I Think I'm In Trouble

XI.

"What should I do with the boys? It'll be later."

"Take them to a movie," she responded, "they've been talking about a few of them. I think they said something about Pulp Fiction, Street Fighter and Leprechaun Two. There were more, but I don't remember what else."

"You're letting Nick see the leprechaun one?" he asked.

"He said he could handle it," she shrugged, "Jeffrey said it shouldn't be that bad and I'd actually love it, if you took them to see it because, I don't want a see a horror movie about an evil leprechaun."

"Oh, good so if he has nightmares, it'll be my fault," he chuckled.

"I didn't say that," she defended herself, "but-"

"I know, I'm kidding. I've been wanting to see that, too anyway," he paused for a long time. He wasn't going to say anything, but he had to mention it. "You know I'm not comfortable with him here, right?" Robert asked his wife.

"Who?" she asked. Her mind was all over the place and she wasn't paying attention.

"Steph, you know who," he leered.

"Oh... well, he won't be here long. You'll have to deal with it, for now," she said as she was changing her clothes, "you're not going to be rude to our daughter's boyfriend."

"I don't understand how you're okay with her dating him. I was also wondering why you're being so uptight tonight. It's just Lindsey. Should make you happy it's someone I can't stand," he put his hands in his pockets as he watched his wife float about the room.

"You know, it does," she said as she stopped in front of him, "especially, since you've been putting us on the same boat."

Robert put his head down, "Stevie, I-"

"I don't want to hear it," she put her hand up. "You should have known, the day you started that affair, that things were going to be different."

"I did. I didn't know how I was going to stop it. I wanted this affair over, just as much as you do. You finding out may have been the best thing for both of us. 'Cause of you, I'm able to end this and I can stop hurting you. I hate what I've been doing and I want to be with you, Stevie," he held her close to himself, her face in his hands and he sounded sincere, but she didn't know.

"I appreciate your trying. But I just don't know if I can believe you, yet," she put her hand on his shoulder and he was getting ready to kiss her, but then the sound of their boys, filled their ears first.

"Mom! They're here!" the boys shouted from downstairs.

"Okay," she yelled back. "Let's go," she said to her husband, giving him a soft look. She took him by the hand and they headed out of the room and descended down the staircase.

"Hey, dad," Shannon said as she embraced her father.

"Hi, sweetie," he smiled, wrapping an arm around her. He didn't look up at Lindsey and Stevie was already dreading everything.

Stevie and Lindsey hugged briefly and gave each other the same look, knowing they were going to stay quiet, for the sake of the kids. They just didn't know how well Robert could handle the idea.

Lindsey shook Robert's hand and greeted him. He didn't make full eye contact, but he managed a glance.

"So how are you?" Stevie asked because, nobody said anything.

"Uh, I'm good. Just getting through each day," Lindsey stayed with his eyes locked with Stevie's as he spoke.

"I get that," she nodded and then tore her eyes away from him.