Moonlight

Part 8

August, 22, 2011, Chicago

Thinking back at how exactly her day had begun, Stevie should have known it would end in either chaos, destruction, or anything, but good. She had woken up before everyone else. That alone should have told her it would be a day she should have chosen to just stay in bed. But she had decided to take the time of the ungodly hour to begin the day in a relaxing way after she found she couldn’t go back to sleep. Carefully getting up as to not wake up Lindsey, who was still sleeping soundly, Stevie had made her way into the bathroom and run herself a bath.

Covered in so many bubbles only her head was out, Stevie had her eyes closed and was so lost in her thoughts of everything and anything at all, that she didn’t notice Lindsey coming in, sitting down on the edge of the tub and watching her. When he reached out to brush the strand of hair behind her ear, he had frightened her to death. And nearly caused her to drown in addition. Resurfacing again, she coughed.

“Don’t sneak up at me like this.” Stevie told him, brushing her hair back.

“Believe me it wasn’t my early morning goal to kill my wife.” Lindsey said and laughed. “You’re up early.”

“Tell me about it.” She replied sarcastically. “Couldn’t sleep anymore. Too much on my mind, I guess.”

He knew her for long enough to easily see something weighted heavily on her mind. “You want to tell me about it?”

“It seems like so many things coming together. It’s us. We have never had a record out in the same year, never been on tour at the same time. I don’t like to leave Will, Leelee and Stella at home, alone, in October and November.”

“They won’t be all by themselves.” Lindsey interfered.

“Oh really, I wouldn’t have guessed that.” She raised her eyebrows at him, before she sighed and closed her eyes. “I know they won’t be alone, but still, we always had them with us. Or at least one of us stayed with them at home. It wouldn’t be sensible to take them out of school for just three days. Still I want to have them with me.”

“You know, sometimes I would like everyone to see you like this.” He laughed.

“Like this, laying in the tub and without any make up on? Forget it.” Stevie protested.

“I meant you being in your mother hen mood.” He still laughed.

“I’m not a mother hen.” She replied vehemently, before muttering to herself. “Well, maybe a little bit, but they are my babies.”

“They are hardly babies anymore.” Lindsey told her, lightly shaking his head at her. “And you can stop worrying. They’ll be in good hands for those few days.”

“I know Kristen will take good care of them, she always did.” Stevie smiled slightly. “But aren’t you a least bit worried about leaving them at home while we’re off touring the country?”

“I would have liked it better for one of us being home as well. I’m not really worried, but I don’t like it.” He told her. “Cause, you know, they are my kids as well. But as you said, Kristen has always taken good care of them and she will again. So you can at least stop worrying, mother hen.”

“Lindsey!” Stevie squealed, hating it when he called her that.

Smirking she looked up at him, her eyes already telling him she was up to no good. And he really shouldn’t have been surprised when a wave of water hit him.

“What was that for?” Lindsey asked, playing innocent.

“You know perfectly well what it was for.” She pouted.