Separated

Part 19

"Jade..." Stevie got up and quickly went over to the girl, who had clearly heard the conversation, yet the lost, confused look across her face, indicated that she didn't really understand.

Mick and Lindsey exchanged looks, before their eyes drifted over to Stevie and Jade. They both knew that they should have tried and helped somehow, but the how part was were they got stuck. Not that it would truly be helpful if the three of them attempted to explain a situation as complex as theirs all at the same time.

"Come on." Stevie held out her hand for Jade. "I'll try and explain." She smiled for the sake of her daughter, but it didn't seem sincere.

Tentative at first, Jade took her mother's hand and they went upstairs into Jade's room. The girl climbed onto the bed and sat down with her legs crossed, eyes glued to Stevie, who was doing her best to come up with something to say.

"Is Amber my sister?" Jade asked again as Stevie sat on the edge of the bed, leaving no gap between the two. 

Swallowing uneasily, Stevie nodded her head. "Amber is your sister."

"Why isn't she with us? Does dad know?" 

The questions sounded so simple yet Stevie was struggling to answer them, especially to a six year old child. "Your dad knows, Lindsey and I have just told him."

"How does Lindsey know?"

Stevie sighed, crossing her legs too. "You see, baby, when you and Amber were born, you two looked even more like each other. Nobody could tell you apart." She started in a soft voice. "Lindsey and his wife had a baby as well, on the very same day, but their baby became an angel overnight. She wasn't sent to them to be with them, she was sent to them to watch over and protect them."

Jade chewed on her bottom lip and Stevie could sense that she wanted to ask something. "Their baby... died?"

"Yes, honey." Stevie nodded, stroking the girl's hair. Stevie felt a need to touch her. "And as you can imagine, Lindsey and his wife would have been very upset if anyone had told them." But they weren't, Stevie thought to herself, because they weren't the ones told that their child had passed away. "One of the nurses felt very bad for them and she didn't want them to be so sad." Stevie spoke slowly as if to make sure that the story, she was making up, made sense in her head first. It probably didn't, but she didn't know how else to explain it. "So the nurse took Amber and brought her to Lindsey and his wife. She made them promise her that they would take the best care of your little sister. She made them swear that they would love Amber with all of their hearts and that she would always have to be the most important thing in their lives."

It took a while for Jade to speak up. She heard what her mother was telling her, but she didn't quite get it. She didn't understand, how could some nurse just give her sister away to other people. "Did the nurse tell you?"

"She didn't." Stevie shook her head. "I didn't even know that I had two babies." She lied. Jade didn't exactly know, how babies were made or born, so a lie like that didn't seem to be too outrageous, considering. "I found out that day we were in the park."

"Did you miss Amber?"

"I didn't know about her, honey." Stevie half smiled, feeling sorry for her daughter that she had to try and process it all. The story Jade was told wasn't really true, but it had to be for know. Maybe, sometime in the far future... "But I miss Amber now, when she's not with us."

"Maybe we all could live together?" Came another question, making Stevie uncomfortable. "You and me, with Amber and Lindsey."

Got that, Stevie thought. "How about we invite Lindsey and Amber over for another play date first? Then we'll see."

Stevie's answer seemed good enough for Jade at the moment. "Is Lindsey my dad too now?"

"No, baby."

Jade's back slid down against the headboard of the bed and she lay down, looking away, before she focused on Stevie again, saying in a small voice. "I don't understand..."

Stevie gave the girl an apologetic look, reaching for her hand. "And you don't have to understand it all, I know it's difficult, sweetie. And don't you worry about it."

"When can Amber come over?" Jade asked.

"Why don't I go downstairs and talk to Lindsey about it?" Jade nodded her head and Stevie walked out of the room.

Stevie sighed heavily, coming into the living room, where Lindsey and Mick were. She had no idea for how long she was gone or what the two men did during that time.

"I think, she's going to be fine." Stevie said. "If you don't mind, I'd like to be left alone now."

Mick was the first to go, Lindsey lingered on purpose. He had to gather the rest of his things from Stevie's bedroom anyway. She waited for him by the door. Seeing her standing there, Lindsey didn't think about it and pulled her into a hug. They drew back a little and kissed.

"Call me in a few hours." Stevie said before Lindsey left.