Wide Open Spaces

Good Vibrations

Dinner that night was eaten in silence and the kids didn't dare ask what happened. They heard the yelling. Stevie is already in bed when Lindsey comes in the room. He takes off his shirt and jeans, pulling on a pair of pajama bottoms. He pulls back the covers and climbs in next to her, causing her to finally look up from her book.

"Oh no you don't" she says, taking her glasses off. "You are not sleeping with me tonight"

"Stevie..."

"No way! You don't want to consult me about a huge family move but want me to be okay with you turning our life upside down. I'm pregnant, I don't want to move. I've done it before and it was horrible."

"You always say how much you miss San Francisco. I thought you'd be happy."

"You thought wrong"

"I guess I did." He says.

"I don't think you understand how hurt I am."

"I don't see how you can be hurt at all. More money and we'd be moving home, basically."

"This is my home. We have been here for 14 years. We brought our babies home in this city, we got married in this city. My parents live here."

"Well, my mom lives there and so do my brothers"

"Lindsey, come on...be mature."

"I am. I'm trying to help"

"By keeping me out of the loop?"

"You're not my wife, I don't have to keep you in the loop!" He shouts and she instantly begins to cry.

"Fuck you, Lindsey" she says, getting up and going outside on the deck.

"Dammit" he says, following after her. "Stephanie..."

"No, don't 'Stephanie' me."

"I'm sorry"

"Just go away"

"I'm not going anywhere. We need to talk about this"

"What is there to talk about? You don't believe I deserve input until I agree to marry you. If you're trying to change my mind, you're doing a terrible job. Do you really think I'd want to marry someone who believes I should just sit down and shut up and do what you want me to do? You don't give a shit about how I feel!" She shouts through her tears. "Why did I even want a baby with you? I'm so stupid...people don't change. I should have known that"

"Stop that right now! I fucked up, okay? Don't say I haven't changed and don't you ever say you regret that baby." He says, pointing to the slight bump of her stomach.

"I don't regret the baby...I just...what do you want me to say? I feel like until I give into you, I don't matter. You say you love me and you show me most of the time but...didn't you think I'd be upset that you didn't include me?"

"I already said I'm sorry!"

"Sorry doesn't fix this"

"Well I can't back out now"

"I'm going to have to do a lot of thinking" she says. "Please don't bother me tonight. I need to calm down. I feel like I'm going to fall apart."

"Stevie..."

"No, Lindsey. I need time." He nods and she goes back inside, getting back under the covers. He can hear her crying and that makes the entire situation worse. Hopefully they will be better in the morning.

-----

Lindsey woke up on the couch, his back hurting from sleeping there all night. His guitar was beside him so he began to play as softly as he could, trying to get what he said to her out of his mind. He needed to apologize. He needed to show her, not just say the words as he had so many times. He thought back to their first fight in this house. She was pregnant with their twins. He played her a Beach Boys song and all was forgiven. Granted, their fight was a little one back then. Something about him not sharing household chores but maybe it could work again, he thought. He tiptoed down the hall, guitar in hand. He heard water running in the sink in the en suite so he knew she was awake. He strums softly, letting the music float through the crack of the door. She emerges seconds later, not in the best of moods but he gives it a shot anyway.

I, I love the colorful clothes she wears

"I'm wearing black" she says, not amused.

And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air

"Lindsey...."

I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me excitations
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me excitations
Good good good good vibrations
She's giving me excitations
Good good good good vibrations
She's giving me excitations

Close my eyes
She's somehow closer now
Softly smile, I know she must be kind

"I'm sick, I am not going to be kind if you continue to play at me"

When I look in her eyes
She goes with me to a blossom world

I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me excitations
I'm pickin' up good vibrations
She's giving me excitations

Stevie slams her hand over the strings of his guitar, stopping him. "I know what you're trying to do and it won't work. This is much bigger than chores and taking the trash out. You didn't include me. I'm an afterthought." She says, sitting on the bed.

"I didn't mean it like that"

"You're adorable, Lindsey. You really are. For anything else I would have forgiven you. Those eyes of yours...you're devastatingly handsome."

"What can I do? Talk to you next time?"

"It's not that simple. When do you have to be there?"

"I start in three weeks" he says and tears well up in her big brown eyes.

"Three weeks. Lindsey..."

"I didn't think it would be that big of a deal"

"You don't understand me very well. Before the babies, we could have easily done it. I would have followed you anywhere."

"And now?" Lindsey asks and Stevie shrugs. Without another word, Lindsey leaves the room. What is he going to do now?