When I See You Again

Part 16

Stevie wasn't sure, what she had expected. Coming into that first day of rehearsals, she knew, things were going to be a lot different. Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, both talented musicians, who had every right to be a part of Fleetwood Mac. They auditioned and got the gig. Absolutely fair. But Stevie felt as if suddenly she was playing with another band. She glanced to her left and Lindsey wasn't there. She'd never thought she would, be she missed his intensity, his need to control every situation he was involved in, she even missed being stopped in the middle of a song, because something didn't sound right to him.

"Stevie, are you with us?" 

She'd missed her cue. She looked around and everybody was staring at her. Smiling sheepishly, Stevie apologized. "I'm just... I'm somewhere else."

"Well, come back. We've only got a month until we leave for this tour." Mick said, sounding serious. "Alright, let's try this again."

By now, Stevie could sing Rhiannon if she was woken up in the middle of the night, no problem, but the band was trying to get through Seven Wonders, which was from the newest Fleetwood Mac record. She had trouble remembering the words and Lindsey on her mind didn't help. She was growing increasingly more tired, too. 

"I need a break." Stevie said, after they had managed to get through the song once from start to finish.

She didn't wait for anyone to allow her to do it, Stevie just walked away. However, nobody disagreed. Mick left their rehearsal space, John took a seat and lit up a cigarette and Christine joined him. Billy excused himself as well and Rick, feeling slightly out of place, decided to join Stevie. 

"Do you mind?" Rick asked, showing to an empty seat beside her.

"No." Forcing a weak smile, Stevie shook her head. "Wondering, what you've gotten yourself into already?"

"Not at all. Why?" 

She sighed. "I didn't think that this would be so difficult. Two new band members, well, technically three." She looked down at her growing belly. "All the interviews, photoshoots, getting ready for this tour..."

"I think, you're doing really well." Rick smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "You could have pulled out of this tour, but you didn't."

"I can't say, I don't think about it sometimes." Stevie hadn't admitted this to anyone yet. "At the same time, I don't know what it is like not working. I've been recording or on the road for the past ten years, a bit longer than that."

"Well, now you'll have a reason to take a vacation."

"Oh God!" Stevie laughed. "I doubt raising a child on your own can be called a vacation."

"On your own?" Rick frowned. He knew, she was pregnant, but nobody talked about it and he didn't want to pry.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Just me and the little one." 

"If you don't mind me asking-"

"Lindsey's the father." Stevie interrupted, already knowing, what the questions was going to be. "So, you understand, why it's just the two of us."

"I didn't realize that things were this bad."

Stevie remained silent, she didn't want to get into all that again. "What about you? Do you have anyone to come home to?" She gave him a small, but genuine smile. 

"No. Haven't had much luck yet." Rick laughed lightly, shifting in his seat. "I've given up on trying to find love. Maybe, someday I'll walk into a room and she'll be there, waiting." He said and their eyes locked. 

"Let's get back to it, people!" Mick returned and Stevie groaned, getting up on her feet again. "A couple more songs to go through and we'll be done for today."

Stevie and Rick where walking behind the others, when Christine stopped abruptly and spun around. "I completely forgot." She said to Stevie. "I've got some things to do after we're finished here, I won't be able to drive you home."

"I'm sure, someone will. No worries, Chris." Stevie shrugged, then turned to face Rick, when he spoke up.

"If you like, I can take you home."