Sitting up in bed with her dog curled up in her lap, and her granddaughter fast asleep next to her, Stevie stared at her assistant from across the room. "We aren't ready..." she repeated, shaking her head softly. "I'm not ready for a concert." She shrugged, voice weak and brow creased.
Karen had reminded her, for the first time in weeks, about a benefit concert the band had been scheduled to perform, and there was just no way.
"He doesn't have to play, Stevie." She had already mentioned that once before, but she was just trying her best. "If he doesn't know how to play, then-"
"Shh," she cut her off, motioning for her to lower her voice since he was lurking around the house somewhere.
After breakfast, he slipped into his studio alone, which hadn't happened since he'd been home from the hospital... He was trying, he really was and the last thing she wanted was for him to get discouraged.
"I need to talk to him before I take him to see everyone..." she lingered, a very heavy sigh escaping her as her eyes traveled down to Quinn.
Louise had been there early that morning, but after they'd eaten breakfast, she had asked her parents to watch her daughter for a couple of hours while she ran some errands. And it wasn't unusual, not at all. Most of the time, Stevie had one of the kids when she was off, but under normal circumstances, Lindsey was a lot more helpful.
Karen perched her lips to one side, really feeling for her boss. "What are you going to tell him?" She wondered, eyes very weak and even a little sympathetic.
Stevie bit down on her lower lip, but before she could reply, Quinn began to stir.
"Grandma?" She whispered, rubbing her tired eyes as she began to push herself up.
"I'm here, sweet girl." Stevie assured, a soft smile on her face when the baby crawled into her arms to be held.
Quinn curled up, head on her grandmas chest and blue eyes falling closed when she felt Stevie run her fingers through the blonde curls.
She had been asking to swim since they got there that morning, but Louise reminded her mom, ten times before she left that the baby needed to nap before. So after they played Barbie's for a couple of hours, Stevie read her a book and she was out like a light.
"I don't know..." she finally glanced back up at Karen once she'd gotten her granddaughter back to sleep. "But it has to be the truth." She added, even though it scared her to even think about it.
Nodding her head, the younger woman patted Stevie's foot through the blanket. "Whatever you need, I'm here when you're ready."
~~~
"Slow down, don't fall." Stevie smiled softly, holding open a beach towel as she watched Quinn hurry towards the patio door. "So fast!" She added, wrapping her up in it.
"Thank you," she had jumbled speech, but Stevie had raised enough kids to know exactly what she said.
Kissing the side of her head, she motioned for her to head into the kitchen. "Miss Karen has blueberries in there and they have your name written on them." She tickled her side lightly before she ran into the house.
"I'm getting too old for the slide." Nora announced, trailing towards her mom with a gentle smile on her face.
Stevie chuckled, pushing herself back up to stand as she wrapped a towel her daughters shoulder. "Miss Karen has blueberries in there..." she teased, nudging Nora's arm playfully.
She giggled softly, shaking her head before she disappeared into the kitchen as well, leaving her mother waiting in the doorway for the last pool goer.
"Quite the welcoming committee." He had a little smile trailing across his face as his wet feet made prints on the concrete.
"Are you cold, grandpa?" She grinned, handing him a towel to slip around his shoulders.
He nodded softly, quickly wrapping his arms around her waist so she was snuggled into the towel too.
"Lindsey!" She let out a loud laugh, playfully shouting at how wet he'd gotten her clothes.
"I'm warm now." He told her as he gave her the most gentle squeeze.
She nodded her head, staring into those deep blue eyes as she leaned in closer. "That's all that matters." Her hand met his chest, head falling on his shoulder as he swayed her back and forth.
Smiling lightly, his chin stayed on the top of her head. "I wonder if there's still blueberries..." he joked, which caused another little laugh to escape her.
"I'm sure there is." Her voice was so quiet, eyes closed as she took in that moment.
She knew that this wouldn't last forever, and before long, reality would set in... She wanted that time with him, even if she felt like she was keeping secrets.
He held her for a long moment, realizing at some point in between their joking and the couple of minutes that had past that she really didn't want to let go. "Are you okay?" Lindsey wondered, leaving a soft kiss on her head as he continued to rock her gently.
Biting down on her lower lip, she nodded lightly. "I'm okay." She whispered, holding him a little tighter. "Are you?" She asked, feeling him run his fingers through her blonde curls.
"I'm great, Steph." He assured with a light smile traveling across his face.
The tears slowly formed in her eyes as she stared into space for a moment. "I have some journals I think you should read..."
