The Dream Is Not Over

Nothing At All

I've been nauseous since breakfast and Lindsey encourages me to take a nap. River and Olivia still have a few hours' drive ahead of them and he swears he will wake me up when they arrive. Lindsey pops into the bedroom where I had retired and calls my name. His voice sounds so far away. I turn over, pulling the covers up and I feel a weight at the foot of the bed. My eyelids feel heavy; I'm still so tired.

"Baby, the kids are downstairs." He rubs my side.

"Hmm?" I stretch, moaning softly under the covers.

"Steph." Suddenly, my blankets are being pulled back as he places warm, wet kisses all over my face and neck. The sensation trails down my chest, and I feel him unbuttoning my pajama top. My eyes open and he sits up, looking at me with a devilish smirk on his face. "Hey, welcome back."

"Hey."

"The kids are here."

"I heard." I sit up, stretching again, only to fully realize that my top is open to my navel. I pull it closed and Lindsey laughs.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I got a little carried away."

"I noticed." I give him a smirk and arch an eyebrow at him.

"So it's okay?"

"Not entirely, but maybe you can make it up to me later?"

He chuckles until he realizes I'm serious. I get out of bed and I can feel him watching me. I go to my closet and quickly choose an outfit, then head into the bathroom to get ready. As I dress, I smooth my stomach beneath my blouse, letting it hang loose over my skirt instead of tucking it in. I turn from one side to the other, carefully examining myself in the mirror. I forget the door is open and Lindsey is staring right at me.

"What are you doing?"

I stiffen at his question. "Uh, nothing." I finish fussing with my hair and quickly work on my makeup. Once I'm satisfied, I put everything away and just look at myself. "Linds?"

"Yes?" he answers. I thought he would have left by now. I don't like to admit it but I take forever to get ready! Snails could climb the Empire State Building faster than I could get myself dressed, make up done and shoes on- ready to go.

"Do you think I've gained weight?" He gives me a look and I chuckle. "It's not a trick. I'm serious. Do I look...fuller to you?" I'm chewing my bottom lip and he steps into the bathroom with me looking in the mirror.

"Where do you see any excess fat or weight on you at all? You're slim. I never understand where women get this stuff. I think you're perfect, gorgeous."

"Really?"

"Angel, I promise. Look at you! How could I not consider myself lucky to even be in your presence? You're my dream girl."

"Oh, Lindsey!" The tears come easily and I fling my arms around him. I crash into him hard and he holds us both up.

"Hey, stop that! You're going to ruin all that beautiful makeup you worked so hard on." He rubs my back and I hold onto him. "Are you alright?" I nod over his shoulder and pull myself out of his arms. I carefully salvage my makeup with a tissue, touching it up here and there the best I can.

"Do I look okay?"

"More than okay." He gives me a small peck on the lips, smiling at me. He guides me down the stairs, a hand pressed to my lower back. He's taking such good care of me, maybe I will tell him tonight.

Olivia and River automatically stand and hurry over to us. River hugs me first, then Olivia. Her brown eyes meet mine and I have to look away. She knows something...or maybe I'm paranoid.

"Wow, you look beautiful!" she compliments.

"Me? Look at you!" I reply, hugging my future daughter in law again. She has the summery scent from before but this time it's mixed with something else. "Sage!" I say out loud when I've figured it out.

"Yes!" She nods, giggling. "I was smudging our little apartment we got."

"And the car, and our luggage..." River adds.

"Wait, what apartment?" I ask.

"Didn't dad tell you?" I shake my head. "Oh, uh, Olivia and I moved off campus so we could be together." River looks nervous and I cock my head to one side. "We lived in the only two non co-ed dorms on campus and since the others were full, we made the leap." Olivia snuggles into my son's side. "We're going to be married, hopefully by the end of the summer, and we didn't want to be apart. I love her and I know you feel that. I hope you're not upset."

"Of course I'm not." If anyone would be, it would be Lindsey and he's not saying much. "Isn't this great, Linds?"

"Yeah, it's wonderful." He gives the obligatory nod of approval and hurries off into the kitchen for a beer.

I shake my head, and River goes after his father. My eyes go right to Olivia, who is aglow with excitement. She's in tiny cut off shorts this time and a flowy yellow tank over it with a brown crochet halter crop top underneath. She's got on tons of rings, bracelets and necklaces, and battered brown leather cowboy boots. Her hair is wavy and wild, her eye makeup is dark and careless. When she turns her head, she has feathers hanging from all three of the holes in each earlobe. How is a girl like her even real?

"Oh, Stevie you will have to come up and see it! It's so cute! First floor, it has a little patio and a big front window! We took off the bedroom door and put up beaded curtains!" She holds my hands in hers, and I can feel her energy. I smile broadly. "Oh and the best part, Riv and I are allowed to have pets there since it's off campus. After we get married, we were thinking about getting a dog!"

"I'm so happy for you, Liv!" She hugs me again then looks me right in the eye.

"Sooo...?" she asks, her curious eyes fixed on me. She scans my features quickly. "Oh, come on, there's something. I know it."

All the color drains from my face and I feel sick. I don't know what to tell her. 'Nothing major! My husband of twenty years slept at the studio for a week after recording us having sex and putting it in a song for all of the world to hear. Oh, right and I'm pregnant and he has no idea.'...I think not.

"Well?" she asks again and I shake my head.

"Nope, nothing at all." I force a smile and she seems satisfied.

"Okay." She smiles and follows me to the kitchen to find out what kind of damage the boys are doing in there.

A/N: I'm working on another chapter after this but I hope this one wasn't too boring. What are you guys thinking of the story so far? Thank you so much for reading and happy new year! ⚡️🌙🌻