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"Slow down, sweet girl." Stevie was right behind her, trailing through the sand with a cup of coffee in one hand as the other clutched the silk shawl to her chest.
It was just starting to get chilly on the west coast and even though the sun was going down, it was still a beautiful night.
Glancing back over her shoulder, the little blonde gave her the cutest grin as she led the way away from the house and to the water, where a group of her favorite people were waiting.
"She's coming for you, grandpa." Stevie announced, smiling softly when her husband turned around in his chair.
There were twelve people gathered at the long wooden table, sitting around, chatting over wine and dessert, waiting for the sun to totally set after having birthday dinner for a very special twenty- eight year old. And they had gone all out for her, like usual. They had fairy lights strung up, music playing in the background, candles lit down center of the table and so much laughter circling the air, it was contagious.
Lindsey grinned lightly, bending down and holding out both his hands for their granddaughter. "Hey, princess." He scooped her up the second she was in reach, chuckling a tad when she wrapped her little arms around his neck. "I see you two successively solved the mystery of the missing blankie." He playfully tugged at the pink baby blanket that she had carried back from the house as his eyes traveled up to look at his favorite woman, who was still a couple of feet behind.
She was in a long black sundress, blonde hair in perfect curls down her back, and sunglasses resting on the top of her head. She was as stunning as always, but maybe just a little extra that evening with the glow of happiness that seemed to surround her.
She was in her element- on the beach with all the people that she loved the most in this world.
"We sure did." Stevie's lips stayed turned up as her gaze moved down the length of the table.
Everyone was so caught up in their own conversations, really enjoying each others company as they passed around the cheesecake, the homemade cookies, the chocolate croissants, and a gorgeous cake ordered a week earlier... all curiosity of Stevie, who insisted on throwing the most elaborate birthday party for her daughter.
Nodding his head, his eyes followed her all the way to the table. "You've got a really good grandma, huh?" Lindsey patted Ella's back, chuckling softly when she reached out to take the cookie right off his plate.
"Yeah!" Ella couldn't say much, but her big brown eyes lit up and she looked back at Stevie, who she knew that he was referring to.
Giggling softly, the older woman slowly slid back into her chair next to Lindsey, using one hand to rub his arm as the other brought her cup of coffee up to her lips to take a sip. "You are both just too sweet." She nodded her head softly, another laughing escaping her when he wrapped one arm around her shoulders. "The sweetest ever." She repeated as her head met his shoulder.
"Love..." By then Ella was sitting on his knee, staring up at her grandma as she nibbled on the chocolate chip cookie and babbled about something that neither of them could quite understand.
She looked so much like Penelope did at that age. The blonde wavy hair, the big eyes, the pouty lips, the button nose and the kindest personality... She was everything to everyone, but especially to her grandparents, who spent all of their free time trying to find ways to be with her.
They were never actually that far, even if they were in distance most of the time.
Leaning in, Stevie pressed her lips to the top of her head. "I love you the most." She told her as she carefully pushed some of that wild hair back behind her ear.
"Oh," Penny's voice came from behind them as she carefully slipped one hand around both of her parents shoulders. "I think Ella and I can both agree that we love you the most, right?" She gave her daughter the sweetest smile, so happy to see the three of them together, even though they had been inseparable since they'd gotten into town.
Stevie tossed her head back lightly, a deep laugh filling the air around them as she playfully rolled her eyes. "How did I get this lucky?" She wondered with a crooked smile as her eyes fell on Penelope's beautiful face.
At twenty- eight, she was still so young and so full of life. She was an elementary school music teacher, just shy of celebrating her third wedding anniversary and the greatest mom to her baby girl... She made Stevie, Lindsey and even Barbara so proud, every single day.
Lindsey grinned lightly, eyes traveling to all three of his girls. "I think we got lucky."
~~~
Cradling her glass of red wine close to her lips, Stevie carefully dropped the needle into the groove of the vinyl as she started to immediately sway back and forth. "Lindsey...?" She lingered with a soft smile on her face.
It was midnight by the time they got back home and since Penny, her husband and Ella were all staying the night at a friends beach house, it was just the two of them at home for the first time in a week... They loved having the kids there more than anything in the world, but a calm, quiet night was so peaceful as well.
"Lindsey..?" She repeated a moment later as she began to trail down the hallway, letting her long silk robe flow around her.
With a soft smirk, he leaned into the bedroom door frame, eyes melting into hers the moment she came around the corner. "Hi, pretty girl." He bit down on the inside of his cheek, taking her hand in his when she reached out for it.
She had already washed off her makeup, brushed out her curls, took off all her jewelry and slipped into a nightgown... She was herself and he thought that was even she was at her most beautiful.
"Come dance with me." She tangled her fingers in his, leading him back to the living room.
He chuckled lightly, nodding his head and pulling her back into him as soon as they were on the accent rug. "How do you just keep getting more and more incredible?" Lindsey wondered in a soft tone of voice as he pressed his lips to her shoulder blade.
She closed her eyes as her head fell back against his chest. "This is where we've always belonged, isn't it?" She whispered, butterflies in the pit of her stomach as she practically let him hold her up.
He thought about it for a second and then he left a couple more little kisses on her temple. "I would like to think that we have always belonged together."
~The End~
