Heartbroken

Chances

Stevie was in the bedroom, going through clothes in her closet, deciding on what to pack and not. Lindsey had bought plane tickets to Maui for her birthday, the way he planned it they were supposed to stay there from Monday until Sunday, but Stevie told him he should share his plans after all and their trip was shortened to 24th, 25th and 26th of May. Lindsey argued that they would spend the majority of time on the plane and have only one full day, but Stevie reassured him it was enough and it was his thought that counted. She didn't want to spend more time than necessary away from home.

"Daddy is being selfish." Alice pouted, sitting cross-legged on her parent's bed. 

"Why is that, baby?" 

"Because he's taking you away on your birthday!"

"Aw, sweetheart." Stevie sat down beside her daughter. "Daddy is being very thoughtful actually, he wanted to do something nice for me."

"Couldn't he have picked another time?"

"Well, it's his present for me." She tried explaining, stroking Alice's hair. "Besides, we'll be back home on my birthday."

"When?"

"Around 9..."

"Morning?"

"No, evening." 

"See? He's not being fair!"

"Can you try and forgive him this time?"

"I guess..." Alice sighed. "But then we're doing something fun, just you and me!"

"I can't see why not." Stevie agreed, pressing a kiss to Alice's cheek. 

Lindsey came into the bedroom, as Alice was making her way out, without one word or any kind of acknowledgement of her father. "What did I do wrong now?"

"You're taking me away, as your daughter put it." Stevie zipped up the suitcase and went to Lindsey, locking her hands around his neck as his naturally gently gripped her sides. 

"Oh... What a horrible man I am!" He said, already leaving kisses on her exposed skin. 

"Not now."

"Yes now sounds better."

"Lindsey, n... oh..." She moaned, as he pushed her hips against his. "You still haven't packed anything." She managed to get out, holding his face in her hands to keep his mouth from assaulting her. 

"What's there to pack? Just throw in a couple of shirt, jeans and swimming trunks." 

"Can you not think about having your way with me for one second?" 

"And this is your grandparents, acting like teenagers, Lynn." Taylor pushed the door open, holding his daughter in his arms.

"Thank God!" Stevie laughed. "You two just saved me."

"It sounded like you needed help." Taylor let Lynn go, who ran to Stevie immediately. "We came to say goodbye."

"We'll be back in a few days." 

"Few days too late!" Alice yelled, passing their bedroom to her own room.

"What's up with her?"

"Apparently, I'm the worst man to walk the earth, because I'm whisking your mother to freaking Maui for her birthday!"

"You're really funny, when you're pouting like a baby, Linds." Stevie gave him a chaste kiss, when Lynn felt the need to rummage through Stevie's shawls in the walk-in closet.

"We're one dysfunctional family, aren't we?" Taylor joked, going to check on Alice, to see if she was ready, as she was staying with her brother again.

"I can't get anything right with any of you."

"It's fine. And I'll make it up to you, honey." Stevie promised, referring to a moment ago, before going to see what kind of mess Lynn had already made.

~

The morning of Stevie's birthday came quickly, once she and Lindsey got to the hotel. They spent most of their time by the water and Lindsey couldn't believe she was wearing a swimsuit out in public and even spending some time not hiding from the sun. The night before, they went to a restaurant, that was recommended by the hotel's front desk clerk. It was dark when they left it and they had a nice walk back to their hotel. They made love and fell into exhausted, but peaceful sleep, wrapped around each other. 

Lindsey made sure to get up before Stevie, which wasn't a big problem. He left her sound asleep, as he went to take a quick shower. He dressed up and went downstairs, where a delivery man was waiting with fifty six red roses. Making sure she was still sleeping, Lindsey carefully laid the flowers on the side of the bed where he was sleeping and bent down, planting a kiss on her lips. 

"Morning, angel."

Stevie groaned, feeling it was too early to be up already, but she forgot all about it, seeing the roses next to her. "Lindsey... You shouldn't have." She smiled, sitting up in bed, giving him a kiss for a thank you.

"Of course I should have." He held her hand, placing a kiss on each knuckle. "Happy birthday, baby."

"I'm so lucky to have you, thank you."  She glanced at the flowers again. "You better not have asked for fifty six."

Lindsey laughed, shrugging. "That's for me to know, I'm sure you won't be counting."

"I just might now." 

"You're like wine, Steph, getting better with age." She opened her mouth to reply, but there was a knock on the door. "Must be room service." He got off the bed and went to answer the door. 

"What's taking you so long?" Stevie asked, as he didn't come back to her right away. 

"I'll be right there with you."

Shortly, Lindsey came in with a tray, which was covered with a silver lid. She eyed him suspiciously. "What? This is breakfast."

"I just woke up, I'm not feeling hungry yet."

"But I placed a special order just for you." 

"What about yourself?" 

"I ate already." He hated lying to her, but this wasn't going to cause much harm, he reckoned. Lindsey placed the tray on her lap and sat down beside her. 

Without much thought, Stevie lifted the lid off and gasped at what she saw. On the platter sat a square little black gift box, from which she looked at Lindsey. "Yes!"

"How do you know what's in it? Maybe I bought you... earrings?"

"No, you didn't! But if you had, we would be so over right now!"

Lindsey smiled at her lovingly, then reached for the box to open it and took the ring out. "Still a yes?"

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! A thousand times yes!"

He slipped the ring on her finger, saying. "I don't think you were this excited the first time."

"I didn't realize how much I want to be your wife again, before I saw that little box." She touched the side of his face, drawing him closer for a kiss. "I love you so..."

"I love you way more." He pressed their foreheads together, as they gazed into each other's eyes lovingly. 

He was given a second chance and he was determined to do everything in his power to never do her wrong.