I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

LV.

Later that evening when everybody was left to their own devices after dinner, Stevie sought refuge in her bedroom for the time being.

Catherine and Danielle were upstairs with Shannon watching a movie while both Nicholas and Jeffrey were playing video games together.

It had been a rough night for Jeffrey considering he was hiding his mother and father's secret life from his little brother and as a son who relished in his parents' long marriage, it saddened him it was not everything that it seemed---it also weighed on him because he felt at fault despite them saying otherwise.

Gently knocking on her parents' bedroom door, Shannon entered to see her mother getting her giant purse full of essentials together.

"Hi, doll..." she smiled small, folding her sweater to settle. "You're still up?"

"I took a power nap, my aunts are dozing, but I had to use the bathroom so I thought I'd check on you," she plopped down next to where her mother was working and she stared up at her. "Are you okay?"

"I guess..." she shrugged. "I'm looking forward to getting back on the road. Despite the stress of it at first, it is always the best cure. I just have to connect with my craft is all..."

She nodded, biting her bottom lip as her eyes watched her mother's every move, even taking in her stomach that didn't seem to have much of a bump for 16 weeks.

Looking at her daughter, she lifted her brow.

"You look like you have something to say..."

"Well..." she lingered and shrugged. "The Jeffrey thing," she whispered.

The woman sighed.

"Mom, I wish I would have warned you... Between my aunts being here and my stress for dad, I totally forgot to tell you that Jeff had saw something."

"You knew?" she creased her brow.

"I told him not to say anything. I just... It slipped my mind," she shook her head. "He was so freaked out, and I just didn't want it to get back to my aunts and dad and believe me, dad's comment tonight really stunned me... Now, I'm confused--"

"Honey, don't..." she silenced her. "This whole situation is completely out of control," she moved her bag over to the side and she sat down beside her child, taking her hand. "This shouldn't be happening and I really appreciate you and your father trying to have my back, but it's making the truth get futher out of reach," she claimed. "And doll, I am so sick to my stomach with guilt over what I've done, how I'm making you suffer..."

"Mom, I'm not suffering. I'm doing it because I love you. I want you to be happy..."

"I appreciate that," she sighed. "I can see how Jeffrey feels and despite me mentioning the part after rehab, he really thinks that our separation or lack thereof is his fault. It's just one thing to the next and the last person that surely finds out will be Nick and I don't want him to hear it down the grapevine..."

She nodded.

"So, when I get back from tour, we're gonna settle things, once and for all, and the truth will come out. I just don't want the truth to come out until your aunts are gone."

"I get it..." she agreed. "Have you talked to dad?" she wondered.

"Not yet, I haven't had the opportunity," she stood and smoothed out her top. "I'm gonna talk to him right now, I just wanna bring this all down..."

"I'll do it for you, go chat," she stood and pulled the handle up, while grabbing her purse.

"What about your shoulder, honey?" she asked as she watched the girl drape her heavy purse over her good shoulder while also rolling the suitcase along.