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?”