Timeless

33

1985-August-Lindsey

            Fleetwood Mac lands today. They've only toured for about four months. The news of Stevie's pregnancy excited fans but then the news of my departure scared people. I've been asked if the baby was mine or not. I don't answer, I just walk away. I need to have the kids packed to leave in the morning. Sara has expressed her distaste for my tiny three bedroom apartment in LA and expressed joy when I told her Mom was back and she'd get to go live back in the big house. I agreed to check the mail and keep up with the bills while Stevie's been on tour, and I've also taken the liberty to create a nursery. I'm not as artistic as Stevie is but I'm not horrible.

            I'm proud of the little ducky nursery though. The walls are painted grey and the crib is white with yellow sheets and a stuffed duck sitting up in the crib. A soft ducky blanket hanging over the side of the crib. I know the old rocking chair is starting to get old and rickety, but she loves it so I painted it a crisp white. There're a few pictures hanging on the wall of ducks that I drew and painted.

            When I pull into the driveway, Stevie meets us. Her eight-month belly exposed. She's wearing a nightgown and a bathrobe.

            "Well, you're big," I say.

            "It is your child. Might be a boy. I'm about as big as I was with Mason...thank you for the nursery it's lovely." Stevie smiles.

            "You're welcome, it's the least I could do." I shrug.

            "Mom." Sara cheers going up to her mother and giving her a giant hug.

            "Your belly is big." Mason pouts.

            "That's where your brother or sister is growing," I explain.

            'I know but they made mommy big." He says hugging his mom.

            "You made me big too." Stevie chuckles bent slightly so she can wrap her arms around him.

            "Oh." He states.

            "Well, I'll see you two Friday night." I wave.

            They hug me and I go back to my apartment. It goes like that for another month. Back to every weekend.

***

            Today is September 16th. The kids had a half day so Sara went to the Byron's and Greg is picking Mason up. Fleetwood Mac and I were supposed to be meeting up with our lawyer teams to handle my firing. Stevie didn't show up. My wife doesn't like driving in storms and the one raging on outside right now would stop her from driving completely, but not calling a car. Something in my gut telling me to go to her.

            So after the meeting concludes, I'm on my way to our house. It certainly is not driving conditions outside. The wind is whipping the rain around and lightning is striking very close to the house. I walk into a pitch black house. Trying to turn a light on I come to the conclusion she either didn't pay the electric bill or the power is out.

            "Steph." I call grabbing a flashlight from the junk drawer in the entryway,

            "Steph!" Yell again. My only response is a scream. I zone in on its location. Sprinting up to our bedroom I see my wife hunched over my side of the bed.

            "Stevie?" I ask.

            "Lindsey I can't move." She sobs.

            "Are you in labor?" I ask.