1978-Winter
"Connor-I mean Hunter be careful sweetheart" on his first visit to our home Connor's like a literal kid in a candy store. Of course we had to ferret out some of our less savory items, my massive grass stash and all of our coke now belongs to Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie. Both of whom gave us a cheerful thank you as they portered their goods home. My guitars are safely on shelves while Stevie's costumes are in a locked closet, just in case. Ginny, while initially trepidations, takes to Connor easily. Kids and dogs, they have a magic I'll never understand.
The swing on our back porch has his interest and his laughter is long and loud and wonderful to hear the higher I push him "Lindsey, I don't want him to fall what if he gets a scrape" I smirk stopping the swing, Connor looks back signing at me "Want more, want more swing" I raise an eyebrow at Stevie who pokes at the food on the grill rolling her eyes "You two are trouble" we have him for the whole weekend. And while usually we might spend that time at a party we decide to shut off our social calendars and have a go at being mom and dad again. It feels great, and I haven't touched an ounce of liquor in weeks because of it.
"Well dinner's ready regardless, come on" I stop the swing again racking my brain for the sign for dinner. When I can't produce it I just tell Connor "Time for us to eat". He doesn't need to be told twice when it comes to food, another sad remnant of his upbringing but he eats ravenously even when I know he's full. His body was starving for years and he's making up for it now, sitting at the picnic table Stevie loads his plate with a hot dog and some grilled corn and potato salad. He's a messy eater and doesn't really grasp forks or other utensils just yet so I have to help him eat his potatoes.
Between each bite he Ooo's at us and we can't stop staring at him or each other. This is how it should be, this is what I want. I decide to broach the subject with Stevie while we do the dishes after supper "I want to tell him who we are-who we really are. He should know we're not just two nice strangers paling around with him" wiping a plate Stevie stares down into the water "I don't know that could end up hurting us in the long run. What if-I mean what if we can't keep him? If they decide we're not good enough" considering where who and where he ended up with I find that argument ludicrous "Let Marvin handle that Steph...I want to adopt Connor, for us to adopt him back. You heard Stone there's no good reason for the state to deny us, we just have to play nice for a while and fill out some paperwork and we can get him back. For good this time"
The last of the dishes are put away, Stevie leans against the sink with her arms crossed her house dress a light gold with blue trim. Her hair down her back in soft waves, she has a splotch of finger paint on her elbow from this afternoons art project. She has some flour on her apron from homemade cookies, now powder under her nose or brandy emitting from her breath. She's not stumbling and drunk or in a coma from too much booze and dope. Her skin is flushed and healthy practically glowing, she's gained five pounds and no longer looks emaciated. She eats regularly and wakes up at a decent hour each day, she's my wife again.
Before I realize what I'm doing my hand is wrapped around hers and I pull her toward the stairs "Lets check on the munchkin" up the wraparound staircase and just down the hall from our room we peek in on our son. He's fast asleep in another mountain of stuffed animals, neither of us resist giving him a soft peck on his cheek "He's still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen Linds" pulling her to my chest I kiss her hair "I know angel, me too".
"If the social worker says it's okay-I want to tell him" smiling against her neck I'm relieved at her words, we're on the same page again. Were we belong "Let's go to bed" slowly Stevie turns in my arms playing with the top two buttons of my shirt "I'm not sleepy" our eyes meet and a spark pops between us, the undeniable lure of attraction we've shared for a decade "Neither am I".
