It's Up To You

Part 14

Stevie was busy with dinner, while Lindsey was with Matthew, keeping the boy occupied. The phone started ringing and Lindsey jumped to his feet, telling Stevie, he'd get it. Answering the call, he didn't expect to hear that voice on the other end. 

"What do you want?"

"Let me speak to Stevie."

"And why would I do that?" Lindsey asked, seeing Stevie approaching him, with a questioning look. 

"Listen, I'm not about to scream at her or call her names, okay? She and I need to talk."

For a change, Kim sounded calm and even sober. Sighing, Lindsey handed the receiver to Stevie, who took it tentatively, bringing it up to her ear. 

The conversation didn't last long. Lindsey could hear only one side of it, but from what he understood, Stevie was going to meet up with Kim. That didn't sit well with Lindsey and he was about to express it, when Stevie held up a hand, stopping him.

"I don't want to go there either, but I have to, Lindsey. That was probably the nicest Kim's spoken to me in I don't know how long and it seems like he wants to have a civil conversation about our situation." Stevie explained, waiting for Lindsey's reaction.

"I'm not letting you go by yourself." He said, crossing his arms. 

"Well, you can't really stop me either, can you?" Stevie challenged, returning to the kitchen with Lindsey following behind her.

"It's not safe, Steph! Maybe that was just an act?" He showed to the phone, referring to the call. 

If she were honest, Stevie was worried herself, but she also knew that Lindsey couldn't accompany her, it would only result in one of them taken by the police again. "You can come with me. BUT." She added, giving him a pointed look. "You'll wait outside in the car and you won't come in if I don't ask you to."

His jaw clenched, as Lindsey attempted to stare her down, however, he then relaxed, sighing. "Fine. But if he raises his voice, let alone a hand, your running the hell out of that house."

Nodding her head, Stevie pecked Lindsey on the lips. "Deal."

After dinner, Stevie was in the back seat with Matthew, as Lindsey sat behind the feel, driving them to see Kim. Neither of them spoke, both of them tense and nervous. When Lindsey pulled into the driveway, he felt Stevie's hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn and look at her.

"You come in if I need you."

Lindsey mumbled a reply, unfastening his seat belt, watching Stevie get out of the car, taking her son along. He told himself, it was going to be okay, but once Stevie and Matthew disappeared into the house, he couldn't stop his mind from racing with what ifs. 

"Please, don't look so scared." Kim said, taking one look at Stevie. He then got down to Matthew's level, saying hi to the boy, but Matthew held onto Stevie's hand, hiding behind her. "I suppose, I deserve that." Kim sighed, leading the way to the living room.

"Why am I here?" Stevie asked, sitting Matthew on her lap.

"Because you're not coming back." Frowning, Stevie didn't quite understand. "This... us, it's over. We tried to justify this stupid mistake we've made and look what we've come to. Marrying you changed me. The man I am today is not who I used to be. I spent that night locked behind bars and I couldn't believe I let it happen. I've never been violent, much less..." He shook his head sadly. "I've forced myself onto you countless times, I hit you and..." Kim was struggling for word, as he went quiet, hoping Stevie would speak up. 

"And you're blaming me? I've never asked you to physically abuse me, Kim."

"No, I know, it didn't come out right. I mean, we're both to blame for this bullshit. I think, we can agree that this should have never happened."

Nodding her head, Stevie could admit that. "I'm still not sure what you're trying to tell me."

"I had time to think and again, sex, drugs and rock and roll is your world, Stevie, not mine. For some reason, I tried holding onto you, I tried to make you into the wife and mother I wanted you to be, I tried to make you... make you into Robin. That's just sick." He dropped his eyes low, staying silent for a moment. "It's not healthy for either of us to keep going the way we have been. I don't want to end up in prison for good, after I've done something even worse to you. It's time we admit that we failed and end this circus."

Stevie couldn't quite believe it. She didn't expect Kim to come to his senses, at least not as quickly. "I agree wholeheartedly. But... but what about Matthew?" 

His son was clearly a touchy subject to Kim, taking a moment to look at his boy, Kim then faced Stevie again. "I know you love him like he's your own and honestly, he kind of is. You're the only mother Matthew's ever known and it's obvious he's very attached to you." Stevie's heart was pounding out of her chest, waiting for a but. However, it didn't come. "You have to promise me one thing, Stevie."

"Whatever you want." She nodded, although, she probably shouldn't have been so quick to say that.

"You'll let me see him. You'll let me take him for a weekend from time to time. He'll know that I'm his father."

Stevie's eyes welled up with tears, finding it hard to believe this was actually happening. "I swear to you, Kim. I swear."

Giving a nod, Kim hesitated to say the words, but he knew this truly was the only way to go for them. "Then I guess, we should start the divorce process as soon as possible."