Chapter 18

Richie paced from one side of his office to the other. With his hands in his pockets, he stared blindly out the window. Am I really going to do this? After 30+ years, am I really going to walk away from them and start all over again?

He paced back to the far side of the room. You know it’s what you’ve wanted for a while now. Besides, it’s become one big, monotonous machine. You have little to no creativity, no room to grow anymore. You’ve topped out. Where else is there to go if you stay?

He sighed and paced back to the windows. You basically have no say in much of anything. You’ll never be your own boss if you stay. You’ll always have someone making your decisions for you. You’ll always be at someone else’s beck and call.

He turned to move back and saw his baby girl standing in the doorway, the purple, sparkly band of mickey ears perched haphazardly on her head, several books in her arms. He had to smile. She loved her stories. “Hey baby girl, what are you doing in here?’

She grinned, flashing her dimples at him as she marched across the room to him, “read me” she insisted.

He scooped her up, “where’s your mama?” he asked as he settled them on the sofa.

“Store.” She handed him one of the books, “this one, pease?’

Digging his glasses out of his shirt pocket he glanced at the cover. Sofia the First: Holiday in Enchancia. He practically knew this one by heart. “Santa” had brought it and it had been a favorite ever since. He got through that one, Beauty and the Beast and was halfway through Cinderella when she slumped against him. He glanced down to find her asleep, her head resting heavily against his chest. He closed the book and eased her up to his shoulder before standing and heading out to put her in her bed.

Easing the band of ears from her head, he laid her gently on her bed and tugged up a light blanket. Giving her a kiss he backed out of the room, watching her for a moment before partially closing the door.

How many more of these moments do you want to miss. She’ll be a teenager like Ava before you know it. And Ava will be graduating and going off to college by the time you’re done with this go round. How much more of their lives are you willing to miss?

He turned and headed down the hall, more determined now. He didn’t want to miss any more of his daughters’ lives. He’d done enough. It was time. He reached into his pocket and swore. His phone was in his office.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

Stephanie pulled her Camaro into the garage, surprised she hadn’t heard from Richie while she had been out. She was later than planned and hoped she hadn’t missed him. Not that he would leave without saying goodbye, but time had gotten away from her. She pulled her phone out and, nope, no missed calls or texts. Weird she thought as pushed open the door from the garage. Laughter greeted her as she moved past the laundry room and closer to the kitchen.

She had expected to find him, bags packed and ready to go, only waiting on her to say goodbye. She was surprised to see him sprawled with Lily on the floor of the living room just beyond the kitchen, pink and purple Legos spread out all around them, and the two of them laughing like loons.

She paused at the edge of the room, surveying the wreckage. “What did I miss, what’s so funny?”

They looked up at her simultaneously, matching grins and dimples on their faces. “Daddy stormed castle and boomed it up.”

She looked at Richie, the question clear on her face. “Boomed it up?”

He pushed at the blocks to clear a space and, with a not-so-quiet groan, climbed to his feet.  “There was a raid on the castle, chaos ensued and well, there may have been an explosion or two. It was close, but there was no loss of life.”  He glanced over his shoulder and one of the Lego people was in a couple of pieces. “One of them lost a limb, but he should have been more careful.”

She could only shake her head in amusement. Her husband was as much of a child as her three-year old at times. “And is there an excavation crew coming to clean up the mess?”

Richie grinned and crouched back down, “come on Lily, let’s get the bucket and clear away the debris.”

“What’s ‘bris, daddy?” She dumped a couple of blocks in the bucket.

He held up a handful, “the blocks, baby girl. Let’s clean up the mess.”

When all the blocks were back in the bucket Lily toddled off with them to her play room. Stephanie looked after her wistfully. She’d miss their joined laughter while he was away.

“Are you packed and ready to go?” A glance at the clock on the wall told her it was just about time for him to be heading to the airport.

He took her hand and led her down the hall to his office. “No” he told her as he closed the door.

“No?  What do you mean no?” Confusion was clear in her voice.

“I’m not going anywhere, Sweetheart.”

What was he talking about? “I don’t understand. You have a show tonight in Calgary, what do you mean you’re not going anywhere?”

He took her hand and tugged her toward the couch, “sit down, Sweetheart.”

She did and then she stood again as his words sank in, fearful she understood more than she really wanted to. “No, I don’t want to sit. And what do you mean you’re not going anywhere? What did you do?”

They stared at each other across the ottoman in front of the sofa. “I’m not going to Calgary or anywhere else for a while.  I'm done with the band.”

Her heart dropped to her stomach. “Done?”

He tucked his hands in his pockets, “that’s what I said, I’m done. It was time for me to step back and be here with you and the girls. I can’t be out there with the band anymore.”

“But…” Stephanie shook her head, still trying to grasp what he was saying. He was leaving Bon Jovi.

He. Was. Leaving. Bon Jovi.

Holy shit.

She looked at him, he wasn’t kidding. This was no joke. He was absolutely serious. “Why?”

“Because it’s time. Because I’m not excited about being out on the road and playing that music anymore. Because I want to see Lily go off to pre-school. Because I want to see Ava graduate high school. Because I want to sleep in the same bed with my wife every night. Because I have other music in me that I won’t get to make if I stay with the band.” There were a million other reasons, but he hoped she got the point.

She moved around the ottoman, coming to stand in front of him. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’ve been mulling it over since before we got married, Sweetheart. I’m ready to move on, move forward, make new music.” Not that he hated what he played night after night, but it got old and it was starting to feel stale.

She stared at him for a long moment, remembering all the times he had seemed introspective or lost in thought. Every time she had asked him if he wanted to talk and he said no. All the time he spent scribbling in the notebook she had grown to hate on their honeymoon. His excitement at meeting Orianthi and the songs they had been working on together. Had it all been leading to this? And why hadn’t he talked to her about it before making this life changing decision?

“Did meeting Orianthi have anything to do with this decision?”

His eyes widened, he hadn’t expected that. “She wasn’t the driving factor, but working with her lit a new fire in me to branch out and try new things.” He wasn’t going to deny the obvious.

“Is this what you were struggling with on our wedding night, and all those times you didn’t want to talk to me about whatever it was going on in your head on our honeymoon?”

She could read him so well at times, it was kind of scary. “Yeah. I was heading in this direction and wasn’t totally sure what I was going to do. That’s why I didn’t talk to you. I didn’t know what I was going to do at that point. Now I do. And I’m not making this decision lightly.”

No, she could see that. He had put more than a little thought into this decision. “Can I ask one more question?”

He reached out, took her hand, he needed that connection with her. “Ask as many as you want, Sweetheart.”

“How did Jon take the news?’ His best friend of more than 30 years could not have been happy with this decision, especially not with the tour still going forward.

He braced himself for the backlash. “I haven’t talked to Jon.”

“WHAT?!” She pulled her hand from his, turning away from him then whirling back, her hair flying around her. “How could you NOT talk to him about this?! How do you NOT talk to your boss, for all intents and purposes, about walking away from your job?!”

Richie stepped toward her and stopped when she took a step back, “he’s in show mode right now, in his routine. I called and talked to Paul. Besides, Jon’s not my boss.”

“Really?” She shook her head, he always forgot she was a fan. “I’ve been a fan as long as there has been a band, Rich. I’ve heard the stories, read the interviews. I know whose name is on the recording contract.”

He opened his mouth to deny, but closed it again. Dammit he kept forgetting she was a fan and she was right, he couldn’t deny it. “So.”

“So?!” She lifted her eyes to the ceiling searching for the patience she wasn’t feeling at the moment. Lowering them, she pressed her fingers to her temples to rub at the headache that was brewing. She closed her eyes and took a breath to calm down. She stepped closer to him and took his hand again.

“Even setting the whole boss thing aside for a minute, for the last 30 years you’ve been his right-hand man. He’s your best friend. They, Jon, David and Tico, hell even Huey, they’re the closest you have to brothers. How do you make a decision like this and NOT talk to them?”

Chapter 17

Checking the rearview mirror as she pulled around and parked in front of the garage confirmed her suspicion. Lily was dead asleep in her car seat. Stephanie smiled and eased herself out of the car. She was ready for an eight-hour nap herself. Disneyland wasn’t for wimps. She unbuckled Lily and lifted her from the seat, leaving the bags with their souvenirs for later. She made it to the door before the tired toddler lifted her head from mama’s shoulder. “Daddy?!”

“He’ll be home soon. He had to drop Ava and Shea off.” Stephanie rubbed her hand lightly, soothingly up and down her daughter’s back.

“’kay” Lily dropped her head back down on her mother’s shoulder.

They made it up the stairs and into Lily’s room before she stirred again. “Bed, mama.”

“Yes, my baby doll. It’s time for bed.” Stephanie gently took the sparkly band of purple mickey ears from her little head and stripped off the dress. “Let’s go potty first.” She took Lily into the bathroom and let her do her thing. While she was practically asleep sitting on the commode, Stephanie dampened a washcloth with warm water and ran it over Lily’s face and hands. “Good enough for now” she murmured as she lifted her exhausted little girl and carried her back to the bedroom. Tugging her nightgown on Stephanie tucked Lily into bed. “Sweet dreams, baby doll” she whispered with a kiss to her cheek. Leaving a nightlight on Stephanie closed the door and headed down to her own room.

Stripping out of her own clothes she unwound her braid and stepped into the shower. The hot water felt like glory on her tired, sweat-sticky body. Shampoo and soap left her feeling refreshed instead of ready to drop like a stone. After drying off she slicked on some lotion and pulled on a pair of cotton pants and a tank. Maybe she’d go down, pour a glass of wine, decompress from the day and figure out what was going on with Richie. She was finger combing her hair when she stepped from the bathroom and stopped.

Richie had made it home and was waiting for her on the balcony off their bedroom. There were candles lit and scattered around the bedroom and out on the balcony. He was reading her mind again. He had a glass of wine waiting for her on the new table. There was also a small box resting next to the glass. Pushing her hair over her shoulder, she crossed the room and stepped out to join him.

She picked up the wineglass by the delicate stem and sipped what she knew would be her favorite Riesling as she traced the embossed “Pandora” on the small box. As always, the wine was cool and crisp on her tongue. She knew what he was up to, but she played along. “What’s all this for?”

Richie’s lips curved into a knowing smirk, “it’s the ‘I’ve-been-acting-like-a-complete-ass-and-have-a-lot-to-make-up-for’ special.”

Caught in a triangle of candlelight, moonlight and shadows, it was hard to make out his expression, but there was no mistaking the amusement in his tone. She couldn’t help but smile. “Well, it’s a start.”

He reached out, his fingers stilling hers on the box and tugging her gently toward him. “How much more than ‘I’m sorry’ will it take to get me out of the doghouse?”

She took another sip of wine and set the glass on the little table in the corner near him. He had come to Disney after all and had given Lily, at least, his time and attention. That was all she had wanted. She didn’t care that his attention wasn’t centered on her, she wanted him to be there for his girls. He hadn’t given Ava as much, but he’d managed there too. All in all the day had ended up miles away from where it had started and the girls were happy. And, here and now, that was all that really mattered.

“You already said you were sorry.” She settled down into the chaise lounge that was next to the table, stretched out her legs, “and I told you I wasn’t mad anymore.”

He picked up the small box before moving to sit on the end of the chair. Putting the box in her hands, he lifted her feet onto his lap. “I know, Sweetheart, but I feel like we’re still at odds over what happened this morning.” He rubbed his fingers up and down her arch, digging in just enough to soothe and massage away the hours and miles she had walked.

Setting the box on the table with her glass, she closed her eyes and sighed. The man knew how to give a damn good foot rub. “You don’t play fair.”

“I just want you happy with me again.” He slid his fingers higher, caressed her ankle, her calf, “I don’t like having you mad at me.”

Her sigh turned to a moan when her pant leg slipped higher and his fingers found the sensitive spot at the back of her knee. “Not mad, irritated mostly.” And even the irritated was waning with every stroke of those very talented fingers.

He started on the other leg, “open your present” he continued the light caress on her calf. “I don’t like you irritated either.” But he had earned the irritation through no one’s fault but his own so he would do whatever it took to fix it.

Forgetting the box she closed her eyes. “Oh God.” She was going to be one big puddle of goo on the chair if he didn’t stop. “Rich, I’m never going to be able to walk back into the bedroom if you keep that up.”

He skimmed his fingers lightly down her leg and, with a little rearranging, moved up the chair to curl behind her, “who said anything about going inside, yet?”

She purred contentedly at the warmth that surrounded her as he settled closer to her. It had been a while since they’d had any intimate contact. She missed feeling close to him. She nestled more fully against him and his purr in her ear echoed her own.

His hand found its way up inside the tank she wore and long fingers lightly stroked the heavy under curve of her breast and up, to just barely tease the hardened tip. His breath was warm at her ear. “I’ve missed you, darlin’.” He carried the bulk of the blame for the distance between them and he was determined to put things to right with her.

With him wrapped around her, she could do little but press her bottom back against him even as she pushed her breast harder into his touch. “Missed you too.”

His hand slid down, pausing to lie flat against her stomach before slipping below the waist of her pants. “Hussy” he whispered finding nothing between her and the soft cotton. Her warmth drew him, a moth to the flame. His fingers brushed over her, urging her leg up and between his. He teased her with light, barely there strokes that had her hips undulating restlessly against him.

She pressed back against him, caught between the arm that was banded across her front and the hard, warm wall of him behind her, it was all she could do. She couldn’t ease the ache…if he would just…”god Rich, please” she begged, uncertain exactly what she was looking for but she needed something more, just a little bit more.

He shifted behind her, sliding his fingers deeper as he nipped along her shoulder and up her neck, his tongue both soothing and inciting. “Just let go, darlin’.” He bit down harder on her shoulder, rubbing away the sting with his tongue and she cried out as her whole body strained with release.

Limp with release and a long day’s exhaustion the only thing keeping her from rolling off the chair were Richie’s arms. His warmth radiated through her and had her curling as close as she could get without being inside his clothes with him. She purred her contentment and reached for him only to have her hand stilled. Prying her eyes open she raised her head slighty, “what about…?” She let the thought trail.

“That was just for you, Sweetheart.” He reached out a hand and snagged the box off the table. “Open your present.”

She shook her head to clear the post-orgasmic fog, “but you didn’t…”

He pressed a fingertip to her lips, “this isn’t about me.” His finger slid from her lips to under her chin and the slightest pressure had her lips in line with his. “Open your present, please.”

She kissed him lightly, “since you asked so nicely…” she picked up the box and unfolded the end and pulled out the tissue paper. The charm dropped into her hand and in the low light she could just make out the heart-shaped charm. Mickey and Minnie were silhouetted in the silver heart, nose to nose. She turned it over, the back was engraved with the words “Believe in Magic.”

Cradling the charm in one hand, she raised her eyes to his and cupped his cheek, “I believe every day, Rich. Ever since we met and you decided I was the one for you, I’ve believed.”

“Just don’t stop believing, Sweetheart. I know I screwed up, but just don’t give up on me, on us.”

“Never, but you need to use your head for more than just growing hair.”

He chuckled and held her close, “I get more than a little focused and tend to shut everything else out in that moment, but I’ll try, Sweetheart. I’ll try.”

Stephanie laid her head against his chest and started to drift. “I’ll miss you while you’re gone.” The tour was starting back up and he was leaving. Tomorrow.

He pressed his lips to her forehead, feeling her breathing start to even out. He closed his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter 16

He approached Lily first, it seemed the safer bet to him.  He was fairly certain Stephanie wouldn’t make a scene in public but, erring on the side of caution, he started with the sure thing.

“Hey baby girl, look at you all sparkled up and ready to go!”  He crouched down in front of her and chucked her under the chin before pressing his lips to her forehead. 

“Daddy” she exclaimed and tugged on her mickey ears, “I gots ‘phia ears!”  Disney’s princiess-in-training, Sophia the First, was her latest obsession.

He smiled broadly, his dimples mirroring hers, “and they’re beautiful baby girl.”

He looked up at Stephanie and saw the softening of her expression, the irritation stated to fade from her eyes. 

“Hey.”

He rose from his crouch and held out his hand to her, a peace offering.  “Hey yourself Sweetheart.”

She slipped her hand into his, “what are you doing here?”

He tugged her closer, “can I just say you were right” he leaned down and his lips grazed her cheek, “and leave it at that for now?”

With his face shaded by his hat and his eyes obscured by his sunglasses, she couldn’t read him as well as she would have liked, but a smile danced around his lips.  She set her feelings aside, for the moment.  “You know we’ll be talking about it later, right?”

“Mama!”  Lily kicked the footrest of the stroller impatiently.

Stephanie shifted her attention to her daughter.  “Just a minute baby girl.”  She looked back at Richie, waiting.

He twined their fingers together and gave a gentle squeeze.  “I know.  But for now let’s just show the girls a good time and enjoy the day.”

She nodded, “okay.”

Lily continued to make her impatience known by angrily kicking the stroller footrest, and throwing her little body into rocking the stroller.  “Mama!  Daddy!  Let’s go!!”

Stephanie rolled her eyes and Richie crouched once more to soothe the savage beast he daughter was turning into.  “Lily, baby girl, look at me.”

She stopped her kicking and rock long enough to set her eyes on her father, “wanna go!”

“I know, but mama and I are talking.”

“No” her eyes welled and two fat crocodile tears slid down her little face, “no talking.  Wanna see princesses!” 

Richie rubbed her back, trying to calm her down, her tears ripping at him.  He hated when his girls cried.  “Okay baby girl, no more tears, okay?”

She sniffled and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, “’kay” her breath hitched and as fast as the tears started, they stopped.  “Go now” she turned her big brown eyes on him “please?”

He shook his head, god she killed him.   He stood and gripped the handle of the stroller, “where to first?”

They started the rest of the way up Main Street toward Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.  Fantasyland lie beyond the castle, so they’d start there and make their little girl a lot less cranky.

Ava and Shea broke from the party at the castle, heading toward Tomorrowland and Space Mountain, the Tomorrowland Speedway and whatever other trouble they could get into. 

“Meet us back at the castle, I’ll text you a time.”

Ava saluted her father, “sure thing papa bear” and took off with Shea.

Making their way through the crowd the little family headed toward the walk through of the castle and Lily spotted the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.  “Princess!” she exclaimed. 

Stephanie looked at Richie, “maybe I should have made an appointment for a makeover for her?”

He perused the contents of the salon and the line of people waiting.  “Why don’t we just buy her a costume at one of the gift shops?  That’ll make her just as happy.”

“Yeah” she agreed.  “You’re probably right.”  She looked down at Lily, “how about we get you a dress after we ride the merry-go-round?”  Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel was about 20 feet in front of them.

“’Kay mama.”  She looked up and saw the ride, “horsey, mama!”

Stephanie smiled at Lily and then up at Richie, “you heard her, let’s go ride the horsey.”

They made their way around Fantasyland, managing to keep Lily happy with a new purple Sophia the First dress to match her ears, a storytelling experience at Enchanted Tales with Belle, a meeting with Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto, a meeting with several Disney Friends at Pete’s Silly Sideshow and a snack at The Friar’s Nook before standing in line at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. 

Richie rolled the stroller back and forth, doing his best to keep Lily from throwing a fit.  “You know we should take her over to Disney’s California Adventure Park.  That’s where Hollywood Land is and where the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration and the Disney Junior show is.”

The line inched forward, “let’s see how she does here before we make any more plans.”  The last thing she wanted to do was deal with an overtired, over-stimulated three-year old.  Lily was a happy, cheerful little girl, 98 percent of the time.  It was that other two percent you had to watch out for.  Don’t make her angry, you won’t like her when she’s angry wasn’t an understatement when it came to Lily.  She had a hell of a temper.  Hopefully on this attraction she could roll, bounce and float off some excess energy from being strapped in the stroller for so long.

Lily was laughing and sitting on Richie’s shoulders when they exited the attraction.  She patted his head, “Cups, daddy!!”  She had spotted the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party when they came out of the Winnie the Pooh Adventure. 

He looked at Steph, “what do you think, can she handle it?”

She looked at the ride, it seemed tame enough.  “Just don’t get the cup spinning out of control and she should be fine.  And hang on to her.”

He lifted Lily from his shoulders, “what, you think I’m taking her on that?”  Just the thought of spinning around in crazy circles made his stomach churn.  “Uh, you should probably take her.”

Stephanie laughed at the green tint that his cheeks had taken on, and took Lily’s hand “really, you can’t handle teacups?”

He grinned sheepishly and shook his head, “nope, rides that spin were never my thing.”  He patted her on the ass as he moved by her, “go have fun, I’ll be waiting over here” he pointed to the exit area where there just happened to be an empty bench to sit on. 

He stopped at the Cheshire Café and got a lemonade before settling on the bench to watch his girls.  Lily waved the first time they spun past him.  She looked slightly fearful on the next pass but by the time the ride stopped she was laughing and begging for more. 

They finished their tour through Fantasyland, wended their way through Tomorrowland to the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and finished back at the castle.  Richie shot off a text to Ava.  

At the Castle waiting.

Just getting on BTMR, be over when done.

“They’re getting on Thunder Mountain Railroad, then they’ll be over.”  Richie and Stephanie found a place to sit and wait.  Stephanie adjusted the stroller seat for Lily who had finally dozed off and she laid her head against Richie’s shoulder.  She should mad at him, but it was hard to keep it up.  Seeing him with Lily, their laughter and smiles, the absolute joy they got from one another trumped her anger.  “I’m not mad at you anymore” she murmured near his ear.   

He turned his head, pressed his lips to her forehead.  “Good.”

She angled her head up, her mouth a breath from his, “I’m glad you decided to join us today.”

He dropped his lips to hers.  “Me too.  It’s been a good day so far.”  And he made up his mind right then and there, with her pretty, mermaid-y eyes gazing into his that he wasn’t going to miss any more family days and moments if he could help it.

Chapter 15

Q Note:  I've never been to Disneyland so don't shoot me if I get the details wrong.  Thanks and enjoy!  :)

Richie set the guitar aside. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything other than Stephanie’s parting words to him that morning. He hadn’t wanted to admit it to her then, but she was right. He could have put this off. Should have put this off and gone with them.

He looked at the woman in the chair across from him. Her head was bent and her long, blonde hair draped over the body of the guitar as she played. She was an amazing guitar player. She made him want to be that much better than he already was. It was a continual learning process and he was going to get his master’s degree if it killed him. She chose that moment to pause and look up at him.

Her blue-gray eyes peered out at him from under a heavy fringe of bangs and he felt that thing again. There was something there that he just couldn’t ignore. His eyes slid from her face to the guitar in her lap, then lower. Her legs, bared by the simple shorts she wore were slim and smooth. 

I shouldn’t be thinking about her legs. 

What was he doing? He picked up his guitar again. Anything to get his mind back on the music and off of her.

“Are you all right, then?” He’d been fussy ever since she had arrived at his house that morning.

He set the guitar aside again. “Can’t get my head in the game today.” It was useless to think he’d get anything accomplished with the argument with Stephanie weighing on him and the thoughts he definitely should not be having about Ori circling around his brain.

“Do you want to talk about it?” If he couldn’t concentrate there was really no point in her wasting her time. “Or should we call it a day then?”

Richie stood, paced to the windows and turned. The sun was haloed around her and her eyes were full of smiles. Yeah, he needed her to go before he did something insanely stupid. “It’s just something I need to fix. Can we get together another time? When are you back out here again?”

She opened the calendar app on her phone, “I can rearrange a couple things.” She packed up her guitar and grabbed her purse. “Call me next week?”

He led her out of the room and down the hall toward the door. “That’d be great, and thanks.”

“Sure thing.” She turned and kissed his cheek. “Good luck and all.”

He shut the door behind her, leaned against it and blew out a breath. It was time to get his head out of his ass. He was married to a fabulous woman, had two beautiful, precious daughters. No way was he going to throw that away for a woman half is age just because she looked like an angel and could play the guitar like a demon.

He headed toward the other side of the house, pulling out his phone on the way. He shot off a text to Ava as he was backing out of the garage.

YYYYYY

“No mama, no ‘troller!” Lily whined.

Stephanie scooped her up, “sorry baby doll but yes, stroller. Do you see how many people there are?”

From the safety of her mother’s arms Lily looked around. “Lots.”

“That’s right, lots.” Stephanie slid a slightly calmer toddler into the seat. “I don’t want to lose you, so you get to ride today.” She crouched down in front of her daughter, “unless you want to push mama around?” That got her the giggle she was hoping for.

“You too big mama.” She pushed her face away after getting covered with kisses. “Let’s go!”

“Okay girls,” she looked over at Ava and her friend Shea, “are you going to stay with us or go off on your own?”

“We’ll stick a bit” Ava decided. “And then we’ll see what’s what.”

“Good enough.”

They headed down Main Street USA along with the rest of the crowd.

Stephanie took Lily into the Emporium while Ava and Shea hit the Starbucks in Market Square. Ava had just placed her order when her phone vibrated in her pocket. It was a text from her father.

Where are you?

Starbucks…Market Square Papa Bear. Why?  Steph had told her that her father was working today and couldn't come with them so why did it matter where they were?

The barista called her name, her order was up. Her phone vibrated once more.

Be there in 10-15. Don’t tell Steph.

She furrowed her brow, okay that was weird. Why not?

The shuttle Richie was on slowed to a stop at the main entrance gate.

Trying to fix a prob. C U soon. 

He pulled his ball cap lower and adjusted his sunglasses and waited for everyone to depart the bus before making his way down the aisle. The line to get through the security check was long, but he moved to the far left side and, carrying nothing but his wallet and phone in his pocket, was able to get through the crowd with little fuss.

He moved up Main Street, his long smooth stride eating up the distance as he bypassed the Fire Department, Disneyana, the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor (a particular favorite). He got to Starbucks in time to see Ava and Shea head into the Emporium. Dodging a small crowd he moved on to the Emporium and scanned the store. He was never going to find them. He walked through, keeping an eye out for his girls. It took a few minutes, but he finally caught up to Ava.

 “Hey Baby Girl.”

Ava smiled and threw her arms around his waist. “Papa Bear, you made it!”

He returned the hug and pressed a kiss to her head. “Yeah, sorry I didn’t start the day with you though.”

She laid her head against his chest, “s’okay, you’re here now.”

He rubbed her back, “where’s Steph and Lily?” He had a lot of crow to eat with Steph and he wanted to get it over with.

“Last I saw she was over in the kiddie section.”

Richie untangled himself from her, “I’m going to find her, you guys wait by the exit for us when you’re done, okay?”

She saluted him, “aye aye, papa bear.”

“Smart ass” he laughed as he walked away.

He made his way toward the section for his littlest princess. He scanned the room full of ruffles and bows, glitter and sparkle. He didn’t see them anywhere. He wandered through and back toward the front of the store. He finally saw them as they were heading out to where he told Ava to wait. Easing through the throng of people crowded near the cash registers he stepped out into the sunshine at nearly the same time Stephanie pushed the stroller through a door a bit further down the sidewalk.

He couldn’t help but smile at the picture they made. Lily turned and looked up at her mother, purple sparkly princess ears perched on her small head and her dimples radiated joy as she grinned at her mother. He shook his head at his own stupidity. Had he really thought to miss this? He should kick his own ass.

He had taken no more than a couple steps when Lily noticed him. “Daddy!”

Stephanie hadn’t seen him yet and she leaned down to her daughter, “he’s not here baby doll, remember?”

Lily was adamant, and pointed her little fingers in Richie’s direction. “No mama, daddy!”

Stephanie followed her daughter’s fingers, sure she had seen someone that resembled Richie. Surprise and confusion warred for purchase on her face as she straightened and watched Richie stride toward them.

Chapter 14

The sun streamed through the doors that led to the balcony off their bedroom and across the bed.  She stretched, searching for the warm body of her husband.  She found only smooth, cold sheets instead.  Frowning, Stephanie opened her eyes and pushed the heavy fall of hair away from her face.  His side of the bed was empty.  The smoothness of the sheets telling her he hadn’t made it to their bed last night.  She sighed.  They had been home for a week and this was the third time he hadn’t come up to bed.  Ever since he had gotten that fateful call from Alice Cooper when they were in Hawaii and he had met Orianthi, he had been nonstop with the writing and composing.

Pushing back the covers she headed toward the bathroom.  She could still see the delightful surprise on his face when he realized the woman that played guitar for Alice was the same woman he had been so enamored with at Bloody Mary’s in Bora Bora.  What were the odds of that?  He had gotten up on stage that night with her and Alice and had a grand time playing.  There had been an instant connection with the woman that was inescapable. 

She shook her head as she stood in the shower, still wondering what the hell kind of bitch Karma was to have that woman thrown into their lives yet again.  She just hoped he knew what he was doing.  He was supposed to be getting ready to leave again tomorrow to continue the tour with Bon Jovi.  He hadn’t even packed for that yet and today they had planned to take Ava and Lily to Disneyland.  Shutting the water off, she grabbed a towel, she dried off and braided her hair back from her face.  She hoped he had gotten some sleep. 

Pulling on denim cut offs and a t-shirt, she opened the bedroom door and found Lily reaching for the outer handle.  “Good morning baby doll.”

She beamed up at her mother, “morning mama.  Princess today!”

Stephanie picked the toddler up and dotted her face with kisses, “that’s right.  We’re going to see the princesses today.”  Her daughter could care less about Mickey Mouse, but she was bound and determined to find every princess in the park today.

“Ava too!”

“That’s right, baby doll” she agreed as she stepped into a room fit for a princess.  The pink walls of Lily’s room were adorned with clings and cut outs of every princess in the Disney collection.  The small, white toddler bed was covered with a pink and white spread and Disney princess sheets.  And she had every Disney book, animal and doll known to man.  Thanks to her father who couldn’t seem to remember the word “no” when it came to his girls.

“Come on baby doll, let’s get you dressed.”  She set Lily on her feet and went to the white dresser against the wall.  “What do you want to wear today?”

“’Phia, mama.”

From the top drawer she pulled out the purple Sophie the First panties.  In the next drawer down she found the purple t-shirt and shorts that would complete the ensemble.  “Sophia it is my lady.”

Lily giggled and stripped out of her nightie.  “Hurry mama.”

Stephanie helped her get dressed and got her hair into pigtails.  “Okay baby doll, let’s go have some breakfast and see if we can find daddy.”

Lily raced out of the room ahead of her mother, “daddy!” 

Stephanie followed Lily and slowed her down at the stairs, “be careful and hold the railing.”

“I am mama.”

Stephanie got Lily settled in the kitchen with a bowl of cereal and a glass of juice.  “You stay here with Jenna.  I’ll be right back.”

“Kay mama.”

Stephanie pressed a kiss to her daughter’s head and, leaving her in the nanny’s very capable hands, went in search of Richie.  She found him in his music room, passed out on the sofa, his guitar precariously perched on his lap.  She carefully eased it from his grip and set it in the case that was open on the floor.  She closed the notebook that was on the ottoman by his feet and gave him a not-so-gentle nudge.

“Rich.”

He shifted against the leather cushions, snorted out a yawn and rubbed his hand over his face before settling down to sleep again.

Stephanie opened the drapes and the sun streamed in, hitting him full in the face.  “Rich” she tried again a bit louder this time.

He blinked and opened his eyes, closing them immediately against the brightness of the sun.  “What the fuck?”

She moved into his field of view, “Rich, wake up.”

He ran a hand over his face again, “what time is it?”  He didn’t remember falling asleep.

Moving to block a bit of the sun she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.  “It’s time to get up.”

He tugged her down next to him, “you’re awful cheerful this morning.”

“I’m trying to get in the mood.  We are going to the Happiest Place on Earth today.”

He was quiet for a minute.  “About that, Sweetheart…” he trailed off, a little afraid of her reaction to what he was about to tell her.

She turned to face him, recognizing the tone of his voice.  “Oh no, no way Rich.”  Her rising anger added a flush to her cheeks.  “You’re not doing this, not today.”

“You don’t understand Sweetheart.  Ori is only in LA for a couple days and she’s coming here today to finish up the song we’ve been working on.  She only has today.”

Ori?  Now it’s Ori?

Stephanie stood, paced away from the couch and back again.  “This trip has been planned since we got back from our honeymoon, Rich.  Lily is having her breakfast and excitedly telling Jenna all about which princess she wants to meet first.  Ava is on her way over.”  She narrowed her eyes at him, “are you going to tell them that we’re not going because you decided work was more important?”

Richie frowned, “that’s not fair Sweetheart.  You know I wouldn’t let them down if it could be helped.”

“From where I’m standing it can be helped.”

Frustration had him raising his voice, “I told you her schedule was tight, Sweetheart.  What do you want me to say?”

“What about your schedule, Rich?  I thought family time was sacred.  You told me you wanted to spend more time with the girls.  You’re leaving to go back out on tour and won’t be home for weeks.  That’s why we planned this trip today.  Now you do this?  I don’t get it.”

He ran a hand through his hair, “I’ve told you before you never know when inspiration will hit.  We, Ori and I, found a connection, there’s something big there I think and we need to pursue it.  We need to see where it’s going to go.”

“That part I get.  I do,” she continued when he frowned.”  What I don’t get is how you can be so callous with your daughters’ feelings.”

He opened his mouth to say something and she held up her hand, “no, just don’t.  I really don’t want to argue about this anymore.  I’ll take the girls to Disney while you write your opus with Orianthi.”  She crossed the room and opened the door, “I really hope it’s worth it.”

Stephanie several deep, cleansing breaths and pasted a smile on her face before walking back into the kitchen.  Lily had finished her breakfast and was talking animatedly with Ava. 

“So, who’s ready to go to Disneyland?”

Chapter 13

With an irritated huff, Stephanie shoved her bag into the overhead compartment and closed the door.  It was time to leave paradise.  Reality was eagerly awaiting their return.  She frowned as she settled into her seat and snapped her seatbelt across her lap.  Their last couple of days hadn’t exactly been idyllic, to say the least.  After dinner the other night at Bloody Mary’s Richie had buried his nose in his ever-present notebook and his guitar had become a permanent fixture in his hands.  When he was that focused, it was near to impossible to distract him. 

And she had tried, oh she had tried.  Her new lingerie hadn’t done much more than earn her a quick fuck up against the wall.  Her offer of a blow job the day before had been shot down with a distracted, “thanks, but not right now.  Maybe later.”  He even went so far as to cancel their plans for renting four-wheelers to tour the island and a boat tour over to Mt. Otemanu.  She put her foot down when he wanted to skip the traditional Polynesian dinner last night though. 

She glanced out the window at the handlers loading the cargo hold with suitcase after suitcase.  She thought she had known.  She’d been a fan for all of the band’s 30+ years, she’d read about it, heard the stories from their own mouths.  But seeing it firsthand was an eye-opening experience. 

She didn’t particularly care for it, not right now anyway.  Maybe she would have felt different if they had been at home and not on their freaking honeymoon when inspiration hit him over the head.  This was supposed to have been their time together, just the two of them, before he went back on tour and she didn’t see him for weeks on end. 

Short of stealing that damned notebook, nothing had swayed him from his sudden pressing need to flesh out the next forty-seven Bon Jovi hits.  At least that’s what she assumed he was scribbling away at in that book. 

She let her glance shift sideways across his tray that was not in its upright and locked position for take-off.   His pencil was wreaking havoc across the paper.   She couldn’t make out the words, but there was a whole bunch of a lot of them on that page. 

Drawing her attention away from the window, she sighed again and stuck her kindle in the pocket under her take-off appropriately locked tray.  She knew she shouldn’t be so irritated by this all-consuming need to write, this was his job after all.  Maybe if he put that damn book away and looked at her, actually saw her, it would help.

She felt his fingers twine with hers.  The heat slid up her arm and left goose bumps in its wake.  Even irritated and frustrated with him, she couldn’t help her reaction to his touch.  She lifted her eyes to his.  He had become her whole world and, for better or worse, they were tied to each other and she was going to have to learn to deal with this part of him.  She would learn to deal with this, she wouldn’t be the angry, nagging wife that couldn’t deal with his job. 

“Hey.”  The low timber of his voice gave her a thrill.  “Everything okay, Sweetheart?’

His tray was now in its correct position for take-off and his notebook and pencil were stashed away in the seat pocket for later.  He wouldn’t have access to his guitar until they got home, but he was keeping the notebook close just in case he had another brainstorm.

“I guess.  Are you done writing?”  Mentally she regressed to age 8 and crossed her fingers while the word “please” rang like a mantra through her head. 

“For now, but you just never know when the bug will hit again.”

“Oh.”  Her fingers fidgeted with her seatbelt and the plane began to move.

“What is it, Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

The timing wasn’t perfect, nor was the place, but she needed to tell him.  “I’ve felt a tad ignored the last couple of days, Rich.”

He blew out a breath and tightened his grip on her fingers.  “I’m sorry Sweetheart, but this is what I do.  You’ve known that since before we got together.”  If she couldn’t handle this part of his job they were never going to last.

Her eyes, now closer to brown than the happy green he loved met his.  “I know there’s this unexplainable need inside you to write and make music, I get it, I do, but this was our honeymoon, Rich.  You promised me 10 days in paradise, just you and me, no distractions.”

“I can’t help when inspiration hits, Sweetheart.  After being at Bloody Mary’s the other night, it was like the floodgates opened and nothing would hold the flow back.  I had to get it out, had to get it down on paper before the words were lost to the ether.”  He studied her face.  He saw that she wasn’t angry, not really, irritation and hurt warred in her pretty hazel eyes.  He let his mind wander back over the last few days and he realized that in his excited rush to get the new music out, he hadn’t considered the timing or the place.  He just knew he had to get the words out of his head and onto the paper, everything else be damned.

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart” he told her again, understanding what she was feeling, where she was coming from.  “All I can do is try to be more mindful of what’s going on around me when it happens again.”  There was no if in this equation.  It was most definitely when.  He could go for stretches with nothing, but inevitably, the muse would strike and he would be elbow deep in words and phrases.

Raising the armrest between them, she shifted in her seat and rested her head on his shoulder.  “I’m not going to say it’s okay, because you gipped me out of three days in paradise, but I will say I forgive you.  I know you never know when lightening will strike, but hopefully the next time, you won’t totally blow me off.”

He winced then, remembering just how he had rejected her not-so-subtle advances.  “Can I get a second look at that lacy, purple number you had on the other night?”

 She snickered and toyed with a button on his shirt, “considering you owe me a few more naughty adventures, I think that could probably be arranged.”  She lifted her head and looked to make sure no one was listening to them.  “A blow job is gonna cost ya though.”

He snorted out a laugh, “of course it will.”  He remember the bag from Sibani Perles.  It was tucked into his carry on, which was in the overhead compartment.   “Pretty sure I’ve got that covered.”  He had been so distracted, he never gave her the bracelet he had picked up for her.  He would remedy that when they landed in Hawaii.

She lifted her head, looked at him questioningly, “what are you talking about?”

“You’ll see.” 

QQQQQQ

Their short layover in Hawaii turned into an overnight stay. Mechanical trouble with the plane had them finding a hotel and a car to get them there.  Luckily, the Wailea Beach Resort had a room for them. 

Dropping their bags in their room, Stephanie crossed to the sliding doors and stepped out onto the oversized lanai.  The tropical breeze blew the stale airplane off her skin and out of her hair. 

Richie stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her.  “Looks like we get at least one more night in paradise.”

She rested her hands on his, “as much as I want to get home to see Lily, I’m not sorry we’re here.”  She turned in his arms so she was facing him and looped her arms around his shoulders, “I love you.”  She kissed him lightly.

He walked them to the nearest chaise and settled them down on it, her in his lap.  He dug into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small bag.  “I believe this should cover what I owe you.”

Her brow furrowed and then eased as she laughed, remembering their conversation on the plane.  “Seriously?  You haven’t been out of my sight.  When did you have time to…” she trailed off when she noticed the name of the store on the bag.   “While we were still in Bora Bora.”

He nodded, and he had the grace to blush slightly, “I forgot to give it to you.”

She kissed his cheek, “thank you.”  The bag crinkled as she reached inside and drew out a dark, cloth, drawstring bag.  She loosened the drawstring and pulled out the bracelet.  “Oh, it’s beautiful.”  She held it up, the diamonds glistened in the afternoon sun and the pearls looked almost the blue-green color of the ocean.  She slid it on, it wrapped around and hugged her slim wrist.  She found his lips with hers, “thank you.”

They sat in the waning daylight, kissing and cooing like teenagers, reconnecting, reclaiming a little bit of the intimacy of the first few days of their honeymoon.  The buzz of Richie’s phone intruded into their little cocoon.

She listened to Richie talk to whomever, never lifting her head from his chest, until he ended the call and lifted his hip to tuck his phone away again.  “Who was that?”

“Alice is in playing tonight and wanted to know if I was in town if I wanted to come out and see him.”

“Alice?”

“Cooper, Sweetheart.  Alice Cooper.”

Chapter 12

“Sweetheart, you about ready? The boat’s here.” Richie poked his head into the bathroom to see Stephanie, her hair piled loosely atop her head, slicking on some lipstick.

She caught his eye in the mirror, “I just need my shoes.”

They were going into Vaitape Village to shop and have dinner. They only had a couple more days before they had to leave paradise behind and return to the real world. She came back out with her sandals in one hand and a small purse in the other. “Where are we going for dinner again?”

He followed her out and down the steps to board the boat that would take them back to the resort. “Bloody Mary’s.”

She stopped, turned and looked at him, “you mean like the character from the movie South Pacific? That Bloody Mary?’ She boarded the boat and sat while waiting for him to answer her.

He slid his arm around her as he settled next to her. “Not sure, never seen that movie.”

She looked at him, eyes wide in astonishment. “Seriously?!”

He mimicked her look, added a grin that flashed his dimples, “seriously.”

She shook her head, “unbelievable. It’s a classic and one of my very favorites. It takes place” she lifted her arms, indicating their surroundings, “here, during World War II.” She started humming Some Enchanted Evening. “I’ll have to introduce you to it when we get home.”

He stroked her arm, movie musicals were not his favorite type of movies to watch, but he could maybe make an exception. “Sure Sweetheart” he appeased mostly to satisfy her. But, really, how bad could a movie about World War II set in the South Pacific islands be?

After the tender boat docked by the resort, they took a car into the village. They roamed for a bit, poking into the shops and picking up more dresses and pinafores than Lily would ever be able to wear in this lifetime or the next, but were too cute to leave behind.

While Stephanie continued to browse around the Boutique, he meandered over to Sibani Perles. Even as he perused the cases he knew Stephanie would balk at whatever he bought for her. But, this is what he did. Jewelry was his go to for a gift for any occasion, even a just-because-I-wanted-to romantic gesture. He slipped his hands in his pockets as he continued his window shopping. She would just have to get over it.

He stopped in front of a display case of bracelets. One caught his eye right off. The triple strand of diamonds would wrap around her wrist and was capped on each end with a dark, tiger-eye looking pearl. He was reaching for his wallet before the salesperson could even get the case open.

Tucking the small bag into his pocket he stepped back outside and found Stephanie walking toward him. With no bags in her hands and a colorful scarf draped around her neck. He picked up one end of the scarf and gave a gentle tug. “I know you bought stuff, Sweetheart” he dropped a casual kiss on her lips. “Where is it?”

She took his hand as they walked, “the Boutique offered to have it sent over to our Bungalow, so I let them. I’d rather not be lugging it around or having to deal with it while we’re at dinner.”

They slowed as they approached the restaurant. “Smart thinking.” He stroked the scarf again, it was a riot of sunset colors, hues of red, gold and pink, a touch of purple. “I like this though.”

She smiled, “you know I have a hard time resisting red and/or pink anything.” She turned in front of him, “besides, it adds a pop of color to my outfit, don’t ya think?”

He looked her up and down, the long black skirt had a slit up to way-too-high-on-her-thigh-for-his-peace-of-mind and every time she moved he got a mouth-watering view of said smooth, tanned thigh. The skinny white tank did little more than cover the essentials, leaving her shoulders and most of her back bare. And with her hair up, he wanted nothing more than to nibble on that long, elegant neck and sip at those sun-kissed shoulders.

“You don’t need anything to make that outfit pop, Darlin’. You do that all on your own.”

She gave his hand a quick squeeze and dropped a smacking kiss on his lips. “You are far too kind, but thank you.”

He just shook his head and led her into the restaurant. She never could take a compliment. The music coming from the far end of the restaurant made him forget whatever else he had been thinking about. It had been a while since he had been in a place with live music. The chatter rose in volume around them as the music continued.

They were taken to a table and he sat, his fingers mimicking the guitarist’s movements on an imaginary fretboard. He wished fervently for his guitar. The desire to join the group on stage and jam nearly had him getting up and running back to their bungalow for his instrument.

“Hey…” Stephanie laid her hand on his arm. She followed his line of vision to the pretty blond woman wailing on the guitar. She was nearly as good as Richie. At least in her opinion anyway. She turned her attention back to her man. There was no denying the hunger, the eagerness to play on his face.

He drew his attention away from the stage and back toward his girl. “Sorry Sweetheart.” His fingers tapped on the table. He was itching to get his hands on a guitar.

“You should see if she’d let you play.”

He hesitated. This was their honeymoon, their time to be together, not for him to be imposing his job and second favorite pastime on her.

Stephanie gave him a soft, understanding smile.  She had been a fan of his long enough to know that when it came to music, the guitar, playing was nearly as vital to him as breathing.  “You want to, I can see it. Go ahead, go play.” She leaned in close, “for me, Rich. Go play me a song.”

Before he could move, the woman finished playing and, to a rousing round of applause, she took her guitar and left the stage.

Richie’s gaze followed her to a table near the stage and any idea he might have had of going up and introducing himself was short lived as he watched her pack up her guitar and leave the restaurant. He turned his attention back to Stephanie, “I guess I’ll have to play you a song later.”

Q Note:  the link above should take you directly to a pic of the bracelet.