I Think I'm In Trouble

V.

Stevie pulled away from Robert, "you know, I love you?" she questioned.

"I know, and I love you, too," he smiled weakly.

"How much do you love me? Please, be honest."

"I love you. I do and–"

"Honey, stop," she sat in her vanity chair, "I want you to prove to me, how much you love me."

"Okay, anything. What?"

"I want you home for a week straight. No leaving- no partying just one week of you going to work and coming home."

Robert stayed quiet.

"Please? I want you to take this week as a chance to get to know your sons and enjoy Jeffrey while he is here. I will spend the week– if she allows it, trying to get to Shannon more."

"Okay," he nodded his head.

"Really?" Stevie kind of leered at him because, she thought he would try to bullshit his way out.

"Yes. I will stay home for you, because I love you and I want you to know that." Which was true. He loved Stevie but he, like any other person felt something missing and as Shannon told him; to break off his affair– he was trying to. He wanted it to be over just as much as Shannon and just as much as Stevie- unbeknownst to him.

Stevie looked at him through her vanity mirror.

Robert came up behind her resting his hands on the back of her chair. He then rested his chin lightly upon her shoulder, staring her dead in the eyes in the mirror.

"I will," he kissed the side of her face and she turned toward him kissing him on the lips in return.

"Okay," she stayed content with his statement. She made herself up a little and while she did that she waited for her husband to get ready. "Ooh, babe?" Stevie called.

"Yeah?" he shouts from the other side of the door.

"You're gonna have both boys. You're gonna have to take the SUV," she kind of snickered to hersel, "I'll take the Porsche."

"Woah, woah!" he came out from the bathroom abruptly, "the Porsche? Where is your car?" he stood with a towel around him.

They had three cars, just because, Stevie had had her Mercedes for forever and she wasn't going to give it up. The SUV came after having Jeffrey. They wanted a safer car. The latest addition was the Porsche and Stevie knew that was Robert's baby.

"I'm kidding," she smiled, "but you have to take the SUV, anyway. Your car is a two seater and I need you to take me to Chris and Lori's," her brother and sister in-law's place.

"What's there?" he asked as he was putting clothes on.

"My car. Member, Chris was working on it?"

"Oh, yeah," he paused. "Alright, fine with me," he smiled.

"Well, I'm gonna go to the store for now. I'll be back," she said grabbing her purse and keys.

Stevie left the room to let Robert finish getting ready and as she made her way down the stairs, Shannon was making her way through the front door.

"Hey, you?" Stevie smiled brightly.

"Hey, mama," Shannon gave a weak smile, "what's up?"

"Nothing much, I want–" Stevie paused. "Are you alright?" she asked as she could see the stained tears.

"I'm fine. What do you need?"

"Hmm... I want you to get ready so you and I can do something later."