Finding Home (The Affair Series Book 3)

To Michigan

With the family back on the road again chatting away Frankie sipped on her coffee as Jude was finishing up his book. They had left Nevada nearly five hours ago as the state became a distant memory in their minds. Some healing was done on Stef's part not fully but some and Frankie had confronted her father. Little did she know in a few weeks she would get a text from him apologizing.  For the time being Frankie was as content as she could be even if her mind kept replaying the unpleasant conversation she had with Callie.  Truth was she had no idea what Callie would be like, how she would react or what she would say but she found out and it angered her. It angered her to hear the animosity she had against their mother and even toward herself. It really did but just like Stef and her aunt Fran, Frankie was persistent as hell.

FLASHBACK

"I don't even know you and I don't need you calling me up telling me how to fell. Where do you get off."

"First off Callie I'm not telling you how to feel at all. I would not I'm only asking you to talk to our mama. Try to see..

"Please you have known her for what five minutes if that. You have no idea what she's like. None at all and once you do you will run and wish you never met her."

"Look Callie I've seen my fair share in the last few months. I know mama is not perfect and I've known her for more than 5 minutes. I have and are you always this unfriendly?"

"Only to people I don't like." At this Frankie shook her head for Callie was difficult but not the worst she ever dealt with. But she was pretty up there.

"You don't need to like me Callie but we have a few things in common. We are sisters, Jude is our brother, and our mama is trying. I know it was rough for ...

"You don't know a damm thing. What do you know? You dodged a bullet since she got rid of you. But..

"You have a listening problem." Frankie interrupted. "Mama is sorry and she had been doing well. She's sorry for everything she's done to you and Jude. She is Callie and..."

"I'm not talking to you. So don't call again Francesca. You think Stef is so great lucky you. But she will never be my mother and you will never be my sister so blow off." With that Callie slammed the phone down as Frankie shook her head. Damm her sister was a trip.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"You babies hungry?" Stef asked her kids as Lena had been holding her hand almost the entire trip. "Still have a few hours left."

"Sure ma. It's fine." The two said as she glanced to Lena who smiled wide at her. 

"I know you are hungry my love."

"For you." Lena whispered as Stef couldn't help but bust out laughing as the slim woman winked at her. The blonde knew she wanted some and Lena was not shy about showing it. Not by any means and if they did get alone time Stef was most certainly going to make love to her again. Most certainly.

As they pulled into another dinner the family was only about an hour from Michigan as they ordered burger and fries and Lena couldn't help but rub Stef's back. By this time they were pretty much dating and the kids loved the idea. They really did.

"You ok baby?"

"Yeah love just my back and neck is killing me from driving."

"I can drive the rest. Let me help some."

"Yeah I might take you up on that love." The blonde said smiling at her girlfriend as her eyes soon looked to Frankie who was starting to study for police academy. She had also been getting up early every morning to run in Nevada and was reading everything she could about being a K-9 officer. The idea still didn't sit 100 percent with Stef for she wanted Frankie to finish college but she would support her no matter what.

"So my love I do have a few K-9 buddies. When we get back you can talk with them and maybe hang out with them for the day to see how it is."

"Really?" Frankie asked looking up rather excited.

"Sure honey. My friend Carl just started about maybe three years ago and my other friend Maureen."

"Sure. I'd love too."

"Ok." Smiling at her daughter she felt Lena squeeze her hand.

"I don't think I want to be a cop mom." Just blurted out.

"You don't have to be honey. You can be whatever you like. And it's ok if you don't know my love."

"Yeah. I'm not sure yet."

"I didn't always wanna be one Jude. I never even thought about it before." Frankie chimed in.

"Really? So what changed your  mind?" The young boy asked as both women looked to Frankie.

"Alot of things. Things I never expected but good things. It was kinda like I just felt it. Hard to explain and I don't know if it makes sense. I mean I could start it and hate it."

"Or you could love it." Stef said showing as much support as she could. "We never know until we try. Right?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be proud of you regardless my love."

"Thanks mama."

"Of course sweetness." Winking at her daughter Lena couldn't help but shake her head at the thought of both Stef and Frankie being cops. She knew it might be tough for the blonde in the beginning because she was very overprotective of Frankie. Which she understood but it was almost like certain things ran in the family that no one could control.

"Well, we will have two officers looking after us Jude." Lena said laughing as the entire table did.

"Yup we are in trouble!" Jude laughed but soon looking to his mother. "So mom?"

"Yeah babe?"

"I was just wondering are you going to see your aunt Fran and Debbie when we get back to California?"

"What love?"

"I was just wondering if you forgave her."

"I'm not mad at her baby boy."

"Oh well I was just curious. She seems to really love you. I mean her and Debbie. They told us stories about when you were a kid."

"Yeah?" Stef asking taking a sip of her drink as both Frankie and Lena glanced to her.

"Yeah. How you were really sweet. It just sort of reminds me of you and Callie."

"What do you mean honey?"

"Well you know how you made some mistakes when we were little. And you changed and I Iistened to you and understood. But Callie can't seem to. Is that how you feel about your aunt? That you can't forgive her yet because of how your childhood went with Sharon?"

It was just like Stef's kids to ask her questions like this and to confront her with things she did not want to be confronted with. It never failed as she let out a sigh wondering how she would answer this.

"I um I have a few feelings love that I can't um explain yet. I'm not angry with her it's just um it's not that easy to explain sweetheart."

"You just seem so much like her. And she seems so much like you. It would just be a shame if you couldn't be in each other lives." The cop knew her son was right no matter how much it hurt she knew he was as Lena held her hand rubbing it once again. Nothing about this was easy. Nothing at all.