Stay With Me a While

Part 12

The Buckingham family, along with their two guests, sat down for dinner that same day. Kristen had quite a feast prepared. Stevie wondered if she always did that or was she trying to show off. Judging by what Lindsey had told her earlier in regards to that kiss, Stevie guessed that it was the latter. But she was a guest in their house, so she smiled politely and said, thank you. This was also an opportunity to spend some time with Lindsey's children. They spent the first half of the day at school, then homework, friends and various leisure activities followed. Stevie herself was busy with Lindsey, so this was the only time during the whole day that they all were together.

"So, how is it going?" Kristen asked, sitting on Lindsey's left, who sat at the head of the dinning room table. "I hope, you're not at each other's throats just yet." She added with a laugh.

"Oh, no." Stevie shook her head, having the (dis)pleasure of taking up a seat in front of Mrs. Buckingham. "Not at all. I'm having a lot of fun actually." She mimicked Kristen's fake smile and lay a hand over Lindsey's, who didn't even think of moving his away. "Wouldn't you say so, Linds?"

He sincerely hoped to be left out of it. "Uh, yeah. We haven't worked so well together in quite some time." Lindsey glanced at Stevie, his were the only genuine smile in the room. "Who knows, after we're both finished with our upcoming tour, I might just be able to convince Stevie to do a full album."

"We've done one song, Lindsey, slow down." Stevie chuckled, reaching for a glass of water. "However, if we have the opportunity to record here..." She trailed off, giving him hope.

"That's good to hear." Kristen said, her jaw clenched. "You're welcome here, always."

Karen nearly chocked on a piece of fish, she coughed and washed the mouthful with a big gulp of water. "Excuse me, the fish is a little dry."

Stevie bumped her knee against her assistant's leg, telling her to behave, but she did find the comment amusing. 

"Aunt Stevie?" Leelee spoke up, when the grownups quietened down.

"Yes, sweetheart?" She smiled at the Buckinghams' middle child. 

"Would you like to meet my horse if you have time?" The girl asked shyly.

"I'm sure, Aunt Stevie has a lot to do, Lee." Kristen cut in, but Stevie waved it off.

"Of course, I would love to meet your horse, honey." Stevie nodded and her answer brought a bright grin to Leelee's face. "Tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay!" Leelee agreed excitedly as she then looked down at her half eaten food. "Can you ride?"

Lindsey couldn't help it, when his mind was suddenly full of inappropriate thoughts. He hung his head low, pretending to be enjoying his meal.

"Ah, well, I have ridden a horse before, yes. However, it's been a while." Stevie bent sideways a little to shoo Sulamith away from the table. "The first time I did, your father had convinced me. I sat behind him, holding onto him for dear life." She laughed lightly as did Leelee. 

"Oh, yeah." Lindsey nodded, grinning. "I had your grandfather's cowboy hat on."

"And looked absolutely ridiculous!" He didn't disagree. "I'm pretty sure that was the first time you handled a horse as well."

"We didn't fall off, though, did we?" Lindsey gave her a look and Stevie shook her head. 

"No, no we didn't." Stevie sighed at the memory, a small smile remained on her lips, when Kristen had decided it was time to change the subject.

Dinner time was offer. It didn't go as bad as Stevie had expected for it to go. Kristen suggested sitting down in the family room together for a glass of wine, but Lindsey told her, he and Stevie weren't quite finished for the day just yet.

"I'll go up to my room for a second." Stevie let Lindsey know.

"Sure. Meet me in the studio." He said, then jokingly added. "If you're able to find it on your own." 

She gave him a look then turned to climb the stairs. Stevie noticed that Lindsey had ran out of his favorite incense, which turned out to be the ones she liked the best, too. Wherever she went, she always brought them along with her. Rummaging through her suitcase, she found a pack and reached for them. She knew that he was only joking, but it did take Stevie a minute to figure her way out through the house. Feeling relieved that she had safely reached the now familiar door, she went inside and found Lindsey opening a bottle of wine.

"I thought, maybe we could enjoy some after all." He said, handing her a glass of red.