Leelee accompanied her father to breakfast the morning after her mother's show...which they didn't attend. Stevie was upset as she desperately wanted to see her family now, but they were pulling away from her. The more insecure she felt, the more pills she felt the need to take.
Leelee was quiet as she allowed her father to order drinks for them both. He spoke and she barely registered that he was speaking to her, silly giving a nod or a shrug in response.
"I don't want you to dwell on this, Lee," Lindsey said, touching her hand across the table.
She withdrew her hand from his and looked down into her lap. "I'm not. I just don't feel like talking."
He sighed. "I know, and that's understandable. Your mother is different, yknow? She's not like other moms but she loves you and she says she's coming home soon."
"How can you sit here and defend her when she's cheating on you? She's shut both of us out. She loves her career, not us." Leelee stated, not realizing that Stevie was a table behind them, being separated by a Smokey glass wall.
"Leelee, she has wronged us, I won't lie...but I have to think about you right now. You are going to need both parents to support you an-" Lee cut him off
"You've been raising me by myself for years. I can handle it. I don't need her."
"Every girl needs her mother. No matter what happens between she and I, she will be part of your life."
"What do you mean, no matter happens between you guys?"
Lindsey scrubbed a hand over his face. "I don't want to talk about it."
"You made me talk, and I'm in the middle. I want to know." Leelee urged and he looked at her, focusing his stormy blue eyes on his daughter's.
"I don't think it's something that you should be worrying yourself over," Lindsey advised
"Dad, tell me. I think I already have an idea of what it is."
"I want a divorce..." he sighed
"I knew it!" Leelee exclaimed.
"Keep your voice down."
"You've been headed this way for a while. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. She's not the same as she was. Ever since--"
"Shh" Lindsey told her. "We grew apart. It's not all her fault."
Leelee scoffed, shaking her head. "Still taking the blame for her mistakes. Unbelievable." She got up. "I'm going to go to the bathroom. If the waitress comes--"
"I'll order your usual."
She smiled weakly. "Thanks."
"No problem," he nudged her as she walked past him. Stevie saw Leelee walk into the bathroom, holding back tears as she heard everything. She wanted to talk to her daughter before things got worse
Stevie got up, following after the young woman. She didn't want to upset her, knowing Lindsey would have even more reason to want to end their marriage if that happened. After the passing of her son, she felt she was losing grip of her family and the conversation she overheard just proved it to be true.
"Leelee, baby..." Stevie said quietly, standing behind her daughter who stood at the row sinks. She looked up into the mirror and saw the older blonde through her tears.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" Leelee stammered.
"I came to check on you. I was worried something was wrong when you didn't come to the show last night..." Stevie wrung her hands nervously.
"I don't want to talk to you."
"We got along so well yesterday....we're moving in the right direction, honey."
"We will never be in the right direction again. You cheated on Dad and you left me. You can never make that up."
Stevie bit her lip. "I know I made a lot of mistakes."
