~S~
We spent all evening together, just the four of us. We had dinner, ordered dessert, and then we all curled up in the living portion of the suite to watch a movie until it was time for Ruth to get some sleep. And believe it or not, probably for the first time ever, we totally ignored the fact that there was an elephant in the room, which I was really thankful for.
I always appreciated any time that I got to spend with Ruth, but especially when all was calm around us.
I didn't want her to know that Lark was disappointed in Lindsey and I. And I knew, no matter what, she would have figured it out... Even at six, she was well aware of everything going on in her world and ours.
"She's asleep." I whispered as I slowly crept through the French doors of the hotel suite that separated the one of the two bedrooms from the living area.
I had spent the last half an hour singing songs, telling elaborate stories and answering all of Ruth's random questions as she forced herself to stay awake as long as possible... She never wanted to miss a beat, so she used to stay up really late in hopes she wouldn't.
"Thank you, mom." Lark was sitting in the accent chair with a throw blanket over her legs and a crystal glass of brown liquor in her hand.
She was not a wine or mixed drink kind of person... She was whiskey on a Sunday morning.
Smiling softly, I wrapped my shawl around myself a little tighter as I slowly sank into the sofa... all the way on the other side of Lindsey, who was also sipping on a much needed drink. "Do you wanna talk about it?" I wondered in a gentle tone of voice as I glanced back over at my sweet girl.
She shrugged a shoulder lightly and I could tell, just by the hint of calm in her blue eyes that she had softened up since she first came through the door. "Are you guys serious?" She didn't mean that in a harsh way... she was just curious.
Biting down on my bottom lip, I thought about it for a second. "I would like to think so." I slowly turned my head, eyes melting right into his for a brief moment.
He was tired- I could tell, but he was also involved and that conversation was important.
"Well, who cares then?" She shook her head, raising her brows lightly. "If this is what makes you happy, who cares what anyone else thinks?" Larks words stunned me, honestly... I didn't expect that from her, even though I should have.
She had done a lot of maturing and I had to remind myself that she wasn't eighteen and slightly reckless anymore... She was on the cusp of thirty with more life under her belt than most fifty year olds.
She had it way more together than either of her parents did at that ago....
Lindsey nodded lightly, a very faint, almost sympathetic smile on his face. "Well," he paused for a second, a soft sigh escaping him. "We know it's been a little bit of a rollercoaster and it hasn't been easy on you." He admitted something that Lark never made a secret.
She was the first to voice how chaotic our relationship was and upsetting her again, after everything that had happened in the months that had led up to that moment was the very last thing that we wanted to do.
She chuckled softly, eyes falling down to the floor as she took a second to reply. "This is your chance to be together." She announced. "Time doesn't wait for anyone, you know this..." she held out her free hand lightly, shoulders rising and then falling once more. "And if you're in love right now, and you're making each other happy, that's all that shoulder matter." The tone that lingered in her gentle voice caused my heart to sink into the pit of my stomach.
