~~~
With a soft squeal, the little brunette stared down at the cake that was sitting on the counter, still in the box and waiting to be picked up. "Oh, my goodness." She turned back to the blonde, who had lifted her up to see. "He is going to love it." She added, eyes scanning over all the frosting and words that she couldn't quite read, but still thought were just perfect.
Stevie's lips turned up into a smile as she slowly began to set her granddaughter back down on the ground. "I'm glad you think so." She assured, feeling the three year old take her hand, so that she could tangle their fingers together.
They were at the restaurant- just swinging by to pick up a very, very special birthday cake that was made for a very, very special papa... As Everleigh had put it.
"Is it enough frosting?" Elise was on the other side of the counter, looking over the glass to see her niece, who was eyeing all the other pastries in the cabinet.
Looking up, her big brown eyes melted right into the older woman's. "I think it is just so beautiful." Evee repeated the same thing her grandma had a couple of minutes earlier as she slightly nudged Stevie to get her attention once more.
Grinning lightly, she motioned to her daughter- in- law, who was in charge that afternoon. "You can ask, sweet girl." Stevie didn't let go of her hand, but she did reach into her purse to pull out her wallet and slip a loose bill into the tip jar.
Everleigh stood up on her tip toes, trying to see better. "Can I, pretty please, have a cookie with the sprinkles, auntie?" She had a soft voice, yet her words were incredibly clear for a three year old.
"Of course, you can." Elise let out a little giggle as she grabbed a bag for the same kind of cookie that Evee picked out every time she was in.
"You are the best." Ev had a big grin on her face the moment she had the bag in her free hand.
"You are." Elise playfully argued, still smiling softly as her eyes traveled towards Stevie. "Tell dad to save us some cake, too." She teased as she leaned into the other side of the glass case lightly.
Tossing her head back, Stevie let a sweet giggle fill the busy dining room, where patrons and servers were flowing around them. "We'll see you tonight for dinner, sweetheart." She carefully began to take the cake box in one hand as she ran the pad of her thumb back and forth across Ev's knuckles with the other.
"Love you." The little girl gave her aunt one more wave, trailing close as they headed for the door.
"I love you." Elise replied with a soft laugh.
~~~
"Papa!" Evee shouted for him the moment Stevie had unlocked the front door of their home.
Stevie's hands were so full, she didn't even take her shoes off at the door. Instead, she slipped through the foyer, making sure Ev was close behind as she headed for the kitchen
"Papa?" Evee repeated, creasing a brow as she tried to listen for him... He always yelled back.
The blonde smiled softly, setting the grocery bags down on the kitchen island as her eyes followed her baby around the room.
"Evee?" His voice crept through the house, causing a big, toothy grin to trail across Evee's face. "Is that my Evee girl?" Lindsey added as he stepped through the kitchen doorway- just as happy to see them as they were to see him.
They had all gone out to breakfast that morning to celebrate his birthday, but after that, their two youngest sons wanted to take him to golf for the morning. So Stevie and Ev went to get pedicures, had to rush to ballet class to make it on time and then, finally they got to pick up the chocolate cake with blue and purple frosting... Everleigh picked it out, of course.
"Hi, silly goose!" Her big brown eyes were wide as she raced towards him, holding out her arms to be picked up.
She was still in her pink tutu, her little curls in two pigtails that her grandma had done that morning and her cheeks were rosy red from the slightly brisk October air.
Evee was their entire world.
He scooped her up, smiling lightly when her head met his shoulder. "Did have a fun day?" Lindsey slowly trailed further into the kitchen, eyes melting right into his wife's.
She was standing at the island, watching two of her favorite people as she carefully pulled things out of the paper bags to put in the refrigerator.
"Mimi and me had so much fun, papa." Everleigh assured, still grinning from ear to ear as she held out the cookie bag to show him. "My toes got painted pink and Mimi got hers done red, then she let me get a cookie with the sprinkles at the restaurant." She didn't miss a beat, recounting everything they had done a mile a minute with so much enthusiasm, it made them both smile in return.
She loved them just as much... She thought they hung the moon and in all reality, they really had for her.
"We did have fun." Stevie nodded her head lightly, finally slipping her sweater off her shoulders and setting it on one of the barstools, so she could start dinner.
Instead of going out, Lindsey suggested that they just have the kids come over for the evening... Nothing sounded better than hanging out at home, with all the people he loved the most, and Stevie couldn't agree more.
"But we missed you so much." She reached out, turning up the volume on the radio just a tad for some background noise.
"I missed you more." Lindsey pursed his lips to the side, watching her lean into the counter to flip through the different radio stations. "Should we get her?" He whispered down to Ev, even though the blonde could definitely hear.
"I'm trying to-" Stevie was getting ready to protest, but Evee cut her off, not interested in hearing excuses.
"But Mimi, we just wanna dance." She carefully reached out, trying to get her grandmas attention. "It's Papas birthday, and he wants to dance with you." Evee added, knowing, even at just three that Stevie wouldn't be able to say no to that.
Tossing her head back to let out a soft giggle, she finally turned back around to face them. "Oh, you two..."
Lindsey nodded in agreement, a soft smile on his handsome face as he held out his free hand for her to come in a little closer. "One dance and we won't bother you anymore." He let out a content sigh when he slipped his arm around Stevie's waist, feeling her instantly sink into his side.
And like a thousands time before, they slowly danced around the kitchen, Lindsey holding both of them as Van Morrison's famous song about a brown eyed girl echoed in the background.
"I love you." Stevie whispered, eyes closed as they swayed around the room slowly.
Evee's hand met her grandmas cheek, truly believing that she held the moon and the stars in her palms. "We love you the most, Mimi."
~The End~
