I found out my husband was gay after 24 years of marriage and work as a counsellor with straight spouses, so I can make some fairly well-informed guesses regarding Stephanie's experience. Her initial defence of him when he came out is quite typical, but it's often part of a shock/loyalty reaction (I remember doing the same thing). Underneath, there are likely to be all sorts of other (not-so-pleasant) feelings and thoughts about the deception and betrayal. Relationship status: it's complicated!