Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

Where There's Fuel...

LENA POV

"She doesn't understand, Mom. Corey is very sensitive. He just is. He's not like Frankie at all. You know this about my kids, right?"

"Really? Who said so and what makes you believe this?" I hear my mother ask as I had stopped home to drop off groceries before heading to pick up the kids at the bakery.

Thankfully I had dodged Stef since I knew sometimes she came home for lunch. This was the longest since being together that the two of us had not spoken and regardless of how angry I was, it was heartbreaking. It was even if I was pissed at her for not saying a word this morning.

"Well, he always has been."

"Lena, Frankie is sensitive, too, if you haven't realized it. And from what I have seen Stef is very attuned to her. I know they had a rocky start but you trusted her to take care of your child when she was too much for you to handle. And Tess trusted her as well to take care of Stefanie when she went through a rough patch. "

"Mom, she said awful things to me, okay? And the way she...you didn't see how she spanks the kids and the way she spanked Corey last night."

"Did he deserve it?"

"Mom who's side are you on here? I called to...to vent and to somehow make sense of things!" I slam the fridge door shut as I huff.

"Lena, how long have you been with Stef and known how she handles the kids? Who, up until now I haven't heard a complaint about that woman at all."

"Mom, I have told you sometimes how hard she is on them. She said it's in my hands now, and Corey went and pierced his ears this morning and she said nothing. Nothing at all! It was like she didn't even exist or was a fly on the wall who was...was mute!"

"What do you want her to say, honey? After you up and changed the discipline rules on her right in the middle? It sounds as if you panicked on the poor woman and she was deeply hurt by it."

"I didn't! She...she knew I was worried!" I put my head in my one hand as I held the phone with the other.

"You did. You did change them, Lena. I am always on your side. Always baby...but I will tell you the hard truth when it needs to be told. You and Stef need to talk about how your discipline together. Moving forward. Clearly you have different approaches when it comes to your son. From what Frankie told me his mouth has got the better of him, and he doesn't know his place. And sweetheart, you never ever let Frankie get away with that, my love...now did you?"

"No, mother. Frankie is...different than Corey, and I'm not soft."

"You can be. And yes, she's different, but it makes it look as if you'll tolerate more from your son than your daughter. Now, I didn't have more than one child, but I can tell you this much, sweetheart. You cannot be wishy washy in your parenting or in your relationships."

"Mother, I love Stef, okay? I...just...I don't know. We said some pretty horrible things to each other, but I think I...I was worse. I accused her to policing the kids and that was wrong. I don't think she'll forgive me. I just don't...I'm still mad," I sniffle now as I hear my mother sigh on the other end.

"Lena Elizabeth, that's foolish talk. You need to woman up and go talk to your wife. Tell her you were wrong and explain your fears...really, really explain them. Stop holding back. She won't break, baby, but you need to be completely open with her."

"Okay, Mama," I whisper as I wipe my eyes and look at the time. "I need to head out to pick the kids up, but thank you for talking to me."

"I love you, baby. Don't you forget it."