Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

New Discipline

The next morning had been anything but peaceful as both women were still not speaking to each other. Both Lena and Stef were still upset with each other, and what didn't make it any better was their second fight last night which resulted in Lena insisting she sleep on the floor away from her wife.

That alone caused neither of them to sleep well as Stef smoked heavily at the breakfast table and Lena stirred her coffee rather hard. Occasionally Stef would look at her wife but it wasn't for long as she sipped on her own coffee refusing to say anything.

The kids of course picked up on the heavy tension no matter how hard their Moms tried to hide it for they were not their usual affectionate selves with each other.

"So Moms, Uncle Jules said I can maybe start having samples of my baked stuff out front. Like a small case of it. And if people like it I can make larger amounts!" Frankie happily breaks the silence as both women look at her smiling.

"That's nice, honey." Lena pats her daughter's hand and smiles.

"Yeah, I'm excited. Will you help me perfect it, Mama Dukes? The banana bread first! Then the monkey bread! Please?"

"Sure, baby. Anytime." Stef smiles softly as Corey soon rushes in taking his place at the table.

Everyone looks up at him as he grabs the box of Cheerios and pours himself a bowl, and their eyes grow bigger as Frankie jumps up and squints her eyes.

"Oh my god! What did you?" She points to his ears which is now sporting a tiny diamond stud. "Moms! Look!"

Stef sips her coffee as Lena looks closely and scowls. "Excuse me? Corey?" Lena exclaims as she looks at Stef who takes a bite of her toast and says nothing.

"It's just a tiny earring, Mama! I went over Steve's and he did mine and I did his," Corey grins as Frankie bursts out laughing as she sits back down.

"You are so dead, dummy!" Frankie laughs hysterically as she shakes her head, and both, Stefanie and Callie look at him in complete shock before looking at Stef who is now buttering her second piece of toast.

"You what?" Lena ignores Frankie's outburst as she sets her butter knife down.

"Got my ear pierced. You like it?" Corey grins as Lena now raises her voice.

"No! I don't like it! And why the hell would you have your friend do it? Did you go to a piercing pagoda? I doubt one is open this early! And who gave you permission to leave the house and go to Steve's?"

"Okay, Mama! Chill!" Corey shoves his toast in his mouth as Stef licks her lips and begins working on the crossword puzzle in the newspaper.

"You're a dumb ass!" Frankie hollers as Stef looks up and at the girl who's face turns red. "Sorry."

"Corey, we will talk about this later," Lena shakes her head, clearly frustrated as she looks at the other two girls who had not said one single word. Callie and both Stefanie dared not to utter a word; but soon that would change.

"I will pick you all up from the bakery tonight. Ok? You don't need to walk." Lena says to the kids who nod.

"Oh you aren't working with us today, Mama?" Callie asks.

"I have a few errands today. I need to get a few things for my job and then maybe I can possibly help out a tiny bit."

"Can I come with you instead of the bakery? I'm tired of cleaning!" Corey complains as Stef eyeballs him ready to say something when she remembers her promise. She would let Lena handle it.

"No. You will work at the bakery like always. No buts, and you are still very much on punishment and now even more for this stunt you just pulled," Lena replies firmly as Stef sighs and gets up to refill her coffee.

"Ahhh this blows! When am I gonna get my door back, Mama?"

"When pigs fly, butthead!" Frankie sasses as Stef turns around and takes a sip of coffee not saying a word.

"Francesca! Watch your language, please. We don't say that." Lena says sternly.

"Yeah and mind your business! Before I take your door!" Corey sasses Frankie back as both Callie and Stefanie look to Stef who is now back at the table reading her paper and surprised she hasn't said anything at all.

"You won't take nothing, butthead!"

"Enough the both of you. Stop it. Corey, you are in enough trouble and Frankie do you want to be?"

"No, but he is a butt, Mama! Why won't you whip him, Mama Dukes! You're just sitting there like it's okay what he's doing!"

"Finish your food, please, and eat," Lena answers for her as Stef peers over the newspaper and looks straight at Frankie once more who bows her head.

"But you didn't answer me. When can I get my door? Come on, Moms. I'm sorry about last night!" Corey continues to whine as Lena looks to her wife who is still reading her paper. "I won't mouth off anymore! I swear it."

"Corey, Mom and I will talk about that, now please eat."

"Do I have to walk again?"

"Yes you do." She says again as Stef gets up rinsing her mug in the sink.

"See you babies later. Need to head to work." She says kissing each of them and heading out the back door without saying a single word to Lena.

"What the hell is wrong with her? Did she hit her head? Is she drunk?" Frankie is exasperated now as she rinses her dishes, and Callie comes up behind her.

"Franks, you are gonna get yourself in more trouble if you don't quit blurting stuff like that out! Please, sis!" She places her hand on Frankie's back as Corey rushes out of the room to brush his teeth.

"I'm heading out to the bakery! I forgot I need to make the cinnamon rolls! Remember I'm picking you up!" Lena calls out to the girls before leaving.

"Sure bye Mama!!" They all yell drying the dishes as Frankie runs to go change.

"Well I just hope they make up." Stefanie says to Callie.

"Me too. That fight was wicked. Dang. And Godmom said NOTHING this morning. She was scary quiet. Even with Corey's earring!"

"Yeah her being that quiet is never good. Remember when we cut school?!"

"Oh my god! Never again! That was scary!"

"Yeah it was. But let's get dressed and head out."

"Sure."