Love Is Enough

Move On

It was 10 pm and Mike finally texted Stef back,
*
M: aj had his girlfriend over to see Anthony. Just thought I'd let you know.
*
Callie had told Stef a few weeks earlier that she didn't want any other girl anywhere near Anthony so she knew this was a huge problem.
Stef didn't like the idea so much either.
*
S: and you told him that was ok?! Mike you're the adult you should have said no. You know how Callie feels.
M: I don't want to get in between them. Aj had a good point, he is the dad.
*
Stef sighed and put down her phone. She didn't understand why mike was so scared to disappoint Aj. Bringing a new woman around Anthony is a big thing.
She knocked on Callie's door.
Mariana opened the door.
"Oh, hey mom" she was in her pajamas and wearing her glasses.
"Look at you miss thang! Looking cute as ever." Stef said in a low voice.

"I try" Mariana flicked her ponytail and sat down on her bed.
She looked over at Callie who was nursing Anthony while sitting on her bed, her facial expression looking numb.
"Awe is he getting ready to sleep?" Stef said watching Anthony who now had his eyes closed.
"Almost there" Callie said smiling at him.
"I'll need to talk to you tomorrow about something Mike told me" Stef said moving her hair away from her face.
"I think I already know what it is" she said pursing her lips and raising her eyebrows slightly. Stef nodded,
"Let's talk about it in the morning yeah?" She said and Callie nodded. She left the room leaving the two girls.
"What was that all about?" Mariana said.
"I found lipstick on Anthony's cheek" she handed her the baby wipe that had the stain on it.
"Oh, wow, you think he has his girlfriend over?" She said getting up to pick up Anthony who was finished eating.
"Yeah unless there's some other crazy explanation for this. I told him I didn't want her over, he's totally ignoring what I say" Callie said shaking her head.
"You should call him and tell him" Mariana suggested as she carried Anthony who was now sleeping.
"I don't know. I hate to start more problems. I think I'll give it until tomorrow to mention something" Callie shrugged her shoulders.
"Ok" Mariana placed Anthony in his crib.
"Thanks, you're so good with him" Callie said.
"Awe thanks but don't give me any ideas" Mariana said laughing.
"Trust me, you do not want one though. Being an auntie is a lot better & more fun. Plus having to deal with baby daddies is the worst part" she rolled her eyes.
"Well, it doesn't help when you're constantly giving me baby fever" Mariana looked over at Anthony and did a pout,
"Just look at him" she said in a baby voice.
Callie looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, but remember that time we went to the beach with him and he exploded all over you -"
"Don't remind me" Mariana said cutting her off.
"I'm still trying to get the poop stain out of my bikini" they both laughed.
"I rest my case" Callie said laying down on her bed.
She knew she didn't want to tell him anything yet but she couldn't help herself. She got out her phone and sent Aj a text,
*
C: anything you want to tell me?
A: um no? What's this about?
C: you're a liar
A: Callie can you please explain what's going on
C: you already know. Ths is why u and me didn't work out, you keep secrets and lie constantly.
A: and you never tell me what the problem is so I'm over this conversation
C: you should be focused on Anthony not a girl. He is most important but I guess you don't care
*
"Callie!" Mariana said causing Callie to pop her head up and face her direction.
"What!" She said scrunching her eyebrows.
"Were you even listening to me at all?" She said annoyed.
"I'm sorry I'm just really tired and want to go to sleep."
"Ugh, fine. You're on your phone anyways" she said rolling her eyes, laying down, and shut off the light.
Callie saw an incoming facetime call from Aj and she declined it. He knew exactly what he did and she couldn't stand how he kept lying.
In fact, she didn't want to send Anthony to Mike's tomorrow anymore. She saw an unread text but ignored it and actually went to bed.
The next day Callie woke up and Mariana and Anthony were both gone.
What if Aj came and picked him up after those texts? She tried not to freak out, he was probably just downstairs with the family but she was still worried.
She did her morning routine as quick as possible and headed downstairs.
She saw Stef sitting at the bar area drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, Mariana was eating a bagel at the dining table and Brandon was across from her carrying Anthony in his lap eating strawberries.
She let out a sigh of relief.
"Hi love" Stef said looking over at her and smiling.
She walked over to Anthony and gave him a kiss.
After breakfast Stef pulled Callie aside and decided it was a good time to talk.
"So, Mike tells me that Aj had his girlfriend over" Stef said.
Even though Callie already suspected it those words hit her right in the stomach.
"You ok?" Stef said noticing Callie looking uneasy.
"I just need to sit" she sat down on the couch and Stef rubbed her back.
"So I already told Mike that you didn't want another woman around him at this time and he was not aware. So, I will make sure he knows where we stand on this topic ok?" Stef said as Callie shook her head and placed her hands over her face.
"I can't believe him. I'm so mad right now I can't even find the words. He knew I didn't want.. he knew.. I told him" she said now standing up.
"Don't worry we will make sure it doesn't happen again and I will also have a talk with Aj" Stef said trying to calm her down.
"I'm keeping Anthony all day this week. He can go to hell" Callie said turning around, grabbing Anthony, and walking up the stairs.
"Callie!" Stef stood up but Callie ignored her and slammed the door to her room shut. Stef could tell she was very upset and mad so she decided to leave her alone for a while.
Callie layed on her bed thinking about all the hurtful things she could say to Aj, she was so mad.
"What's wrong?" Mariana said coming out of the bathroom.
It's times like this where she wished she had her own room.
Callie didn't respond. She didn't want to say anything hurtful to Mariana so she decided that saying nothing was better. It was now summer break for them and she had a bunch of free time.
"Is this about Dawn? Not to be that person but, you did tell him to move out and be with her so..." Mariana said and Callie instantly turned around.
"Can you just shut the hell up about things you know nothing about? You have no idea what's going on so stay the hell out of it" she turned around again.
Mariana scrunched her eyebrows and was now offended,
"Wow, you know what, I don't blame him, I wouldn't be able to stand you either.. and Anthony is eating your makeup" she said slamming the door walking out.
Callie turned to see Anthony digging through her makeup and nail polish bag that was on the floor.
"You remind me of your uncle Jude" she grabbed a baby wipe and wiped his face.
She noticed he had a runny nose today as well which made her nervous.
Callie was mad at Mariana and she knew she wanted to move out of the room and have a place for herself. She wanted to move on, like Aj did.
She wasn't going to be able to afford an apartment on her own and she was going to be a high school senior soon, so she came up with another idea.
She went into her moms room a little while later.
"What's up honey?" Lena said.
"Can I move into the shed outside?" She said with Anthony on her hip. She knew the shed was now unoccupied by anyone and it was the perfect size.
"I don't see why not" she looked over at Stef.
"And I think I'm going to start working again. So I can save some money my senior year."
"Sure, I think that's a great idea".