Two hours later, after she had come up with some fabricated story about running into an old friend at the resort, who wanted to catch up at dinner, Stevie was headed back down to the lobby, where Penny told her she'd be waiting.
And nervous was an understatement... Stevie had been, theoretically, on the edge of her seat since she'd talked with her daughter. She needed some time to think about it, but within ten minutes, she knew she had to go and with that, she began getting around.
She just really wasn't sure how Lindsey would react, but she was willing to deal with those consequences in order to spend some time with Penelope.
"There you are." The young blonde was all smiles when she saw the Stevie travel down the hallway towards her. "I'm so happy you decided to join us." Penny added as she pushed herself up from the accent chair in the lobby.
She was in a butterfly sleeve sundress, hair in natural curls, hardly any makeup on her sun kissed face and more freckles than Stevie could count... The most beautiful girl in the world.
"I'm really happy that you invited me." She assured, not daring enough to admit that she wouldn't have missed that for the world.
There was a real feeling of solace that came with the idea that Penny wanted to willingly spend time with her mother... even though she didn't know that it was her mother, of course.
Penny cracked a soft smile, just than realizing how much Stevie reminded her of Barbara...
She had the same softness in her eyes, the calmness in her demeanor, and she just felt familiar to her... Almost like she'd known her in a past life or met in another time. She wasn't sure what it was, but maybe that's why she was so drawn to her- she was just like her grandma in some crazy way.
"Lindsey's already outside," Penny chuckled, shaking her head lightly as she led the way to the glasses doors. "He's always early." She added with a playful eye roll.
Stevie chuckled lightly, not sure that she remembered Lindsey being all that responsible.
"Thank you so much." Penny gave the doorman the most sincere smile when he pulled open the door for them.
And the second they stepped outside, leaning back into the car that he had rented, Lindsey was waiting. He had his sunglasses resting over his eyes, arms crossed over his half unbuttoned white shirt as he watched the two women step out into the afternoon sun.
He couldn't believe he'd been conned into spending the day with Stevie... Of all the people in the entire world for Penny to want to buddy up with, it had to be her?
He thought it was crazy.
"Lindsey, you remember Stephanie, huh?" Penelope patted his shoulder, unintentionally letting a little smirk dance across her sweet face.
She was up to no good and Lindsey knew that from the moment she'd asked if a practical stranger- to her, could tag along to drive the coast. And since Erin was busy with her family and Penny seemed so excited, there was no way that Lindsey could protest the idea.
"Hop in." He pulled open the passenger side door for the older woman as his eyes scanned over her face.
He didn't know how it was possible for her to be even prettier now than she was twenty years before... She'd aged so beautifully and even though he wanted to tell her, he knew better.
He wasn't planning on her being her friend.
"I can sit in the-" Stevie was getting ready to tell them that she would take the backseat, really not wanting to intrude.
"No way." Penny cut her off, holding up a hand as she shook her head. "You got the front." She assured with a little smile as she slipped right into the backseat of the jeep.
Stevie turned her head, eyes instantly melting into Lindsey's deep blue orbs as he held out a hand to help her up. "Thank you." She said that for many different reasons, not just for lending her a helping hand.
She was thankful that he allowed her to do that... He didn't have to keep that secret and he also didn't have to be kind to her.
He owed Stevie absolutely nothing and she really appreciated him for giving her that time with Penelope.
He nodded his head, heart almost skipping a beat when she ran the pad of her thumb back and forth across his knuckles. "Make sure your feet are in." He let go as soon as she had taken a seat, breaking eye contact to close the door.
"He's kind of quiet sometimes." Penny leaned forward from the back, scrunching up her face in a silly manner. "A little shy." She added, telling the blonde something that she already knew very well.
Lindsey had always been more of a thinker and less of a talker... when he wanted to be, that is. And she knew, even though he was not saying it aloud, he had big thoughts about her sudden presence in their life.
Smiling softly, she nodded her head. "It'll be fine, honey." She could tell that Penelope was trying to reassure her and she didn't want her to feel the need to do that the entire day.
She had dealt with Lindsey when they were both at their absolute worst... grieving the loss of a child that they had brought into this harsh world and she was certain that there was no emotion worse than that, so she could handle a little silent treatment for awhile.
"Passenger is always in charge of the radio." Lindsey cracked a grin the moment he started the engine, trying his best to loosen up a little.
He didn't want Penny to suspect a thing and he wouldn't give anyone else the cold shoulder, which meant he couldn't do it to Stevie... Not while their daughter was around, at least.
"What do you want to listen to?" Stevie tilted her head back, looking at Penny out of the corner of her eye.
With a soft smile, the younger girls chin fell right on the shoulder of the seat. "Classic rock." She playfully whispered, which caused both of her parents to chuckle in return.
"Good choice," She reached out, gently twisting the knob on the radio to turn up the volume.
Lindsey was trying not to stare too much, but it was nearly impossible...
He had practiced, more so in the early days, exactly what he would say to her if he ever ran into her and none of it was nice... He thought that he was really mad in the beginning, but seeing her now, after that long, he realized that he might never have actually been anger at her.
He was mad the situation and was happy that she did what she thought was right, because he was certain that if she hadn't left that night, she wouldn't have been around now.
There was no way they would have made it through that.
He waited until Penny had sank back in her seat, staring out the window at the island pass, and then he glanced back over at the woman that had given him the best gift in life. "I'm proud of you." He mouthed to her as soon as her eyes met his.
