Too Late

Lindsey stared at the white envelope, not really wanting to open it. At first he had wanted to make sure it wasn’t the first of April, guessing that it had to be a joke, though a cruel one. But that had been two months ago, since tomorrow was Leelee’s fifth birthday. Still he knew it had to be a joke, or - as a the little jealous voice inside his mind told him - revenge. After all, she had done that already.

The envelope alone was mocking him. She hadn’t addressed it to him alone, not even to Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham. No, Stevie had made sure to write To Lindsey and Kristen Buckingham. Shaking his head he decided to open it, see what really was inside. And as he had guessed, it was an invitation to her wedding. Reading through it, he couldn’t help but snort, thinking if she might have had too much to drink that day she had agreed to this. 

He still saw her standing in front, tears in her eyes as she had told him she couldn’t go on as they had ever since The Dance. It had been about a year ago. They had been on tour, only a few days after they had played in San Jose. She had come to his hotel room in the middle of the night, something she had rarely done ever since he had told her about Kristen being pregnant for the third time.

“I’m sorry, Lindsey.” Stevie still stood in the middle of the room, biting her lip and looking away from him. “But I can’t... I just can’t.”

“What?” He hadn’t understood at first. Maybe because he hadn’t want to understand what she told him.

“This, us... It hurts too much.” She explained. “Do you really expect me to continue to live like that? To wait for whenever you have time to sneak out and see me? I can’t do this anymore. I’m too old for this, to be lonely, to still be the other woman. I love you, Lindsey, nothing will ever change that. But I’m not happy like this.”

Before he had been able to say something she had hurried out of the room. That conversation still haunted him. He knew he hadn’t been fair to her, or his wife. But he hadn’t been able to let her go again, not after nearly losing her so often in the past. A few weeks later he had seen paparazzi photos of her in a magazine. Laughing and happy as she had been at a restaurant. But she hadn’t been alone. Everybody had speculated who the mystery man was she had held hands with, stealing kisses. But Lindsey had known. It was Dave Young, the guy she had broken up with ages ago to be with him. Now things had changed.

From that moment on, Stevie had done what Lindsey had done himself in the past, flaunting her new relationship, rubbing it right under his nose. Dave had turned up at a few more shows, and when he had been there Stevie had never been out of his reach, always seeking contact.

He had observed the relationship from afar. Honestly it hadn’t been difficult to. Somehow the press had gone completely crazy over finding out that Stevie Nicks had a new boyfriend and wasn’t hiding it. It seemed as if everybody was interested in seeing the relationship progressing. A few months after their first public appearance Dave had moved down to LA.

As Stevie was touring again, there were fewer pictures of them since Dave stayed in LA, working. Then, a few weeks ago, Stevie had been spotted with a new diamond ring. On her left hand. She had been only too quick to confirm the rumors, she was getting married. Ever since then she was talking about how happy she was, how much she was looking forward to finally have a family. She was talking nonstop about Dave, how they had come back together, his children, whom she adored and loved. She made jokes about the fact she regretted that they were all grown up by now, but that maybe she would have a grand baby very soon since his daughter was married for two years already.

It had been that particular TV interview Lindsey had seen that had caught his interest. Still knowing her unlike anyone else, and still being able to read her, he had guessed he had finally found the reason why she had gone back to Dave. His children might be grown up and out of the house. But there was the possibility of babies, still.