Letting out a deep sigh, Stevie stared at herself through the full length mirror as her hand ran down her sheer top. "Oh, goodness." She whispered to herself, feeling a small flutter when she started to put her earrings in. "Well, good morning to you, sunshine." She smiled softly, eyes falling back down to her tummy as she turned around to face Lindsey.
He was standing not too far behind her, buttoning up his shirt and watching with a little grin. "Is the baby awake?" He wondered in a playful manner as his eyes scanned over her sweet face before his gaze fell down to her stomach as well.
She was six months pregnant by then and so far, the baby was growing exactly like it was supposed to- maybe a little smaller than usual, but nothing to be concerned about. So she had quite the bump and the baby was always reminding her of their presence by how active they were in there.
Nodding her head lightly, she left out a soft giggle when he slipped one hand around her waist and the other gently met her stomach. "Can you feel that?" She asked in a quiet tone of voice as she continued to put her hoops in her ears, while he practically held her up.
He had been so incredible already and she was more appreciative than he could have ever really known.
In the last couple of months, since the visit from the kids, he had really made himself at home at the Inn, which she didn't expect, but she did love.
She didn't think he would be so willing to drop his entire life and come stay with her, even though she was carrying his new baby... She still figured it wouldn't be that easy, but it was.
He made it easy.
He bent over backwards to make things more convenient, which meant that he was working a lot over the phone, meeting with musicians on the East coast, keeping up with Mallory and Laura out West, and still, somehow, finding time to be at every one of Stevie's doctors appointments, all while also helping her run her business... She couldn't have asked for a better man in the next chapter of life.
She was head over heels and he had made it clear that he felt the same way.
"I sure can." He assured with a light laugh as his big blue eyes met hers. "She just wants to say hi, huh?" Lindsey slowly leaned in, pulling her in closer to leave a soft kiss on her forehead.
Nodding softly, she sank right into him as she felt him rub the small of her back. "Thank you for doing this with me." She whispered, head falling on his chest and arm creeping around his shoulders.
Nervous was an understatement- she was nearly sick to her stomach and she had been ever since they'd left for Boston the night before.
It was the first time she would be seeing her two kids since the Christmas fiasco, which officially marked the longest time in between visits for them. Usually it was three or four months tops, but they were a little over six months out and the last few of those had been more rocky than ever before for them.
Her and Brooklyn were back to their usual everyday phone calls, but the younger woman was suddenly keeping it short and sweet, which really pained Stevie, who had always adored listening to Brooke fill her in on every detail of life... She craved to have those conversations again.
And since things had felt off, Stevie asked if she could come to the city to see her daughter and Brooke couldn't turn it down, even if she was a little upset with her still.
Stevie was her mom and the most important person in the world to her, so of course, even though she wasn't sure it would be easy, she really wanted to be a part of it all.
Change is never simple and this was a huge change for them.
"Anything to make you feel better, baby." Lindsey repeated, patting her hip lightly. "But we should go, or you're gonna be late for lunch." He added, even though he could have stayed hauled up in that hotel room with her all afternoon...
After a five hour train ride and an early morning wake up call from the uncomfortable pregnant lady next to him- Lindsey was ready for a nap. But he had promised that he'd tag along and he wasn't much for breaking promises, not with her.
"I love you." She told him as she pressed a soft kiss to his chest.
"I love you more."
~~~
It was just an hour later when Stevie found herself sitting in a booth in the far corner of the restaurant, waiting for her daughter, who always ran fashionably late.
It was just her at the table, being that she made Lindsey sit over at the bar until she tested the waters. Brooke could be pretty tough and the last thing Stevie wanted was to introduce him at a time that wasn't right. So he was across the room, sipping his second scotch on the rocks and already finished with an appetizer... He was feeling pretty bad as he watched her shift around in her seat, trying to get comfortable as she waited.
It was kind sad.
And just when she was getting ready to move over with Lindsey, almost ready to come to terms with the idea that Brooke wasn't going to show up, her eyes met the green orbs that were moving through the crowd of people.
"Hi, my beautiful girl." Stevie greeted her with a big smile, a sigh of relief escaping her as she stood up.
Brooke cracked a faint grin as well, finding it nearly impossible not to take immediate notice at the baby bump...
It's easy to pretend like life isn't changing when you put it on the back burner and that's definitely how Brooke was coping with the changes in her life. She was acting like it wasn't real, but to see her mom like that, definitely put it into perspective.
Stevie really was moving on in life..
"You look really good, mom." She nodded softly, tears instantly beginning in her eyes as she felt Stevie wrap her in a warm hug.
She had missed her more than ever.
