FAMILY MATTERS Always

Confrontation

Steve doesn't want to go home. He drives his car in circles until he gets dizzy. How is he supposed to face Laura after waking up with a naked Myra next to him? How can he kiss his wife's lips knowing that he was just intimate with another woman? How can he engage with the lady he vowed to honor, cherish and obey, painfully knowing that he just committed the most unforgivable act with the most off-limits person?
How?
He pulls over every time his emotions get too overwhelming to deal with. He just can't wrap his mind around what happened between him and Myra. He thinks hard about the details until his head hurts. He eventually draws the conclusion that he would never cheat on Laura, no matter the drug or the woman. He figures that Myra is lying- she has to be, but if she is, how can Steve prove it?
Steve makes the tough decision not to tell Laura about this until he gets to the bottom of everything. Even though he's never kept a single thing from her, this scenario must be the one exception to the rule. After all, the fate of their family and marriage depends on it.
Steve finally pulls up at the Winslow residence just before dark. He eases into the house as quietly as he can, hoping to make it up to the attic with 3J before anyone spots him. Laura is sitting on the couch when he slides through the front door. Steve nearly jumps 10 feet high when he sees her. She slowly stands to her feet, "Steve, we need to talk."
***
Harriet drives down the interstate at a slow and steady pace. She glares in the rear view mirror every few seconds to make sure her youngest daughter is still behind her. She told Judy that she wanted her to come back to the house with her, and Judy originally declined her mother's request, but Harriet insisted that she wouldn't take no for an answer. Now, Judy is having serious anxiety about seeing everyone after all of this time. How will her estranged family members receive her? Will they secretly judge her? Will the truth regarding her and Eddie cause a divide within the family?
Harriet and Judy pull up just in time to see Steve creep through the front door. Harriet gets out of the car and stands by to wait for Judy to do the same.
"You can do this, you can do this," Judy chants over and over again to herself. She hops out of the car to join her awaiting mother.
"Are you ready for this?" Harriet asks, barely able to control her excitement. Judy nods her head nervously.
"No... not really," she answers honestly. Harriet pushes the door open before she can acknowledge Judy's words. Both women freeze at the sight of Laura violently throwing things at Steve in a fit of rage. Steve dodges the random items flying at his head. Laura is so hysterical that her yelling is incoherent. Harriet rushes to her daughter's side.
"What the hell is going on in here?"
"He's lying to me!" She shouts, allowing tears to stream down her distraught face. Harriet glances at a fearful Steve before looking back at her daughter.
"Lying to you? Lying to you about what?"
"Where he's been! He said he wasn't with Myra, but I can smell her on him! I can smell her all over his clothes!"
"Laura, calm down. Don't you think you're overreacting?" Harriet inquires rationally. Her question makes something click inside of Steven's mind. He suddenly remembers the reason why he went to go see Myra in the first place...
His wife's uncontrollably attraction to that damn Stefan.
Steve gets angry all over again at the thought, "Yeah! Especially since it's me that should be upset! You had Stefan's number! You've probably been seeing him behind my back!"
Laura freezes after his words. Even though she suspected he found Stefan's number, she still makes a busted expression when he confirms it to be true. Harriet gawks at her daughter as if she's shocked by what she just heard.
"Laura, are you still keeping in contact with your ex?"
"Uh... well, it's not that simple. I'm not keeping in contact with him per say. I ran into him at the club the other night-"
"Who are all you people and what are you doing in my house?!"
Everyone immediately turns their attention to a perplexed Carl. He stands on the landing near the top of the stairs. Harriet takes a step in his direction.
"Carl, it's us- It's your family."
"Family? I don't have any family! I'm calling the police."
"Just calm down, Carl. Calm down," Harriet says soothingly. She climbs up a few steps to join her confused husband. He glares at her face closely.
"Hannah?"
"Harriet," she corrects him, gently grabbing his arm. "Come on, let's go upstairs and lay down. We'll call Dr. Wayne in the morning."
Harriet leads an apprehensive Carl towards the bedroom. Judy's eyes well up with tears at the sight of her family's drama. She emotionally rushes out of the front door. Laura finally recognizes her estranged sister's face. She instantly follows behind her.
"Judy?" She exclaims, wiping the tears of marital problems from her eyes. Judy pauses in her tracks.
"Hi, Laura," she states hesitantly. She slowly turns around to face her.
"Oh my God! I mean- wow! How have you been?"
"I've been OK," she answers modestly. Laura wastes no time approaching her. She pulls her in for a tight embrace.
"I've missed you so much, sis." Judy returns the hug.
"I've missed you, too."