Nothing To Fear

35. Anniversary Dinner

20 Years Later...

"Everybody is coming and I want this place spotless, before they do," Stevie paced around her cottage-castle home. She was half dressed for the party, but stumbling as she put pieces of clothing on as she had the house straightened out.

"Stevie, it's not that big of a party," Lindsey laughed as he helped her steady. She was trying to get her other shoe on. Before he could get in trouble by his statement he continued. It wasn't that it wasn't important, but his wife got quite fussy when things weren't right. "I mean, the only big thing about this is, that it is our twentieth anniversary," his arms slid around her waist.

Her arms wrapped around his neck. She was trying to pull away, but she did want to be held. She did need some reassurance before she went totally bonkers---she knew she was going to drive herself crazy if she didn't chill out a minute. "What a wonderful save, that was not," she smirked.

"I didn't mean that," he chuckled.

"Yeah, I know," she added for his reassurance. She placed a hand to the side of his face and rubbed lightly under his eye with her thumb.

"That's amazing..." he kind of mumbled to himself.

"What's that?" she lingered.

"You. You are just so gorgeous and you've not changed a bit. Twenty years, and you're still mine," he smiled. He was still so struck by her every time he seen her. She never failed to please him in anyway. She had taken care of his kids and she never complained about them. He was amazed because all he did was complain to her about them.

"And you my friend are still a charmer, baby boy," she walked in closer just to kiss his lips. The lips she had been kissing for twenty years. She was still so in love with him.

"I try," he smirked.

Pretty soon, the doorbell rang.

"Oh my God! people are here! is everything clean?" she looked around the room.

"Honey," his hands rested on the side of her arms. "Everything is perfect---you're perfect."

"So are you," she smiled lightly before tangling her fingers with his.

They soon made their way through the foyer and to the front door where they would answer it and finally allow people in.

"Hi, mommy!" Stella launched herself into Stevie's arms as she had done for twenty years. She was twenty-seven years old but still so in love with her step mom. Stevie was the greatest thing for her. She had become a painter after being inspired by everything Stevie had painted in her home. She was wildly outgoing and she had so many friends that shared her passion.

"Hi, baby girl, how are you, angel?" Stevie rubbed her back up and down.

"Happy anniversary! I love you and I am fine," she pulled away.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Stevie ushered her into Lindsey's arms.

"Happy anniversary, daddy," she hugged him tightly as well.

"Thanks, honey," he kissed the top of her head. She had always been his baby girl and he loved her, but the daughter he shared more things in common with was Leelee. Leelee was a singer and she could play the guitar and piano---she was the opposite of her sister. She could be outgoing but she was so introverted like her father.

"So any plans, other than the dinner?" Stella asked. She wrapped an arm around her dad and melted into his side---resting her head on his chest.

"Not that I know of," Stevie smiled. "The day after tomorrow we leave for the world tour."