Five
Callie sat in the living room of the Foster's home. No one was home besides the three of them and she liked the extra time she was getting before she had to face anyone. One of the most important moments of her life was going to happen when his mothers walked through the door and yet she wasn't quite prepared. She had no idea how they were going to react to her brother and herself, let alone their story and the fact they were here for sanctuary. She glanced over at Jude, who sat next to her playing some sort of game on the household iPad. Callie had to just continue to remind herself that this was all for him and the boy in the kitchen fetching water for them.
It was a nice home she concluded as she ran her hand over the sofa. She had never been in a house so put together before but, she didn't expect anything else, for this was the home Brandon was raised in. She always had high expectations for everything that had to do with him because he was the most perfect thing out there and everything related to him had to be too.
"Stop thinking so hard." Brandon said as he sat down next to her with the glasses of water. He threw his arm over her shoulder and kissed her head. Snuggling into her boyfriend's arms, she knew this was right. Being with Brandon always felt right but, that didn't stop her from being nervous. She looked over to her brother who was currently devouring a bowl of popcorn that Brandon also brought, grateful that someone else was willing to look out for him too.
"Where are your moms? I thought you called them on the way here." She spoke as he started to run a hand up and down her back.
"They just ran to the store to get stuff for dinner. I think she said ziti or something. But here why don't you have some popcorn while we wait." He reached over and grabbed the second bowl that was on the coffee table. As hungry as she was, she was too nervous to eat. She shook her head against his chest as a response. "You know my moms are going to love you. There is nothing to worry about."
She wanted to correct him. She did have something to worry about, always did. Rejection wasn't what she was afraid of this time but, with Jude sitting right there, she didn't want to bring up the real reason. "Can we go talk somewhere else?" Callie said in a very small voice.
Brandon turned to Jude and asked him if he would like to go outside and play for a bit, knowing Callie wouldn't want her brother to be far even if she didn't want him to hear their conversation. Before Brandon could finish asking Jude already ran out to the backyard, iPad and popcorn forgotten.
Without saying a word, Brandon helped her up and outside to the swing on the back patio. He sat down and pulled her into his lap, holding her tightly for comfort and reassurance. "What's on your mind pretty girl?"
She placed her head in the crook of his neck, hugging him just as tightly as he was her. "What if we get separated again?"
"You're not going to get separated."
Her arms became tighter around him, if that was even possible. "How do you know?"
Brandon leaned back a little and took her face between his hands. Placing a kiss on her nose, he spoke. "I know my mom and once she knows you she will love you and Jude just as much as I do and never want to let the two of you go. Everything will be fine. I promise." He leaned his forehead against hers.
"You can't promise that." She leaned into him more.
"But I can and am." He gave her a quick kiss before resuming the previous position. The two sit there absorbed into each other with Jude playing in the background. Neither noticed the two woman arrive home and watching from the kitchen window.
"You think we should interrupt them?" Lena asked from the window. Stef closed the refrigerator door and joined her wife.
"Give them a few more minutes. She looks like she could use some alone time with him before we interrupt and make her more nervous. You think she is a nice girl?"
"I don't think he would date her if she wasn't. I think she has just been through a lot in her life. No one deserves that." Lena said as she continues to gaze at the couple.
"I don't even know her and can tell I'm going to love her. I've never seen B like this before. He looks so grown up." Stef said with a sad smile as she laid a hand on her wife's shoulder. The pair observe them for another couple of minutes.
"Let's go say hi." Both smiled at each other before going outside to make their presence known.