The Mistakes We Made

Part XIV

"Did everything go well?", Stevie asked Lindsey the next day, taking Lily from his arms to cuddle the tiny dog to her chest.

"Yes, she behaved very well.", Lindsey said, petting the dog's head and taking off his jacket.

"That's my cute little girl!", Stevie cooed, Lily licking her face in return.

Lindsey chuckled, watching her interacting with her pet, then followed Stevie into the kitchen where he was met with a delicious smell coming from the oven. He looked to his right and saw a set table, beautifully decorated with a bunch of white flowers.

"Did you cook?", he asked in surprise.

"I still am, actually.", Stevie laughed, walking back to the stove to stirr the food in the cooking pot.

"Fantastic!", Lindsey exclaimed enthusiastically, having not had a home-cooked meal in so long, "Can I help you?"

Stevie furrowed her brow in response, "And risking to have my whole new kitchen burnt down?!"

"Oh, come on, Steph! That was forty years ago!"

She laughed out loud, then said, "Sure, you can make a salad."

Stevie turned up the radio, instantly starting to hum in harmony with the artist of the song, Lindsey staring at her in awe, loving, how even after so many years, nothing really had changed about her.

After having lunch together, they spent the rest of the day mostly chatting and laughing, even going for a walk at the beach. For March, it was still quite chilly outside but the both of them dressed warmly and walked hand in hand along the boardwalk. When they sat down on a park bench, Stevie really cuddled up to him, breathing in the sea air and enjoying the touch of his hands that were trying to keep her own small, cold fingers warm by rubbing them in-between his.

She looked up at him, seeing nothing but love and affection in his eyes, and couldn't resist but kiss him lovingly on the lips, catching Lindsey completely off guard by doing so. Usually, Stevie wasn't a big fan of showing off affection in public.

"You.. you don't do that, normally.", Lindsey said when their lips lost contact again.

"I know.", she simply said.

"What have I done to deserve this?"

"So many things.", Stevie said, squeezing his hand and looking at the beautiful ocean in front of her. Even though, the heaven was covered in a dull, grey color and the sea was rough today, she enjoyed the view. She had always thought that the weather had so much in common with the emotional roller coaster of her life, the ups and downs she had experienced in all those years she had already spent on this planet. Today, though, the weather did not reflect her emotions for a change. She smiled, loving the new path her life had taken, having Lindsey back by her side again, "Let's go back home.", she muttered, standing up and tugging gently at his arm to make him walk her back to the condo.

Arriving there, Stevie wanted to take a bath to warm up again, Lindsey telling her to take her time. She responded to his empathy with another kiss that he deepened by pulling her into his arms and letting his fingers run through her flowing mane of curly, blonde hair, causing the both of them to smile happily against each other's lips.

When Lindsey was sure that Stevie had made herself comfortable in the bathtub, he walked into her bedroom and started to put his plan of a romantic evening into action.

Ten minutes later, he took another approving look at his work, being completely satisfied with the outcome, then went into the kitchen to make two big cups of hot chocolate.