Whatever It Takes

Part 8

Lindsey heard every single exaggerated sigh that Stevie let out. He was aware that it was getting rather late, but he didn't have the heart to send Avery to bed just yet. The now 9-year-old was banging on a set of drums with all of her might, it was a birthday gift from uncle Mick. Stevie was convinced that Mick did this out of spite. She quit Fleetwood Mac, so he gifted her daughter the loudest possible instrument.

"You're really getting the hang of this!" Lindsey beamed proudly. "You're a little rockstar!"

Avery grinned, holding up the sticks before she attempted at twirling one between her fingers, but was unsuccessful. "Mommy, can you teach me? You know how!"

"Of course, but maybe some other day." Stevie replied, glancing at Lindsey, letting him know it was time to take those goddamn drumsticks away. 

"Please?" Avery begged, putting her hands together. "Mommy, please?"

Stevie cleared her throat loudly, giving Lindsey another pointed look. "Just show her a couple of times and-"

"Lindsey." Stevie shook her head slightly. 

"Stevie." He responded in the same tone of voice, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Maybe mommy's right." Lindsey relented. "We can get back to it tomorrow."

Avery stared at her father, feeling completely betrayed. "But- but-"

"Avery, bed. Now." Stevie raised her voice and the girl jumped to her feet before stomping out of the room and up the stairs. 

"You didn't have to say it like that." Lindsey shook his head, standing up to follow after their daughter. Stevie had something else to say to him, but she was going to wait until he returned.  

Lindsey wasn't surprised to find Avery in her room, lying on the bed with her face in the pillow, in total darkness. He walked over to sit down on the edge of her bed and leaned forward a little to turn on the lamp on the nightstand. 

"Avery?" Lindsey gently placed his hand on her back. "Hey, talk to me. Are you upset?" He saw her nodding her head. "It's okay. We were pushing it, you know."

"Mommy's mad at me now." Avery turned over and moved to sit up, wiping tears off her cheeks. "I didn't mean to make her angry. What if I hurt the baby?"

"Oh, no, sweetheart." Lindsey felt a pang in his heart. "No, come 'ere." He opened his arms and hugged his daughter close. "The baby is okay and mommy's really mad at me, not you. She asked me to put you to bed an hour ago and I didn't listen."

"I just..." Avery shrugged, pulling back, she sat on her heels. "I was with grandma and grandpa for so long, I have to go back to stupid school soon and I just wanted to be with you longer." She explained, her bottom lip quivered.

"I know, mommy knows, too." Lindsey assured. "We just made a tiny mistake." He smiled, wiping under her eyes with the pad of his thumb. "So, to fix it, you have to be a good girl and go to bed. Tomorrow, we can wake up early and make something delicious for breakfast. Mommy will forgive us just like that!" He emphasized by snapping his fingers. "You'll see."

Considering the plan for a second, Avery smiled tearfully, nodding her head. "Okay."

"Okay." Lindsey repeated and rose to his feet. "Don't forget to brush your teeth." He pointed a finger at her, standing in the doorway for a second. 

Lindsey's smile fell as soon as he was out of Avery's room. He went back downstairs to find Stevie in the same spot he had left her. He instantly tensed up, she didn't acknowledge him.

"Did you really have to be so mean?" Lindsey asked, folding his arms. "She's in tears. She thinks you're mad at her and that she somehow hurt the baby!" He whispered shouted, throwing his arms up in the air.

"This could have been avoided if you'd listened to me." Stevie replied, making a mental note to talk to Avery first thing in the morning. "It's late. School starts in a week and she has to go back to her regime."

"Oh for fuck's sake, it's one night." Lindsey cursed, slumping down on the other end of the couch. 

"But it's not." Stevie disagreed, shaking her head. "You constantly do this. I love that you want to spend time with your child, but you have to remember that she is a child still, Lindsey. If you don't, well then one of us has to."

"What does that mean?" He frowned. "You're saying, I'm not a good father?"

"That's not what I'm saying!" Stevie yelled out. "It's just that- I always have to be the strict parent." She emphasized, laying a hand on her chest. "I've told you that you can't give into her every whim, that this is something that has to change. Clearly, you don't care."

"Of course, I care!" Lindsey shouted back. "Maybe you're the one, who should chill out sometimes."

Stevie gritted her teeth, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This is pointless." She said and moved to get up. 

"So, you're just gonna leave?" Lindsey scoffed. "Aren't we supposed to be talking about our problems?" He asked, which sounded a lot like he was mocking her.

"Not when you're not hearing me." Stevie replied as she walked out of the room. 

Thinking that Lindsey would take a few minutes to calm down and come upstairs, Stevie started getting ready for bed herself. She had changed out of her clothes and finished her skin care routine, but Lindsey still wasn't there. She lay in bed for a while, he didn't come. Kicking the covers off, she got back up on her feet and walked over to the window, which had the view of the backyard and their home studio. Once she noticed the lights were on, she shook her head to herself and got back into bed. 

One step forward, two steps back.