The rest of the week, Stevie cleaned the house, played with Summer and worked on some songs. As Saturday grew near, she begin to panic. She was going to meet with a producer for dinner. She didn't know what to wear or how to act. It had been so long. She still wrote but she hadn't performed in years.

She put Summer to bed, leaving the door ajar before going about her night time routine. She pinned up her hair, changed into pajamas and sat on the couch with Robin drinking wine and gossiping about old flames. The women were giggling, both suffering through some bad first and last dates.

"Oh, Steves, you will never believe me about this guy! He was convinced he was a pirate! He even had a parrot he took everywhere with him!"

"Wait...what?" Stevie burst into yet another fit of giggles. "Where did you meet him?"

"Some bar! I swear I must have been totally wasted when I agreed to go on a date with him!"

"You went on actual date? Oh no!"

"Oh yes! I dressed up and when I arrived, the parrot was on his shoulder!" Both women laughed hysterically, and Robin poured them each another glass.

"Oh, I shouldn't." Stevie told her, staring into her wine glass.

"We should at least finish the bottle. Then we can sleep it off." Robin said.

"My daughter..."

"...Is in good hands. We can both look out for her."

"Not if we're both drunk!"

"It will be alright." Robin told her and Stevie looked at her.

"Fine."

"That's my girl" Robin smiled.

"You know, sometimes I think you enjoy this a little too much."

"What do you expect? I missed you! You're my best friend and I rarely get to see you. For the past few years you've been in Phoenix. I'm glad you came back out here."

"You know why I left."

"I do, of course I do. Focusing on Summer was something you needed to do. To get away from all the bullshit with L--"

"Shh" Stevie said, cutting her off. "I don't want to think about it anymore. I want to wash that man right out of my memory. After all we had been through, for him to just..." she trailed off. "I'm not going to think about it."

"Good"

Stevie sipped her wine. "I'm glad to be back out here too. I missed you but I didn't realize how much until you visited. When you had to leave again, it upset me."

"Don't I know it! We were both crying as if we'd never see each other again!" Both women laughed.

"I bet we were quite the sight!" Stevie said with a smile but it faded.

"Something wrong?"

"I'm worried about tomorrow night. This producer...dressing up and being something other than mommy is..."

"Scary, I know, but you're going to do great. Put on some makeup, wear some perfume and look through my dresses if you want. You're going to impress him so you have nothing to worry about. You're a talented writer and singer and I think everyone here will remember that."

"I hope so" Stevie said.

Robin placed her hand over her friend's. "I know so"

"Well, I think it's time for bed" Stevie finished her wine and stood up slowly.

"Alright, sleep well."

"Thank you. You too." Stevie kissed Robin's cheek and went to her room. She looked at herself in the vanity mirror and sighed. She felt so plain when she looked at herself. It wasn't that she didn't think she was pretty, she had enough confidence to recognize that, but it was more that she didn't have a need to dress up for anything more than church with her parents on Christmas. She pulled herself from the vanity bench and into bed, pulling the covers over herself.

---

The next morning, Stevie was woken up by Summer jumping on her bed.

"Morning, mommy!" Summer said, still bouncing.

"Summer Ruby, it's too early for that much movement!" Stevie groaned.

"Robin made yummies!" The little girl plopped down on the bed. "Is your tummy grumbling yet?"

"Not yet, sweetheart." Stevie could feel Summer's face close to hers. She could feel her warmth. Slowly, Stevie grabbed her daughter and pulled her under the covers too, making her daughter giggle. "I've got you, little monster, and you have to stay with me forever."

"Mommy!" she squealed as the tickling continued. "Mommy! Mercy!"

Stevie giggled too and stopped tickling her. "Okay, mercy, but you have to cuddle with me for a while." The little girl relaxed in her mother's arms, sighing contently. "Do you like it here so far, baby?"

"Mm-hmm, and Robin is really fun to play with. She led me be the cowboy and she's the horse!"

Stevie stifled a laugh. "Oh, she does?"

"Yep!"

"Why don't I ever get to play cowboy with you?"

"Because I don't want to be the horse!"

"Okay, okay. You can be the the cowboy and I will be the horse."

"Deal!" Robin said coming through the door. "'Cause this old horse is pooped!" Summer leapt out of bed and joined her aunt in the doorway. "Food's gonna get cold if no one is going to eat"

"We're coming. I tried to get mommy out of bed but she's stubborn"

"Hey! I am not!" Stevie protested, pulling the covers back and sliding her feet into her soft slippers.

"You are too! Robin said so."

"Why I oughtta!" Stevie joked, balling up her first and shaking it in the air.

"Alright, alright, eat now and beat me up later...even though you know it's true."

Stevie laughed and followed her best friend and daughter to the kitchen. Summer dug in right away, making both of the women laugh. She was enthusiastic and always happy about one thing or another. It brought a smile to Stevie's face. She was nervous about what the evening would bring since she hadn't made up an excuse not to meet the producer...yet.