand why. I'd like to ring his neck and strangle him myself. How can this happen? I'm so upset about it, ya know? It's bad enough that Jerry..." I trail off as my stomach twists and tears spring to my eyes as he places his hand on mine.

"I'm right behind you, baby girl, and what Jerry did, he made amends for ten times over. He wasn't himself. It wasn't who he was at the core. But this kid? What a piece of shit! Has Stefanie admitted he did it? She told you?"

"No, Corey saw her bruises and heard her on the phone with this boy. Julius, we are going to have to go to the hotel and talk to Tess. She...she admitted to me earlier this week that she just wants to leave Jerry, and I think she needs our help."

"I agree. I mean she's over there smoking her brains out and day drinking."

"What? Tess doesn't smoke! And she only drinks in the evening for a night cap once in a blue moon!"

"Oh, she does, baby. Said she picked it up when things got bad with her and Stefanie. And she was drinking all night, too. I was trying to talk her into NOT leaving Jerry as that seems like a rash thing for her to do. But after us telling her what's going on Stefanie, maybe she won't." He says as I hear keys in the door and smile as an exhausted looking Stef walks in the door.

"Good morning, cutie patootie! You look like shit!" Julius laughs as Stef rolls her eyes and letting out a sigh. She did look so tired.

"Thanks. Good morning to you, too," she doesn't smile but sets down her lunch box and immediately unbuckles her gun belt.

"Coffee, babe?" I ask getting up and kissing her on the lips as I set her thermos in the sink and grab a mug.

"Sure, love, that would be nice. And umm...Len, we need to talk. I need to tell you something." She says eyeballying Julius.

"Oh god! I need to leave again! It's not like I won't know in the future! You, two, and your god damn secrets! You're secret whores!" He laughs as I can tell by the look on Stef's tired face that she is not up for joking around. Not at all.

"Ok, Ok! I need some syrup anyway so I'll run to the corner store. You both are so damn secretive!" He reminds us again as Stef glares at him. "Lena is gonna tell you Tess is still here. She never left."

"Julius!" I yell as he rolls his eyes.

"I'm sorry, come again? What do you mean Tess is still here?" She says rather sternly as I let out a sigh for I am going to kill Julius.

"She's still here, honey. She didn't want to go back home yet and deal with her wild child or Jerry."

"Fuck my life. Why didn't she tell us? Why didn't she come to us? God dammit! I'm so sick and tired of all of the secrets and sneaking around! Can I fucking get a damn break?" She yells heading to the phone as I grab her arm gently.

"Babe..."

"What, Lena?"

"Honey, do me a favor and take a deep breath, ok? I know you're upset about Stefanie. Okay? I know it, honey. I think it may be better if I go over there and talk to her while you get some rest."

"That's not happening. Let's go now, please. Because I am two seconds away from getting on that plane myself if Jerry doesn't answer the GODDAMN PHONE!"

"Ok, I agree, but we also need to not scream at Tess."

"I'm not going to scream at her, Lena. I know she's not doing so great."

"And you won't be either if you don't relax."

"Steffy, please relax." Julius says rather concerned and now feeling bad for having spilled the beans.

"Sure. I'm going to change my clothes, and we will head over and talk to her. Julius, watch the kids, please."

"Sure."

"Stef, I can go alone, you need to..."

"Love. Please. I can't sit here and do nothing. Don't fight me on this." She says walking off as I let out a sigh annoyed to hell now because of this stubborn woman, for I knew her and knew her well. She was going to collapse soon or pop a vein, and because she won't listen to me, I have no choice but to go with her and try to stomp any fires she might start.

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It was true that Tess needed a break and if she didn't get one she was going to lose her mind. The last few months with her daughter had really eaten her alive for maybe Stefanie was right. Maybe she was weak. Maybe she would never be the person she once was for she couldn't handle her daughter anymore and it was wearing on her and her marriage.

As she lit a smoke and sat on the balcony of her Manhattan hotel, Tess took a sip of her drink as she had just returned from a relaxing massage and swim in the pool. The dark skinned woman had not even returned Jerry's calls to say he was back for she needed a break. And a long one from her life. How long she wasn't sure as she continued to empty bottle after bottle not realizing the alcohol had caught up with her soon hearing a knock at the door.