Where I Belong

Part 20

"You have no idea how long I've been craving this for!" Callie clapped her hands, following the roast chicken that Stevie was bringing over to the table with her eyes. "It smells divine."

Jack, eyebrow raised, looked over at Callie. "Babe, it's chicken."

Stevie chuckled, nodding her head. "Right?" She glanced at Jack. 

"You don't understand." Callie said. "It's all I've been thinking about for the past few days."

"Well, I'm glad it takes so little to make you happy, honey." Stevie smiled at Callie, putting a chicken thigh onto her plate, while Callie dropped two large scoops of mashed potatoes next to it.

Once everyone was served, Stevie sat down for about a minute then got back up on her feet, when the doorbell rang. Callie gave her a questioning look, asking, who else was invited.

"Your father." Stevie replied as if they had family dinners every other night. "Did I forget to mention it?"

"Uhhh, yes!" Stevie heard Callie reply.

Stevie pulled the door open and found Lindsey grinning from ear to ear. She stepped aside to let him in and they hugged, holding onto each other a little longer than was necessary. He was happy when she called, he seemed even happier to see her. 

"What are you doing here?" Callie stood up to greet Lindsey.

"I was invited?" Lindsey turned to Callie again after shaking hands with Jack. "Should I leave?"

"No." Callie shook her head, sitting down. "I just wasn't expecting you."

"Oh, well..." Lindsey looked over at Stevie as if asking her to save him. 

"We haven't seen each other in a while." Stevie loaded a plate for Lindsey as well. "I thought, this would be a great opportunity for all of us to get together."

Lindsey smiled, amused. They had been seeing more of each other during the last several weeks, since the disaster that Stevie and Chris' relationship was was over, than in the last couple of years, not to mention the constant texting and late night calls. Stevie quickly forgot about all of her rules and Lindsey didn't care to remind her.

"This is so good!" Lindsey complimented, laying a hand on Stevie's thigh under the table, he squeezed gently, she pushed his hand away, giving him a warning look. "I haven't had a home-cooked meal like this in so long."

"Shocker." Callie rolled her eyes. "Maybe you should come by more often."

"Hmm, maybe." Lindsey shrugged, glancing at Stevie.

After dinner, the four moved into the main living room. Lindsey was talking to Jack, while Stevie and Callie were making plans to go shopping for baby things the next day. Once the conversation took that turn, Stevie also wanted to know when Callie was planning to move in with her. She was relieved when Lindsey interrupted them, diverting Stevie's attention from the question.

"Help me." Callie stretched out her arms. "You're gonna have to carry me to the car, I fear." She told Jack, who grasped her hands and pulled her up on her feet. 

"You know I'll do it if you really want me to." Jack kissed her on the cheek, putting his arm around her. 

Stevie smiled, watching them. Just like Lindsey, she was worried if having a baby at a rather young age would affect their relationship, but there really was no reason to. Jack was only 25-years-old, he could be going out with his friends, doing God knows what, but that had never really been important to him, much less now. He was becoming a father in a few short months and his top priority was Callie and their baby. Stevie had never had doubts about him. Lindsey, being the protective father that he was, desperately wanted to find flaws at the beginning of Jack and Callie's relationship, he couldn't. It took him longer, but like Stevie, Lindsey was sure that their daughter was loved and well taken care of.

"I'll be here at around 11?" Callie asked Stevie before leaving. "You're sure you'll be up by then?"

"I promise." Stevie nodded, giving Callie a hug. "Drive safe." She said to Jack, saying goodbye to him too.

Stevie closed the door and turned around to face Lindsey. She walked the short distance to him and he reached for her hand to pull her in closer, his other hand settled on her waist and she rose to stand on her tiptoes to kiss him.

"I thought, they'd never leave." Lindsey joked in between kisses.

"That's a terrible thing to say." Stevie couldn't help but laugh, cupping his face to bring him down closer...

~

Callie stood outside the following morning, checking her watch, it was half past 11. She rang the doorbell again and waited for a moment. Nothing. She looked over at Lindsey's car still in the driveway. While a bit suspicious, she guessed that they probably shared a bottle of wine or something and he stayed in one of the guest rooms. Of course she had a key, but she didn't live there anymore, so she rarely ever let herself in. Callie searched in her bag and grabbed it, she pushed the door open after unlocking it. The house was completely quiet.

"Mom?" Callie looked around. She checked the kitchen, she went into the room they hung out in the night before. "Mom, where are you hiding?" She gripped the rail and climbed the stairs. "Mom!" Where the hell is she, Callie whispered to herself. "Are you still in bed?" She knocked on the master bedroom door and heard some shuffling around on the other side. "You are still in bed! I told you, we could meet up later."

"I'll be out in a minute, Callie!" Stevie finally responded, sounding as if she'd just been woken up and a little panicked. At least that was what Callie thought, a little panicked was an understatement.  

"I'm counting to five then I'm coming in." Callie said.

"No! No, wait, I'll be-"

1, 2...

"Callie, please, I'll be out there in a second!"

3, 4...

"Callie-"

Callie opened the door and scrunched up her face. "Why does it smell like weed in here?"

"Go back downstairs, baby, get something to eat or-" Stevie stared at Callie, eyes wide, her heart beating out of her chest.

Callie frowned, not sure yet if she was just imagining things or grey curls were really peeking out from under the covers.

"DAD?!"