"Where's mom?" Louise wondered as soon as Harper walked through the front door, without the older woman.
She chuckled, setting her purse down on the counter as four sets of eyes burned into her. "Well, it's good to see you all as well." She teased, handing the cardboard drink carrier that was filled with coffees to Grayson.
"Thank you," the youngest gave his sister a gentle smile as he pulled one out.
"Yeah, you're the best." Jackson passed by, grabbing one and ruffling her hair to annoy her.
She pushed his hand away, a soft laugh escaping her as she shook her head. "Parker came home for the day and he wanted to take her out for lunch." Harper announced, very thankful for that. "She's been home a lot the last couple of days and she hasn't been sleeping well at all." She added, which caused her two sisters to frown.
"Dad hasn't been sleeping either." Nora mentioned as she cradled one of the foam cups of coffee close to her lips.
"And now he's asking about Carol?" Louise whispered, even though the sound of shock in her voice was still apparent. "Why is he asking about her?" She had been really worked up when Nora called her- so much so, her husband had to talk her through the anxiety attack she was about to have.
By then Grayson had taken a seat at the small circle table, across from Jackson, who was reading over the morning paper. "He just told me that he wanted to find her," he shrugged, keeping his tone low since Lindsey was just down the hallway, in his studio... same place he'd been for days.
"For what?" Harper wondered, knowing already how bad of an idea that was.
"It's not going to be good." Nora shook her head, pursing her lips to one side as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back into the counter.
"He's just curious." Jackson was a man of very few words, so when he spoke- everyone listened, especially his younger siblings. "He woke up, looked in the mirror and saw at sixty- five your old man staring back at him, okay? And then his wife, the woman he knew when she was young and wild eyed is also forty years older..." he held out his hands, staring around the room at each of them, who had given him their full attention. "He feels like he's only experienced moms affection and it's hard for him, I'm sure." He added. "We all know that he's had more exciting life events than dinners made by Stevie and awful family trips to the aquarium, but he doesn't." He continued, letting out a gentle sigh. "So now that he knows about Carol... another woman who has loved him and he has loved, he's curious. He wants to know her and understand what happened between them.... Two things mom really can't do." He concluded, raising a brow lightly as he took another drink of his coffee and then stared back down at his news paper.
Nora shifted softly, not used to lectures like that from him... It was usually Harper informing the crew of what she thought. "Alright, that was pretty good." She half grinned, handing it to him for being so poetic there.
"So what?" Louise tossed her hands out to her sides. "We just let him call up Carol and..." she paused for a moment, creasing a brow. "And break moms heart?" She wasn't as optimistic about the idea, not in the slightest.
"Okay..." Harper shook her head softly, giving her sister a gentle set of blue eyes. "You're getting yourself worked up over something that's unlikely." She told her, hoping that she would just relax.
They didn't normally have serious conversations with her, because it was overwhelming for Louise... She got worked up faster than anyone else in the room.
Nodding her head in agreement, Nora spoke up once more. "I'll find her number." She announced, which received positive feedback from three of her siblings.
~~~
With Karen's great researching skills and Nora's determination, they got a hold of Carol later that same afternoon. They hadn't spoken in years, but Nora was as nice and as friendly as ever, while she gave her a quick run down over what was happening in their lives. She even asked about Carol, wishing her the best and asking if she'd be willing to meet Lindsey for dinner one night... It wasn't easy, but it had to be done.
In the meantime, Stevie had no idea what was happening at her home. She had asked Harper, of course, but she'd been tip toeing around the subject as much as possible- simply assuring her that Lindsey was okay and the house was still standing, which seemed to ease her mind some what.
"I think that sounds really good." She was sitting at the piano bench with her granddaughter, watching Annie's fingers dance across the keys.
She was in college for musical arts and while Stevie was a self taught musician, she was still the best teacher she'd ever had.
"Thank you," once she'd pulled her hands away from the keys, she leaned to one side and her head met Stevie's shoulder. "I've missed you so much." She had never been away from her grandma as much as she had been since she'd left for The University of Arizona...
Stevie chuckled, nodding her head softly. "I've missed you, sweet girl." That made her feel better- her grandchildren and kids trying to cheer her up. "It's been boring around here without you." She half grinned, which caused Annie to giggle in return.
"I doubt that." She knew better... life was always crazy around there. "But I'm glad we get to spend some time together." Annie appreciated that more than anything- her grandma was basically her mom since she'd never had one.
She left a soft kiss on her head, tears filling the brims of her eyes. "I need some more coffee." She patted her arm, which caused Annie to laugh in return... she could hear the sound of emotion in her voice.
"I suppose," she teased as she sat back up to let her grandma slide off the bench.
Stevie let out an laugh as she trailed down the hallway of Harpers home with an empty cup in one hand as her other held her shawl to her chest.
The sun was beaming in through the curtains, blowing in the breeze as she looked out at the water hitting the shoreline... it felt so peaceful and calm- two things she was suddenly craving.
Once she'd made it to kitchen, she paused outside the door, listening to the sound of Harpers voice in the most hushed tone.
She couldn't hear it all, but she heard enough to know what was happening.
So when the phone call ended, she trailed into the room. "He's taking Carol to dinner tonight?" Her voice cracked, heart sinking into the very pit of her stomach when those blue eyes met hers.
