After finishing painting her nails, Stephanie rests her hands along a magazine as she mindlessly gazes towards the TV. She isn't really watching the show, nor could she probably even tell you what show was on - her mind was occupied with other, much more important, things.
Her daughters were to arrive at any minute, and she's hoping to clear the air over everything that happened last time. Perhaps Stephanie's delusional, but she's almost sure that Paul's doing this on purpose; he never told her about Murphy's ballet recital, and thinking her mother didn't care about it nearly broke the young girl. Also, telling them that Steph didn't care about them? Knowing he did that makes her blood boil - there's nothing she wouldn't do for those beautiful girls. And Paul definitely knows that, so how on earth could he claim otherwise?
Hearing her daughters say they want to move in with their dad permanently hurt her more than words could say, she's never experienced pain quite like it. Of course, no matter what Stephanie thinks of Paul, she'd never stop him from seeing his own children - she'd have no grounds to. But Paul has no grounds to do it either. Stephanie can't work out if he's doing it in attempts to hurt her, prove a point, or some other twisted reason.. but whatever that reason is, she doesn't really care. Right now, her top priority is to mend her relationship with Murphy and Aurora. And, now that they've had some time apart to clam down, hopefully they can all talk.
Until they turn up, Stephanie does her best to think about Brianna; she's one of the only aspects of her life that seems to be going well at the minute. The way they've blossomed is something she couldn't be more grateful for. Granted, it's been a messy road to say the least.. but things are looking up for their sweet little romance, and it fills Steph with the most happy butterflies. After all, she's come to a point where she can't imagine life without Brie. To think that 6 years ago, there's no one they despised more than each other..
Eventually, a knock at the door snaps the entranced woman back into reality. A smile forms across her lips - this is her chance to put everything right.
As the door opens, Stephanie's heart speeds up with anticipation; although, when the muscular, tall figure of her ex-husband walks through the door, her face drops entirely. Paul is honestly the last person she wants to spend time with. In her perfect world, they'd never share a conversation ever again.
"Oh.." she says, obviously disappointed.
"Nice to see you too?"
"Sorry, I.. are the girls with you?"
Judging by his face, Steph knows that he came alone. A knot in her tummy begins tightening; here she is, excited to see her children again after a while of being apart, yet she gets the person who treated her like dirt. Again, maybe it's all in her head, but her mind instantly jumps to the conclusion that he somehow convinced them not to come. After all the little comments he's made, which seemingly turn their daughters further against Stephanie, definitely perpetuate the idea.
"Where are they..? I had a day planned for us."
"A day?"
"Yeah, I booked front row seats for a ballet in the city - a making up present for Murph.."
"Well.. Look, honey, I'm sorry, I asked them not to come.. but I'll pay you back for the tickets, I promise." He says, uncharacteristically kindly.
Stephanie raises an eyebrow. Paul has no reason to be so nice to her. Supposedly, it could be from some weird form of guilt - but he's never been overly sensitive about her feelings before. Hell, his own office isn't the most secretive of places to have affairs. Also, she's fairly shocked at how openly he's admitted to preventing them from coming.. does he have no shame over what he's doing? Steph's been looking forward to surprising her daughters all day; seeing the look on their faces when they went to the theatre; simply chatting to them in a pizza parlour while drinking milkshakes; just spending some actual time with them for once.. and he's taken that away again.
Although, the most surprising thing for her was the way he called her 'honey'. When they were together, 'honey' was just something they called one another, but she wouldn't dream of saying it while they're apart. He's definitely up to something - but what the hell is it?
"Why would you-"
"Steph, I really need to speak to you.. we need to talk, properly - as a couple."
Stephanie takes a deep sigh. "I really don't have anything to say to you Paul. And we're not a couple anymore, you need to start accepting that.."
"But I can't Steph.." Paul says, taking her by the hands, rather forcefully so that she can't step away. "I love you Stephanie, I love you so much.."
Looking into his eyes, she simply can't believe that he's genuine. When Brianna told her she loved her.. it was just so full of emotion, so full of heart. But Paul almost appears like he's rehearsed it, there's no sense of realness, and it definitely doesn't make her heart skip a beat. Not anymore. To be completely truthful, in this moment, she's never hated him more. How dare he? How dare he turn up and claim to love her after all he's done to break her?!
"Screwing a receptionist half your age doesn't sound like love to me." She states, her eyes becoming watery.
"I know.. I know, and cheating on you is easily the worst mistake I've ever made.. but I promise, I will make it up to you. I'll make it up because I love you, and we can work this out.."
"No we can't!" Stephanie shouts.
"Don't say that.." he weakly replies, making a half convincing attempt at tears.
"We can't work this out because I don't want to, Paul.. I stayed loyal to you for years, and you acted like I was dirt on your shoe! It took me a long time to work this out, but I deserve so much better.."
Even though she'd never admit it, Stephanie's close to proud of herself. Looking back, during her marriage to Paul, she knew that he was being unfaithful, but she never wanted to face that truth. She simply wanted to bury her head in the sand and carry on with life. But then Brie came along, and she showed Steph what love should look like - she shouldn't have to cry herself to sleep every night, or constantly blaming herself for things Paul did, despising herself for every small thing that goes wrong. Brianna's kind of love makes her feel lighter, and most importantly, happier.. and that's exactly what she deserves.
"You're right..you do deserve better, and I will be better for you, Steph-"
"Get out." She says abruptly. "I don't want you to be better for me.. I don't want a life with you, and I don't love you anymore.. now just get out, I'll pick up the girls later."
Taking a huge breath of relief, Stephanie walks over to a nearby cabinet and begins searching for a pair of shoes. Presuming that Paul has left, she's free to clear her mind, and look forward to the evening.
Suddenly, there's a strong grip around one of her arms. Steph's eyes go wide with shock as she abruptly stand up, shaking Paul off her. Again, how dare he?! It didn't feel like he was trying to hurt her, but he has absolutely no right to even touch her!
"Get off me! I told you to leave!"
"I really didn't want to do this Stephanie.." He says cryptically.
"Do what..?"
Paul sighs, appearing to be bracing himself. "Aurora and Murphy want to move in with me permanently.. and frankly, I happen to agree with them. I mean, they deserve to live with a parent who at least remembers their dance shows."
Honestly, she could so easily slap him. She probably never would, but it'd be so satisfying non the less.
"But, of course.. if me and you were to get back together, the girls might stop.. internalising.. such negative ideas about you." he explains, a wicked grin slapped across his face.
All of Stephanie's emotional armour instantly faded away, snd she begins crying. As soon as he said that, she realised - she realised exactly what he was trying to do. She knew it, she fucking knew it! All of Murphy and Aurora's outbursts.. they're a direct result from him; he's been poisoning them into hating her! And now he's using it as a kind've bargaining material!
"No.. no, you don't get to use my relationship with my daughters as blackmail! I've made mistakes, but I love them!"
"Well, right now, they're starting to question that.. and something tells me they're going to want nothing to do with you soon enough. Don't you think you should do something about it?"
Crying close to uncontrollably, Stephanie falls onto her sofa, hiding her face. How on earth could he do this to her?! She's never done anything to him.. yet he's forcing her to stay in a loveless marriage in order to have a relationship with the girls she's adored and cared for, ever since they were brought into the world. In fact, her own world would be nothing without them.. but how could she ever return to Paul? What about the divorce proceedings..? What about.. what about Brianna..?
As she cries, Paul places himself next to Steph, and rests an arm around her. She can't believe he has the nerve.. what kind've man did she marry..?
"Steph, honey.. I can make all of this go away. Just let me come home. Let all of us come home.."
Acting upon impulse, Stephanie sits up and strikes him across the face with her right hand, then stands up, away from him. Paul looks up at her, shocked by her aggression towards him. While she surprised herself, Steph can't truthfully say that she feels any sense of remorse; she's never thought someone to be so god damn ugly before. If she had the physical strength, she'd quite happily punch him.
"I want you to leave." She attempts to sound authoritative, but ends up chocking her words on the tears.
"Okay.. okay, I'll leave. But you should really think about this.. Call me." Paul finishes, before finally exiting the room.
The very moment she's alone, Stephanie near screeches. How did this happen?!
No matter what she does, tears just continue to fall. What the hell is she supposed to do?! Roll over and give into him? But they're her children.. she'd go through hell for them, of course she would. Whatever she decides, there's going to be heartbreak.
And another heartbreak might just finally finish the vulnerable young woman off..