Broken Promises

Part 21

For the past three weeks Stevie was practically tied to the bed. She didn't want to be a burden to her children, but they didn't seem to mind taking care of her all that much. Adam made sure the fridge was full, he ran errands, while Ella was able to shine in the kitchen. Becoming a professional chef wasn't a dream of hers, but she had been by both of her grandmas' side, watching them cook, since she was a little girl, so it came naturally to her. While Stevie loved doing nothing for the first week, now she felt like she was going to go insane. She read books, she drew, she watched TV, but there were too many hours in a day for those limited activities to occupy her time. But the thing that she appreciated the most was a nightly call from Lindsey. They didn't talk for too long or about many different things, but he still spent time with her each night even if over the phone.

It was past 11 pm. Usually, Lindsey would have called by now, which naturally worried Stevie. She wondered if he didn't feel like talking to her tonight or maybe he was out with the band. Or possibly someone else. Don't go there, she told herself, getting into bed after her nighttime routine. She made herself comfortable and reached for a book of poems, which lay on the nightstand. She couldn't allow herself to think.

Nearly another hour passed, when the silence of the room was disturbed by the sound of Stevie's phone ringing. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey."

"Hi. I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No, of course not." Stevie replied, turning on her side, she stretched her arm out and placed her hand on Lindsey's pillow. "How was the show?"

"Fine." Lindsey responded, but failed to say anything else for what felt like forever. "Are you doing alright?"

"Yeah, still in bed. It's driving me mad." Silence on the other end. Sensing his hesitation, she continued. "We miss you, all of us do."

"I kissed someone last night." Tears welled up in her eyes as soon as those words came out of his mouth. "Well, someone kissed me."

"O-okay..." What else could she say?

"It was just that easy." Lindsey exhaled heavily. "I've never realized just how many opportunities there are to just forget about everything important in your life and give in." Stevie felt like someone had taken her heart in their hands and crushed it as she listened to him. "You don't even have to try, women just throw themselves at you."

"Did you... was it..." Sitting up in bed, Stevie wiped away her tears, trying to keep her voice from cracking.

"I didn't do it, Stevie." He said it sounding angry, frustrated. "I couldn't do anything, because I'm not interested. I married you for a reason. I fell in love with you and I've never cared about another woman since. You are it for me." His voice got louder. "'Til death do as part, Steph..." She knew, he was crying, too. "I've kept my promise, but you broke it. It fucking hurts to know that I'm so easily exchangeable."

"You're not, Lindsey! You are not. It was a mistake, a huge stupid mistake." Stevie insisted, clutching at her chest. "I can't turn back time and make different decisions. I regret saying, yes, I regret leaving you that night. I should have known that you were just wasted, that you didn't mean to say anything hurtful. Lindsey, I'm so terribly sorry."

He sighed and remained quiet for a moment. "Calm down, please." His voice became much softer. "I shouldn't have said anything, now you're all worked up, it's not good."

"Lindsey, please, I beg you..." She sniffled. "Believe me when I say, I love you. I always have."

"I keep thinking that I can do this, but I- I can't. I just can't." He repeated.

"What do you mean?" She asked, her heart beating out of her chest. "Lindsey, what do you mean by that?"

He hung up.