Home is You

Chapter 20

Steffy

"Hey Steffy," Amelia says getting up from the couch as I come in through the sliding glass door.

I slightly jump back. "Oh Amelia, I was not expecting you until later this afternoon. You scared me."

"I'm sorry Steffy, I should've texted you to tell you that I was on my way back. I just got held up on an errand after dropping the kids' off at school."

I brush the hair out of my eyes, then the tears, dropping my cell phone on the table in front of me.

Amelia picks up easily that I've been crying, and have been shaken up.

"If you want me to go," she points towards the door. "I can. I can come back later with or without the kids."

"No, it's okay, I'm just a mess."

"I can't image what you are going through right now," Amelia comforts softly. "Do you want me to make you some tea, or coffee?" she offers walking towards the direction of the kitchen. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No, it's okay, coffee and tea aren't doing it." I give her a small smile, "Unless you can produce Liam, unfortunately there is not much any of us can do on that end," I sigh, walking over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

"What is going on, Steffy? I couldn't believe it when you told me that, Liam left. Why did he leave? I would've never seen that coming. It doesn't make sense. That doesn't seem like something he would do at all. I know how much this family means to him. His family is everything to him."

"Honestly, we are all in shocked and completely baffled by this as we ever could be. This isn't like Liam at all. You know, I thought that I knew Liam better than anyone else in the world, yet I never saw this coming. I never thought when he received his diagnosis that he would turn around and run. I knew that he was fighting a battle wondering what his diagnosis could be, and the fears that come along with the unknown, but I just never thought that he would take it this far and leave. I thought he was going to fight. You know, he didn't just leave me, he left his children too. It just makes me wonder, you know? I'm overwhelmed with feelings, most hurt and sadness, but every now and then anger dips into my mind about how selfish his decision was. What was so bad he thought he had to leave? Then my next thought is, I can't even imagine what he's going through that he thought leaving was the only way."

"Those are completely understandable feelings, Steffy. No one can blame you for feeling this way."

"I know, but it doesn't make it easier. There is no point in being angry over it. It's just every now and then, I feel a little anger popping up, hoping to make an appearance. I don't want to be angry."

I sigh sadly, "Look, I don't want to keep you completely out of the loop, but I just can't rehash the sad details. I'm so burned from repeating it over and over to my dad, Wyatt, Bill, even Liam's doctor to also having to have to repeat it again later tonight to the kids and to Hope."

"Steffy, you don't owe me any explanation. You tell me whatever, it is you think I should know. Just know whatever you need or the kids need that I am there for all of you. You can absolutely count on me."

"I appreciate it, Amelia. I could use your support tonight, in telling the kids. I probably will need your help with the kids a little more often now that I can't rely on Liam. I am taking a leave of absence from Forrester in order to devote more time to finding Liam. I have so much on my plate, I don't need to add being co-CEO at Forrester to it all. My dad is a bit annoyed by it, but he relented and understood. He's going to pick up the slack. I might need to travel a bit more. Any lead that I get on Liam, whether it's a small or big lead. I need to jump on before he moves again. Time will be critical when we get a lead."