Picking up the Pieces

37

September 8, 2015

Lindsey groaned loudly when Stevie's alarm clock went off. "You're getting up at five in the morning." 

"Lindsey, I'm a mother now. I've been getting up at five in the morning during the school year for thirteen years." Stevie states kissing him slightly and climbing out of the bed. She chooses her outfit of the day. A pair of jeans, her brown platform sandals, and a teal chiffon blouse. She pulled her hair half up half down and Lindsey gawked at her, having never seen her dress like that before.

"You're and what..." he trails off. 

"I'm different in the Sault than I am in Los Angeles Honey." She just explains walking out of her bedroom and pressing into Brielle's room. The blonde was at a really awkward bent up angle almost like.a triangle and Stevie chuckled lightly. She picked up Brielle's iPhone and checked the time at 5:45 and it was still brightish in the mornings slowly darkening but it was still light to a point, so she opened the blinds in the room and Brielle flinched.

"Come on baby, it's your first day of school." Stevie states and just like that Brielle bolted up and practically sprinted across the hall to the bathroom. Trying to beat William In there. 

Stevie just chuckled and looked around the room, on her little chair in the corner she could see a cream trapeze tank top laid out with another cream under tank top. She had paired it with a purple faux leather jacket and a pair of ripped in the thighs and knees skinny jeans that would just barely squeak back dress code and a pair of gold braided thong sandals. Stevie went over to her necklace stand and pulled off a turquoise necklace and draped it over the shirt as well and then she popped back into her bedroom.

"You might want to wake your kids. School starts promptly at eight." 

"Awe dammit. That means I have to get out of bed." He whines. 

Stevie made her way downstairs and she started cooking up chocolate chip pancakes and when Brielle got down there Stevie just held her hands up to her mouth in a prayer motion and she started to cry.

"Oh mom." Brielle states.

"I'm sorry, you're so beautiful. You're not a baby anymore. You're seventeen practically an adult." Stevie shakes her head pulling her into a hug. 

"I love you mom." She states as they pull away, Stevie handing her a plate of pancakes and right on cue, Liz and Makenna walk in. 

"Morning."  Liz grins going over and squeezing Stevie's shoulder. 

"Here, eat." Stevie sniffles handing Makenna a plate of pancakes. 

"This is why I don't like coming here in the morning she forces me to eat." Kenna rolls her eyes. 

"Stop it." Stevie scolds.

"So where's everyone else?" Liz asks.

"I don't know. I worry about my own kid not his three." Stevie shrugs.

Everyone was just finishing up their food when the Buckingham's came down looking a little worse for wear.

"Why are you so shiny and happy?" William asks as Stevie hands him a plate.

'Because we're going to school. It's a half a day and it's exciting so let's go." Brielle smiles.

"Wait you have to bring your bother and sisters to school." Stevie scolds.

"No, no I'm not. I'm getting In my car and going Because I leave at 7:30 and it's 7:15 now. William knows the way, we made sure of that. All he has to do is back out of the driveway and turn left and then when he gets to the stop sign he takes another left and he continues straight until he gets to the third stop sign and he turns right and then it's literally right there." Brielle explains. 

"Well if you insist on leaving, you know the drill." Stevie smirks grabbing her camera.

Brielle just beams and makes her way to the fire place and she poses before Kenna jumps in and she physically jumps onto Brielle's back. Then they do a hugging one and Kara pops into one, and then Liz takes a picture of Stevie and Brielle and then she takes Kara and she goes to drop her off. 

"So what is the plan for the day?" Kenna asks as Brielle fills her coffee mug. Usually she'd pack a lunch fill her mug and a water bottle, but it was only a half day so she was just bringing the coffee.

"I was thinking we could go to that new Chinese place downtown." Brielle points. 

"Ooh yes, I've been wanting to go there for months. Is Hallie coming with us?" 

"She might but she's driving herself. She hasn't given a straight answer yet. I think it depends on what her brother is doing." She shrugs.

"What about what your brother and sisters are doing?" Stevie asks pointing to the three Buckingham's still eating.

"Do I have too?" She asks.

"Brielle." Stevie scolds.

"Fine they can come to. We meet in Liz's room promptly at 12:15." She states.

"What room is she?" William asks.

'I have her it's like 259 or something like that." 

"Exactly." Brielle nods going out to where her car is parked. She had to give up her parking space to Lindsey. 

***

Brielle was lucky enough to have gotten a free period at the end of the day so Liz graciously offered her an observation spot in her room. It technically wasn't allowed, but Liz was one of her emergency contacts so the principal couldn't even kick her out.  But it wasn't that time of the day yet, it was before school and like every morning Kenna and Brielle found themselves perched in Liz's room. 

"So did your brother and sister get settled in okay?" 

"I left them at home. William knows the way and frankly we don't like each other so it's not like it matters. Mom's making me take them to lunch with us after school though." She sighs.

"Where are you guys going?" Liz looks at the girls.

"That Wok place on Ashmun." Kenna points.

"Oh first Wok, get me some wonton soup for lunch tomorrow." She looks at her child.

"If I remember." Makenna nods.

"I'll remember." Brielle smirks.

"See, I knew I liked you." Liz laughs.