The Beginning

I Had a Dream

Author's Note:

Since this chapter is Stef's dream, like most dreams, it doesn't make sense. Thanks for all the votes and reads. Enjoy.

Donna
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I look around the yard. The breeze from the ocean is nice. This school is amazing. If only Mike would come on time for once. I look down at my phone and text Mike.

"Where are you???"

I feel me phone vibrate in my lap.

"I can't make it. Let me know how things go. I love you."

How come he always disappears when I need him to commit to something? This is why our marriage is failing.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." A beautiful, tall, mocha skinned woman stands in front of me with her arm stretched out towards me. I stand up to shake her hand. "Hi, I'm Lena Adams, the assistant vice principal." Wow, she's gorgeous.

"Hi, I'm Stef Foster." We just stand there until we realize that we are still holding each other's hand. We both laugh awkwardly and she pulls her hand away.

"So... your son." My son? What about him? Oh right.How can I forget the reason I'm here?!?!

"Brandon..." Thank God. I thought I would forget his name.

"Brandon." I think she can tell I feel uneasy. At least she is being completely professional and ignoring how idiotic I'm being.

"Right." I laugh at myself. God, what is going on with me today? This is Mike's fault. He usually handles all the talking. He would make me feel so much more comfortable. Or maybe he would make me even more nervous because things are just awkward between us. Maybe it's best that he stayed home.

"He will be staring kindergarten next fall." She flashes me a small yet perfect smile, trying to make me feel relaxed.

"Yes, he is five." He's getting so big. My baby boy is growing up. I'm so proud of him.

"Great, well I'll be glad to give you a tour, tell you about our school. " I can't wait. "Are we waiting for your husband to join?"

She caught me off guard. I turn my head a little to see if Mike will show up. "No, he um...he" At the moment, he is running away from our marital problems. "He..." I take a deep breath. "He couldn't make it." Finally!!!

"Okay, well... follow me." Now she will do all the talking. That's a relief. All I need to do is listen. But my thoughts are focusing on her beauty.

"Okay." She starts to walk into the school. I follow her as I was instructed. We keep walking. Past the yard, past the classrooms in complete and utter silence. Where are we going? This is hardly a tour. I keep following her until she reaches a door with her name printed on it. She opens the door and I see a man sitting in a chair. Lena walks past him and sits on the other side of the desk. The man turns around to face me.

"Mike, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here so we can discuss what exactly you are doing with this woman." He looks at Lena with disgust. My stomach dropped to the floor. How does he know about me and Lena?

"This woman is her girlfriend." She says loud and proud.

Girlfriend. I'm her girlfriend. She's mine.

"Listen, Stef is my wife and is not sleeping around with some dyke." Maybe now would be a good time to interrupt.

"EXCUSE ME!?!? What did you just call me?" Wow. Things are getting heated and fast.

"You heard me. Why don't you just leave me and my wife alone and find some whore to have sex with."

"ENOUGH MIKE!!!" I don't think I have ever seen Mike be so aggressive. I don't like this side of him. If he keeps acting like this, that's the end of our marriage.

He talks a long, deep breath. "Fine. But please Stef why don't you clear the air. Tell her that we are still married and that we are going to continue being together." I would but it's not that simple.

"Or you can tell him the truth, Stef. Tell him that you chose to be with me." How can I say no to her? How can I break her kind heart? This is not the real me.

"Well, who do you choose?" I don't know. I can't just choose someone. I love and always will love Mike but Lena is slowly finding her way into my heart.

"I...I choose..."

My eyes slowly open. Thank God. It was just a dream.

"Jenna, I can't do that." I turn around and see Lena whispering on the phone. "Because it's going behind her back... yes I do... but... fine, we'll see...I'll let you know...bye." They are probably planning a surprise for Kelly, Jenna's wife and Lena's best friend.

I keep thinking about my dream. Who would I choose? I love Mike more than anyone. He is my first for everything, that's why it's so hard to watch our marriage go down the drain. He still is my husband and I'm being unfaithful to him while I'm betraying Lena. What did I get myself into? And now Lena wants to meet my parents?!?! I can't do this anymore.

"Hey baby." I jump in my seat ans turn around to see Lena coming to sit next to me while handing me a plate of food. "You okay?" I am, unless feeling guilty counts as not being okay.

"Just a bad dream." It was the the truth. "Lena, love, I know that you want to meet my parents and all I want to do is make you happy,.." I look into her beautiful brown eyes. Just say it and get it over with. "It's just you don't know my parents like I do. I have thought about it and the more I think about it, the more I think letting you meet my parents, is a bad idea. I'm sorry."

The look of disappointment in her eyes crushes my heart. "Okay, fine. But I still want you to meet my parents. Can we schedule dinner tomorrow night at your place?" It's the least I can do.

"Of course, I'll have Brandon stay with his dad."

His dad, Mike. My husband.