Timeless

35

1985-December-Lindsey

It's been three months since Joshua came into the picture. Stevie's struggling to lose the baby weight this time, but I like her curvy, and though I've told her that countless times she doesn't feel comfortable especially with our jobs. Today, we embark on the six-hour drive to Phoenix. Chris and Lori are getting married on the thirty-first and the five of us are spending Josh's first Christmas away from my family, but my mom understood. Besides, Greg and Meredith had a baby two months before Josh was born, Olivia Leigh Buckingham.

"Lindsey, I am going to ask you something crazy," Stevie says turning towards me. It's been three months, but we still aren't sleeping together and like after she had her affair, she's itching for some form of physical interaction. She was cleared for sex a week ago.

"I've been married to you for almost thirteen years. I don't think you can say anything to me anymore crazy than you already have." I chuckle checking on the backseat, where all three of our babies are sleeping peacefully.

"We should get a house here in Phoenix," Stevie says biting her thumbnail.

"Steph, we already have two places in California." I sigh.

"So, we can sell the condo. I just want a place close to mom and dad. Chris and Lori live down here as well. It's home Linsdey. I spent the majority of my life here." Stevie states.

"Alright, how about this. We think about it, and then if we're serious about buying a house down here we can look when we come back for spring break." I smile at her.

"Thank you." She says. I chuckle and reach across the council to grab her hand.

***

When we get to Jess and Barbara's house Sara is bouncing in her seat.

"Sweet girl, you need to calm down. It's just Nana and Papa." I chuckle parking the car.

"I get to be a flower girl. And I get to See Aunt Lori and Nana and Papa." Sara cheers.

"I'm sure they're excited to see you also, but can you help Daddy with the luggage so I can get Joshua?" Stevie questions

"Yes, mom." Sara sighs.

That night while we're getting ready for bed Stevie's wringing her hands.

"Angel, what's wrong?" I ask laying Josh down in his little cot.

"Are you sleeping with me or not?" She spits out.

"Well, I'm not SLEEPING with you, but I will share a bed with you. Your parent's couch isn't very comfortable." I say taking my shirt off and pulling my pajama bottoms up.

She bites her lip and gives a shy smile. When I crawl into bed she gives a giant cheesy grin and she latches onto me.

Christmas morning came quickly and Stevie and I found ourselves laying in bed with Josh.

"You are so handsome. You look just like your daddy my sweet boy." Stevie says to the baby.

"But he has mommy's sleeping habits." I chuckle leaning over and kissing the babies head.

No matter what we do, or try to put him on a set schedule with the other two kids, he refuses. His little brain doesn't seem to shut off until two in the morning, then he'll only sleep two or three hours before waking up for a feeding and a diaper change. And he won't fully wake up until the afternoon.  As Stevie is dressing Joshua in a cute little reindeer onesie, our two other brunette babies walk in.

"Daddy Santa came." Mason cheers.

"Yes, he did. Do you want to go downstairs to see if Nana and Papa are awake but don't touch any of the gifts Santa got you." I chuckle.

"Yeah come on Sara." Mason cheers running out of the room.

"Do I have to?" Sara asks. She'll be ten next month and she's getting too old to be celebrating Santa.

"Sara, Mason is only five. Josh is a baby, you'll be doing it until you are at least fifteen." Stevie sighs looking at Sara. We had the Santa talk before we got here and she knows that she has to keep a secret.

She pouts and then begrudgingly walks down the stairs. When she' s gone, for the first time in three months I kiss my wife passionately.

"Lindsey, you shouldn't have done that." She lets out a shaky breath.

"Is Mrs. Buckingham turned on with a baby in her bed?" I ask.

"Oh, yeah...baby...way to kill the mood. Come on, let's go it's Christmas." Stevie shakes her head and crawls out of the bed. She picks Josh up and his chubby little legs kick.

"He does that a lot." I smile wrapping my arm around her waist.

"He's going to be a swimmer. He kicked constantly when he was in my tummy." Stevie smiles. Hurt crosses my features and she stopped suddenly.

"Lindsey, I am so sorry." She says.

"No, it' s okay." I sigh pulling away and going downstairs.

It was tense until Lori and Chris' wedding when I finally agreed to get a house in Arizona.