Wide Open Spaces

Don't Give Up On Me

Stevie is busy getting the kids ready, hurrying them along. She's not even ready herself but Lindsey doesn't need the stress. He's tuning his guitars and getting ready for a show. Summer Kick-Off Festival is today and the kids are excited to see their dad perform. Callie is wearing a tank top and flowing skirt with gold sandals. Her long curly hair is twisted into a braid that goes down her back, tied at the end with a pretty ribbon. She had borrowed a couple of pieces of her mother's jewelry, with permission this time, and layered on her own necklaces. She was so much like her mother and it made Lindsey smile as she passed by. Dylan, reclusive per usual lately, was in his room, fixing his skateboard. Stevie looked in to make sure he was ready. Dylan wore a band tee and cargo shorts with flip flops. His wavy hair was getting even longer than before and he refused to cut it. He had it tied it up in a bun, saying the girls loved it. Lindsey found that amusing, but Stevie was horrified. She went back to her room and pulled out a white sundress. She put it on, careful not to get make up on it and simply combed through her long, silky hair, leaving it natural. She slipped on tall, white leather open toed wedge sandals and checks her appearance one last time before joining Lindsey in the living room.

"How's it going, rock star?" she asks.

"Wow, you look beautiful" he says.

"Thank you" She blushes and Lindsey smiles.

"But to answer your question, I'm alright."

"Nervous?"

"A little. I just want to do a good job."

"Your talent always blows me away, Lindsey. Everyone is going to love it"

"Thanks, Stevie"

"You're welcome."

"Are the kids ready?"

"They seem to be."

"Shall we call for them?"

"Sure" The kids come out to the living room, iPods in hand and Stevie shakes her head. "Can you unplug yourselves for a minute?" She asks. "Your father is performing today and I think that we should all be on our very best behavior."

"Mom..." they groan.

"Listen, that means no iPods when he's on stage."

"Fine." Dylan says.

"Didn't you guys say you wanted cellphones for your birthday? This will show me you're mature enough to handle the responsibility. Money doesn't---"

They finish her sentence for her, having heard this many times. "Grow on trees..."

"Exactly. Can I get some smiles? Today is going to be a lot of fun. I love you both so much more than you'll ever know"

"I love you too" the kids say, hugging their mother.

"Now let's shake a leg, we're running late. He still has set up to do" She pats them on the back and they head out to the Jeep.

"Thanks, Stevie" Lindsey says.

"For what?"

"For everything. Being here, bring our kids into the world, standing by me when no one else believed, being my biggest supporter, the one who yells the loudest in the crowd and claps the longest...in a couple of days, I won't see your face in the crowd." He tells her and her eyes well up with tears.

If I fall short, if I don't make the grades
If your expectations aren't met in me today
There is always tomorrow, or tomorrow night
Hang in there baby, sooner or later
I know i'll get it right

"Let's not think about that" she says quickly, dismissing what he said.

"How can I not, Stevie? I'm going to miss you so much. I haven't lived a day without you for 20 years"

Please, don't give up on me
Oh please don't give up on me
I know its late, late in the game
But my feelings, my true feelings
Haven't changed
Here in my heart

"Aspen" she reminds him, smiling at the memory.

"Okay, that doesn't count." He chuckles. "You were invited to show your work and you got snowed in. No flights in or out and traffic was halted."

"I was gone for three and a half days!"

I know, I know I was wrong, wrong wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong
I'd like to make amends for the love that I never, ever, ever, ever shown
Just don't give up on me, every word is true
I'll give you my everything, all of my love,all of my love, all of my love love love
Just don't give up on me
Oh please, please, please
Don't give up on me

"It was the longest 83 hours and 13 minutes of my life" he says sadly.

"Don't do this, Linds. Not now"

"Alright" He picks up his guitar, clearly emotional himself. "See you in the car"

I don't want you to
I know its late, but wait, please, please, please, please
Don't give up on me
Promise, will you promise, will you promise me
Please don't give up on me

She goes to the mirror, trying to fix her makeup to the best of her ability. She can't stop crying. She knew he would miss her, he said that before and he had told her he had missed her when she was trapped in Aspen but she never knew how much. His eyes were so genuine, so full of pain and conflict and it destroyed her. He had counted the hours until she was home down to the minute. One little phrase, well, it changed her life. She looks into the mirror again, adjusting her jewelry. Her eyes drift to her engagement ring. It was big and gaudy. A gross expression of his so called love and passion for her but it was neither of those things. It was like a huge neon sign above her head that read "Back Off" and it was a message just for Lindsey. She saw the jealousy in Brock. She shook her head, staring at the expensive stone that might as well have been a pebble. There was no love there. She thinks back to the silver ring she had replaced on that same finger. She had worn it for years after the divorce as a placeholder. It was a gift from Lindsey when they had first started dating. It didn't feel right to wear her wedding band but she was still so invested, she just couldn't tell him. The first few months of their little arrangement was hard and there were definite growing pains but they worked it out. As they grew closer again, she needed something small to show her commitment to him. Maybe that's what hurt him most of all, she thinks to herself. She suddenly committed herself to someone else and showed the world they had given up on each other. The inner war raged on and Stevie knew she had to pull herself out before she dove even deeper into her mind. She would never get out then. She gave herself a little pep talk, grabbed her bag and left.

We can make it if we try
I'm gonna hold on, hold on with me
And don't give up on me, baby
Oh baby, Oh baby, please, don't give up on me
Whatever you do, we gonna make it, gonna make it through
Don't you give up on me, please, please, please Promise me
Don't give up on me