Slowly, Stephanie's eyes open to a half empty bed; Paul wasn't there. Considering he rejected her last night, she was hoping to cuddle up with him this morning. After all, she's barely seen him whatsoever this past week - he's either at work or wherever it is he mysteriously swans off to sometimes. She can't remember the last time they had a real cuddle, or even a nice hug..
Her eyes drift upwards - there he was. Paul was buttoning up his shirt, getting ready for the day. Today was Sunday; Stephanie has her day off, and so should her husband. What was he getting ready for?
Moving her pillow, she props herself upwards and looks towards her husband. Finally, he notices she's awake and flashes a quick smile at her, soon turning back around to focus on getting dressed. Quite depressingly, that smile was the only form of happiness he's shown towards Steph in a while. Something was clearly going on with him.. but what is it?
"I didn't know you had work today.." she says sleepily.
"I'm only going in for a few hours.. I've got to get some paperwork finished.."
"Well, since you'll be home for dinner.. why don't we go out to a restaurant? It's been ages since we've done that - we can even take the girls." Stephanie suggests.
"You really think Murphy and Aurora want to go out with us?" He chuckles.
Although he said it with a giggle, Paul was most likely right, and it hurt Stephanie more than she was willing to admit. When she was younger, like many women do, Steph had this idea in her mind of having the perfect family; obviously, she adores her children and loves them more than anything. But there are times when she questions how much of that love is reciprocated, and that wasn't part of her family dream.
On top of that, Stephanie still wasn't fully over what Murphy had said to her - that she was a nobody. Deep down, Steph knows that Murphy's just a teenager, and teenagers say things they don't mean; plus, her anger was probably caused by the fact Stephanie wouldn't let her go out. Maybe if she'd just allowed her straight away, her daughter wouldn't have said it? Chances are, Murphy wasn't intending for it to come across as hurtful as it did, anyway..
"Well.. how about we go then? Just me and you? We haven't been on a date for.. Lord knows how long."
"I'll be tired from work, Steph.." Paul dismisses.
Stephanie flops back down onto the mattress, lifting the duvet over her shoulder. Being rejected, labelled a nobody.. it's all just led her to feel really sensitive. A night out would honestly do her some good; going out with Brie yesterday sort've confirmed how lonely she's been feeling. With so much on her mind, it was nice to have someone to talk to.. as great as Brianna is, Stephanie has a husband. She'd rather spend time with him, and talk through her problems with him. But at the moment, Brie seems like the only person willing to listen.
Paul sits on the edge of the bed, next to his wife. "If you're so hell bent on going out tonight, why don't you ask your new best friend, Brie Bella?" He says, almost mocking Brie's name.
"Why'd you say it like that..?"
"Because you seem more excited to spend time with her than me." He spits. "I thought you were better than someone like her."
"Someone like her? Paul, she's actually a very sweet woman.." Steph defends.
Conversations like these just make Stephanie miss Brie's company. They spent about two hours together, and Steph felt more comfortable talking to her than she does with Paul - the man she's been married to for over ten years. After the past she's shared with Brianna, Steph wasn't sure that she'd even get a coffee/lunch date out of her, let alone a new friend. But with her husband? She mentions going out for dinner, and gets completely rejected and mocked.
Besides, Paul was hardly ever at home nowadays; even if he did understand how Stephanie felt, he'd never be around to hear it. Wherever he was going to, it can't always be work - not every single time. Although, asking him about it would probably start an argument which she really doesn't have the energy to deal with. Besides, she's just woken up, maybe the rest of the day would sway in her favour?
"I'll tell you what, I'll take you out for dinner tonight if you promise to stop seeing Brie.." Paul bargains. "It's your choice, but Brie really isn't good for you.. she distracts you from being a mother, and from being my wife."
Mildly confused, Stephanie ponders her options. She'll never really understand Paul's dismissal of Brianna - he's barely spent any time with her. But this was her chance, Paul was offering a chance for them to connect as a couple, and that's something she can't refuse. After all, half of Steph's problems are caused by the state of her marriage; if there's a chance to fix it, she'll have to make the sacrifice.
"Okay.. Okay, deal." She agrees. "I'm going to get some breakfast.."
Still sleepy, Stephanie stands up and kisses her husband's cheek before heading downstairs in her pyjamas. Unable to stop thinking about what she's agreed to, Steph's typically clumsy behaviour increases, dropping almost everything required to make some toast at least once.
Did she really promise to never meet up with Brie again..? As mentioned, they've only spent two real hours together, two hours where they could talk through everything and leave the past where it belongs. But a real friendship had sprung from it, and Stephanie didn't want to let that go. There's no point dwelling on it - what's done is done, she's agreed to now. But that doesn't mean she can't be sad about it.
As she's waiting for the toaster to click, there's a sound of the front door opening; two girls, linked in arms, walked in while giggling. Stephanie smiles at the sight of her two daughters. Granted, Murphy had really upset her last night, but she's still the apple of her eyes - along with Aurora of course.
"Hi.. I'm making some toast if you two want some?" Stephanie beams. "Did you have fun at your sleepovers?"
Aurora looks up from her phone and gives her mother a dismissive look; she looks towards her younger sister then scoffs, so does Murphy. Steph wonders what she could've possibly done wrong this time? All she did was offer breakfast and ask a question - surely she can't have screwed up from that? It feels like, no matter what she does, she's branded a mother not worthy of two beautiful girls.
"I'm sorry Murphy? Did you hear someone speak just then?" Aurora chuckles.
"No, I didn't, you must be hearing things.." Murphy laughs back.
Highly confused, Stephanie stares at her daughters with questionable eyes. The toaster pings, startling her slightly.
"You see, I just heard the toaster go off, but that's it.." Murphy continues.
"Umm girls?" Stephanie murmurs.
"There it is again! I can definitely hear talking but nobody's there.." Aurora continues.
Stephanie's stomach begins to wrench - are they really pretending she just isn't there? She's had some backchat over the years - it's to be expected from teenagers who think they run the earth - but she was their mother. Disrespect is one thing, but this was a whole new level, and Steph didn't know how to deal with it: odd comments, she can cope with, but this was too much.
"Please don't act like I'm not here, I'm your mother!" Stephanie says, attempting to sound firm.
"You're right Aurora.. nobody is there." Murphy shoots, staring her mom directly in the eyes.
The twist in Steph's tummy becomes worse. Once again, Murphy exploits her weakness - why are they laughing? How is this funny? Both girls giggle as they disappear upstairs. Stephanie can't help but tear up again; what on earth has possessed her daughters to treat her so viciously?
Quickly, Steph wipes the tears away - she doesn't want Paul to make fun of her when he comes downstairs. Instead, she begins to butter her toast, unable to stop thinking about what her girls had said.