Too Late

I. Two Women

"So why did you call me here, Kristen?"

Every time Stevie had been forced to come to this house since Lindsey married Kristen, it hurt her. To Stevie, this home was a painful reminder of what she and Lindsey would never share again. They would not share a home nor would they share a life. 

But Lady Kristen Buckingham had summoned her here today. And for some odd reason, Stevie had accepted the invitation. 

"Sit down, won't you, Stevie," Kristen gestured to the sofa, while she herself perched on a rather uncomfortable-looking, modern chair. Was it a piece of art or the remnants of a construction site? Stevie couldn't tell.

"I'm glad you came, Stevie," Kristen said ruefully, with a hand nervously swiping through her blond mane of hair. "What did you think about Lindsey's big news?"

Kristen stared at Stevie intently, but Stevie had no idea what the younger woman was referring to.

"What news?"

Kristen huffed. "So you don't know?!"

"Know what?" Stevie was perplexed. 

Just WHAT apparently huge news had she missed out on? And why wouldn't Lindsey share it with her? Sure, they hadn't been close for a while. The last tour had been full of sexual tension, stupid argument over petty things, overwrought performances on stage, slammed doors, and avoidance whenever possible. But they were still them, forever Stevie & Lindsey, forever those young kids whose hearts were one. Or so she thought...

"This!" Kristen shoved her iPhone in Stevie's face. On the tiny screen, the TMZ logo was in huge print. Otherwise, the print was too small. Stevie pulled out a pair of reading glasses.

Breaking news. Lindsey Buckingham is single and NOT on the market. We caught him with a hot young blonde. Who could she be?

The article went on to talk about how Buckingham had shockingly split with his wife of almost 20 years. TMZ reported that Buckingham had caught his wife spending too much of his money on extravagances for a younger lover, so Lindsey had dumped Kristen. However, sparse details were given about the pretty young thang on Lindsey's arm.

Stevie snorted. She knew Kristen would have never left Lindsey for a younger man, nor would Kristen have had an affair. On her darker days, Stevie liked to think that Kristen purposefully got pregnant and was a money-grubbing groupie. But in truth, Stevie grudgingly admired Kristen and even somewhat liked her despite their screwed up situation. Kristen had put up with a lot over the years in regards to Lindsey and Stevie, and the younger woman clearly loved him.

"I know." Kristen's voice shocked Stevie out of her musings. "The story is ridiculous. But the first part is true. Lindsey is divorcing me."

Kristen sounded so resigned to it. 

HOW in the world did this happen?

"I'm of course curious, Kristen, but why are you telling me this? Why did you ask me here in the first place?"

"I wanted to know your plans with my husband and... but apparently you didn't know." Kristen's voiced got higher pitched and louder, speaking of her anxiety. "But now, I want to tell you to wake up!"

By this time, Kristen had gotten out of her chair and sat beside Stevie. She was looking at the older woman with such a ferocity but also a muted sympathy. 

"Do you want to know what really happened? I finally woke up!" Kristen stood up and started to pace. "I. WOKE. UP! Stevie, do you get that? I'm not a stupid little simpleton, whatever you might think of me. I knew what I was getting into when I married Lindsey. I knew from the beginning that he was attached to you. Part of me wanted to dump him the first time I tagged along with him to see one of your concerts. No matter what he said about you two being part of the package of selling the show, no matter how much he kissed me, there's something undeniable about seeing you two on stage together. That's not a performance. It's the most real thing I've ever seen!"