It wasn't nearly as awkward as Penelope had initially thought it would be when they were first piling in the car. In fact, twenty minutes into their drive, any tension that might have been lingering had evaporated and it was actually a really nice ride.
Luckily, Penny was a talker- a lot like her mom, but since Stevie wasn't sure what to talk about, the younger woman did it all for her. She kept them both entertained- pointing to the sights, chatting about music, and just so bubbly, it caused her mother to sit in awe... She had always known, from the moment she'd laid eyes on her in the hospital twenty- one years earlier that she was a perfect girl, but she was also the perfect woman and that doesn't always happen.
A kind, generous, caring human and that is what every parent should hope for in a child.
Anyway, it was quite the scenic route up the coast and if anyone was enjoying it, it was definitely Stevie, who was soaking up every moment with her daughter... and Lindsey too, who was actually far more pleasant to be around then he was two decades prior, obviously.
They were both very different people by that point in their lives. They had settled down, they had grown up, and for some reason, in that very moment, none of the past actually mattered to either of them...
They weren't holding anything against each other anymore, which is something that didn't seem likely for a long time.
However, the calm came to an end when they pulled up to the small, very familiar restaurant out by the water in Lahaina and Stevie's heart literally sank into the pit of her stomach... It was the same restaurant that they used to take the kids to on their vacations out there.
They had really good milkshakes.
"Oh..." She whispered to herself, eyes already beginning to fill with tears as she stared out the window.
She could still remember chasing kids up and down the stairs out front, playing tag with Mick's daughter and their son as they waited for their food... It seemed like just yesterday, but also an eternity.
She would have done anything to go back and get to live those wonderful moments over for just a few short minutes.
She would have appreciated it more now.
"I should have warned you." Lindsey waited until Penny had gotten out of the backseat before he said anything to her.
He also had the same wave of emotion wash over him when they got there and many times, since he was always very honest with Penelope, they would talk about it.
They would talk about going there with the band, with her brother... with her mother, and since it was Stevie's favorite on the island, it was Penelope's favorite too.
"Hasn't changed at all, huh?" She forced a laugh, casually wiping away the tears so Penny didn't notice that she'd gotten a little upset.
He chuckled softly, also starting to feel a little... sentimental, maybe. "Some things don't." Lindsey pushed open his car door, waiting for her to do the same before he stepped out onto the gravel driveway.
It wasn't anything fancy, or expensive... it was old and creaky- just like it was in the 70's, so by then it was just extra old and extra creaky, which is probably what made it feel like a sense of serious nostalgia... Well that and the dozen memories it held for Stevie and Lindsey.
"Catch." Lindsey was sitting across from the two ladies at the booth, flicking a balled up straw wrapper across their water cups just for it to get caught right in Penny's long blonde hair, which caused the older couple to chuckle instantly.
"You're so annoying." Penelope playfully rolled her brown eyes as she carefully pulled it from her locks.
Stevie chuckled softly, leaning forward to rest her chin in her hand as her eyes traveled around the old diner.
Everything felt the same and looked the same. The walls were still pink and covered in old pictures. The barstools still had the checkered upholstery and the floor was still the old tile. The only thing that was different was the ladies behind the counter and the fact that there wasn't a single person with a cigarette in their hand.
"Hush, your milkshakes on the way." Lindsey teased as he motioned towards the waitress that was headed their way with a tray of them.
"These are the best ever." Penny announced with a big smile on sweet face as soon as she had dropped them off at the table.
Stevie smirked, eyes melting into Lindsey's. "I believe you." She assured, heart beginning to beat a little faster when he let off the most subtle wink.
It wasn't easy for him, but he also knew that it wasn't easy for her, so a part of him wanted to be allies... They weren't going to get far if they stayed enemies, that's for sure.
"Do you have kids?" Penelope wondered, luckily not paying much attention when Stevie's face dropped instantly.
Lindsey's eyes never left the older woman's, suddenly very curious to know the usual answer to that one... He had a feeling it would be a no.
"Um," she paused for a moment, shifting in her seat as she nodded her head softly. "I have kids, yeah." She felt like she was lying, even though she wasn't...
But most of time... actually, every time she was asked that, Stevie said that she didn't have children and not because she wasn't proud of the two most incredible humans that she got to bring into the world, but because she wasn't proud of the choices that she'd made after.
Having to explain the loss, the heartache, the sadness, and the chaos of everything was so overwhelming to her that she could not relive it... She didn't want to. And honestly, she liked to keep that part of her life safe... So safe, only she knew.
"I figured you did." Penny let out a soft giggle, shrugging her shoulders lightly. "You have such a warm, motherly vibe." She added, which was so ironic, even Lindsey sucked in his bottom lip and his eyes fell back to the table.
Stevie nodded, not sure how she had lived without that girl for so long... She was a dream of a person. "That's so kind of you, sweetie." Her voice cracked but it was so gentle that only Lindsey realized.
"So, what are you gonna order?" He wondered a moment later, not sure he could handle listening to anymore of that...
He was certain that she wouldn't mention anything else, but he didn't want to hear anymore about Stevie's kids... Not when one was sitting right next to her and one had been gone so long, sometimes that entire portion of life felt like it was actually Lindsey's imagination... So much so, He just couldn't even think about it anymore.
And maybe it wasn't going to be that easy for him, after all...
