The Mistakes We Made

Part XVII

"Are you really sure this is such a good idea?", Stevie asked for the third time as she watched Lindsey setting the table in his house while she was pacing back and forth, every now and then taking a nervous look outside the window of his kitchen.

"Steph, will you please calm down, now?!", Lindsey said lightly exasperated. Stevie's behavior was beginning to stress him out, too. "Didn't you say only two days ago that you were ready to let my children know about us?"

"Yes, I did. But I thought you were just going to give them a call, not invite them over with me being here.", Stevie sighed and sat down at the dinner table. She couldn't remember the last time she had ever been so nervous in her life.

"Baby, why are you so nervous about meeting my kids? It's not as if they don't know you, already.", Lindsey said sympathetically while wrapping his arms around her upper body from behind.

"Because I'm no longer just the crazy bandmate of their father who used to send them expensive birthday gifts every year but your new girlfriend, Lindsey. I'm the other woman, now."

"You're not the other woman, Stevie. And you never were. You and I got together after Kristen and I were already divorced. There is no need for you to feel inadequate in any way.", Lindsey tried to calm her down some and pressed a kiss on top of her head, "You're the woman that I love and I'm sure my children will respect and accept you as a new member of this family just fine."

Stevie was just about to answer him when the door bell rang. She swallowed nervously as she watched Lindsey disappear into the hallway to open up the front door.

"Hi guys!", Lindsey greeted his three children enthusiastically, while pulling each of them into a warm hug, "I'm so glad that all three of you could make it this time!"

"Sorry, dad..", mumbled Will apologetically, knowing that Lindsey had spoken about him.

As soon as they walked into the kitchen, Stella recognized Stevie sitting at the table and ran into her arms, "Dad, you didn't tell us that Stevie was going to be here, too!", she beamed happily.

Stevie smiled and pulled the little girl closer to her chest, caressing her dark blonde hair while taking an uncertain look at Lindsey. She had no idea what she was supposed to say to this.

"Umm, why don't we all sit down in the living room until dinner is ready, huh?", Lindsey asked, "There is something I'd like to discuss with you."

His children nodded and after greeting Stevie properly, they all sat down on the couch, Lindsey and Stevie trailing behind, holding hands.

Will looked suspiciously at his father when he didn't let go of his long-time friend's hand even after they had sat down in front of them. He nudged Leelee and nodded his head in their direction, drawing attention to what was obviously going on.

Leelee frowned for a moment, then looked back at her brother with wide eyes, whispering, "Do you think that...?"

"Well, umm, Stella, you just asked me why I didn't tell you that Stevie was going to be here, too..", Lindsey said, stopping his eldest daughter from finishing her question, "Well, the truth is that Stevie and I.. We are..."

When he didn't finish his sentence right away, Stevie squeezed his hand, noticing that apparently he was having quite a hard time to come out with what was going on. Lindsey looked at her and she gave him an encouraging smile. He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked back at his three children and said, "Stevie and I are together. We love each other."

Will nudged Leelee once again, causing her to look from her father to her brother, "See?", he said with a sly grin. Leelee rolled her eyes in response. Sometimes she wasn't so sure if William really was the older one of the two of them.