"Hi..." she said, eyes drifting up from the book in her lap as soon as he'd pushed open the french doors of their room. "I'm sorry that I got so worked up with you earlier." Stevie was already in bed, leaning back against the headboard with her reading glasses covering her puffy eyes.
After she'd torn the bathroom and her nightstand apart, she wandered back down to the kitchen empty handed, only to find a note he'd left her on the counter. He told her that he'd be back and she shouldn't worry herself until then.... It wasn't working well, but she tried.
And she felt really awful- so silly for misplacing something that was that important her and even worse for being so short with her husband... He was just trying to help.
With a soft smile, he slipped into the comfort of their bedroom and closed the door behind him. "Don't be sorry." Lindsey shook his head, eyes scanning over her face as he headed right towards the bed.
Tilting her head to the side, she wrinkled her brows as she tried her best to keep her tears at bay. "I feel bad." She did and she wanted him to know that.
His one hand met her knee as the other hand slipped into his pants pocket to pull out the little white box. "It's home safe." Lindsey assured, holding it out for her.
Pushing herself up quickly, she immediately opened the it up to reveal the ring that she had loved more than anything. "Oh, Lindsey." She let out a very relieved sigh, pulling it right out of the velvet holder to slip back on her left hand, where it belonged. "Oh my gosh." She mumbled as she stared down at it for a long moment.
It was her second wedding ring- much more elaborate than the first one, which was a simple gold hand that they'd picked out together when they could hardly afford to pay their rent.
When they got married, he promised her that he'd get her something a little more special when he could.... And on the morning of their fifteenth wedding anniversary when they were still in bed, curled up- he pulled the silk blue box out of his nightstand drawer to surprise her.
It was a ring with a gold band, a big diamond in the center and then six smaller ones surrounding it... He'd spent hours at the jewelers designing it just for her.
It was a reminder of how much he loved her and she'd always taken really great care of it... until that evening before.
"Thank you." With her knees pressed into the mess of sheets and a twisted up duvet, she held out her hands for him to come a little closer.
And of course, he didn't hesitate to slip one hand around her waist as he stared down into those brown eyes. "You okay?" He felt bad, he really did, but there was only so much they could do....
It was them against the world, truly.
"I'm better." She let out a tear filled laugh, head meeting his shoulder to be held.
She didn't have to know all the details about where he'd found her wedding ring and honestly, she didn't want to. Some things were better left alone and she couldn't get herself worked up again over what they had done with it...
She had it back and that was all that mattered in the moment.
Patting her hip, he nodded lightly. "I love you, baby." Lindsey closed his eyes, still incredibly annoyed but trying hard not to be for her sake.
"I love you more." She whispered back, leaving a soft kiss on the curve of his neck.
Lindsey smirked softly, tips of his fingers dancing around her waist to tickle her sides. "I don't believe that." The moment her head fell back and those little giggles filled the air around them, he could have sworn that he'd fallen in love with her for the millionth time. "You and me." His voice was gentle as he watched a faint grin dance across her face.
Nodding in agreement, she carefully cradled his chin in her hand. "Forever."
~~~
"People make mistakes." Crosby was sitting at the breakfast bar early that next morning, after Lindsey had stirred everyone up at the crack of dawn, even though it was a Sunday.
Shaking his head, he kept his arms crossed as he leaned back into the kitchen counter. "That's not a mistake." He mumbled, raising a brow lightly. "You didn't accidentally steal your moms wedding ring and pawn it."
Lindsey woke up on the wrong side of the bed and he made it clear to every person that he'd come across that morning... Even his wife, who had made herself incredibly scarce.
"I'm not working my entire spring break at the fucking restaurant." Crosby told him, not at all afraid to argue over it.
He was outspoken- a trait he was gifted by both of his parents and used to his advantage more often than not.
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Levy shifted in his seat. "I'll be there." He assured, pushing himself up to stand as he finished off his waffle.
"You both will." Lindsey could be strict and even though he wasn't always the bad cop in their home, he knew when to put his foot down and that was one of those moments.
He really did tolerate a lot of stuff- he was pretty laid back for the most part, but he couldn't allow them to do that to their mother... Not ever, but especially not when she was already going through something that none of them understood.
Crosby scoffed, rolling his eyes lightly. "You can't make me work." He replied as he brought his glass of orange juice up to his mouth to take a drink as he practically stared his dad down.
Lindsey had to take a second, trying to relax before he said anything else shitty. "Why can't you just help your mom out sometimes?" He said that gently- not sarcastic or harsh.... Genuinely curious. "She would do anything for you." He added, shaking his head in disbelief.
When he said that, he really meant it. Stevie had given those kids her entire world from the moment they entered into it. She had paved a way for them with little hands in hers and her heart more full than ever before...
He didn't know how they could be so unappreciative sometimes.
Crosby pushed himself out of his chair abruptly. " I can't wait to move far away from you two."
