When I See You Again

XXV. What Happened?

When the next arrived, Stevie would be going in for surgery again. This time she would go makeup free, jewelry free, and she had some comfy clothing. It had taken Stevie about six weeks to heal---which was normal, but the extra seventh, after waiting for her actual appointment was helpful to her. It was a good sign that she was healing properly. She hated messing up all the healing, though she was happy to just get it over with. She didn't want to hold back any longer. If it was her decision, she would have just done it the day after the first one, but it was all doctor's said that would be a bad idea and an infection could spread. She then easily abided at the wait.

"Mom," Lucy said as she made her way up the stairs---just to find her mother and father packing a bag for the hospital again. That just crushed her heart because, never in a million years did she believe anything could go wrong with her mother's health. She never wanted to believe something bad could happen, but now that was all she could do. Even being six and a half months pregnant and trying not to freak out, she still worried.

"Yes, doll?" Stevie was sitting on the edge of the bed, directing Lindsey of what she needed from the bathroom. He had told her he would do it, so even though she was antsy and wanting to move---she had to stay seated.

Lindsey made his way to the middle of the room, putting her travel sized products in a plastic baggie.

"I just wanted to let you know, I'm gonna go stay with Elijah at his parents'," Lucy responded to them.

"Why don't you stay here?" Stevie asked.

"Well, I don't feel comfortable..." Lucy pursed her lips---feeling a bit embarrassed forbher reasoning behind.

Stevie put her hand out for her daughter to come to her.

Lucy easily did so and moved her mother's overnight bag over so she could be closer to her.

Stevie brushed her daughter's brown curls, behind her shoulder and swiped her hair out of her face to see her profile. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Lucy was kind of wagging her foot and twiddling her thumbs as her eyes stayed in her lap.

Lindsey kneeled down in front of his daughter and took her hand.

"Please, tell me," her mother asked.

"I just don't feel good about this surgery, mom," her brown orbs were wide and full of tears. "I don't want anything to ever happen to you," she stated once again. It was definitely not the first time both parents heard their daughter's fears, in the last month and a half.

"I know, baby," Stevie nodded. "We just got to get you over that, honey. I know it's scary---I'm a little nervous too, but this is something I have to do or I can have another heart attack."

"Mom, you told me you had a yucky feeling too," she creased her brows in concern---almost in a pleading fashion to make her mother opt out.

"I will admit," Stevie let off one solid nod. "I did get a little nervous, but Lindsey and I talked to the doctors. I should be fine," She mentioned. They were actually told by the cardiologist, that things could go wrong, but it was best to stay optimistic about it. But Stevie was not going to tell her pregnant child that.

"Are you sure, mom?" Lucy asked.

"Yes," she nodded once more. "Are you sure, you don't wanna stay here?"

"Yeah... dad's not gonna be here and I'd rather be distracted by other humans."

"Where is dad gonna be?" Stevie asked---directing her attention to her husband.

As he opened his mouth to respond, Lucy did first.

"He's gonna be with you, no?" Lucy looked at her father.