Picking up the Pieces

9

June 15th, 1999

At ten months old, Brielle was the apple of her mother's eye. Her eyes did, in fact, turn brown and Stevie cried when her baby woke up one morning with Brown Eyes. Her hair was growing and though she still had those little wisps of curls they were bigger now and slightly more prominent. Stevie was slowly weaning her from Breast-Feeding as she was actively working on her album now and she knew that soon enough it would be out which meant a tour. Though she planned on taking Brielle with her, she didn't want to be breastfeeding on the road. Just the thought of wearing nipple pads while on stage was rubbing her the wrong way. And Brielle was starting to get teeth. She already has one and another is coming in and soon she'd start to bite which worries Stevie. She's pumping now and giving the baby a bottle right before bed and right when she wakes up the morning. For lunch and dinner, it's homemade baby food.  So far, Brielle loves pureed strawberries, bananas, mashed potatoes, but only when Stevie cooks them for dinner, pureed avocado, and squash, and every night she and her mother share some blueberry yogurt. 

It was the first decently warm day of summer and though the lake was still too cold to swim in, she did have a pool, and she invited Liz, Bill, Christine, Sharon, and Lori, as they were living with her during recording, and Karen over for a cookout and a pool party. Bill had already agreed to man the grill so Stevie was lounging in one of her chaise lounger lawn chairs her black one-piece on and a chiffon wrap skirt thing that she got when she vacationed in Hawaii one year. 

Currently, Lori had her feet in the water and she was bouncing Brielle on her lap. Several times, Stevie winced when the baby would try to head to the water. 

"Steves I think you should take her in," Lori says motioning to the water as Liz who was already in the water with Makenna nodded. 

"Yeah...It's not too cold and it looks like Brielle wants to get in." Liz chuckles. 

Stevie groans but discards her sun hat and her wrap. She slides her sandals off of her feet and she slowly descends into the water. Once Stevie's adjusted herself she takes Brielle from Lori and gently sinks her in. Brielle cheers and starts batting at the water and kicking her little legs. 

"Stevie I think you have a swimmer there" Liz smiles. 

"You clearly don't." Stevie laughs looking at the newly one-year-old sitting in a floaty looking absolutely miserable. 

"It's not surprising. Bill was a runner in high school and I was a dancer. But that one, that one looks like a natural." Liz points. 

"Just like her daddy huh." Stevie coos gently tossing the baby into the air and catching her. And as she flies the baby in the air Karen snaps a quick picture. It's something that she's done since  Brielle was born because she knows there's no one there to capture those sweet moments and she doesn't want them to regret not getting pictures. 

"You still have no desire to tell him?" Lori asks. 

"There are days, She's...She's pregnant again." Stevie looks down gently lowering the baby and hugging her tightly. 

"How did you find that out?" Liz questions swimming over with Makayla and placing her hand on Stevie's back. Over the few months, they've known each other Stevie's opened up a lot about her relationship with Lindsey to Liz,  especially how much she loves him and misses him and wishes that he were there to experience their baby's milestones together. Liz knows things that neither Karen nor Christine knows. 

"I told her. Lindsey and I still talk on a weekly basis." Christine explains from her perch on one of the loungers. 

"When is she due?" Lori asks. 

"I don't know. He never said. I don't think they know yet either." Christine sighs. 

"Well, screw him...You've got your baby and that's all that's important right." Liz questions. 

"Yeah. That's all that's important." Stevie smiles kissing her baby's cheek. 

***

Stevie was in her studio, her baby on her hip talking to Mike Campbell about an arrangement when Karen peeped her head down.

"Stevie, Phone." She calls. 

"I'll be right there," Stevie calls back apologizing to Mike and making her way upstairs. 

"It's Lindsey," Karen whispers as Stevie lets out a breath and answers.

"Hey, Steph...I've missed you. I got your number from Christine...did she move with you because it's the same area code?" Lindsey asks. 

"She did. But we don't live together she lives about fifteen minutes away. What do you need Lindsey?" Stevie questions. 

"Well...Will's first birthday is coming up and I was wondering if you'd be joining us." Lindsey states.

"Oh Honey, No...It's just coming up way too quickly and I'm recording right now. I built a studio into my basement and I have people living with me. It's...It's just not a good time." She explains wincing when her baby grabs her hair. She tucks the phone between her shoulder and grabs at Brielle's hand to stop her and she starts whimpering which causes Stevie to panic. 

Karen quickly takes her and the toddler clearly wanting her mother, gives the angriest glare and the tears start welling up in her eyes and she's about to scream when Stevie quickly takes her back into her arm. 

"What's that it sounds like a baby crying," Lindsey asks. 

"Um...No, it's Sulamith. She wants out because the neighbors little girl is playing outside and Sula likes to play with her." Stevie quickly makes up a lie. 

"Oh...well Steph, I really wish you'd come you haven't even met him yet." Lindsey sighs. 

"Lindsey I know...Life has just been so chaotic recently. I promise you next time I'm back in Los Angeles I'll go see him." Stevie replies.

"Another reason I called is that Kristen's pregnant again." He sounds so happy. 

"I know, Christine told me. Congratulations. When is she due?" Stevie asks.

"Sometime in January. But with that being said...I'm starting to think about doing another solo, but after, if you're up for it...What about another Fleetwood Mac album?" Lindsey questions. 

"Lindsey...when you need me for vocals I'll be on the first flight out. Unless I have something going on. But I'll be there as soon as I can. I promise...but for now, I need to get back to work on my Solo." Stevie shakes her head. 

"Alright...Goodbye Angel, I miss you." Lindsey says sadly. 

"Goodbye Lindsey." Stevie sighs hanging up. 

"God, that never gets easier...but you young lady, aren't allowed to pull Momma's hair." Stevie scolds her child, shifting her from her hip to straddling her waist. 

"Mama." Brielle babbles diving her head down onto her mother's chest. Every time Brielle does that her heart melts and she can't stay mad so she just laughs and finishes the hug that her daughter is asking for. 

"I love you too peanut." Stevie smiles kissing her honey-blonde curls.