Understanding Me, Understanding You

Chapter 4. Former Mrs. Buckingham

Later in the afternoon, when Stevie and her girls got home---she went straight to the kitchen to check on dinner for that evening.

Because she had been so stressed about everything having to do with the wedding, she did cheat and she hired somebody to help her get a start on dinner and things such as cleaning the house when normally she took care of it herself. She was typically the only person in the house and she wasn't all that messy, so it was easier to have somebody there to do it for her when people were over.

"Mm, it smells really good in here," Drusilla smiled.

"Yes, a good mix of your guys' favorites," Stevie assured. "I knew there'd be no time so I hired somebody to help with dinner the last couple of weeks."

Melinda kind of grinned a little sympathetically only because she realized her mom had done quite a bit for her, but a lot of it couldn't be done alone and it wouldn't have dawned on her without her younger sister's input.

"The boys should be back at any time, why don't you girls get cleaned up?"

"I'm actually gonna wait. Sam is gonna pick me up and we're gonna go home and get ready and then come back."

"Whatever floats your boat," she agreed with a nod. "Just go put your dress away for me."

It was almost redundant that she tell them what to do as though they were ten and fifteen again; what to do, when to do it and how.

"Okay," she agreed and did so.

As soon as the girls were upstairs, Stevie had just a moment of quiet and she inhaled deeply. But it wasn't long after that the front door would open again and would her ex-husband walk through the door with their daughters' boyfriends.

"Oh, Lord, help me," she mumbled and then smiled at the younger gentlemen. "Dinner's almost ready, guys. James, why don't you go and get acquainted with Dru?"

"Thank you so much," he bowed his head in acknowledgement and then proceeded up the staircase with his garment bag containing his tux.

"And Sam, Mel should be on her way down---she was putting her dress away. We'll wait for you guys before dinner gets served."

"Cool, I appreciate it," he nodded. "How was your guys' day?" he then wondered.

"Good. Y'know, the girls argued in their own time---leaving me to mediate only half the normal amount of time. Other than that, it was great to have both of them together since it has been while."

Samuel nodded, a smile to his lips as he took in his soon-to-be mother in-law. "I hope she wasn't too much trouble on you."

All though she had her real and internal thoughts, she kind of shrugged with a smile. "You're gonna have an absolutely beautiful wedding."

"I appreciate it," he claimed, hand to his chest as he smiled.

"Stevie, can we talk?" Lindsey intervened a second later.

"Yeah, right. I forgot," she agreed with a nod. "Upstairs?" she questioned.

"Fine by me," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes and she patted Samuel's arm before moving passed him in order to make her way up the staircase.

Staying a few steps behind her, Lindsey entered at his own pace and he shut the door partly---leaving it cracked as it looked rather suspicious of them if it was shut.

"So, what's up?" she wondered.

"I'm having an issue with Lauren. She supposedly doesn't want to go to the wedding," he said low.