He didn't expect to hear her voice so soon, if at all. "I...I don't know what to say."

"That's okay, just listen then."

He was caught off guard by how straight forward she was. "Okay."

"Summer is my world, she's everything to me. I've raised her alone all her life. I want to explain everything to her but I don't want you to feel like I want to turn her against you. She knows nothing."

"Nothing?"

"She never asked and I never told." Stevie confirmed.

"Alright."

"And I want you to be involved. You haven't met her until today and part of me feels like that was wrong...I just couldn't, or maybe I wouldn't, track you down after what happened between us." She sighed, not wanting to let herself go back to that place. It was a dark spot in her life and she was past that, or so she hoped. "Please be serious about this. I don't want her to end up loving you and you leave again. I know that we all work but please..."

"I will be serious. I've thought about you both a lot over the years. I was convinced you hated me and I wouldn't blame you if you had. I want to start over or at least earn some of the respect and trust I lost, back."

"You really mean that?"

"Yeah" She could tell he was smiling, she could even tell when it faded. "Stevie...what we had was incredible. It was a little...tumultuous at times but what we had was real. I loved you and I loved our baby. I was stupid and I lost you and that's something I have to live with for the rest my life. All those years can't be returned to either of us." The line was silent. "I don't know what time your date is but I'm sure you ought to be getting ready." The sadness in his voice clung to her senses like vines on a trellis.

"It's not a date. It's just dinner. He wants me to come back to the studio."

"I want you back there too. You deserve to be back on the radio and all of your fans, including me, would love to hear you again."

"Don't be silly, I don't have any fans."

"You do, Stevie. The only reason people even wanted me after our record was dropped, was because of how you made me sound, not the other way around." He swallowed a lump in his throat. "Goodbye, Stevie."

"Bye, Linds" She hung up, feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She was fully prepared for him to be the same cocky jerk he always was since  the moment she saw him that day. She had wanted to tell him off, and make him feel just as bad as he had made her feel all those years ago but with this conversation, that need disappeared.

"Mommy?" a little voice said. "Can we play now?"

"Of course we can" Stevie said, smiling at the sight of her daughter. Her curly blonde hair was still a mess, her big brown eyes were wide and hopeful. Nothing got her daughter down. She could use a little of that energy now. Stevie looked at her in awe. Even though she was a carbon copy of her mother, sometimes she could see Lindsey.

The little girl flashed her a smile and led her up the stairs to her room. Lindsey. "Mama, sit down. Let me show you how to do it." Lindsey. Stevie took her place on the rug next to her daughter. Summer scooted closer and smiled at her again. Lindsey. "Let's see here..."

"What are you trying to figure out?"

"I'm working on this castle but it's not right yet. The queen and princess need a better home." Lindsey. Summer looked up at her mother and saw a tear slide down her cheek. "Don't ya think?" The curly haired little girl frowned. "Don't be sad, mommy, I'll fix it and it will be prettier next time. This is a...pro-prototype."

Stevie smiled. "And where did you hear that word?"

"I heard it on tv. It's like the first draft, Aunt Robin said."

"That's right. Gosh, you are so smart." Summer continued playing and Stevie was lost in thought. Everything was reminding her of Lindsey and she knew it was only the beginning. It always happened this way. No matter how many times they called it quits, they always got back together. Though she was angry or resentful for so long, and she vowed never to think about or look at that man again, she couldn't help but want to see him again. He seemed sincere this time and as she watched Summer construct a second version of her castle, she knew Lindsey would be proud to sit on this rug with her as well.

"Mommy?" Summer stopped, holding two blocks in her hands.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Who was the man outside? Was he really your friend?"

"He was my friend." Stevie began. "He was one of my very best friends and I haven't seen him for a long time."

"How come?"

"Well, he was traveling with a band, a rock and roll band, and he was playing guitar. We lost touch."

"Why didn't you go with him?"

"Because I was pregnant with you. I wanted to stay home and get your room ready and wash your tiny clothes..." Stevie remembered the preparation, how excited Lindsey had been and how he had promised to be back before the baby came. He would try to take breaks and come home so they could do the bulk of it together.

"Did he come back?"

"Not as much as I had liked, then one day..."

"What happened?"

"He didn't come back at all." Stevie felt herself getting emotional and took a deep breath.

"Why?" Summer climbed into her mother's lap. That always comforted both of them when either of them were upset.

"Sometimes life is funny. You can't always do the things you want to do or be with the ones you want to be with. Sometimes it's hard to love the ones you love the most." Summer looked confused. "But you don't have to worry about any of that stuff."

"I think that man loves you."

"Why do you think that?"

"He was gone for a long time...but then he came back."

"Yeah..."

"For you." Stevie looked down at her little girl, wrapping her arms around her. She squeezed her in a hug, kissing the top of her head.

"You never cease to amaze me, Summer Ruby Buckingham. Never, ever."