Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

Summer Troubles

As the summer continued to fly by for the family the next couple of weeks came and went with no issues for the most part. Stef continued to work the security job with one day at the junkyard, a couple of days at a car lot and even a day or two at the mall. She hated it with everything in her and longed for the days of when she was a cop and would soon be again.

The time couldn't come fast enough for her as each day she put on her security uniform missing her badge and gun. But she remained optimistic and made weekly calls to the SDPD on any job openings as the Captain couldn't help but notice her determination. She kept a mental note of it as the blonde styled her short hair getting ready for another day.

Mike had been helpful and he too missed being out on the beat even with his ex wife as his partner. The two proved to make a good team back in New York and he could see Stef really was a good cop. Never in a million years would he think that, but it was evident to him and he was proud of her.

Since moving to California he had gotten closer to the family and realized it was the best thing for his daughter. Maybe even himself for he had come a long way from what he was in 1969. Along way and sometimes he was embarrassed of his past actions, big time. But he had made up for it. Thankfully and was continuing to.

Mike however was well aware Stef was struggling and balancing time with her family so he offered to give her a couple of his nights for her days, and she was relieved for the change up. Julius had been right. Being down by the wharf, watching the fancy boats, making sure people weren't vandalizing, was almost refreshing: as if she might be a cop again. And a time or two, she even was tipped well by a couple of yacht owners just to watch their yachts to make sure nothing happened to them. And the tips were a nice chunk of change that she planned to save up.

Lena finally heard back from La Jolla High, and she was ecstatic that she had gotten the job as the head art teacher. It reminded her of being in the role back at Anchor Beach before she moved to New York. A role she had missed greatly and to top it off she even heard back from a local college who begged her to teach a night class a few nights a week.

That was something she wasn't sure of even if Stef told her that it was up to her. She knew the blonde fully supported her but she didn't feel right working so much. Naturally time was running out for her to give her answer as well and she thought long and hard. Either way, she was in her element, for if she was completely honest, being that assistant teacher at LaGuardia High was killing her spirit.

As for the kids, both Callie and Stefanie worked six days a week at Ryan's Bakery, and they were loving it. Big time as Julius let them play music and dance in the kitchen if it wasn't too crowded and they could chat for hours on end.

Callie was so happy that Stefanie was feeling better and she was relieved that her relationship with Stef was on the right track as well. Stefanie felt the same as she really really loved being back in California and was looking forward to the school year and the rest of the summer.

Frankie actually enjoyed hanging out with Stefanie again at the bakery but only worked three days since she was younger. Still she found it to be rather fun and really loved learning about baking from Stef and she took it rather serious. So serious she was thinking of going to baking school if she could.

Sometimes at night she and the blonde would stay up trying new recipes and finishing up orders for Julius. To the young teen it was a passion she never considered but it was something she was really loving.

Corey as well worked at the bakery but only two days for the other days both he and Frankie had sports: track and swimming three days a week. It was something Stef really considered taking away from him but she and Lena decided it was better he remain in them. To them it was better the kids were kept busy which was a good thing, for it kept them out of trouble...well, most of them.

As troubling as it was Corey still found himself getting into constant trouble with Stef. Almost on a daily basis as she now made him walk to and from the bakery everyday. She also took him to practice and Lena picked him up to make sure he went and stayed the entire time. But his mouth was the worst of all.

"I don't see why I need to get picked up and dropped of like a baby." He complained once again as Lena was making her morning coffee and getting the breakfast ready. "Mama, why?"

"Because Corey, that's what Mom and I decided. And you are not to be trusted. Enough about it. Now sit and eat." Lena said as Corey let out a massive sigh.

"This is so stupid. Its complete crap."

"Well, tough!" Stef says walking in and once again hearing Corey complaining. "That's how it is, so deal with it."

"I don't get it. I don't get why I don't have a say. It's my life not yours." He mouths off as Stef walks over to him getting into his face again. All Corey can do is back up as Lena is so frustraed with him she has no words. None.

"You get to have a life because I say you get to have a life. And you continue popping your gums at me like this and Mama like this you WONT have a life any longer! So sit your ass down, eat and head to that god damn bakery before I take your damn life!"

"God. All you women have your periods. I swear it!" Corey hangs his head in frustration, unaware of his mouth once more as he plops down in his seat.

"Corey William Adams!" Lena yells and turning horrified Stef grabs the boy by his shirt lifting him out of the seat. Even Lena was rather taken back as she watched her once sweet boy become sarcastic, rude, and just out of his mind.

"You wanna REPEAT THAT!!"

"Yeah it's always that time of the month for all of you! I'm gonna go live with Mike!" His face turns red as Stef glares at him.

"Like hell you are!! Like hell!" She hollers so loud that Callie, Stefanie and Frankie come running to the kitchen, and when they see the boy's feet suspended in the air, they quickly leave.

"I never get to tell you how I feel! Mike said I should tell you how I feel!" Corey sputters as Stef let's go of his shirt.

"Come again?"

"He said to talk to you and tell you how rude and mean you are! I'm over this! You never listen! You never let me have a say! You love the sound of your own voice!" Corey straightens his shirt as Stef's face becomes eerily calm, so calm, that even Lena knew what would happen next for she knew her wife.

The blonde sat down across from Corey now as she lit a smoke and was completely silent. And the boy stared at her, wondering if he really got her attention now. Lena stirred her coffee, and it was so quiet, you could hear her spoon clinking against the mug. She was pissed beyond words both women were.

"But you are! And you and Mama pick on me! You do! And I never get a say! I'm the only man in this house! And I feel ganged up on! I wanna live with Mike!" Corey sputters out some more as Stef puffs away on her smoke, not saying a single word.

"Are you gonna say anything?" Corey pushes as Stef looks right at him not blinking and continuing to puff on her smoke. It was making the boy rather nervous if he was honest as he gulped knowing things weren't going in his favor once again.

But as Lena looked to her wife as well seeing how eerily calm she was, she knew Stef was simmering inside and if there any truth to what Mike said he was about to get ripped to shreds by both of them. "Corey, I think you need to head on out to the bakery now," Lena says quietly as Stef finishes her smoke, putting it out in the nearby ash tray.

"I...I just..." Corey sputters as he looks between his moms. "Yes, ma'am." He picks up his cereal bowl and quickly washes it before grabbing his bag and leaving out the back door.