Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

The Big Move

LENA POV

"Be sure to pay close attention, you guys. It's important that you place the boxes in the appropriate rooms as they are labeled. And also, no goofing around, and I mean it. The faster we get this done, the faster we can head to In and Out for burgers and milkshakes as Jerry promised." I pull my hair back in a ponytail before tying a bandanna over it while all three of our kids are gathered around me. Stef had already left with Julius and Philip to meet the truck, and as it was these days, none of the kids wanted to go with her.

It was true that the boot camp was tough on the kids and so was the strict discipline. I knew, well, Stef and I both knew, they were missing out on hanging with new friends and a social life and that really wasn't something we enjoyed taking from them. Really not...but right now it was what it was until we said something different. And even then I'm unsure when that will be. Sure, I noticed the kids had pulled away a lot from Stef and barely spoke to her, even Callie. That didn't sit well with me and even if Stef said it didn't hurt, I knew it was hurting her. And a lot at that.

"But are we even allowed to go, Mama?" Frankie rolls her eyes, and I catch it and frown.

"Francesca, what kind of question is that? Of course, you're allowed to go, and..."

"She means to get burgers and shakes!" Corey chimes in as I sigh.

"You guys, c'mon. You're all being a tad melodramatic, don't ya think? Mom means well, and all we want for you is the very best in life. Of course, you'll be going with the family to get burgers and shakes!"

"If she wants the very best in life, she'd ease up on us and not treat us like we're the criminals she arrests on a daily basis," Frankie rolls her eyes again, and I grab her chin. "I mean we can't do ANYTHING."

"Francesca, if you roll those eyes any more, they'll get stuck. You're being kind of unfair to her. You really are. All of you," I step back and look at Callie and Corey as well as Callie's face is blank. "Mom loves you just as much as I do, and me and her are a team. You know this. So if you know this, then why in the world are you being this way with her and not me? Hmmm? I need to know what makes me different?"

"Because you at least let us talk. We can get our feelings out and you listen. I mean you REALLY listen. Mama Dukes shuts us down in an instant, and you know it, Mama. She's unruly!" Frankie shrugs as I shoo them to head towards the car as I grab my keys.

"Unruly? Excuse me? Do you even know what that means, Francesca?" I shut our front door and lock it as she stops and turns toward me.

"I do, and she's not the Mama I loved in NYC. Moving here has made her a tyrant, and I feel like I'm under Hitler's regime. I miss who she was! And I miss our talks and our bak...I mean just time we spent with her."

"Okay, that's about enough, young lady. Get your ass in the car and think about what you're saying!" I reprimand her as she sighs and does as she's told, but Corey stops in front of me, his arms folded across his chest.

"She's not wrong, Mama. I'd rather deal with Aunt Stef than Mama Dukes any day. You know she's off the rails. You have to know it, and I wanna know what happened? Does she...she hate California?"

I look into his eyes and sigh. I have no idea how to fix this, but I would if it's the last thing I do. I hate the fact that the kids feel this way about her, yet I agree with Stef one hundred percent when it comes to how she has chosen to discipline them. But I do know that there has to be a balance, and maybe that needs to come from me taking her away for a night and trying to ease her stress.

"Okay, you guys. Let's go." I don't answer Corey, for have I really asked her if she did? Do I know if she misses NYC? "We were supposed to have left ten minutes ago. And I will not have you describing your mother like you have been. It's not fair to her or to Callie, and..."