During The Break

Why are you here?

'Decisions' is going to remain my main story, but I had this idea for a short story and I might not update it daily, but I wanted to write it :)

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It had only been a few days since Fleetwood Mac finished their US leg of the world tour and they were allowed over a month of free time. Lindsey was excited to see his kids, but once he came home, he soon realized that him coming back wasn’t such a big deal anymore for his children, maybe except Stella as she was the youngest. A few years back, he couldn’t open his mouth to say one word because of how happy all three younger Buckinghams were, telling him stories, sharing what had happened while he was gone, asking him to do one or the other. Lindsey’s kids weren’t really kids anymore and it made him sad. He was looking forward to all the things they were going to do together and now he was sitting by himself, flipping through channels on TV, while Will and LeeLee were out with friends and Stella was up to something too in her room. Not even Kristen was around, she left for lunch with her friends hours ago and it was already time for supper. The only other person in the house was their housekeeper.

There was one person Lindsey had in mind, but sure she had to be sick of him, since they’d been touring for a while now. She was always popular among her friends, someone definitely had to had asked her out for some event. And if not? Maybe because their shows just before the break were so good, maybe it was the love that has always been there in one form or another, but Lindsey longed to see her, despite saying goodbye just a couple of days ago. He didn’t want to only call her, he also had planned something for them to do.

What have I got to lose?, he thought to himself and grabbed his phone, that was on the coffee table. Of course he had her cell phone number, but what were the odds she had it with her? He dialed her home number and waited. And waited. And waited, although he was ready to hung up, but she picked up just in time.

“Hey.”

“Lindsey?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

“Well it’s not every day you call me. What do you want, Lindsey?”

“I was just thinking. I’m home alone and it’s so quiet.”

“What does it have to do with me?”

“Are you home?”

“Are you saying you want to come over?”

“And why are you laughing at it if I do?”

“I’m shocked, that’s all. You’re trying to be friends!”

“Oh, come on. We are friends.”

“Well, um… Sure, if you want to, get your ass over here.”

“Right, I’ll be there soon.”

He jumped up to his feet and put his phone in his pocket, smiling to himself. Why was he smiling? Lindsey informed his daughter he was leaving, grabbed his car keys and practically skipped out of his house and into his car, then pulled out of the driveway and headed to Stevie’s.

What was that about?, Stevie was wondering. Since when were they visiting each other? And what were they going to do when he arrives? Is she supposed to dress up, put on makeup for him? She had all these questions, but she couldn’t do anything about them. All she did was brush her hair and change from her robe into leggings and a plain black top. Makeup? She looked in the mirror. Oh, he’s seen me worse than this, she said aloud.

The doorbell rang, startling her. She walked over to the door to open it and when she did, she saw Lindsey smiling brightly at her, and so she did that as well. “Come in.”

“I hope I’m not keeping you from doing something? Maybe you had plans?”

“No, not for tonight. Or tomorrow.” Stevie added, thinking, just why she would tell him that. “And you? Nobody’s keeping you company that you had to call me out of all people?”

“Stella and our housekeeper were at the house. I was bored out of my mind!”

“I thought you would be having Kristen all over the place, since you have been separated for months.”

“As much as it hurts me to say this, I am getting older, Stevie…” They laughed about it, as she showed him the way to the living room. “Besides, I get to look at beautiful women on the road too. Sometimes that’s enough.”

“Of course, all those crazy teenage girls, who are interested in you! I must say it’s rather disturbing, but okay.”

Stevie sat down, cross-legged and Lindsey did too, not that far from her, with his legs spread widely. She couldn’t help her eyes from wandering, she only hoped he hadn’t caught her. “You know, I was actually talking about you.”

“Me? I’m not that beautiful and you definitely shouldn’t be thinking about me.”

“I don’t understand why you’re putting yourself down like that. You’re gorgeous, Steph.”

“Crossing lines, Lindsey.” She smiled sadly at the use of her pet name from a long time ago.

“Okay, that’s not why I’m here. I’ll stop now.”

“Why are you here?”

“Remember some time ago, when you said that you weren’t sure, but Fleetwood Mac will do something, once you’re finished with In Your Dreams, may it be an album or a tour, or maybe you and I will go somewhere and record together?”

“It was a joke.”

“It might have been, but now I’m serious about it.”

“What are you saying?” Her lips were parted and she had a questioning look on her face, he would have told her she looked cute, but he had already said some things he wasn’t meant to.

“We have a month before we go to Europe.”

“Karen informs me about the dates, Lindsey, get to the point.”

“I want us to record together. Let’s get together, share ideas, make demos and see if it’s worth our time, to make something serious out of it. We don’t even have to do a whole album, it could be like Extended Play.”

“You’re not actually suggesting this, are you?”

“I’m deadly serious.”

“Why would you want to be locked in a studio with me?”

“Why wouldn’t I want that? Stevie, when we concentrate on music, about getting something done, we manage to do it, without thinking of ways to kill each other. I also think we have time on our hands and we could put it to good use. Not to mention Buckingham Nicks record has been a must for so many of our fans, they would absolutely love it.”

“I’m sorry, Lindsey, but I can’t give you an answer right this second. I do have to think it over.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, give it some thought, but please, take it seriously.”

“No, I will, I just… Well, I have to think about it.”

They left it at that and not long after, Kristen’s name popped up on Lindsey’s phone screen and he sighed, disappointed he had to leave, but as he was driving home, he was almost sure that soon he would get to spend a lot more time with Stevie alone, which he wasn’t sure yet why it excited him so much.

Lindsey was already in bed the same evening, when his phone started buzzing. Should he answer, should he leave the room?  No, why would he? It wasn’t his mistress calling or anything like that. Besides, Kristen knew all about their troubled relationship from the very beginning.

“Hello?”

“I’m in.”