Running Through The Garden

Breaking Down

   Lori sat with Stevie at her dining table, going over tour details as they sipped on some tea. They were in the middle of discussing clothing options when Lori froze, Don sauntering into the dinning area, planting a kiss on the side of Stevie's head, then moving into the kitchen.

    Stevie adverted Lori's gaze, focusing on the planner in front of her.

     "Stevie what the fuck is he doing here?" She hissed at her, keeping her voice just above a whisper.

   "Not now Lori." She pleaded with her, seeing Don come back into the dining room.
 
   "What are you lovely ladies up to today?"

    Lori wanted to gag, Stevie forcing a smile. "Just going over some last minute tour details."

   "Interesting. We're going over to Glen's tonight, be ready by five."

    Stevie only nodded, tensing when he kissed her, leaving the room and the two women alone.

   She could feel Lori's eyes burning into her, trying to ignore her.

   "So should we book a hotel when we go to Dallas or get a flight right after the show to Wyoming?"

   "What the fuck Stevie?"

      Stevie sighed, closing the book. "Lori please."

   "He cheated on you, why is he still in your home?"

   "We talked it out." Stevie didn't want to talk about it, feeling weak enough already for letting him back in, not wanting to be chastised by her friend.

    "He slept with another woman. You don't talk something like that out."

     "It's none of your business Lori." She really did not want to have this conversation right now.

    "It becomes my business when my best friend is miserable. He treats you like shit Stevie, why can't you see  that?"

   "Lori he loves me, and I love him."

   "Stevie if he loved you he wouldn't have stuck his dick in some twenty year old."

   Stevie sighed, her head falling into his hands. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, biting down on her lips. "Lori I don't know what to do. I love him but I can't even bare to look at him." She sniffled, holding back more tears. Her voice was weak and small as she spoke. "Last night we....we had sex and it didn't feel right. I felt disgusting, like he was just using me."

   Lori smiled sympathetically at her, brushing her long blonde hair behind her shoulder. "Because that's what he's doing honey. He's a player, and that's all he's ever going to be."

    "We had it so good in the beginning. Lori what did I do wrong?"

   "Stevie stop it." Lori took Stevie's face between her hands, looking her in the eye sternly. "I will not let you sit her and degrade yourself over that asshole. You did absolutely nothing wrong. You gave that man your heart and soul and he stomped all over it, he is human trash and you deserve a thousand times better than him. "

   "I don't want to let him go." She broke down, tears falling down her face.
 
   "I know it's hard honey, but do you really want to live your life like this? Spending everyday wondering if you're good enough? Comparing yourself to every young bimbo he screws around with you? Stevie it's not healthy and you deserve so much better."

    Tears were streaming down her face, tensing up when Don re entered the kitchen. Lori cleared her throat, dropping her hands away from Stevie, Stevie frantically wiping the tears from her face.

   "What's going on?" He frowned.

   "Nothing." Stevie squeaked out.

     Lori glanced over at her, seeing the misery in her eyes. "Stevie I'm going to check on Jess."

   Stevie nodded, watching as Lori stood from the table, making her way to the backyard to check on her daughter.

    The silence between them was deafening, Don taking Lori's seat as he reached for Stevie's hand across the table. She didn't react and he frowned. "Stevie what's going on?"

     She kept her eyes on the table, too fearful to look into his piercing blue eye, her heart aching.

   "Don I can't do this anymore."

   His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, his mouth going dry as he tried to swallow. "Stevie what do you mean?"

   "We're done."

   "Baby no." He clutched her hand tighter. "I told you I was sorry, what about what you said the other night?"

    Stevie shook her head. "I tried Don, but you ruined me. I can't even look at you without thinking of you in bed with someone else. I won't be able to let you go out on tour without worrying myself sick that you're screwing around with some random fan."

    "Stevie it was one time, I told you it was a mistake."

   She shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I don't believe you Don, I don't believe that it was just the one time and I don't believe you won't do it again."

   "Tell what to do so I don't loose you, tell me what I can do to make you feel better."

   "I want you to leave Don."

    "Stevie-"

  "Don." She cut him off. "Please." She begged him.

   The look in her eyes was heartbreaking, Don swallowing the lump in his throat as he nodded reluctantly.

   Reaching forward, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her stiff body into a tight embrace.

   She was shaking, giving in and wrapping her arms around him, holding him tight. They stood still for a moment, soaking in the others presence.

   Pulling away, he planted a kiss on her forehead. "I love you Stevie."

   She didn't respond, wrapping her arms around herself, as she watched him walk away.

   Stevie waited until he was out of sight, breaking down in tears. She managed to stumble to a chair, falling down into it has her body was wracked with sobs.

   Lori had reappeared, coming quickly to Stevie's aid as she comforted her, running a soothing hand up and down her back. "It's ok sweetheart."

   "It hurts Lori." Stevie sobbed, trying her best to keep it together but to no avail.

   "I know it does sweetheart, I know it does." She cradled Stevie in her arms, rocking her back and forth as she held onto her.

   Stevie felt her heart physically hurting, not sure whether the decision she had just made was a good or bad one.