You, Me, and the Kid: A Stefanielle Story

Part 24

Danielle opened the door to find the 8 year old standing there. She had dried up tear stains still on her face. Her hair was still damp because she had just got out the shower. She stood there in front of the door looking down at her feet. She was scared to look up at the blonde standing in front of her. She didn't know what her reaction was gonna be, whatever it was she wasn't prepared for it. As she was looking down at her feet her eyes were still filled with tears, and at any moment she could just cry.

"Andi..." Danielle said breaking the silence. Andi started breathing a little faster and tears feel from her face to the floor. Stefania had got out the shower and was gonna go out into the room, until she heard the two of them standing there. She just stood there with the door cracked listening to them.

"Andi look at me." Danielle said squatting down to her height and putting the price of paper on the floor. Andi looked up but not directly at Danielle. More so around her. "My eyes Andi." She said, trying to stay as calm as she could, knowing that the little girl was both scared and nervous. Both pairs of the blue eyes finally meet each other. They looked at each other for a while until Danielle finally broke the silence.

"Andi...I don't really know what made you do that, but I want you to know that whatever the problem is, I'm here and I will listen to you. You can tell me. When you threw your ring back at me it did hurt a bit, because it felt like I had broke all my promises I made to you." She said. The both of them still looking into each other's eye. Andi still silently crying, with Danielle wiping every single tear that fell down her face. "That was the only time that you hurt me but the person you hurt the most was your mom. Especially when you yelled back at her. Look I didn't care if you apologized to me, but the one person you need to apologize to is your mom. Ok?"

Andi nodded and tried to walk into their room but Danielle stopped her. "Let's wait until tomorrow so that everyone has had the chance to cool down." Andi nodded and finally broke out into a cry. Danielle pulled her into a hug and stroked her back up and down. "Hey it's ok. Everyone isn't perfect. We all do things we regret. But let this be a learning thing. Ok?"
Andi nodded and stood back up wiping her face. "Let's go to bed." Danielle said standing up walking with the 8 year old to her room.

•••

It was now the next morning. It was a rainy morning, which made the mood in the house cozy and chill but everyone was still on edge from yesterday.  Danielle had woke up and went downstairs to find Andi sitting there eating a bowl of cereal, looking down at the table. She had her blanket wrapped around her, from her head to toe. "Good morning." Danielle said walking over to the coffee pot to start it. "Buongiorno." Andi said back. 

Danielle walked over to bar and sat down next to her. "Bored huh?" She asked. Andi nodded. There was nothing she could do. Usually they'll be walking out the door at this time but since she couldn't go to school they were stuck at home. And usually when their stuck at home, she watches tv or plays her switch but Stefania took away those privileges.

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad or anything but you do realize that you would have perfect attendance this year but you got suspended?" Danielle asked. "Yeah I know. I was the one in my class who was in the lead." She said with a mouth full of coco puffs. "Is mamma still asleep?"
"Yea I think so. Why?"
"I just want to talk to the both of you. You know about yesterday?"
Danielle nodded and then the coffee was done so she fixed herself a cup.

"Want some?" Danielle said playfully, just trying to lighten up the mood. Andi shook her head and smiled, which made Danielle smile. Just then Stefania came walking down the stairs like she had just woke up. "Good morning beautiful." Danielle said. "Buongiorno mamma." 
"Buongiorno bambinas." She said in return sitting down at the bar.