It was now 2013, five years later. Aurora was eight and Murphy was seven. Samantha had given birth to a now five year old baby girl named Alanna. A month after Samantha had given birth to Alanna, Stephanie had given birth to a baby girl named Vaughn. After which she decided to get a tubal ligation. For the first three years Samantha and Randy had been very happy. Over the last two they'd begun to grow apart, official separating in 2012. They'd been separated for five months. Randy was in his hotel room. There was a knock at his door. He answered it and Murphy was standing there.
"Hey." Randy said happily and smiling.
"Hi dad." She went inside.
"I need to talk to you." He said as they sat down on the couch.
"You and Sam are getting divorced aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"I knew it." "I wish you guys would've just told me when you separated."
"We weren't sure then."
"Does Alanna know yet?"
"Sam's telling her today."
"Maybe it's better." "At least you won't be like mom and Paul."
"Why?" "What's going on with your mom and Paul?"
"They fight." "Sometimes they go days without talking to each other at all." "Mom cries a lot." "She thinks we don't hear her but we do." "They act normal around us."
"How long has it been going on?"
"Forever." "Maybe they should get divorced to."
Stephanie and Paul were in their hotel room with Aurora and Vaughn. The love had long since dissolved in Stephanie and Paul's marriage. They hadn't had sex in four years. They still slept in the same bed but it was for appearance sake. Stephanie knew Paul was cheating on her with someone. She had seen texts over the years where they'd talked about having sex. She didn't know who the woman was and didn't want to. Stephanie had made the decision years ago to put her own happiness aside and stay for the kids. She didn't know why Paul stayed but assumed similar reasons. Stephanie hadn't shared with anyone that she and Paul were having problems. They were both just glad as far as they knew, the girls knew nothing. Stephanie was braiding Aurora's hair. Paul came through the door.
"There's my girls." Paul said.
"Hi dad." Aurora said.
"Hi Aurora."
"Did you have a nice autograph signing daddy?" Vaughn asked.
"Yes I did." "Hey Stephanie."
"Hi Paul." The way they spoke to each was a way that seemed rehearsed.
Later that night Stephanie was at her office at the arena. She heard a knock at the door.
"Come in." Randy walked in. "Hi."
"Hi." "Did Murphy tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Sam and I getting a divorce."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, we've both known it was coming."
"At least you'll be happy."
"Stephanie are you ok?"
"Fine."
"How are you and Paul?"
"Fine."
"I know that's not true."
"Ok it's not."
"Why didn't you tell me about it?"
"I didn't tell anyone."
"How long has it been like this?"
"Since before Vaughn was born." "He's cheating on me."
"Why don't you divorce him?"
"I don't want to break up the family."
"What about your happiness?"
"What's happiness?" She said defeated.
"Stephanie." He said coming around her desk and kneeling down to talk to her. "You can't do this yourself."
"Sure I can." "It's what they make wine for." Suddenly he kissed her. She kissed him back intently starving for affection. She got a hold of herself and lightly pushed him away. "Randy we have to stop." "I'm having enough problems." "We can't start this again." "Nothing good can come from it."
"Well the sex was always good." "We had Murphy from it to."
"You have to leave."
"Ok." He left. She knew if she hadn't told him to leave, she would've let him take her right there on the desk.