It is beginning to near the children's bedtime, and Lindsey is still out. I am bathing Sara as Bella plaits Leia's damp hair, making sure that they sit in the doorway so I can see out to the hall where Joe is playing. For a moment I just stop to watch them all, thanking destiny for blessing me with them and now another. While dressing Sara in her teensy pyjamas, I hear movement downstairs and- remembering that Karen is in her room- realise it's my husband.
"Daddy is back!" Joe speeds off and I warn him not to run on the stairs.
"I know mommy!"
Lindsey must've heard him and met him at the bottom because I hear his voice get closer.
"I'm so sorry I got back late, but we can play all weekend I promise."
"No girly games!?"
"Hey, that's not fair! Daddy was late for all of us!" Leia yells to them, startling Sara.
"Oh baby it's ok, I'm here, shush shush...That's it honey just relax." I soothe her a moment, her sobbing subsiding once Lindsey has reached the girls, both of them jumping up to hug him.
"You three, go wait in your rooms and I'll read you your stories."
"But da-"
"No buts, I need to speak to mommy."
They sidle off and I offer Sara to him. He instantly opens his arms for her.
"You alright?"
"Where were you?"
"I just had some business to take care of."
I shoot him a look but he just assures me it was nothing of any interest. Too tired to fight, I shrug and go to take my own shower, finding him reading on the bed when I enter the bedroom. He switched off his own lamp in quick succession to me, and there was a long silence as I lay in the darkness in which I'd imagined him asleep. I quietly gasp as I felt his lips press down my neck.
"Thought you were sleeping."
"You know that little saying?"
"Wh-which?"
"The key to a good marriage is never to going to sleep angry with each other? I was thinking..." His hand slid up the other side of my neck and into my hair, "...That we should start that tonight."
"Maybe we could have done with that tip sixteen years ago when you first asked me out."
"Maybe," he chuckles then pauses to kiss my cheek. "Are we good Steph?"
I sigh in relief and stroke his hand.
"Of course we are Linds."
~I've changed the story into present tense, just because I prefer writing in it ATM. I could've not pointed this out or passed it off as an artistic choice, but I just wanted to be clear in case anyone noticed the discrepancy with previous chapters... ;-)~
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The Years Disappeared
FanfictionStevie had always wanted the best for Lindsey, and she knew he was capable of attaining it. She'd just never have imagined that this was the type of success he'd wanted.
