The Way Back

Brawls and Shawls

The long, black car pulled in front of the Pacific Palisades home. She slipped off the leather seat and closed the door of the Lincoln Town Car. Stevie shivered, catching the chill of the early evening air and drawing her wool cape coat around her body. She slowly walked up the white steps inlaid with Spanish tile and tightly gripped onto the iron railing with each step. Her center of gravity was off. Halfway up the flight of steps, Stevie stopped and felt short of breath. She took a minute and resumed her journey to the entryway. She crossed the landing and passed through the foyer, shrugging off her cape and hanging it in the hall closet. The silence of the home overwhelmed her. She ran a hand through her pin straight locks and smiled at the noise of Yorkie nails against the hardwood floor, scurrying towards her. Stevie greeted her beloved companions and checked the answering machine. There was a message from Elisabeth, checking in and briefly complaining about her Classics professor but raving about her Celtic Studies class. Stevie smiled, hearing her daughter's voice. Her hand drifted to her belly, tips of her fingers massaging around her battered ribs. She listened to the familiar beep of the machine and exhaled heavily at the sound of Sharon's voice, letting her know she'd settled into her new place. It still saddened her that one of her best friends was no longer living with her. Upon returning from her Hawaiian holiday visit with family, Sharon dropped the news on Stevie. It's for the best, Stevie. I'm in the way of you and Lindsey. She tucked her hair behind her ears and drifted into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

With a teacup in hand, Stevie walked to the staircase as the dogs dashed up the stairs ahead of her. She lifted her purse off the table and took it with her to the bedroom, setting the tea and the worn leather bag onto the dark mahogany dresser. She dug through her purse and pulled out the hardcover book she was currently reading. Stevie flipped through pages and pulled out the sonogram she'd placed inside for safekeeping. She'd finally had her twenty-week scan, days late since she'd been waiting to hear from Lindsey. Days after the fight, Stevie had called him and left a message. He never returned the call. Clearly, the man child didn't wish to speak to her. She'd passed the time and date of the appointment to him through Richard. Still, he didn't show. She had wanted to share the experience with him. No one else but him. It had devastated her, observing all the happy, expectant couples in the waiting room while she sat alone. Alone like she was now. Stevie didn't know where Lindsey was, but she assumed he was too busy with his album or laying the brick and mortar for the walls around his heart.

Stevie stuck the sonogram into the corner of the mirror and took a sip of tea before removing her jewelry. She took a seat on the settee and peeled off her suede low heeled boots. She'd had the energy to shop, ordering furniture and bedding for the nursery. If the woman was honest with herself, she would admit she'd gone overboard with the purchases. Stevie sat straighter and placed her hands on her lower back, paying the price for the earlier vigor. Her back, hips, and feet ached. She stood and pushed her accordion pleated skirt down her hips then shed out of her lacy loose top. Stevie unclasped her bra and let out a sigh of relief. She pulled one of Lindsey's old, bleached stained t-shirts over her head and climbed into bed, hugging his pillow to her and shutting her eyes.

Hours later, Lindsey pushed the front door open and crept inside. It was quiet – too quiet. The house was never so noiseless. He chuckled at his idiotic thought that he could possibly hear a mouse break wind. He didn't mind the silence because it meant that no one was home. Lindsey jogged up the staircase and into the master bedroom, cursing at the sight of Stevie's sleeping form illuminated by the bedside lamp. He thought about turning and running, but she was sound asleep. She slept deeper than a bear in hibernation when she was pregnant. He could swipe more of his belongings without a chance of her waking up. Lindsey couldn't face her. He didn't understand how a quarrel over a house led to him not speaking to her for more than a week.