Wide Open Spaces

Dream In The Dark

Since the night she accepted Brock's proposal, Lindsey had been thinking back to their own proposal from years before. He wished he could make her that ridiculously happy again. He wanted to be that man that made her smile, the one who would change her life again, just like Brock was about to. She would be another man's wife soon, and it broke his heart more than he could possibly express.

Things had shifted between them and even their kids felt the change. Summer break was coming and Stevie was excited to have more time with Callie and Dylan. Lindsey became increasingly reclusive, staying on his side of the house more and more.

Bye, bye darlin'
It's time to go
Got lost in your magic
Oh I
Longed for you so

Brock came back from Texas and was more than happy to stay the night on her side of the house. They had yet to 'celebrate' their engagement and he was all too eager to get a piece of his fiancée.

"Welcome back" Stevie says, kissing him as he came through the door with an overnight bag. She wore a silk robe with a Japanese dragon embroidered on the back, little silk shorts and a matching silk camisole. She wore no shoes and her long curly/wavy hair casually fell over her shoulders. Brock preferred when she wore make up so she put a little on for him and sprayed an expensive perfume he had purchased for her on all her pulse points to warm it up.

"It's good to be back." He smiles and follows her to her room. He puts his bag down on a chair in the corner of the room and Stevie asks him to take off his boots but he shakes his head. "The boots stay" he says and she just nods.

"How was your trip?"

"Great, so uh, would you like to get started?" He asks, taking his shirt off to display impressive muscles.

"Can't we talk first? I haven't seen you in a week!"

"There's time for that. Let me see that beautiful body"

"Please, let's talk for a minute. Consider it foreplay"

"What's wrong?"

"I missed you. We got engaged and then you left. We haven't talked about anything. I have kids involved and I do want to marry you but I have to figure out the logistics first."

"Alright" he says, sitting down on the bed.

"I can't look you in the eye, will you put some clothes on?" she asks, blushing a little. She was easily distracted by his body. He took pride in it and it showed. He was very well built.

"What is there to talk about?"

"Their father is based here. When we moved here almost 14 years ago, it was because his boss, Mr. Hadley, gave him his own little sector out here. He treated him like a son and it shows in all he has done for us. He built this house for us to Lindsey's specifications. Lindsey designed it with me in mind. We knew we would raise a family here and we have for years. I am unrooting my children, taking them from their father...I can't just hop on a plane and say 'adios' to the life we've always known"

"So you've changed your mind?"

"That's not it. I just need to think and I need to talk to Lindsey. I know it's not what you want to hear but he has a say in this too."

"You're their mom"

"Yes but he is their dad. I can't just take them. He and I have a lot to figure out and it could take months to settle"

"You want me to wait around? Stevie, time is money. We needed to be in Dallas, like yesterday." His accent becoming thick and harsh.

"Please don't be mad. You knew this would be something we had to figure out when we first started dating. My children have to come first"

"You're acting like your ex comes before me. I'm your future, he's your past"

"Lindsey will always be a part of me and I won't have you acting like I need to leave him behind. He will always be in our life, Brock. If you have a problem with that, you need to decide now. I won't marry you like this"

"You've got to be kidding me" he says, shocked.

"I'm not."

"Alright then. I guess I have some thinking to do" he says, getting up from the bed.

"Where are you going?" She asks.

"I'm going to stay in a hotel for the night. I'll call you tomorrow with my decision"

"Call me with your decision? Are you...do you not want me anymore?"

"I guess I didn't realize this would be so complicated.  They're your kids and soon you will be my wife. I thought maybe we could just go and settle it all later. Like through the courts or something"

"The courts? You are heir to a huge company. You should know things don't go that easily when you drag them through the court system" she says. He looks at her a minute, his mind not changing in the slightest. He grabs his bag and walks out the door. She hears his truck start outside and she is instantly in tears.

Spent my life waiting
For a sight of the sea
Been sitting beside it
And you're
All that I've seen

The person she wants to run to isn't speaking to her right now and for the first time in a very long time she feels completely alone. She lays down on her bed, letting herself cry. How could it turn so ugly so quickly? She thought she had found someone who understood her, someone she could have fun with and feel young again. Serves me right for getting involved with a younger man.

It's hard to grasp
It all will pass
If you wanted my love then
You would have asked

After sufficient wallowing in her darkness, she pulls herself up, straightens her robe and wipes her tears. She needs him. She needs to talk to him, make him hold her. She needs to see his face. She glances at the clock. It's late but she has to try. She walks down the hallway and makes the long journey to the other side of the house. A light glows from under the door and she smiles. The knob turns easily, it is unlocked. She drops her robe and makes herself known to him. He looks up, his mouth falling open slightly at the sight of her.

Bye, bye darlin'
(W)hole of my heart
In dreams you follow
But I dream in the dark

"I know we haven't been on the best of terms and I'm sorry but I need you, baby. Right, now"