FAMILY MATTERS Always

Time to Go

Judy gathers the few things she brought with her to her old family home and shoves them in her worn duffle bag. Even though seeing everyone was an emotional and dramatic experience, she's still very happy she came. She got a chance to clear the air with several of her family members during her first visit. She can't begin to describe the amount of relief she feels. She's happy that she can finally heal from the pains of the past after nearly three decades.
She decides to take a few trinkets from her old room to show Shannon. Shannon is going to get a kick out of her nostalgic paraphernalia. Judy has told Shannon all about her childhood, so the items she's taking back to their apartment will be recognized as soon as Shannon sees them. She is zipping up her bag when she hears a knock at the bedroom door.
"Come in," she states without bothering to ask who it is. Harriet slowly opens the door to peer at her youngest daughter.
"Do you really think it's a good idea to be driving this time of night?" Harriet asks hesitantly. Judy spins around to face her.
"I drive at night all of the time whenever I work the night shift. I'll be fine."
"But this is a long drive, Judy, and I really want to make sure you're safe-"
"Mom, I'll be OK- really," Judy cuts Harriet off to assure her. Harriet makes a sad face.
"Do you really have to go?"
"Yeah, I do. I have class in the morning and then I go to work tomorrow night."
"Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting you have your own life now. I can't help but see my thirteen year-old Judy every time I look at your face. I'm so sorry I missed so much of your life," Harriet states with tears in her eyes. Judy approaches her emotional mother and wraps her arms around her. She fights off the urge to get emotional herself.
"I'm sorry, too, but as long as we're breathing, it's never too late to try to make things right." Harriet pulls her beautiful daughter to her bosom and strokes her hair. She kisses her forehead softly.
"Baby, you are so right about that."
***
Laura sits on the edge of her bed in deep thought. Something about the way Steve has been acting lately is not sitting right with her. He's been very jumpy around her since he disappeared that day to chat with Myra, and now he's denying Laura intimacy when he's never done that before. Something is wrong, but she can't pinpoint what. It is starting to bother her more than she can officially ignore. She won't be able to rest until she finds out the truth surrounding Steve's strange behavior.
"Just go and ask him about it," Laura mumbles to herself. "He's never been one to lie to you." She quickly decides to take her own advice. She stands to her feet and heads to the room where Steve and 3J are staying. The men's juicy-sounding conversation carries slightly through the closed door. Her curiosity is at its peak. Laura approaches their shut entrance slowly and quietly.
"You need to burn them, Urkie. Burn the whole damn envelope," Laura hears 3J say in a low tone. Laura presses her ear against the door for better audio.
"I can't start a fire right now. It's late. I need to find a way to get rid of these pictures now," Steve replies desperately.
"Let me ask you this: Why bring the damn things home in the first place? Do you know how dangerous it is to have pictures like that in this house? Do you have a death wish or something?"
"3J, I wasn't thinking clearly. I'm still not-"
Laura has heard as much as she can comfortably stomach. She tries to open the door, but it's locked. Their secretive situation takes her over the edge. She beats at their door like she has a warrant for their arrest. She hears shuffling in the room before the door finally inches ajar. Steve looks startled to see her.
"Uh, hello, my pet. I thought you were sleeping."
"I bet you did," Laura exclaims, forcing her way inside of the room. Steve stumbles backward when the door nearly knocks him off of his feet. 3J jumps up after seeing how upset Laura looks. The men glance at each other with frightened eyes.
"Where is it?" Laura spits out nastily, "And before y'all sit here and try to play stupid, spare me the bullshit. Where is the envelope with the pictures in it?"
"Envelope?" 3J asks with a nervous chuckle. Laura raises her hand as if she wants to smack him.
"Boy, I just said spare me the bullshit! Where is the envelope with the pictures in it y'all were talking about destroying?" 3J throws up his hands in a surrendering way. He glances at Steve.
"I love you, bro, but I'm not getting my ass whooped for you." He takes a step back and folds his arms, leaving Steve in the hot seat alone. Steve is barely able to look at Laura.
"Laura, I..." Steve doesn't know what to say. Laura's impatience shows prominently on her round face. Steve's shoulders slump with defeat. He moves towards the room's closet to retrieve the envelope from its top shelf.
"I wanted to tell you about this, but I didn't know how..." he mumbles. His hand shakes with nervousness as he extends the envelope in her direction. She snatches it from him like she can't wait another second to see what lies within it. She takes a deep breath before peering inside. The tears stream from her eyes before she's able to process what she's seeing. Her eyes close immediately once she sees Myra's naked body with her husband.
"Steve..." she mutters with the most hurt tone he's ever heard. Her heart breaks right before his eyes. She has never felt pain so sharp and instant in her life. She slams the envelope against his chest without bothering to completely remove the pictures from it. If she sees anymore, she's sure she will vomit.
She takes a devastating step towards the room's exit. She gawks at him like he's a strange man who has just violated her. The burning starts in her chest and radiates up her neck. She's drowning from her earth-shattering emotions.
"Laura- Laura Lee... I'm so, so sorry. I- I can explain-"
She turns her back on him and hurries into the hallway. She darts towards her room. She'd be boo-hooing right now if she could catch her breath. Her rib cage feels like it's smothering her heart and lungs to death. She has to get out of here right now. She has to get as far away from Steve as she can.
"Laura, I'm leaving. I have an early day tomorrow-" Judy starts when she turns the corner into Laura's room. Her sister is standing there like a distraught store mannequin. Judy stares at her with an alarmed expression.
"Laura... are you- are you OK?" Laura appears stuck until Judy rushes over to her. Laura lets out a heart-wrenching yell before nearly collapsing to the floor. Judy catches her.
"Oh my God! Laura, what's wrong?" Judy asks frantically. Laura cries too hard to answer her sister. She weeps so loud that it hurts. Judy rocks her in a caring way. Steve appears in the doorway after Laura's sorrow echoes throughout the house.
"Laura-"
"Keep him away from me!" She shouts hysterically. Judy glares at Steve.
"What did you do?"
"I..." he begins, but the thought of saying what he wants to say aloud leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. "I'll pack my things and leave," he states instead. Laura stares at him as if she can kill him.
"You should fucking leave you fucking cheater! And don't you ever come back!" She spits out with serious disdain in her voice. He disappears from her sights a few seconds later. The hurt Steve feels is no match for Laura's pain. That doesn't change the fact that he's hurting, though.
He crosses 3J's path but doesn't look at him. Everything is so fuzzy and numb... almost like a dream. He heads to the bedroom to pack his things. He doesn't deserve the comfort of the Winslow's home right now. He's not sure if he ever will again.
3J appears in Laura's doorway next. His face is covered with concern. Judy glances in 3J's direction. Laura refuses to give him eye contact. He was lying to her, too.
"I can't be here right now, Judy. I can't look at either one of them. Please take me with you. I'm begging you, get me out of here."