Unexpected Turn Of Events

A lot to thank him for

Jeff didn't want to see Stevie leave. He came into her room one night and they had a long heart to heart, before he said, he was going to go away for a little while until she was no longer living in their once family home. It surprised Stevie, but she understood. She could only guess where he went, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Stevie didn't plan to take all of her belongings along with her, there simply wouldn't be enough space at Lindsey's for everything. She is currently packing the last of what she needs and the boxes stacked in the hallway is a sad sight. She always thought she would stay married to Jeff for the rest of her life, she never imagined falling in love with another man, but it happened and she realized it's time for her to live her life. She stayed by Jeff's side long enough, their kids are all grown up, too. It's her time now.

"Need some help?"

Stevie gasps, clutching her chest at the sound of her son's voice. Tyler is always busy with something, he's rarely home and Stevie misses him dearly. They talk on the phone, but it's not the same nor is it enough.

"You're back!" Stevie crushes him in a hug and Tyler nods his head, smiling. 

"Hi, Mom." He says pulling back.

"You cut your hair." Stevie observes Tyler's appearance with a touch of sadness in her voice. Tyler had long hair since he was a teenager. 

"The change came with a job." Tyler never planned getting further education after high school, he has always been interested in what Jeff does for a living, so he is following in his father's footsteps, however, in a different agency and far away from home. 

"Is everyone treating you nice?" Stevie's question causes Tyler to laugh lightly.

"Well, because you're my mother I'm going to say yes." 

Smiling up at him, Stevie embraces him once more, overjoyed to have him back, even if just for a short while, she is sure about that.

"Tell me about yourself, how are you doing?" Tyler asks as they sit down. "When Ruby told me you got into a car accident I was close to buying a plane ticket home, but she talked me out of it, saying there's nothing I could do."

"Of course there wasn't anything you could have done, honey. And I'm fine. I don't really feel any more pain, I can walk around easily again, so I'm good."

"And what about everything else?" Tyler raises an eyebrow, not beating around the bush. "You and Dad..."

"It is what it is, Ty, we're divorcing." Stevie says with a shrug of her shoulders. 

"What happened?"

"I can't say that something happened, we've been going towards a divorce for a long time. We simply stopped lying to ourselves and each other."

Swallowing uneasily, Tyler looks away, rubbing his hands together. He then feels Stevie place her hand on his shoulder and he faces her again. "Did you... did you find out about Aimee?"

Stevie's lost for words as she stares at her son in shock. "How did you..."

"I found out a while ago, I was fourteen or fifteen." Tyler sighs. "I saw the results of the paternity test. Dad and I were together in his office, I was sketching and I needed a sheet of paper, grabbed the first thing off his desk. It looked like a document, so I asked Dad what it was and when he realized what I was holding, he grabbed it from me. He was really angry that day, he must have received the results then. Because I didn't really understand, I asked him what a paternity test was. Dad yelled at me and told me it was none of my business, so I said that I'll ask you. You can imagine that wasn't exactly what he wanted to happen. In a childish kind of way he tried to explain it to me. Even though I didn't quite grasp the extent of what he did, I understood that it was wrong. Dad begged me not to tell you anything, he said, it would be our little secret." The tears in his mother's eyes hurt Tyler and he reaches out to pull her into his arms. "I'm so sorry I kept it from you."

"No, it's not your fault, Tyler." Stevie shakes her head as they part and she takes both his hands in hers. "You shouldn't have been put in that place."

"When I was old enough to understand, I... I just couldn't look at Dad the same way anymore. He hurt you, he hurt my mother."

"It's-" Stevie opens her mouth, but Tyler cuts her off.

"That is why I moved away as soon as I got the chance. I didn't want to be around Dad, I still don't. I don't get how you could do something like that to the person you're supposedly in love with."

Letting out a deep breath, Stevie lets go of Tyler and she leans forward, clasping her hands together. "Honestly, I wish you didn't think about it, Ty. It's between your father and I. You shouldn't have to worry about it."

Nodding his head Tyler remains quiet, knowing if he tries, Stevie's going to repeat herself. Then he asks. "When am I going to meet Lindsey?"

"You know about him, too?" Stevie's heartbeat picks up pace, she's suddenly nervous of Tyler's reaction. 

"Ruby, you know she can't keep her mouth shut." Tyler laughs and Stevie's instantly relieved. "If I'm being completely honest, the whole situation is fucked up."

"Tyler!" Stevie scolds just like when he was younger. "Watch your mouth."

"Fine, the whole situation is messed up, but as long as this Lindsey doesn't plan on getting another woman pregnant, I'm cool with it." Stevie chuckles, glad she now has the support from all of her children. "And if he does-"

"Shut up!" Stevie laughs and grabs a cushion, hitting Tyler with it. "Don't say things like that."

Smiling, Tyler hugs Stevie around her shoulders and says something she didn't expect to hear. "If it's Lindsey, who put the sparkle back in your eyes, I have a lot to thank him for."