Different Is Good

Twenty one part 2

Later that night Lindsey and Stevie were sitting up in bed, resembling an old married couple. Stevie had her glasses on reading a book by lamplight as Lindsey sat on his side of the bed twirling his thumbs. "I think I know what I want for my birthday," he spoke
"Oh yeah? What's that? I had no idea we were starting so early." She giggled, smoothing his brow.
"A library card," he groaned softly as he stretched
"A library card? Why?" She wasn't judging him, just interested.
"So I can read more. No offense but your romance novels are not appealing to a teenage boy."
Stevie chuckled. "They're not romance novels!"

"Well, whatever it is."

"But I do understand. I'm proud of you, Linds."
"Thank you," Lindsey kissed her cheek, "can I get you anything?"
"No, sweetheart." Stevie said but then she quickly changed her mind. "Um, do we have any ice cream downstairs?"
"Any particular flavor?" Lindsey swung his legs over the edge of the bed

"Strawberry?"

"My kinda girl," he chuckled before heading downstairs. Lindsey soon discovered that they had no ice cream. Grabbing his house key that Barbara had recently given him he set off towards town. If Stevie wanted ice cream then she was going to get ice cream
Stevie sat on her bed, waiting for Lindsey. "I guess it's just you and me for now, Sara. I think daddy got lost." Soon she got tired and fell asleep, rubbing slow circles over her belly.
Waking up nearly an hour later Stevie saw that Lindsey was still not back. "Mommy?" She knocked softly on her parents door

"Yes, Tee?" Barbara sat up in bed, turning her bedside lamp on

"Lindsey was supposed to go to the kitchen to get me ice cream...that was an hour ago."
"I remember I used to send your father out at all hours for my cravings. Maybe he went to the store?"

"Or what if I'm too much for him. I thought he ran away before but I always hear about those men who go out for cigarettes or a gallon of milk and never come back." Stevie began to sob and Barbara got out of bed.
"I am positive that Lindsey would do no such thing to you," she pulled her daughter into her arms. "Let's go downstairs and see if he left a note, alright?"

Stevie snuggled and nodded silently, allowing her mother to help her down the stairs.

"Here it is!" Barbara told her daughter happily, seeing a piece of paper on the counter. Stevie picked it up and sighed in relief when she saw his writing. "Gone two stor" the note read
Stevie pressed a hand to her chest. "Oh, I love him." She read the note over and over, smiling as tears streamed down her face.

"He's doing a lot better." Barbara commented.

"He is. He told me he wants a library card, so he can start reading more. Mama, I'm so proud of him."

"He's becoming a fine young man."

"Gosh, you sound like daddy!" Stevie said and they both laughed.
"How is little Sara?" Barbara asked, watching Stevie itch her stomach as her stretch marks were terrible

"Fine. But she's making me miserable."

"It gets a lot better during labor, honey," Barbara chuckled
"I can sense the sarcasm" Stevie said, unamused. "You'll be there, won't you?"

"Of course, if you want me to be. I wouldn't want to miss my daughter giving birth."

"How could you when I'll be right over there blocking the TV set? Chris is gonna flip."

"I'll send him out with his father."
"I wonder if Daddy will be nervous."

"Your father is a man of few words, but when it came to you and Chris he was a crying mess."
"Really?" Stevie's eyes lit up. "Will you tell me about what my birth was like?"