Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

You Don't Hear Me

STEF POV

"Callie!" I call, walking after my  daughter as she had stormed off. "Callie!" God, this child was infuriating me and she really had some nerve just getting up like that thinking she was grown!

What in the hell was her problem? But I knew I had to calm myself down like Lena reminded me many times in terms of Callie or this was not going to work. But shit, when did she become so fucking defiant?

"CALLIE! I will not say your name again! Turn around and talk to me! We aren't doing this!"

"Aren't doing what, Mama?" She whips around, red faced as she glares at me. "Me explaining how I feel and you NOT LISTENING?"

"Okay, first off you need to calm the hell down and remember I am not one of your peers! I'm the parent so YOU DO NOT talk to me that way! No way! And you and I are gonna fix this! Now! Right here and we aren't leaving this pier until we do!" I am screaming but don't realize it as I try so hard not to as she looks at me so angrily I just want to smack her.

Where in the hell was my Callie? Where was she? Or did I do this? Did I make her like this? Silence looms between us as I run my fingers through my short hair. "I did not come here to scream at you. I came so you and I can talk, Callie. Calmly."

"YOU talk, and I have to listen. But you don't listen me." She folds her arms as I sigh.

"Callie, I listen to you but..."

"You haven't, Mama! You used to! You used to listen to me all the time and you were like my best friend and then we move here and you treat me like I'm a criminal! It's not fair!! Okay, I made a few mistakes! Okay, I admit that! But God! When will I ever be heard?" Her voice begins to shake.

"I do NOT treat you like a criminal! And yeah you better admit it that you messed up, young lady, and I told you before you DO NOT speak to me this way! I am holding myself back big time! SO bring it down a notch!" I yell once again as she lets out a heavy sigh. "Now, would you like to go finish brunch?"

"I'm not hungry." She whispers while looking down at her feet as I let out a heavy sigh.

"Callie, I am trying. I really am, my dear. And I want more then anything for you and I to be in a better place than we are today. And to find out how we got here." I step closer to her. "Look, I admit I've been a hard ass but not because I get off on it like you may think. But I want us to sit and talk calmly. Is that something you and I can at least try to do? MM?"

"Ok."

As the two of us head back over to our table and order our brunch I know I really need to be even more patient than I had been. It was evident both Callie and I had short fuses and I didn't know when this even happened with my daughter. Hormones I knew must play a part but everything just caught me off guard. Big time, and I wish Lena were here to calm me for I was about to loose my damm mind with this kid.

Sipping my coffee I look at her as she bites into her eggs and sips her juice.

"I am listening, Callie. My ears are wide open." I say softly as she looks at me putting her juice down.

"Are they?" She whispers as I try my best to bite my tongue and nod. She licks her lips and looks out over the ocean as I hear her sigh softly. "I really messed up. I guess I was afraid, Mama. I really like this boy. A lot."

My heart hammers in my chest as I grab a smoke and begin puffing so I don't say a word as she sniffles and looks right at me.

"But I knew that you'd be hard, and we already were getting up super early and running. We already got into so much trouble when I got drunk, and I knew there was no way you were going to let me date. Ever."

"Why did you get drunk? Didn't we discuss the dangers of alcohol and parties, Callie? In New York? Didn't we talk about how dangerous it is for young people to drink let alone get drunk? Didn't you learn from your cousin, Stefanie? And how she was wasted and getting high, and..."

"I'm NOT Stefanie, Mama!" She cuts me off as I can feel the anger boiling again below the surface as I sip my coffee and keep smoking. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm not her, and I know and knew that. I really did. I wasn't thinking. I didn't realize how...how homesick I would be and was becoming! How I miss Mari and Qiana!"

"And you drank because you were homesick? You drank to drown out your pain? Do I need to get you help, Callie? Because this sounds like addiction if you ask me," I find myself  becoming more and more agitated as she scowls at me.

"No! I'm NOT addicted, Mama! Geez! Please, will you listen for once?"

I put down my smoke as I lean forward, glaring hard at this child in front of me. "Callie," I warn. "I AM trying. I really am, but you need to choose your words wisely. I will NOT tell you again. I do not like your tone."

"See? This is why I talk to Mocha! She lets me pour out my heart to her without censoring me! I'm trying to in case you forgot, and I can't seem to get anything out without you scrutinizing it and censoring it! Have you ever for once stopped and realized that I'm trying so damn hard? Have you? I'm not trying to be disrespectful to you! I'm not! I'm just so...so frustrated!" She spouts off big time as I quickly pull out my wallet and throw down a twenty and stand to my feet.

"Where are you going?" She looks at me confused.

"Well, if you're going to sit there and act like a grown ass adult, then I suppose this conversation is over. Call me when you decide to actually speak to me in the manner in which you were raised." I walk off as I hear her close behind me.

"You don't hear me! You don't wanna hear me! You're deafer than a doornail! So, don't expect a phone call anytime soon!" She shouts as I whip around and get in her face.

"You listen here, Callie Elizabeth! I am done. I wipe my hands. I have tried so many times to get you to talk to me, and yet here we are. You sitting there speaking to me like some kind of hoodlum with no manners and like you  forget I'm your mother! I am done. Finished. If you wanna live with your father, so be it. But it won't be forever. It just won't. I'll be by to get you when you least expect it."

"Stop threatening me! I have a right to my own feelings!" She yells as I am boiling. "You were the one who said we weren't leaving the pier when I ran off and now you run off so the rules changed. Did they Mama?! So unfair! You really are the most unfair person and I'm sorry I came to talk to you! I wish I hadn't."

"THEN GO!!" I yell as we both stare at each other without blinking.

"You know it was so easy for you to make up with Frankie and Stefanie. But when it comes to your own flesh and blood someone that actually came out of you it's just whatever to you. I'm done too. I have a family with Dad and I don't need you." I can see her holding tears back as she walks off and being the dumb ass I am I don't try to stop her.

But instead I feel my own tears for I had failed once again with Callie. And worst of all what she said was true. Making up with my other kids had been easier. But why?