For maybe the first time since Lindsey can remember, Stevie is up before him and already making coffee in the kitchen when he wakes. Somehow, the whole thing feels surreal. He reminds himself that he's in a house with Stevie and their daughter as he gets out of bed, still half-convinced that he's dreaming.
He finds her alone in the kitchen, a white silk robe showing more of her than he's been allowed to see in a really long time. She turns when she hears him come in and watches him take a seat at the island.
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Yes, please," he says, making it a point to avoid staring at her. He pretends to stare at the ocean instead, keeping his eyes fixed out the window.
"Here you go. Did you sleep okay?"
"Like a rock. I was tired."
"You were up past your bedtime."
"Not all of us routinely see 4am," he says, watching her take the stool next to him.
"I didn't know when she would get up and I wanted to be awake," she explains, knowing that he was surprised to see her functioning at 9am.
"I was thinking we could go to that place down on Sunset, the one that Christine insists on visiting when she's in town."
"Sure, that sounds nice. They've got that green room we can get to ourselves."
"Exactly," he says, suddenly aware of how forced the conversation is. "What's happening here?"
"What do you mean?"
"With us."
"There is no us. There's nothing happening."
"Seriously? We're going to play that game?"
"I have enough going on right now, in case you hadn't noticed. I really don't need to add an affair to that drama, Lindsey."
"Who said anything about an affair? We haven't even laid a hand on each other."
"I saw how you looked at me this morning."
"Jesus, Stevie," he says, gesturing at her body. "You can't come down here in that and expect me not to look."
She rolls her eyes and stands up to refill her coffee, pulling the robe tighter around her, suddenly self-conscious. "I'm not used to anyone looking at me like that anymore."
"There will never be a time when you don't get my attention."
"I need to go get ready," she says, escaping to the safety of her bedroom. A couple seconds later the door opens, and she quickly finishes pulling her top on. "I'm getting dressed!"
"I understand that this is not convenient, but now that Emmeline is in our lives, you and I are going to have to behave like adults. I'm not going to let you keep running away."
"There is nothing to discuss," she says emphatically. "Not regarding our relationship, anyway. Things cannot change."
He crosses the room and wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her against him and kissing her deeply. She involuntarily responds, her fingers clutching at the back of his shirt. He lets go as abruptly as he began, and looks into her eyes. "Things have already changed," he says, his voice low. He doesn't even look back as he exits, leaving her stunned.
They grab brunch, then Lindsey leaves them with Karen on Rodeo Drive. Stevie manages to distract herself with dressing her daughter in beautiful clothes, and buying everything she expresses any interest in.
"You really don't need to do this," says Emmeline, watching the sales people fold another stack of clothing.
"I have a lot of missed back to school shopping sprees to make up for. And this is one of my favorite things to do," she says, touching another dress. "Do you like this color better?"
"No, the red is perfect," says Emmeline. "You look really pretty in red."
"Lindsey always said that, too," she says absently, not even aware that she'd said it aloud until Emmeline responds.
"You know, for two people who aren't together, you seem to be pretty... together."
"Oh, no honey. It's nothing like that."
"He didn't go home last night."
"Well, no, but he stayed in his room. I promise you, there's nothing going on. We've just known each other for a really long time."
"I mean, I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I just know that the way he looks at you is the way my dad used to look at my mom. I almost feel like I'm intruding or something when I see it."
"Meanwhile, he's at home with his family. Let's hit Chanel before they close?" she says, desperate to change the subject. She leads the way out of the store, giving Karen a minute to drop things in the car before they make their way into Chanel.
They end they day with dinner at Stevie's favorite place, and talk and watch TV for a while until the middle of the night.
"I think I'm going to go to sleep," says Emmeline.
"Alright. Goodnight, honey. Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm okay. Thanks for everything today, Stevie. This has been amazing."
"Of course," she says, smiling. "Sleep well," she says, hugging her goodnight. She considers going to bed herself, but starts flitting around the house picking things up. Just as she's about to go upstairs there's a knock at the door.
She approaches the door carefully and sees a disheveled Lindsey through the window. She opens the door, a concerned expression on her face as he comes inside.
"It's 3am. What on earth."
"Well, I told her."
