Unexpected Turn Of Events

Daddy's favorite girl

"I think we should call it a day. You're making progress." Lindsey tells Max, whose face lights up. "Before long you won't need me."

"Thank you for saying that!" Max beams, putting away his guitar.

It has been over a week since Stevie visited Lindsey at his pub. They haven't seen each other once. Today is the fourth time Lindsey's come to teach Max and every time Stevie made sure she wasn't home. He tried calling her, but she didn't answer. However, today isn't just any other day, that's clear to Lindsey. There are more people in the house than usual; they seem to be getting things ready for a party.

"What's the occasion?" Lindsey asks Max casually, as they descend the stairs. 

"Dad's birthday. I'm not looking forward to it." Max sighs.

Lindsey restrains from asking any further questions even if he might want to. When they're at the bottom of the stairs, the front door opens and Lindsey's eyes settle on Stevie. 

"Mrs. Moore." Lindsey, for some reason, doesn't greet her by the name. 

Stevie just nods her head at him once, turning her attention to Max. "I need your help. Come join me in... ten minutes or so."

"Okay." Max doesn't argue. "See you in a few days, Lindsey."

"Until then." Lindsey shakes hands with Max, Stevie watching the two. 

"He's calling you by your name?"

"I asked." Lindsey says. Making sure it's just them, Lindsey asks. "Why won't you answer my calls?"

"You should leave. Jeff will be back shortly." Stevie ignores the question. "It's his birthday party and I have to get everything in order, get ready myself."

"Stevie, I miss you... I want to see you, I'm sorry about the way I spoke to you at the pub. I'm just... I feel so much for you, I'm so passionate about you." He pleads, but Stevie doesn't answer to it.

"Please, leave." She whispers and Lindsey catches the sight of tears in her eyes. 

"I'm not giving up on you. I... I lov-"

"What a long day!" The door opens again and they're interrupted by none other than Jeff. "Oh, you're here."

Feeling emotional himself, Lindsey doesn't say a word to anybody, as he walks past Jeff out of the house and straight to his car. "How rude." Jeff slams the door shut, then turns around to address Stevie, but she's not standing there anymore.

Several hours later the party is in full swing. Jeff's arm is around Stevie's waist at all times as he keeps glancing and smiling at her, kissing her every time she faces him, gushing to everyone who'll listen just what a wonderful wife and mother she is, how deeply in love they are and he wouldn't wish for anything to be different in his life. He plays it up even more when Max or Ruby (Taylor couldn't attend) joins them - a picture perfect family. 

That's exactly how every party goes that Stevie's forced to attend. It's sickening and she hates it, but she chooses to play along instead of having to listen to Jeff how disobedient she is and how badly she embarrassed him in front of his friends and colleagues once they're in the privacy of their bedroom.

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself." Ruby joins her mother out on the patio, handing her a glass of champagne. Stevie told Jeff she was going to the bathroom.

"I'm not. I can't stand the circus." Stevie tells Ruby honestly. "I don't like any of those people and why should I pretend my marriage is perfect, when it's not?"

Ruby doesn't seem to think much of it. "Well, of course not. There's no such thing as a perfect marriage."

"I wish he didn't have to show off like this all the time. Why doesn't he want to have his family and real friends over for dinner instead?"

Ruby laughs lightly, shaking her head. "That has never been nor it will ever be Dad."

"Yeah..." Stevie sighs. "I should get back before he starts looking for me."

Before Stevie disappears, Ruby says. "You're not happy, Mom. You haven't been for a while."

Lingering for a moment, Stevie chooses to say nothing as she goes back to Jeff, taking her place by his side.

"I've missed you." Jeff says loudly for everybody to hear, leaning in for a kiss. Stevie's doesn't really reciprocate. "Could you go to my office and bring that bottle of brandy I've been keeping for a special occasion? I'd like to share it with these gentlemen." 

Stevie glances at the men and she hasn't seen them before, which means they've got to be new clients and Jeff is doing his best to please them or he's trying to sign a contract. Anything to keep you away from me. "Of course, honey."

Without any rush, Stevie goes to Jeff's office and takes a seat. She can stall for a few minutes. Her mind wanders to Lindsey. If Jeff hadn't come back, would Lindsey have said what she thought he was about to say? Does she want him to say those words to her? She has been lying to him and herself for long enough and she can't pretend she doesn't feel anything for him anymore. But does she... love him too?

Against her will, Stevie knows she's got to get up from Jeff's leather chair at his desk and bring him that bottle, but before she does, something catches her eye. A corner of what seems to be a drawing is sticking out from under a pile of papers and she frowns. Curiosity gets the better of her and Stevie pulls it out. 

It's a drawing of three people with names above their heads; Mommy, Daddy, Aimee. 

"Aimee..." Stevie breaths out. 

She stares at it for a second longer, before turning it over and she sees unmistakably a child's handwriting. 

Happy birthday, Daddy! I miss you every day and I love you with all my heart! I hope I'll see you soon and you can stay with me longer. I'm sad when you leave, sometimes I cry, but Mommy says you'll be back again, because you love me with all your heart too. 

Daddy's favorite girl 

Stevie's eyes are brimming with tears as she leaves Jeff's office and storms out of the house, grabbing her car keys on the way out. She could hear both, Ruby and Jeff, calling her name, but she ignored them, getting into the driver's seat as she sped off from the driveway.