Sacrifice

On one condition

Another long and exhausting Fleetwood Mac tour was wrapped up, with an emotion filled show in Las Vegas. Stevie was tired, she needed a vacation, but she knew she was probably going to end up in a studio. She had also missed her husband and she could hardly contain herself. She was already thinking about lazy mornings in bed together and early nights, cuddling, while watching her favorite TV shows, which she forced him to watch too.

When the car pulled into the driveway, Stevie frowned, because it was empty. Her belongings were carried inside and after telling Karen she won't need her assistance, she sent her assistant home as well. The house seemed odd, it somehow felt different. She went from one room to another, to the bedroom, finally realizing that things were missing. His things. 

Stevie rummaged through her handbag, looking for her phone. She struggled a little, but dialed his number, only to cancel the call as the front door opened and she hurried downstairs.

"Oh... I thought you wouldn't be back yet."

"I wanted to surprise you coming home today." 

"And I wanted to take the rest of my things while you weren't here."

"Robert, what's going on?" Her heart started racing, awaiting his answer.

"What does it look like?"

"It looks a lot like you're moving out."

"I am." He nodded, sighing heavily. "I'll just go, take..."

"No!" Stevie blocked his way. "You're moving out of our home and you aren't even going to explain?"

"What's there to explain?"

"Excuse me, but I am slightly confused right now."

"I'm leaving you." Robert said, looking straight into her eyes. "We're over."

"Is this some sick joke? I didn't quite get it."

"I'm sorry, Steph, but I don't want to be married to you any longer."

"You could try and make it look like this was a hard decision for you." Stevie's voice cracked, as her eyes brimmed with tears. "What are you talking about? Robert, please... I..."

"There's someone else."

"Oh..." She started crying. "You've been cheating on me?"

"I didn't mean for it to happen, but it sort of just... happened."

"Things like that don't just fucking happen if you don't want them to." She wiped away her tears, but it was no use. "How long?"

"Do we really have to do this?"

"How can you ask that? I've been your wife for the past twenty years and you wonder if you should explain yourself?! Who is she? Where did you meet her?"

"James' birthday party, she was one of the... umm, entertainers."

"So, she's a stripper?"

"She's a dancer."

"Just how old is she? Is she at least eighteen?"

"Her name is Heather. She's... She's twenty seven."

"Oh for fuck's sake, Robert! She could be our daughter!"

"I don't care about her age. She makes me feel..." He shrugged, unable to find a better word. "Alive."

"You're a sixty four year old man and you're making a fool out of yourself! Do you think Heather likes you for the person that you are? Because you're fun to be around? No, because you have a pretty nice looking bank account!"

"I know that you're upset right now..."

"Oh you think?" She cocked her head back, willing herself to somehow stop crying. "Why? Is it because I'm old? Fat? Ugly? What?"

"You're none of those things. You are still so beautiful..."

"Why don't I believe you? Probably because you're leaving me for a woman who's almost forty years younger than me, don't you think?"

"It's not that."

"You don't love me anymore? You don't love me enough anymore?"

"I love you."

"Then give me the reason why, Robert!"

"Because she's fucking pregnant, okay?" He yelled. He wanted to keep that part a secret. "The first time, I was drunk and she was there. We had sex, it wasn't even that good. I haven't seen her since, until she came looking for me, saying I knocked her up."

"So, saying she makes you feel alive is not true?"

"No, it isn't. I just didn't know what else to say besides the truth."

"How do you know you really are the father? Just how many other parties like that she entertains at? How many other man fuck her during them?"

"Heather just started out working as a stripper. Dancer... And she is a lovely girl, I genuinely doubt she would lie about it."

"I'm sure she started working as one, because she has bills to pay. She knew you had money."

"Even if..." Robert trailed off.

"What do you mean? Even if?"

"I'm still filing for divorce."

Stevie became emotional again, taking a moment to compose herself. "Please, don't... I forgive you."

"I don't need you to, Stevie. This is good, I get another chance at family. Heather might be a random girl, but she's carrying my child and you and I didn't get to have our own children. Besides, I don't even see you that much, you're working on your albums or touring."

"But this is my job, this is how I make a living." 

"Come on, be honest. You don't really have to work anymore, you have more money than you could ever spend."

"I enjoy it. You like to go on fishing trips with your friends, I like to play music with mine."

"Or with him?"

"Don't bring Lindsey into this. You don't have to start accusing me. You know I've never cheated on you, we're just close friends."

"I hope you haven't cheated on me."

They were getting off topic, so Stevie took a step closer, almost carefully placing her hands on Robert's shoulders. "I'll do anything." She was still wearing her boots, he was taller, but she didn't have to try too hard to reach his lips. "I don't want us to separate, Robert. We've been together for over twenty years." She kissed him again. "I forgive you for Heather, we'll pay her money to stay away from us." Another kiss as she also felt his arm going around her waist. "We can move on from this. I love you and I don't want to lose you."

"I love you, too. And I am sorry..." He said, tangling his fingers in her hair, bringing their lips closer. "On one condition."

"What?" She asked, adding. "Anything for you."

"I'm going to forget about Heather and you..." He thought she had stopped breathing, waiting for him to finish. "You quit Fleetwood Mac."