Lindsey couldn't resist. He followed the sound of Stevie's voice, which sounded much calmer and a lot more pleasant, compared to how she talked to him. Breathing slowly as to not make a sound, Lindsey stood just outside the open door. Stevie was likely not going to be pleased, but he just... he was drawn to go up that staircase.
"I know you're out there, Lindsey." Stevie said, she didn't sound annoyed or angry.
"I'm sorry that I've invited myself up here, I just..." Lindsey paused at the sight of Lily in Stevie's lap, while she worked on fixing the girl's hair. "Is that... is she..."
"She's mine." Stevie finished for him and kissed Lily's cheek before letting her go.
"Wow, I-" He kept struggling with what he wanted to say. "I mean, I knew you have children, but I've never- I've never seen you with them."
"She's my little miracle." Stevie smiled as she watched her daughter lose interest in the stranger in her room and go to her pile of toys. Her smile soon faded, though, when she lifted her eyes up to meet Lindsey's. Suddenly, she felt terrible. Lily was his daughter too, yet he had no clue. I can't just blurt it out, can I?
"She looks just like you." Lindsey bent over, when he noticed Lily reaching for a doll, which was too far away from where she sat, and handed it to her.
"Except for her daddy's eyes." Stevie wished to take those words back, she didn't mean to say them out loud.
He focused on Lily's bright blue eyes, then his gaze shifted over to Stevie. "She's beautiful." He said. "I sometimes wonder if it's not too late for me to have one of those." Lindsey added jokingly.
"One of those?" Stevie glared at him. "She's a human being, Lindsey."
"I know, I know. I was just kidding." He sighed and straightened up.
Now the guilt came. He was a father, she kept his daughter away from him. What kind of person was she? Who did something like that? For a moment, Stevie considered what would the worst thing be if she told him. He'd hate you. He would never forgive you.
"Stevie?"
"Hm?" She didn't realize she had zoned out. "What?"
"I asked, how old is she?"
He didn't even know his child's name. "She, Lily, is... 15 months. She came a little early."
Lindsey scratched his chin, seemingly deep in thought. "She looks, I don't know, older. But then again, I have no clue about babies and all that." He laughed lightly. "I didn't know kids at this age are able to do things."
He's missed out on so much already. Stevie gulped, looking away. Tell him. Tell him. Tell him. "How about we go back downstairs? I know that you don't like your coffee cold."
"Sure." Lindsey nodded and waited for Stevie to pick Lily off the floor. The doll he had given to her earlier slipped out of her little hand and he picked it up for her again. "Here."
Lily smiled shyly and turned to hide her face in the curve of her mother's neck.
