Stephanie left the lounge and went into the kitchen her parents had an expansive back garden so it would give her a space to stare into. Leaning on the counter she stared outside and zoned out, she didn't want to stay in the room and listen as Mikey sang Hunter's praises because he didn't know the true Hunter and it killed her.
Linda walked into the kitchen to see Stephanie staring out of the window, "staring out of the window appears to be your thing at the minute doesn't it?"
Not bothering to turn around she shrugged her shoulders, "staring out of the window doesn't give me any hassle. Staring out of the window it doesn't talk back to me, it doesn't tell me things I don't want to hear, it is simple and uncomplicated unlike my life."
Walking over to her daughter Linda placed her hand on her shoulder, "what's going on? You seemed a bit off on Monday and I have heard from a few sources that you weren't yourself at the TV tapings."
Rolling her eyes Stephanie couldn't believe her Mom, "so you were checking up on me?"
"No, I wasn't checking up on you at all. I was originally speaking with my sources about the campaign and they just happened to mention that you weren't yourself. Is everything okay?"
Stephanie shrugged, "it really depends on what your definition of 'okay' is."
Frowning Linda was a little confused about how and why things were seemingly so bad, "how about you explain to me why things are not okay."
Turning to face her Mom Stephanie motioned to the food on the top, "shouldn't we finish off dinner?"
"Maybe but I would also really like to know what is going on with you so the boys can wait an extra ten minutes for their food."
Sighing softly she turned around to face her Mom and just blurted it out, "Hunter says he still loves me and wants me back."
Linda's eyes widened in surprise, that wasn't really exactly what she had expected her to say.
Noticing the stunned look on her Mom's face Stephanie got an odd sense of satisfaction out of it, "now do you see why I was distracted and out of sorts?"
Nodding her head slowly Linda wasn't sure what to say but it was all starting to make sense, "don't take this the wrong way but it all makes sense now."
"Yeah okay. Now you're as crazy as Trish is."
Linda couldn't help but chuckle, "well in his note to you he did look like he was going to write something and he crossed it out, it would explain his anger towards you when he knew you were back and then it could explain why he was nice."
Sighing she shook her head, "I'm not doing this, I can't do this. I have Mikey to think about, I can't allow myself to get involved with him again."
"Why? Are you afraid he will find out the truth?"
"In a way yes. I love Mikey, he is my everything and my world and I don't want him to get hurt by Hunter. I don't want Mikey to find out Hunter is his Father and then for Hunter to let him down like will inevitably happen, he deserves better than that."
Being able to absolutely understand where Stephanie was coming from Linda sighed softly, "I absolutely understand what you mean and where you are coming from but Hunter is clearly not going to give up on you so you really need to think about things. You need to decide what you really want and just go for it. I know you still love Hunter, and don't you dare try to deny it, but are you willing to throw that all away simply because you are afraid that he may hurt Mikey? What if he proves you wrong and is everything you thought he wouldn't be? What if he really has grown up since he lost you and he is willing and able to admit where he went wrong in life and can be the man you deserve to have in your life?"
Biting down on her lip nervously Stephanie shuffled her feet on the floor, "Hunter had already put his hands up and admitted everything he did wrong at the end of our marriage and apologised for it. When we talked on Monday he didn't want to talk about business or his career, he only wanted to talk about where our relationship went wrong and he took a lot of the blame for it and he said he wished he had done it all differently but he still doesn't believe I was pregnant."
Linda shrugged, "why would he? He has no proof that there was a child at the end of it, I assume he doesn't know how old Mikey is so hasn't put two and two together, so he will obviously believe that you lied. What was his reaction to the pregnancy 'lie' that he thinks you told?"
"He said he would have talked to me about it and we could have worked through it if he had basically been more mature and stuff back then."
Still unable to understand what her daughter's problem was Linda frowned, "then why are you stood here acting like he is a total asshole who is out to ruin your life? Why are you not just trying to work it out with him for Mikey's sake? I'm not saying you should go and tell him that Mikey is his son, I'm just saying seeing if the two of you can work things out as adults because that is clearly what you both want."
Shrugging her shoulders as she turned to face the window again she sighed heavily, "maybe I'm scared that he'll find out the truth and will hate me forever and will take his anger out on Mikey. Maybe I'm scared he'll find out the truth and take his anger out on me by trying to get custody of Mikey and taking him away from me. Maybe I'm scared that Mikey will love him more than he loves me and I will lose my son when I am on the only parent he has ever known." Angrily wiping at the tear that rolled down her cheek she hung her head.
Linda felt her heart breaking for her daughter and she immediately stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her, "shhhh, it'll all be okay."
Once Linda had left Vince took his opportunity to pump Mikey for information, "so what do you think about the arenas Mikey?"
Mikey's eyes widened and he bounced up and down a little, "love it Poppy."
Chuckling Vince ruffled the little boys hair, "did you make lots of friends?"
"Lots, Tishy, Jerky and Hunner. I like Tishy best."
Smiling at his Grandson he wanted more details about Hunter, "so did you see much of Hunter?"
Shaking his head Mikey frowned, "no, Mommy was mads at him. She had a date wiv him but he luvs Tishy and it hurts."
Confused Vince raised his eyes, "Hunter loves Trish?"
Nervously looking at his Grandpa he nodded his head, "he tolds her. Are you going to gets mad like Mommy?"
"Your Mommy got mad at that? Did she hear Hunter telling Trish?"
Shaking his head Mikey looked down at his hands, "no, I tolds Mommy and she gots mad and fighted with Tishy and I ran away and Hunner tooks me back and mades sure Mommy wasn't mad."
The more Mikey was telling him the more Vince was starting to question what Hunter's motives were because he seemed to be really going out of his way to be nice to Mikey and as it was his daughter and his Grandson he was going to have to get answers, "well wasn't that nice of him? You shouldn't run off from your Mommy though, you could get lost or hurt."
"Vat's what he said."
Vince couldn't help but laugh at the sheer exasperation on Mikey's face, "well it appears Hunter is a very smart man. Are you going to listen to him and do as he said?"
Mikey nodded his head, "I don'ts want Mommy to be sad 'gain."
Sighing heavily Vince felt the same way, "you and me both. So did you get to go in the ring?"
Immediately brightening up Mikey nodded his head eagerly, "lots and I evens climbed the ropes wiv Hunner."
Chuckling Vince could only imagine his daughter's reaction, "I bet your Mommy liked that."
Giggling Mikey shook his head, "she was mad."
"I'm not surprised. Did you have fun though?"
"Lots and I can'ts wait to go back."
Vince smiled and pressed a soft kiss to the top of his Grandson's head, "good, I am pleased to hear that. Hopefully even when I'm better your Mommy will bring you to the shows now."
Mikey's eyes lit up, "you makes Mommy takes me?"
Chuckling Vince shrugged his shoulders, "I don't think I can make your Mommy do anything but there are lots of things I'm going to try and make her do."
Top of Vince's to-do list was going to be find out from Hunter what his deal was because his Grandson clearly adored him and if he hurt him he would kill him.