With her sheer black shawl covering her shoulders, a sunhat and glasses shielding her from the afternoon sun, and a glass of white wine in hand, Stevie stared aimlessly as the water came up to her toes and then floated back with each wave.
Everyone had wandered down to the beach a couple of hours earlier- after Stevie had made them all a little picnic lunch and then forced everyone to put sunscreen on.
Once they had gotten down to the water- everyone did their own thing. Lola got a floaty and started to drift, Jason and Crew set up the volleyball net, Cassidy got lost in a book, and the two youngest girls sat on a beach blanket, painting and listening to music.
That was heaven- that's what Stevie would define it as, anyway. All of her favorite people, getting along and enjoying each other... for the most part. And that really didn't happen too often, so she tried to soak it up when it did.
"Don't get too far." Lindsey was standing at the edge, close to his wife as he motioned for Lola to come in a little closer to shore.
"She's a little rebel girl." Stevie chuckled softly, leaning over in her chair to check on the baby that was sleeping, peacefully in a little tent to shield her from the sun as well. "It's exhausting being a baby, huh?" She teased, using her index finger to trace the end of the girls button nose.
"Eating and sleeping really takes a lot out of a person." Lindsey agreed as he took a seat in the sand next to them. "They're so alike." He lightly nudged her shoulder, motioning causally towards Clancy and Vivian.
They were in their own little world. It was just them, the music they had playing from the speaker, a couple of canvas's and a few different paint palettes. It was like two best friends, just hanging out.
Nodding her head, she let off a gentle smile. "I love it." She admitted, reaching out to rub his arm lightly. "And here, I thought it was me that gave Clancy all of her artistic abilities..." she teased.
He turned back to her, eyes scanning over her face before he stood up. "Come swim?" He held out a hand for her to take.
Creasing a brow playfully, she chuckled in return. "No..." she lingered, brown eyes melting into his deep blue orbs.
"Come on, baby." He took her hand in his, tangling their fingers together and easily coaxing her out of the chair.
"I'm watching Alice." She shook her head before she tilted it back to motion towards the baby, still all safe and sound.
He chuckled, slipping his arm around her waist to keep her close. "Hey, Cass?" He got the younger woman's attention almost immediately. "Watch the baby?" He asked with a faint smile.
Setting her book down in the sand, she gave him a soft thumbs up. "Go, have fun!" Cassidy slid into Stevie's chair, looking down at the baby before her eyes traveled back to the water.
"Yeah," he grinned softly, holding her close. "Have some fun..." he repeated in a low tone as he started to lead her towards the water.
With a smile trailing across her sweet face, she sank into him, arms circling his waist. "You annoy me." She was kind of joking, a deep giggle escaping her when his fingers met the curve of her hip to tickle her side.
"You're just so beautiful." Lindsey's smile was prominent as her laughs filled the air around them.
In that moment as he held her close, he was suddenly reminded of the woman he had fallen in love with. Of course, he loved who his wife was now, but when she looked that carefree and vibrant, he just felt extra in love with her.
He caught a glimpse into the past- a time before kids, before chaos, before loss and pain that seemed unfathomable. Sometimes it was nice to just be the two of them- the two people that had fallen madly in love over music and an intense romance.
