Wide Open Spaces

Secret

Lindsey has been at work from sun up to sun down for the past week and Stevie has barely seen him. She missed him terribly. She even began trying to figure out her phone so she could text him when he got a spare minute. She told him she had a little errand to run this morning so he took a few hours off for her, choosing to work from home. She was planning a reveal for him so as much as she wanted him to go with her into town to meet with the midwife, she knew that wasn't an option.

She dressed casually in a long black top, leggings and black boots. Her hair was simply down and fell into soft natural waves. Her makeup was minimal but pretty and she felt good about herself when she looked in the mirror. She slung her black leather purse over her shoulder and kissed him goodbye.

"Before I go back, we can have lunch as a family"

"I would love that" she says, kissing him again.

"I love you, angel. See you soon" he says, waving at her from the front door. She gets in her car and turns on her iPod, her favorite thing to do lately since she's finally figured it out with a lot of help from Lindsey and the kids. She heads to her first appointment and she's so excited. She might be able to hear the heartbeat today, and the excitement helps calm her nerves about all the blood work and forms she needs to fill out today.

Back at the house, Lindsey is in his office and Callie checks if the coast is clear. The tall, brunette thirteen year old slinked down the hallway in an all black ensemble, like the cat she was. She ended up in her parent's room, and went straight for the wanted object- her mother's journal. She begins to skim the passages, blushing at some of the confessions.

"Tired, tired, tired...." she says, following the entries down with her black and gold painted fingernails. "Hm...where's the good stuff?" she asks herself.

"What do you think you're doing?"

She freezes in her position. Was she caught? She looks up from her task, relaxing. "Shh, Dylan!"

"Is that mom's? She's going to kill you!"

"Not if you don't tell!"

Got a secret
Can you keep it?
Swear this one you'll save
Better lock it, in your pocket
Taking this one to the grave
If I show you then I know you
Won't tell what I said
'Cause two can keep a secret
If one of them is dead?

 
"I won't"

"You have to promise me" she says, her eyes serious.

"You're freaking me out, sis" he says, sitting down with her and she smiles.

"At least I'm not making you sign something in blood. I'm just asking for your word"

"I swear"

"Okay. Have you noticed anything weird about mom, lately? She's taking vitamins and eating extra healthy..."

"Maybe she's trying to lose weight?"

"She's already pretty thin"

"You know how she is. She says she's jealous of us because we're like dad and can eat anything but if she even--"

"If she even looks at cake, she gains five pounds!" Callie finishes, and the kids laugh. "Yeah, that's true but look at this"

Her twin brother, who now has an edgy side-parted undercut hairstyle, leans over the pages but can't make out the handwriting. It seemed rushed. "What's it say?"