Splitting Up Together – Star of Milo

By: Taylor Gates

Lena (Jenna Fischer) thinks the best way to handle Milo’s (Sander Thomas) eighth birthday while adhering to her and Martin’s (Oliver Hudson) new system of boundaries is to have two parties with two different guest lists and themes. Martin argues that it would be financially irresponsible; plus, Milo isn’t Mae (Olivia Keville) and would want them both at one party. Lena is persuaded, and they agree to co-parent at one party.

Milo comes in and asks his parents where Josh the turtle went. Lena pointedly looks at Martin, as he set Josh free earlier. Lena thinks Martin’s actions were crazy but never understood the allure of the turtle so she decides to let it go.

While filling out invitations with Milo, Maya (Diane Farr) tells Lena she’ll know at her next doctor’s appointment if the artificial insemination took. Milo tells Lena he wants Lisa Apple (Monica Barbaro) at his party since she was such a great tutor, and Lena reluctantly agrees to let her come. She delivers the invitation to Martin, who is surprised at Lena’s generosity.

Things between Lena and Lisa are tense and passive aggressive at first, but Lisa tells Lena how grateful she is that she didn’t block her from attending the party. Camille (Lindsay Price) interrogates Maya as to why she’s not drinking any of the booze, and Maya admits that she’s now pregnant.

Everyone is excited and toasts to her, but Milo feels overshadowed and runs upstairs to pout. Lena goes upstairs to talk to him, but she sees that Lisa is already handling it, giving him a pep talk about how he can teach his baby cousin things once it’s born. She then gives him the present she got him to cheer him up.

Milo goes downstairs and announces to everyone that Lisa got him his own star, which sends Lena over the edge. Maya goes to the bathroom to find her crying on the floor. Their father (Geoff Pierson) comes in as well, and Lena admits she feels empty and like everything in her life is gone. Their dad says that when their mother died he had no idea what he was supposed to do without her. The only thing he could do was wake up and keep living.

Camille comes in and reassures Lena that Lisa Apples come and go, but a bond between a mother and child is forever. Lena says she doesn’t want to dump on Lisa—although she was annoyed at her being there, she has been nothing but kind to everyone at the party.

Martin rubs Maya’s feet, which sends Arthur (Bobby Lee) into a panic. He warns Martin that Lisa is going to think that he wants to get her pregnant because of the way he’s acting with Maya’s unborn child. Martin tells Lisa directly that he doesn’t want any more kids, and she teases that, due to their age difference, by the time she would want to have kids, Martin would probably be dead anyway. Martin cringes, and Maya and Camille are convinced Martin is going to dump her.

Lena tells Martin he can leave with Lisa while she cleans up, but Martin insists on staying and helping out. Lena tells Lisa she did great with Milo, thanking her for everything. Frank (Travis Schuldt), one of the kids’ single dads, comes to pick him up, and he and Maya hit it off right away and decide to have some coffee.

That night, Lena gives Milo one last gift: a turtle stuffed animal that looks like Josh. Milo thanks Lena, telling her how much he loves her. He asks her to lay with him until he falls asleep, and Lena happily obliges.

Lena thanks Martin, Maya, and Camille for cleaning up. Maya and Camille leave, but Martin stays and helps Lena do dishes even though she assures him she doesn’t mind doing them on her own. Lena says that Lisa is truly a special person, and Martin says he’s always had good taste. Martin tells Lena he used to pride himself on knowing everything about her, but the way she handled things really surprised him today. She smiles, and the two finish the dishes while laughing together.

The next morning, Maya tries to sneak out of Frank’s bed. Although they had a great night, she doesn’t want to assume he will want to see her again. However, he does want to see her again, which excites her. One of his sons yells that he wants some waffles, and Travis jokingly assures Maya that in ten years he will be out of the house. Plus, he’s definitely his last child. Maya doesn’t yet tell him about the baby currently growing in her womb.