Settling Down

4

December 7, 1990 '

Stevie watched him like a hawk. She and Karen had asked him to walk them to their waiting car and since his car was parked in the same area he agreed. He opened their doors for them and then he bid them goodbye and made his way to his own car. It was a black SUV and she watched him through the window, not really paying attention to Karen or the driver who was making small conversation, but she became alarmed when he followed them to the subdivision.

"Karen, Cop guy is following us...why is he following us?" Stevie asks.

"I don't know Stevie, just ignore it."

"I don't like when people follow me." Stevie shakes her head.

"He's a cop, do you think he's going to murder you or something?" Karen asks.

"I don't know, why is he pulling up outside my house...I have to say something to him I..."

"Stevie if you're freaking out about it, don't..." Karen rolls her eyes.

Stevie doesn't listen she just cranks her window and calls out for him as the driver waited for her gate to open.

"Why did you follow us?"

He stops half way to his mailbox, he had neglected to collect the mail when he went home and changed his uniform.

"Um, I wasn't following you." He looks at her.

"But this is my house and you're..."

"I live right there." He points to his house and Stevie's eyes go wide. She quickly covers her mouth with her hands and falls back into her seat.

"I knew that." Karen states.

"Why didn't you say something, I just embarrassed myself again tonight, by accusing him of stalking me." Stevie whines.

"Because it was funny." Karen smirks.

"Karen." Stevie scolds.

"Sorry boss, but I really didn't think much about it." Karen shrugs.

"Karen you..."

"Stevie, you sent me over to him with an NDA, just like you did for the rest of the neighbors. He was told under no circumstances to pry into your life, He's not even supposed to pay attention to your property unless there's an emergency...He was following his NDA, and I was following his NDA..." Karen shrugs.

"But you..oh...now he probably hates me."

"He doesn't even know you."

"Yeah but..."

"Stevie, just shut up..." Karen says as they pull into the house.

"He's so sexy Karen and I just...I..."

"Stop it...you were the one that said you wanted to be single after rehab."

"But he's so sexy Karen and he's not a rockstar, he'd be different."

'You don't know that."

"I'm bringing him muffins in the morning."

"You're going to stay up all night and bake him muffins."

"I'm bringing him muffins tomorrow." She huffs.

"Again, you're going to get up and make muffins."

"I want to make homemade but we have to go to the store, but I have the little pouch thingy of instant stuff. I'm bringing him muffins." She crosses her arms.

"Suit yourself." Karen rolls her eyes as they make their way into the house.

***

December 8, 1990

Lindsey had Saturday and Sunday off. Certain people at his work didn't like the fact that he was the new guy and he was getting Saturday and Sunday off, but that was what he put his availability for especially because he had kids and he wanted to have the weekend with them. He was still half asleep, having gotten maybe five hours of sleep by the time he got home, so though it was two in the afternoon he was working on another cup of coffee. There was almost a timid knock on his front door and he whines before looking at his kids. They were watching some stupid cartoon on the television that Stella wanted to watch, and Emily had her game council in her hands. He slowly trudged to the front door and then swung it open and his eyes went wide when he saw that Stevie Nicks was standing outside of his front door.

"Um, hello."

"Hi Officer Buckingham..." She looks down sheepishly.

"What's the problem Ms. Nicks?" He asks.

"Nothing, there's no problem...I um, wanted to give you these. They're triple berry muffins...I um, wanted to make them for you from scratch but I didn't have all the ingredients, so they're just from the little pouch thingy. But I felt bad for calling you out last night." Stevie sighs.

"You had a right to be worried about it." Lindsey shrugs.

'Well still, I wanna give you these." She holds the Tupperware dish back out to him.

"Well, thanks, I'm sure the kids will..." He was cut off by both of them peeping out from behind him and their little hands digging into the Tupperware dish pulling out a muffin. "Like them."

"Hi, I'm Stella." Stella grins rocking back and forth on her feet peeling the wrapper off of the muffin.

"It's nice to meet you Stella, I'm Stevie..." Stevie holds her hand out to the small girl.

"White winged dove Stevie?" Stella asks grabbing her hand and swinging it. She knew what a handshake was but she hated them, she'd much rather hold someone's hand.

"Yeah, I guess so." Stevie nods.

"Nice to meet you." Stella beams stopping the assault on Stevie's arm and turning to her muffin.

"And you, are such a pretty young lady, what's your name?" Stevie turns her attention to Emily.

"I'm Emily." She shrugs biting into the muffin.

"Thank You, Ms. Nicks for the muffins. How should I get it back to you?" He asks motioning to the Tupperware dish.

"Walk it to the gate and press the button, and someone will come out and get it." Stevie shrugs.

"I was told I couldn't." Lindsey tells her.

"I know, but returning Tupperware isn't that bad is it?" Stevie asks.

"As long as it doesn't get me arrested." Lindsey sighs.

"It won't...I know you're coming." Stevie smiles.

"Have a good day Ms. Nicks."

"You too, Officer Buckingham, girls." Stevie nods.

Lindsey shuts the door and then Stevie turns around and heads back across the street to her house where Karen is waiting for her at the end of the gate.

"So..."

"He's got two little girls and he's a widow...and I feel so bad. They're going to have to grow up without a mother...and..." Stevie starts.

"Stevie, control yourself." Karen sighs.

"But they're and he..."

"Stevie, if you like him pursue him. But I don't necessarily think it's a good idea." Karen tells her.