It might have been the way the sun beamed through the curtains, creating this calming affect that was never taken for granted, or maybe it was the birds that sung in the early morning hours right outside the window. It could have been the peaceful night sleep that was slept the eight hours prior to awaking, or maybe it was less about the house, and more about the people in it.
Maybe it was so much better to wake up there, because they knew that they'd wake up to each other, which was always incredibly reassuring- no matter what was happening in their lives the day before.
Either way, mornings in that house were just better. It was like a little piece of heaven sitting right next to the Pacific that brought two headstrong individuals together and it was perfect, even when it wasn't.
That first morning, just a little after eight was when she finally pried herself out of bed, that wonderful feeling washing over her as soon as she sat up.
That room was one of her favorite spots in the house, besides the sunroom, of course. But this room had a vintage four poster king size bed, a fur rug, french doors that went out to the back yard and flower vines around every window. It was a sanctuary- just like every other room she'd decorated years earlier.
It brought them back to their roots, really.
There wasn't anything overly extravagant about that home, not like the ones they lived in out in California. It was small and sweet... Everything they could afford the first year after joining the band.
It was perfect to them.
Stevie was still in her silk nightgown, hair pulled up into a clip and two rollers holding her bangs in place when she pulled open the old wooden door to the bedroom.
The hall was quiet- the only sound echoing through the house was the water crashing against the shore.
Letting out a soft yawn, she wrapped her matching robe around herself a little tighter as she headed towards the kitchen.
She started pulling open the cabinets immediately, hoping that they had maybe forgotten even a couple of coffee beans when they were cleaning up. Just enough for a cup.
"There's no coffee." His voice caused her to jump, a soft chuckle escaping him as he sat at the circle table.
She smirked, nodding her head as she turned back around to face him. "We need it." She stated something that he was well aware of.
"You're telling me." He was still in his pajamas as well- a pair of gray sweatpants and an old t- shirt. "I've been waiting for you to rise and shine, baby doll." Lindsey pushed himself out of his chair, teasing her already.
"It's called beauty sleep." She was close behind him, following him down the hallway.
Stevie had done a lot of painting out there- that was her thing. She would sit outside for hours with a couple of blank canvas' and all the colored paints you could think of. So that's a lot of what lined the halls- her art.
"You don't need it, Steph." He shook his head, pushing open the door to the spare room as he looked over at her. "You should save some beauty for everyone else." Lindsey could be sweet when he wanted to, which was why it was always difficult for her.
She knew who he was and who he used to be... But he knew that about her as well, which could be dangerous.
She paused for a second, leaning into the doorway with her hip. "I'll race you to the car." She half grinned, pushing his arm playfully in order to lighten the mood just a little bit.
Sometimes it felt heavy, almost suffocating.
He laughed softly, slipping into the spare room to get changed.
She stood there for a second, a gentle sigh filling the air around her before she headed into the other room, where her clothes were already sprawled out.
The first thing she did was sit down on the edge of the bed, staring down at her phone as his name rolled across the screen for the second time that morning.
She thought about it for a moment and then, almost like she wasn't going to marry him in just a few months, she tossed her phone in the drawer of the nightstand.... she wasn't going to need it much, anyway.
"I'll be outside." He was standing on the other side of the door, a small smile trailing across his face when she pulled it open.
She had taken her hair out- the long blonde strands falling in curls around her beautiful face. And she was wearing light makeup- almost none, but still a semi noticeable amount.
"I told you that I'd be quick." She smirked, pushing some of her hair back to put in her earring as she started down the hall. "I need to sweep." She motioned towards the floorboards, where some dust had started to form.
"We can worry about that later." He didn't mean to stare, but he couldn't help himself.
She was gorgeous, even at the crack of dawn.
Reaching back, she held out her hand for his. "It's such a nice morning." She announced when she felt him tangle his fingers in between hers.
It was a beautiful day- the sun was high in the sky and when the wind touched their skin, it felt like all the worries, all the problems just bounced out of existence.
It was just the two of them and nothing else mattered, even though deep down, everything mattered.
"Hold on..." she held up an index finger once she was in the passenger seat of the convertible... Also, nearly as old as the house, but so well taken care of. "It's going to be all tangled up." Stevie stared at herself in the review mirror as she twisted her hair back into a clip.
He grinned lightly, waiting for her to give him the go- ahead before he put the car in reverse. "Breakfast first?" He wondered.
Nodding softly, she leaned back to get comfortable as she slid her sunglasses over her eyes. "And then the hardware store." She mumbled as they backed down the drive. "We need to paint a couple of spots before we sell."
