Chasing Pavements

Liar

LENA POV

I was grateful to be able to make Stef and the kids dinner and let her rest most of the afternoon. I guess it was just in my nature to care like this, but honestly, I had not even extended myself this far to my ex husband or Sanchez. Sure I had taken his children in but I never really cared for him in this way.

I wasn't after Stef, I wasn't trying to sleep with her, I just really wanted to help even if I was attracted to her in many ways. She was beautiful, Jesus was she beautiful, but I was making sure not to make the same mistake I made when I kissed her that night. The last thing she needed was for me to freak her out again especially with everything going on.

Our talk about Jude was needed before we both sat down to eat with the kids for I didn't want her to be blindsided by him. Yes, I had lied to him, only because it wasn't my place to tell him that he was correct. That his mother infact was pregnant with Mikes child, and the fact he was just far too young to even know this. But he did and even if Stef felt horrible about it, she knew she needed to address it. She was scared, which I understood more then anyone, but she was scared to have this child and scared not to have it at the sametime. We both knew Mike wouldn't be interested but I could see in her eyes that she had a small amount of hope that maybe he would be.

"Mama!" Frankie yells running to her mother as we both step into her apartment. Frankie too all afternoon had been asking for her and regardless of Stef thinking she was a failure these kids adored her. Each one of them as Jude gets up from his seat and takes his mothers hand.

"Frankie don't bombard Mom. Go finish eating." He reprimands as the little girl hugs Stef tighter. She really was a sweet girl who wore pink glasses and had a giant gap when she smiled.

"It's ok sweets. I'm ok."

"Mama, Lena made us dinner so you could rest. Do you feel better? She said you had a headache?"

"Yeah, baby I'm fine sweets. And did you say thank you to Lena for making you dinner Frankie?" Running her fingers through the girls curly hair I smile but look to Jude who has a concerned and worried look on his face.

"I did! Come on Mama we have some for you too! It's really good! Lena let me taste it. Right Lena?"

"Yes baby." I smile back at her as she pulls Stef over to the table which I notice Jude has finished setting. Marie is quietly playing on the floor beside the kids as Jesus along with Mariana are munching on rolls. Jude really had a way about him and all the kids really looked up to him and I could see how easy it was for him to fall into the role he did.

"You can have my seat Ma." He says pulling the chair out for her.  Usually Stef and I ate standing or in the living room while the kids took the chairs since there weren't enough seats but I wanted her to sit even if I knew how stubborn she was.

"No, you sit and eat babe. You too Lena. You made this amazing food you sit and eat at the table with the kids."

"Nope you sit." I say as Marie begins to whine a bit and I gently pick her up from the floor.

"No way. You made all this food for everyone Lena. You are a guest."

"Please. We are friends and I will be insulted if you don't. Now sit Stefanie." I say sternly getting the food out for everyone as she looks to me knowing she won't win this battle. I mean she should know be by now to some degree.

"Oh man you better sit Ma. Lena used your full name." Jude laughs as do the other kids.

"Ok. You win woman! I'm sitting."

"Good, and just in time the soup is still warm and I mad pot roast along with potatoes. You babies hungry?" I ask as they all cheer happily. Even with Marie on my hip Jude helped me pass the soup around to everyone as I placed the pot roast in the middle of the table. This was me, this was who I was as Jesus rambled on about his day, while Frankie and Mariana giggled about cartoons and their sticker books. Jude was rather quiet, which I knew way and so did Stef.