Vacation

Chapter 7

Once the men were safely out of earshot the girls proceded to gossip about the daftest of things before the unmistakeable sounds of footsteps on the stairs echoed into the kitchen causing the women to turn around and face the cause of the sound. Once the footsteps had to come to hault a little girl no older than 7 came into view hugging a minature version of shadow to her chest with one arm whilst the other was used to rub sleep out of her eyes.

"Grandma, I can't sleep it's too noisy Papa keeps shouting sat the TV again. He woked me up." Little Lizzie Monroe complained as she came into the middle of the kitchen and stood in front of her Grandma not noticing the other two women in the kitchen also. Whilst one stud in shock staring at the little girl the other had tear filled eyes as she gazed at her daughter of the first time in 2 years. Once Stella got over her shock and took a good long look at the little girl in Beth's arms she noticed she was the spit of Lindsay. Turning to Lindsay all she got was a tearful face from her colleague which confirmed all her suspisions of who's the child was.

"I know sweetie but it's football night and Papa is always like this so how about I make you some warm milk then Mommy can put you to bed." Beth cooed to her grandaughter. At the word mommy, Lizzie lifted her head off Beth shoulder and peered around the room before her eyes landed on Lindsay just before she squealed out "Mommy!" Leaping out of Beth's arms she immediately wrapped her arms around Lindsay's waist and clung to her. Lindsay bent down and scooped Lizzie up into her arms and twirled her around making her laugh and cling to her even tighter.

"Hello baby. How have you been? Have you been good for Grandma and Papa." Lindsay asked looking her daughter in the eye.

"Yes Mommy. I helped Papa in the wheatfields this morning he let me drive the tractor when we came back. It was so cool. I wish you had been there." Lizzie answered with excitement dancing in her eyes, the same which danced in Lindsay when they got a break in a case Stella noted.

"Well guess what?" Lindsay asked the grin on her face threatening to split her face.

"What Mommy?" Lizzie said with an identical grin on her face.

"I'm staying here for two weeks." Lindsay motioned by sticking up two fingers, and laughed when Lizzie copied her. "Then when I go back to New York i'm going to get your room sorted out and then your going to come live with me. How does that sound." Lindsay asked the little girl who was now bouncing about in her arms once her Mum had finished her little speech. When Lizzie continued to wriggle around in her arms Lindsay placed on her on the ground and bent down to her level when Lizzie motioned her to do so.

"Can I go tell Papa please Mommy?" Lizzie asked shyly.

"Course you can baby girl, but be careful Papa has his gun out cleaning it." Lindsay called after Lizzie as she ran straight in the lounge.

"Otay" Lizzie called back before she disappeared around the corner.

"Come on Linds spill. Cause i'm sure I just saw a little girl the spit of you run in here." Stella asked turning towards Lindsay once Lizzie was out of the room and Beth had left to go give her the warm milk.

"I had Lizzie and Todd when I was 23. When they were both about 5 or 6 months old their father Austin took Todd out to go get some milk and I had Lizzie at home because she was asleep whereas Todd was wide awake and I was hopeing the car ride would sooth him to sleep. What I didn't pay attention to was Austin had drinking before he got home, and then I sent him to the store I had no idea that he had drunk that much and on the way back he ran a red light and ended up in a ditch with with my little boy dead. The EMTs pronounced Todd dead on scence and Austin was Charged with DUI and has 3 years left on his sentence." Lindsay finished as her body was wracked with heartfelt anguished cries, that ripped through Stella as if they were her own. Gathering the young woman in her arms she let Lindsay cry out all of her hurt and anger which she had kept locked away for 7 long years.

"Shh kiddo. I'm sorry. So sorry. If I ahd known I wouldn't have asked. Shh." Stella whispered gently into Lindsay ear trying to calm her.This was only the second time she had ever seen Lindsay cry and it hurt her to know that this kind, loving and amazing person has had to deal with so much tragedy in her life.

"Thanks Stel it's been a long time since I have been able to talk Todd. This has just lifted a heavy weight off my chest. I hate lieing to you guys so this just makes everything that much easier" Lindsay said as she gradually calmed down from the tidal wave of emotions that assaulted her.