Love Will Keep Us - Book 5

The Night Continues

LENA POV

"She's so flippin' rude, Mama. Like why is she even here?" Frankie asks me as I get the pizza ready for everyone and begin to set the table. Stefanie was helping me as Callie was chatting with her grandmother. and Corey was chatting with Papa Frank.

"Honey, please keep your voice down. That is Mama's mom. Ok?"

"And? What planet is she from? She didn't even say hi to us. She walks around like she's some kind of saint," Frankie rolls her eyes as she holds out a plate for me to place pizza on.

"Frankie, we will talk about this later, ok? Please, honey." I insist as she lets out a heavy sigh and I hand Stefanie another plate to bring to the table.

"She is rather different than Godmom, Aunt Lena. I mean does our family scare her?"

"She grew up in a different time, baby. That's all."

"MM. Yeah, I can tell. I don't think she likes us. Too dark." She says as I hear Stef walk in and place a few drinks down from the fridge we had in the garage. I knew this wasn't easy for her at all and the longer her mother was here the more stressed she looked and the more she smoked. I'm not sure who will explode first, Stef or Frankie, and I can only hope that neither of them do.

"Smells good." She says as I look at her, smiling.

"Yes. Getting the table ready so we can all eat. You ok?" I ask softly as she smiles thinly, a sure sign that she is not comfortable by any means.

"I'm fine, baby. I'll go get everyone." Watching her walk off I hear everyone soon head in and take their seats at the table as I notice Sharon steer clear of our kids, especially Stefanie and makes sure to sit beside Callie and Frank.

"Come, baby." Stef grabs my hand as everyone grabs a drink and I sit beside my wife.

"I hope this is ok. Since we have so much cooking and baking to do tonight I figured this would be an okay choice," I announce to everyone, but mainly Sharon.

"Its awesome!! We never get pizza!!! Can you guys come every week?!" Corey blurts out as Frankie shoves him.

"Shut up, dumbo. We do so get pizza, fool!"

"Francesca!" I warn as she looks at me and back at her brother.

"But he's a damn fool!"

"Francesca, sit." Stef commands as she glares at our daughter who blushes and sighs.

"He says such stupid comments, Mama Dukes," she sasses as Stef glares even harder and points to the seat next to her and Frankie obeys.

"Mama Dukes?" Sharon takes her seat and looks right at my wife who laughs softly as she opens her napkin on her lap.

"It's just an endearing name Corey and Frankie gave me, Mom."

"I'm just not sure why they even call you Mom. You're not their mother by any means, Stefanie," Sharon takes a bite of her pizza as Frankie shoots her a look. I can feel my heart hammering in my chest as I pray in my mind that Frankie bites her tongue, but it's Corey who responds.

"Yes, she is! She married our mama, so she's our mama, too! Mama Dukes!"

"It's kind of disrespectful, if you ask me. Don't you think, Frank?"

"I say let the kids have their fun. Stefanie doesn't seem to mind it too much," he replies as Sharon sighs loudly and as I glance at my wife, I can see she looks rather angry for I am too.

"In my day, a child had his mouth washed out with soap for such disrespect."

My heart was beating fast in my chest now as the table was quiet. Stefanie had a confused look on her face, Callie was looking all around, Corey looked horrified and I knew Frankie was about to tell her off. I wouldn't blame her as I wanted to tell this woman off myself.