I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

XXVI.

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle her?" Lori asked, settling Jessica into her sister in-law's arms.

"I handled Shannon from infancy to her teens... Believe me, I'm sure I can handle this sweet girl," she hugged her niece, kissing her head. "Besides, her grandparents are thrilled to see her and that's an extra couple set of hands."

"I guess despite my bitching, this is the first time I'll really be without her... Chris is always complaining for a break and now that we've got one, let's see how long we last before we meet you in Arizona."

Stevie chuckled.

"Believe me, I understand... With each baby of mine, the first tour away from then was the worst. Then everybody realizes; it's not the last time I'll see my babies and they remember mommy will always be back," she winked.

The red head grinned, swiping her daughter's blonde hair back.

"It's a good thing this baby loves her Auntie TeeDee," she claimed.

"I'm the best, who wouldn't?" she chuckled. "I'm kidding, but I think this will all do us well. You need a break from nurturing, meantime I need to nurture since my boys aren't big fans of me babying them and Robert isn't my biggest fan in general right now."

"That talk about mommy always coming back... How about daddy, is he coming around at all?" she wondered, settling the diaper bag into the front seat.

She shrugged, lifting her brow to herself as she strapped her niece into her car seat.

"He agreed to all these traveling plans this summer without much say..."

"Well, what's he gonna say? I mean, he wants to be with me because he loves me but I know he's upset. Time apart will do us well," she assured.

"And Lindsey?" she mumbled low.

"We've decided to take a small break also. We know that as time goes, we'll still always be together and have each other. He's really not trying to step on anybody's toes, so he told me to take my trip with ease and relax. We'll reconvene in July for tour," she shrugged. "He's so understanding and he's still waiting for my child to call."

Lori lifted her brow.

She shook her head. "That's what makes this situation messy... If she weren't my daughter, this would be so different."

"Yeah, I couldn't even imagine," she agreed. "Since when does my niece have daddy issues?"

"That's the thing... She's doesn't. She's got a great dad and she is just overly mature. With all the messing around she does, all the experimenting, she saw Lindsey as a light at the end of the tunnel... I know she's dating too, she's seeing other people but she still wants Lindsey. She talks about him all the time as she gets ready to go out with other men..."

"We both know you were crazy back in the day, but you weren't that nuts. It's a dangerous game she's playing... Especially when it comes down to wanting to be serious with one guy."

"I know, I told her... So, I'm hoping, by the grace of God, she and Lindsey discuss things and settle it for good. I'm hoping when she comes back with her father, he'll be a little less raw and more willing to discuss a divorce with me so that we can all move on. The hardest part is keeping Lindsey in our loop, because Shannon would not be happy about us dating..."

"Yeah... Again, if it weren't your daughter..."

"I know..." she shook her head and then glanced at the time on her sister in-law's watch. "I gotta get going. Boys!" she yelled.

"Okay, Jessica has everything you could possibly need, if she needs anything else or anything is wrong, call us and we'll be there in a heartbeat."

"Honey, I got it..." she laughed.