The confrontation!
Ridge arrived at the Bel Air mansion at the same time as his parents. Stephanie hurried to her son.
"Ridge, do you know anything about what's going on here. Steffy gave me a weird phone call and was talking about a total fiasco and everything is really bad"
"I don't have a clue mother what happened here. I also got a phone call from Steffy that I should come right now"
"I guess the best thing would be, if we all just go in and talk with Taylor and the kids." suggested Eric.
The scene, the three Forrester's visualized shocked them. They saw the siblings in a close embrace on the couch. Steffy was in the arms of her brother still sobbing and crying. After she made the phone calls, she had another crying fit. Despite his own sadness Thomas tried his best to comfort his little sister. As the oldest he felt himself responsible for her, he also felt partly guilty for the situation. Steffy was thankful for his support and all her anger about his action were irrelevant at this moment. They needed each other more than ever, this was not the right time for accusations and fighting.
Ridge was the first one, who found his voice and addressed to his children.
"Steffy, Thomas can you please explain to us, what the hell is going on here?" He was deeply concerned and irritated. They both looked up at their father and grandparents, Steffy was not able to speak, so Thomas stood up and went to his family. He didn't know how to start, speaking out the truth was so painful for him. He made a few attempts but it seems like the words didn't find their way to his mouth. Stephanie was losing her patience.
"Come on, tell us, it cannot be that bad, just say it. What is the fiasco?"
"Mom is gone! She left LA!" The three gasped, they couldn't believe what they just heard.
"What do you mean with she is gone?"
"She left us. Last night while Steffy and I were asleep she packed her bags and drove away."
"No, no your mother would never leave you like this. I mean I saw that her car wasn't there but I'm sure she's just went for a short ride to calm down herself and then she will be back."
"Grandma, listen to me! She packed all her stuff, the bedroom is nearly empty and before you arrived, I checked her office, she took all important documents and certificates with her, including all her credit cards, passports and other stuff. She took everything to start a new life. She also wrote both of us (he points at Steffy) letters…"
Thomas couldn't continue, his emotions were too strong. He flopped back to the couch next to Steffy. The three didn't want to believe it. Never ever would they have imagined, Taylor would do something so irrational They had to sit down and needed a little time to digest this shocking news, it was completely silent in the room. Suddenly, Ridge jumped up abruptly. Nervously, he wandered through the room. He felt completely helpless and overwhelmed by the situation. He had been aware of how hurt Taylor must have been about his reaction. But he never expected her to take such a drastic step. His helplessness turns into anger towards his ex-wife.
"I just can't believe it. Without a word, she just decides to leave, packs her things and disappears. Just leave you here behind? I mean, what was she thinking? It is pretty obvious; she must have been completely out of her mind." Steffy couldn't listen to her father's anger tirade any longer. She got furious.
"You seriously wonder why she left? You, of all people? You should know better than anyone why she can't stand it here anymore. Do you have any idea how miserable she was yesterday? She kept herself together as long as she was with Thomas and me and tried to stay calm But I heard her last night crying her eyes out. She was devastated. And all that just because it was the same as always. First you make big promises about always wanting to be with her, us becoming a family again blah blah and at the end of the song, mom is forgotten and you rush back to Brooke."
"Steffy don't be unreasonable, I explained to you I left Brooke because we all thought she had done something unforgivable..."
"Yes and you ran straight into mom's arms for comfort and support. It's been the same game for years. When there is trouble in paradise you flee into mom's arms and let her tender your poor soul. You keep giving her false hope and playing with her feelings and then suddenly it's all sunshine again with Brooke and you throw Mom away like a toy that's no longer needed and now you're seriously wondering why she's finally had enough of you? I can understand why Mum wanted to leave; she would have been on the losing side again, watching you happily in love with Brooke."
Ridge was deeply affected by his daughter's outburst. It shocked him to see the pain and bitterness she showed towards him. Steffy, however, ignored her father and now turned to her grandmother.
"And you, Grandma you are... I don't even know to describe you. You're Mom's best friend, you always say she's like a daughter to you and then you cheat, humiliate and hurt her in a way you wouldn't wish on your worst nemesis. All the last days you kept telling her that her time with dad had come and she could finally be happy. You pushed her into Dad's arms and you knew exactly how much she wanted us to be a family again and you shamelessly exploited that. And you knew all along that everything was built on a lie. That everything would fall apart again. And then just at the moment when it looked like all her dreams, all her wishes would finally come true, you interfered and ruin everything for her. You really couldn't have chosen a worse time for your confession. What were you trying to do? Were you trying to push Mom over the edge? She was so grateful for all your support and your help and your encouragement, and you stabbed her in the back. All this time, you didn't care about Mom or Dad or Thomas and me or our family finally getting back together. It was all about you. You know Grandma I always looked up to you, I was always so proud to be the one to carry your name. I always wanted to be like you. A woman with values and morals, standing up for her family and fighting for her family. But, you are just an old, bitter witch who is only happy when she has the control over the whole world."
Stephanie looked at her granddaughter with big tearful eyes. She was by no means the first to confront her about her misbehavior over the past few days. Taylor and Eric had said similar words to her. However, those words from the mouth of her beloved granddaughter were for Stephanie a slap in the face. Steffy had always been her little girl. To see this girl now standing in front of her so angry and hateful was one of the most painful experiences of her life. Steffy, on the other hand, didn't want to be in the room with this family for another second. She turned around and was about to leave the room when suddenly her cell phone started ringing. Steffy gasped when she saw the caller ID. Hastily, she answered the call.
"Mom! Thank God you're calling, I'm so glad. How are you? Where are you?" Everyone stared intently at Steffy, waiting for some news. Tears swell up in Steffy's eyes when she heard her mother's voice. "Yes, mom of course I understand you Thomas too, no we are not mad at you, but can't you come back home? We'll get it all sorted out... Yes, Mom yes, it's okay... Yes I will...No Thomas and I we are not alone. Dad, Grandad and Grandma are here with us right now... Yes, we told them... Mhm ok yeah, I'll tell them... I love you too mom. So much!"
Stephanie couldn't control herself any longer. She snatched the phone out of Steffy's hand.
"Taylor it's Stephanie. Please be reasonable, running away that's childish. Let's...Taylor? Taylor? She hung up on me." Stefanie looked around, puzzled. Steffy grabbed the cell phone angrily.
"Oh, what a surprise! If I were Mom, I would have hung up on that greeting too. Besides, she just told me to tell you she doesn't want any contact with any one of you. She will stay in touch with Thomas and me. But she has decided not to come back and start over somewhere new and she wants us all to respect that, especially you grandma!"
"How did she sound?" Thomas wanted to know from his sister.
"Surprisingly calm, actually. Already emotionally affected and our voice message has stirred her in a way, but she still seemed very composed and adamant. I think she knows exactly what she's doing and that it's the right thing for her to do. I'm going to go change now."
"Wait I'll come with you."
Steffy and Thomas left the living room together and headed to their rooms. The three older Forresters were left alone in the room. Stephanie was the first to regain her speech.
"I think we should do something right away who knows what kind of shape Taylor is in? I think we should definitely try to track her down somehow..." Eric, who had kept mutely in the background all this time so far, now couldn't hold back any longer.
"Stephanie it's enough! Did you hear a word of what Steffy just said? What just happened here? Taylor wants to be alone for now and I can really understand her need for some distance after all the events of the last few years. And I'll tell you one thing, we will respect her wishes and I'll tell you especially Stephanie, if I ever find out that you are in any way trying to track her down or reach out to her, I swear to you, any relationship between us is over and done with forever. You finally have to learn to respect other people's wants and requests, even if they don't suit you!"
"To you my son I can only say this, you should finally take responsibility and take care of your children. They need you now more than ever. You saw Steffy, how angry and disappointed she is with you. This is your chance to make up for what you have done to these two children in the last few years. And I can only give you the advice to use this chance. Be there for them now, show yourself to be a responsible father, because otherwise, I guarantee you, you will lose these two children forever! So, I'm going to the kitchen and see if I can put up something edible for the two of them." With energetic steps, Eric left the room.
Ridge and Stephanie were left completely flabbergasted. Finally, Ridge jerked away.
"I need to call Brooke and tell her what happened and inform her I don't know when I'm coming home yet."
He made his way outside so he could make the call without any disturbance. Stephanie was now alone. All at once she realized the enormous damage she had caused with her plan. She realized for the first time how much she had played with the fate of her family. She strode to the fireplace and looked at the photos that stood there on the ledge. She reached for a portrait of Taylor and tenderly stroked it. In a soft, shaky voice, she whispered, "Forgive me Taylor, please forgive me and find your way back to us."