I Think I'm In Trouble

XIV.

"Hello?" Stevie answered the home phone.

Robert stayed quiet a second. "Stephanie," he said in a low tone. As if he was confused to hear from her.

"Robert?" she said confused. "Are you okay? What happened?" she started to freak out a little because, he never calls the house phone.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he assured through a slight chuckle. "I just- I don't know," he kind of sighed. "I'm sorry. I'll see you later," he hung up the phone.

"What the hell?" Stevie said looking at the phone. She shook her head a little wondering why he'd call and then hang up. She turned and put her focus back on her kids. "Are you kids ready?" she yelled through the house.

They all come down the stairs and they were all ready.

"Good," she paused. "Alright, let me think..." she trailed into her thoughts. "Okay, first I will drop you," she pointed to Nicholas. He had a sleepover with some friends. "Then I will drop you," she pointed at Shannon. She was going to hang out with some friends, since she had the day off. Stevie wasn't too thrilled, but she also didn't want to hold her back. "And you...," she paused and pointed at Jeffrey. "What am I doing with you?" she asked.

"I'm just coming for the ride," he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Okay," she chuckled. "Alright, is everybody set?" she asked.

"Yes," they all say in unison.

"What am I forgetting?" she asked looking around. "Oh, baby?" she said to Jeffrey. "Can you grab my purse for me?"

He nodded and did what was told of him.

They get to the car and Stevie had Shannon sit in front, so she and Nicholas wouldn't fight. They still argued, but it wasn't anything Stevie couldn't handle.

"Alright, have a good time, baby," Stevie told her youngest.

"Yeah, don't do anything I wouldn't do," Jeffrey said.

Nicholas smiled and did knuckles with his brother.

"And don't do anything I would do," Shannon said, just to be annoying.

"Yeah," he said, rolling his eyes. "See ya later," he got out of the car to leave his mom and siblings for the next couple days. He liked to hang out with his friends the first month of summer. Normally they'd all go later, to see Stevie's parents and they'd stay in Arizona and be back in late August, to get things ready for school. Nicholas was really excited because, he'd be a freshman in high school.

"Okay, now where am I going, Shannon?" Stevie asked because, she was never given an address.

"Just drop me at the park. I'm going to meet Amber and what's his face? her boyfriend- Scott."

"Is there ever a time, when we can just drop you at a house?" Stevie asked. She hated leaving her daughter places. She seemed to have to worry about Shannon more than any of her kids.

"Well, we were gonna go out. I don't know where yet, but I can't go to the house now 'cause, we planned ahead."

"Okay. Just next time I'd like to see you walking into somewhere. Again, I know you're an adult, but you know I worry about everything."

"I know. I love you, I'll probably see you later."

"Do you have money?" her mother asked.

"I do," she nodded.

"Bye. Please be safe," Stevie urged and brought her closer to kiss her head. They were sitting side by side, so it was an awkward position. "Call us if you need us. I'll be home and your father will, eventually be home," she kind of shrugged and she knew Shannon knew what she meant.