Following behind her husband, Stevie held onto the back of his jacket as he led the way through the airport. "Are you okay?" She glanced over at Evee, who had been quiet the entire flight.
She really had a lot on her mind.
She kept thinking about Lucy- it was almost intimidating at one point. She wondered who she was, what her voice sounded like, what she did for a living, where she grew up, and so much more, but beyond all that, she was most curious with what she looked like.
She thought that maybe they looked similar; maybe their hair was the same, or maybe they had the same cheeks, or eyes, or... anything.
She had tried googling her, but it was like she was totally off the grid, which made this entire experience far more overwhelming.
She was excited, but also very nervous.
Nodded her head lightly, Everleigh let off a very weak, yet fake smile. "I'm okay." She couldn't possibly tell them that she was suddenly very anxious... She wasn't sure she wanted this anymore.
They had spent the last week and a half planning a trip out to Chicago, totally last minute. Stevie had chatted with Lucy at least ten times since their conversation that morning, but Evee wasn't ready to... She wouldn't talk to her biological mother on the phone, but she was willing to travel across the country to meet her.
It was beyond Stevie, but she was still trying hard to understand... She really was.
"We can go home." Lindsey gave her a little smile, trying to make it seem like he was joking, but they all knew he wasn't.
Tugging at the fabric of his jacket, Stevie silently told him to stop... His humor wasn't needed in that moment, but some sympathy was, however.
They had gone back and forth about it all week long. He didn't think they should have gone out there to see Lucy- she should have come to California for Evee, but Stevie knew that it would have been far more complicated that way.
They had a lot going on at home... Too much, almost. With Crosby and Kara in and out constantly, it would have made things far more awkward for them and that wouldn't have been fair.
It was hard enough as it was, just adding more chaos wouldn't have helped Everleigh.
"We're gonna have a good weekend." Stevie assured as she gave her daughter a very warm smile and her husband a pat on the back. "Nothing to worry about." She added in hopes she'd make everyone feel a little better, even herself.
~~~
"Did you talk to him?" She was standing in the hotel bathroom, running her fingers through her hair to fix her natural waves.
Leaning against the doorframe, Lindsey nodded his head softly. "Kash has assured me that things are going just fine there." He chuckled lightly, watching as she leaned into the sink to be closer to the mirror to look at herself. "You're worrying too much." He added as she brought her lipliner up to reapply.
Even after a million years of living with her, he could still stare at her forever.
"I just wanna make sure they don't feel like we totally abandoned them." She repeated for the tenth time that day.
She really didn't want to leave just Crosby and Kara at her house, all alone... She wouldn't have been able to sleep at night, but she also really wanted Lindsey to be there with them.
She wouldn't have been able to go without her husband, not this time.
So, she had no other option than to recruit her two younger sons to be the chaperones, which was also kind of terrifying.
She just wanted her house to be standing when they got home, that was all.
"Have I told you how beautiful you are, lately?" He smirked, changing the topic of conversation.
Sometimes life was too serious. It hadn't always been that complicated and there were occasions where he just really missed the simpler days.
Sinking to one side, she tilted her head to look over at him. "I'm lucky to have you." She announced as she set her lipstick back down on the counter to trail towards him.
He took her hand in his right away, pulling her in for a hug. "I'm the lucky one." He whispered as he felt her head meet his chest instantly.
Closing her eyes, she took in that moment for as long as she could.
She didn't want it to end. It felt safe and warm- her two favorite things about him.
"We're going to be late..." she sighed, patting his back lightly.
He left a soft kiss on her forehead before he pulled away. "You look good." He repeated once more, not only because it was true, but because he could tell that she was starting to over analyzing herself.
She did that around Lucy...
She giggled lightly, shaking her head as she slipped around him to get into the hallway of the suite. "Evee?" She knocked on the door that separated the two rooms. "Evee, are you ready?" Stevie readjusted her blouse again, while she found herself in the full length mirror once more.
Everleigh pulled open the door a second later, this look of pure fear written across her face. "What if she doesn't like me?" Her heart was beating a mile a minute as she stared at her mom with a really blank expression.
Slouching to one side, Stevie shook her head. "She'd be crazy not to adore you." She held out her arms to welcome her daughter in for a hug.
They both needed it.
Wrapping her arm around her shoulders, Evee let out a really deep sigh. "You'll always be my mom." That meant more than anything else in the entire world in that very moment.
Nodding her head, tears filled the brims of Stevie's brown eyes. "Always." She assured as she closed her eyes to the let the tears steak her cheeks.
~~~
Surprisingly, even with insane Chicago traffic, they made it to the restaurant first. It was a ride that consisted of soft music, very light conversation and nerves that were running wild... Even Stevie was a little on edge.
"My head hurts." Lindsey mumbled to his wife in a really low tone.
He wasn't nervous, not at all- he was kind of annoyed, actually.
He wanted to be there for them, he really did, but he still had such a hard time with Lucy... He couldn't get over it, and he really didn't want to.
She rolled her eyes lightly as she shifted in her seat. "Drink some water, Lindsey." She whispered back, eyes wondering towards the door once more.
She was starting to worry that Lucy was going to cancel... or worse- just not show up at all with no warning.
She had never been the most reliable person, and as much as Stevie wanted to just pack up and go home, she didn't want Evee to be totally heartbroken, either.
But just as Stevie was about to give up on Lucy, the double doors of the restaurant came open and she trailed in with her four year old in hand.
