Sad Angel

Tumbling Down

The week that followed was uneventful.
Things went on as usual at the Buckingham household but still Stevie felt uneasy.

It was a Saturday afternoon, Stevie was home alone with Stella.
Lindsey had taken the rest of the kids to the zoo promising Stella she would get a gift when they got back; Stella had a cold and couldn't go with her siblings to the zoo.
Stevie stayed behind to take care of her daughter.

Stella was taking a nap and was cuddled up against Stevie's side.
Stevie was drifting off herself when the doorbell rang.

Stevie carefully unwrapped Stella from her, gave her a kiss on her forehead and walked downstairs to answer the door.

Karen had beat her to it but Karen was hesitant to let the person in.
"Who is it Karen?" Stevie asked.
Karen turned to Stevie with a worried expression. "It's Don."

Stevie became nervous; what could he possibly want now?

Don stepped in without waiting to be invited in. "Stevie! I need to talk to you!"
Stevie stepped away making sure there was enough space between them. "No. Whatever it is you came to talk to me about I don't want to hear it! If you keep coming here I'm filing a restraining order."
Don was determined for answers from Stevie.
He reached into his pocket and unfolded the article with Melody's photo in it. "Is Melody my daughter Stevie?" He asked bluntly holding the article up in front of her.

Karen stood frozen in place, not sure what she should do.
Stevie's face paled of color, she pulled herself together as best she could. "Don, did you hit your head or something?" Stevie said. "I used a surrogate and an anonymous donor."
Don wasn't convinced. "Look, she does look a lot like you but, she also looks like my kids. I see myself in her too." He said now holding a picture of his older children.

Stevie felt like her heart stopped; she saw the tiny similarities but still she wasn't going to tell Don the truth. She sighed. "Don, if you have forgotten, I was 56 years old at the time that you rapped me. There's no possible way you had gotten me pregnant."

Stevie hoped her voice didn't give away her lie, her heart was pounding.
Don sighed then said. "Stevie, I'm sorry I did that to you, but I have this feeling that she is my daughter. If she is, I want to get to know her and be a part of her life." He stopped for a moment.
Stevie's face face showed no emotion.
Don continued. "I want a paternity test. I need to know if Melody is mine."

"How many times do I have to tell you?! My daughter isn't yours! And she already has a father, and that's Lindsey." Stevie said; she was panicking.
"Fine, I'm going to see my lawyer so we can set up a paternity test and if she's not mine then I'll leave you alone...but if she is mine, I will file for custody, I want her in my life too."
Don turned and walked out the door.

Karen closed the door and turned to find Stevie sobbing on the floor.
Stevie was hugging herself and rocking back and forth.

Karen rushed to her side and sat next to her on the floor.
There was nothing that Karen said to calm Stevie.
After a while, Karen became concerned when Stevie started to hyperventilate.

"Stevie! Breathe! Breathe!" Karen yelled.
Karen jumped up to call Lindsey.
As she reached the phone to dial, she heard Lindsey's car pull up.

Karen ran outside and told Lindsey he needed to go inside with Stevie. She would take the kids to the backyard to play.

Lindsey ran into the house.
"Steph! What's wrong angel?" He said as he pulled her into his arms. He realized Stevie was having trouble breathing.
"Angel! Breathe, please." He begged.

Stevie laid her ear on his heart and concentrated on its rhythm. She closed her eyes and began to breathe in and out.

She finally was able to breathe evenly and she held Lindsey tighter.
"Don was here..." Stevie whispered.
Lindsey stiffened. "What did that bastard do?!" He said in anger.
"He...knows about Melody! He knows she's his daughter. He told me he has a feeling and..." Stevie said her voice quivering. "He said he wants a paternity test to be sure! And that if Melody is his daughter...he wants custody. He's going to take my baby away!"

Stevie was sobbing again while Lindsey felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest.
He composed himself then gently held Stevie's face in his hands and looked into her eyes and said. "No! Don is not going to take her away from us! We are not going to let that happen! Do you hear me angel?"
Stevie nodded and wrapped her arms around him again.

They held each other for a long time not daring to let go, only doing so when Stella cried out for Stevie.

Stevie was no longer crying. She had no more tears to shed. She stood up with Lindsey's help and composed herself. For now, she wouldn't let what Don said affect her ability to be a mother to her children.

Throughout the rest of the day, Stevie placed a smile on her face and spent time with Lindsey and their children.

Not once did she give the children any reason that something was wrong.

That night, Stevie spent a little more time with Melody in Melody's room.
Once Melody was asleep, Stevie let her tears fall.
As she held Melody, she felt so much fear.
She was afraid that Don would actually go through with filing for custody.
What if he won and he took Melody away from her?

So many thoughts flooded her mind, when it became too much, she gently got out of Melody's bed and tucked her in then ran to her bedroom and into Lindey's arms.

Sorry for the short update.

Will Don file for custody after learning the results of the paternity test?
Will he win and take Melody away from Stevie?

New chapter coming soon!