~S~
"Grandpa!" Ruth was standing out on the front step, waving both of her hands with a big smile on her sweet face as we watched Lindsey put the car in park.
Laughing softly, I leaned into the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest as the excitement began to unfold. "Lindsey!" I called out his name in the same tone- teasing him as he got out and started to head down the sidewalk.
It was only a little before one on a sunny Friday afternoon. We were on a schedule by then, and that was exact same time that he would drop by every week to see us. So we were ready- waiting by the living room window to see him pull through the gate out front... We all looked forward to his visits.
"Greeted by a couple of princesses." His lips turned up, holding out his arms for Ruth as she started to run right towards him. "How sweet is that?" He bent down, scooping her up off the ground.
"Luck guy, you are." I said with a sheepish little laugh, pushing open the front door to lead them back into the house.
It was the summer of 2006, so Ruth would have just turned four the winter before and to say that she was perfect would have been a total understatement. She was everything- the moon and the stars all balled up into long blonde curls, the most contagious smile, and eyes that melted us all.
She was our entire world and we were so lucky that her mom had agreed to let her stay out in California with us all summer long.
It was something that had started a couple of years before and just sort of continued. In late May, or early June, Lark would fly her out, stay a couple of days and then she'd leave to get home in time for work that next Monday morning.
And then we had all summer together, which was special, being that we felt like we had missed out on so much during the year... It was the best gift Lark could have ever given her father and I.
"Grandpa, guess what?" She was talking to him in such an enthusiastic tone as they followed me into the foyer, where the sound of the radio playing flowed in from the living room.
Lindsey's lips turned up, closing the door with his free hand as he used his other arm to carry her. "What?" He asked with just as much excitement lingering in his voice as he stared into those big blue saucers.
All of his kids got an identical set of his eyes...
"Me, and grandma, and miss Karen, and miss Suzanna all went to ride the horses today!" Ruth's words got a little scrambled for a moment as she tried to recount everyone that tagged along on our morning adventure to the stables... the same thing we did every Friday.
When she was with us in the summer, we were on the move all the time. Karen and I sat through more ballet classes, swim lessons, horse back riding camps, and play dates than ever before.... we were so busy, but we wouldn't have traded it for anything.
"Well, that sounds like too much fun." He slipped out of his shoes, giving me another gentle smile.
We had really figured it out by then, or at least, we were always trying to. And luckily, if we weren't working, or touring, we really didn't argue that much anymore.
When we were home, we didn't see each other, unless Lark or Ruth were involved and then we were kind of forced to be in each other's presence. But in hindsight, were just learning how to get along for the sake of our family and honestly, for the first time ever, we were doing it right.
"It was." I assured with a soft giggle as I led them into the living room, where we had been listening to music and making dream catchers...
That was something that Lark and I did a lot when she was young. It was easy, fun and it really kept her entertained when we were traveling with the band. Back then, there was so much going on around her and I think art was the perfect escape for both of us.
Even though she didn't go on to become any type of artist, she was an amazing one, and some of our very best memories come from sitting in a hotel room, giggling late into the night as we used water color paints on old canvas's...
I missed those days a lot and I still do, of course.
"You're more than welcome to stay for awhile...?" I slowly took a seat on the sofa, eyes following him around the room. "I can make dinner...?" I really wasn't ready for them to leave, not in the slightest.
It wasn't every weekend that Ruth went to stay with Lindsey and Natalie during the summer, but when she did, I always seemed to feel a little lost for those couple of days... I got bored without them around.
"You have to finish that, right?" He creased a brow lightly, voice soft as he spoke to Ruth about her dream catcher that was sitting on the coffee table.
Nodding her head softly, she slowly slipped out of his arms to continue working on her little craft and eat the fruit snacks that she had abandoned when Lindsey pulled in.
His eyes met mine a second later, the most gentle smile on his handsome face as he came closer. "I would love to stay for dinner," he collapsed right into the empty seat next to me, not hesitating to throw an arm around my shoulders.
"But...?" I knew there was one just by the tone that lingered in his voice.
He grinned, a soft sigh escaping him a second later when the back of my head met his chest. "But I have to get home and take care of a couple of things." Lindsey never, ever told me what was going on in his personal life... he really didn't and most of the time, I never cared enough to ask.
Nodding lightly, my eyes stayed locked on Ruth, who was in her own little world already. "I'll miss you..." I admitted, heart beating a little faster as I felt him run his fingers through my loose curls.
His lips met the side of my head, leaving a couple of little kisses on my temple. "I'll miss you more."
A/N:
This chapter took forever because I was so bored, but I needed a filler chapter for some excitement coming up.
Thank you all for reading!
