"Karen said she's in room 1230," Lindsey told Leelee as they walked into the hotel room.
"Do you think she will be happy to see us?" The young girl was obviously scared of being rejected by Stevie. Her mother was unpredictable these days
"She would be crazy not to be happy to see her beloved daughter," Lindsey said with a smile.
She forced a smile, hoping that would be true.
"Here we are," Lindsey said nervously
"Should I knock or will you?" Leelee wiped her hands on her pants as they were sweaty
"I'll knock" He took a breath and knocked three times on the door. "And now we wait."
Leelee felt like she was going to be sick. She smoothed the front of her outfit, waiting for Stevie to come to the door.
The door swung open, startling them.
Karen looked startled, "Stevie's room is next door...but now isn't a good time..."
"Why not?" Leelee asked
"She's tired from the shows," Karen lied
"Maybe I could help her relax. She might need a girls day..."
"Lindsey...I was hoping you were coming alone." Karen said.
"Why?" Lindsey asked but Leelee was already knocking on the correct door.
"She's got a man in there..." Karen panicked, just as the man answered the door in a towel. Leelee gasping loudly, too shocked to react immediately
"Tell whoever the fuck it is to leave me alone!" A slurred, husky voice yelled from behind the man in the doorway.
"M-mom..." Leelee called out. "M-mommy..."
"Lee, we need to go." Lindsey practically sprinted to his daughter, pulling her into him. "Go with Karen. She will take care of you while I talk to your mother."
"No! Mom!" Leelee grew distraught, wanting to see the woman in the room as if somehow believe that it wouldn't be her mother.
"Lee, go. Please!" Lindsey pleaded. "I will get you soon."
His eyes were wide and there was an urgency in his tone. She didn't want to give up that easily but what could she do? She felt helpless, allowing her father to take her to Karen's room. Lindsey stood in the hallway after Karen closed the two of them inside and ran a hand through his hair.
He knew now that Stevie was cheating on him. He couldn't wish it away, he couldn't believe it was a mere coincidence that a man had answered her phone...
Stevie had gotten dress and come to the door to see what all the fuss was about. Seeing her husband made her immediately sober up. "We came to visit but I see you already have company," Lindsey spat
"I didn't know you were coming...you should have called."
"I did call, Stevie. We talked! Don't you remember or are you too drunk and high?!"
Stevie bit her lip and it made Lindsey even angrier. She had nothing to say. "Your daughter needs you! There was a time when you would have dropped everything for your children, now you can't even climb out from under another man to answer the door yourself!"
"Shut up!" Stevie yelled, "I love my kids!"
"Then you should prove it! Leelee saw the whole thing! She was crying out for you! She needs you, Stevie! I don't give a shit if you hurt me, just don't let her down anymore..."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Grow up! Get your shit together and come home!"
"I have commitments," she argued.
"To who? Certainly not to us."
"What about the people who buy tickets to my shows?"
"Fine, finish your shoes but if you extend this tour one more time, I swear, I will not be so understanding about what I saw today. Do you think the courts would give you custody of Leelee if we split up?!"
