Chapter 39 – Stevie

On the walk back to the residence, Elizabeth convinced Stevie to stay with them that night. Jason was taking Claudia on a night tour of the monuments and then to see some friends. Nobody else would be at the residence and it would give them time to talk.

Stevie put Eliza in her stroller and handed her a sippy cup. She looked up at her Dad. "Stop worrying! I got this. I used to do this all the time with you and your siblings. Bedtime strolls are good for the soul." Henry told her.

"Maybe I should join you," she said back to him.

"Your Mom ordered herself the really good wine and some chocolate chip cookies for you so the two of you could talk." He answered back with a smile and a wink.

She grinned and said, "I'll hang back. Thanks, Dad."

He wheeled Eliza out of the residence with two agents following behind them. Stevie went to her room. Once in there, she laid down on the bed and sighed. She stared up at the incredibly high ceiling. She played out in her head how to have this conversation with her mother. There was no way to hide it. She knew they saw her phone that morning, They watched as Eliza ran to Andrew later in the day. The question was how to tell her mother that she hadn't loved Dmitri in a long time and they both had been cheating for the last three months.

She thought back to the night of the state dinner. The evening began with she and Dmitri fighting over his reluctance to even want to go to the dinner. He hadn't been right for the longest time. She suspected drugs and brought it up to him on more than one occasion. He had insisted he wasn't doing anything.

The babysitter showed up in the middle of the argument. They left and Dmitri was almost silent in the car. She begged him in the car to not show his emotions that night. Her agents shared a glance at each other. They did not like the way he had been treating her. The conversation came up a few times whether to let Dr. McCord or Jay know. But, they eventually decided to stay out of it. However, Dmitri's spy training had taught him to hide it well when he was with the family.

At dinner, they were seated at a table with Jason, Alison and Liam who had come down from New York, Blake and Trevor and Andrew Hill. Stevie sat in between Dmitri and Andrew. Dmitri was engaged all night with everyone. At one point, Jason had left the table and was talking at the bar with a guest from the German delegation. He came back and announced they were leaving and heading out to a nearby bar.

Andrew turned to Stevie and Dmitri and said, "I'm in, how about you guys?"

Stevie jumped at the chance. Dmitri put his hand on her wrist. "The sitter needs to be home by 11:30. Why don't I head home and you can go out with everyone?"

"Okay," she said back to him. She didn't even offer to go home with him. She suspected he had something going on with a student that would ultimately end their marriage. Spending time with him, was not a priority for her anymore.

They split and Stevie went with her siblings and a large group to a local bar. Once they arrived, Andrew stepped to her side and put his hand gently on her elbow. The both felt the energy and she looked at him. "What do you want to drink?" he asked.

She already knew she was pregnant but hadn't announced it yet. So, she told him "just sparkling water with a lime." They stayed at the bar until just passed midnight. At various points, she and Andrew found themselves in conversation just between the two of them. At those times, she felt like she was his whole world. Something she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew it was wrong, but wondered why did it feel so right.

She offered to give him a ride home in her car. His place was within walking distance to the bar and he did the right thing by helping her into the car and walked home.

It was less than a half hour later when she laid on the bed in Alison's old bedroom at the Georgetown home. She and Dmitri hadn't shared the guest room together in a while. Her phone vibrated with a text, "It was great to see you tonight. Don't be a stranger. Andrew" She smiled and answered him back.

She now got up off her bed at the White House, changed into comfy pajamas and made her way down to the family room. When she entered her mother had a fire going and was sitting going over the next day's briefing book with a glass of wine. A plate of cookies on the table in between the two chairs with a glass of sparkling water next to it. Elizabeth's back was to her but she knew she was there, "Thought you might like a little evening snack. You didn't eat enough today."

She sighed, "I am a little hungry," as she plopped herself down on the chair next to her mother and took a cookie. She pulled her feet up underneath her, waiting for her mother to speak.

Elizabeth closed the briefing book and tossed it on the ottoman in front of her. Stevie could tell her mother was not thrilled but maybe still sympathetic.

In her mind, Elizabeth was crushed. Not only by her own mistakes of giving Dmitri a pass every time she shouldn't have. But, also the many times she let Stevie mess up and fall back on her and Henry? She had asked Henry this very question before he left to take Eliza for her bedtime walk. She was frustrated and she had held those emotions in all weekend.

"She's barely 30and a single mother of a two year old with another on the way. Their father and her husband just passed away after he was murdered. She already has feelings for another man? She has no grief? They spent the whole wedding together. Daisy, Mike B., Jay, I heard it from all of them. According to Isabelle, Conrad was holding Russell back from going at Stevie with a 'what the hell are you doing' comment. Henry, we can't let this one slide. I love Andrew. He is great guy. But, it is far too soon. She needs to take about a hundred steps back."

Henry said nothing while they both changed and Elizabeth rambled on.

"You disagree with me? " She stopped and had one eyebrow raised at him.

He headed into the bathroom, "Not disagreeing. But, I do think the optics are not our first concern. Just not sure what to say to you, Babe. She's an adult. There's not much we can do."

"So, that's it. We should just throw the towel in? We can't let her go down this path. Apparently, Eliza has a pretty good idea who Andrew is. Alison knew about this and didn't say anything to us."

He walked back into the bedroom, "C'mon they are sisters. They have always kept their relationship status between themselves before we found out. Do I need to remind you about Alison and Lucas?"

Elizabeth dropped her sweater on the bed, "No, but this is entirely different."

He leaned in and kissed her and gave in, "You're right but I am going to let you take this one. I am going to walk Eliza and put her to bed. Good luck." He walked out.

Now she sat, her first born across from her, once again, in a life's mess. She picked up her wine and took a big sip. They both looked at the fire neither saying anything. She wondered if Stevie would start.

Stevie picked at her cookie and put a piece in her mouth. "Mom, it's complicated."

Elizabeth held on to her glass. She didn't take her eyes off the fire. She took a sip of her wine before she spoke. She needed something to calm her because she was tired of Stevie's excuses.

"You are going to have to do a lot better than that. But, let me help you a bit. When I was at UVA, as a student, I spent almost all my time on my studies. I didn't go to parties or hang out with friends that much. Mostly because I knew I had to make my way in this world on my own with nobody to fall back on. When I met your father, in that way we were alike. His parents had all but abandoned him in the college process. It was all on him. I think in a subconscious way, we had vowed to never leave our children out there alone. In some ways, as in your case, that might be a detriment."

She now turned to look at Stevie.

"When you came to me a few years ago questioning whether Dmitri was the one, I should have told you if you have to ask, he is not the one. I should have told you that I really thought you were settling. Your engagement and impending wedding with Jareth was quick. The same could be said for Dmitri. Maybe you knew if things didn't work out you would always have us to fall back on. I'm sorry for that."

"Mom, please don't." Stevie began but Elizabeth held up her hand that let her know that she was not finished.

"In the knowledge of that mistake, I am going to be more honest with you now. You have got to stop rushing your relationships, Stevie. Something is going on with you and Andrew Hill. I don't know how deep you are in. But, I am going to tell you need to take a step back for now. As your mother, I am very concerned you have a tendency to jump from one relationship to another and just settling there without really taking the time to know the person. Yes, your father and I knew right away but it still took us time to tell each other that we loved each other. We both had to know it was real. Even if this hadn't happened to Dmitri, you would have been looking at divorce. Regardless of where your marriage was, you did just lose your husband. Your daughter has lost her Daddy and this child will be born fatherless. This time it is more than just your heart, its' theirs too. Your children need your utmost attention."

"Mom, we are just friends," Stevie argued.

"Oh sweetheart, your father and I have seen the way you look at each other. This is more than friends. If it truly is what we think it is, he'll still be your friend and will wait for you. Until, you can get yourself back to a place where you have time and a clear head and heart to love again. Now, I am going to listen because you have some explaining to do."

"Well, for starters it has only been going on a few months. But, only through text." She started but got interrupted.

"ONLY?! Let me remind you, you still had a ring on your finger." Elizabeth took another sip of wine.

"I mean, well, it started the night of the G7 State Dinner," Stevie said quietly, recognizing her mother's disapproval.

Elizabeth replied, "An infamous night in the McCord Administration." She took another sip of wine. "Wait, didn't Dmitri go out with everyone?" she looked at Stevie with the infamous one eyebrow up.

"No, he went home to relieve the babysitter. Trust me, he wasn't interested in being with any of us that night. So at the bar, Andrew and I started talking. At that point, I knew that Dmitri was cheating the last few months. Trust me, Mom, the love was already gone. Andrew became a confidante. He knew what was going on in our marriage. He has been a listener, a supporter and a great friend to Eliza and I. I understand what you are saying but for now we have no other plans to take it further at this time."

"I hope you understand that your father and I are very concerned about you and our grandchildren," she said quietly to her.

"On that note, Jason and I were talking. How would you feel if he moved back into the house with me?" Stevie asked taking a drink of her water and desperate to change the conversation.

Elizabeth turned and stared at her, "And not go back to school? Oh no! Stevie, he had to work his tail off to be able to transfer to Harvard. Of course, once he finally came around to the idea that it was where he was meant to be. Your father and I worked too hard to get him there! He is not making the mistake you did and staying here taking care of you and Eliza."

"Mom, of course not! But for the summer, while I get used to everything. Never thought I would say this but he is super helpful with Eliza and she adores him." Stevie looked down with a short smile.

"He's like your father that way." Elizabeth smiled and drained the wine from her glass. "Talk to Dad about talking with Secret Service about it. I am sure it won't be a problem for the detail."

"Talk to me about what?" Henry entered the room with the baby monitor in his hand.

"I was asking Mom if Jason could move in with me for the rest of the summer. Just while I get used to this new life." Stevie said looking behind her at him.

"Yeah, sure. I will talk to James about it on Monday. I am sure it won't be a problem."

"Thank you." Stevie got up and reached for the monitor, which Henry pulled out of her grasp.

"No way. You need to rest. Mom and I got this tonight." He smiled at her.

"Another thing I need to ask. So, I'm going to need a coach…."

Elizabeth jumped up, "Yes, I would love to!"

Stevie laughed, "Okay then!"

"Dad, I have an ultrasound on Monday. You want to come?" she asked.

Henry looked at Elizabeth and then back at Stevie. "I…I'd love to!"

The relief showed on Stevie's face. But, Elizabeth was still worried that they let her fall back on them too much. Now, they had no choice but to be there for her.

Elizabeth began, "While we are on the topic. Although, it's not like the world doesn't know you were married to Dmitri and he fathered your children, the suggestion has been made for all of you to change your last name."

Stevie looked at her parents, "Right. I was going to bring that up. How do we go about changing our last name? The baby will just be born as McCord."

"It has to go through the court. I will have Mike B. handle it on Monday," Elizabeth said.

"Okay. Goodnight." She walked out of their side of the residence.

Henry put his hands loosely around Elizabeth's waist and smiled at her.

"Don't get too excited, Captain. It didn't go that well. She has a lot to learn in a short period of time." Elizabeth said in her matter of fact way.

"How about we go to bed and worry about that tomorrow?" he whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck.

"Yes, I am so exhausted," she answered.

"You are?" he asked as he backed her into the bedroom while staying focused on the sweet spot on her neck.

"No…no I'm not." He laid her down on the bed and slid himself over her.

She leaned up and kissed him slowly and then more deeply. It wasn't long before their bodies were tangled with one another. Tonight was short but sweet, the kind of lovemaking for soul mates where you are just grateful to have how many minutes you can grab for one another before drifting off to sleep. After the long weekend, sleep came fast as they laid enveloped in each other.

In the other room down the hallway Stevie was drifting off to sleep. Her phone lit up with a text. She rolled onto her back.

"How did it go with your Mom?" Andrew asked.

"It went okay. I told her we were just friends. She doesn't need to know anymore than that."

"True. We can play that off for a while. But, I do love you."

She hesitated, hearing her mother's words in her head. But, wrote back, "I love you too."