A Life Beyond (Hard Time Series Book 2)

A String Of Months

During the next few months each birthday for the babies was celebrated with nothing but joy and excitement. Jude was now 14, Frankie was 7, Noah was 3, and baby Stef was now 1 years old. Lena's birthday was approaching as well as Stef's and then Callie's. To them it was so hard to believe so many months had passed since they had been released from jail and how much progress they had made. Each one counted their blessing and were grateful for each one of them. Sure it was normal for issues to arise for that was just life but they handled them the best they could.

The best gift however was that all three women had gotten their parental rights reinstated almost one after the other. There was no joy like that  as Mike helped move the rest of Frankie and Jude's things into the home, along with Mama Rose and Stuart who moved in a few of Noah's toys and the toddler bed he had at his grandparents.  Sandra dropped off most of baby Stef's things as well and the house was now full. Full of the family it needed and deserved. Maybe it was an adjustment and would be as this was the goal they had been working so hard for and towards. Stef had to adjust her hours a bit as well as Callie but thankfully Mama Rose babysit and helped whenever she could with the kids, as well as Judy and Stuart.

With Jude's room being complete he shared it with Noah even if his mom's knew it was kind of a drag being that he was 14. The teen didn't mind much really and on weekends he slept on the couch watching movies or playing video games. If he had friends stay over his moms let Noah sleep in their bed so the boys could have privacy and stay up all night.

Since the fight with his uncle he had apologized knowing he crossed the line and the two remained close. Very despite the fact that Mike and Judy were on their way to filing for divorce. Sure it made him upset for the young boy enjoyed his aunt especially since she came over often and on his mom's poker nights. Truth was she came over pretty regularly with Mariana to talk to his mom. Jude knew many people confided in his mother and it was one thing he loved about her. How she made people feel safe once they got over their initial fear. Callie had even made a few friends at Walmart and they all ended up confiding in Stef much like the girls did in jail. Lena would sit back and smile seeing her advise each of these girls who sometimes came to her wife in tears.

Lena herself helped many women at Walmart and even some of the girls that were Callie's friends in terms of reading. She tutored a few who studied for the GED and exams they had a hard time passing before but with her help they all aced it. It seemed just by doing what they both naturally were good at it helped Stef and Lena find purpose and meaning in their life and guide them into their future careers.

Good things had happened for Callie as well for she had changed her little girls name legally. Instead of Stefanie Marie Jacobs, she was now Stefanie Marie Adams Foster. Seeing that change put tears in her eyes and seeing her own official birth certificate with Stef and Lena's names on it made her almost inconsolable. All of it was happening just how she wanted and even her and Pete had gotten a little bit more serious. She was still rather bashful but they had at least kissed even if Callie ran off on him the night it happened.

FLASHBACK

Running into the home from her date and not even saying hi to her moms both Stef and Lena looked to each other confused. They knew she had been out with Pete as they got up and headed into Callie's room seeing her breathing rather heavy on the bed.

"Hey love you ok? What's wrong?" Stef said sitting beside the girl who was trying to catch her breath. "What's wrong sweetheart? What happened? Did Pete hurt you?" Gently she ran her hands through the young teens long hair.

"No, No. He didn't mom."

"Ok then what happened. You are shaking. What happened honey?" Lena soothed looking worried.