They spent the next couple of weeks figuring it out- life after chaos, that is and it wasn't simple, but they were trying harder than they ever had before.
Stevie and Lindsey had started going together, every Thursday evening to see her therapist. And for the first time ever, there were no secrets, no built up hate, or resentment... It was all raw, and real, and sometimes kind of ugly. There were tears, some blaming, and even a little shouting, but after their meetings, it was just the two of them again.
They left it all in the office- nothing came home with them, which was exactly what the doctor had advised.
They were working it out, slowly but surely.
As for life at home, things had settled down some.
Crew was back in hockey, which meant Lindsey was back to coaching and their Saturday's were suddenly consumed by games and tournaments. Clancy was as bubbly and as sweet as usual, and Lola was just trying to navigate the crazy life she had been given.
She was trying too, she really was. It took a little convincing, but after a real heart- to- heart with her mother, Lola decided to also start seeing a therapist.
There was a lot of bottled emotion and if she didn't want to talk about it with her parents, they figured a doctor was second best.
And it helped, quite a bit... They were starting to morph back into a family- a real, normal, happy family.
It all seemed so perfect.
~~~
Wrapping her sweater around herself a little tighter, Stevie let off a soft smile as she trailed down the back patio steps. "I hate to interrupt..." she lingered, watching Lindsey toss the baseball towards Crew... He wasn't much of a pro, but it was obvious that he was trying and that's all that mattered. "But dinner is done." She added.
With a little grin, Lindsey's eyes met hers. "Thank goodness." He sighed, pulling off the catchers pit.
"He throws terrible curve balls." Crew laughed, tossing the baseball towards the tree.
Laughing softly, Stevie felt her husband wrap an arm around her waist as Crew hurried into the house. "I really like this whole baseball dad thing, Lindsey..." she smirked, melting him a little further. "I think it looks good on you." She whispered, slipping one arm around his shoulders to get closer.
They had been working on finding peace within each other again... something that seemed to have vanished somewhere along the way.
Lindsey brought a hand up to her face, cupping her cheek as he stared into those sweet eyes. "Oh, yeah?" He gave her a smirk right back. "I might not be the best pitcher around, but I definitely love a good home run..." His words caused his wife to laugh instantly- a deep, real laugh.
"Oh, please." She shook her head playfully as she pushed herself up on her tiptoes. "You're just so funny, aren't you?" Her voice was soft as her lips lingered only inches from his.
Leaning in, he gave her a deep kiss as his fingers got lost in her long curls. "And you're just so beautiful," he complimented, slowly rubbing the tip of his nose against the tip of hers.
Nodding her head, Stevie's eyes stayed closed as she soaked in their moment together. "We should go inside." She cracked a little grin as those deep brown orbs melted into his.
With a light shrug, he returned with another gentle smile. "I'll race you there..." he teased, lightly circling the small of her back with the tips of his fingers.
She paused for a moment, a soft laugh escaping her before she lightly pushed him to the side. "Move out of my way, old man." Her giggles continued to fill the air as she raced towards the sliding glass door.
Lindsey wasn't too far behind, playfully tugging at the hem of her sweater. "Not so fast..." he was able to catch her, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her back into himself.
Her head met his chest as she let out a soft sigh from laughing. "I didn't know that I married a baseball star and a marathon runner. How lucky am I?" Her voice was soft as she titled her head to the side to look at him out of the corner of her eye.
"I'm the lucky one." He assured, keeping one arm around her as he used the other to pull open the sliding glass door for her.
Giving his arm a gentle squeeze, she slipped through the doorway, where chaos was waiting, per usual.
The kids were sitting around the kitchen table- the two oldest bickering over something, while Karen worked on getting plates set out.
"Mommy, will you help me?" Clancy caught her attention as soon as they stepped inside. "I need help." She repeated, trying hard to crack the seal on a bottle of juice.
"Of course, my dear." She assured, nodding her head lightly as she ventured through the room.
"Mom, can you tell Crew to stop being annoying." Lola half grinned, slid her brother a glass.
With a sarcastic laugh, Crew rolled his eyes playfully. "She's way more annoying, mom."
"Be careful with this, baby." She handed Clancy the bottle, ignoring her older two children for a moment. "And no one is annoying." Stevie couldn't help but chuckle, stepping to one side for Karen to take a seat next to her youngest. "No one, except for your father, that is..." she whispered, eyes traveling towards her husband as everyone around the table let out a little laugh.
Lindsey smiled lightly, nodding his head as he pulled out a chair at the table. "You're just a real comedian today." He joked, eyes still locked with hers.
She was beautiful... so beautiful in his opinion.
Shrugging a shoulder, she fell into her chair across the table from him. "I know." She gave him a wink as another gentle smile trailed across her face.
"So?" Lindsey glanced around, "How was school?" He wondered, staring at each of their children.
"We got our report cards today, and guess what?!" Lola's voice shifted and suddenly there was far more enthusiasm than before. "I got all A's this semester!" She added before anyone had the chance to reply.
"That's great, Lola."
Nodding her head in agreement, Stevie reached across the table to take her oldest daughters hand in hers. "We're so proud of you, honey." She was proud- very much so.
With a faint smile, Lola paused for a second before she replied. "I'm really proud of you, too."
A/N:
I hope this finds you all happy and healthy in the New Year!
Happy 2022!
