-Lindsey-
"Is your mom mad?" I set my bag down on Luca's bedroom floor, cringing a tad at the pizza box right next to it.
He already offered to sleep on the couch while I'm here, since all of the guest rooms are taken for the week and Stevie took my home studio out after the divorce... She made it an art room, but I haven't seen much art being produced from it.
"Do you think mom is mad?" He chuckles, ripping the sheets off his bed to put clean ones on. Thoughtful.
"Ya know," I know his mother's mad at me, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
I've seen that hateful look in her eyes many times, and it never gets any less horrific.
"She's just stressed out, man." He shrugs as he scoops up all his old sheets to take to the laundry room. "Don't take it personal." He lets out a laugh right after he says that, because we both know that any sort of frustration Stevie may be feeling is from my presence.
It's personal.
"Anyway," I stuff both my hands in my pockets, shifting my weight from one foot to another. "How's school been?" I don't know if he just feels more attached to his mom or we don't have much in common, but he's never really talked to me as openly as he talks to Stevie.
"It's good. I gotta a new girlfriend, so she's cool." He replies, a smile coming across his face.
"What's her name?" I'm happy that he's opening up like this.
Lydia is normally the open book, especially with me.
"Meghan," He answers, leaning back against his dresser. "She's really beautiful and super smart, dad." He has this look in eyes, one I remember well.
I had that look in my eyes every time I talked about his mother for a really long time.
"Treat her good." I know he will, but I just want to remind him.
"Hey?" Her voice creeps into the room. "Mom made pancakes." Lydia slowly pushes open the bedroom door, a sweet smile on her beautiful face.
She looks just like her mother. She has Stevie's nose, her big brown eyes, her perfect cheeks and she even has that long thick hair.
"Sounds good." Luca pushes himself off the dresser, walking past his sister to get to the kitchen.
As I follow Lydia down the hallways that we once played hide and seek in, and then the stairs they ran down every Christmas morning to unwrap the presents that Stevie spent hours picking out- I can't help but feel sad.
This house was my favorite place in the entire world and I can't help but hate how I ruined a once great relationship.
This isn't what I wanted. No, I wanted to grow old with Stevie. I wanted to spend a million more nights laying in our bed, talking about our day until we would drift off. I wanted to spend the rest of my life the exact same way I had been- married and in love, but I made a mistake.
One mistake cost me my whole marriage and if I could go back in time, there's no doubt in mind that I would have fought harder to save this.
"I'm so happy you decided to come, dad." Lydia walks slow as we trail into the kitchen.
I just give her a smile, because I know that this isn't going to be as wonderful as she wishes. I know that Stevie and I aren't going to be best grandparent friends, but I really wish we could.
"Good morning!" Barbara wraps me in her arms as soon as I step into the kitchen. "I'm so happy to see you!" She kisses the side of my face, while I give her a quick hug.
"Good morning," I smile as everyone else in the kitchen greets me, except for Stevie.
She's leaning over the counter, sipping her coffee as her eyes scan over the morning paper.
Her hair is pulled back into a clip, but some lose strands are hanging out, which just allows her beauty to shine through. She's always been beautiful, but as she ages, she just gets even more stunning.
I haven't even been here for a night yet and I already know that this is going to be hell. Literally hell.
~~~~~
-Stevie-
We make it through the morning relatively well, only because I devote all my time and energy into hanging out with my mother. It keeps me away from Lindsey, but thankfully Luca and Chris have disappeared with him, while Lydia sleeps most of the morning away.
This baby is taking a toll on her, especially because she's such a petite girl. I mean, every time she stands up, I'm worried she'll snap in half.
"So, why is he here?" I'm actually surprised Lori didn't ask as soon as we stepped outside. "And where is Kathrine?" She wrinkles up her nose, calling Katrina by the wrong on purpose, like always.
I wish I could forget Katrina's name, but the woman has a hurricane named after her.... she was destined to ruin things, like when she ruined my marriage.
"He wants to be here when the baby comes and I don't know where Katrina is." I shrug as I take a sip of my white wine.
"She left him." My mother hasn't spoken this whole time and she makes us both jump when we're reminded of her presence.
"What?" I push myself off the sun bed a little too abruptly, making it seem like I actually care. "He told you that?" I don't know why my heartbeat quickens so suddenly, but it does.
"No, he didn't tell me that." She shakes her head, and for a moment I think she's going to tell us that Katrina told her. "I can just feel it." She kinda shrugs, making me collapse back into my seat.
"Don't do that to me, Barbara." I roll my eyes, taking another big gulp of wine.
"He just seems weird, okay? He seems a little down and I think it would be nice if you could put your differences aside, TeeDee." She gets that stern voice I've heard my entire life, and all I do is nod my head.
I don't think he seems sad. I think he seems as annoying as ever, but even if I can't stand him most of the time, I would never want him to hurt like my mother thinks he is.
"You two need to play nice, especially you." My mom points her finger right at me, and I immediately stop smirking. "Being a grandma is a real gift, and I think you'll find that sharing that joy with your husband will be even more exciting."
