Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

Work Together

LENA POV

"I don't know what we are supposed to do, Stef. I don't understand. Is he a sociopath?"I ask my wife as she is changing into her pajamas after a long night.

It is now past two and if we weren't drained out before we really were now. Beyond for we were just happy the girls were ok even if they were rather shaken up a bit. All of the kids are sound asleep after showers and snacks as well as snuggles and cuddles from the both of us. Both Stef and I were also shaken up as well for if something had happened to them we weren't sure what we would do.

"Ha. No love he's not. He's scared and he's an idiot. And he was supposed to watch the rolls and clearly he left to go hang with Steve while the place literally was on fire. He's irresponsible as hell and he's going to pay for this. Big time." Stef's voice is low but firm.

"He knows you know he's lying." I undo my bra and lay it over the chair before sliding on a clean pj tank.

"Sure he knows. So let the guilt eat him alive." She says as I climb into our bed and I watch her slide on her sweats and tank.

Walking over to our bed she gets in herself as I watch her run a comb through her short blonde hair. After what happened today I knew she was right in terms of my son and the discipline I had been showing him would need to be on her level. Tough, which isn't what I'm used to at all, but I needed to learn now or never.

"You think that will work?" I ask softly as I keep watching her.

"Yup. I do, my dear." Letting out heavy sighs we both lean back on our pillows finally feeling at ease. For now. Glancing over to her I can see her staring right up at the ceiling and I know she is deep in thought.

"I'm sorry." I say softly.

"MM?"

"I'm sorry for what I said to you. I'm sorry for changing up the rules in terms of Corey and I'm sorry I said you police them and that they are scared of you. The kids aren't scared of you. They love you. And..."

"Lena..."

"No, let me finish. Please." I say sitting up as she does as well leaning against our headboard. "I was wrong and it was wrong of me to scream at you and to tell you that...well, to change my mind. Corey he...I don't know how to explain it. I know Frankie is sensitive too and Callie and Stefanie. I know that I just, I'm so confused by him right now." I try hard not to cry as I say this as she moves to take my hand in hers, kissing the back of my hand softly.

"I understand, love."

"I don't know how to mother a teenage boy. Corey was always easy. He never gave me any grief, and he always had this...this cheerful disposition, then overnight, he changed. I know it's puberty. It has to be. He's 13, and...and I don't know what to do for a man...I...I miss Will, I mean, shit..." I trail off as I realize I'm crying and didn't mean to bring up my late husband.

"Shhhh, come here, please," Stef pulls me to her now and holds me tightly as I wrap my arms around her body. "It is okay for you to mention Will, sweetheart. I have told you this so many times, mm?" I feel her lips in my hair as she presses a kiss on to my head and I close my eyes as my heart hammers so hard in my chest, I feel dizzy.

Thinking of Will was super hard on me, and in times like today and lately, I've thought of him more and more in terms of Corey. Admitting this is hard for me, and I pull back and kiss her lips softly. "But I love you. I'm in love with you, and I have no business being such an asshole when you are such a help. You know what you're doing. You know how to do this, and I freaked out on you like a giant ass."

"Yes, you were an ass," Stef smirks as I push her softly. "But I forgive you. I'm not gonna lie. I was very hurt, but I also need to keep talking to you about all of this. This...is new. The co-parenting and the merging of our families especially with them growing into these...crazy teenagers with all of these hormones," she laughs as she rolls her eyes. "But I said shitty stuff myself, baby. And I apologize for it. I do."

"Forgiven but you are right. I do baby him. I am guilty of it. You are so good at not doing that."

"Ahh love, believe me I am not so sure. "

"No, you are. You have gotten all these kids in line. All of them because you don't give up and you set them straight quick. I was never good at that. I mean Frankie walked all over me from the time she was a baby up until you got to her. Now Corey is taking her place, and you were right. These kids would walk all over me."

"Baby..." She says cupping my check. "I didn't express myself well when I said that. I did not and I was angry when I said that."

"No, but you are right, honey. I'm too nice and I'm sorry I have left all the discipline on your shoulders. I guess I didn't realize it but that was not my intention. I don't wish to make you the bad guy all the time with our crazy kids but I guess at the same time it was easier because I know they will listen to you and you will handle it. My feelings tend to get hurt by how they behave and you just barrel on." I laugh as she smiles at me our hands now clasped together.

"I am too tough sometimes. I realize that and it's possible I'm a drill sergeant, that I police them and that I don't listen."

"No. You keep this family in line and I need to help you more with that babe. I sent Frankie to you for a reason, Tess sent Stefanie to you for a reason. You just know what to do."

"Not always baby." She confesses, looking at me. "I have my doubts my love. I just want us to work together, love. To work on helping our son and all our babies and I'm just glad they are babe. I can't imagine if...if something had happened to them. I can't. I..." Seeing her now tear up I get closer to her and gently cup her cheek. Sometimes I forgot how sensitive she was.

"They are ok baby. They are. Stefanie will be ok and I know the girls are shaken up but they will be. They are safe." I reassure her as I can now see she is really really crying. "Oh baby, come here. It's ok. It's ok." All I can do is hold her close to me for yes, she really was soft hearted, and even I forgot that. But as her I wife I should not have. I really shouldn't as she pulls softly away, smiling.

"I'm ok. Just had a moment, I guess."

"And you are entitled to that. " I say wiping her face as she turns to me yet again.

"Lena, you are strong as well and just as tough. Believe me and these kids will soon find out what you are made of. We will get Corey into shape and he will confess to us what he did. He's sensitive, that much I know."

"Sure he is but you are right it's no excuse for me to back down or give him a pass. He has been disrespectful to all of us and to Julius."

"God, Julius. Shit. I need to call him, it wasn't right of me to scream at him the way I did. And Tess did..."

"I called Tess baby. Stefanie spoke to her and she's going to come down this weekend. She and Jerry will be here."

"Ok. Good. "

"But Julius...you two always have your fights and there was a lot of emotion in the hospital. Just talk it out with him ok? I'm sure he feels terrible."

"Yeah I know it."

"But maybe we should get a couple of hours of sleep?" I yawn as I slide back down to my pillow and Stef moves to hold on to me as I lay on my back. I smile as she buries her face in my neck and we hold each other closely as we drift off to sleep.