Unexpected Turn Of Events

You won't

With the TV on just for the background Stevie sits on the couch, her legs tucked under her as she crochets. It is something she does often, it relaxes her, since she doesn't really have to look at what she is doing, she can work with her eyes closed by now. Jeff left early in the morning, without saying goodbye, so she doesn't have much else to do. Stevie is surprised, when she feels the couch dip a little, seeing Max sitting down beside her. 

"Can I switch the channel?" Max asks, already reaching for the remote.

"Sure." Stevie shrugs, she wasn't watching, so she doesn't care. "Weren't you supposed to be at a sleepover?"

"It's still early, Damien's coming to pick me up later." Damien is Max's best friend since they were kids.

"It's been a while since I had the house to myself."

"And what are you going to do?" Max smirks, his eyebrow raised. "Crochet until you fall asleep?"

"Very funny." Stevie gives him a look, but she smiles a little. "So, what is it? I know you didn't come to chit chat with your ol' mother."

Max laughs lightly, biting his lip as he nods. "Well... we talked about that guitar vaguely once."

"That we did, yes. What about it?"

"I really want to learn how to play, Mom. I know you think I'll lose interest, but give me a chance, please? If you get me a guitar and I throw it aside a month later, I'll pay you back for it. I'll work around the house, I'll do whatever you ask, I swear."

"I heard that before, when your brother wanted to play drums and your sister wanted to tap dance." 

"I'm not like them!" Max shakes his head, putting his hands together as if for a prayer. "Please, Mommy."

Stevie bursts out laughing, putting away her crocheting. "I've certainly haven't heard you call me Mommy in a long time." She goes quiet, but she is still facing Max, so he knows she is thinking. "It's not a decision I can make on my own."

Max scoffs, folding his arms. "It's not like Dad's ever home anymore."

"Don't say that..." Stevie shakes her head, but she's not angry, because it's true. "Fine." Stevie says eventually.

"Fine? As in I'm getting a guitar?"

"Yes, but..." Stevie holds up a hand. "That's your birthday present even if it's months away and you tell your father you absolutely forced me into saying yes."

Nodding his head, Max pulls his mother into a hug. "Whatever you want! Thanks so much, Mom. You'll see, I'm going to become like the next Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page!"

Laughing, Stevie ruffles Max's hair as they pull apart. "We'll see about that."

Later the same evening, when Stevie's completely alone in the house, she starts feeling a little lonely. Max is gone and it won't be long until he moves out for good. Jeff isn't around most of the time, so it's really going to just be her. It's a sad thought. Stevie always wanted to have a big family, she wanted more kids, but Jeff didn't. She is happy she even has her three babies. 

Maybe we could have dinner together or something...

Ugh, Lindsey... His words ring in her head from the other day. They have been seeing each other for almost a year now. He's good to her, he's exactly what she'd like Jeff to be again. She also knows he has feelings for her. Coming into this, Stevie told Lindsey straight - it was simply physical. He said, fine. But it's not. He holds her a bit tighter, he kisses her with more passion compared to how it all started. He gazes at her lovingly, when they're making love. Making love?! Having sex!, Stevie groans. He's sad to say goodbye, he doesn't want to let her go just as easily as he used to. 

It's just physical. That's all that it is.

Hoping it would occupy her mind, Stevie goes to the kitchen to make herself something to eat. She ends up with a small salad and a glass of wine after. She then pours herself another and eyes her cellphone. She shakes her head, no. 

Once the bottle of wine is finished, Stevie takes a deep breath and before she can change her mind, she dials his number.

"Stevie, I wasn't expecting to hear from you."

"I wasn't expecting to call you tonight."

"It's a lovely surprise. Did you want something?"

Biting her cherry red fingernail, Stevie nods, then quickly realizes he can't see her. "I, uh... well."

"Go on." Lindsey pushes her, his heartbeat picking up pace.

"I'm all by myself. Jeff's on his trip, Max's sleeping over at his friend's house..."

"Yeah. And?"

"I was thinking, maybe... maybe you'd like to come over?"

Lindsey's eyebrows shoot up as he leans forward in his seat, clutching then phone firmly in his hand. "Come over? To your place?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that one of the rules?" Lindsey asks, mocking.

"Rules are meant to be broken." She says and he feels himself getting excited already. Stevie speaks up, when he doesn't reply. "Besides, I didn't say we're going to have sex, you wanted to have dinner, remember?"

He smiles, knowing she's teasing. "Of course. When's it going to be ready?" He plays along. 

"Uh... give me an hour and a half?"

"Alright. See you then."

"Bring over a bottle of champagne."

"How am I going to drive back home then?"

"You won't."