Heartbroken

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Lindsey had completely distanced himself from Stevie. If she didn't want him to, fine, he wasn't going to bother her. There had been no communication between the two for almost three weeks after Lindsey went home. He hadn't seen Alice either, they only spoke on the phone, it was painful to both father and daughter, but he repeatedly asked her to understand where he was coming from and she said she did. Stevie missed his presence, it was comforting having Lindsey around. For a very short period of time, but it felt like they were a dysfunctional, but nevertheless, a family.

Stevie was adjusting the best she could, she knew that life had to go on. She wasn't pushing everyone away anymore, she started letting people in again, she picked up the phone every time it rang and listened to heartfelt condolences, willing herself not to burst into tears. She was talking to her mother a lot more, not necessarily about what happened, but whenever she needed comfort, she called Barbara and they would speak for hours. Lori was coming over every day too, making sure Stevie wasn't keeping her emotions bottled up and nearing a breakdown.

Alice was sitting at the table in the kitchen, watching Stevie as she was making lunch for them. Alice couldn't be happier that her mother came back to normal, sort of. Stevie was the center of the girl's universe and she couldn't stand seeing her mother hurting.

The doorbell rang and Stevie dried off her hands and went to answer the door. She froze immediately, seeing the person standing in front of her. She couldn't believe it, was she dreaming? Her breathing quickened as she almost fainted.

"Hi, Mom."

"Taylor..." Her eyes brimmed with tears. "Oh my God, Taylor..."

He stepped closer, embracing her as she dissolved into tears, her whole body shaking as she clung onto her son, whom she hadn't seen for seven years. Alice was looking at the two, shocked at seeing her brother home. She was only five years old, when Taylor decided to leave and look for his personal happiness somewhere else. He was nineteen at the time and to Stevie, he was still very much her baby. She was against him travelling half across the world, into the unknown, he refused help from his parents, he didn't take their money, he didn't want anything from them. As much as Stevie was upset, Lindsey was furious. He couldn't understand what happened to Taylor to make this decision and even though both his parents were against it, he chose to leave, shutting his family away. He didn't know how to express just how sorry he was for it now.

"Hey, Alice." Taylor smiled, when Stevie calmed down a little and was able to stand on her own.

"Hello." She replied very seriously. She knew her brother for the very first years of her life and she couldn't remember much of him. "I'll be in my room."

"What about lunch, Alice? I'm almost finished." Stevie said, still wiping her tears away.

"I'm not hungry anymore." She said and ran upstairs.

"I'm sorry, she's... we certainly weren't expecting to see you. I think she's just a little shocked."

"It's fine, I didn't think she would jump into my arms, giving me a big hug. I'm surprised you let me in."

"Taylor, you're my son. Despite everything that happened, I don't love you any less and I have been thinking about you every day." She took him by the hand and led him to the living room. "What made you come back?"

"I found out about Ryan..."

She felt tears stinging her eyes again, but she fought them back. "How?"

"Grandma called me, we kept in touch."

"You kept in touch with my mother, but not yours? Taylor, you can't imagine the things I came up with in my head while you were gone!"

"I know, Mom and I'm so sorry. I was stupid. Leaving was the biggest mistake I've ever made."

"Why didn't you come back sooner then?"

"Because..." Taylor got up, saying. "Wait a second."

"What? Where are you going?" But he was out the door already.

Taylor rejoined Stevie a few minutes ago, carrying a beautiful little girl in his arms. "I didn't come back because of her."

"Is she..."

"She's my daughter, Mom. Her name is Lynn and she's going to be four in December."

"Grandma." Lynn pointed at Stevie and Taylor nodded, smiling. "That's right, baby. Would you like to go say hi?" He lowered his daughter to the floor and she took a few short steps towards Stevie, who sat completely stunned. "Hi, Grandma!"

Stevie opened her mouth, but nothing came out, as she looked from the girl to her son. "She knows everything about you and dad. I had pictures with me that I show her all the time and I tell her stories, so she knows about you."

That broke Stevie, she started crying again, lifting Lynn onto her lap as the girl wrapped her little arms around her neck and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Hi, Lynn." She finally managed. "You're very beautiful, sweetheart."

"You're sad."

"No, no I'm not sad, I'm very happy." Stevie smiled widely and so did Lynn.

Taylor knew Stevie had a thousand questions. "We'll talk about it later, okay?"

"Okay." She nodded. "I need to call your father."

Lynn jumped off her lap and ran back to her Daddy. Stevie dialed Lindsey's number, her hands shaking and put the receiver to her ear. She waited for a long time, almost hanging up, right before he picked up.

"Lindsey, it's me."

"What do you want, Stevie?"

"You have to come over. Now."

"I can't say I want to. Why? Is everything okay?"

"Yes. Lindsey... Taylor is right next to me. He came home."