"I'm just worried about my child." Lucy tried to defend herself, even though she didn't have a good leg to stand on when it came to explaining her recent behavior.
With wide eyes, and a sly smirk, Stevie couldn't help but laugh. "You have been nothing but a spoiled little bitch since I got here." She didn't care anymore- all the sympathetic feelings she'd held for Lucy had gone out the window when she tried to get in the way of her staying back with her husband... She cared about Lucy, but she cared more about Lindsey and that was no secret.
"Mom, come on." Her youngest son let his hand fall on her back, trying his best to get her to calm down some.
But she was upset, really upset. She had done a lot for those kids and Lucy's need for entitlement had really gotten old... She could only put up with so much and that simple little suggestion sent her over the edge.
"Hush, Kash." She pushed his hand away, still staring directly into Lucy's big brown orbs. "I am so sick of walking on egg shells around you, worrying about what will happen after this sweet baby comes." She wasn't sad anymore, instead she was just very mad.
She had to get it off her chest and if it had to happen right there, right in the middle of the hospital waiting area, then so be it.
Lucy looked over at Crosby, hoping he would jump in to defend her, but he had found himself lingering in the corner of the room, eyes on the floor with his hands tucked safely in his pockets... He wasn't getting in between those two women. "What are you even talking about?" When she realized that her husband was no help, her eyes melted right into her mother- in- laws much darker ones. "I think I made you feel more welcome in my home, then you made me feel in yours." If Stevie was going to act be big and bad, Lucy wasn't afraid to give it right back to her.
Scoffing lightly, the older blonde tried hard not to roll her eyes, but her self control had diminished. "Oh, please. I couldn't even wash the dirty dishes without you complaining, and then whining to Crosby." She motioned towards her oldest son- the one that still couldn't decided what side he was on... he was just the referee.
"Because you couldn't just chill out, Stevie." She had been thinking that for a long time, and it felt good to finally tell her how she really felt. "It's like you can't sit still, and stepping on everyone's toes just comes so natural to you." She added, jaw settling harshly once her words had left her mouth. "That's why Lindsey's out, fooling around with other women." Lucy said it so fast, she didn't have time to even think about it... it was already out in the world before she realized what she'd said.
Stevie's heart sank instantly as she glanced around the room at her children, who were all suddenly very interested in the conversation.
"Mom?" Kash was the first one to speak up, a look of confusion written across his face as he moved a little further into the room.
"Is that true?" Levy wasn't as soft as Kash... no he didn't do cheaters, especially if the one being cheated on was his mother.
"Stevie, I am-" Lucy was going to tell her how sorry she was for saying that- it wasn't her place, and it wasn't her business.
"Shut up." Stevie was embarrassed- more than embarrassed, actually.... she was humiliated. "Just shut up." She felt so anxious, and for a moment she thought she was going to pass out from shot nerves. "You've said enough." She mumbled, holding up her hand to silence the younger woman.
It was completely silent for a long minute- it felt so dragged out and hostile, no one really knew what to do, or say.
"You should all leave. Don't worry about us." She bit down on her lower lip as she tried her best to keep herself from crying. She wasn't going to do that- she wasn't going to give Lucy that satisfaction of knowing she had hurt her that badly. "None of you have to worry about your father and I, okay? Go home, go back to California, go to work, go back to your lives. I can take care of your father just fine." She wanted them to just disappear, out of her sight long enough to collect herself.
It was hard without them there, but it was harder when she felt like she constantly had to explain things to them. Somethings were better left private and that was just one of those things.
The three boys all shared an awkward look, and they each knew, deep down that no matter what they said, she wasn't going to feel any better that evening. If she needed some space, that's exactly what they'd give her to make her feel better in some way.
So, half heartedly they all trudged towards the door, getting ready to leave with a bunch of unanswered questions and some negative energy.
"I love you." Elise let out a soft sigh once she'd wrapped Stevie in a warm hug.
She rubbed her back lightly as she gave her daughter- in- law a soft squeeze. "Will you stay with us?" She knew that she could handle it on her own, but Elise wasn't like anyone else in that family- she was the rock... She was someone that everyone should have in their lives and if Stevie didn't have Lindsey to help her through that rough patch, Elise was second best.
"Of course, I will." She assured before she slowly pulled away. "I'll be right here."
~
It was a few hours after their little argument when Stevie finally found herself sitting alone in the waiting room, staring up at the tv as the nightly news drowned out the sound of her own thoughts.
Elise went to the hotel to grab them all some clean clothes, which gave Stevie enough time to cry in peace.
She couldn't believe Lucy would have said something like that, especially in front of the boys.... that wasn't fair. That was their father- the man they had looked up to their entire lives and the very last thing Stevie ever wanted was for them to think differently of him.
He was the greatest father and husband any of them could have asked for, even when he made mistakes... he was still better than most.
"Stephanie?" Stevie had finally looked at her badge- her name was Janelle.
"Hi, dear." She slid off the chair, standing up to be level with her.
"I wanted to let you know that Lindsey is awake, he's stable and he's in his own room now." She was trying hard not to stare at her stomach... She had secretly been doing some mental math to figure it all out in her head, but it wasn't adding up right.
"Oh, that's wonderful." Stevie let out a content sigh as a small, weak smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"It is, but he has been asking about you since he woke up." She returned the grin, a soft laugh following her words. "He told us he didn't want to see us, he only wants to see you." She wasn't kidding, not in the slightest.
Lindsey was a little out of it, so he when he woke up, he told them how he truly felt... He wanted his wife, not anyone else and that was perfectly fine.
"Oh, gosh." She couldn't help but chuckle as she followed her out into the hallway.
"I must warn you," she paused right outside the door. "He has been through a lot the last fifteen hours, so he looks a lot weaker than he is." She wasn't saying that Lindsey felt incredible- no, he was really weak, but he might have looked worse than he actually was and she felt like Stevie needed to know that, just in case.
Nodding her head, she slipped into the room a second later. "Linds?" She trailed in a little further, eyes glued on him the entire time. "Hi, baby." Stevie had tears filled to the brims when she took his hand in hers, instantly bringing it up to her lips to leave soft kisses along his knuckles.
His tired eyes met hers, a gentle grin crossing his face immediately. "I don't think I'm supposed to be around such a beautiful woman right after a heart attack." He teased with a little wink.
Tossing her head back, she let out a tear filled giggle. "You scared me, Lindsey." She bent down slowly to kiss the side of his head. "You aren't allowed to do that... You aren't allowed to leave me like that." She whispered into his ear, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Don't worry, Steph." His hand met the side of her face softly as he slowly began to run the pad of his thumb under her eye. "I can't be away from you for too long."
