Stevie tries to move forward normally, but she's become so distant. She doesn't laugh. She doesn't sneak into my room late at night anymore. In fact, she barely lets me touch her. We're getting close to the Christmas break, and I really don't know what to expect while we're home. I'm going to have to make some visits to Kristen, some doctor's appointments, that sort of thing. She's actually been remarkably mature and easy to deal with on this, and I'm so grateful that she opted to not make our lives a living hell.
My mind isn't on the show at all tonight, and I stand on the side of the stage, watching the audience scream for an encore. One more song, and we're free. Two days off sounds like heaven, and I start to create a mental list of things to do in New York before I leave. Maybe I can convince Stevie to be around me long enough to go Christmas shopping with me. I always need help in that department.
I'm clearly lost in my thoughts, and she slips her hand into mine, bringing me back to the present. She's not looking at me, but she laces her fingers through mine as Chris sits at the piano and starts to play Songbird. Her eyes don't leave Christine, and I see her eyes fill with tears the second she gets to the chorus. She tilts her head back and takes a deep breath, trying not to let them spill over. I slip my arm around her and kiss her head, hugging her close to me.
"I love you," I say, just loud enough so only she can hear it. She squeezes her eyes shut, pushing the tears down her cheeks.
"Can we go now?"
"We have to bow," I say, wishing more than anything I could take her out of here. "I"ll go get the car ready," I say. It's the best I can do. She nods and I reluctantly let go of her to find Karen. "Karen?"
"Yes?"
"Stevie and I need our things ready to go when we get off the stage. Can you make sure everything is in a car and ready for us to go?"
"Why?"
"Please don't be a pain in my ass tonight. Stevie... needs to get out of here," I say vaguely.
She senses the urgency in my voice and decides to cooperate. "Okay. I'll meet you at the stage and help you escape."
I thank her and rush back to the stage just in time for Stevie to grab my hand again and walk back out for our final bow. She holds my hand while she says her farewell to the audience, her tone much more reserved than she usually is at this part of the show. I offer her my arm and lead her offstage, where Karen greets us and ushers us onto the cart that will take us to our car. Stevie hugs her goodbye, and I nod my thanks as I help Stevie up. We hear the rest of the crew spring to life behind us, getting ready to tear everything down before they go party.
She sits beside me silently, our hands resting in her lap. She looks a little pale. "I don't feel good," she says, acknowledging my prying stare.
"What's wrong?"
"I think I'm just exhausted."
"It's been a long few months. We only have two shows left."
She nods and waits for me to help her down. I put my hand on the small of her back and lead her to the car. "You'll stay with me tonight, right?"
"Of course."
Normally, we would have changed out of our stage clothes and she would have taken off her make up. It's a lot harder to be inconspicuous when we look like... well, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. I shield her as we hurry through the lobby, and suddenly she's almost in a full run. She eyes the elevator for a second and I push the button, but she darts into the ladies bathroom and disappears. She never uses public restrooms and we're almost to her room.
