I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

XII.

There were absolutely no words that the Stevie nor Lindsey could choke out in that moment of staring at each other so intensely, especially after their heated quarrel,  but one of them had to break the silence.

Clearing her throat, the woman crossed her arms, nearly hugging herself. "Is this your date?" she asked quietly. 

"Yeah, come in! You didn't have to come to the door..." Shannon pulled him inside the house.

"It would have been wrong not to," he complied on the quiet side as she pulled him along---his heart was practically beating out of his chest while he locked eyes with the other woman as he walked through her entry way.

As Robert was chewing his food, he looked up and was taken aback. 

"This is my mom, dad and two brothers," Shannon displayed easily. "Everybody, this is my date, Lindsey..." she assured. 

Stevie walked through very quietly and Robert watched her become reserved; he was ever so confused. 

"Jeffrey, nice to meet you," the oldest stood from his chair in order to lean and shake his hand. 

"Nice to meet you too," he assured. 

"I'm Nicholas," the youngest added. 

"Nice to meet you, kiddo," he grinned simply at the fact that he was meeting the blonde's children for the first time in what seemed like decades; he'd never gotten close to them only because when she worked, they were with Robert and if she had them, she wasn't working. 

It was rare that he had ever seen her kids because they were hidden due to her identity and status and because they were all high back in the day; the last time he would have seen them, they would have all been under the age of ten; but it came to him in an instant; he knew exactly where he "recognized" Shannon before as she was a splitting image of Stevie.

"You're not gonna say anything to embarrass me, dad, are you? Because I'd love to hear before we go..."

"Well, y'know--"

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Lindsey..." Stevie assured as she sat down. "What did you say your last name was?"

"I didn't. But my name is Lindsey Buckingham," he added. 

"Ah, I haven't heard that name on a male in years," she assured. "Must be my time, I hope my age isn't showing," she smirked. 

Where Stevie left off, it was easy for Robert to take the hint of pretending they didn't know him. Why? He had absolutely no idea, but he wasn't going to cross her.

"I don't think that could ever be, honey..." Robert assured with a grin as he picked up her hand and kissed the back of it.

Lindsey put his head down.

Although she wanted to marvel in his discomfort, she couldn't help but wonder how on earth, of all the men in the world, her daughter had to be dating the guy she had just ended her affair with.

"Thanks for stopping in, I appreciate it," Robert added. "Have a good time..." he lingered, unsure of if that was the right thing to say.

"Well, let's get out of here before this gets weird," Shannon replied, picking up her purse from off the stairs. "Ready?"

"Yes," he assured.

"Don't wait up," Shannon commented on her way out the door. 

"Don't worry," Stevie shook her head and then rested her chin in her hand. 

"Dinner was great, mom, but I'm gonna go play some video games, I'm full," Nicholas replied, excusing himself while taking his plate to the kitchen. 

"Have a good night, sweet boy..."