The Dance We Shared

38

January 11, 2010

Stevie was sitting on the couch in the living room of their pacific palisades home biting her thumbnail, some stupid soap opera on the television. Karen was sitting anxiously in one of the armchairs. 

"I've been sitting here seeing you staring at that wall for two and half hours now, what is going on in your head?" Karen asks.

"Well...I...Oh. I don't know." Stevie shakes her head.

"What's going on?" Karen repeats.

"I think I want to do a new record, but then I'm like no, you're stupid the music industry is practically dead and it's expensive and I'm trying to save money so my fucking grandchildren are taking care of and I just...I don't know Karen." She shakes her head.

"You could record an album here. You and Lindsey have all the equipment you need. And don't worry about the music industry. If you put out a new record you have to do it for yourself." Karen shrugs.

"I do, want to put it out. Really I do." Stevie nods.

"Alright, who do you want me to call, Lindsey, John Shanks, Jimmy Iovine?" 

"Dave Stewert." Stevie states.

"Dave Stewert?" Karen cocks an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I worked with him before on Don't Come Around Here No More with Tom and Jimmy, and we did that HBO thing a couple of years ago. I get along with him really well and I think that it's worth a shot to call him." Stevie shrugs.

"And what about your husband?" Karen questions.

"What about him?" Stevie shrugs.

"Won't he be a little upset that you didn't ask him?" 

"If he is, I know how to calm him down..." She wiggles her eyebrows.

"Oh Gross...you're sixty-one...how are you still...gross." Karen shakes her head.

"We aren't that old...we're not seniors yet...I still have three years until that time, but we do have a ten-year-old and an eleven-year-old." Stevie points.

"If you record it here what are you going to do with them?" Karen asks.

"My kids? They'll be fine." Stevie shrugs. "Speaking of my kids. I need to start working on dinner. Seth has swimming at seven." 

"Does Lindsey take him?" Karen asks following her into the kitchen. 

"Yes, Lindsey takes Seth to swim and I do something with Everleigh. I think tonight she said that she wanted to go to TJ Maxx and then come back and have chips and dip and watch Dirty Dancing" Stevie shrugs.

"You let your ten-year-old watch Dirty Dancing?" Karen cocks an eyebrow.

"Yes, I do...because it's rated PG, and I'm her Parental Guidance and my kids know what Abortion is. I've spoken openly about it to them and they know I've had four of them." Stevie shrugs.

"Well if I drive you to the store can I stay for dinner?" Karen asks.

"I'm making Sloppy Joes." Stevie states.

"So..." Karen trails off. 

Stevie just laughs and Karen makes herself comfortable at the island. 

***

That night after Lindsey returned home with a very wet and Chlorine smelling Seth, the eleven-year-old just walked right into the living room and cuddled up with Stevie as the Dirty Dancing She's like the Wind scene came on. 

"What's the matter, baby?" She asks throwing her arm around him and giving him a squeeze. 

"I don't want to compete anymore."

"Why?" Stevie asks rubbing his back.

"It's just...I don't know it seems too easy." He shrugs.

"He's swimming at the High School level Steph." Lindsey sighs.

"Well...we can pull you and maybe when you get to High School you can join the swim team?" Stevie continues rubbing his back. 

"I don't know mom." He sighs.

"Well, think about it, baby." She kisses his head reaching for another chip. It wasn't often that she indulged in any form of junk food, but she would on the moments like this where she was spending time with her kids. 

***

After the kids had gone to bed, she and Lindsey were downstairs the fire low and she had her feet draped over his lap, he was kneading at her foot and she was groaning lightly. 

"Is this turning you on, Mrs. Buckingham?" He asks.

"No, I'm just old and weary and my feet take the most beating." She states. "Lindsey I have to talk to you about something." 

"Hmm?" 

"I'm ready to do another album. I haven't' done one since the kids were little and I think I'm ready." Stevie sighs.

"Sure." Lindsey states.

"Really, you're okay with it?" 

"Of course I am." Lindsey nods.

"Well, that's good, because Karen's calling Dave Stewert tomorrow to produce it...but um, I want to do it here." She gnaws on her lip.

"You want to what?" Lindsey looks at her.

"I don't want to spend a lot of money on a recording studio. I want to do it here because you and I have the equipment to do it." Stevie explains.

"And what about me and the kids while you're recording this?" Lindsey asks.

"Well...I mean, I'll only record with Dave while the kids are at school and the girls and I can lay down some tracks after they go to bed." Stevie explains. 

"So you're asking Dave Stewert to produce this album in MY studio." Lindsey states.

"Our studio Lindsey." Stevie looks at him.

"All I'm saying is that I could do it perfectly fine," Lindsey explains.

"We've had this conversation, Lindsey. I try to keep my solo work and my Fleetwood Mac work, separately. Your Fleetwood Mac's producer." Stevie sighs. 

"Yes, but every tour we do, we sing Stand Back." Lindsey looks at her.

"That's different because you sing Go Insane too." Stevie crosses her arms.

"I just...I just wish you'd let me work with you is all. Make another Buckingham Nicks." Lindsey shrugs.

"Lindsey...maybe soon, but not right now." Stevie crawls over to him and straddles his hips.

"Mrs. Buckingham...what are you..." Lindsey starts but Stevie just shuts him up by planting a hot and heavy kiss on his lips.

"If you insist maybe we should take this upstairs so we don't scar our children." Lindsey laughs after they break apart.