Mike stopped at the apartment he had shared with his wife and son. He wanted to clean up then head over to Stef's Mom's house. He also wanted to give Stef time to get back from her Dad's. He knocked then waited. Sharon came to the door. She had that disapproving look on her face that she always did. He had no idea what he had ever done but she made it clear she didn't like him for some odd reason.

"Hi Mike." She said in a flat voice.

"Dad!" Brandon came running at him. Stef and Sharon had a habit of never telling him when his Dad was coming so that he wasn't upset when it didn't happened. Brandon thought this was a surprise for him.

"Hey Buddy. How about you go and get your things and you and me have some guy time?"

"Alright!" Brandon ran off to get his things.

"Hi Sharon. Stef around?" He was wondering where she was. She should've been back from her Dad's by now. That's why he'd waited so late to collect Brandon.

"Nope. Not expecting her home anytime soon either." Sharon knew she probably shouldn't have said that last bit but she didn't like the effect that Mike had on her daughter or her grandson. He only did as much as he wanted instead of doing what was right for both of them. Sharon knew he had forced Stef to marry him by going to her Dad and had never really liked Mike since.

"Oh? She say where she's going?

"You'd have to ask her that."

"I will. Thanks." Brandon had returned by now. "I'll have him home by 9."

His bedtime was 8:30 but Sharon let it go since he really did miss his Dad and Brandon rarely got a chance to see him. She figured Mike showed up with ulterior motives and sure enough he must've seen the change that had been happening over Stefanie in the past couple of weeks. She needed to talk to her daughter. Soon, before she made another mistake.

Cocococococococococococococococo

Stef went shopping straight from work and then over to her Dad's place. She went in through the slide glass door which was always open.

"Hi Dad." She called on her way in.

Her Father called from the living room. "Hey Stef. I was just thinking about you."

"Ahh. I felt my ears itching." She said while starting to put away groceries with a little laugh.

"I was thinking about that time you, Mike, and I were trying to show Brandon how to hold the ball right when he pitched and he cried because he didn't want to get his hands dirty. Hope he's outgrown that kind of thing now. That school has a baseball team right? He could use some toughening up."

"Brandon is a wonderful little boy Dad. He hasn't asked about playing any sports but he does like music a lot. His summer school teacher mentioned maybe piano lessons."

"You're not going to let him do that are you? That boy's already soft enough."

Stef bristled. Frank had made it perfectly clear that he thought that Brandon was too soft for his tastes. He thought being rough and tough was the definition of being manly. It was because Stef was such a tomboy when she was younger that he even bothered giving any attention to her. She guessed that's why she pursued athletics so vigorously.

Frank made his disapproval of Brandon perfectly clear. It was the reason Brandon didn't like coming over here with her and she didn't blame him though it hurt her that her father wasn't close to his grandson. As a child, Stef would do anything for his attention. Honestly, in a lot of ways, she still did.

She shrugged off his insult and kept unpacking groceries.

"How's Mike?" her dad asked suddenly.

O God. That was her other tender spot with her Dad. He was the one who had pushed her into marrying Mike even though she knew it wasn't a good idea. He convinced her that not marrying him, especially since she was already pregnant by him would be shameful and God would not bless her. He also let her know when she left him that God didn't appreciate that either. It's why she avoided spending too much time in the house with him.

"He's fine. I think he's picking up Brandon and taking him out tonight."

"Stef, when are you going to come to your senses and give that boy back his Father? I know Mike wants you back. He's a good Christian man who took good care of his family. "

"Mike is free to come and visit Brandon whenever he wants. I have only ever asked that he calls first so that we can get scheduling worked out. As for Mike and I, that's not happening anytime soon."

"You know how your Mother is. Being disrespectful to a married man who only wants to spend time with his wife and son. She makes it hard on him to go over there. I don't even know why you moved into that place with her. You know that your Mother left the church behind to do yoga and meditate. That's how the devil gets you. You and Brandon would've been comfortable here."

Stef laughed, "Comfortable living here? I'm barely comfortable when I visit. Brandon won't come because he's never been comfortable around you."

Stef caved when she saw the hurt look on her Father's face. "Look Dad. What happens between Mike and I is between the two of us. Brandon will always have 2 parents. I love you. I have to go."

She kissed him and hurried out.

She sat in the car and tears fell from her eyes. Why did he have to make it so difficult? Did he even care about her? All his focus was on doing what he felt God wanted her to do. He never once asked if she was happy. Not even when he was telling her that she had to marry Mike now that she had fornicated with him or God would never bless her or the child. Why did she need his approval so much? Every time she was with him or Mike it seemed she had to hide who she was to make them happy.

Her phone dinged. A text from Lena. Hey Sexy. Hurry home. Dinner's almost ready.

She chuckled and wiped the tears from her eyes. Home. Lena was home. That sounded good to her.