~Three Years Earlier~
Sitting on the living room floor, flooding towels and watching the evening news, Stevie tried to ignore the sound of the front door unlocking.
She wanted to disappear. She wanted to vanish into thin air to escape the hell that she lived in night after night. She had never hated anything as much as she hated the life she had created with him. It always felt so depressing, when in reality, she always imagined marriage feeling like there was always someone there that loved you, someone there that would respect you and laugh with you, but their relationship was none of that.
No, it felt like they were drowning. It was like something was constantly pulling them farther and farther down to this deep darkness. And each time he stepped through the door, she was reminded of all of that.
"Hey, baby." He stumbled through the living room, falling onto the sofa lazily.
"Who drove you home, Lindsey?" Her eyes never left the television- she didn't want to look at him and all his lies.
"John," his hand met her hair softly, running
his fingers through her locks nicely. "You're so pretty," he whispered, leaning in to kiss the top of her head.
He loved her- he loved her more than he loved anything, besides their children, but with everything happening in their lives, showing that love just didn't seem like a priority... it should have been.
~
He didn't want to go... He really didn't, but she had never been known to make anything easy so he wasn't surprised when he found himself standing on the front step, waiting.
He knew it was the right thing to do, even if it was intimidating and nerve wracking... It was still his wife and kids, after all.
Bringing his hands up, he cupped them to his mouth and let out a warm breath to keep them from freezing off. "Shit." He hadn't prepared for such cold weather... after living in California for forever, he forgot that places actually got that cold.
It was kind of ridiculous that she would want to live there when she could have a house on the beach... but it wasn't his place to judge.
There was a muffled sound on the other side of the door, shaking the wreath before it crept open. "Hi..." the little boy creased a brow, looking up at the man standing outside.
He had the darkest brown curls and big blue eyes- like this dad, but a little button nose like his mom. Pierce, just like his sister, got the best attributes of both of their parents... They were the perfect mix of chaos and grace.
"Hey, kid." Lindsey cracked a soft smile, bending down to be level. "Your mom around?" He wondered, taking in his sons features.
He backed up a little, obviously hesitate. "Mom?" He shouted, shutting the door behind him and leaving Lindsey outside. "Mom, there's a weirdo at the door." Pierce added, holding onto the knob for security, but looking back to make sure she was coming.
Hurrying through in from the kitchen, Stevie carried a wash cloth in one hand. "Oh, it's okay." She assured ruffling his curls. "It's my friend and he's staying for dinner, remember?" She had already given the kids a little rundown on Lindsey... not much, but enough.
She told them that he was a friend from back home and they knew where home was- their grandparents always brought them special treats and gifts from there. And sometimes, when she was feeling up to it, their mother would show them old pictures with palm trees and Sunset Boulevard... they were so intrigued.
They loved the idea of the "home" she talked about, but it felt like a dreamland to them. For children their age, that was a faraway place, with people and things that were only around on special occasions.
So for Lindsey to come all the way to France to see them, made him special to the kids.
"I'm so sorry about that." She pulled open the front door, a soft laugh escaping her as her eyes met his.
He was standing on the step, wearing just a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a leather jacket... it was freezing out. But he was also holding on to two teddy bears and a dozen red roses, even though he'd nearly lost all feeling in his fingers.
"Hey, Steph." He'd always called her that, even at their absolute worst.
"It's cold, Lindsey." She motioned for him to set into the foyer of her townhouse.
It was very Stevie- the entire atmosphere, that is. She had poinsettias lining the stairwell, Christmas lights string up along the wall, soft music playing in the background and everything had a place... It was warm though. It felt cozy and safe- a place she'd created for her two children to always feel her love.
"Hi!" Lyric had a big smile on her face, standing in the doorway that separated that small room from the kitchen.
She had long bouncy curls, big brown eyes, a sweet but crooked like grin and the softest dimples by the corners of her mouth. She was in a princess dress- having begged her mother to play dress up before she had to start dinner.
"Hi, sweetie." Lindsey's heart sank as he stood, frozen in the door.
She looked like Stevie so much- it was almost insane to him.
"Lyric and Pierce?" She patted Lindsey's shoulder, silently telling him to take off his coat. "Can we say hi to Lindsey?" She gave them an encouraging smile as she helped her husband pull off his jacket.
"Hi, Lindsey." The little girl waved softly, eyes glued on the bears. "Are those for us...?" She wondered, seeing the little pink ribbon on one that really caught her eye.
He chuckled, bending down slowly as she hurried towards him. "They sure are." Lindsey held them both out, not sure which one she wanted.
"Thank you, Lindsey." She took it carefully, a little shy but still very grateful. "I have two other teddy bears, too." She told him, looking down at the new one in her grasp. "They'll love their new friend." She added, which melted Lindsey's heart instantly.
"That is so sweet, Lindsey." Stevie piped in, running her fingers through her sons hair before she gently nudged him.
"Yeah, thank you." Pierce smiled lightly when Lyric gently handed the other bear over.
"Do you know how to cut food?" Lyric wondered, taking Lindsey's hand in hers.
He couldn't help but laugh, standing back up but keeping her small hand in his. "I do." He nodded, following her into the kitchen with Stevie close behind.
"You can sit by me at dinner then, and mom can sit on the other side." She announced, which caused them both to laugh in return.
