I Can't Stop

Part 16

Only a couple of weeks were left before Fleetwood Mac were supposed to continue on with their tour. Stevie was partly excited to leave, she'd been weird around Don, Alice too actually, and she knew it, they had to feel it too, but she was also afraid of how things were going to be with Lindsey. He said, they were going to talk, but they hadn't yet. The rest of the stay at Mick's was awkward and Lindsey paid no attention to Stevie. She had been waiting for his call or even just a text, but nothing. She understood, he had to be hurting, badly, but she wished to see him before the band had to go out on the road again.

The door to Alice's room was slightly ajar, but Stevie knocked anyway. "Come in."

Pushing the door open, Stevie walked into her teenage daughter's room and gave her a small smile. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing." Alice shrugged, her eyes glued to her phone. "Just texting with Jared."

"How is he? He hasn't come around once since I've been back." Stevie asked, sitting down on Alice's bed. 

"His dad took him away for nearly the whole summer." Alice sighed, she was glad her boyfriend was spending time his father, but she'd been really missing him. "Jared's dad just had to move away, when his parents got divorced."

"Well, maybe he thought it was for the best." Stevie shrugged, sitting with her hands clasped together, looking around the room, focusing on pictures, hung on the walls. "Just think about when you get to see Jared again, you two will be inseparable."

"Mom, you're not here to talk about my boyfriend." Alice gave Stevie a look as she sat up against the headboard. "What's going on?"

"I, uh... nothing. I'm not really sure what to do with myself, since your father left." Don was disappointed that he had to join the Eagles for the tour almost as soon as Stevie came home, but it came as a relief to her. "When was the last time you took out your guitar out of its case?" Stevie asked, seeing it in the corner.

"It's been some time." Alice shrugged. "I don't think I'm very good at playing."

"Not yet. If you're anything like your father-" Stevie began and stopped herself, unsure of how to continue her thought. "I mean, music is in your blood."

"I used to enjoy learning with Lindsey a lot, but you guys have to keep touring." Alice rolled her eyes, then smiled, letting Stevie know she was only joking. "Maybe when you're back, I can continue on with my lessons."

A pained smile crossed Stevie's lips at the mention of Lindsey's name. "I'm sure he- he'd love to." She said, feeling her throat tighten. "Have you put up new pictures?" Stevie asked as she got up to inspect the ones she was sure hadn't been there before. 

"Yeah, a couple." Alice nodded, joining Stevie. "I found this-" She pointed to a particular frame. "In one of your many albums. I hope you don't mind that I took it."

"No, of course not."

Stevie couldn't look away. The picture was taken during the recording of Say You Will. The whole band pretty much lived together then, spouses and kids visited often. They had an impromptu singalong in the backyard, with the fire burning in the middle, everyone sat around it. In that particular frame, however, only Lindsey with his guitar in his lap and Alice in Stevie's were captured. Alice was around five years old, she was looking up at Stevie, who was looking down at her, Lindsey smiling at the both of them. Beautiful, bright smile. 

"Mom, are you okay?" Alice asked, laying a hand on Stevie's shoulder.

"I'm fine. I'm okay, why are you asking?" Stevie had to have zoned out for a while.

"Well, you're crying..." 

She hadn't realized. Stevie quickly wiped her tears away and forced a smile. "It's just... it was a very happy time." She sighed. "I- I'm sorry." She said and left, walking straight to her bedroom, closing the door behind her.