Story continues here
Another new start. I bet everyone is annoyed that I'm starting over again but it's a new part of the story and I think that needs a new start. Just like how a book series works.
No worries though, it will continue from All That Really Matters, you'll hardly notice a difference.
Another new start. I bet everyone is annoyed that I'm starting over again but it's a new part of the story and I think that needs a new start. Just like how a book series works.
No worries though, it will continue from All That Really Matters, you'll hardly notice a difference.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Chapter Seventy-five
"Back to reality." Richie sighed as they left the beach house. They were going home after their week in Hawaii.
"Back to work." Sarah sighed.
"Only for a little bit." Richie shrugged. "Three weeks this time."
The airport was another challenge for them with their small child. Just like last time, Daniel didn't like it one bit. It was too busy and too noisy.
Once on the plane, Daniel relaxed. He sat in his car seat and was perfectly happy there as long as he got to have his stuffed sheep close and one of his parents. Even at six months old, he knew who was around him and who wasn't. Daniel sat between his parents while the other five children sat alone.
"Is Ava going back to her mom when you go back on tour?" Sarah asked. She didn't want to seem like she wanted Ava to leave but she was still worried about what had happened at her mother's house.
"I hope so. I really hope Heather fixed it."
"What happened?" Sarah asked, she had asked a few times but Richie hadn't told her.
He sighed. "Ava doesn't want me telling anybody."
Sarah nodded. "I know but I'm worried. I keep imagining what could have happened. Is it something I went through? I'd feel terrible if it was something like that."
Richie sighed again as he should his head. "Maybe, sort of."
"What happened."
He looked around the cabin, spotting where Ava was sitting with her friend. "Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Of course not." Sarah agreed.
"Heather has a new boyfriend, I hope she broke up with him by now."
"Did he do anything to Ava?" Sarah asked immediately, wanting to know now before he got to explain everything.
"Not really but still. Ava says he looks at her funny and when they watch tv all together, he sits too close or he touches her. Like when we watch tv and I put my arm around you or stroke your back or something and it freaked her out. Which is totally acceptable cause no guy should be touching my girl like that or any girl like that if they don't want it."
"Does Heather know that's what happened?"
Richie nodded. "Yeah, she didn't believe it first." He sighed. "I can't believe I wasn't there for her when she needed me for this. This must have been why she didn't want me to go on tour."
"She's alright." Sarah reminded him. "She was her happy self the whole time she was at home."
"Yeah." He knew that but that didn't make it easier.
"If Daniel wasn't between us, I'd hug you."
At home they went straight back to the hussle and bussle of every day life.
Sarah figured out which chapters of her text books she would study during the next week. There were three days before Richie was leaving on Tuesday. She had left her studies for the time he was home. She had missed her husband while he was gone and had enjoyed each second of him while he was at home, some seconds more physical than others. It was just good to have him back.
When she heard Daniel cough violently and repeatedly, she left her planning for what it was to check on her son.
Richie had heard the sound too and had also come to his son's aide.
"That's getting more frequent. His first cold and it gets so bad." He said, feeling petty for his little boy.
Sarah smiled when Daniel caught his breath. "Over." She announced. "Just have to make sure he drinks and eats well."
"But he doesn't, he doesn't like his solid food." Richie said, now worried his son wasn't eating enough.
"That's why I still breastfeed him afterwards. Noah was just the same, don't worry about it." Gently she put her arms around her husband. A perfect little moment of his closeness.
The feeling of his wife hugging him, was there anything better in the world. This was where he wanted to be forever, with Sarah, close, in her arms. He gently kissed her. "I love you." He said before he kissed her again.
"Dad!"
He pulled back from the kiss but didn't let Sarah go to look at the entry way where his beautiful daughter stood with a piece of paper. He frowned.
"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt but I just found a letter from school." Ava explained.
"About?" Richie asked confused.
"About shots." She looked down to read the letter again. "Whooping cough, or something, was diagnosed by a couple of students and they tell parents to check their kids's immunity to it to prevent it from spreading."
"Ah." He didn't have a clue. "Guess we'll have to ask your mom if she knows."
"Don't you know? I don't want to get that."
"You'll be fine." Richie assured her. "So since you just found that, think you'll find last minute homework too?"
Ava smiled knowingly. "Maybe." She turned around and walked away.
Richie turned back to his wife. "Where were we?" He asked.
"Right in front of Daniel."
"I think he's really tired and wants to go to bed early."
"Do you?"
"He'll understand when he's older." He kissed her tenderly again.
"Back to work." Sarah sighed.
"Only for a little bit." Richie shrugged. "Three weeks this time."
The airport was another challenge for them with their small child. Just like last time, Daniel didn't like it one bit. It was too busy and too noisy.
Once on the plane, Daniel relaxed. He sat in his car seat and was perfectly happy there as long as he got to have his stuffed sheep close and one of his parents. Even at six months old, he knew who was around him and who wasn't. Daniel sat between his parents while the other five children sat alone.
"Is Ava going back to her mom when you go back on tour?" Sarah asked. She didn't want to seem like she wanted Ava to leave but she was still worried about what had happened at her mother's house.
"I hope so. I really hope Heather fixed it."
"What happened?" Sarah asked, she had asked a few times but Richie hadn't told her.
He sighed. "Ava doesn't want me telling anybody."
Sarah nodded. "I know but I'm worried. I keep imagining what could have happened. Is it something I went through? I'd feel terrible if it was something like that."
Richie sighed again as he should his head. "Maybe, sort of."
"What happened."
He looked around the cabin, spotting where Ava was sitting with her friend. "Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Of course not." Sarah agreed.
"Heather has a new boyfriend, I hope she broke up with him by now."
"Did he do anything to Ava?" Sarah asked immediately, wanting to know now before he got to explain everything.
"Not really but still. Ava says he looks at her funny and when they watch tv all together, he sits too close or he touches her. Like when we watch tv and I put my arm around you or stroke your back or something and it freaked her out. Which is totally acceptable cause no guy should be touching my girl like that or any girl like that if they don't want it."
"Does Heather know that's what happened?"
Richie nodded. "Yeah, she didn't believe it first." He sighed. "I can't believe I wasn't there for her when she needed me for this. This must have been why she didn't want me to go on tour."
"She's alright." Sarah reminded him. "She was her happy self the whole time she was at home."
"Yeah." He knew that but that didn't make it easier.
"If Daniel wasn't between us, I'd hug you."
At home they went straight back to the hussle and bussle of every day life.
Sarah figured out which chapters of her text books she would study during the next week. There were three days before Richie was leaving on Tuesday. She had left her studies for the time he was home. She had missed her husband while he was gone and had enjoyed each second of him while he was at home, some seconds more physical than others. It was just good to have him back.
When she heard Daniel cough violently and repeatedly, she left her planning for what it was to check on her son.
Richie had heard the sound too and had also come to his son's aide.
"That's getting more frequent. His first cold and it gets so bad." He said, feeling petty for his little boy.
Sarah smiled when Daniel caught his breath. "Over." She announced. "Just have to make sure he drinks and eats well."
"But he doesn't, he doesn't like his solid food." Richie said, now worried his son wasn't eating enough.
"That's why I still breastfeed him afterwards. Noah was just the same, don't worry about it." Gently she put her arms around her husband. A perfect little moment of his closeness.
The feeling of his wife hugging him, was there anything better in the world. This was where he wanted to be forever, with Sarah, close, in her arms. He gently kissed her. "I love you." He said before he kissed her again.
"Dad!"
He pulled back from the kiss but didn't let Sarah go to look at the entry way where his beautiful daughter stood with a piece of paper. He frowned.
"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt but I just found a letter from school." Ava explained.
"About?" Richie asked confused.
"About shots." She looked down to read the letter again. "Whooping cough, or something, was diagnosed by a couple of students and they tell parents to check their kids's immunity to it to prevent it from spreading."
"Ah." He didn't have a clue. "Guess we'll have to ask your mom if she knows."
"Don't you know? I don't want to get that."
"You'll be fine." Richie assured her. "So since you just found that, think you'll find last minute homework too?"
Ava smiled knowingly. "Maybe." She turned around and walked away.
Richie turned back to his wife. "Where were we?" He asked.
"Right in front of Daniel."
"I think he's really tired and wants to go to bed early."
"Do you?"
"He'll understand when he's older." He kissed her tenderly again.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Chapter Seventy-four
Richie laughed as he watched Noah lose balance on his surfboard and fell into the water.
They had been trying to surf for a while now but neither of them had stayed on their surfboard long enough to count it as real surfing.
Noah grabbed his board and swam over to Richie.
"This sucks." He complained.
"Why? It's fun." Richie disagreed.
"But I keep falling off the board."
"So?"
"Everyone on the beach is probably laughing."
"What does that matter?" Richie asked.
"I don't want to be laughed at, makes me feel like an idiot."
"Were you having fun trying to surf?"
Noah shrugged. "Sorta, I guess."
"So what does it matter what other people think? Come on, I'll go with you."
Richie grabbed his own board and started swimming into the ocean, making sure Noah was following.
"Ready to try again?" He climbed on top of his board, sitting astride it.
"Yeah sure." Noah agreed and climbed onto his own board, standing up.
Richie followed his example and tried to keep his balanced as a wave caught them.
He watched Noah who was ahead of him, he was still on the wave. It amazed him but it seemed like Noah had finally done it. The closer to the shore Noah got, the happier Richie was, misplacing his foot, he fell into the water but surfaced right in time to see Noah get all the way to the shore. He cheered, making everyone look at him.
"That was great." He said when he caught up with Noah.
"Yeah." Noah agreed, a bright smile on his face.
"Wanna go again?" Richie asked, sure Noah finally had found the fun in it.
Noah shrugged again. "Not really."
"Wanna go back to the house and read your book?"
"Yes." Noah answered a lot happier.
"So what is your book about?" Richie asked as they got out of the water.
Noah started explaining the whole series he was reading and had been reading for years. Their way home wasn't long enough to finish his explanation but when they walked into the house, he stopped talking.
Richie went to put their beach stuff away before he noticed Noah's silent retreat to the living room. Sarah and Daniel were watching tv and as a good husband, he kissed his wife.
"How's Danny?"
Sarah shrugged. "He won't sleep. I still think it his cold. I don't get why the doctor didn't prescribe anything. He obviously needs it."
He didn't know an answer. "He'll get better but yes, we should have been able to at least give him something to help him sleep. If it gets any worse we can find a doctor here."
Sarah hugged her little boy. "Just want him to get better."
After a while, Richie turned back to Noah. "Then what happened?"
The story Noah was telling him had caught his intrest. Not so much that he would read the seven books but now he wanted to know how it would end. The story was incredible, it had everything a good story needed. Love, drama, action, mystery and fantasy.
"What do you mean?" Noah asked confused. They hadn't talked since they got home.
"The books, what else happens."
"Oh. I don't know."
Richie frowned, knowing Sarah was listening. "How don't you know? You read the books."
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, so what happens next?"
Noah was still confused, nobody asked him about his book. Sometimes his mom and grandmother did but no one really cared. Richie was looking at him, waiting. Did he really care? What did that even matter? He got to talk about his books. Thinking back to where he had let off, he continued to tell the story until the pages he still had to read.
"The rest I still have to read." He confessed.
"Go read," Richie urged him, "I want to know what happens."
Noah took Richie's tease as serious and went upstairs right away.
"Got something to talk about?" Sarah asked after Noah had left.
"I had no idea what incredible stories are in his head." Richie was truly amazed. "Whoever wrote that is a genius."
Sarah chuckled. "You know he's not that social." She reminded him. "And speaking of genius authors, you write amazing songs, try singing one for your son so he can sleep." She moved Daniel from her lap to her husband's.
Richie stood up, holding his son close so Daniel laid his head on his shoulder. Combining Sarah's way of calming him down by soft dancing motions and his singing, he finally got Daniel to sleep.
"Finally." Sarah sighed relieved.
Richie sat down again, sitting close to her. "Every time I hold him, he's heavier or bigger. I can't believe he's almost sitting on his own now."
"Does it make you think back of Ava too?" Sarah asked. She often did the same with her sons.
"Yeah but Ava was a bit later. She was all chubby and cute though. Do you compare Daniel to Noah and Caleb?" He asked back.
"Noah." Sarah said determined. "They have a lot in common. Caleb was like Ava, bit later. Noah sat at 6 months, crawled at 8 and walked at 10. Daniel is just as fast now."
There were a lot more things that resembled Daniel to Noah and just as excited as Noah with his books, she told Richie about baby Noah. Who, just like Daniel, cried whenever a stranger held him and hated the transition to solid foods. Not to forget that the smallest change in routine, habits or surroundings could upset him too. Daniel wasn't even 6 months old but he already knew he wasn't at home now. The first night at the beach house had proven that.
An hour later Noah came back to the living room. "Finished the book." Without waiting for Richie's agreement, he told him the end of the book, including every detail he could think of and not minding when he had to refer to what he had explained earlier.
They had been trying to surf for a while now but neither of them had stayed on their surfboard long enough to count it as real surfing.
Noah grabbed his board and swam over to Richie.
"This sucks." He complained.
"Why? It's fun." Richie disagreed.
"But I keep falling off the board."
"So?"
"Everyone on the beach is probably laughing."
"What does that matter?" Richie asked.
"I don't want to be laughed at, makes me feel like an idiot."
"Were you having fun trying to surf?"
Noah shrugged. "Sorta, I guess."
"So what does it matter what other people think? Come on, I'll go with you."
Richie grabbed his own board and started swimming into the ocean, making sure Noah was following.
"Ready to try again?" He climbed on top of his board, sitting astride it.
"Yeah sure." Noah agreed and climbed onto his own board, standing up.
Richie followed his example and tried to keep his balanced as a wave caught them.
He watched Noah who was ahead of him, he was still on the wave. It amazed him but it seemed like Noah had finally done it. The closer to the shore Noah got, the happier Richie was, misplacing his foot, he fell into the water but surfaced right in time to see Noah get all the way to the shore. He cheered, making everyone look at him.
"That was great." He said when he caught up with Noah.
"Yeah." Noah agreed, a bright smile on his face.
"Wanna go again?" Richie asked, sure Noah finally had found the fun in it.
Noah shrugged again. "Not really."
"Wanna go back to the house and read your book?"
"Yes." Noah answered a lot happier.
"So what is your book about?" Richie asked as they got out of the water.
Noah started explaining the whole series he was reading and had been reading for years. Their way home wasn't long enough to finish his explanation but when they walked into the house, he stopped talking.
Richie went to put their beach stuff away before he noticed Noah's silent retreat to the living room. Sarah and Daniel were watching tv and as a good husband, he kissed his wife.
"How's Danny?"
Sarah shrugged. "He won't sleep. I still think it his cold. I don't get why the doctor didn't prescribe anything. He obviously needs it."
He didn't know an answer. "He'll get better but yes, we should have been able to at least give him something to help him sleep. If it gets any worse we can find a doctor here."
Sarah hugged her little boy. "Just want him to get better."
After a while, Richie turned back to Noah. "Then what happened?"
The story Noah was telling him had caught his intrest. Not so much that he would read the seven books but now he wanted to know how it would end. The story was incredible, it had everything a good story needed. Love, drama, action, mystery and fantasy.
"What do you mean?" Noah asked confused. They hadn't talked since they got home.
"The books, what else happens."
"Oh. I don't know."
Richie frowned, knowing Sarah was listening. "How don't you know? You read the books."
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, so what happens next?"
Noah was still confused, nobody asked him about his book. Sometimes his mom and grandmother did but no one really cared. Richie was looking at him, waiting. Did he really care? What did that even matter? He got to talk about his books. Thinking back to where he had let off, he continued to tell the story until the pages he still had to read.
"The rest I still have to read." He confessed.
"Go read," Richie urged him, "I want to know what happens."
Noah took Richie's tease as serious and went upstairs right away.
"Got something to talk about?" Sarah asked after Noah had left.
"I had no idea what incredible stories are in his head." Richie was truly amazed. "Whoever wrote that is a genius."
Sarah chuckled. "You know he's not that social." She reminded him. "And speaking of genius authors, you write amazing songs, try singing one for your son so he can sleep." She moved Daniel from her lap to her husband's.
Richie stood up, holding his son close so Daniel laid his head on his shoulder. Combining Sarah's way of calming him down by soft dancing motions and his singing, he finally got Daniel to sleep.
"Finally." Sarah sighed relieved.
Richie sat down again, sitting close to her. "Every time I hold him, he's heavier or bigger. I can't believe he's almost sitting on his own now."
"Does it make you think back of Ava too?" Sarah asked. She often did the same with her sons.
"Yeah but Ava was a bit later. She was all chubby and cute though. Do you compare Daniel to Noah and Caleb?" He asked back.
"Noah." Sarah said determined. "They have a lot in common. Caleb was like Ava, bit later. Noah sat at 6 months, crawled at 8 and walked at 10. Daniel is just as fast now."
There were a lot more things that resembled Daniel to Noah and just as excited as Noah with his books, she told Richie about baby Noah. Who, just like Daniel, cried whenever a stranger held him and hated the transition to solid foods. Not to forget that the smallest change in routine, habits or surroundings could upset him too. Daniel wasn't even 6 months old but he already knew he wasn't at home now. The first night at the beach house had proven that.
An hour later Noah came back to the living room. "Finished the book." Without waiting for Richie's agreement, he told him the end of the book, including every detail he could think of and not minding when he had to refer to what he had explained earlier.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Chapter Seventy-three
The hot sun was shining on his skin. He could feel the heat penetrate his skin, heating it up and bronzing it.
He could hear his wife chuckling and his son laughing. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked over the beach until he spotted them.
Sarah was sitting on the beach with Daniel between her open legs. They weren't in the water but with every wave the water would come up to Daniel's feet, which made him laugh his adorable laugh.
She looked happy playing with Daniel and for now he wanted to just watch. Sarah still looked gorgeous in her bikini. She always looked gorgeous, that's why he couldn't keep his eyes off or her and why he was so happy to just watch her. He loved how her body swayed as she moved.
He watched her get up, pick Daniel up and walk over to him.
As Sarah came back, Richie sat up in his lounge chair, wanting to hold his son.
Sarah passed Daniel over and Richie sat him in his lap.
"He's so big." He was amazed every time he held his son.
Sarah smiled at him as she sat down. "He's really growing."
Richie turned him around to look at him. The boy was cute, even in his swimming outfit. Match swimshorts and shirt and a hat to protect him from the sun.
"We should probably go back to the house soon. He'll be hungry and then he needs to nap." Sarah suggested. "His cold is getting better but don't want to make it worse by messing up his schedule."
They had been on the beach all morning so Richie didn't mind going back to their beach house. Being out in the sun wasn't so healthy for Daniel anyway. Soon the sun would be even warmer and sunburn would be even more possible.
Quickly he scanned the beach for the other children. They could stay longer if they wanted but they should be informed before they left.
He easily spotted Ava and her friend. More difficult was getting their attention. There was too much noise and distance for them to hear so they decided on the frantic wave until Ava noticed.
A little while later they were back at the beach house. Richie took Daniel as Sarah went to make lunch.
Carrying Daniel, he walked passed the family room, noticing Noah still on the couch where they had left him in the morning. Instead of going upstairs to change, he went to join his son.
"Everything okay?" He asked, again holding Daniel in his lap.
Noah looked up after a few seconds. "Yeah, fine."
"You didn't go to the beach."
He looked out of the large window with ocean view. "No."
"Why not?"
Noah shrugged. "Not really my kind of thing."
"Why didn't you go with Caleb then? You like surfing."
He shrugged again. "Caleb doesn't like when I tag along all the time. It's fine, found a marathon on TV."
"Why don't you take a book to the beach tomorrow?" Richie suggested. "Looking pale, no one will believe you went to Hawaii."
"Who?" Noah asked confused.
"I don't know, your friends, kids in your class."
Noah frowned at him, even more confused. "I don't have friends."
"So come to the beach with me tomorrow then." Richie tried again. "We can go surfing."
Noah shrugged.
"Your mom's making lunch if you want something to eat." Richie gave up and got up with Daniel, continuing his way upstairs.
Daniel was changed quickly and only a little while later the struggle of solid foods started again. The small boy definitely was not a fan.
After lunch, Richie got to spend more time with Daniel. His whole time off of work, Daniel had been his focus.
Taking him back upstairs, to the only room with a baby crib and changing table, he gently laid him down, changed his diaper and picked him up again to hug.
He had no idea how he was going to leave his son again next week.
They had a few more days to spend in Hawaii, just like the days before, he was goig to make the best of it. The rest of the day he'd spend with Daniel and tomorrow he was going surfing with Noah.
He could hear his wife chuckling and his son laughing. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked over the beach until he spotted them.
Sarah was sitting on the beach with Daniel between her open legs. They weren't in the water but with every wave the water would come up to Daniel's feet, which made him laugh his adorable laugh.
She looked happy playing with Daniel and for now he wanted to just watch. Sarah still looked gorgeous in her bikini. She always looked gorgeous, that's why he couldn't keep his eyes off or her and why he was so happy to just watch her. He loved how her body swayed as she moved.
He watched her get up, pick Daniel up and walk over to him.
As Sarah came back, Richie sat up in his lounge chair, wanting to hold his son.
Sarah passed Daniel over and Richie sat him in his lap.
"He's so big." He was amazed every time he held his son.
Sarah smiled at him as she sat down. "He's really growing."
Richie turned him around to look at him. The boy was cute, even in his swimming outfit. Match swimshorts and shirt and a hat to protect him from the sun.
"We should probably go back to the house soon. He'll be hungry and then he needs to nap." Sarah suggested. "His cold is getting better but don't want to make it worse by messing up his schedule."
They had been on the beach all morning so Richie didn't mind going back to their beach house. Being out in the sun wasn't so healthy for Daniel anyway. Soon the sun would be even warmer and sunburn would be even more possible.
Quickly he scanned the beach for the other children. They could stay longer if they wanted but they should be informed before they left.
He easily spotted Ava and her friend. More difficult was getting their attention. There was too much noise and distance for them to hear so they decided on the frantic wave until Ava noticed.
A little while later they were back at the beach house. Richie took Daniel as Sarah went to make lunch.
Carrying Daniel, he walked passed the family room, noticing Noah still on the couch where they had left him in the morning. Instead of going upstairs to change, he went to join his son.
"Everything okay?" He asked, again holding Daniel in his lap.
Noah looked up after a few seconds. "Yeah, fine."
"You didn't go to the beach."
He looked out of the large window with ocean view. "No."
"Why not?"
Noah shrugged. "Not really my kind of thing."
"Why didn't you go with Caleb then? You like surfing."
He shrugged again. "Caleb doesn't like when I tag along all the time. It's fine, found a marathon on TV."
"Why don't you take a book to the beach tomorrow?" Richie suggested. "Looking pale, no one will believe you went to Hawaii."
"Who?" Noah asked confused.
"I don't know, your friends, kids in your class."
Noah frowned at him, even more confused. "I don't have friends."
"So come to the beach with me tomorrow then." Richie tried again. "We can go surfing."
Noah shrugged.
"Your mom's making lunch if you want something to eat." Richie gave up and got up with Daniel, continuing his way upstairs.
Daniel was changed quickly and only a little while later the struggle of solid foods started again. The small boy definitely was not a fan.
After lunch, Richie got to spend more time with Daniel. His whole time off of work, Daniel had been his focus.
Taking him back upstairs, to the only room with a baby crib and changing table, he gently laid him down, changed his diaper and picked him up again to hug.
He had no idea how he was going to leave his son again next week.
They had a few more days to spend in Hawaii, just like the days before, he was goig to make the best of it. The rest of the day he'd spend with Daniel and tomorrow he was going surfing with Noah.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Chapter Seventy-two
The end of the road was finally there.
For now, at least but a two week break was exactly what he needed right now. To be with his beautiful wife and his wonderful children. Spring break would be soon and another family trip to Hawaii was unavoidable.
He was looking forward to it but there was one more show to play.
"Rich." Jon walked into the dressing room without being invited. "After Bed of Roses, you need to sing so I can take a break."
"What?" Richie asked surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah, just sing I'll Be There For You again. You're good at that one."
"Great." Richie agreed.
Jon handed over the a piece of paper with the setlist on. "Here and... well... Sorry about a few weeks ago."
Richie waved it off. "No problem, you were right. I am your guitar player, not the singer."
"Alright. See you on stage then."
An hour to go before the show, he was getting worked up quickly. The show would take at least 2 and a half hours. Tomorrow morning they would all fly home again.
After a few seconds of thinking, he got up from his chair in the dressing room. The past six weeks had been different from other tours. For some reason there was a lot of tension and even though Jon had apologized, Richie didn't believe it.
He walked out of the room and went to knock on Jon's door.
"It's open." Jon said from inside.
Unlike Jon had, Richie had at least waited for an answer. He opened the door and walked in. "What's going on?" Richie asked bluntly.
"What?" Jon asked confused.
"All of this, it's different from what it usually is. We don't hang out, we don't talk it's like we're avoiding each other."
Jon looked at him confused.
"Even before the tour started. Are you mad at me?"
Jon didn't answer, Richie kept staring at him, wanting an answer. Something needed to be explained.
"Well?" He asked again. "Are you?"
"No." Jon finally answered.
To Richie that didn't seem very honest but he took it, it was better than nothing. "So want to hang out? Talk some?"
"Sure." Jon agreed.
Richie took one of the bottles of water that were standing on the coffee table and sat down in a seat.
"So, how's the wife and kids?" Jon opened the conversation.
Richie looked up and frowned. "Daniel's got a cold."
"The first one?"
"Yeah, Sarah's pretty worried about but it's just a cold, you know. Happens all the time."
Jon nodded, agreeing. "Do you have more pictures of him?"
Confused Richie looked at him. Then realized, "right, you haven't even met him yet." He reached for his phone from his jeans pocket and went to the gallery to find Daniel's most recent pictures.
His phone was full of pictures of Daniel. Just Daniel or the boy with every family member. He passed the phone over to Jon.
"He's grown so much." Richie said as Jon was swyping his phone to see all the pictures.
"Yeah, I bet. I can remember Romeo being that little. Can't believe he'll be 9 at the end of the month."
Richie was amazed too. He too could remember Romeo being a baby. Time really went too fast.
"He's cute." Jon passed the phone back. "Poor kid got your looks." He teased.
Richie smiled, he was very proud Daniel looked like him.
Like he had hoped, Daniel's eye had darkened and were now a dark brown. His hair was still short but it was also darker than when he was born.
"Why don't you make a detour tomorrow and come visit us. You could finally meet him." Richie suggested. "You're the only one that hasn't met him yet."
"Good idea." Jon agreed.
The next morning, Richie wasn't flying home alone. For once, he had company. He also had the luxary to fly with Jon's private jet instead of a commercial airline.
"Richie?" Sarah asked from the living room as she heard the front door open although it was hard to hear over Daniel's cries. Who else could it be? She stoof up with Daniel and carried him. By the front door she met Richie and Jon. "Please get him to sleep." She passed Daniel over and took Richie's bag instead. "He hasn't slept all night, he's exhausted."
"I'll get him to sleep." Richie assured her, hugging his son, who finally calmed down.
Sarah finally noticed Jon and walked them both back to the living room.
"Why don't you go get some sleep?" Richie suggested, noticing how tired Sarah looked. If Daniel hadn't slept all night, she hadn't either.
Sarah smiled, so relieved by the idea itself. She kissed her husband. "I'm so glad you're home now." She said honestly. "I missed you."
"I'm home now, don't need to miss me anymore. Go get some sleep."
Daniel didn't slepe but was quiet as he laid with his daddy.
"Wanna hold him?" Richie suggested to Jon.
"Yeah sure." Jon said all too gladly. Who could resist babies?
Richie passed his son over but as soon as Jon was holding him, Daniel started crying all over again.
Jon tried to calm him, patting his back, rocking him but Daniel continued to cry. "Don't think he likes me." Jon said, sounding disappointed.
Then Richie realized. "No, he doesn't like strangers. I completely forgot, he does that every time when someone new holds him. After a few times he gets used to it."
"He knows who's holding him?" Jon asked but moved Daniel back to Richie.
He hugged his son again and he stopped crying. "I guess. He'll get used to it eventually."
After spending the whole day together, Richie was sure he had his best friend back. The tension seemed to have gone and they could finally talk again, simply hang out with each other.
For now, at least but a two week break was exactly what he needed right now. To be with his beautiful wife and his wonderful children. Spring break would be soon and another family trip to Hawaii was unavoidable.
He was looking forward to it but there was one more show to play.
"Rich." Jon walked into the dressing room without being invited. "After Bed of Roses, you need to sing so I can take a break."
"What?" Richie asked surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah, just sing I'll Be There For You again. You're good at that one."
"Great." Richie agreed.
Jon handed over the a piece of paper with the setlist on. "Here and... well... Sorry about a few weeks ago."
Richie waved it off. "No problem, you were right. I am your guitar player, not the singer."
"Alright. See you on stage then."
An hour to go before the show, he was getting worked up quickly. The show would take at least 2 and a half hours. Tomorrow morning they would all fly home again.
After a few seconds of thinking, he got up from his chair in the dressing room. The past six weeks had been different from other tours. For some reason there was a lot of tension and even though Jon had apologized, Richie didn't believe it.
He walked out of the room and went to knock on Jon's door.
"It's open." Jon said from inside.
Unlike Jon had, Richie had at least waited for an answer. He opened the door and walked in. "What's going on?" Richie asked bluntly.
"What?" Jon asked confused.
"All of this, it's different from what it usually is. We don't hang out, we don't talk it's like we're avoiding each other."
Jon looked at him confused.
"Even before the tour started. Are you mad at me?"
Jon didn't answer, Richie kept staring at him, wanting an answer. Something needed to be explained.
"Well?" He asked again. "Are you?"
"No." Jon finally answered.
To Richie that didn't seem very honest but he took it, it was better than nothing. "So want to hang out? Talk some?"
"Sure." Jon agreed.
Richie took one of the bottles of water that were standing on the coffee table and sat down in a seat.
"So, how's the wife and kids?" Jon opened the conversation.
Richie looked up and frowned. "Daniel's got a cold."
"The first one?"
"Yeah, Sarah's pretty worried about but it's just a cold, you know. Happens all the time."
Jon nodded, agreeing. "Do you have more pictures of him?"
Confused Richie looked at him. Then realized, "right, you haven't even met him yet." He reached for his phone from his jeans pocket and went to the gallery to find Daniel's most recent pictures.
His phone was full of pictures of Daniel. Just Daniel or the boy with every family member. He passed the phone over to Jon.
"He's grown so much." Richie said as Jon was swyping his phone to see all the pictures.
"Yeah, I bet. I can remember Romeo being that little. Can't believe he'll be 9 at the end of the month."
Richie was amazed too. He too could remember Romeo being a baby. Time really went too fast.
"He's cute." Jon passed the phone back. "Poor kid got your looks." He teased.
Richie smiled, he was very proud Daniel looked like him.
Like he had hoped, Daniel's eye had darkened and were now a dark brown. His hair was still short but it was also darker than when he was born.
"Why don't you make a detour tomorrow and come visit us. You could finally meet him." Richie suggested. "You're the only one that hasn't met him yet."
"Good idea." Jon agreed.
The next morning, Richie wasn't flying home alone. For once, he had company. He also had the luxary to fly with Jon's private jet instead of a commercial airline.
"Richie?" Sarah asked from the living room as she heard the front door open although it was hard to hear over Daniel's cries. Who else could it be? She stoof up with Daniel and carried him. By the front door she met Richie and Jon. "Please get him to sleep." She passed Daniel over and took Richie's bag instead. "He hasn't slept all night, he's exhausted."
"I'll get him to sleep." Richie assured her, hugging his son, who finally calmed down.
Sarah finally noticed Jon and walked them both back to the living room.
"Why don't you go get some sleep?" Richie suggested, noticing how tired Sarah looked. If Daniel hadn't slept all night, she hadn't either.
Sarah smiled, so relieved by the idea itself. She kissed her husband. "I'm so glad you're home now." She said honestly. "I missed you."
"I'm home now, don't need to miss me anymore. Go get some sleep."
Daniel didn't slepe but was quiet as he laid with his daddy.
"Wanna hold him?" Richie suggested to Jon.
"Yeah sure." Jon said all too gladly. Who could resist babies?
Richie passed his son over but as soon as Jon was holding him, Daniel started crying all over again.
Jon tried to calm him, patting his back, rocking him but Daniel continued to cry. "Don't think he likes me." Jon said, sounding disappointed.
Then Richie realized. "No, he doesn't like strangers. I completely forgot, he does that every time when someone new holds him. After a few times he gets used to it."
"He knows who's holding him?" Jon asked but moved Daniel back to Richie.
He hugged his son again and he stopped crying. "I guess. He'll get used to it eventually."
After spending the whole day together, Richie was sure he had his best friend back. The tension seemed to have gone and they could finally talk again, simply hang out with each other.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Chapter Seventy-one
A few days later, his two day trip home proved to not be beneficial for him. Now more than ever he missed home. Those two days had showed him how wonderful being at home was and tody he realized how far away he was from that.
Trying to get distracted, he turned on the radio in his quiet hotel room. Some music would easily cheer up his mood, music always did that and if it didn't, at least it wasn't so quiet.
Sitting down on the bed, a gentle tune started playing. He thought right, it was relaxing.
I'm sending this letter
I'll mail it today
There's so many things I've been wanting to say
Your mom sent some pictures
And my how you've grown
Rock n roll fathers are never at home
The relaxing mood was gone as his mind started realizing the truth in the song. He wanted to tell them all about his day, his shows, how great everything was. Just like the singer's wife, Sarah also sent daily pictures or tried to and Daniel had grown in every single picture. It was true, he was never at home. Right now he hadn't missed that much but looking to the rest of the tour... He wouldn't be home.
I'm writing this letter
I made you a song
I promised your mom that I'd write while I'm gone
You say daddy come home
Well you'll just have to wait
I hope when I get there that it won't be too late
The way Ava used to ask him when he was going to be home for her. The last line touched him most, he hoped he wasn't too late for Ava.
Skylar I just missed your first step today
I have no excuses and nothing to say
I live on a bus with a rock n roll band
I hope when your older that you'll understand
He chuckled, glad he wasn't on a tour bus anymore. With Ava in mind, he was glad that she understood, even at a young age she had already understood. Would Daniel? Did he want to risk missing Daniel's first step in a couple of months?
I'm coming home soon
This tour's almost through
I promise I'll try to spend more time with you
You say daddy come home
You'll just have to wait
I hope when I get there that it won't be too late
Soon, only a few more days. He'll be there for Ava and spend more time with her. Every day she was home, until he figured out what to do.
Now Madison Blue you know I love you too
Not a single day passes that I don't think of you
I'm running on empty and a mountain so high
I can pull out your pictures and look in your eyes
The lyrics reminded him of the photobook in his suitcase. Photos of his family, school pictures, Daniel's first picture. They were all with him.
I long for the day when your old man comes home
It kills me to hear you say daddy don't go
You say daddy come home
You'll just have to wait
I hope when I get there that it won't be too late
He could surive another two days. Two days wasn't much, very soon he'd be home.
Daddy's at work now he's trying to pay bills
Ego's and assholes are part of my deal
I make some money and I have some fun
The tax man he cometh and I'm back to square one
The song made him laugh unlike the rest had. Again they were very true, it was an endless circle. Even if this tour was after, he'd be going back on tour when the next album came out, although he could wait for that. Some time off, is what he needed.
Don't worry 'bout your daddy
You girls be good
Give a kiss to your mother
I sure wish I could
This life has it's moments
I'm not always sad
Take care and I love you
Your rock n roll dad
In a flash, he picked up the phone and called home immediately.
Trying to get distracted, he turned on the radio in his quiet hotel room. Some music would easily cheer up his mood, music always did that and if it didn't, at least it wasn't so quiet.
Sitting down on the bed, a gentle tune started playing. He thought right, it was relaxing.
I'm sending this letter
I'll mail it today
There's so many things I've been wanting to say
Your mom sent some pictures
And my how you've grown
Rock n roll fathers are never at home
The relaxing mood was gone as his mind started realizing the truth in the song. He wanted to tell them all about his day, his shows, how great everything was. Just like the singer's wife, Sarah also sent daily pictures or tried to and Daniel had grown in every single picture. It was true, he was never at home. Right now he hadn't missed that much but looking to the rest of the tour... He wouldn't be home.
I'm writing this letter
I made you a song
I promised your mom that I'd write while I'm gone
You say daddy come home
Well you'll just have to wait
I hope when I get there that it won't be too late
The way Ava used to ask him when he was going to be home for her. The last line touched him most, he hoped he wasn't too late for Ava.
Skylar I just missed your first step today
I have no excuses and nothing to say
I live on a bus with a rock n roll band
I hope when your older that you'll understand
He chuckled, glad he wasn't on a tour bus anymore. With Ava in mind, he was glad that she understood, even at a young age she had already understood. Would Daniel? Did he want to risk missing Daniel's first step in a couple of months?
I'm coming home soon
This tour's almost through
I promise I'll try to spend more time with you
You say daddy come home
You'll just have to wait
I hope when I get there that it won't be too late
Soon, only a few more days. He'll be there for Ava and spend more time with her. Every day she was home, until he figured out what to do.
Now Madison Blue you know I love you too
Not a single day passes that I don't think of you
I'm running on empty and a mountain so high
I can pull out your pictures and look in your eyes
The lyrics reminded him of the photobook in his suitcase. Photos of his family, school pictures, Daniel's first picture. They were all with him.
I long for the day when your old man comes home
It kills me to hear you say daddy don't go
You say daddy come home
You'll just have to wait
I hope when I get there that it won't be too late
He could surive another two days. Two days wasn't much, very soon he'd be home.
Daddy's at work now he's trying to pay bills
Ego's and assholes are part of my deal
I make some money and I have some fun
The tax man he cometh and I'm back to square one
The song made him laugh unlike the rest had. Again they were very true, it was an endless circle. Even if this tour was after, he'd be going back on tour when the next album came out, although he could wait for that. Some time off, is what he needed.
Don't worry 'bout your daddy
You girls be good
Give a kiss to your mother
I sure wish I could
This life has it's moments
I'm not always sad
Take care and I love you
Your rock n roll dad
In a flash, he picked up the phone and called home immediately.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Chapter Seventy
The next day Richie had mixed feelings about being home for a few days.
Mostly because he needed to leave again. He'd rather stay home with his family at the moment. Daniel's doctor appointment had gone smoothly which was reassuring to Sarah. What made him furios was why Ava wasn't staying at her mother's house. He didn't mind she was staying with him but would have liked it like that in a happier way.
After talking to Ava, he had to talk to Heather too. There was no way around that. Ava wasn't going to do it so it became his responsibily. Having promised Ava not to tell the reason, made it hard to explain to Heather why her daughter didn't want to come home but in the end Heather agreed. Ava would stay at home with Sarah until he got back from the tour next week. Only a week left in the tour and they'd have a break.
Other than that he arranged their trip to Hawaii. Daniel would be old enough to play in the water. Toys. They needed toys for him before they left.
He spent the entire day with Daniel, teenagers were at school and Sarah was resting as he had told her to. She deserved a little time off and he simply wanted time with Daniel.
He was having great fun, simply playing peek-a-boo with Daniel but the baby boy wasn't as excited or just wasn't interested.
Then he remembered everything Sarah had told him. Putting Daniel in his playpen so he was safe, Richie quickly left the room.
Once he returned with his guitar and put it down safely, he looked at his baby boy and noticed a cat curled up right next to him while Daniel was trying to move around, the cat didn't mind. Thinking about Daniel's safety, he picked up the cat, stroked it's back and put it down on the floor. It looked at him with a questioning gaze and walked away.
Daniel was still moving around. It was great to see his son roll over to his belly, back to his back seemed more difficult. He was making so much progess. It sucked that he hadn't seen him do it the first time. He wanted to see his son reach all his milestones, rather than hearing about them over the phone.
He sat Daniel down in his chair and sat down on the couch with his guitar. Sarah had said that Daniel liked music, so why not give it a try. He strummed a cord and Daniel looked over at him immediately. The tone had caught his attention.
As he continued to play, the change in Daniel became obvious. He loved it.
So amazed that a baby could enjoy music that much, he continued playing.
Sure, he had hoped one of his children would inherit his love for music but didn't think it would be at such a young age. Ava wasn't interested until she was five or six. Daniel wasn't even close to that. Amazing.
Softly Sarah tapped on the door frame, making Richie looked up at her with a smile.
"He loves it." He said as happily as he was amazed.
Sarah smiled back, happy to see him so happy. "I know. He likes when you dance with him too."
Richie looked back at Daniel. "Does he?"
"Yeah, I put on a nice calm song, hold him and just move around like slow dancing." She explained as she sat down next to her husband. "It relaxes him that way."
"I didn't know he liked it this much."
"Maybe you'll get to teach him to play guitar in a few years."
"Oh yes." Richie said excited. "I can get him one of those little guitars, that'd be the perfect size. Then he could really learn to play. He would love that so much."
"Honey, he's hardly five months old. It'll be a while."
Richie smiled. "I know. I can't wait for that part."
He continued his fatherly duties throughout the day, feeding Daniel, getting him to sleep for naps and playing with him.
It wasn't comparable with what he did on stage because it were two very different things, but it made him just as happy.
In the evening he did ask for Sarah's help. Daniel needed a bath and he wasn't so sure if he could do that on his own.
After getting Daniel to sleep, he dedicated his evening to his other children. Noticing how all of them were growing up too fast but Ava most of all. Now even more than ever, he realized how his little girl wasn't so little anymore or at all.
Once in bed, he snuggled close to Sarah, not believing he had to leave her again the next day, he kissed her lips softly but soon got distracted by the rest of her body. He had missed every inch of her beauty.
His lips covered almost every inch of skin he could kiss while he travelled down to her chest, wrapping his lips around a nipple and gently sucking it.
Sarah gasped in delight as he did and her fingers disappeared into his hair, holding him there.
Richie only moved to get to her other breast, his hand cupping the one he had just left, making sure it would still get attention, he played with her nipple so it stood erect the entire time.
Soon enough he could feel something else starting to stand erect too, lying so close to Sarah he was sure she could feel it too.
Richie was right and Sarah's hand snaked down between them, wrapping around his semi-hard cock, playing him until he stood up straight.
"I love you." He said as he rolled her to her back and moved above her, getting in place.
"I love you too."
With that he carefully moved inside her until he was fully within her walls, already she tensed around him. He thrusted slowly, feeling her tremble with every stroke he made.
Sarah tried to keep it off, with him an orgasm felt even better, she wanted to go at the same time as Richie did. She held his shoulders and pulled him down on top of her, kissing him passionately, not wanting it to end again.
Richie's thrusts sped up as he kissed Sarah, he tried to keep it slow but with Sarah trembling underneath him he couldn't hold back either, her kiss made it even harder.
A few more thrusts and they both found their releas.
When they caught their breath, Richie rolled off of her and pulled her close next to him to hold and cuddle.
The next morning came much too soon.
Mostly because he needed to leave again. He'd rather stay home with his family at the moment. Daniel's doctor appointment had gone smoothly which was reassuring to Sarah. What made him furios was why Ava wasn't staying at her mother's house. He didn't mind she was staying with him but would have liked it like that in a happier way.
After talking to Ava, he had to talk to Heather too. There was no way around that. Ava wasn't going to do it so it became his responsibily. Having promised Ava not to tell the reason, made it hard to explain to Heather why her daughter didn't want to come home but in the end Heather agreed. Ava would stay at home with Sarah until he got back from the tour next week. Only a week left in the tour and they'd have a break.
Other than that he arranged their trip to Hawaii. Daniel would be old enough to play in the water. Toys. They needed toys for him before they left.
He spent the entire day with Daniel, teenagers were at school and Sarah was resting as he had told her to. She deserved a little time off and he simply wanted time with Daniel.
He was having great fun, simply playing peek-a-boo with Daniel but the baby boy wasn't as excited or just wasn't interested.
Then he remembered everything Sarah had told him. Putting Daniel in his playpen so he was safe, Richie quickly left the room.
Once he returned with his guitar and put it down safely, he looked at his baby boy and noticed a cat curled up right next to him while Daniel was trying to move around, the cat didn't mind. Thinking about Daniel's safety, he picked up the cat, stroked it's back and put it down on the floor. It looked at him with a questioning gaze and walked away.
Daniel was still moving around. It was great to see his son roll over to his belly, back to his back seemed more difficult. He was making so much progess. It sucked that he hadn't seen him do it the first time. He wanted to see his son reach all his milestones, rather than hearing about them over the phone.
He sat Daniel down in his chair and sat down on the couch with his guitar. Sarah had said that Daniel liked music, so why not give it a try. He strummed a cord and Daniel looked over at him immediately. The tone had caught his attention.
As he continued to play, the change in Daniel became obvious. He loved it.
So amazed that a baby could enjoy music that much, he continued playing.
Sure, he had hoped one of his children would inherit his love for music but didn't think it would be at such a young age. Ava wasn't interested until she was five or six. Daniel wasn't even close to that. Amazing.
Softly Sarah tapped on the door frame, making Richie looked up at her with a smile.
"He loves it." He said as happily as he was amazed.
Sarah smiled back, happy to see him so happy. "I know. He likes when you dance with him too."
Richie looked back at Daniel. "Does he?"
"Yeah, I put on a nice calm song, hold him and just move around like slow dancing." She explained as she sat down next to her husband. "It relaxes him that way."
"I didn't know he liked it this much."
"Maybe you'll get to teach him to play guitar in a few years."
"Oh yes." Richie said excited. "I can get him one of those little guitars, that'd be the perfect size. Then he could really learn to play. He would love that so much."
"Honey, he's hardly five months old. It'll be a while."
Richie smiled. "I know. I can't wait for that part."
He continued his fatherly duties throughout the day, feeding Daniel, getting him to sleep for naps and playing with him.
It wasn't comparable with what he did on stage because it were two very different things, but it made him just as happy.
In the evening he did ask for Sarah's help. Daniel needed a bath and he wasn't so sure if he could do that on his own.
After getting Daniel to sleep, he dedicated his evening to his other children. Noticing how all of them were growing up too fast but Ava most of all. Now even more than ever, he realized how his little girl wasn't so little anymore or at all.
Once in bed, he snuggled close to Sarah, not believing he had to leave her again the next day, he kissed her lips softly but soon got distracted by the rest of her body. He had missed every inch of her beauty.
His lips covered almost every inch of skin he could kiss while he travelled down to her chest, wrapping his lips around a nipple and gently sucking it.
Sarah gasped in delight as he did and her fingers disappeared into his hair, holding him there.
Richie only moved to get to her other breast, his hand cupping the one he had just left, making sure it would still get attention, he played with her nipple so it stood erect the entire time.
Soon enough he could feel something else starting to stand erect too, lying so close to Sarah he was sure she could feel it too.
Richie was right and Sarah's hand snaked down between them, wrapping around his semi-hard cock, playing him until he stood up straight.
"I love you." He said as he rolled her to her back and moved above her, getting in place.
"I love you too."
With that he carefully moved inside her until he was fully within her walls, already she tensed around him. He thrusted slowly, feeling her tremble with every stroke he made.
Sarah tried to keep it off, with him an orgasm felt even better, she wanted to go at the same time as Richie did. She held his shoulders and pulled him down on top of her, kissing him passionately, not wanting it to end again.
Richie's thrusts sped up as he kissed Sarah, he tried to keep it slow but with Sarah trembling underneath him he couldn't hold back either, her kiss made it even harder.
A few more thrusts and they both found their releas.
When they caught their breath, Richie rolled off of her and pulled her close next to him to hold and cuddle.
The next morning came much too soon.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Chapter Sixty-nine
Instead of returning to the hotel and staying there like the rest of the band, Richie packed up his things into his suitcase. Laptop, phone and book all went into his leather shoulder bag.
A few minutes later, he was outside the hotel waiting for a driver. He was going home. Only for two days but nevertheless, going home. By trying to catch a flight now, he hoped to win some time. This way he'd be there when everyone woke up instead of the afternoon.
When the car arrived, he quickly put the suitcase in the trunk and pulled the shoulder bag along into the back seat.
"There are no flights to Los Angeles anymore tonight. The earliest in the morning is at 7:15 am."
Richie sighed. "That's not early enough, I need it now."
"I can only help you with a flight in the morning, sir. Perhaps another company still flies."
He looked around, there were tons of different airline companies. He prefered using the same one each time but now he had to trust another company. "Thanks anyway." He grabbed the handle bar of his suitcase and went to look at the flight schedules. There had to be something to L.A.
After a long while of trying to read the schedule, because they kept changing screens, he finally found one that said LAX. He looked around for the airlines logo to check in.
His watch read 0:28 and the schedule had read 1:09. He had until 0:39 to be checked in on time. Eleven short minutes.
Finally he spotted the right company and hurried over to the desk.
"I need to get to LAX now." He stated.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do." The lady smiled up at him and started typing.
Instead of waiting quietly, he continued talking. "I've been away from home for a month so Im gonna surprise my wife and kids. We just had a baby in October, he's only 4 months old. Bet he missed me."
The lady smiled back up at him. "I bet he has. There's a flight at 1:09, check in end in six minutes so you'll need to hurry."
"Sure, get that." He said quickly, already looking for ID and a credit card while she typed. He handed it over and she typed the information.
"There's only two seats left in econemy."
He frowned. There was no other way. "Sure."
She continued typing and checked him in, along with baggage and handed him his boarding card and a tag for his carry-on. "Have a nice flight."
"Thank you so much." He said relieved.
By the time he arrived at the gate, boarding had already started but at least he was on time.
Once he sat in his seat with hardly any leg room, he could relax. Only three hours and he would be home. If he'd sleep some now, he'd still be able to sleep with Sarah and wake up at a decent time in the morning.
"Sir?"
He woke up to someone shaking his shoulder.
"Sir? We've landed."
Feeling stupid for sleeping that long, he thanked the stewardess and gathered his stuff to follow the rest of the passengers.
Not having called for a driver, he took a taxi home. Just like flying in econemy class, he didn't like it but right now it was his only option.
Seeing his house gave him a very happy feeling. Home.
He left the suitcase by the staircase, dropping his bag on top of it. He kicked off his shoes and started up the stairs, excited to be home.
Before going to bed, he quickly peeked into Daniel's room. The boy was sound asleep in his bed. He had perfectly adjusted to sleeping the entire night. His son looked peaceful, his hands as fists at either side of his head, his face turned to his stuffed animals on the side.
A few minutes later, he was finally able to go to sleep like everybody else in the house.
Morning came too early. Daniel was up and it had to be heared.
Next to him Sarah got up to get the baby. Richie pulled the sheets tighter around him.
Sarah got back in bed and started feeding Daniel his breakfast. She looked over at Richie. "I'm glad you came home early."
"I missed you." He answered honestly.
"I scheduled a doctor's appointment for Daniel in a few hours so now you can come with me." Sarah explained.
Richie frowned. "More shots?"
Sarah shook her head gently. "Think he's got a bit of a cold. I'm not sure but something is bothering him."
Richie nodded, it wasn't the perfect way to spend time with his son but he'd gladly be there for him.
Again he was happy he had spend most of the night travelling. He could take his son to a doctor's appointment rather than just being informed about it afterwards.
After school he would be able to talk to Ava to try and figure out what was wrong. He needed to know what was bothering his little girl so much that she didn't want to stay at her mom's.
Being home, he could give Sarah a day off so she could relax and he could be daddy for a while. Something he loved to do but had missed out on during the last few weeks.
The tour only had a few more days before a break. He'd be able to finalize their vacation plans to Hawaii and get everything in order. That way it would be a breeze in two weeks.
It would all be worth missing a few hours of sleep but it would all be over too soon.
A few minutes later, he was outside the hotel waiting for a driver. He was going home. Only for two days but nevertheless, going home. By trying to catch a flight now, he hoped to win some time. This way he'd be there when everyone woke up instead of the afternoon.
When the car arrived, he quickly put the suitcase in the trunk and pulled the shoulder bag along into the back seat.
"There are no flights to Los Angeles anymore tonight. The earliest in the morning is at 7:15 am."
Richie sighed. "That's not early enough, I need it now."
"I can only help you with a flight in the morning, sir. Perhaps another company still flies."
He looked around, there were tons of different airline companies. He prefered using the same one each time but now he had to trust another company. "Thanks anyway." He grabbed the handle bar of his suitcase and went to look at the flight schedules. There had to be something to L.A.
After a long while of trying to read the schedule, because they kept changing screens, he finally found one that said LAX. He looked around for the airlines logo to check in.
His watch read 0:28 and the schedule had read 1:09. He had until 0:39 to be checked in on time. Eleven short minutes.
Finally he spotted the right company and hurried over to the desk.
"I need to get to LAX now." He stated.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do." The lady smiled up at him and started typing.
Instead of waiting quietly, he continued talking. "I've been away from home for a month so Im gonna surprise my wife and kids. We just had a baby in October, he's only 4 months old. Bet he missed me."
The lady smiled back up at him. "I bet he has. There's a flight at 1:09, check in end in six minutes so you'll need to hurry."
"Sure, get that." He said quickly, already looking for ID and a credit card while she typed. He handed it over and she typed the information.
"There's only two seats left in econemy."
He frowned. There was no other way. "Sure."
She continued typing and checked him in, along with baggage and handed him his boarding card and a tag for his carry-on. "Have a nice flight."
"Thank you so much." He said relieved.
By the time he arrived at the gate, boarding had already started but at least he was on time.
Once he sat in his seat with hardly any leg room, he could relax. Only three hours and he would be home. If he'd sleep some now, he'd still be able to sleep with Sarah and wake up at a decent time in the morning.
"Sir?"
He woke up to someone shaking his shoulder.
"Sir? We've landed."
Feeling stupid for sleeping that long, he thanked the stewardess and gathered his stuff to follow the rest of the passengers.
Not having called for a driver, he took a taxi home. Just like flying in econemy class, he didn't like it but right now it was his only option.
Seeing his house gave him a very happy feeling. Home.
He left the suitcase by the staircase, dropping his bag on top of it. He kicked off his shoes and started up the stairs, excited to be home.
Before going to bed, he quickly peeked into Daniel's room. The boy was sound asleep in his bed. He had perfectly adjusted to sleeping the entire night. His son looked peaceful, his hands as fists at either side of his head, his face turned to his stuffed animals on the side.
A few minutes later, he was finally able to go to sleep like everybody else in the house.
Morning came too early. Daniel was up and it had to be heared.
Next to him Sarah got up to get the baby. Richie pulled the sheets tighter around him.
Sarah got back in bed and started feeding Daniel his breakfast. She looked over at Richie. "I'm glad you came home early."
"I missed you." He answered honestly.
"I scheduled a doctor's appointment for Daniel in a few hours so now you can come with me." Sarah explained.
Richie frowned. "More shots?"
Sarah shook her head gently. "Think he's got a bit of a cold. I'm not sure but something is bothering him."
Richie nodded, it wasn't the perfect way to spend time with his son but he'd gladly be there for him.
Again he was happy he had spend most of the night travelling. He could take his son to a doctor's appointment rather than just being informed about it afterwards.
After school he would be able to talk to Ava to try and figure out what was wrong. He needed to know what was bothering his little girl so much that she didn't want to stay at her mom's.
Being home, he could give Sarah a day off so she could relax and he could be daddy for a while. Something he loved to do but had missed out on during the last few weeks.
The tour only had a few more days before a break. He'd be able to finalize their vacation plans to Hawaii and get everything in order. That way it would be a breeze in two weeks.
It would all be worth missing a few hours of sleep but it would all be over too soon.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Chapter Sixty-eight
Richie frowned at the incoming call on his phone. Sarah was calling him but usually he was calling her. He answered the call and held the phone by his ear.
"What's wrong?" He asked straight away.
"Why do you think anything's wrong?"
"Because I know you don't want to bother me while I'm working so you usually wait for me to call. Is everything okay?"
Sarah chuckled. "You know me well."
"I do." Richie agreed but noticed Sarah had avoided the question twice now. "So there is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure." She sighed deeply.
"Tell me." He was starting to get worried now.
"Ava showed up a little while ago."
Richie frowned, confused. "At home?"
"I don't mind her being here but she just showed up and went to her room, she hasn't come down to talk. I don't know." Sarah tried to explain to him.
More worried, he continued with questions. "How did she get there? Did Heather drop her off?"
Sarah shook her head. "No, Caleb left a while ago and when he came back Ava was with him. I guess he picked her up."
"But neither has said anything?" Richie guessed.
"I asked Caleb but he says he can't tell because he promised Ava he wouldn't."
Richie nodded even though he was getting more worried by the second. "Wait, does Heather even know she's there?"
"I don't know." Sarah sighed. "I don't know what to do. What if they had a fight and Ava just doesn't want to see her or what if Heather really doesn't know Ava's here? You need to talk to her." She sighed again, she had no clue what to do. Ava didn't want to talk and if anything was wrong, the last thing Sarah wanted to do was pushing her stepdaughter into talking.
"Yeah, I'll phone her." Richie agreed. "I'll call you back afterwards?"
"Thank you."
After saying goodbye and ending the phone call, Sarah looked at the staircase, hoping Richie was phoning his daughter at the moment.
The fact that Ava wouldn't talk, had her very worried. She knew all too well how bottling every emotion up could end up badly. Even if it was unpleasant, it was better to talk about the matter so somebody could support and help, and possibly prevent.
Two more weeks and Richie would be home. Hopefully those weeks would fly by. The last month had been harder on her than she had expect. Now with the added worrying about Ava, she wanted her husband home as soon as possible. Two weeks seemed far too long.
A while later, she heard footsteps on the stairs. Turning around to see who it was, she saw Ava walking into the room. The girl was beautiful, her ever present smile was her best accessory but it seemed to have gone lost.
Ava sat on the couch next to Sarah, reaching out to stroke Daniel's darkening hair.
"Want to hold him?" Sarah suggested as she watched her stepdaughter's tender gesture.
A little smile formed on Ava's lips. "Sure."
Sarah carefully passed Daniel over.
After she had made sure she had a firm hold on him, Ava looked up. "You called dad?"
Sarah nodded. "Yes." She wasn't going to lie about it. If she wanted Ava to trust her with problems, she couldn't lie.
"I thought so. It's okay, we talked."
"Did that help?" Sarah wanted to know.
Ava shrugged and looked down at her baby brother laying in her lap.
"You don't want to tell me?" Sarah tried again.
Ava looked away. "I'm sorry."
Sarah looked up at her. "Don't be. I understand but you told your dad about it?"
"Yeah but I don't want you to ask him about it."
"I won't. As long as I know, you talked to somebody about it, I know you're not bottling it up."
"Okay." Ava agreed. "Can I stay 'til dad gets home?"
Sarah frowned. "You want to stay that long? You can always stay here but your mom needs to know. That's all, if it were up to me, you could stay here as long as you needed." She hoped Ava understood she was trying to be supportive. She only wanted Ava to be happy and if staying here made her happy, she wouldn't send Ava away.
Just as Richie loved her sons, she loved Ava just as much. A daughter she didn't have herself. Unlike Richie she wasn't able to adopt but that didn't mean she loved Ava any less.
"Have you had dinner?" Sarah asked, changing the subject completely.
Ava shook her head. "But I'll help making it." She offered.
The next half hour Sarah spent in the kitchen with Ava and Daniel. Ava helped preparing dinner as Daniel sat in his bouncer chair, laughing every time he bounced.
Letting Ava help, gave her a secure feeling that everything would be alright. She was a teenage girl, it was most likely she had had a fight with her mother and wanted to be out of the house for a while to cool down.
By tomorrow she'd probably want to go home again. There wasn't anything to worry about.
"What's wrong?" He asked straight away.
"Why do you think anything's wrong?"
"Because I know you don't want to bother me while I'm working so you usually wait for me to call. Is everything okay?"
Sarah chuckled. "You know me well."
"I do." Richie agreed but noticed Sarah had avoided the question twice now. "So there is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure." She sighed deeply.
"Tell me." He was starting to get worried now.
"Ava showed up a little while ago."
Richie frowned, confused. "At home?"
"I don't mind her being here but she just showed up and went to her room, she hasn't come down to talk. I don't know." Sarah tried to explain to him.
More worried, he continued with questions. "How did she get there? Did Heather drop her off?"
Sarah shook her head. "No, Caleb left a while ago and when he came back Ava was with him. I guess he picked her up."
"But neither has said anything?" Richie guessed.
"I asked Caleb but he says he can't tell because he promised Ava he wouldn't."
Richie nodded even though he was getting more worried by the second. "Wait, does Heather even know she's there?"
"I don't know." Sarah sighed. "I don't know what to do. What if they had a fight and Ava just doesn't want to see her or what if Heather really doesn't know Ava's here? You need to talk to her." She sighed again, she had no clue what to do. Ava didn't want to talk and if anything was wrong, the last thing Sarah wanted to do was pushing her stepdaughter into talking.
"Yeah, I'll phone her." Richie agreed. "I'll call you back afterwards?"
"Thank you."
After saying goodbye and ending the phone call, Sarah looked at the staircase, hoping Richie was phoning his daughter at the moment.
The fact that Ava wouldn't talk, had her very worried. She knew all too well how bottling every emotion up could end up badly. Even if it was unpleasant, it was better to talk about the matter so somebody could support and help, and possibly prevent.
Two more weeks and Richie would be home. Hopefully those weeks would fly by. The last month had been harder on her than she had expect. Now with the added worrying about Ava, she wanted her husband home as soon as possible. Two weeks seemed far too long.
A while later, she heard footsteps on the stairs. Turning around to see who it was, she saw Ava walking into the room. The girl was beautiful, her ever present smile was her best accessory but it seemed to have gone lost.
Ava sat on the couch next to Sarah, reaching out to stroke Daniel's darkening hair.
"Want to hold him?" Sarah suggested as she watched her stepdaughter's tender gesture.
A little smile formed on Ava's lips. "Sure."
Sarah carefully passed Daniel over.
After she had made sure she had a firm hold on him, Ava looked up. "You called dad?"
Sarah nodded. "Yes." She wasn't going to lie about it. If she wanted Ava to trust her with problems, she couldn't lie.
"I thought so. It's okay, we talked."
"Did that help?" Sarah wanted to know.
Ava shrugged and looked down at her baby brother laying in her lap.
"You don't want to tell me?" Sarah tried again.
Ava looked away. "I'm sorry."
Sarah looked up at her. "Don't be. I understand but you told your dad about it?"
"Yeah but I don't want you to ask him about it."
"I won't. As long as I know, you talked to somebody about it, I know you're not bottling it up."
"Okay." Ava agreed. "Can I stay 'til dad gets home?"
Sarah frowned. "You want to stay that long? You can always stay here but your mom needs to know. That's all, if it were up to me, you could stay here as long as you needed." She hoped Ava understood she was trying to be supportive. She only wanted Ava to be happy and if staying here made her happy, she wouldn't send Ava away.
Just as Richie loved her sons, she loved Ava just as much. A daughter she didn't have herself. Unlike Richie she wasn't able to adopt but that didn't mean she loved Ava any less.
"Have you had dinner?" Sarah asked, changing the subject completely.
Ava shook her head. "But I'll help making it." She offered.
The next half hour Sarah spent in the kitchen with Ava and Daniel. Ava helped preparing dinner as Daniel sat in his bouncer chair, laughing every time he bounced.
Letting Ava help, gave her a secure feeling that everything would be alright. She was a teenage girl, it was most likely she had had a fight with her mother and wanted to be out of the house for a while to cool down.
By tomorrow she'd probably want to go home again. There wasn't anything to worry about.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Chapter Sixty-seven
The tour was going amazing. A few shows into it, he was feeling incredible. The audience loved every performance, even the new songs were accepted wonderfully.
Not all the songs were exactly what he liked but they were good songs. With his solo album he had been able to go all out, create every feeling he wanted to express and he thought that had been very successful but this was a band's album, where he didn't have as much power. Jon had the last word on every song. That's how it always was and how it would always be. He didn't mind it. The album was good but if it were up to him, he would have handled it a different way.
Next month they'd see what the audience thought about it. Soon enough they'd find out how good the music was by how well it sold in stores.
His first single was as a bonus on the new album. Hopefully that would lead to people buying his solo album after liking Every Road. For now, he waited until he could finally play it during a concert. The band had agreed on doing so but so far Jon hadn't allowed him yet. Another case of wait and see.
After talking to Sarah and talking to Daniel without a reaction, Richie got ready to leave to the venue. He had talked to Sarah about what was bothering him and Sarah had convinced him to just ask Jon. Just ask. Nothing bad could happen from asking, the worst would be if Jon said no. Again.
As usual on tour, he shared a dressing room with everyone except Jon. Jon had his own private room. They didn't mind as much anymore as when Jon first got his own dressing room. Now they had some peace and quiet before a show instead of their boss telling them to make sure they played right, did everything right and were preparing for the concert in a correct way. It was huge stress reliever to have Jon in a different room.
But today, with the question on his mind, it became a lot more stressful.
"What's up?" David plopped down on the couch next to him.
"Thinking."
"About?" David inquired.
Richie sighed. "I want to ask Jon again if I can play one of my songs."
David frowned. "Why?"
"Cause I like my song?"
"I know, it's a great song but you know he'll say no."
Richie waved it off. "Nah, I got to play my other solo songs too."
"Ages ago." David pointed out kindly.
"Exactly, been ages, so why wouldn't he let me play my song? Just during the time he goes backstage to change. Just like on the last few tours where I sing a song anyway."
"Go for it."
Richie nodded and got up from the couch. He needed to ask, it was the only way to find out and he needed to know now so he could prepare himself. On previous tours he had been allowed to play one of his solo songs once in a while so why wouldn't he now? He'd been singing during Jon's break on the last two tours. Instead of singing a Bon Jovi song, he could just sing his own song. Easy as that.
He knocked on Jon's dressing room door and waited for Jon to let him in.
Surprisingly, Jon came to open the door. He had only expected Jon to call that the door was open but this worked just fine too. Following Jon's invitation, he sat down on the couch.
Jon sat down in a chair, leaning back and putting up his feet on the coffee table.
Richie decided to ask the question straight forward.
"I wanted to know when I get to sing again."
"What do you mean?" Jon frowned. "You got to sing at one of those shows in Canada."
"Yes but during the last two tours you let me sing while you went backstage to cool down and change."
"So?"
Richie frowned at his carelessness. "I kinda assumed we'd still be doing that." He wasn't so sure about it anymore.
"Why would we?"
A little dumbstruck, he didn't know what to say for a few seconds and had to thought about an answer. "Because we've been doing it like that for years and the fans love it?"
Jon stood up from the chair and looked down at Richie. "You had your solo stint, now is the band's time. You need to focus on the band more instead of thinking about yourself."
"I am thinking about the band and you. You'd get to take your break and I sing a song like it's been for years."
"Yeah..." Jon paused. "We can't do that anymore."
"Why not?"
"Why should we, you're a guitar player after all. Just do what you do with Bobby, see who plays guitar best. That's what we used to do in the 80s when Alec was still around."
"So I don't get to sing at all?" Richie asked.
Jon shook his head. "No and it's not like I let you sing that often before either."
Richie got up from the couch, ready to leave. "Often enough." He said disappointed but didn't let on. "We'll do it your way, that's probably better anyway. I gotta go get ready."
Without waiting for Jon to answer him again, Richie walked out of the room. He didn't agree with Jon's way but he wasn't about to argue about it with his best friend. It wasn't worth it. Maybe it was but it wasn't that important. After all, it was his job to play guitar and do background vocals. They had never agreed in a contract that he got to sing one song every so often. Jon was right, the shows would be just fine the way they were. His fans loved to hear him play guitar and that's what he was going to do, along with Bobby.
He went back to the dressing room to get ready for the show and go over the setlist with everybody else.
Back in the dressing room, he noticed David waited for an answer but didn't ask about it.
Richie went to his own little corner of the room where he got ready, picking out what to wear.
He'd just do a guitar battle with Bobby at the end of Keep The Faith, that's what the setlist said and by now it was too late to change that. He had been able to sing one song, a few days ago. If he was just patient, Jon would most likely let him do that again later in the tour. They were only starting out, everything still needed to unfold until they figured out the best way to use the new songs and still use the hits and the popular songs. Patience.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Chapter Sixty-six
After another successful concert, Richie and the rest of the band returned to the hotel together. In the morning they'd move on to the next city but tonight they were staying here. It was a lot less stressful if they traveled in the morning. Now they could at least go to sleep in a comfortable bed.
Once they reached their floor, Richie said good night to everyone and went to his own room. As usual it took a while before everything really quietened down on the floor.
He changed his clothes and found his cell phone to call his wife before going to bed. Time difference was still working in their favor, he was an hour ahead of home. Midnight for him but 11 pm for Sarah. Technically it was a different day for him.
As Sarah answered the phone, he could hear crying on the other end.
"A second." Sarah said.
Richie continued to listen how she was trying to sooth Daniel and make him calm down again. He felt bad hearing his son cry like that. The boy sounded so upset that nothing his mother did could help him. Ever worse, there wasn't anything he could do about it. The only thing he could do was listen to Daniel cry.
Finally Daniel settled down and Sarah answered the phone again.
"Hey, sorry about that." She apologized.
"It's alright. What's got him so upset?"
Sarah shrugged, "I have no idea, he's just had a really bad day today."
Richie frowned, worrying about his son. "But nothing that makes it clear why?"
"No. He's just moody. He's fine now. Think he'll go to sleep now."
"That's good, he can probably use it after being that loud."
Richie continued to listen to Sarah talking about her day and everyone at home.
So far everything was still alright, no trouble anywhere. Everyone went to school. Sarah's school books had arrived and she was trying to learn whenever she could. He felt immensely proud as he listened to Sarah explain everything she had read about so far. Daniel was learning to keep himself busy with toys or his stuffed animals, which provided Sarah with the time to read her school books. She had been right, it would work out fine.
Half way through the leg of the tour, only three more weeks and he'd be home again. He was looking forward to it already.
Before he had a chance to talk about his own day, it was getting late for both of them.
"I'll phone you back tomorrow." Richie promised.
"I'll be waiting for you call. I love you." Sarah said gently.
"I love you too." He missed being able to say it in person but over the phone would have to do for now. "Good night." He added.
"You too, sleep tight."
Richie chuckled. "I still need to shower."
"Shower? Are you going to think about me?"
"Sarah, honey," He said seriously, "I always think about you."
Sarah sighed. "I miss you." She said softly.
"I miss you too. Only three more week and I'll be there."
"Yeah." Sarah agreed but she knew he'd have to leave again afterwards.
They finally ended their phonecall and Richie got up from the bed. He had changed into clean clothes but he still needed a shower or his hair would never look decent in the morning after being so sweaty.
In the bathroom he turned on the shower, making sure the water was warm enough before he started undressing. As he pulled his shirt over his head, Sarah's words rang through his mind. He always thought about her, he could picture her lovely face before him.
His pants followed the shirt to the floor, kicking his clothes aside, he got a towel to lay by the shower for when he finished.
The water temperature was just right as he stepped into the shower. He stood under the shower head, letting the water stream down his body. It felt good and relaxing. But also lonely without Sarah.
Sharing a shower with his wife was always better than taking one alone. When he closed his eyes, he could see her standing in front of him, showering too. Even if it was his imagination, she looked as beautiful as ever. Every little thing about her, he loved it. All of it.
He let his imagination play, watching Sarah soap up her body in front of him.
Directing his imagination in another way, he watched Sarah soap up his body. He could almost really feel her soft hands on his skin.
Until he realized, it were his own hands which weren't as soft as Sarah's. Despite that, he didn't stop the imaginative play that was going on in his mind. He let Sarah's hand roam over his body tenderly. She always had that special way of doing it, almost making it seem like a massage as she spread the soap over his body.
His own hand caught up with Sarah's imaginary hand as she moved it over his belly, over his hip, to his groin.
It was just imagination but he definitely wasn't going to stop anymore now. His body wouldn't allow him that. He needed to finish it.
Following his fantasy wife, he moves his hand as she did.
It had been ages since he had to do it alone but with picturing Sarah doing it for him, it wasn't so bad.
He followed every move that his wife made in his mind, stroking him just the way he liked it. She was an expert at it even though she had missed years of practice, she had caught up exceptionally fast.
Fantasying every touch and sound Sarah would make made his climax approach rapidly.
His eyes shot open as he released against his own wet skin. The soap vanished from his mind, along with the real white streaks that had just ended up on his body and the shower floor. He watched it all wash away. Sarah was gone from his mind.
With the realization that he was still alone, he sighed and reached for soap and washed his hands before continuing to wash his hair and the rest of his body.
Afterwards, he retrieved the towel he had left within reach. After turning off the water, he wrapped it around him and stepped out of the shower. He dried off before picking up his clothes and taking them to the bedroom where he put them over a chair for the next day.
Using the towel, he dried his hair some more. With a glance at the alarm clock, he knew it was the middle of the night. Hopefully Sarah was sleeping by now. He missed her. Most importantly, he needed to get some sleep.
Once completely dried off, he dropped the towel to the floor and got into the large bed. When he closed his eyes, Sarah was back.
Once they reached their floor, Richie said good night to everyone and went to his own room. As usual it took a while before everything really quietened down on the floor.
He changed his clothes and found his cell phone to call his wife before going to bed. Time difference was still working in their favor, he was an hour ahead of home. Midnight for him but 11 pm for Sarah. Technically it was a different day for him.
As Sarah answered the phone, he could hear crying on the other end.
"A second." Sarah said.
Richie continued to listen how she was trying to sooth Daniel and make him calm down again. He felt bad hearing his son cry like that. The boy sounded so upset that nothing his mother did could help him. Ever worse, there wasn't anything he could do about it. The only thing he could do was listen to Daniel cry.
Finally Daniel settled down and Sarah answered the phone again.
"Hey, sorry about that." She apologized.
"It's alright. What's got him so upset?"
Sarah shrugged, "I have no idea, he's just had a really bad day today."
Richie frowned, worrying about his son. "But nothing that makes it clear why?"
"No. He's just moody. He's fine now. Think he'll go to sleep now."
"That's good, he can probably use it after being that loud."
Richie continued to listen to Sarah talking about her day and everyone at home.
So far everything was still alright, no trouble anywhere. Everyone went to school. Sarah's school books had arrived and she was trying to learn whenever she could. He felt immensely proud as he listened to Sarah explain everything she had read about so far. Daniel was learning to keep himself busy with toys or his stuffed animals, which provided Sarah with the time to read her school books. She had been right, it would work out fine.
Half way through the leg of the tour, only three more weeks and he'd be home again. He was looking forward to it already.
Before he had a chance to talk about his own day, it was getting late for both of them.
"I'll phone you back tomorrow." Richie promised.
"I'll be waiting for you call. I love you." Sarah said gently.
"I love you too." He missed being able to say it in person but over the phone would have to do for now. "Good night." He added.
"You too, sleep tight."
Richie chuckled. "I still need to shower."
"Shower? Are you going to think about me?"
"Sarah, honey," He said seriously, "I always think about you."
Sarah sighed. "I miss you." She said softly.
"I miss you too. Only three more week and I'll be there."
"Yeah." Sarah agreed but she knew he'd have to leave again afterwards.
They finally ended their phonecall and Richie got up from the bed. He had changed into clean clothes but he still needed a shower or his hair would never look decent in the morning after being so sweaty.
In the bathroom he turned on the shower, making sure the water was warm enough before he started undressing. As he pulled his shirt over his head, Sarah's words rang through his mind. He always thought about her, he could picture her lovely face before him.
His pants followed the shirt to the floor, kicking his clothes aside, he got a towel to lay by the shower for when he finished.
The water temperature was just right as he stepped into the shower. He stood under the shower head, letting the water stream down his body. It felt good and relaxing. But also lonely without Sarah.
Sharing a shower with his wife was always better than taking one alone. When he closed his eyes, he could see her standing in front of him, showering too. Even if it was his imagination, she looked as beautiful as ever. Every little thing about her, he loved it. All of it.
He let his imagination play, watching Sarah soap up her body in front of him.
Directing his imagination in another way, he watched Sarah soap up his body. He could almost really feel her soft hands on his skin.
Until he realized, it were his own hands which weren't as soft as Sarah's. Despite that, he didn't stop the imaginative play that was going on in his mind. He let Sarah's hand roam over his body tenderly. She always had that special way of doing it, almost making it seem like a massage as she spread the soap over his body.
His own hand caught up with Sarah's imaginary hand as she moved it over his belly, over his hip, to his groin.
It was just imagination but he definitely wasn't going to stop anymore now. His body wouldn't allow him that. He needed to finish it.
Following his fantasy wife, he moves his hand as she did.
It had been ages since he had to do it alone but with picturing Sarah doing it for him, it wasn't so bad.
He followed every move that his wife made in his mind, stroking him just the way he liked it. She was an expert at it even though she had missed years of practice, she had caught up exceptionally fast.
Fantasying every touch and sound Sarah would make made his climax approach rapidly.
His eyes shot open as he released against his own wet skin. The soap vanished from his mind, along with the real white streaks that had just ended up on his body and the shower floor. He watched it all wash away. Sarah was gone from his mind.
With the realization that he was still alone, he sighed and reached for soap and washed his hands before continuing to wash his hair and the rest of his body.
Afterwards, he retrieved the towel he had left within reach. After turning off the water, he wrapped it around him and stepped out of the shower. He dried off before picking up his clothes and taking them to the bedroom where he put them over a chair for the next day.
Using the towel, he dried his hair some more. With a glance at the alarm clock, he knew it was the middle of the night. Hopefully Sarah was sleeping by now. He missed her. Most importantly, he needed to get some sleep.
Once completely dried off, he dropped the towel to the floor and got into the large bed. When he closed his eyes, Sarah was back.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Chapter Sixty-five
Valentine's day. He loved Valentine's day. He loved making his wife happy and surprising her with gifts every day of the year but Valentine's made it even more special.
Except, this year he wasn't home. He was over 2000 miles away from home, away from his wife. His entire family.
But he was having fun on tour. Touring was always fun, except for the moments when he missed home, apart from that, he loved every bit about it.
Specially for Valentine's day, the setlist today was a little different. They always played the love ballads but today had an extra one. He liked that Jon had made the decision. The audience would like that too, make it a real Valentine's day special for them. The crowd being happy, was the most important thing in their job after all.
His phone pulled him away from his thoughts, he answered it.
"Why have there been three different delivery guys at the door?" Sarah asked him confused.
"Only three?" Richie asked, just as confused.
"Were there supposed to be more?"
His quick reaction a few seconds ago gave away his surprise and now he didn't know how to save it before Sarah found out.
"Well?"
"I'm not sure. What did they deliver?"
"The first one delivered roses this morning. Then an hour later another guy showed up with a really cute teddy bear, a big one, you know? After him, a guy brought me a box of chocolates." She explained to him how it had happened.
"Oh. How big was the bear?"
"I don't know, like 30 inches. Does it matter?"
"It might." He avoided the question.
"Does it?" Sarah insisted an answer.
"No."
"Then why did you ask?" Sarah asked confused by her husband.
"Cause I'm interested in the bear. Did you like the bear?" He really needed to know, more were on the way. He wouldn't be able to cancel them in time.
"You're a tease. It's a very cute bear. I think I'll keep it in our bed."
Richie nodded, he could already imagine 5 different sized teddy bears in their bed when he got home in a month. "It can stay there 'til I get home."
"Why? I like my teddy bear, I want to sleep with it every day."
"But then I'd be home."
Sarah answered him in a serious tone of voice but was still going along with the teasing. "But you're not a teddy bear, honey."
"Sure I could be, I'm all nice and warm and cuddly. Not stuffed with fluff but still cuddly and all filled out nicely."
Sarah laughed out loud. "You're a perfect teddy bear to cuddle with. Thank you for all the gifts." Her husband couldn't see it but she was smiling brightly at how thoughtful he had been even if he was in a different country. She really did have the best husband in the world, it still amazed her.
"No problem." He wasn't done with gifts yet but Sarah didn't need to know.
"Are there more coming?"
She didn't need to know that. "Who knows."
"Thanks anyway. I love you and I miss you."
Richie smiled softly, thinking about how Sarah would look right now. "I love you too and I miss you very much, especially today. I really wish I could have done something special with you today."
"Other than overload me with gifts?"
"Yes, although that's very good too, I still would have wanted to take you out for a nice dinner. Just us."
She really had the best husband in the world. "I know, we'll do that later. I'm not sure if I would want to leave Daniel with anybody just yet." Even if it was her own mother of her mother in law, Daniel was too young to be without his mother. Even for a few hours.
He understood that, before going on tour he didn't want to leave Daniel either, he just didn't have another choice. "We'll just do it after the tour, two months late." He suggested.
"It's perfectly fine. No reason to put a date on when to show somebody you love them."
He smiled at that, she was exactly right. After the tour he'd take her out for a romantic dinner, just the two of them, all alone. He loved her every day, not only the fourteenth of February. He'd make sure she knew that perfectly well when they'd go on their date. That gave him something to do while being on tour. Plan a date with Sarah and finish arranging their spring break vacation. Of course it would be Hawaii but they needed a place that would have everything that Daniel would need.
During the rest of his phone call, he asked Sarah the usual questions. How everybody was doing, especially how Ava and Daniel were doing. Daniel was still his chipper self, happy wherever he was. Only two weeks ago he had finally stopped crying when his grandma Joan picked him up. A relief for everybody. The baby boy was very sweet but it was starting to worry them. Now that he had stopped, they didn't need to worry anymore.
At least it was one less thing he needed to worry about while he wasn't home. He didn't always mean to worry but being so far from home and not able to see everybody, he couldn't help it. Knowing that everything was alright at home, was very important to him. Anybody away from home would agree with him. He hoped. It wasn't that abnormal to worry about your loved ones, the rest of the band probably worried about their families too.
Sarah hadn't heard from Ava so far and Richie assumed everything was alright for now. He talked to his daughter every other day, more than he usually did on tour but he felt like Ava needed it at the moment.
He finished all his phone calls before he had to get ready to perform. Afterwards it would be too late, except for Sarah. He needed to let her know the show was over and that he was going to bed. He just needed to tell her good night and that he loved her. Maybe he needed to hear that from her too.
Except, this year he wasn't home. He was over 2000 miles away from home, away from his wife. His entire family.
But he was having fun on tour. Touring was always fun, except for the moments when he missed home, apart from that, he loved every bit about it.
Specially for Valentine's day, the setlist today was a little different. They always played the love ballads but today had an extra one. He liked that Jon had made the decision. The audience would like that too, make it a real Valentine's day special for them. The crowd being happy, was the most important thing in their job after all.
His phone pulled him away from his thoughts, he answered it.
"Why have there been three different delivery guys at the door?" Sarah asked him confused.
"Only three?" Richie asked, just as confused.
"Were there supposed to be more?"
His quick reaction a few seconds ago gave away his surprise and now he didn't know how to save it before Sarah found out.
"Well?"
"I'm not sure. What did they deliver?"
"The first one delivered roses this morning. Then an hour later another guy showed up with a really cute teddy bear, a big one, you know? After him, a guy brought me a box of chocolates." She explained to him how it had happened.
"Oh. How big was the bear?"
"I don't know, like 30 inches. Does it matter?"
"It might." He avoided the question.
"Does it?" Sarah insisted an answer.
"No."
"Then why did you ask?" Sarah asked confused by her husband.
"Cause I'm interested in the bear. Did you like the bear?" He really needed to know, more were on the way. He wouldn't be able to cancel them in time.
"You're a tease. It's a very cute bear. I think I'll keep it in our bed."
Richie nodded, he could already imagine 5 different sized teddy bears in their bed when he got home in a month. "It can stay there 'til I get home."
"Why? I like my teddy bear, I want to sleep with it every day."
"But then I'd be home."
Sarah answered him in a serious tone of voice but was still going along with the teasing. "But you're not a teddy bear, honey."
"Sure I could be, I'm all nice and warm and cuddly. Not stuffed with fluff but still cuddly and all filled out nicely."
Sarah laughed out loud. "You're a perfect teddy bear to cuddle with. Thank you for all the gifts." Her husband couldn't see it but she was smiling brightly at how thoughtful he had been even if he was in a different country. She really did have the best husband in the world, it still amazed her.
"No problem." He wasn't done with gifts yet but Sarah didn't need to know.
"Are there more coming?"
She didn't need to know that. "Who knows."
"Thanks anyway. I love you and I miss you."
Richie smiled softly, thinking about how Sarah would look right now. "I love you too and I miss you very much, especially today. I really wish I could have done something special with you today."
"Other than overload me with gifts?"
"Yes, although that's very good too, I still would have wanted to take you out for a nice dinner. Just us."
She really had the best husband in the world. "I know, we'll do that later. I'm not sure if I would want to leave Daniel with anybody just yet." Even if it was her own mother of her mother in law, Daniel was too young to be without his mother. Even for a few hours.
He understood that, before going on tour he didn't want to leave Daniel either, he just didn't have another choice. "We'll just do it after the tour, two months late." He suggested.
"It's perfectly fine. No reason to put a date on when to show somebody you love them."
He smiled at that, she was exactly right. After the tour he'd take her out for a romantic dinner, just the two of them, all alone. He loved her every day, not only the fourteenth of February. He'd make sure she knew that perfectly well when they'd go on their date. That gave him something to do while being on tour. Plan a date with Sarah and finish arranging their spring break vacation. Of course it would be Hawaii but they needed a place that would have everything that Daniel would need.
During the rest of his phone call, he asked Sarah the usual questions. How everybody was doing, especially how Ava and Daniel were doing. Daniel was still his chipper self, happy wherever he was. Only two weeks ago he had finally stopped crying when his grandma Joan picked him up. A relief for everybody. The baby boy was very sweet but it was starting to worry them. Now that he had stopped, they didn't need to worry anymore.
At least it was one less thing he needed to worry about while he wasn't home. He didn't always mean to worry but being so far from home and not able to see everybody, he couldn't help it. Knowing that everything was alright at home, was very important to him. Anybody away from home would agree with him. He hoped. It wasn't that abnormal to worry about your loved ones, the rest of the band probably worried about their families too.
Sarah hadn't heard from Ava so far and Richie assumed everything was alright for now. He talked to his daughter every other day, more than he usually did on tour but he felt like Ava needed it at the moment.
He finished all his phone calls before he had to get ready to perform. Afterwards it would be too late, except for Sarah. He needed to let her know the show was over and that he was going to bed. He just needed to tell her good night and that he loved her. Maybe he needed to hear that from her too.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Chapter Sixty-four
With only a week before he'd go on tour, Richie dedicated every day to his children. He made special efforts to take them to school, pick them up and drive them anywhere they wanted. Often that made it a little difficult. He'd drive to the school to pick them up at 3pm but usually one of them had an after school club, so by the time he was home to drop the first two off, he only had 30 minutes before he had to drive back to pick up the last one. He didn't mind, it was time spent together.
He picked up Ava from cheer-leading after bringing Noah and Caleb home. Just like he had done with Noah the day before, they made a detour to Ava's favorite food place. This time she picked Starbucks and they both got a drink for the way home.
While driving, Ava talked non-stop. He loved listening to Ava. She talked about what her friends had done and often he still had to think which name went with which face. Ava had so many friends, it was hard to keep track off but she sounded so happy while talking and that was all that really mattered to him. His children being happy.
At home Sarah was preparing dinner, another thing he loved. Two years ago nobody was home to make dinner for him. He loved that Sarah wanted to do that for all of them. He didn't thank her often enough. As Ava went upstairs, Richie walked into the kitchen. Daniel was sitting in his bouncer seat, looking up at everything around him. Richie stepped up behind his wife, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck.
"Thanks for making dinner."
Sarah turned around in his arms and reached up to kiss his lips. "It's your favorite."
"Thought I smelled it. Thanks."
He let her go and crouched down next to Daniel so Sarah could continue to cook without letting anything burn.
"How's Danny been?"
"Just fine. He's been bouncing there. Makes him laugh."
Softly he made the chair bounce, Sarah was right, it made Daniel laugh out loud. It was cute to see how Daniel had figured out how to make the chair bounce and rock. He wished he could capture every second of Daniel's life but knew that wasn't possible. With his phone's camera he continued to make Daniel laugh to get the cutest picture.
The next day Richie remembered a promise he and Sarah had made in the summer. It was time to finally live up to that promise. With Daniel in mind, he thought of the possibilities. He knew Sarah wouldn't mind because her sons wanted it so much.
After driving everyone to school, he started his search which turned out very successful in the end.
Afterwards, he walked back in the house with two pet carrier boxes.
Sarah looked up when he walked into the living room, she frowned. "What did you get?"
"What we promised Noah and Caleb when we were at your cousin's ranch."
Confused, Sarah frowned even more. "What did we promise them?"
"Cats." He carefully put the carriers down on the floor. "I got everything we need for them. Noah and Caleb will be so happy."
"Serious?" Sarah got up and put Daniel in his play pen.
"Yeah." He opened the first box but the cat was too shy to get out so he opened the other box. "Apparently they were found at an abandoned house together."
Sarah got down on the floor next to him, looking into the boxes. "So which one is for who?"
"Not sure, the people just wanted to keep these two together so that's why I got them."
After a little while the cats slowly got out of their boxes and started looking around.
Leaving them to explore the house, Richie got up to take his son from the playpen. He'd have to drive to school again in a little while so now was the time to spend with Daniel. His baby boy was growing a lot. At three and a half months old, he was doing everything a baby was supposed to do except reacting when they called him.
Daniel didn't care if his name was called by anyone, he didn't look in the direction of the sound. Nights were getting longer as Daniel didn't wake up anymore in the middle of the night. He easily slept a solid 7 hours a night. Which Richie loved but Sarah loved even more. No night time feedings anymore.
Before leaving, Richie gave Daniel one of the toys that he could hold on his own and got up again. He gave Sarah a kiss and made sure no cats were hiding by the door before he left.
Noah and Caleb's reactions were perfect but not how Richie had expected them to find out. He thought the cats would be roaming around the house. Instead, one of them was sleeping on the carpet with Daniel, the other was sleeping on the couch.
He picked up Ava from cheer-leading after bringing Noah and Caleb home. Just like he had done with Noah the day before, they made a detour to Ava's favorite food place. This time she picked Starbucks and they both got a drink for the way home.
While driving, Ava talked non-stop. He loved listening to Ava. She talked about what her friends had done and often he still had to think which name went with which face. Ava had so many friends, it was hard to keep track off but she sounded so happy while talking and that was all that really mattered to him. His children being happy.
At home Sarah was preparing dinner, another thing he loved. Two years ago nobody was home to make dinner for him. He loved that Sarah wanted to do that for all of them. He didn't thank her often enough. As Ava went upstairs, Richie walked into the kitchen. Daniel was sitting in his bouncer seat, looking up at everything around him. Richie stepped up behind his wife, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck.
"Thanks for making dinner."
Sarah turned around in his arms and reached up to kiss his lips. "It's your favorite."
"Thought I smelled it. Thanks."
He let her go and crouched down next to Daniel so Sarah could continue to cook without letting anything burn.
"How's Danny been?"
"Just fine. He's been bouncing there. Makes him laugh."
Softly he made the chair bounce, Sarah was right, it made Daniel laugh out loud. It was cute to see how Daniel had figured out how to make the chair bounce and rock. He wished he could capture every second of Daniel's life but knew that wasn't possible. With his phone's camera he continued to make Daniel laugh to get the cutest picture.
The next day Richie remembered a promise he and Sarah had made in the summer. It was time to finally live up to that promise. With Daniel in mind, he thought of the possibilities. He knew Sarah wouldn't mind because her sons wanted it so much.
After driving everyone to school, he started his search which turned out very successful in the end.
Afterwards, he walked back in the house with two pet carrier boxes.
Sarah looked up when he walked into the living room, she frowned. "What did you get?"
"What we promised Noah and Caleb when we were at your cousin's ranch."
Confused, Sarah frowned even more. "What did we promise them?"
"Cats." He carefully put the carriers down on the floor. "I got everything we need for them. Noah and Caleb will be so happy."
"Serious?" Sarah got up and put Daniel in his play pen.
"Yeah." He opened the first box but the cat was too shy to get out so he opened the other box. "Apparently they were found at an abandoned house together."
Sarah got down on the floor next to him, looking into the boxes. "So which one is for who?"
"Not sure, the people just wanted to keep these two together so that's why I got them."
After a little while the cats slowly got out of their boxes and started looking around.
Leaving them to explore the house, Richie got up to take his son from the playpen. He'd have to drive to school again in a little while so now was the time to spend with Daniel. His baby boy was growing a lot. At three and a half months old, he was doing everything a baby was supposed to do except reacting when they called him.
Daniel didn't care if his name was called by anyone, he didn't look in the direction of the sound. Nights were getting longer as Daniel didn't wake up anymore in the middle of the night. He easily slept a solid 7 hours a night. Which Richie loved but Sarah loved even more. No night time feedings anymore.
Before leaving, Richie gave Daniel one of the toys that he could hold on his own and got up again. He gave Sarah a kiss and made sure no cats were hiding by the door before he left.
Noah and Caleb's reactions were perfect but not how Richie had expected them to find out. He thought the cats would be roaming around the house. Instead, one of them was sleeping on the carpet with Daniel, the other was sleeping on the couch.
"I don't want you to go." Sarah said a few days later when they woke up on the day Richie had to leave for Washington.
"I know." He answered and hugged his wife. "It's only five weeks."
"Five weeks is long." Sarah pointed out.
He didn't know how to disagree to that and kissed his wife instead.
"I'll be all alone with Daniel."
"Mom will still help you out."
"Not the same." Sarah moved closer into his arms.
"We'll talk every day. Time differences aren't that much yet and we can video chat. One of the concerts will probably will be streamed so you and Daniel can watch me."
Sarah nodded, it wasn't the same that way but that would have to do.
Since they had been together, Richie hadn't had to leave for such a long time at once. For the last few months of the previous tour, Sarah was able to accompany him. During his solo tour he was only gone for two weeks but now he would be gone for over a month. They'd never been apart that long.
"I know." He answered and hugged his wife. "It's only five weeks."
"Five weeks is long." Sarah pointed out.
He didn't know how to disagree to that and kissed his wife instead.
"I'll be all alone with Daniel."
"Mom will still help you out."
"Not the same." Sarah moved closer into his arms.
"We'll talk every day. Time differences aren't that much yet and we can video chat. One of the concerts will probably will be streamed so you and Daniel can watch me."
Sarah nodded, it wasn't the same that way but that would have to do.
Since they had been together, Richie hadn't had to leave for such a long time at once. For the last few months of the previous tour, Sarah was able to accompany him. During his solo tour he was only gone for two weeks but now he would be gone for over a month. They'd never been apart that long.
It was Friday morning, the last day of school before the weekend. The concert wasn't until Sunday but there were still rehearsals too.
Richie had thought Friday would be the easiest day to leave. Ava would go to her mom's after school anyway. That way he thought it was easier for Ava.
The opposite proved right. It had been years since Ava didn't want to let him go on tour and it surprised him this time. It hurt him that he didn't know what caused this change so suddenly. He didn't understand what was making it so difficult to say goodbye. His daughter was a big girl now. 15 year-olds weren't supposed to cry anymore.
It was easier to say goodbye to Caleb and Noah, it was different with them. Daniel didn't seem to mind much at all. He was too young to understand it all.
Richie had thought Friday would be the easiest day to leave. Ava would go to her mom's after school anyway. That way he thought it was easier for Ava.
The opposite proved right. It had been years since Ava didn't want to let him go on tour and it surprised him this time. It hurt him that he didn't know what caused this change so suddenly. He didn't understand what was making it so difficult to say goodbye. His daughter was a big girl now. 15 year-olds weren't supposed to cry anymore.
It was easier to say goodbye to Caleb and Noah, it was different with them. Daniel didn't seem to mind much at all. He was too young to understand it all.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Chapter Sixty-three
Whenever time difference worked out for them, Sarah and Richie talked over the phone. Only once they wee lucky enough Daniel was still awake to videochat. Of course the baby didn't understand the concept but Richie was happy enough to see his son all the way from Germany.
Tomorrow he'd be home again. The short European promotional tour was over and everything was set for next summer. He was looking forward to it all but in another way he wasn't. He hoped Ava would be alright with it but he also didn't want to miss all the milestones Daniel was about to make in his life. There'd be a ton more later in life but watching him roll, sit, crawl, walk and even talk were very important steps to a parent.
In the evening, the band boarded the plane back to the US. They'd only fly as far as New York City and Richie would get connection to Los Angeles on his own. He was used to that and didn't mind the few hours flight by himself. It also gave him some peace and quiet away from everybody.
A few hours later, he arrived back home. It was only afternoon, he'd have time to spend with his family. He'd drop off his luggage, say hi to everybody and then go see Ava. He was determined to spend all the time he could with her while he was still home for another month.
He walked into the house quietly, being sure Daniel was having a nap at this time.
Sarah heard him from the living room and got up to meet him by the door.
"You're home." She said with a brilliant smile.
He put his bags down and wrapped his arms around his wife. "Missed you."
"I missed you too, I'm so glad you're home now." She hugged him back, then reached up to kiss him.
Richie kissed back passionately, it had only been a few days but he had missed his wife a lot. Returning to her always felt good.
"So what's that idea you got?" He asked as their kiss ended.
Sarah smiled. "I'll show you." She took his hand and pulled him to the living room where she made him sit down. "I know you gave me a laptop so I could use it for school but then I didn't go to school so what if I do that now?"
"Go to school? But Daniel?"
"Not go to school, distance learning. I'd get all the books at home or online and then I can study on my own in my own time."
"Really?" Richie asked interested.
"I could study while Daniel's napping or in the evening when everyone is home and looking after him too."
Richie nodded, understanding how she was about to take everything on. "What are you going to study?" He knew she had wanted to be a doctor but medical studies on her own would be very hard.
"Early childhood development." Sarah answered with a bright smile. "I'd learn everything about children til the age of twelve. I'd be learning how Daniel develops, what he should be able to do at a certain age, how to encourage him to learn things, when to know he's behind on the guidelines."
Richie frowned. "He's behind on things?"
Sarah shook her head and smiled again. "No, he's even early on starting to roll and he's finally getting used to your mom."
"And you're sure you don't want to take this course just because you're worried about him." Richie asked skeptical.
Sarah shrugged a little. "Maybe but if I do go back to work when he's older or something, I could work with other children too. I could work at a playschool or a toddler group."
"Okay." Richie nodded. "If that's what you want to do, go ahead. Even if you're just worried about Daniel, nothing wrong with learning something new."
Reaching over to her husband, Sarah smiled again and kissed him. "Thanks, course money is only like ten grand."
Money wasn't an issue for him but that did seem a lot. "Seriously?"
"No. Just wanted to see your reaction to that. Was funny." She kissed him again, then snuggled into him.
"Now if only Caleb would make up his mind about college."
That reminded Sarah of something they talked about earlier. "Few days ago he found the Academy of Arts."
"What's that?"
"Seemed really neat, he was considering studying to make music for movies but he's not sure if he really wants to make music his job or keep it as a hobby." Sarah explained, she knew what her son loved to do but also understood that it was a very hard choice to make. It would be the base of his entire life.
Richie frowned. "Music? Last week he was thinking about social work."
Sarah looked up at him. "Social work?"
"Yeah, said he wanted to work for child welfare. Help kids that are in difficult situations at home." He explained. When Caleb had told him, he had encouraged it, thinking that was what Sarah would want and it would be a very nice career to help children.
"That's something I'd expect from Noah. I know Caleb cares a lot, he just likes to act though around everyone but that would be a very nice to make a career out of."
Richie agreed and cuddled his wife again. "He'll make his mind up. Whatever he picks, he can study as long as it's what he really wants to do. He can always do music later."
"Very true." Sarah agreed.
Richie knew the difficult choice Caleb had to make. At that age he also wanted to play music for the rest of his life but it's a though field to breakthrough from and he also had picked another road at first. After two years of college, he took a chance to be world famous. Who knows, maybe Caleb would do so too. As a father, he'd be supportive to his son no matter what decision he made.
Tomorrow he'd be home again. The short European promotional tour was over and everything was set for next summer. He was looking forward to it all but in another way he wasn't. He hoped Ava would be alright with it but he also didn't want to miss all the milestones Daniel was about to make in his life. There'd be a ton more later in life but watching him roll, sit, crawl, walk and even talk were very important steps to a parent.
In the evening, the band boarded the plane back to the US. They'd only fly as far as New York City and Richie would get connection to Los Angeles on his own. He was used to that and didn't mind the few hours flight by himself. It also gave him some peace and quiet away from everybody.
A few hours later, he arrived back home. It was only afternoon, he'd have time to spend with his family. He'd drop off his luggage, say hi to everybody and then go see Ava. He was determined to spend all the time he could with her while he was still home for another month.
He walked into the house quietly, being sure Daniel was having a nap at this time.
Sarah heard him from the living room and got up to meet him by the door.
"You're home." She said with a brilliant smile.
He put his bags down and wrapped his arms around his wife. "Missed you."
"I missed you too, I'm so glad you're home now." She hugged him back, then reached up to kiss him.
Richie kissed back passionately, it had only been a few days but he had missed his wife a lot. Returning to her always felt good.
"So what's that idea you got?" He asked as their kiss ended.
Sarah smiled. "I'll show you." She took his hand and pulled him to the living room where she made him sit down. "I know you gave me a laptop so I could use it for school but then I didn't go to school so what if I do that now?"
"Go to school? But Daniel?"
"Not go to school, distance learning. I'd get all the books at home or online and then I can study on my own in my own time."
"Really?" Richie asked interested.
"I could study while Daniel's napping or in the evening when everyone is home and looking after him too."
Richie nodded, understanding how she was about to take everything on. "What are you going to study?" He knew she had wanted to be a doctor but medical studies on her own would be very hard.
"Early childhood development." Sarah answered with a bright smile. "I'd learn everything about children til the age of twelve. I'd be learning how Daniel develops, what he should be able to do at a certain age, how to encourage him to learn things, when to know he's behind on the guidelines."
Richie frowned. "He's behind on things?"
Sarah shook her head and smiled again. "No, he's even early on starting to roll and he's finally getting used to your mom."
"And you're sure you don't want to take this course just because you're worried about him." Richie asked skeptical.
Sarah shrugged a little. "Maybe but if I do go back to work when he's older or something, I could work with other children too. I could work at a playschool or a toddler group."
"Okay." Richie nodded. "If that's what you want to do, go ahead. Even if you're just worried about Daniel, nothing wrong with learning something new."
Reaching over to her husband, Sarah smiled again and kissed him. "Thanks, course money is only like ten grand."
Money wasn't an issue for him but that did seem a lot. "Seriously?"
"No. Just wanted to see your reaction to that. Was funny." She kissed him again, then snuggled into him.
"Now if only Caleb would make up his mind about college."
That reminded Sarah of something they talked about earlier. "Few days ago he found the Academy of Arts."
"What's that?"
"Seemed really neat, he was considering studying to make music for movies but he's not sure if he really wants to make music his job or keep it as a hobby." Sarah explained, she knew what her son loved to do but also understood that it was a very hard choice to make. It would be the base of his entire life.
Richie frowned. "Music? Last week he was thinking about social work."
Sarah looked up at him. "Social work?"
"Yeah, said he wanted to work for child welfare. Help kids that are in difficult situations at home." He explained. When Caleb had told him, he had encouraged it, thinking that was what Sarah would want and it would be a very nice career to help children.
"That's something I'd expect from Noah. I know Caleb cares a lot, he just likes to act though around everyone but that would be a very nice to make a career out of."
Richie agreed and cuddled his wife again. "He'll make his mind up. Whatever he picks, he can study as long as it's what he really wants to do. He can always do music later."
"Very true." Sarah agreed.
Richie knew the difficult choice Caleb had to make. At that age he also wanted to play music for the rest of his life but it's a though field to breakthrough from and he also had picked another road at first. After two years of college, he took a chance to be world famous. Who knows, maybe Caleb would do so too. As a father, he'd be supportive to his son no matter what decision he made.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Chapter Sixty-two
Gently, Sarah laid her son in his small baby bed. He had fallen asleep a while ago but to her it seemed he'd be more comfortable in his own bed.
As she watched him sleep in his bed, it became obvious how much he had grown in the past few months. He was even starting to move on his own now.
Just as she expected when she walked out of Daniel's room, she received a phone call. Quickly she grabbed it out of her pocket and answered it as she walked back to her bedroom.
"Did you get to watch?" Richie opened with.
"Yeah. Danny loved it." Sarah answered him, sitting down on their bed.
"Danny? We're shortening it now?"
"It's cute."
"Okay. You let him watch?"
"He was watching with me and your mom. He was down on his play mat while we watched, turned up the volume and he loved it."
Richie smiled, picturing his son.
"He really knows it's you."
Sarah went on to describe how she was watching her husband on a laptop with Joan. They sat on the couch in the living room with the laptop on the coffee table, the volume turned up load. Daniel laid on a soft playing mat. With every guitar solo Richie made, Daniel tried to turn to his side, then fell to his belly. Sarah had turned him back to his back every time he did so but Daniel continued to try to get closer to where the music was coming from. After a few tries, Sarah had picked him up and held him in her lap as she watched her husband perform at a promotional concert in London. It was amazing to see how her 3 month old son was reacting to music and mostly music his father played.
"He's gonna be a musical talent." Richie predicted.
"You think so? Babies might just like music."
"Maybe."
A few hours later Sarah was back to being busy with her little boy.
She loved to watch him grow and her parenting books told her all about what he should be doing. Even with those books, she had a feeling she should know more about her child's development. It gave her a few ideas but right now Daniel was awake and would need attention for the next few hours.
While preparing dinner, Sarah made sure her older boys were babysitting the smallest one. Her idea that started in the living room, kept on rolling in her mind. It developed a way it could become reality. After all, she always wanted to go back to college and learn something. College wouldn't be a place for that now, that's what Caleb was going to do in the fall. She'd feel out of place at a college at this age but she also only wanted to learn for her own. Starting a career wasn't what she wanted to do anymore. Being a mother was all she wanted right now and a little more knowledge about children.
For now she kept her idea quiet, talking to Richie about it would help a lot. She could learn something entirely new that would benefit all of them even if she didn't put it into practice. She had already proven that she could maintain a good job and be a responsible employee. That part in her life was over now.
Now was time for family.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Chapter Sixty-one
"You'll be gone almost all week?" Ava asked astonished by what she had just been told by her father.
"It's just a little promo and you'll be staying with your mom anyway."
The family was having dinner only a week since new year's. Their vacation in Hawaii was over and everyone had gone back to school.
Ava looked up at her father sitting opposite of her. How couldn't he know? She was going to say it. He needed to know. "But you never spend time with me anymore!" She said in a quivering voice. Before she could let on how upset she was, she rose from her chair and left the dining room.
Richie looked at the empty chair, taken aback. He didn't spend time with her? What was he trying to do right now then?
He turned his head to face Sarah, a confused look on his face. What just happened? He only said he needed to go to Europe next week. The tour wasn't starting yet, it was just a week.
"I guess I should go talk to her."
Sarah nodded. "Yes, you probably should." She had a feeling about what was wrong. Even though it seemed a bit late to feel that way. They had been married for over a year now, Ava should be used to that by now.
Richie put his cutlery down and got up to walk to Ava's room.
The two boys at the table had started talking again. Sarah had never noticed them feeling unhappy about their family situation. Maybe boys took it differently.
Softly he knocked on the white painted door at the end of the hallway.
"Go away." Ava's voice said from inside the room.
"Come on Ava, we obviously need to talk about this." He knew his daughter well and could already imagine the seat she was sitting in. The chair had been one of her silly ideas, at least to him, when he had bought the house. He still didn't understand what was so comfortable about a ball shaped chair that hung safely from the ceiling. Except that it might give a surrounded feeling.
Since Ava didn't answer, he carefully opened the door. He had been right, there she sat, all cudfled up in a ball shaped chair.
"You're not supposed to come in 'til I say you can."
"You didn't answer me anymore." He took the desk chair and put it down in front of her. As he sat down, he could see tearstains on his daughter's lovely face. It stung, it hurt him.
"What's wrong?" He asked to start their conversation.
Ava shrugged.
"If it's bad enough to cry about, you need to tell me." Richie tried to get an answer but didn't succeed. She obviously didn't want to talk about it. "Why do you think I dont spend enough time with you?"
"Because you don't."
Her accusing voice, almost hurt as much as seeing the tearstains, if not more.
"We spend time together." Richie defended.
"Not like we used to."
Richie frowned. "Honey, I've been married for over a year now. It's a bit late to feel jealous of Noah and Caleb."
"I'm not jealous." Ava answered annoyed.
"Is it because I adopted them?"
"No."
Almost afraid to ask, he asked anyway. "Daniel?"
"No. I love Daniel."
"Then what is it?" Richie asked clueless.
Ava's eyes filled with tears.
"You can tell me anything." He reminded her. "What are you missing?"
"When I was little."
"When you were little?" He repeated confused.
"When you were home." Ava clarified, the tears escaped from her eyes.
"I am home."
"But you're leaving again." She said accusingly.
Richie leaned back in the chair as he thought back. The last year he had been busy with his solo album, two years before that he was busy touring and writing more songs. That was all he could remember about the last few years. Music and touring. Sure Ava had been there but he couldn't remember the last time he had been home with her for an entire month. With shared custody, that wasn't even possible.
As the realisation sunk in, he got up from his chair and walked out of the room.
"Dad!"
In his own bedroom he found a photo album, a little older than Ava was herself. He picked it up and carried it back to Ava's room.
She had moved from the chair to her bed, where she layed on her stomach, her head sunk in the pillow she was holding on to.
He sat down on the bed and stroked her back. "Honey, I wasn't leaving you." He clarified.
Ava wiped her eyes before looking up. "You still have that?" She sounded surprised.
Richie frowned. "Of course I do, it's got your whole life in it, until digital photographs took over the world." He opened it to the first page, where Ava's life had started. A blurry black and white picture. The first time they had found out about Ava. The picture was so blurry, he had pointed out with a pen where embryo Ava exactly was.
She sat up and leaned against the wall.
Richied moved on the bed until he was right next to her. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close until she laid her head on his shoulder.
"I thought we could remember all the time we had together. I can't change the tour anymore now but I'd do anything for you and if that's what you want me to do, I'll do it."
Ava didn't answer but pointed at the picture. "You really had to point me out?"
Richie chuckled, "Your mom was getting annoyed that I had to ask everytime." He paused not sure if he should continue or not. "I couldnt see Daniel either on those first pictures."
Ava smiled a little.
He hoped that made her feel less left out.
They sat together as they leafed through Ava's baby pictures. A lot had changed since then but his daughter was still just as beautiful as she was on her first day. That first day was the first day she amazed him and she had never stopped doing that.
"That's my favorite picture." Ava pointed out.
Richie smiled, "Of all of these?"
"No, just of when I was that age."
"I like it too. You really were still my baby girl then."
"I'll always be your baby girl."
"Forever." Richie confirmed. "Nothing could ever change that."
He looked at the picture. He could remember the moment but was sure Ava couldn't. "Why's that your favorite?"
"Cause you're really being a daddy there. You took the time for something moms usually do."
The words stung again but he could also understand them. She was sort of right.
Ava looked up at her dad. "I love you daddy."
He smiled at her tender words, the days that she still called him daddy seemed far away but right now it felt just like then. "I love you so much baby girl." He let go of the photo album and wrapped both arms around his daughter as he hugged and held her.
"I'm sorry." He added softly.
"It's just a little promo and you'll be staying with your mom anyway."
The family was having dinner only a week since new year's. Their vacation in Hawaii was over and everyone had gone back to school.
Ava looked up at her father sitting opposite of her. How couldn't he know? She was going to say it. He needed to know. "But you never spend time with me anymore!" She said in a quivering voice. Before she could let on how upset she was, she rose from her chair and left the dining room.
Richie looked at the empty chair, taken aback. He didn't spend time with her? What was he trying to do right now then?
He turned his head to face Sarah, a confused look on his face. What just happened? He only said he needed to go to Europe next week. The tour wasn't starting yet, it was just a week.
"I guess I should go talk to her."
Sarah nodded. "Yes, you probably should." She had a feeling about what was wrong. Even though it seemed a bit late to feel that way. They had been married for over a year now, Ava should be used to that by now.
Richie put his cutlery down and got up to walk to Ava's room.
The two boys at the table had started talking again. Sarah had never noticed them feeling unhappy about their family situation. Maybe boys took it differently.
Softly he knocked on the white painted door at the end of the hallway.
"Go away." Ava's voice said from inside the room.
"Come on Ava, we obviously need to talk about this." He knew his daughter well and could already imagine the seat she was sitting in. The chair had been one of her silly ideas, at least to him, when he had bought the house. He still didn't understand what was so comfortable about a ball shaped chair that hung safely from the ceiling. Except that it might give a surrounded feeling.
Since Ava didn't answer, he carefully opened the door. He had been right, there she sat, all cudfled up in a ball shaped chair.
"You're not supposed to come in 'til I say you can."
"You didn't answer me anymore." He took the desk chair and put it down in front of her. As he sat down, he could see tearstains on his daughter's lovely face. It stung, it hurt him.
"What's wrong?" He asked to start their conversation.
Ava shrugged.
"If it's bad enough to cry about, you need to tell me." Richie tried to get an answer but didn't succeed. She obviously didn't want to talk about it. "Why do you think I dont spend enough time with you?"
"Because you don't."
Her accusing voice, almost hurt as much as seeing the tearstains, if not more.
"We spend time together." Richie defended.
"Not like we used to."
Richie frowned. "Honey, I've been married for over a year now. It's a bit late to feel jealous of Noah and Caleb."
"I'm not jealous." Ava answered annoyed.
"Is it because I adopted them?"
"No."
Almost afraid to ask, he asked anyway. "Daniel?"
"No. I love Daniel."
"Then what is it?" Richie asked clueless.
Ava's eyes filled with tears.
"You can tell me anything." He reminded her. "What are you missing?"
"When I was little."
"When you were little?" He repeated confused.
"When you were home." Ava clarified, the tears escaped from her eyes.
"I am home."
"But you're leaving again." She said accusingly.
Richie leaned back in the chair as he thought back. The last year he had been busy with his solo album, two years before that he was busy touring and writing more songs. That was all he could remember about the last few years. Music and touring. Sure Ava had been there but he couldn't remember the last time he had been home with her for an entire month. With shared custody, that wasn't even possible.
As the realisation sunk in, he got up from his chair and walked out of the room.
"Dad!"
In his own bedroom he found a photo album, a little older than Ava was herself. He picked it up and carried it back to Ava's room.
She had moved from the chair to her bed, where she layed on her stomach, her head sunk in the pillow she was holding on to.
He sat down on the bed and stroked her back. "Honey, I wasn't leaving you." He clarified.
Ava wiped her eyes before looking up. "You still have that?" She sounded surprised.
Richie frowned. "Of course I do, it's got your whole life in it, until digital photographs took over the world." He opened it to the first page, where Ava's life had started. A blurry black and white picture. The first time they had found out about Ava. The picture was so blurry, he had pointed out with a pen where embryo Ava exactly was.
She sat up and leaned against the wall.
Richied moved on the bed until he was right next to her. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close until she laid her head on his shoulder.
"I thought we could remember all the time we had together. I can't change the tour anymore now but I'd do anything for you and if that's what you want me to do, I'll do it."
Ava didn't answer but pointed at the picture. "You really had to point me out?"
Richie chuckled, "Your mom was getting annoyed that I had to ask everytime." He paused not sure if he should continue or not. "I couldnt see Daniel either on those first pictures."
Ava smiled a little.
He hoped that made her feel less left out.
They sat together as they leafed through Ava's baby pictures. A lot had changed since then but his daughter was still just as beautiful as she was on her first day. That first day was the first day she amazed him and she had never stopped doing that.
"That's my favorite picture." Ava pointed out.
Richie smiled, "Of all of these?"
"No, just of when I was that age."
"I like it too. You really were still my baby girl then."
"I'll always be your baby girl."
"Forever." Richie confirmed. "Nothing could ever change that."
He looked at the picture. He could remember the moment but was sure Ava couldn't. "Why's that your favorite?"
"Cause you're really being a daddy there. You took the time for something moms usually do."
The words stung again but he could also understand them. She was sort of right.
Ava looked up at her dad. "I love you daddy."
He smiled at her tender words, the days that she still called him daddy seemed far away but right now it felt just like then. "I love you so much baby girl." He let go of the photo album and wrapped both arms around his daughter as he hugged and held her.
"I'm sorry." He added softly.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Chapter Sixty
"Happy new year honey." Richie said as he reached in to kiss his beautiful wife.
Their kiss was sweet, yet passionate enough to celebrate the new year that had started a few seconds ago.
"I have a feeling this will be an even better year." He smiled at her.
Sarah smiled back, it was impossible not to when she saw his smile. "I'm sure it will be."
"I can't wait. It'll be very busy."
Sarah nodded, seeing the prospect of this year. "You'll be gone a lot."
"But I'll be home every few weeks to see everyone."
"I'll still miss you."
"I'm not going anywhere yet. No need to miss me." He kissed her again.
"Why don't you get a room already?" Ava teased. She was glad her father had found love again but did he really need to show it off around everyone. Still?
"We will later." Richie assured her.
Their kiss was sweet, yet passionate enough to celebrate the new year that had started a few seconds ago.
"I have a feeling this will be an even better year." He smiled at her.
Sarah smiled back, it was impossible not to when she saw his smile. "I'm sure it will be."
"I can't wait. It'll be very busy."
Sarah nodded, seeing the prospect of this year. "You'll be gone a lot."
"But I'll be home every few weeks to see everyone."
"I'll still miss you."
"I'm not going anywhere yet. No need to miss me." He kissed her again.
"Why don't you get a room already?" Ava teased. She was glad her father had found love again but did he really need to show it off around everyone. Still?
"We will later." Richie assured her.
Half an hour later, everyone was going upstairs and to bed. They had celebrated all night but now that the new year had started, they were eager to go to bed. Tomorrow, they'd go down to the beach.
Together with Sarah, Richie went to check on baby Daniel again. He had missed the celebrations but his parents both agreed that his sleeping pattern was more important than celebrating something he wouldn't remember.
Daniel slept comfortably in his crib, surrounded by stuffed animals. He was growing and learning new things every day. He could even reach out and grab one to stick in his mouth. Sarah had made sure all the toys in his bed were safe for him in every possible way.
"Do we make a new one next year?" Richie asked quietly to not wake up Daniel.
Sarah smiled. "Not yet, a few more months."
"Yeah, that's probably better."
"In the second half of the year."
Richie nodded, agreeing. Now would be too soon.
Together with Sarah, Richie went to check on baby Daniel again. He had missed the celebrations but his parents both agreed that his sleeping pattern was more important than celebrating something he wouldn't remember.
Daniel slept comfortably in his crib, surrounded by stuffed animals. He was growing and learning new things every day. He could even reach out and grab one to stick in his mouth. Sarah had made sure all the toys in his bed were safe for him in every possible way.
"Do we make a new one next year?" Richie asked quietly to not wake up Daniel.
Sarah smiled. "Not yet, a few more months."
"Yeah, that's probably better."
"In the second half of the year."
Richie nodded, agreeing. Now would be too soon.
They both gently stroked his growing hair, then quietly left the room.
"How should we celebrate the new year?" Richie asked, walking over to the bed while he took his shirt off.
"I'm sure you can think of a way." Sarah teased him back. Unlike Richie, she didn't undress and gently sat down on the large bed.
"Yeah?" Richie sat down on the other end after taking his pants off. "I'm sure." He moved on the bed towards Sarah. Settling behind her, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck.
Sarah leaned her head back, fully enjoying the feeling of his soft kisses on her skin.
"How should we celebrate the new year?" Richie asked, walking over to the bed while he took his shirt off.
"I'm sure you can think of a way." Sarah teased him back. Unlike Richie, she didn't undress and gently sat down on the large bed.
"Yeah?" Richie sat down on the other end after taking his pants off. "I'm sure." He moved on the bed towards Sarah. Settling behind her, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck.
Sarah leaned her head back, fully enjoying the feeling of his soft kisses on her skin.
Richie reached down to the edge of Sarah's top and pulled it up, exposing her to him. He had a perfect view of her cleavage from the top.
Sarah pulled away from his grasp and stood up to take off her own pants, then pulled back the covers on the bed. In a minute, she was back in bed, kissing Richie.
"I love you." She whispered, keeping focus on his beautiful eyes.
A gentle smile formed on his lips once again, then kissed her gently. "I love you too."
He was glad they finally started having sex again but for him it was never enough. The few kisses, soft touches and exposed skin, was enough to turn him on.
"You're always ready." Sarah chuckled.
"Cause you look so beautiful. Can't help myself." Richie ended his explanation with another kiss.
Sarah pulled away from his grasp and stood up to take off her own pants, then pulled back the covers on the bed. In a minute, she was back in bed, kissing Richie.
"I love you." She whispered, keeping focus on his beautiful eyes.
A gentle smile formed on his lips once again, then kissed her gently. "I love you too."
He was glad they finally started having sex again but for him it was never enough. The few kisses, soft touches and exposed skin, was enough to turn him on.
"You're always ready." Sarah chuckled.
"Cause you look so beautiful. Can't help myself." Richie ended his explanation with another kiss.
He wrapped his arms around Sarah and pulled her closer against him, letting her feel how turned on he was. With the same action, he could feel Sarah's breasts pressed against him.
Stroking Sarah's back, he could feel her soft skin. The skin he had missed to touch so often.
Gently, he made her lay on her back. He didn't want to waste another minute before he lost control of himself. He wanted that moment with Sarah.
Carefully, he settled on top of her. Looking down into her beautiful shining green eyes, he couldn't resist another passionate kiss.
A moment later he was moving slowly with Sarah. He was sure Sarah couldn't handle anything too rough just yet and kept the pace slow and steady, enjoying every inch of movement he made.
Carefully, he settled on top of her. Looking down into her beautiful shining green eyes, he couldn't resist another passionate kiss.
A moment later he was moving slowly with Sarah. He was sure Sarah couldn't handle anything too rough just yet and kept the pace slow and steady, enjoying every inch of movement he made.
It wasn't long before he could feel the fire in his groin. Leaning down, he kissed Sarah again, getting every little bit of excitement before he let go of himself.
Only a second later, he felt Sarah reach her ultimate pleasure too. He smiled, "That's a happy new year."
Sarah chuckled. "It is."
Only a second later, he felt Sarah reach her ultimate pleasure too. He smiled, "That's a happy new year."
Sarah chuckled. "It is."
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