Wide Open Spaces

Still Got It

Saturday morning, Sara, Callie's friend is dropped off. Stevie greets the girl at the door, hugging her as if she had known her forever. That's how she wanted people around her to feel, comfortable and safe.

"Callie is in her room. Would you like me to show you the way?"

"No thank you Mrs..."

"Ms Nicks, but call me Stevie, everyone does."

Sara, a blonde haired girl with dark brown eyes, smiles. "Okay then, Stevie"

"Alright. Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

"I'm fine"

"Well, let me know if you need anything. I'm here. Make yourself at home"

"Wow, thanks" Sara leaves to go find Callie.

Stevie walks down the hall, seeing her little dogs waiting for her with tails wagging behind the gate. "Mocha, Clio, my babies!" she squeals in a high pitched voice. The dogs get even more excited and she opens the gate for them. They scurry around her feet and she smiles. They follow her to Lindsey's side of the horseshoe where she knocks on his office door. "Linds, take a break. Callie's friend is here" she says.

"I have to get this done. I have a deadline, and it's already been pushed back"

"Give me an hour, please? I want to spend time with you" She continues to speak through the door much to her annoyance, her voice high and sweet. He doesn't answer but she hears shuffling before the door swings open.

"Why do you still use that baby voice when you want something? It drives me crazy!"

"Does it make you mad?" She asks, big brown eyes staring up at him.

"Goddammit you're cute..." He says, instantly disarmed, smiling down at her and she smiles back. "You got my attention, now what do you want?"

"I'm bored"

"Is that it?"

"Isn't that enough?"

"Call Brock. It's no longer my job to entertain you"

"That was mean, Lindsey" she says, looking visibly hurt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that" he says, regretting how he made her feel.

"Then why did you say it?"

"I'm stressed to the max, Steves. I'm buried up to my eyeballs in drawings and plans from just about every side and I need some peace and quiet"

"I'm sorry. I won't bother you again." She slaps her thigh. "Come on babies" she says to her dogs who were also staring up at him expectantly. She turns to leave and he touches her bare shoulder.

"Stevie..."

"No, don't worry, I will leave you alone. I'm going to be baking cookies. Maybe I will see if the girls want to help"

"What's Dylan doing?" He asks, in hopes she will stay and talk.

"A couple of his friends want to swim later. They will be here in time for the BBQ."

"Did you invite anyone?"

Stevie shakes her head "No."

"Brock?"

"He's busy"

"He should make time for you."

"No one around here seems to want to. What's new?" She says, passive aggressively.

"Okay you need to stop this right now" His voice booms without him meaning for it to and it makes her stop in her tracks. "You and those kids are everything to me. I'm working and I know I'm busy and don't have time for anyone recently but I swear, in another week, I will be all yours. Do you understand?"