I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

LXII.

Jeffrey took in all of the information that Lindsey had given him in the short time frame; the guitarist had explained everything from the beginning, from him and his mother being in a relationship during adolecent years, joining Fleetwood Mac, the drug use, becoming sober and the reunion they had in the year before; how sincere the friendship had been prior to his deployment, although he kept to Robert's word and explained that they got closer during the deployment period due to his mother feeling lonely since Robert was working more. He even explained how he met Shannon by accident.

"You know, it makes a lot of sense... It feels like since I got back, everything with my parents has been so hush-hush," Jeffrey replied, taking a drink of his beer.

The relief in Lindsey was pure: he was so glad the kid was so cool and collected about the situation.

"I'm just confused..." he lingered.

"Mhmm?" Lindsey nodded.

"Why are you confiding in me about all of this? If you think I'm gonna hate you because my sister does, I'm not that kinda guy."

"No, no, I would never think that."

"Did my  mom send you?" he wondered.

"No, kiddo, no, nothing like that," he shook his head. "I just wanna touch base with you. Although, now that you bring it up, your mom had told me that you thought your deployment had something to do with your parents' separation."

He mellowed in an instant.

"I wanna mention that it's not. Your mom and I had already been talking about things, we've always been best friends and she was telling me that things with your dad had not been the same since she went to rehab. You know, your mom is a really calm person, the way you see her, maybe slightly timid at times, slightly quiet at times. That's completely normal. In crowds, a total social butterfly, but at home, very into her own things; writing, singing, painting..."

He followed along.

"When your parents met, there were a lot of drugs going around and when they met they were both high. Though your parents love each other, when they both got sober, it became less of a dependent on each other. You know what I mean? The way you're mom acted all hyper and excited when you were little was what your dad was used to, the constant energy, the drinking that made her fun to play with: it was her but with the help of substances. So when your dad saw her slowing down, he didn't see that as sober but as though she changed. He wanted her to be like she was and that was technically on drugs."

He nodded.

"Their separation was inevitable due to their simple differences in life, it has nothing to do with you, kid."

"I appreciate you explaining everything."

"Of course," he nodded. "Are you sure my mom didn't send you?" he smirked.

"I promise," he chuckled. "She doesn't even know I'm here," he claimed.

"Oh..."

"Yeah, the reason I came was to tell you all this," he added. "But there is one small thing I should atone for."

He creased his brow.

"Your girlfriend, Kristen..."

"Yeah...?" he lingered, unsure of if that was the most suitable title for her.

"She's my ex. Actually, I left her to pursue things with your mother... She called me today and told me the news,"  he claimed.

The young man's cheeks became a bit flushed.

"Congratulations, before anything... But I just wanted to explain that at the time she came to the hospital, I was obviously there for the sake of your mom and sister and you introduced us before we could mention we knew one another and we went with it. Your mom had just found out she was pregnant and I didn't want her to stress out that Kristen was around. Your dad has no idea she has anything to do with me, and your mom told me about how you all met. I think that would keep things pure between all of you."