Chapter 7

“Where are we going again?”  Stephanie asked as she looked at the pitiful contents of her suitcase.  Richie had taken charge of their honeymoon and had been unusually stingy with details.  All he would tell her was that she pretty much only needed to pack a bathing suit, cover up and flip flops.  Nothing much else. 

He poked his head out of the bathroom.  “I didn’t.”

“But,” she tried again.

 

He crossed the room to her and put a finger over lips, cutting off any more questions.  “No.  No more questions.”  He glanced at her suitcase before leaving her standing there and opening her closet.  He picked out a couple of sundresses and dropped them on the bed before heading to her dresser.  He grabbed whatever landed in his hand first and dropped the lot on the bed as well.  “You’re good.”

She looked at what he had on the bed and had to laugh.  The dresses were fine but the underwear, she just shook her head.  “None of that matches.” 

He grinned wickedly and shrugged his shoulders, “so what.  I can guarantee you won’t need much, if any, of it anyway.”

She huffed out a frustrated sigh and folded the dresses.  She was almost certain they were going to Hawaii just based on what she was putting into her suitcase.  She picked up the bras and panties and went back to her dresser to make sure everything matched and, with a glance over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t watching, she pulled out her newest purchase and buried it under everything else.  She added a pair of real shoes and her sneakers.  She had started running after Lily had been born and she thought maybe she’d get at least one run on the beach in.   She zipped the case, if she needed anything else, she would just have to do some shopping. 

She followed Richie out of the room and caught Lily as she raced down the hall, “whoa there baby doll, where’s the fire?’

“No fire, mama.”  Her forehead scrunched up in confusion. 

“Then why are you running down the hall?”  Stephanie found herself sounding like her mother with the number of times a day she had to remind Lily not to run in the house.

Lily smiled angelically, “gotta pee mama!”

Stephanie took three long strides and deposited her child in the bathroom, “wash your hands when you’re done baby doll.” 

Lily danced in the front of the toilet, “yes mama.  Go!”

Stephanie stepped out and partially shut the door so Lily could take care of business.  Privacy was a new thing Lily was experimenting with and she wanted no one in the bathroom with her.  Stephanie headed down the stairs to where Richie was waiting. 

“Everything okay?”

She moved in to him, wrapping her arms around him. “Everything is just perfect.”

Richie’s arms came around her and he pressed his lips to the top of her head. “Good.  We need to head out soon.”  He glanced up the stairs to see Lily start down.  “Hold on to the railing baby girl.”  He watched every step, half tempted to just go get her and bring her down himself.  He was terrified she was going to trip and tumble all the way to the bottom.   When she got to the last step, Richie let go of Stephanie and scooped up his daughter.  “Good job baby girl.”

Lily wrapped her little arm around her father’s neck and rested her head against his cheek.  “I know daddy.”  She saw their suitcases.  “I go too?”

Richie walked with her toward the kitchen where he could hear voices.  “Not this time.  You need to stay here and take care of your grandmamas.”

“And her auntie” Jess added when they stopped in the doorway.

Richie smiled and set the toddler on her feet.  “Of course Jess.”  He looked down at Lily, “you think you can get Auntie Jess to behave too?”

Lily nodded her head, sending her pigtails swinging, “yep or time-out.”

The adults laughed.  “That’s right baby girl.”  Richie eyed Stephanie’s sister, “you heard the boss.  You don’t behave yourself you get a time out.”

Jess laughed at him.  “You calling me a troublemaker?”

“Takes one to know one” he shot back.

Stephanie just shook her head in amusement.  This could go on all afternoon.  Two peas in a pod they were.  She was just glad her family and her husband got along so well.  “Rich, I think you need a time out.”

His eyes widened in mock surprise, “me?  Why me?”

She let her bottom lip out in a soft pout.  “Because you’re mean.  You won’t tell me where we’re going.”

He stepped closer to her and traced her full bottom lip with his finger.  “All in good time my pretty.”  He pulled his phone from his pocket, “and that time is almost now.”  He dropped a kiss to her lips.  “Car’s here.”

They made their way out the front door and said their goodbyes as the driver loaded their bags into the trunk.  Stephanie picked up Lily, “all right baby doll.  You be good for your grandmamas and your aunties.”  She covered Lily’s cheeks in kisses. 

Lily shrieked out a laugh when Stephanie nosed into her neck and blew a raspberry.  “Mama!”

Stephanie eased up, “baby doll!” 

Lily gave her mother an angel smile and her little hands came up to cup Stephanie’s face.  “Love you mama.”

Stephanie squeezed her daughter and tried to hold her tears at bay.  This was the first time they were leaving Lily for more than one night.  “Love you too baby doll.” 

Richie reached for Lily and Stephanie slid into the backseat of the dark sedan.  “Come on baby girl.”  He took his turn with kisses and hugs.  “You be good and we’ll bring you back a present.” 

Lily smiled and pressed a smacking kiss to Richie’s cheek.  “’Kay daddy.  Love you!”

He gave her one final squeeze and handed her off to Jess.  “Love you too baby girl.”  He hugged Jess and Lily together.   “We’ll see you in 10 days.”

With a final wave the driver pulled away and they headed down the drive. 

Stephanie sniffled and reached for a tissue as they headed down the highway and Richie pulled her close.  “She’ll be fine Sweetheart.”

Stephanie nodded and dashed away her tears.  “I know.  It’s just, we haven’t left her for this long before.  I miss her already.”

“I know.  I do too, but it’s our honeymoon.  We’ll take her and Ava somewhere a bit more family friendly when we get back.”

“Disneyland” Stephanie suggested.  It was Ava’s favorite place and she had been wanting to take Lily now that she was a little older.

“Now, that’s a perfect idea.  They’ll love it.”

Stephanie leaned back and raised her head, pressing her lips to his in an easy kiss.  “Can you tell me now where we’re going?”

Richie glanced out the window to see that they were getting off the exit for the airport.  “Might as well, you’re going to find out soon enough.”  The car made its way around to departures and slowed to a stop at the international gate.

Stephanie stepped out of the car and caught the logo on the back end of a plane that was coming in for a landing.  “Air Tahiti?”

 Holy Jumping Up and Down. 

She turned to Richie, her face alight with a surprised smile.  “We’re going to Tahiti?!”  This was a bucket list trip for her and he was making it happen.  She tried to think if she had ever mentioned it, but it didn’t matter.  How he continued to know these things about her or find them out, she didn’t know, but whatever that special radar he had about her, she hoped he never lost it. 

 Richie moved around the car to stand in front of her, “surprise?”

She moved in to him, hugging him tightly, “best one ever!”

“Good.”  He tipped her chin up and kissed her lightly.  “Come on Mrs. Sambora” and damn, didn’t that sound good?  “Let’s get checked in and get through security.  It’s going to be a long travel day."

She followed him, dragging her suitcase behind her.  “I thought for sure we were going to Hawaii.”

He led them to the ticket counter/check in line for first class. “We can go there anytime.  This is a special occasion and it called for a special trip.”

She grabbed his free hand and gave him a squeeze.  “Thank you.”

He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. “Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t seen our bungalow on Bora Bora.”