Separated

Part 12

Stevie felt a hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to the present moment. She turned her head away from Jade and Amber to look at Lindsey, giving him a small smile, which he returned.

"Are you okay?" He asked, moving his hand away. "You've gone quiet."

"Yeah, I am." Stevie nodded, focusing on the girls again. She lowered her voice only for Lindsey to hear. "I'm just so happy they're together. Well, they're not, but..."

"But they are." Lindsey said. "We can't explain it to them, they wouldn't understand and I don't think we have to or we should. At least not while they're just six years old and carefree."

"You're right." Stevie agreed, bringing her feet up, crossing her legs. "But do you think..." She trailed off, thinking of how to put her thought into words. "Do you think they have some sort of feeling? A connection?"

"I believe that they do." He shrugged, there was no way of knowing. "You have a connection with your bother, I have it too with mine."

"Right, but we know them, we've known them our whole lives." Stevie strangely argued. Possibly because she wanted the twins to have and feel that special bond between them.

Lindsey looked at Jade and Amber for a minute, then smiled facing Stevie. "I don't think you've got a reason to worry about it."

The girls were having their own tea party. They sat together in a circle with dolls and teddy bears, little cups and Stevie's baked cookies on a plate in the middle, talking among themselves. Being twins, they naturally looked alike, yet they also seemed different. Jade was a girly girl, her hair in two pigtails, wearing a light yellow dress, her nails painted by Stevie pink by request. Amber sat in blue jeans and a white shirt, resembling her father, her hair in a low messy ponytail. Stevie wanted to know learn about the girl's personality, she just didn't know yet how to approach her, she wanted for it to happen naturally.

"This is nice." Lindsey spoke up again. Stevie had his full attention. "But I'd like to take you out on an adult date."

"An adult date?" Stevie raised her eyebrow, echoing his words. 

"Yeah. You know, where we can focus on each other. Whenever we're all together, the four of us, I feel neglected." Lindsey joked, but not really. He stretched out his arm along the back of the couch, his fingers barely touching her neck, causing goosebumps on her skin.

"Keep talking."

Lindsey laughed, a grin remaining on his face. "I want you to know that I like you because of you, not because we have something that brought us together. Of course, we might not have met if not for it, but... I hope you understand, what I'm trying to say."

"I do." Stevie nodded her head, wishing to feel more of his touch. "Where would you take me? On that date?" She added quickly. She desperately needed to focus on something besides the patterns his fingertips were leaving on the curve of her neck.

"I think that restaurants aren't really your thing." He said. "We could go to the beach, somewhere more secluded and walk along the shoreline. Preferably your hand in mine."

After those words, Stevie reached for his wandering hand and laced her fingers through his. "That sounds wonderful. Would you play for me if I asked you to?"

"I would very likely do anything if you asked me to." Lindsey answered honestly, Stevie smirked. 

Before she could respond, Amber approached them. Stevie pulled her hand away from Lindsey's. "I'm sleepy, Daddy." The girl said, rubbing her eyes.

Stevie and Lindsey exchanged looks, neither of them wanted to say goodnight just yet. "You are, huh. You don't want to play with Jade anymore?" He asked hopefully.

"I want to go to bed." Amber yawned, her puppy eyes looking at her father. 

Stevie wasn't sure, but she offered anyway. "You do look tired, honey." She said. "I don't think you would make it home, your Daddy would have to carry you. You could stay here instead."

Amber knitted her little eyebrows. "I don't have a bed here, where would I sleep?"

Jade quickly joined in enthusiastically. "With me! My bed is so big!"

Eyes wide, Amber turned to Lindsey, unable to hide her excitement. "Daddy? Can I?"

"I can't see why not." He shrugged, giving Stevie's hand a squeeze without looking away from his daughter.

A short while later, the twins were in Jade's room and in bed. They promised to go to sleep, but Stevie knew that they were more likely to stay up talking, when she turned off the light, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Stevie returned to the living room, where Lindsey had their glasses refilled. She was met by the soft sound of music, coming from her record player.

"I hope you don't mind." Lindsey said. "I looked through your collection."

"That's fine." She sat down next to him. 

"I didn't know you liked Fleetwood Mac."

"I must own all of their records. Not everything's down here." Stevie took her wine, tipping it slightly towards her records.

"You can sit closer to me, you know." Lindsey suggested casually, no further encouragement for Stevie required as she scooted over closer to him.

They sat in silence for a moment, just looking at each other. Lindsey's eyes then drifted lower, focusing on her lips. Slowly, he leaned in, making Stevie close her eyes before she felt his lips press against hers. Her heartbeat picked up pace, her free hand touching the side of his face, while his arm wrapped itself around her waist. Now that they were finally alone, there was no need to rush as they kissed, getting to know each other without a word.