With his head resting in her lap, Stevie stared down at her husband as she drew small hearts on his chest. "I take it all back, you aren't allowed to leave me." She whispered with a faint smirk trailing across her face.
It was early in the morning- only a little after five when their alarm clock went off, causing them both to stir. And after the normal insanity of an early start to the day- rushing around to finish packing a bag, arguing over socks, searching for the remote and making coffee, they eventually found themselves cuddled up on the couch.
He chuckled softly, eyes shut as he soaked up those last couple of minutes before the boys got there to pick him up. "I think you'd look good driving the golf cart." Lindsey was still trying to talk her into escaping with him... They could run away and let everyone figure it all out for themselves- something none of them had ever been used to.
She let out a heavy sigh as she brought her cup of coffee up her to lips. "Maybe once life settles down some, we'll plan something..." she lingered, running her hand up his chest to his hair. "Just the two of us." It had been years since they had done anything like that... Far too long.
"Now that is a trip I can get on board with." He carefully tilted his head to one side to see her through their dark living room.
She had her long blonde hair in natural waves, reading glasses resting at the top of her head and not a trace of makeup on... The most beautiful woman in the world.
Bending down slowly, her lips met his instantly. "Make good choices, Lindsey." She whispered against his mouth as a very sweet, yet very low laugh escaped her.
With a soft smirk, Lindsey pushed himself up slowly to sit. "Always." He winked lightly before he pressed another couple of kisses to her plump lips. "Are you sure you're going to be able to keep those wild children in line?" He let a another grin mark his face as he stared into those brown eyes.
"Don't worry about me, okay?" She thought it was sweet- a little overbearing at times, but still sweet, nonetheless. "Just have fun and I'll be here, waiting with open arms when you get back." Stevie assured, patting his shoulder as he hovered over her.
Just as he was getting ready to lean in for another kiss, the sound of the lock on the front door turning caused him to chuckle. "Too many kids." He patted her leg lightly before he pushed himself back up.
Laying back against the pillows, her eyes stayed locked with his. "Too many." She whispered with a little wink.
Trailing in from the foyer, Kash carried in a couple of coffee cups and the morning paper. "Good morning." His tired eyes met his moms as a sweet smile spread across his face.
"Rise and shine, buttercups." Levy's voice was a lot more lively- he was a little more excited to get out of town.
Still wrapped in her blanket, Stevie felt Lindsey's hand run up and down her calf a couple of times. "Thank you, sweetie." She returned the smile as her youngest handed over a styrofoam cup.
"You ready to hit the road, pops?" Levy leaned to one side of the doorframe, hand tucked into his sweatpants pocket as he watched his father to scramble to get off the couch.
"He's old," the blonde smirked as her eyes followed him as well. "Give him a minute to find his legs." She added in a joking manner.
Lindsey chuckled lightly, rolling his eyes playfully as he bent down one more to give her a quick kiss. "See you in a couple of days, baby."
"I love you." She pecked his lips again before she sank back into the sofa.
"Love you, Steph." Grabbing his jacket off the chair, he slid it over his shoulders as he headed for the door.
"Call us if you need anything, mom." Levy's hands met her shoulders from behind, gently squeezing them.
Tossing her head back, she let out a deep laugh. "Get out of here, already." She smacked his hand lightly as a soft smile trailed across her face. "I'll get through the weekend just fine without all of you, alright?"
~~~
It was later that morning, after Stevie had watched the morning news, wrote out a couple of orders for the restaurant and made breakfast before she finally found herself in the tension filled kitchen with two of her children.
"I'm tired." Crosby was sitting at the breakfast bar, staring blankly at the marble counter as he tried to keep his eyes open long enough to pick up the ceramic mug. "I don't wanna do this." He mumbled, bringing the cup up to his lips to take a drink.
"Well," Stevie gave him a simple shrug as she slid the plate of waffles across the counter to her daughter, who was also completely zoned out. "We all do things we don't wanna do sometimes, dear." She was trying- she really was, but it wasn't that easy for her. "That's just part of life." She added as her eyes met his.
"At least you don't have to go to high school." Evee was sitting a couple of bar stools over, playing on her phone, but also looking over flash cards for her upcoming test.
The truth was, Everleigh could hardly stand being in the same room as Crosby and she made it known more often than not.
She didn't like his attitude, his problems, his presence and she really didn't like the way he treated her mother. She had seen his bad side once or twice and that was enough to ruin any type of relationship they could have had.
And yeah, she wasn't always an absolute angel for her parents, but she never disrespected them the way he did...
Smiling lightly, Stevie sank back into the counter. "We're gonna be late, so..." she motioned for them both to get a move on- they had things to do and people to see.
"Did dad make it there, yet?" Evee wondered as she slipped off the chair to put her plate in the dishwasher.
"He hasn't called me." The older woman shook her head as she ventured through the room, towards the foyer. "They probably stopped somewhere for breakfast." She added with a simple shrug- not at all concerned about it.
"He's probably busy hanging out with his other wife." Crosby's words caused his mother to chuckle as a playful grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Creasing a brow, Evee scoffed lightly as she followed him through the kitchen. "That's such a stupid thing to say." She was being serious- so serious, it was almost scary.
"He was just kidding, dear." Stevie had already taken a seat on the accent chair, slipping her shoes on as her eyes scanned over the room in search of her purse.
"Yeah, take a joke." He couldn't help but roll his eyes as another light laugh filled the air around them.
"Well, it wasn't funny, so..." she shrugged as she shook her head lightly. "Find something else to joke about." Evee could be mean- not often, but when it was needed. "Or maybe we can all just laugh about how pathetic you are." She stated in a very blunt, very cold tone of voice.
"Enough." Stevie held up a hand, brow wrinkled as she stared intently at Everleigh. "That was uncalled for." She added, almost stunned but also not, in a weird way.
It had always been like that... Evee just didn't like Crosby, and Stevie really didn't understand why.
With a soft smile, he nodded his head in agreement. "Your words don't offend me, kid."
Evee pulled open the front door, staring back at him with sharp blue eyes. "I left ten dollars in my piggy bank, just in case you wanna break it open for booze money again."
"Get in the car before we're late." Stevie demanded in a stern voice after she'd finally had enough of the back and forth.
And that was when she realized that it was going to be a really long weekend without Lindsey.
