"We can take you all the way back to the island, mom." Brooke was in the drivers seat, one hand on the steering wheel as the other held tight to the cup of coffee that she'd just poured before they left.
They were in a bit of a rush... She didn't even get to stir the creamer in before they were out the door and piling into her SUV.
"I don't want you to do that." Stevie shook her head softly, sunglasses resting over her eyes as she watched the snow fall from the passenger window. "I want you to enjoy the rest of your afternoon with your father and your siblings." She felt as small as ant, but it was what it was and she was tired of trying to make it something it wasn't.
They were old enough to know what was happening by then... It wasn't like she was ruining Christmas for little kids who had spent the entire month counting down to that evening- they were all adults and they each understood that life really isn't always as simple as we hope.
Things get complicated and their parents were no different than anyone in that department.
"That's going to be hard to do." Brooklynn admitted and not to make her feel bad, but just in an honest tone.
She wasn't sure that she could really go on to have a good day after the insane amount of tension that had washed over the entire house when Tom and Stevie emerged from the guest bedroom. It was almost suffocating.
"We're going to miss you." Courtney's voice was soft, just above a whisper as she leaned forward a tad from the backseat.
It was just the three women and the baby, having left Sam and Gabe behind with Tom at the house in hopes they could find a way to calm him down as well... It was dramatic, that's for sure.
Chuckling softly, Stevie reached back, smiling the second her daughter-in-law tangled their fingers together. "I will see you all in a few months." She reminded the girls. "I am already counting down the days until we're back together." She added, hoping to make them feel a little bit better...
That was one of the few times in life that she didn't know what to say to make her child feel better. Stevie was the very best at advice- she made every situation a little less chaotic, but that time was exceptionally hard for her.
She didn't tell the kids the full extent of what was happening, but she did announce, while all they were all gathered in the kitchen, passing around milk and cereal boxes, that she was leaving.... She told them that Tom didn't want her there, so she wasn't going to stay, which caused all of the kids to grow concerned.
Concerned for their mom, but annoyed with their dad.
"I can go with you." Brooklynn was nearly in tears as she stared over at the woman that she admired more than anyone else. "I'll take the train too and-"
"Don't be silly, Brooklyn." Stevie cut her off, a faint chuckle escaping her a second later. "You are going to go back to be with your boyfriend and have a wonderful Christmas opening up everything from the list that you sent Santa." She teased, which caused her daughter to let out a tear filled giggle.
Nodding softly, her heart sank as they began to pull into the parking lot of the train station. "But I've never been away from you on Christmas Day..." she whispered as the tears finally began to roll down her red cheeks.
She was twenty- six years old, but you would have never guessed in that moment... She looked like a little kid, begging her mother not to leave her at daycare.
"Hey," Stevie used her free hand to cradle Brookes chin. "I am always just a phone call away, sweet girl." She reminded her as she carefully used the pad of her thumb to wipe a tear off her babies cheek.
Biting down on her lower lip, Brooke titled her head to the side to look at her mother a little bit better. "No matter what happens?" Her voice was so gentle and Stevie knew, right away, what she meant by that.
Nodding her head softly, Stevie cracked the warmest smile as her vision began to blur. "No matter what happens, I'll always be wherever you and Sam are."
~~~
The train ride back was quiet but long. She got a window seat and like always, she stared out the entirety of it. She watched the world pass by at a fast pace, the snow still falling as the sky remained a soft shade of gray.
She realized, almost as soon as she got situated that she probably shouldn't have left like that, or at all. She shouldn't have made such a big deal about their argument, but then again, that was exactly why they had found themselves there once more... They didn't face their issues head on, not like they did when they were first married.
They used to right for each other, not against each other.
Anyway, she spent a lot of time thinking and before she knew it, she was getting off the train and catching a cab to the Inn.... she was happy to be back.
Nantucket might not have been home, but it sure felt like it in moments like that. It was familiar and safe- two things that she really needed at that point in her life, mainly because everything else seemed so far out of reach.
"Hey..." Marissa creased a brow the second her eyes fell on her boss, shocked to see her back so soon. "Merry Christmas Eve." She added in a gentle tone of voice as she pushed herself out of the chair behind the desk to greet the blonde.
"Hi, sweet girl." Stevie let off the weakest smile, obviously very tired and even a little sad. "How are things going?" She wondered, setting her purse down on the table the second she slipped through the office.
She was ready to go up to her room and take a nap, but she figured that since Marissa was there on Christmas Eve, instead of being out with her friends or across the country with her family, she would hang out too.
"Everything is okay." She assured, trying to read Stevie as best she could. "And you'll be happy to know that you have your floor back to yourself." She announced, which immediately caught the older woman's attention.
"Excuse me?" Stevie creased a brow, heart beginning to beat a mile a minute.
"Oh, that cute guy that was across the hallway checked out this morning."
