Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

Little Conversations

STEF POV

"Are you ok?" I hear my wife ask as I slide on my new polyester uniform pants.

I am excited to finally be back in uniform as Mike and I would have to attend a shit load of classes before we are put out on the street but neither of us gives a crap. Not one bit for we are just excited to be cops again regardless that it could take a few months. Sure, I am grateful the last few months that we had jobs and the check came in handy, of course, as well as the tips. But that time had come and gone as I proudly pick up my uniform shirt eager to wear it again.

"Sure, babe. Why wouldn't I be? I've been a cop for almost a decade. I'm fine."

"No, not about that. I know Stefanie leaving was hard on you. Harder than you want to really admit." She says as I put my uniform shirt on and button it. Damn, this woman can read me like a book and sometimes it isn't what I want. At all.

"Ahh, I'm ok.  She belongs with her parents, babe.  I did my part, we did our part, and she's doing well. Like I said to the kids, it was always supposed to be temporary."

"Temporary or not, it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. You both got very close again especially the last few months and well, I know that made it harder, honey. And I know it meant and means a lot to you how close you got again. That was very hard for you when we were back in New York. And I know some of the things she said to you still hurt."

"What? No, Lena, not at all." I laugh awkwardly as I grab my brush.

"Stef..." She says looking up at me as she is still on our bed staring right into my eyes.

"Ok. Maybe a tad. But I forgave her for the things she said and I know she didn't mean them. But  I guess it was harder than I realized. Her leaving, ya know?"

"Of course, babe."

"I love that little girl. She's always gonna be something different to me."

"I know." Lena smiles.

"But it will be nice having them move so closer to us. Will be good for her and the kids and even us." I grab my belt and loop it around my waist.

"I agree. I think it's a good thing."

"But I don't give a crap what Jerry says. I want us to pay our way on this home and it doesn't feel right to me. Just living here and paying taxes but not a mortgage? I can't do it, Len."

"I know it doesn't, honey and I never said it did with me either." She scoots to the edge of the bed.

"Hey, and who is to say that if he and Tess don't work out like...does he take the house? I don't want to live that way, Lena. Ever."

"No, that's a good and important point and I agree with you that you know it's something that we need to talk about with the both of them."

"Yes and if he doesn't agree to something, we will move." I say tucking my shirt in my pants as she looks to me confused.

"Move? Again, love? I mean I'm sure we can work something out with them. I mean are you worried about them splitting? Tess tell you something that she didn't tell me?"

"I'm not but hey you never know, love. And no, she didn't. You just don't know, and I hate to think you know 20, 30 years from now if, you know, we are still here and they aren't together then what? I don't want that hanging over my head, babe. I want something that is ours. Does that make sense?"

"No, I understand you completely. I didn't think of that but no, you are right. Well, since they are moving here we are closer and can really talk about it. But I do agree with you. I didn't know at the time that well, that they purchased it but I figured we would work it out later."

"Yeah I know, babe. And we will. I'm sorry I can't be there with the kids to tour the school by the way." I sit beside her to lace my shoes.

"It's ok. They understand and so do I. But are we going to let the kids work at the bakery again?"

"Lena, I don't know what Julius' issue is. He went over our heads, didn't bother telling us he reopened, and just told Frankie to come? What abou Callie or even Stefanie who was here at the time? Huh? And he was an ass today!  A giant ass!" I sit up and look at her as she takes my hand softly.

"He wasn't there, honey."

"Oh, bull! His car was there! He just didn't wanna open the doors for us! I know he was there and he's being a dick. But, Frankie loves baking and I don't want to take that from her. And Callie loves working there too. But how can we be comfortable having them there if he doesn't speak to us?"

She sighs now as she plays with my fingers. "I don't know, Stef. Maybe we tell Frankie she needs to wait a bit. We can always advertise her baking from here or something."

"Phhhh, won't that go over well," I roll my eyes as she shrugs.

"Stef, I don't have any real answers. We don't want to take this away from the girls, but he has to stop being so terribly irresponsible. And yes, he's being irresponsible each and every time he doesn't communicate with us cuz now he's not talking to me!"

"Oh, babe, I don't know. I say leave it be for now, okay? Let the girls go and bake. Let's not put our hurt emotions into it like he's doing. Hopefully, he'll come around." I lean in and kiss her lips softly as she grabs my collar.

"You look hot in your uniform, officer," She teases as she kisses me deeper, and for a moment, I melt into her.

--------------------------

"It's still all his fault. Freaking dumbass." Frankie says to Callie as they are getting dressed for the school tour. "Like, I hope they send him to military school. He deserves it."

"I know you're upset, Franks and I was, too, for a bit but I don't think he even realized what he did. He's not a bad person but he did make a stupid mistake."

"Ya? And he needs to be punished! Stefanie broke her finger because of his dumb ass, and we could have died from smoke exhaling!"

"It's smoke inhalation, and we didn't die, Frankie. I don't think you realize that he didn't purposely set that fire. It wouldn't be considered arson because he didn't set it in motion as a plan. It was an accident."

"Why are you taking his side?" Frankie scowls as she grabs her choker. "I fucking hate his dumbass right now, and you're acting like he doesn't deserve to be punished!"

"Don't take out your anger on me, little sis. I am upset with what happened, but at the end of the day, he's still a kid, a good one at that, and he made a mistake. Think about what you have done in your life before you start judging others so harshly, Franks. That's all I'm saying," Callie brushes through her long brown hair as Frankie ties her converse.

"Ya, I know. I've fucked up many times. You don't have to remind me," Frankie bites back as Callie looks over at her and sighs.

"Frankie..."

"No, no! I get it! Frankie gets a beating and Corey gets a slap on the wrist. Must be nice being the baby," Frankie rolls her eyes as she jumps to her feet and heads to the door.

"Franks! C'mon!" Callie tries again.

"No! You, c'mon, Callie! When will you wake up and see that Corey is babied! Plain and simple! You probably don't see it because you're hardly in trouble, but it's true! And I'm over it! And I'm gonna tell Moms if they don't knock it off!"

"Oh, Frankie, please don't do that," Callie walks over and reaches for Frankie's hand as she scowls at the older teen.

"I'm just frustrated. I'm not trying to be a dick, Cals." Frankie softens as Callie laughs.

"Oh my god, Mama is gonna get you for your mouth alone! C'mon, let's go tour this school with her and Corey."