The pressure of Penny's curiosity didn't seem to dampen the mood, surprisingly. And before long, after they had ordered, they were on to different things.
Stevie asked Penelope about her life- mainly school and work, because she didn't want to pry too much, even though she really did want to hear all about it... She wanted to know every detail of the twenty years that she had missed out on.
Luckily, Penelope was an open book and without giving it a second thought, she told Stevie that she had been working at a dress store part time just for spending money and was going to college at the university of Arizona, where she was studying to be a teacher... a music teacher, actually.
It was all wonderful to hear and Stevie was holding onto every word, especially when Penny started chatting about her grandparents, who held the moon and stars in her eyes.
She didn't really say too much though, just that she lived with them and that they were the greatest supporters... Besides Lindsey, of course.
It was nice, but Stevie would have been lying if she said that it didn't make her feel a little sad... It was hard to hear about everything that she should have been there to experience with them, but she was proud.
So proud of Penelope for doing all these great things, so proud of Lindsey for being such a good dad, so proud of her parents for going above and beyond for their grand baby... She thought they were all so incredible.
Anyway, they spent the entire day together and after lunch, they stopped at a couple of little shops. Of course, it was Lindsey that was double checking to make sure Stevie didn't have any where else to be, just in case... He knew that Penelope had a tendency to lose track of time and he didn't want Stevie to feel forced to stay with them, even if he was also enjoying her company.
She was so calm by then, it really made being in her presence a lot simpler than it once was.
"I had a really nice time." Stevie admitted in a soft tone of voice as she stared over at the man that she used to be madly in love with... once upon a time.
For some reason, that afternoon, Lindsey really reminded her of that guy- the one that had swept her off her feet.
Nodding his head, he glanced back in the review mirror for a brief moment, making sure Penelope was still fast asleep in the back. "Me too." He assured, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he looked back over at the blonde.
"Thank you for letting me spend this time with the two of you." She continued, wanting him to know that she was just as happy to be in his company as she was to be in Penny's... After all, he was a huge part of her past as well.
Lindsey paused for a second, using one hand to run across his face as the other stayed on the wheel. "I spent years wondering why you did that." His voice was soft, not wanting to wake up Penny, but also needing to tell Stevie this.
He had thought about her every day... not all day everyday but at least once every day.
Stevie sank back, heart breaking instantly. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, she's scanning over his side profile as her vision slowly began to blur. "I-"
"We don't have to do that." He shook his head, holding up his hand to assure her that she didn't have to do the whole apology thing... She shouldn't have been sorry for saving herself and that's exactly what she did.
There was no way anyone else would have been able to convince her to get help, not when she was totally surrounded by all her weaknesses in the environment that they were living in.
"Just knowing that you're okay is good enough for me now." He admitted, which is something he never thought he would... Not to her, at least. "But don't let her down..." he finally looked back at her when they came up to a stop sign, eyes instantly melting into those big brown orbs that still made him weak in the knees.
She was so beautiful.
"I don't plan on it." She had tears rolling down her cheeks as she tried her very best not to reach out for his hand... She knew he wouldn't have liked that. "I can promise you that." Stevie added, head falling back against the seat as she bit down on her bottom lip.
Lindsey hesitated, but seeing that look lingering in her eyes made it impossible, so he reached out and took her hand in his, giving it the most gentle squeeze. "You've got this." He told her before he let her go.
After that, he turned up the radio, not loud but not quiet enough for them to talk, which told her all she needed to know... He was over that moment and the rest of their drive was spent in comfortable silence.
Until, of course, the moment they pulled back up to the resort and Lindsey's mouth about hit the ground. "Oh, fuck." He mumbled as soon as his eyes locked with Erin's.
She was just coming back from dinner with her cousin and to say that she was shocked to see another woman with them might have been understatement... For some reason she though Penny's friend was a twenty- something year old dude, not a fifty year old lady.
"Fuck is right." Penny was in the backseat, having just woken up from her nap a few minutes before they got back.
Stevie's face turned a deep shade of red, not sure if she wanted to get out of the car or bury herself into the floorboard... The look on the younger woman's face had her leaning towards the second option. "She doesn't smack, right?" She couldn't help but joke, obviously nervous but trying to make Lindsey a little less...
He smirked, shaking his head as he pushed open his car door. "You'll be okay." He was certain of that, but only because he was around to make sure... He wouldn't have let Erin say anything to her anyway.
"Thank you for coming with us today." Penny pulled open the passenger door for her mom the moment she had gotten out, a soft smile on her sweet face.
"I had the best time with you." Stevie's two feet hit the concrete and a second later, Penny pulled her in for a hug, which caused her heart to skip a beat... "Oh," she whispered, slowly wrapping her arm around her shoulders as her eyes fell closed.
She had waited forever to give that girl a hug, so she needed a moment to soak it up... It had been twenty years since she had held her.
"We'll have to hang out again this week before we leave." When Penelope began to pull away, Stevie almost didn't want to let her go, but she did... she had to.
Patting her back, Stevie nodded in agreement. "Absolutely, sweet girl."
