On Christmas day, Daniel was the first to wake up which resulted in Richie and Sarah waking up earlier than they had expected too.
With a sigh, Sarah turned to face her husband. "Morning." She said, looking up into his eyes.
"Morning dear." He reached in for a soft kiss. "Merry Christmas."
Sarah smiled. "Merry Christmas to you too honey."
As they shared another kiss, Daniel made himself heard again.
"Better go get him." Sarah said, pulling away from Richie.
In the bedroom, she first reached down into the crib to sooth Daniel before picking him up. She laid his head on her shoulder and stroked his back gently so he would know she was there for him.
When he had quieted down, she held him up and looked at him. He looked as adorable as ever.
She changed his diaper and dressed him in his Christmas outfit. It was still early but at least he'd be dressed then. After she had put him his red socks with white snowflakes on, Sarah picked up her son and walked back to her bedroom.
"Morning." Richie sat up and held the sheets up for Sarah.
She gently laid Daniel between them.
"That's cute. Baby's first Christmas." He read the text on Daniel's shirt, seeing the Christmas tree print underneath it.
"I got it last week, thought it would be cute."
"Very cute." Richie agreed.
"It'll be cute until he drooled all over it."
"He's growing a lot." Richie agreed again. "His blue eyes have even gone."
Sarah smiled, looking at her son's bright eyes. "Knew he'd have your eyes."
Two hours later, the whole family sat in the living room. Daniel's shirt had been covered up by a seasonal bib and three teenagers sat waiting for the go sign to unwrap their presents.
A large christmas tree stood decorated by the window. This year a new ornament had been added. Each child had their own letter as an ornament in the tree. Daniel got his very own to add this year.
"Because it's Daniel's first Christmas. He should have his presents first." Richie decided for all of them and secretly teasing the older children.
"Mine first!" Ava said excitedly, hurrying over to the Christmas tree and picking out a red wrapped gift with a big bow.
In the end Daniel had a bunch of new toys, clothes and stuffed animals.
Afterwards, they all exchanged their own gifts with each other.
Joan had the joy of celebrating Christmas morning with all her grandchildren.
For lunch, Abbey joined the family too. Altogether they had a large lunch together in the dining room.
Afterwards, Daniel took a nap in his bed upstairs.
The rest of the afternoon was spend by enjoying their presents.
Richie loved seeing his family so happy. His mother here with them for Daniel's first Christmas, made it even better. His daughter was happy with every gift she got. She was always happy with everything she got, even the smallest thing. He was glad to know that his sons were exactly the same.
Quietly, he got up from the couch.
Sarah looked up at him questiongly but Richie only smiled. The smile told her everything as he went upstairs. She watched her family, just like Richie had.
A few minutes later, he returned with a brown manila file. He cleared his throat so everyone looked at him. He showed the file, trying to find words.
"I think this is the perfect moment to share this information."
Everyone frowned him.
Richie shook his head and took out two pieces of paper and handed one to Noah and the other to Caleb.
Ava couldn't wait another minute and looked over Noah's shoulder as he read it.
"Birth certificates?" Ava asked confused.
"Yeah." Richie smiled as he sat down with Sarah again. "Amended birth certificates." He clarified.
The boys weren't his stepchildren anymore, they were officially his children now.
Both boys didn't know what to say at the moment but everyone felt the same thing. Their family was finally complete in an official way.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Chapter Fifty-eight
A month later Richie was playing at the Craig Ferguson show for an entire week. He often watched it at home but now he could really make part of it.
It was the most fun he had had in a while except for not being home with his baby son. Daniel had grown a lot in the last month but he still saw him during the rest of the dag.
The baby still hadn't grown used to Joan and continued to cry whenever she picked him up. By now it was starting to worry them all. The same happened when friends came around and wanted to hold the baby.
Arriving home later after the show, Richie went straight up to Daniel'd bedroom but found the little bed empty in the dark room.
Turning around, he walked back to his own bedroom. Sarah must have taken him to eat not so long ago.
It was one of his favorite things to see, his wife and son together.
He walked into the room quietly. The lights were all turned off except for a small table lamp.
Sarah was laying down in bed, snuggled into the sheets.
Because she didn't react, Richie figured she was asleep already and started undressing for bed.
As he sat down on the bed, Sarah looked up at him.
"Thought you were sleeping?" Richie asked, wondering.
"I was. Thought it might have been Daniel who moved. He just wouldn't sleep earlier."
Richie frowned as he moved closer. "He didn't? Why not?"
"I don't know but I finally turned on the show and you were playing, that's when he started to calm down. He must have regocnized your voice on tv."
Richie smiled, looking down at his little boy laying in between them. "He must have."
"He fell asleep when the show finished."
"That's so sweet." He reached out to stroke Daniel's blond hairs. "Should take him to his own bed though."
Sarah agreed. "You can take him then."
Richie sat up and carefully picked up his boy. Daniel stirred but didn't wake up as he was carried to his own bed to sleep.
As a good father, Richie made sure he was tucked in and his stuffed animals were sitting on the edge, far enough from Daniel's head. That way Daniel had enough breathing space.
The small light on the cupboard was left on. As Richie walked out of the room, he left the door open so they could hear Daniel even though the baby monitor would make sure of that too.
Quietly, Richie got back in bed with his wife.
"Tired?" He asked gently.
Sarah moved closer to him, laying her hand on his bare chest as she looked up at him. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" The answer was too unclear for him.
"Maybe not." Sarah said, moving her hand lower over his chest and belly.
"Really?" He asked his third question unsure.
They hadn't been intimite since before Daniel was born. Thinking back quickly, he was sure it had at least been 3 months ago. If Sarah was ready, he definitely wasn't complaining.
When he felt Sarah's hand go inside his boxers, he knew she was sure.
He reached over to kiss his wife, then pulled her closer against him as they shared a romantic kiss.
"Missed you." He said, pulling up the sheets to move even closer and take a good look at his wife.
"Tell me about it." Sarah said as she reached in to kiss again.
Soon their minimul clothes had gone scattered to the floor.
His wife looked just as beautiful as she always had, making him very eager. He held her close as they shared another sweet kiss.
After three months of nothing, Richie was ready to burst but he was going to make it worth a three month wait for both of them.
It was the most fun he had had in a while except for not being home with his baby son. Daniel had grown a lot in the last month but he still saw him during the rest of the dag.
The baby still hadn't grown used to Joan and continued to cry whenever she picked him up. By now it was starting to worry them all. The same happened when friends came around and wanted to hold the baby.
Arriving home later after the show, Richie went straight up to Daniel'd bedroom but found the little bed empty in the dark room.
Turning around, he walked back to his own bedroom. Sarah must have taken him to eat not so long ago.
It was one of his favorite things to see, his wife and son together.
He walked into the room quietly. The lights were all turned off except for a small table lamp.
Sarah was laying down in bed, snuggled into the sheets.
Because she didn't react, Richie figured she was asleep already and started undressing for bed.
As he sat down on the bed, Sarah looked up at him.
"Thought you were sleeping?" Richie asked, wondering.
"I was. Thought it might have been Daniel who moved. He just wouldn't sleep earlier."
Richie frowned as he moved closer. "He didn't? Why not?"
"I don't know but I finally turned on the show and you were playing, that's when he started to calm down. He must have regocnized your voice on tv."
Richie smiled, looking down at his little boy laying in between them. "He must have."
"He fell asleep when the show finished."
"That's so sweet." He reached out to stroke Daniel's blond hairs. "Should take him to his own bed though."
Sarah agreed. "You can take him then."
Richie sat up and carefully picked up his boy. Daniel stirred but didn't wake up as he was carried to his own bed to sleep.
As a good father, Richie made sure he was tucked in and his stuffed animals were sitting on the edge, far enough from Daniel's head. That way Daniel had enough breathing space.
The small light on the cupboard was left on. As Richie walked out of the room, he left the door open so they could hear Daniel even though the baby monitor would make sure of that too.
Quietly, Richie got back in bed with his wife.
"Tired?" He asked gently.
Sarah moved closer to him, laying her hand on his bare chest as she looked up at him. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" The answer was too unclear for him.
"Maybe not." Sarah said, moving her hand lower over his chest and belly.
"Really?" He asked his third question unsure.
They hadn't been intimite since before Daniel was born. Thinking back quickly, he was sure it had at least been 3 months ago. If Sarah was ready, he definitely wasn't complaining.
When he felt Sarah's hand go inside his boxers, he knew she was sure.
He reached over to kiss his wife, then pulled her closer against him as they shared a romantic kiss.
"Missed you." He said, pulling up the sheets to move even closer and take a good look at his wife.
"Tell me about it." Sarah said as she reached in to kiss again.
Soon their minimul clothes had gone scattered to the floor.
His wife looked just as beautiful as she always had, making him very eager. He held her close as they shared another sweet kiss.
After three months of nothing, Richie was ready to burst but he was going to make it worth a three month wait for both of them.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Chapter Fifty-seven
Saturday morning, Richie was glad it was finally Saturday. He'd been busy all day Friday with interviews on TV and radio. It had kept him busy the entire day. Now he was glad the weekend was there.
During the rest of the week he had been able to contact some contractors to fix up his mother's house. He also got a hold of her in England and tonight she would fly over to Los Angeles instead of going home to New Jersey.
Even though his week had been pretty busy, the weekend would be busy too. Tonight his mother would fly in and move into the house for a while until they were able to fix up her house. Tomorrow they were having a party for everyone to come meet Daniel.
During his busy week, Richie also got a very nice surprise. A call from his agents made him go down to the office to pick up a big book.
He had been absolutely surprised when she handed it over to him. Confused at the moment, Richie had leafed through it, noticing all the kind words and pictures from his fans. It instantly made his day great to read messages from all of his appreciative fans.
Today being his day off, he sat down on the couch with the book and was determined to read each note carefully and really look at all the pictures.
"What do you have there?" Sarah asked, seeing her husband reading a large book.
"A fan book."
Sarah frowned. "A fan book?"
Richie nodded. "Yeah, my fans sent a book with messages and pictures. I'm just reading it now."
"Oh right." Sarah sat down next to him. "That's so nice of them."
Richie agreed.
"Anyway, I got your mom's room ready for tonight."
Richie looked up from the book. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know but Daniel was sleeping so quietly, I thought I'd just do it quickly."
"He's got a big day tomorrow."
Sarah chuckled. "He's looking forward to it."
During the rest of the week he had been able to contact some contractors to fix up his mother's house. He also got a hold of her in England and tonight she would fly over to Los Angeles instead of going home to New Jersey.
Even though his week had been pretty busy, the weekend would be busy too. Tonight his mother would fly in and move into the house for a while until they were able to fix up her house. Tomorrow they were having a party for everyone to come meet Daniel.
During his busy week, Richie also got a very nice surprise. A call from his agents made him go down to the office to pick up a big book.
He had been absolutely surprised when she handed it over to him. Confused at the moment, Richie had leafed through it, noticing all the kind words and pictures from his fans. It instantly made his day great to read messages from all of his appreciative fans.
Today being his day off, he sat down on the couch with the book and was determined to read each note carefully and really look at all the pictures.
"What do you have there?" Sarah asked, seeing her husband reading a large book.
"A fan book."
Sarah frowned. "A fan book?"
Richie nodded. "Yeah, my fans sent a book with messages and pictures. I'm just reading it now."
"Oh right." Sarah sat down next to him. "That's so nice of them."
Richie agreed.
"Anyway, I got your mom's room ready for tonight."
Richie looked up from the book. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know but Daniel was sleeping so quietly, I thought I'd just do it quickly."
"He's got a big day tomorrow."
Sarah chuckled. "He's looking forward to it."
The day went bye quietly until the older kids has to get ready for the halloween party they were attending that evening.
Dealing with two things at once, Richie was supposed to bring them to the party and then drive to the airport to be in time to pick up his mother. Then around midnight he'd had to go out again to pick everybody up from the party. That wasn't hard to do.
Ava was the first to go get ready, she instisted on having dinner early so she would have more time to get ready and prepare.
Even though Ava took the most time into getting ready for the party, Caleb had put the most time into his own costume. He hadn't had a haircut since the summer, making his hair grow out until it was long enough to look like a glam rock star.
"Dad!"
Richie looked back to the hallway. His son was right next to him, having his dinner. He didn't talk yet.
"That was Caleb." Sarah clarified for him.
"I know but, they don't call me dad yet."
Sarah shrugged. "Maybe they do now."
Richie got up and went upstairs, going to Calebs room. He knocked on the door, waiting for Caleb to tell him to come in before going into the room.
"What's wrong?" Richie asked.
Caleb stood infront of a mirror, wearing an old t-shirt and hold a pair of scissors. "How many cuts should I put into it to look like a real 80s rockstar?"
Richie laughed, then realized Caleb was being serious. "Well, you gotta show off what you got. That was the point of it." He shrugged. "You could always go shirtless."
"No." Said Caleb quickly.
"Then I guess you can cut a deep V-neck or cut open the sides or something."
Caleb laughed. "Thought you were the 80s rock star here."
Richie ignored it. "What pants are you wearing."
"Skinny jeans?" Caleb asked.
"Not even leather pants or spandex? You need spandex if you're gonna be an 80s rock star." He put the emphasis on needing it.
"I don't have spandex. Nobody does anymore."
"You could have asked. Just wait here." Richie left the room and went into his bedroom.
Somewhere in the back of the closet he found clothes had been untoched for years. He had to look for a while but finally found what he needed, black spandex, white stars on the sides of the legs. They might be a bit big for Caleb but it should work anyway. That was the great thing about spandex.
Carrying the pants, he walked back to Caleb's room.
"This is what you need."
Caleb looked, his eyes widening with surprise. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah, you need it. If you're gonna dress up you better do it right." He laid the pants down on the bed.
"Thanks." Caleb said. "You don't still have make-up do you?"
Richie shook his head. "You'll have to ask Ava if you can borrow some stuff."
On his way back downstairs, Richie checked on both Noah and Ava too.
Before leaving to bring everyone to the party, they said goodbye to Daniel and Sarah.
Richie took a look at all four kids dressed up for halloween. A few days late but for parties it still worked.
Caleb looked pretty good as an 80s rock star, Noah had dressed up as Doctor Who. The eleventh Doctor Who, as Noah had pointed out a few times. Ava was wearing shorts and a top, finishing off with bunny ears. Last but definitely cutest, Daniel was wearing a Batman onesie.
Richie said goodbye to his youngest son and kissed Sarah goodbye. He'd be back in only an hour or so.
Dealing with two things at once, Richie was supposed to bring them to the party and then drive to the airport to be in time to pick up his mother. Then around midnight he'd had to go out again to pick everybody up from the party. That wasn't hard to do.
Ava was the first to go get ready, she instisted on having dinner early so she would have more time to get ready and prepare.
Even though Ava took the most time into getting ready for the party, Caleb had put the most time into his own costume. He hadn't had a haircut since the summer, making his hair grow out until it was long enough to look like a glam rock star.
"Dad!"
Richie looked back to the hallway. His son was right next to him, having his dinner. He didn't talk yet.
"That was Caleb." Sarah clarified for him.
"I know but, they don't call me dad yet."
Sarah shrugged. "Maybe they do now."
Richie got up and went upstairs, going to Calebs room. He knocked on the door, waiting for Caleb to tell him to come in before going into the room.
"What's wrong?" Richie asked.
Caleb stood infront of a mirror, wearing an old t-shirt and hold a pair of scissors. "How many cuts should I put into it to look like a real 80s rockstar?"
Richie laughed, then realized Caleb was being serious. "Well, you gotta show off what you got. That was the point of it." He shrugged. "You could always go shirtless."
"No." Said Caleb quickly.
"Then I guess you can cut a deep V-neck or cut open the sides or something."
Caleb laughed. "Thought you were the 80s rock star here."
Richie ignored it. "What pants are you wearing."
"Skinny jeans?" Caleb asked.
"Not even leather pants or spandex? You need spandex if you're gonna be an 80s rock star." He put the emphasis on needing it.
"I don't have spandex. Nobody does anymore."
"You could have asked. Just wait here." Richie left the room and went into his bedroom.
Somewhere in the back of the closet he found clothes had been untoched for years. He had to look for a while but finally found what he needed, black spandex, white stars on the sides of the legs. They might be a bit big for Caleb but it should work anyway. That was the great thing about spandex.
Carrying the pants, he walked back to Caleb's room.
"This is what you need."
Caleb looked, his eyes widening with surprise. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah, you need it. If you're gonna dress up you better do it right." He laid the pants down on the bed.
"Thanks." Caleb said. "You don't still have make-up do you?"
Richie shook his head. "You'll have to ask Ava if you can borrow some stuff."
On his way back downstairs, Richie checked on both Noah and Ava too.
Before leaving to bring everyone to the party, they said goodbye to Daniel and Sarah.
Richie took a look at all four kids dressed up for halloween. A few days late but for parties it still worked.
Caleb looked pretty good as an 80s rock star, Noah had dressed up as Doctor Who. The eleventh Doctor Who, as Noah had pointed out a few times. Ava was wearing shorts and a top, finishing off with bunny ears. Last but definitely cutest, Daniel was wearing a Batman onesie.
Richie said goodbye to his youngest son and kissed Sarah goodbye. He'd be back in only an hour or so.
He drove to the address Ava had given him, where the party would be. He knew a lot of people at Ava's school and knew where the party would be. Before letting everyone out of the car, he reminded them again that he would pick them up around midnight. They all complained as he had expected but they had to be part of Daniel's day tomorrow too.
At the airport he was very happy to see his mother. It had been a while and it was always great to see her. They hugged a few minutes before letting go and get the luggage.
The drive home was fairly short, the traffic was calmer than usual. In less than an hour they arrived at home.
Joan got out of the car as Richie was getting her luggage from the trunk. She was going to stay for a while but had only brought her suitcases from England. She hadn't stopped at home. Richie had changed her ticket to Los Angeles instead of New Jersey.
"Can't wait to see my grandson." Joan said as Richie finally opened the door.
"He's probably in the living room with Sarah. Go ahead." He put down the suitcases by the stairs, then followed his mother into the living room.
Sarah sat on the couch, holding Daniel in her arms. "You're back." She looked up.
Richie came over and kissed her quickly, then sat down in his chair.
Joan sat down next to Sarah. "What a beautiful boy. Dressed up for Halloween even."
Sarah chuckled. "Richie's idea but it's cute. Wanna hold the superhero?"
"Of course."
Sarah carefully moved her son and Joan picked him up, immediately craddling him but Daniel didn't agree and started crying immediately.
All three looked at the baby worriedly. He was fine a second ago, why would he start crying all of a sudden?
Joan tried to calm him down, gently rock him, rub his back but nothing helped to calm him down.
"I don't know what's wrong." Sarah said.
"He probably just wants his mommy." Joan said, not thinking too much of it and passed Daniel back.
As soon as Sarah held him, Daniel stopped crying. "I'm sorry. I really don't know."
"It's fine."
At the airport he was very happy to see his mother. It had been a while and it was always great to see her. They hugged a few minutes before letting go and get the luggage.
The drive home was fairly short, the traffic was calmer than usual. In less than an hour they arrived at home.
Joan got out of the car as Richie was getting her luggage from the trunk. She was going to stay for a while but had only brought her suitcases from England. She hadn't stopped at home. Richie had changed her ticket to Los Angeles instead of New Jersey.
"Can't wait to see my grandson." Joan said as Richie finally opened the door.
"He's probably in the living room with Sarah. Go ahead." He put down the suitcases by the stairs, then followed his mother into the living room.
Sarah sat on the couch, holding Daniel in her arms. "You're back." She looked up.
Richie came over and kissed her quickly, then sat down in his chair.
Joan sat down next to Sarah. "What a beautiful boy. Dressed up for Halloween even."
Sarah chuckled. "Richie's idea but it's cute. Wanna hold the superhero?"
"Of course."
Sarah carefully moved her son and Joan picked him up, immediately craddling him but Daniel didn't agree and started crying immediately.
All three looked at the baby worriedly. He was fine a second ago, why would he start crying all of a sudden?
Joan tried to calm him down, gently rock him, rub his back but nothing helped to calm him down.
"I don't know what's wrong." Sarah said.
"He probably just wants his mommy." Joan said, not thinking too much of it and passed Daniel back.
As soon as Sarah held him, Daniel stopped crying. "I'm sorry. I really don't know."
"It's fine."
The rest of the evening Sarah held Daniel until it was time for him to go to bed. Being tired, Sarah decided to go to bed early too.
In the end Richie was up alone, Joan had gone to bed too. With time difference it was very early morning in England by now.
Richie got comfortable in his chair and turned on the TV, trying to find a good movie. He wasn't lucky until he found a Halloween special horror movie. That would keep him busy for a while.
Richie got comfortable in his chair and turned on the TV, trying to find a good movie. He wasn't lucky until he found a Halloween special horror movie. That would keep him busy for a while.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Chapter Fifty-six
A few days later, Richie found Sarah with Daniel in the living room. Forgetting what he was doing, he sat down next to Sarah and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close against him.
His son was smiling up at his as Sarah sighed annoyed.
"What's wrong?" Richie asked quickly.
"Space?" Sarah asked, shrugging away Richie's arm.
"You need space?" He asked confused.
Sarah moved a little uneasy, "You're so close to me, constantly."
Richie frowned, not understanding at all.
"You can't even leave me alone for five seconds."
Still frowning, Richie asked, "What's wrong?" Sarah had never minded him being close why would she now?
Sarah sighed.
"What?" Richie insisted.
Sighing again, Sarah answered. "I'm just tired."
"Tired?" Richie asked confused. "Are you sure that's it?"
"Yes. Daniel needs constant attention and I just want a few minutes to myself."
He nodded. "Okay, so give him to me and go nap?"
Sarah frowned, considering it.
"Come on, I'm not sick anymore. It's been over a week."
"Yeah, alright." Sarah gently moved her son over.
Richie took him gently and cuddled him. "Now you go to bed and nap as long as you need to. I'll be daddy."
Sarah nodded and got up from the couch. "Thanks." She said before leaving.
A few hours later, Sarah walked back down the stairs, having a view of the living room where Richie was pacing as he was making a phone call.
Quietly Sarah walked in, wondering who he was talking to. When he didn't say anything at all and hung up the phone, he looked at Sarah. His look was worried and confused.
"What's wrong?" Sarah asked.
"I can't get a hold of mom."
Sarah frowned. "Why? She's in England."
"The storm got a lot worse. I called David and his house is totally flooded. Mom's is probably too, that's why she won't answer the phone."
"Rich?" Sarah asked. "She's in England."
"What?" He asked confused, too worried to make sense of that.
"In England, visiting friends, remember? She left last week."
Richie's face cleared up immediately when he finally understood. "Oh. Right."
"Yeah."
"Then I should call her neighbors to check out how bad it is."
"You could try that. Where's Daniel?"
Richie pointed at the playpen. "He's sleeping."
Sarah went over to look at her son. Richie was right, he was sound asleep. There was no reason to wake him up. His meal could wait until he woke up. Sleeping babies should be left to sleep.
She turned around to see Richie worrying again.
Quietly walking over, Sarah took his iPhone before he could react.
"Now sit down and watch the news some more. You don't need to phone anyone. They're busy with cleaning up and your mom isn't anywhere near it."
"What about everyone else that lives there?" Richie protested.
"You can't do anything right now. The power is out, phone is probably out too and they're all trying to deal with what just happened. Your mom and friends are safe, tomorrow you can phone as many people as you like." Sarah explained, hoping he would understand it.
"I guess." Richie sighed as he sat down on the couch.
Sarah sat down next to him and moved close against him.
"Don't need space anymore?"
"Need my husband." Sarah smiled gently and reached in for a soft kiss.
"Good."
Just then Daniel announced he was awake and more than reading for his afternoon snack.
"Sounds like somebody else needs you." Richie said, letting go of Sarah and getting up.
He looked over the edge of the playpen. "Hey buddy, mommy's right here." He gently picked him up, supporting his head. "Chill, you're getting food."
Sarah had arranged her shirt so she was ready to feed the baby as Richie passed him over.
"He's hungry." Richie commented as he sat down again, watching his son starting to eat immediately.
"Yeah, he was supposed to eat half an hour ago."
"When did you last eat?" Richie wondered.
Sarah stroked her son's back as she thought about it. "This morning, I guess."
"Then you really need to eat." Richie said, already getting up to prepare lunch for Sarah.
His son was smiling up at his as Sarah sighed annoyed.
"What's wrong?" Richie asked quickly.
"Space?" Sarah asked, shrugging away Richie's arm.
"You need space?" He asked confused.
Sarah moved a little uneasy, "You're so close to me, constantly."
Richie frowned, not understanding at all.
"You can't even leave me alone for five seconds."
Still frowning, Richie asked, "What's wrong?" Sarah had never minded him being close why would she now?
Sarah sighed.
"What?" Richie insisted.
Sighing again, Sarah answered. "I'm just tired."
"Tired?" Richie asked confused. "Are you sure that's it?"
"Yes. Daniel needs constant attention and I just want a few minutes to myself."
He nodded. "Okay, so give him to me and go nap?"
Sarah frowned, considering it.
"Come on, I'm not sick anymore. It's been over a week."
"Yeah, alright." Sarah gently moved her son over.
Richie took him gently and cuddled him. "Now you go to bed and nap as long as you need to. I'll be daddy."
Sarah nodded and got up from the couch. "Thanks." She said before leaving.
A few hours later, Sarah walked back down the stairs, having a view of the living room where Richie was pacing as he was making a phone call.
Quietly Sarah walked in, wondering who he was talking to. When he didn't say anything at all and hung up the phone, he looked at Sarah. His look was worried and confused.
"What's wrong?" Sarah asked.
"I can't get a hold of mom."
Sarah frowned. "Why? She's in England."
"The storm got a lot worse. I called David and his house is totally flooded. Mom's is probably too, that's why she won't answer the phone."
"Rich?" Sarah asked. "She's in England."
"What?" He asked confused, too worried to make sense of that.
"In England, visiting friends, remember? She left last week."
Richie's face cleared up immediately when he finally understood. "Oh. Right."
"Yeah."
"Then I should call her neighbors to check out how bad it is."
"You could try that. Where's Daniel?"
Richie pointed at the playpen. "He's sleeping."
Sarah went over to look at her son. Richie was right, he was sound asleep. There was no reason to wake him up. His meal could wait until he woke up. Sleeping babies should be left to sleep.
She turned around to see Richie worrying again.
Quietly walking over, Sarah took his iPhone before he could react.
"Now sit down and watch the news some more. You don't need to phone anyone. They're busy with cleaning up and your mom isn't anywhere near it."
"What about everyone else that lives there?" Richie protested.
"You can't do anything right now. The power is out, phone is probably out too and they're all trying to deal with what just happened. Your mom and friends are safe, tomorrow you can phone as many people as you like." Sarah explained, hoping he would understand it.
"I guess." Richie sighed as he sat down on the couch.
Sarah sat down next to him and moved close against him.
"Don't need space anymore?"
"Need my husband." Sarah smiled gently and reached in for a soft kiss.
"Good."
Just then Daniel announced he was awake and more than reading for his afternoon snack.
"Sounds like somebody else needs you." Richie said, letting go of Sarah and getting up.
He looked over the edge of the playpen. "Hey buddy, mommy's right here." He gently picked him up, supporting his head. "Chill, you're getting food."
Sarah had arranged her shirt so she was ready to feed the baby as Richie passed him over.
"He's hungry." Richie commented as he sat down again, watching his son starting to eat immediately.
"Yeah, he was supposed to eat half an hour ago."
"When did you last eat?" Richie wondered.
Sarah stroked her son's back as she thought about it. "This morning, I guess."
"Then you really need to eat." Richie said, already getting up to prepare lunch for Sarah.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Chapter Fifty-five
Richie happily walked out of the theatre after the fan event.
It had been an amazing few hours to meet his fans and talk to everyone. His throat hurt now but he still felt happy.
After answering all the questions everyone had thought of, Richie had brought out his own surprise. Calmly he had waited for the technical programs to do their task and after a few minutes the crowd could see a picture of Daniel. Everyone aw'ed immediately, making Richie feel proud of his son.
It had been an amazing few hours to meet his fans and talk to everyone. His throat hurt now but he still felt happy.
After answering all the questions everyone had thought of, Richie had brought out his own surprise. Calmly he had waited for the technical programs to do their task and after a few minutes the crowd could see a picture of Daniel. Everyone aw'ed immediately, making Richie feel proud of his son.
He got into the car that was waiting for him to drive to the airport.
The drive was short but it wasn't until he was on the airplane that he felt relaxed again. He wanted to get home to his family again.
Once the airplane was high up in the air, Richie tried to sleep but unlike usually, the loud engines kept him awake.
Luckily, with the change time and the time it took to get back home, he'd be home around the usual time he and Sarah were able to go to sleep after Daniel's last meal. Too bad he had missed it today but he could make up for it by feeding him at 4 am. He'd have to get up in the middle of the night but he didn't mind one bit. For Daniel he would do everything.
Only 5 days old, but already all his electronics were full of pictures of his baby. Remembering that fact, he picked out his iPad and looked at pictures of Daniel.
"Is that your baby?" A stewardess noticed as she walked past.
Richie look up, smiling. "Yeah, my boy."
"How old is he?" She leaned in a little to see the pictures better.
"Just 5 days, he was born Friday night."
"He's adorable. Congradulations."
"Thanks." Richie smiled at her again.
The stewardess smiled and nodded and continues her work.
The plane had an entertainment set for every passenger but Richie couldn't find any interesting tv shows or movies. Music always interested him and picking out an album cover that looked cool or a title that sounded interesting, he selected the album and plugged in the headphones to listen to it as he continued to look at all the pictures of Daniel he had.
The pictures weren't only of Daniel, often somebody was holding him. His older brothers and older sister were crazy about him too. It was amazing to see how much a tiny person like him could be loved so much.
Daniel still had to meet a lot of people but a plane wasn't a good place for such a small child, they'd wait for everyone to come to their house.
Abbey was still helping out at home but soon Richie's own mom would come to visit her new grandchihld too. Of course they had sent her pictures already but as she was abroad, it wasn't easy to just come over. As soon as her vacation was over, she was planning to visit her family. Richie looked forward to it very much, he might be grown up and have his own children but he still liked it when his mother came to visit. Time was a precious thing.
Finally the plane landed, to his relief, now he could finally get home.
He packed all of his belongings, which weren't much, his iPad and a few business files. That was all he had brought so he wouldn't have to go through baggage claim. That way he could save time.
Outside, it was very dark, a car was waiting to drive him home.
Putting his bag next to him on the car seat, he leaned his head back against the head rest. So close to home, he started to feel very tired. It had been a long and busy day. Besides that, the headache hadn't left him all day. Being sick never worked for him. Other people would have a cold for a few days but he always had to develop something else and stay sick for weeks. He hated it, especially now with Daniel. A baby's immune system wasn't that powerful yet.
The drive home went smoothly, no trafic and only took about half an hour.
Gladly he got out of the car and walked into the house. The spaceous entry was dark and quiet. As he had hoped, everyone had already gone to bed. Hopefully Sarah had been able to do so too. Daniel was a happy little baby that loved to be cuddled and held after he ate. He would do so later that night so Sarah could catch up on some sleep.
Leaving his bag by the stairs, he quietly walked up the stairs.
Instead of going into his own bedroom, he walked into the opposite room. Turning on the small light that stood in the corner so it wouldn't create too much light. On the rocking chair that Sarah had picked out, laid Daniel's stuffed animals, except for one.
Richie walked over to the crib but found it empty, only the stuffed animal he had bought for his son was laying in the bed.
Turning around and turning the light off again, he walked to his own bedroom to find the most precious scene he could imagine. The nightlight on Sarah's bedside table was still on, breaking the darkness of the room.
In bed, Sarah was reclining against her pillows, asleep with Daniel sleeping cuddled on her chest.
The drive was short but it wasn't until he was on the airplane that he felt relaxed again. He wanted to get home to his family again.
Once the airplane was high up in the air, Richie tried to sleep but unlike usually, the loud engines kept him awake.
Luckily, with the change time and the time it took to get back home, he'd be home around the usual time he and Sarah were able to go to sleep after Daniel's last meal. Too bad he had missed it today but he could make up for it by feeding him at 4 am. He'd have to get up in the middle of the night but he didn't mind one bit. For Daniel he would do everything.
Only 5 days old, but already all his electronics were full of pictures of his baby. Remembering that fact, he picked out his iPad and looked at pictures of Daniel.
"Is that your baby?" A stewardess noticed as she walked past.
Richie look up, smiling. "Yeah, my boy."
"How old is he?" She leaned in a little to see the pictures better.
"Just 5 days, he was born Friday night."
"He's adorable. Congradulations."
"Thanks." Richie smiled at her again.
The stewardess smiled and nodded and continues her work.
The plane had an entertainment set for every passenger but Richie couldn't find any interesting tv shows or movies. Music always interested him and picking out an album cover that looked cool or a title that sounded interesting, he selected the album and plugged in the headphones to listen to it as he continued to look at all the pictures of Daniel he had.
The pictures weren't only of Daniel, often somebody was holding him. His older brothers and older sister were crazy about him too. It was amazing to see how much a tiny person like him could be loved so much.
Daniel still had to meet a lot of people but a plane wasn't a good place for such a small child, they'd wait for everyone to come to their house.
Abbey was still helping out at home but soon Richie's own mom would come to visit her new grandchihld too. Of course they had sent her pictures already but as she was abroad, it wasn't easy to just come over. As soon as her vacation was over, she was planning to visit her family. Richie looked forward to it very much, he might be grown up and have his own children but he still liked it when his mother came to visit. Time was a precious thing.
Finally the plane landed, to his relief, now he could finally get home.
He packed all of his belongings, which weren't much, his iPad and a few business files. That was all he had brought so he wouldn't have to go through baggage claim. That way he could save time.
Outside, it was very dark, a car was waiting to drive him home.
Putting his bag next to him on the car seat, he leaned his head back against the head rest. So close to home, he started to feel very tired. It had been a long and busy day. Besides that, the headache hadn't left him all day. Being sick never worked for him. Other people would have a cold for a few days but he always had to develop something else and stay sick for weeks. He hated it, especially now with Daniel. A baby's immune system wasn't that powerful yet.
The drive home went smoothly, no trafic and only took about half an hour.
Gladly he got out of the car and walked into the house. The spaceous entry was dark and quiet. As he had hoped, everyone had already gone to bed. Hopefully Sarah had been able to do so too. Daniel was a happy little baby that loved to be cuddled and held after he ate. He would do so later that night so Sarah could catch up on some sleep.
Leaving his bag by the stairs, he quietly walked up the stairs.
Instead of going into his own bedroom, he walked into the opposite room. Turning on the small light that stood in the corner so it wouldn't create too much light. On the rocking chair that Sarah had picked out, laid Daniel's stuffed animals, except for one.
Richie walked over to the crib but found it empty, only the stuffed animal he had bought for his son was laying in the bed.
Turning around and turning the light off again, he walked to his own bedroom to find the most precious scene he could imagine. The nightlight on Sarah's bedside table was still on, breaking the darkness of the room.
In bed, Sarah was reclining against her pillows, asleep with Daniel sleeping cuddled on her chest.
The sight was adorable, it had become clear that was Daniel's favorite way to sleep but thinking it wasn't safe, Richie carefully picked him up and laid him in the basinete next to their bed. That way he didn't have to go far.
When Richie turned around, he saw he had woken up Sarah. "Sorry." He said as he started to undress.
"It's okay, we fell asleep together. He needs to sleep alone too."
"You looked very sweet." When the only clothes he was wearing were his boxers, he got in bed. "I missed you." Moving close to his wife, he wrapped his arms around his.
Sarah easily adjusted to the new position and laid her head on Richie's shoulder to sleep.
When Richie turned around, he saw he had woken up Sarah. "Sorry." He said as he started to undress.
"It's okay, we fell asleep together. He needs to sleep alone too."
"You looked very sweet." When the only clothes he was wearing were his boxers, he got in bed. "I missed you." Moving close to his wife, he wrapped his arms around his.
Sarah easily adjusted to the new position and laid her head on Richie's shoulder to sleep.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Chapter Fifty-Four
Richie woke up with a hand pressed to his forehead. Opening his eyes, he saw Sarah looking down at him. "What are you doing?" He asked hoarse and confused.
"You're sick again, or still, at least you have a temperature." She pulled her hand back.
"It'll go away." Richie answer, turning to his side to look at her. Sarah was right, he felt like crap but he needed to go to New York today.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
"Yeah, I already had to cancel everything, I can't let these people down too. No singing, just talking."
Sarah smiled. "They're all going to love your voice."
"My fans love me regardless of my hoarse voice."
"So do I," Sarah reached in to give him a gentle kiss, "and don't you forget it."
Richie wanted to say something more but Daniel could be heard from the opposite room and Sarah had left to go to his aide before he could say anything more.
When he finally found the strength to get up and put on a pair of pants, Richie followed to where Sarah had gone.
In Daniel's room, Sarah was sitting in the rocking chair, nursing him.
Richie stayed in the doorway and watched.
"You know that's the most precious thing in the world?" Richie asked.
Sarah gently smiled up and him. "What?"
"Moms feeding their babies, it's a special thing. Such closeness, it's a special bond that just moms can have."
"You thought that much about it?" Sarah asked confused.
"Not really, it just is."
"I guess that's true." Sarah agreed. "Not like you can do it."
"Nope, I get the joy of talking to him about the birds and the bees."
Sarah chuckled. "That's ages still."
"Have to prepare mentally for it." Richie countered. "I'm gonna go get ready."
Back in the bedroom, he got his clothes together and packed a bag to take to New York. Sure he was feeling terrible but he wasn't letting his fans down any more than he already had. They were looking forward to and as long a he didn't sing, he should be alright.
He wasn't flying til a few hours later and would fly home after the short event. It would be more relaxing if he stayed the night at the hotel but he wanted to be home more than that he wanted to relax. Missing Daniel was something he hadn't done yet and wasn't looking forward to.
Before heading downstairs, he took a few painkillers to make his headache go away and hopefully feel a little better, then made sure they were in reach in his travel bag.
Sarah walked in with Daniel a few minutes later. Getting settled on the bed, she moved her pillows to be able to sit as she held her son.
"You know how lucky we are? He's so calm, hardy ever cries." Richie got back in bed, puling the blankets back over him, he felt they were still warm.
"Just when he's hungry." Sarah answered. "Noah was like that too."
"Yeah?" Richie asked as Sarah nodded. "By the way, Ava doesn't want to go to her mom's house so do you mind she stays here with you?"
Sarah smiled, knowing Ava wanted to see her little brother. She had already proved herself as a great older sister. "Of course I don't. It's her house too."
"Thanks."
Richie reached out to stroke Daniel's short, light hair. With his blond hair and blue eyes he always looked angelic, especially when he was sleeping or simply resting quietly. So far he was a very calm baby. Things could change, they both knew and they had only started, there were many years to look forward to but now they had to enjoy Daniel as a little baby.
"I'm gonna miss him." Richie confessed. "I'm gonna show a picture of him tonight."
"You haven't done that on Twitter yet?"
"No. I wanted to keep him all to myself but I'll show a picture tonight to update everyone. Kinda good I got sick, otherwise I would have missed it."
Sarah shrugged, not thinking it was good he was but in a way he was right.
Carefully, Richie reached out to take Daniel from Sarah arms. He had to leave soon.
He gently laid Daniel on top his chest, cuddling him. He hoped his son still had the newborn baby smell, he just couldn't smell right now.
It was still unbelievable he finally had the son he had always dreamed of, his tiny baby boy. As perfect as his older brothers and sister were but just that little different. His first baby with Sarah and honestly he hoped it wouldn't be their last, at least one more baby would be nice. He'd need to talk to Sarah about it.
"You're sick again, or still, at least you have a temperature." She pulled her hand back.
"It'll go away." Richie answer, turning to his side to look at her. Sarah was right, he felt like crap but he needed to go to New York today.
"Are you sure you want to go?"
"Yeah, I already had to cancel everything, I can't let these people down too. No singing, just talking."
Sarah smiled. "They're all going to love your voice."
"My fans love me regardless of my hoarse voice."
"So do I," Sarah reached in to give him a gentle kiss, "and don't you forget it."
Richie wanted to say something more but Daniel could be heard from the opposite room and Sarah had left to go to his aide before he could say anything more.
When he finally found the strength to get up and put on a pair of pants, Richie followed to where Sarah had gone.
In Daniel's room, Sarah was sitting in the rocking chair, nursing him.
Richie stayed in the doorway and watched.
"You know that's the most precious thing in the world?" Richie asked.
Sarah gently smiled up and him. "What?"
"Moms feeding their babies, it's a special thing. Such closeness, it's a special bond that just moms can have."
"You thought that much about it?" Sarah asked confused.
"Not really, it just is."
"I guess that's true." Sarah agreed. "Not like you can do it."
"Nope, I get the joy of talking to him about the birds and the bees."
Sarah chuckled. "That's ages still."
"Have to prepare mentally for it." Richie countered. "I'm gonna go get ready."
Back in the bedroom, he got his clothes together and packed a bag to take to New York. Sure he was feeling terrible but he wasn't letting his fans down any more than he already had. They were looking forward to and as long a he didn't sing, he should be alright.
He wasn't flying til a few hours later and would fly home after the short event. It would be more relaxing if he stayed the night at the hotel but he wanted to be home more than that he wanted to relax. Missing Daniel was something he hadn't done yet and wasn't looking forward to.
Before heading downstairs, he took a few painkillers to make his headache go away and hopefully feel a little better, then made sure they were in reach in his travel bag.
Sarah walked in with Daniel a few minutes later. Getting settled on the bed, she moved her pillows to be able to sit as she held her son.
"You know how lucky we are? He's so calm, hardy ever cries." Richie got back in bed, puling the blankets back over him, he felt they were still warm.
"Just when he's hungry." Sarah answered. "Noah was like that too."
"Yeah?" Richie asked as Sarah nodded. "By the way, Ava doesn't want to go to her mom's house so do you mind she stays here with you?"
Sarah smiled, knowing Ava wanted to see her little brother. She had already proved herself as a great older sister. "Of course I don't. It's her house too."
"Thanks."
Richie reached out to stroke Daniel's short, light hair. With his blond hair and blue eyes he always looked angelic, especially when he was sleeping or simply resting quietly. So far he was a very calm baby. Things could change, they both knew and they had only started, there were many years to look forward to but now they had to enjoy Daniel as a little baby.
"I'm gonna miss him." Richie confessed. "I'm gonna show a picture of him tonight."
"You haven't done that on Twitter yet?"
"No. I wanted to keep him all to myself but I'll show a picture tonight to update everyone. Kinda good I got sick, otherwise I would have missed it."
Sarah shrugged, not thinking it was good he was but in a way he was right.
Carefully, Richie reached out to take Daniel from Sarah arms. He had to leave soon.
He gently laid Daniel on top his chest, cuddling him. He hoped his son still had the newborn baby smell, he just couldn't smell right now.
It was still unbelievable he finally had the son he had always dreamed of, his tiny baby boy. As perfect as his older brothers and sister were but just that little different. His first baby with Sarah and honestly he hoped it wouldn't be their last, at least one more baby would be nice. He'd need to talk to Sarah about it.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Chapter Fifty-three
After spending the weekend in the hospital with almost their entire family, Sarah and Baby Boy Sambora were finally allowed to go home on Monday.
Richie made sure his son was strapped in his seat, making sure he was perfectly safe before he got in the car himself too.
The drive home, was one of the carefullest Richie had ever made, driving a few miles slower than the limit was, his foot hovering over to brake to ensure that he would react as soon as possible to avoid any sort of accident.
Along with Sarah, he also looked over his shoulder a few times to check how his son was doing. He looked so tiny in his car seat.
"Everyone is at school?" Sarah asked, making sure they would arrive to a peaceful and quiet house. She could have gone home earlier but they preferred late morning on Monday because the older children would be at school and it would be calm for the baby's homecoming. A little baby like him didn't need all the excitement.
"Yeah, Caleb drove. Ava's staying with us instead of at her mom's. Thought she would."
"Of course, she wants to see her little brother."
Richie nodded. "As long as all her girl friends don't visit yet. Too many squeals for him."
Sarah chuckled a little, Ava's friends were all overly excited girls.
"We could also skip the friends visiting and pick them up from school later. Then they can only see him for a few minutes. Easier." Richie suggested, not wanting to share his little boy too much.
Nodding, Sarah considered it. "What if he's sleeping?"
"We'll just put him in the seat and drive to the school, annoy Ava by waiting at the gate, if he's asleep they all have to be quiet and we can leave sooner." Richie explained his idea.
"I don't know." Sarah said, unsure about letting the baby leave the house just yet and being around so many people.
"We really need to name him." The baby had settled down in his living room crib as Sarah and Richie sat on the couch, observing him.
"I know." Sarah sighed. "I never thought it would be this difficult to name a baby but it's such a major decision."
Richie nodded, agreeing, the name would have to last an entire life time, they needed to put thought into it but they had been trying to think of names for months now and now time was getting very close.
"I want something traditional for him, nothing fancy like they do with children nowadays. Something decent, but something that can be cute too."
Again, Richie nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket.
Richie did as she asked and searched for a list of traditional names.
"Aaron? Benjamin? Dan?" He started listing the alphabetic list. "Then I like Daniel better." He quickly added.
"Daniel?" Sarah looked up at him. "Meaning?"
Richie tapped his phone a few more times, waiting for the page to load. "God is my judge." He finally answered.
Sarah smiled at him. "That works for us and our pasts. No one can judge what bad lives you can go through before changing it all around and create something like this."
Richie nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good. I like Daniel, Danny, Dan. It works."
Sarah looked down at the baby in her arms, his face relaxed as his eyes were closed but she didn't think he was asleep. "Daniel." She said softly.
Both were amazed as the baby opened his eyes, shining his bright baby blues at them, knowing that was their sign for naming him.
"Daniel." Sarah said more firmly, making the decision.
"Middle name?" Richie asked, making Sarah sigh.
"That too?" She chuckled. "This was hard enough."
Richie scrolled through the names, figuring they could wait a little longer before deciding on the next name. There were a few names he liked but then didn't like the meaning of, or the other way around where he liked the meaning but didn't like the name that went with it.
"Isaac means laughter."
Sarah looked up at him again. "Yeah? That's nice." She agreed.
"Daniel Isaac?" Richie asked.
Sarah looked at her son, sleeping in his crib, Daniel Isaac. God is my judge and laughter. Their newborn baby would bring them much laughter and happiness. In a way it fitted with the meaning they had given to Daniel only a few minutes ago.
"Daniel Isaac Sambora." She agreed.
By the time school was over, Daniel had just woken up. It was a relief to Sarah who didn't want to expose him to all kinds of germs just yet.
Richie had understood from the first time and hadn't asked again. He got up from the couch and walked the few steps to Daniel's crib.
"Hey baby." He said softly as he picked up the crying baby, cuddling him to try to calm him down again. "Think he's hungry." Richie brought him over to the couch and sat down again, waiting for Sarah to be ready to feed him before passing him over.
Not much later, everyone got home from school and the peace and quiet had gone away. Usually they all spent time in their rooms after school, doing their homework, talking to friends or making plans to go out but now all three of them stayed in the living room, watching their little brother.
Daniel got passed around to everyone, being held and cuddles by all his loving siblings. His blue eyes shining bright whenever someone looked at him.
Richie made sure his son was strapped in his seat, making sure he was perfectly safe before he got in the car himself too.
The drive home, was one of the carefullest Richie had ever made, driving a few miles slower than the limit was, his foot hovering over to brake to ensure that he would react as soon as possible to avoid any sort of accident.
Along with Sarah, he also looked over his shoulder a few times to check how his son was doing. He looked so tiny in his car seat.
"Everyone is at school?" Sarah asked, making sure they would arrive to a peaceful and quiet house. She could have gone home earlier but they preferred late morning on Monday because the older children would be at school and it would be calm for the baby's homecoming. A little baby like him didn't need all the excitement.
"Yeah, Caleb drove. Ava's staying with us instead of at her mom's. Thought she would."
"Of course, she wants to see her little brother."
Richie nodded. "As long as all her girl friends don't visit yet. Too many squeals for him."
Sarah chuckled a little, Ava's friends were all overly excited girls.
"We could also skip the friends visiting and pick them up from school later. Then they can only see him for a few minutes. Easier." Richie suggested, not wanting to share his little boy too much.
Nodding, Sarah considered it. "What if he's sleeping?"
"We'll just put him in the seat and drive to the school, annoy Ava by waiting at the gate, if he's asleep they all have to be quiet and we can leave sooner." Richie explained his idea.
"I don't know." Sarah said, unsure about letting the baby leave the house just yet and being around so many people.
"We really need to name him." The baby had settled down in his living room crib as Sarah and Richie sat on the couch, observing him.
"I know." Sarah sighed. "I never thought it would be this difficult to name a baby but it's such a major decision."
Richie nodded, agreeing, the name would have to last an entire life time, they needed to put thought into it but they had been trying to think of names for months now and now time was getting very close.
"I want something traditional for him, nothing fancy like they do with children nowadays. Something decent, but something that can be cute too."
Again, Richie nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket.
Richie did as she asked and searched for a list of traditional names.
"Aaron? Benjamin? Dan?" He started listing the alphabetic list. "Then I like Daniel better." He quickly added.
"Daniel?" Sarah looked up at him. "Meaning?"
Richie tapped his phone a few more times, waiting for the page to load. "God is my judge." He finally answered.
Sarah smiled at him. "That works for us and our pasts. No one can judge what bad lives you can go through before changing it all around and create something like this."
Richie nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good. I like Daniel, Danny, Dan. It works."
Sarah looked down at the baby in her arms, his face relaxed as his eyes were closed but she didn't think he was asleep. "Daniel." She said softly.
Both were amazed as the baby opened his eyes, shining his bright baby blues at them, knowing that was their sign for naming him.
"Daniel." Sarah said more firmly, making the decision.
"Middle name?" Richie asked, making Sarah sigh.
"That too?" She chuckled. "This was hard enough."
Richie scrolled through the names, figuring they could wait a little longer before deciding on the next name. There were a few names he liked but then didn't like the meaning of, or the other way around where he liked the meaning but didn't like the name that went with it.
"Isaac means laughter."
Sarah looked up at him again. "Yeah? That's nice." She agreed.
"Daniel Isaac?" Richie asked.
Sarah looked at her son, sleeping in his crib, Daniel Isaac. God is my judge and laughter. Their newborn baby would bring them much laughter and happiness. In a way it fitted with the meaning they had given to Daniel only a few minutes ago.
"Daniel Isaac Sambora." She agreed.
By the time school was over, Daniel had just woken up. It was a relief to Sarah who didn't want to expose him to all kinds of germs just yet.
Richie had understood from the first time and hadn't asked again. He got up from the couch and walked the few steps to Daniel's crib.
"Hey baby." He said softly as he picked up the crying baby, cuddling him to try to calm him down again. "Think he's hungry." Richie brought him over to the couch and sat down again, waiting for Sarah to be ready to feed him before passing him over.
Not much later, everyone got home from school and the peace and quiet had gone away. Usually they all spent time in their rooms after school, doing their homework, talking to friends or making plans to go out but now all three of them stayed in the living room, watching their little brother.
Daniel got passed around to everyone, being held and cuddles by all his loving siblings. His blue eyes shining bright whenever someone looked at him.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Chapter Fifty-two
The next morning a nurse brought Sarah a list of names of all the babies that were born in the past few months at the hospital.
Together with Baby Boy Sambora she tried a few out but didn't want to decide without Richie. No one had ever had this much trouble with naming their baby, she was sure of that. Most parents had picked out names months before the baby was born and now they were indecisive.
Richie had gone home in them morning to change his clothes and bring clothes for Sarah and their baby, preparing all the rest at home for the arrival of their baby too.
Before returning to the hospital, he stopped at one of the baby stores they had shopped at before to get a stuffed animal for his son. Something he could love forever.
While Richie was gone, she had another visitor. Sarah was known at the hospital and everyone she had worked with and was working that morning had popped into the room to say hi to the new baby and check on Sarah.
As to be expected with a tiny baby, everyone thought it was adorable but they didn't only talk about the baby. Sarah also got to hear what had changed while she was gone, even if it only was a few weeks since she had left.
Taylor was the most excited visitor that stopped by, her interest didn't only stay focused on the baby but also having heard about her idol cancelling the rest of the tour due to laryngitis. She just had to be sure he was alright even though she was bummed out she wasn't able to see a concert now.
For her friend, Sarah thought she could ask her husband if there was anything he could do. The show in New York had been cancelled but he had agreed to continue the Q&A. She knew he didn't want to leave her or Baby Boy Sambora alone but he couldn't cancel the concert and promise the Q&A and then cancel that too.
To make sure he wouldn't be gone too long, Richie had decided to fly to New York in the morning and fly back after the concert. His son was more important than staying in New York to visit friends. While he was there, Joan would be at his house too so Sarah had helped from both their mothers.
Richie returned to Sarah's hospital room, finding her holding the baby and reading papers.
"How's my son doing?" Richie asked as he walked into the room.
"He's good." Sarah looked at the beautiful baby in her arms. "He just finished his breakfast." She informed her husband.
"What? And I missed it?" He sounded surprised and shocked, but most of all, hoarse.
"I'm sorry, he was hungry, I couldn't let him wait."
Richie waved it off. "It's okay, there's still lunchtime for me to watch him eat." He explained. "What's that?" Richie asked as he put down the bag of clothes on the floor and sat on the edge of Sarah's hospital bed to read the papers too.
"A list of names of all the babies that were born since August."
"Quite a list." Richie remarked. It was a few pages long.
"I asked for it so we could get some inspiration."
Richie chuckled. Naming their son had been a real hard trick. "Any luck yet?"
"No." Sarah said. "But I was thinking about names and about Caleb and Noah. For them I picked biblical names, maybe we can do that."
"That doesn't sound bad." Richie agreed, taking his phone out of his jeans' pocket to search the web for biblical names. "What about the meaning of the name?"
"I haven't thought about that but Caleb and Noah's were perfect for what was going on at the time so maybe something like that for this one too." She held her baby a little tighter.
"Something like, happy? Joy? Love? Us and our pasts?" Richie asked, trying to understand what Sarah was saying.
"Yeah." She agreed but didn't know which names would be perfect for that. "What did you bring?"
"His crib here seems so empty and plastic, I thought I'd buy him something." He pulled out a little sheep from the bag he had brought in with him.
Sarah took it and showed it to Baby Boy Sambora. "It's really soft. He'll love it."
Richie left his wife and son in the afternoon. He was reluctant to do so because his precious baby bay would miss him. Or he would miss him. He wasn't sure if a baby that young would already miss him but he knew his three other children were missing him too and had to go pick them up for another visit.
It didn't take long for him to return to the hospital with all the children. Sarah's room was going to be crowded but home would be the same.
Ava walked up to Sarah first, making sure she would be the first to hold her little brother.
Sarah gently passed him over and let Ava hold him.
"Does he have a name yet?" Ava asked as she watched her little brother look up at her with his bright blue eyes.
"No, we're still indecisive. We want something special but haven't found anything yet. Taylor got me a book of names during her break." Sarah picked up the large book. The cover said it had over 5.000 names for boys but so far it hadn't helped Sarah.
Ava didn't know what to say about it. It had been months, how hadn't they thought of a name yet.
A few minutes later, Baby Boy Sambora was held by one of his older brothers as Ava was reading the book of names.
Caleb looked over at Richie. "Do you think he'll like guitar too?"
"Andrew." Ava said, saying all the names she liked out loud, not caring what everyone else was talking about.
"He might." Richie said.
"Brayden."
"Because, I bought this book with nursery rhymes and it's got sheet music for piano and guitar and for singing too but then I could play guitar right, maybe he'll like that." Caleb suggested.
Richie wanted to answer but got cut off by Ava. "Carter." He sighed before answering. "Baby's love music. He'll love it that you'll play for him. Makes them calm."
"Dylan."
Richie sighed again, his daughter was having fun but it was a little annoying she was doing it while he was trying to talk.
"Ethan."
"So if he can't sleep or something, I could play and he'll be calm? That easy?" Caleb asked.
"Fynn."
"Yes." Richie agreed immediately and excited.
Ava looked up. "Really?" A little confused.
"No." Richie shook his head, then looked at Sarah for agreement. "No." He confirmed when Sarah made the same head gesture as he had.
"Fine." Ava sighed and continued. "Granger. That's a name?"
"Must be, if it's in your book." Caleb said annoyed, still wanting an answer from Richie.
Ava gave him a mean look and continued reading.
Richie picked up where they had left off. "If he can't sleep at night, you can play for him. We'll just put the baby monitor in your room. That's great."
Together with Baby Boy Sambora she tried a few out but didn't want to decide without Richie. No one had ever had this much trouble with naming their baby, she was sure of that. Most parents had picked out names months before the baby was born and now they were indecisive.
Richie had gone home in them morning to change his clothes and bring clothes for Sarah and their baby, preparing all the rest at home for the arrival of their baby too.
Before returning to the hospital, he stopped at one of the baby stores they had shopped at before to get a stuffed animal for his son. Something he could love forever.
While Richie was gone, she had another visitor. Sarah was known at the hospital and everyone she had worked with and was working that morning had popped into the room to say hi to the new baby and check on Sarah.
As to be expected with a tiny baby, everyone thought it was adorable but they didn't only talk about the baby. Sarah also got to hear what had changed while she was gone, even if it only was a few weeks since she had left.
Taylor was the most excited visitor that stopped by, her interest didn't only stay focused on the baby but also having heard about her idol cancelling the rest of the tour due to laryngitis. She just had to be sure he was alright even though she was bummed out she wasn't able to see a concert now.
For her friend, Sarah thought she could ask her husband if there was anything he could do. The show in New York had been cancelled but he had agreed to continue the Q&A. She knew he didn't want to leave her or Baby Boy Sambora alone but he couldn't cancel the concert and promise the Q&A and then cancel that too.
To make sure he wouldn't be gone too long, Richie had decided to fly to New York in the morning and fly back after the concert. His son was more important than staying in New York to visit friends. While he was there, Joan would be at his house too so Sarah had helped from both their mothers.
Richie returned to Sarah's hospital room, finding her holding the baby and reading papers.
"How's my son doing?" Richie asked as he walked into the room.
"He's good." Sarah looked at the beautiful baby in her arms. "He just finished his breakfast." She informed her husband.
"What? And I missed it?" He sounded surprised and shocked, but most of all, hoarse.
"I'm sorry, he was hungry, I couldn't let him wait."
Richie waved it off. "It's okay, there's still lunchtime for me to watch him eat." He explained. "What's that?" Richie asked as he put down the bag of clothes on the floor and sat on the edge of Sarah's hospital bed to read the papers too.
"A list of names of all the babies that were born since August."
"Quite a list." Richie remarked. It was a few pages long.
"I asked for it so we could get some inspiration."
Richie chuckled. Naming their son had been a real hard trick. "Any luck yet?"
"No." Sarah said. "But I was thinking about names and about Caleb and Noah. For them I picked biblical names, maybe we can do that."
"That doesn't sound bad." Richie agreed, taking his phone out of his jeans' pocket to search the web for biblical names. "What about the meaning of the name?"
"I haven't thought about that but Caleb and Noah's were perfect for what was going on at the time so maybe something like that for this one too." She held her baby a little tighter.
"Something like, happy? Joy? Love? Us and our pasts?" Richie asked, trying to understand what Sarah was saying.
"Yeah." She agreed but didn't know which names would be perfect for that. "What did you bring?"
"His crib here seems so empty and plastic, I thought I'd buy him something." He pulled out a little sheep from the bag he had brought in with him.
Sarah took it and showed it to Baby Boy Sambora. "It's really soft. He'll love it."
Richie left his wife and son in the afternoon. He was reluctant to do so because his precious baby bay would miss him. Or he would miss him. He wasn't sure if a baby that young would already miss him but he knew his three other children were missing him too and had to go pick them up for another visit.
It didn't take long for him to return to the hospital with all the children. Sarah's room was going to be crowded but home would be the same.
Ava walked up to Sarah first, making sure she would be the first to hold her little brother.
Sarah gently passed him over and let Ava hold him.
"Does he have a name yet?" Ava asked as she watched her little brother look up at her with his bright blue eyes.
"No, we're still indecisive. We want something special but haven't found anything yet. Taylor got me a book of names during her break." Sarah picked up the large book. The cover said it had over 5.000 names for boys but so far it hadn't helped Sarah.
Ava didn't know what to say about it. It had been months, how hadn't they thought of a name yet.
A few minutes later, Baby Boy Sambora was held by one of his older brothers as Ava was reading the book of names.
Caleb looked over at Richie. "Do you think he'll like guitar too?"
"Andrew." Ava said, saying all the names she liked out loud, not caring what everyone else was talking about.
"He might." Richie said.
"Brayden."
"Because, I bought this book with nursery rhymes and it's got sheet music for piano and guitar and for singing too but then I could play guitar right, maybe he'll like that." Caleb suggested.
Richie wanted to answer but got cut off by Ava. "Carter." He sighed before answering. "Baby's love music. He'll love it that you'll play for him. Makes them calm."
"Dylan."
Richie sighed again, his daughter was having fun but it was a little annoying she was doing it while he was trying to talk.
"Ethan."
"So if he can't sleep or something, I could play and he'll be calm? That easy?" Caleb asked.
"Fynn."
"Yes." Richie agreed immediately and excited.
Ava looked up. "Really?" A little confused.
"No." Richie shook his head, then looked at Sarah for agreement. "No." He confirmed when Sarah made the same head gesture as he had.
"Fine." Ava sighed and continued. "Granger. That's a name?"
"Must be, if it's in your book." Caleb said annoyed, still wanting an answer from Richie.
Ava gave him a mean look and continued reading.
Richie picked up where they had left off. "If he can't sleep at night, you can play for him. We'll just put the baby monitor in your room. That's great."
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Chapter Fifty-one
"There's a group of people claiming to be your family." One of the nurses said gently as she carried the little baby into the room that Sarah had just settled in to.
"Teenage girl, two teenage boys and an elderly lady?" Richie asked.
"Yes." The nurse answered as she placed the newborn in Sarah's arms.
"Sounds like our other kids and your mom." Richie said.
Sarah smiled when he said other, he still loved Caleb and Noah as his own kids even though he had his own biological son now.
"I can sent them in?" The nurse asked.
They both nodded.
Ava was the first to sit on the hospital bed next to Sarah to look at her newborn sibling. The baby was sleeping wrapped in a white cloth so only its head was visible.
Ava reached out to stroke its cheek. "So tiny." She said softly as she looked into the bright eyes that had just opened to look back at her.
Sarah smiled up at her. "Yeah he is."
"It's a boy?" Ava asked surprised. She leaned in a little closer to study her newborn brother's face. "He's perfect."
Sarah and Richie thought exactly the same about their 7.5 pound, 19.5 inches bundle of joy.
Richie made sure everyone knew their baby was born by texting everyone in his and in Sarah's contacts list. Not minding if some people got a double text.
Baby boy Sambora met the world on October 19, 1:35am. Measuring 19.5 inches and weighing 7.5 pounds. Perfect
After that a bunch of text messages were sent back. To dodge them, he had phoned his mom to tell her the good news even though it was the middle of the night. She was excited and even more excited when Richie told her he'd sent pictures soon. He knew his mom would want to come visit her first grandson but he'd arrange a flight in the morning.
"Can I hold him?" Ava asked hopeful. "I know how." She added quickly and held her arms like she was holding a baby to prove she could.
"Sure but be careful." Sarah sat up a little so Ava was able to take her little brother.
Ava looked at him with a mixture of adoration and amazement on her face. She already loved the little baby in her arms as much as any sibling could love the other. Her daddy was now someone else's daddy too but she didn't mind sharing with a baby this cute.
Caleb and Noah watched closely, both adoring their new sibling too.
"Can I?" Caleb asked after a little while and held the baby carefully as Ava passed him over. "Hi little brother." He cooed.
Sarah loved watching them, the adoration, love and amazement in their eyes told her that her youngest son would always be loved and protected by its older siblings.
On his way to meet grandma next, the baby had wiggled itself free from the tight cloths around him so he could move his tiny arms.
Abbey watched her grandson with the greatest joy. She hadn't expected to receive another grandchild in this life and here he is. A beautiful pink baby boy with the cutest little nose, perfect red lips, sweet baby blue eyes and a little bit of short blond hair on his head.
"Don't you want to hold him?" Sarah asked Noah, who hadn't yet.
"I can't." He answered quickly.
"Why not?" Sarah asked. "Come here."
Ava moved from the bed so Noah could sit down as Abbey passed the baby back to Sarah.
"Just hold your arms like this." Sarah showed him how she was holding the baby and waited for Noah to get his arms right before reaching over to place the tiny baby in his arms.
"See, you can." Sarah said.
Noah held him tightly, making sure he wouldn't drop the fragile baby.
An hour later, Abbey took the teenagers home again so Sarah could get some rest but she was still too amazed by her son.
Richie got on the bed next to his wife and kissed her cheek.
"You need to sleep. You must be exhausted and baby boy Sambora will need you in the morning." He reached over to check the little hospital bracelet that read:
Baby boy Sambora
Instead, the baby caught hold of his finger and didn't let go, tightly holding on to his daddy's finger.
"He doesn't want to go either, he wants to be with us." Sarah said. If she could, she'd hold him in her arms forever but Richie was right, she was tired.
"I'll hold him, he doesn't have to go back to the nursery just yet." Richie suggested. "Then you can sleep next to me."
Satisfied with knowing her baby wasn't going anywhere, Sarah agreed and moved the baby over.
Richie moved him gently so his head could rest on his shoulder and he could still hold him as Sarah cuddled into his other side to sleep.
"We need to name him something better than Baby Boy Sambora, although that's original." Richie said as he gently stroked the baby in question its back.
Sarah sighed. They still hadn't been able to name him and had a feeling it might take them a while before they could finally agree on something that was the perfect fit for their baby boy.
"Teenage girl, two teenage boys and an elderly lady?" Richie asked.
"Yes." The nurse answered as she placed the newborn in Sarah's arms.
"Sounds like our other kids and your mom." Richie said.
Sarah smiled when he said other, he still loved Caleb and Noah as his own kids even though he had his own biological son now.
"I can sent them in?" The nurse asked.
They both nodded.
Ava was the first to sit on the hospital bed next to Sarah to look at her newborn sibling. The baby was sleeping wrapped in a white cloth so only its head was visible.
Ava reached out to stroke its cheek. "So tiny." She said softly as she looked into the bright eyes that had just opened to look back at her.
Sarah smiled up at her. "Yeah he is."
"It's a boy?" Ava asked surprised. She leaned in a little closer to study her newborn brother's face. "He's perfect."
Sarah and Richie thought exactly the same about their 7.5 pound, 19.5 inches bundle of joy.
Richie made sure everyone knew their baby was born by texting everyone in his and in Sarah's contacts list. Not minding if some people got a double text.
Baby boy Sambora met the world on October 19, 1:35am. Measuring 19.5 inches and weighing 7.5 pounds. Perfect
After that a bunch of text messages were sent back. To dodge them, he had phoned his mom to tell her the good news even though it was the middle of the night. She was excited and even more excited when Richie told her he'd sent pictures soon. He knew his mom would want to come visit her first grandson but he'd arrange a flight in the morning.
"Can I hold him?" Ava asked hopeful. "I know how." She added quickly and held her arms like she was holding a baby to prove she could.
"Sure but be careful." Sarah sat up a little so Ava was able to take her little brother.
Ava looked at him with a mixture of adoration and amazement on her face. She already loved the little baby in her arms as much as any sibling could love the other. Her daddy was now someone else's daddy too but she didn't mind sharing with a baby this cute.
Caleb and Noah watched closely, both adoring their new sibling too.
"Can I?" Caleb asked after a little while and held the baby carefully as Ava passed him over. "Hi little brother." He cooed.
Sarah loved watching them, the adoration, love and amazement in their eyes told her that her youngest son would always be loved and protected by its older siblings.
On his way to meet grandma next, the baby had wiggled itself free from the tight cloths around him so he could move his tiny arms.
Abbey watched her grandson with the greatest joy. She hadn't expected to receive another grandchild in this life and here he is. A beautiful pink baby boy with the cutest little nose, perfect red lips, sweet baby blue eyes and a little bit of short blond hair on his head.
"Don't you want to hold him?" Sarah asked Noah, who hadn't yet.
"I can't." He answered quickly.
"Why not?" Sarah asked. "Come here."
Ava moved from the bed so Noah could sit down as Abbey passed the baby back to Sarah.
"Just hold your arms like this." Sarah showed him how she was holding the baby and waited for Noah to get his arms right before reaching over to place the tiny baby in his arms.
"See, you can." Sarah said.
Noah held him tightly, making sure he wouldn't drop the fragile baby.
An hour later, Abbey took the teenagers home again so Sarah could get some rest but she was still too amazed by her son.
Richie got on the bed next to his wife and kissed her cheek.
"You need to sleep. You must be exhausted and baby boy Sambora will need you in the morning." He reached over to check the little hospital bracelet that read:
Baby boy Sambora
Instead, the baby caught hold of his finger and didn't let go, tightly holding on to his daddy's finger.
"He doesn't want to go either, he wants to be with us." Sarah said. If she could, she'd hold him in her arms forever but Richie was right, she was tired.
"I'll hold him, he doesn't have to go back to the nursery just yet." Richie suggested. "Then you can sleep next to me."
Satisfied with knowing her baby wasn't going anywhere, Sarah agreed and moved the baby over.
Richie moved him gently so his head could rest on his shoulder and he could still hold him as Sarah cuddled into his other side to sleep.
"We need to name him something better than Baby Boy Sambora, although that's original." Richie said as he gently stroked the baby in question its back.
Sarah sighed. They still hadn't been able to name him and had a feeling it might take them a while before they could finally agree on something that was the perfect fit for their baby boy.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Chapter Fifty
38 weeks
"Maybe you're right." Sarah said after going through another contraction, the previous one had only been 5 minutes ago.
"We should go to the hospital then." He said, getting off the bed to help Sarah up.
"Yeah." Sarah agreed and let him help her up.
Before going downstairs, Richie hurried to Ava's room, informing her where they were going.
Once in the car, Sarah felt another contraction. They were getting more painful each time.
"We'll be at the hospital in a few minutes. Hang in there." Richie encouraged as he started the car.
Luckily Richie was right and they were able to reach the hospital in a few minutes. Late Thursday night traffic was working in their advantage.
As soon as Richie parked the car, Sarah swung her car door open, eager to get out and finally go through labor. The past two weeks with Sammy acting up so often, were bad enough. Now she wasn't leaving without a baby in her arms.
"Wait, I'll help you." Richie came around the car to help his wife out of the seat.
At the entrance, Richie helped Sarah into a wheelchair, having a short flash back to when she first joined him on tour and they had spent an evening at a hospital in Germany, today would hurt a lot more but their reward would be one of the greatest gifts.
After checking in, quick examination by a doctor, Sarah was admitted and lead to the maternity ward.
This is it.
"Daddy, keep an eye on mommy." The nurse said after helping Sarah get situated in bed.
Richie watched her go and then took Sarah's hand again, giving her a firm squeeze. "You're doing great. We'll get to meet our child in a little while"
Sarah nodded, not really listening to him but trying to get through the pain of another contraction.
"Should I get you anything?"
"No, stay here." She held his hand tighter, not wanting to leave.
A few minutes later, Sarah's doctor walked in. "Mr. and Mrs. Sambora, I heard baby Sambora will be joining us soon. Lets see how soon." She immediately did her few checks.
"And?" Richie asked, still sounding terribly hoarse.
"Wow, is that because of a cold?" The doctor asked.
Confused for a few seconds, Richie stared at her, then realized she meant his hoarse voice. "From singing." He explained quickly.
She handed him a mask. "Wear one anyway, don't want to risk that." She said, making sure he put it on. "We're ready to go." She announced next.
One of the nurses came in to help them to the delivery room. On the way there, Richie didn't let go of Sarah's hand.
Once everything was settled and ready, Sarah was told to push. With the contractions being so close together, there wasn't anything else she could do than listen to her body and push.
Richie forgot about how hard Sarah was squeezing the bones in his hand together, watching her go through labor was his complete focus. His beautiful wife was giving life to their child, who cared about his hand being crushed?
Knowing Sarah was going through immense pain, he encouraged her as much as he could.
"Crowning." The doctor announced.
"Almost there. Just a few more pushes." Richie encouraged.
Sarah almost screamed with the next contraction and push.
"Few more." Richie repeated, supporting Sarah as she pushed.
The doctor looked up at Sarah. "One more big push to get the shoulders and you're done."
Sarah nodded and leaned back a little.
For no use because the next contraction was there before she could take a breath.
Once again Richie supported her through it, wincing when she screamed of pain, feeling bad that she had to go through all that pain.
Then another cry made him forget about the pain and all the hard work she had to go through.
Relieved, Sarah laid back, happily listening to the discontented cry as Richie cut the umbilical cord, watching him, she could see the tears in his eyes.
She only had to miss him from her side for a few seconds.
"Thank you." He pulled his mask down and kissed her deeply, showing all his thanks and love. "I love you so much." He said once he pulled back from the kiss.
She reached out to wipe away the tears from his eyes and kissed him again.
"Maybe you're right." Sarah said after going through another contraction, the previous one had only been 5 minutes ago.
"We should go to the hospital then." He said, getting off the bed to help Sarah up.
"Yeah." Sarah agreed and let him help her up.
Before going downstairs, Richie hurried to Ava's room, informing her where they were going.
Once in the car, Sarah felt another contraction. They were getting more painful each time.
"We'll be at the hospital in a few minutes. Hang in there." Richie encouraged as he started the car.
Luckily Richie was right and they were able to reach the hospital in a few minutes. Late Thursday night traffic was working in their advantage.
As soon as Richie parked the car, Sarah swung her car door open, eager to get out and finally go through labor. The past two weeks with Sammy acting up so often, were bad enough. Now she wasn't leaving without a baby in her arms.
"Wait, I'll help you." Richie came around the car to help his wife out of the seat.
At the entrance, Richie helped Sarah into a wheelchair, having a short flash back to when she first joined him on tour and they had spent an evening at a hospital in Germany, today would hurt a lot more but their reward would be one of the greatest gifts.
After checking in, quick examination by a doctor, Sarah was admitted and lead to the maternity ward.
This is it.
"Daddy, keep an eye on mommy." The nurse said after helping Sarah get situated in bed.
Richie watched her go and then took Sarah's hand again, giving her a firm squeeze. "You're doing great. We'll get to meet our child in a little while"
Sarah nodded, not really listening to him but trying to get through the pain of another contraction.
"Should I get you anything?"
"No, stay here." She held his hand tighter, not wanting to leave.
A few minutes later, Sarah's doctor walked in. "Mr. and Mrs. Sambora, I heard baby Sambora will be joining us soon. Lets see how soon." She immediately did her few checks.
"And?" Richie asked, still sounding terribly hoarse.
"Wow, is that because of a cold?" The doctor asked.
Confused for a few seconds, Richie stared at her, then realized she meant his hoarse voice. "From singing." He explained quickly.
She handed him a mask. "Wear one anyway, don't want to risk that." She said, making sure he put it on. "We're ready to go." She announced next.
One of the nurses came in to help them to the delivery room. On the way there, Richie didn't let go of Sarah's hand.
Once everything was settled and ready, Sarah was told to push. With the contractions being so close together, there wasn't anything else she could do than listen to her body and push.
Richie forgot about how hard Sarah was squeezing the bones in his hand together, watching her go through labor was his complete focus. His beautiful wife was giving life to their child, who cared about his hand being crushed?
Knowing Sarah was going through immense pain, he encouraged her as much as he could.
"Crowning." The doctor announced.
"Almost there. Just a few more pushes." Richie encouraged.
Sarah almost screamed with the next contraction and push.
"Few more." Richie repeated, supporting Sarah as she pushed.
The doctor looked up at Sarah. "One more big push to get the shoulders and you're done."
Sarah nodded and leaned back a little.
For no use because the next contraction was there before she could take a breath.
Once again Richie supported her through it, wincing when she screamed of pain, feeling bad that she had to go through all that pain.
Then another cry made him forget about the pain and all the hard work she had to go through.
Relieved, Sarah laid back, happily listening to the discontented cry as Richie cut the umbilical cord, watching him, she could see the tears in his eyes.
She only had to miss him from her side for a few seconds.
"Thank you." He pulled his mask down and kissed her deeply, showing all his thanks and love. "I love you so much." He said once he pulled back from the kiss.
She reached out to wipe away the tears from his eyes and kissed him again.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Chapter Forty-nine
38 weeks
Sarah woke up feeling a presence behind her, a hand on her belly. Immediately knowing who it was, she turned around in his strong arms and reached up to kiss his lips, neck and chest.
Richie woke up to a tickle-y feeling. He smiled, knowing what Sarah was doing and slowly opened his eyes.
"Morning." He croaked.
Sarah looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "No talking." She cuddled into his side. "I missed you."
"I missed you too."
Gently, she poked him. "It's so good to have you home. I'll take care of you, we'll stay in bed all morning." She pulled up the sheets even higher so they were nice and snuggly in bed.
The most part of their day was spend in bed, enjoying each other.
Thanks to his ipad and typing skills, Richie was able to tell Sarah all about the tour without talking too often. Being on vocal rest was already becoming a drag, especially when Sarah told him to not talk at all.
In the afternoon, Richie met with his vocal coach. Someone that had helped him throughout the making of the album and would have a better idea about his voice than a doctor in London that was a stranger to him.
"I'm allowed to talk." Richie said as he walked back into the living room afterwards.
Sarah gave him a stern look.
"Not too much but I'm allowed to."
"It would heal faster if you don't, I just wanted to help."
Richie sat down on the couch next to her, putting his arm around her shoulder. "I know, but I like talking, especially to you." He paused for a few seconds. "And I haven't talked to Sammy yet."
"But you have to be careful, I don't want you to lose your voice again, you already sound terrible now."
"Not my sexy voice?"
"It's nowhere near your sexy voice."
Richie pouted.
"I told Ava you were coming home, she's coming over tonight."
He nodded. "Great, I missed her too."
After school, the whole family was finally together again.
Letting everyone enjoy their time, Abbey, who was still staying at the house, had offered to prepare dinner for everyone.
"How's it been with your mom around the house again?" Richie asked hoarsely as he watched Sarah, who was watching her mother go to the kitchen.
"Great, like it used to be before I met you. It's been nice but she looks so tired, did you see?" She waited for Richie to nod before continuing. "Every time I ask her, she says she's fine. I don't know what's wrong."
"She's been helping you a lot, maybe it's just that."
Sarah sighed, not really believing that. "I hope so."
The rest of the evening, they spent as a family, watching television and talking through most of the shows until there was a good movie on to watch.
Abbey had excused herself and gone to bed after everyone had said good night to her.
Despite being sick, Richie loved being home again, his wife next to him, his children close to him. It was where he always wanted to be but being a musician, he'd have to travel the world. If he could, he'd just take everyone with him. It worked when Ava was little and didn't have to be in school. Maybe Sarah and baby Sammy could travel with him too. The next tour was too early for that but maybe the tour after that one.
During every commercial break, Ava thought of something she still needed to tell her dad. Which made everyone wait for it during the next commercial break. When Ava asked why they were all staring at her as if they were expecting something, which made them all laugh.
Noticing Ava didn't understand what was so funny, Richie quickly explained why they were laughing, which triggered Ava's memory of something else she needed to tell him.
When the movie had ended and all the kids had gone up to bed, Richie helped Sarah up from the couch. Only being 38 weeks, he wondered if she was going to get any bigger in the next two weeks.
"Ready to go?" Richie asked, for once not sounding too hoarse.
Just as he asked, Sarah felt another contracting pain, making her lose the air in her lungs and steady herself against her husband.
"Not again." She groaned.
"What was that? Was that Sammy?" He asked quickly. "What do you mean, not again?"
As the pain eased away, Sarah regained her composure. "It's just false labor, Sammy's been doing that for two weeks."
"Two weeks? When?"
"Right before you went on stage, every time after you phoned me to tell me so."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"It's false labor! The contractions never got any closer together and stopped after a few hours, everytime and then you'd phone me to tell me the concert was over."
"Alright, alright, calm down. Let's just sit down again then." Richie suggested.
"No. I want to go to bed." Sarah said stubbornly, knowing it would stop in a few hours.
Richie nodded, not wanting to refuse her.
He helped Sarah up the stairs and to bed, making sure she was comfortable enough.
Sarah woke up feeling a presence behind her, a hand on her belly. Immediately knowing who it was, she turned around in his strong arms and reached up to kiss his lips, neck and chest.
Richie woke up to a tickle-y feeling. He smiled, knowing what Sarah was doing and slowly opened his eyes.
"Morning." He croaked.
Sarah looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "No talking." She cuddled into his side. "I missed you."
"I missed you too."
Gently, she poked him. "It's so good to have you home. I'll take care of you, we'll stay in bed all morning." She pulled up the sheets even higher so they were nice and snuggly in bed.
The most part of their day was spend in bed, enjoying each other.
Thanks to his ipad and typing skills, Richie was able to tell Sarah all about the tour without talking too often. Being on vocal rest was already becoming a drag, especially when Sarah told him to not talk at all.
In the afternoon, Richie met with his vocal coach. Someone that had helped him throughout the making of the album and would have a better idea about his voice than a doctor in London that was a stranger to him.
"I'm allowed to talk." Richie said as he walked back into the living room afterwards.
Sarah gave him a stern look.
"Not too much but I'm allowed to."
"It would heal faster if you don't, I just wanted to help."
Richie sat down on the couch next to her, putting his arm around her shoulder. "I know, but I like talking, especially to you." He paused for a few seconds. "And I haven't talked to Sammy yet."
"But you have to be careful, I don't want you to lose your voice again, you already sound terrible now."
"Not my sexy voice?"
"It's nowhere near your sexy voice."
Richie pouted.
"I told Ava you were coming home, she's coming over tonight."
He nodded. "Great, I missed her too."
After school, the whole family was finally together again.
Letting everyone enjoy their time, Abbey, who was still staying at the house, had offered to prepare dinner for everyone.
"How's it been with your mom around the house again?" Richie asked hoarsely as he watched Sarah, who was watching her mother go to the kitchen.
"Great, like it used to be before I met you. It's been nice but she looks so tired, did you see?" She waited for Richie to nod before continuing. "Every time I ask her, she says she's fine. I don't know what's wrong."
"She's been helping you a lot, maybe it's just that."
Sarah sighed, not really believing that. "I hope so."
The rest of the evening, they spent as a family, watching television and talking through most of the shows until there was a good movie on to watch.
Abbey had excused herself and gone to bed after everyone had said good night to her.
Despite being sick, Richie loved being home again, his wife next to him, his children close to him. It was where he always wanted to be but being a musician, he'd have to travel the world. If he could, he'd just take everyone with him. It worked when Ava was little and didn't have to be in school. Maybe Sarah and baby Sammy could travel with him too. The next tour was too early for that but maybe the tour after that one.
During every commercial break, Ava thought of something she still needed to tell her dad. Which made everyone wait for it during the next commercial break. When Ava asked why they were all staring at her as if they were expecting something, which made them all laugh.
Noticing Ava didn't understand what was so funny, Richie quickly explained why they were laughing, which triggered Ava's memory of something else she needed to tell him.
When the movie had ended and all the kids had gone up to bed, Richie helped Sarah up from the couch. Only being 38 weeks, he wondered if she was going to get any bigger in the next two weeks.
"Ready to go?" Richie asked, for once not sounding too hoarse.
Just as he asked, Sarah felt another contracting pain, making her lose the air in her lungs and steady herself against her husband.
"Not again." She groaned.
"What was that? Was that Sammy?" He asked quickly. "What do you mean, not again?"
As the pain eased away, Sarah regained her composure. "It's just false labor, Sammy's been doing that for two weeks."
"Two weeks? When?"
"Right before you went on stage, every time after you phoned me to tell me so."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"It's false labor! The contractions never got any closer together and stopped after a few hours, everytime and then you'd phone me to tell me the concert was over."
"Alright, alright, calm down. Let's just sit down again then." Richie suggested.
"No. I want to go to bed." Sarah said stubbornly, knowing it would stop in a few hours.
Richie nodded, not wanting to refuse her.
He helped Sarah up the stairs and to bed, making sure she was comfortable enough.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Chapter Forty-eight
38 weeks
Next Wednesday morning, Richie woke up to the sound of his phone. He didn't remember having set an alarm for the morning, they wouldn't be travelling until late that evening.
He reached out and unplugged his phone from the charger, accepting the call.
"Honey, are you okay?" Sarah sounded worried.
"I-" The rest of the sentence went lost. He tried again but no sound came out.
"Richie?"
Trying again, his voice was completely gone.
Sarah sounded even more worried when he didn't react.
He sighed, sat up in bed and opened the messages on his phone, hoping Sarah wouldn't disconnect the call and would read his text.
I lost my voice
He quickly sent the text, making it short to be faster.
The call got disconnected.
Did she get the text? Why didn't she say so if she did?
Before he could do anything else, an invitation for FaceTime popped up on his phone. Relieved, he clicked to accept.
"You lost your voice?" Sarah asked, still sounding just as worried.
Richie tried again to say something but it was too hoarse and too unclear to make any sense of.
"Don't talk, just nod. Is it sore?"
Richie nodded.
"Just your throat? Anything else? What about a fever?"
He frowned, not knowing which question to answer first.
"Fever?" Sarah asked, understanding she was asking too many things at once.
He shrugged.
"You're still in bed. I just woke you up." She finally figured it out and felt sorry.
A weak smile, to say it's okay.
"You didn't phone me back last night after the concert and I was worried but then I figured you'd be sleeping and I was going to bed now too so I just had to be sure before I was going to bed. I'm sorry."
Thumbs up, it's fine.
"If you do have a fever, you should probably see a doctor, especially since your voice is completely gone."
He sighed.
"I'm sorry honey. I can't imagine how disappointed you'll be if you have to cancel the tour but you have to think of your health."
He nodded slowly.
"Go back to sleep for a bit, might still help a little bit but see a doctor too."
Richie nodded again, agreeing.
"Phone me back, okay? I might not be able to sleep anyway. I love you."
This time he managed a very hoarse, "I love you too."
"No talking." Sarah smiled before disconnecting the video call.
A few hours later, Richie texted Sarah again, not wanting to wake her up in case she was sleeping.
Laryngitis. Have to cancel next 3 shows. Coming home
Sarah read the text after she woke up in the morning. Reading it, she felt disappointed and sorry for her husband. She knew how much he was loving the concerts and the crowd, it was unfair he had to cancel shows now.
She also felt somewhat relieved he'd now be home for Sammy, feeling that, she felt guilty for feeling it.
A few hours later they were able to talk again.
"I'm so sorry honey. What did the doctor say?" Sarah asked when they were able to video chat again.
Richie gave her a look to ask how he was supposed to answer that without talking.
"Did your cold cause it?"
He shrugged, it could have but not necessarily.
"The doctor didn't know either? Is it contagious?"
He shook his head. He had asked about that, wondering what would happen if Sammy was early and didn't have an immune system yet.
"That's good. You should take a hot shower, the steam would help your throat and the shower would be relaxing."
Nodding, he agreed, it didn't sound like a bad idea.
Richie would stay in London for another day, not feeling up to a long flight at the moment and had been able to arrange a private jet. That way he'd be home the same day, late in the evening.
The hours before Richie left the hotel, were the hours they talked the most while he was abroad. Most of the band had already gone home too, so he was mostly on his own. Which made time for video calls with Sarah, Ava and the boys.
Not able to wait any longer, he showed Sarah all the onesies he had bought for Sammy.
Thursday evening they talked until Richie had to get on the plane. For the rest of the afternoon Sarah stayed around the house, not doing much at all.
Even though she had had a quiet and uneventful day, for what could be called uneventful, she felt tired earlier than she usually did. Her husband would be home in a few hours, getting a book to read, she got in bed, determined to wait up for him.
At least Sarah would have her husband back home, at her side where she needed him most right now.
Next Wednesday morning, Richie woke up to the sound of his phone. He didn't remember having set an alarm for the morning, they wouldn't be travelling until late that evening.
He reached out and unplugged his phone from the charger, accepting the call.
"Honey, are you okay?" Sarah sounded worried.
"I-" The rest of the sentence went lost. He tried again but no sound came out.
"Richie?"
Trying again, his voice was completely gone.
Sarah sounded even more worried when he didn't react.
He sighed, sat up in bed and opened the messages on his phone, hoping Sarah wouldn't disconnect the call and would read his text.
I lost my voice
He quickly sent the text, making it short to be faster.
The call got disconnected.
Did she get the text? Why didn't she say so if she did?
Before he could do anything else, an invitation for FaceTime popped up on his phone. Relieved, he clicked to accept.
"You lost your voice?" Sarah asked, still sounding just as worried.
Richie tried again to say something but it was too hoarse and too unclear to make any sense of.
"Don't talk, just nod. Is it sore?"
Richie nodded.
"Just your throat? Anything else? What about a fever?"
He frowned, not knowing which question to answer first.
"Fever?" Sarah asked, understanding she was asking too many things at once.
He shrugged.
"You're still in bed. I just woke you up." She finally figured it out and felt sorry.
A weak smile, to say it's okay.
"You didn't phone me back last night after the concert and I was worried but then I figured you'd be sleeping and I was going to bed now too so I just had to be sure before I was going to bed. I'm sorry."
Thumbs up, it's fine.
"If you do have a fever, you should probably see a doctor, especially since your voice is completely gone."
He sighed.
"I'm sorry honey. I can't imagine how disappointed you'll be if you have to cancel the tour but you have to think of your health."
He nodded slowly.
"Go back to sleep for a bit, might still help a little bit but see a doctor too."
Richie nodded again, agreeing.
"Phone me back, okay? I might not be able to sleep anyway. I love you."
This time he managed a very hoarse, "I love you too."
"No talking." Sarah smiled before disconnecting the video call.
A few hours later, Richie texted Sarah again, not wanting to wake her up in case she was sleeping.
Laryngitis. Have to cancel next 3 shows. Coming home
Sarah read the text after she woke up in the morning. Reading it, she felt disappointed and sorry for her husband. She knew how much he was loving the concerts and the crowd, it was unfair he had to cancel shows now.
She also felt somewhat relieved he'd now be home for Sammy, feeling that, she felt guilty for feeling it.
A few hours later they were able to talk again.
"I'm so sorry honey. What did the doctor say?" Sarah asked when they were able to video chat again.
Richie gave her a look to ask how he was supposed to answer that without talking.
"Did your cold cause it?"
He shrugged, it could have but not necessarily.
"The doctor didn't know either? Is it contagious?"
He shook his head. He had asked about that, wondering what would happen if Sammy was early and didn't have an immune system yet.
"That's good. You should take a hot shower, the steam would help your throat and the shower would be relaxing."
Nodding, he agreed, it didn't sound like a bad idea.
Richie would stay in London for another day, not feeling up to a long flight at the moment and had been able to arrange a private jet. That way he'd be home the same day, late in the evening.
The hours before Richie left the hotel, were the hours they talked the most while he was abroad. Most of the band had already gone home too, so he was mostly on his own. Which made time for video calls with Sarah, Ava and the boys.
Not able to wait any longer, he showed Sarah all the onesies he had bought for Sammy.
Thursday evening they talked until Richie had to get on the plane. For the rest of the afternoon Sarah stayed around the house, not doing much at all.
Even though she had had a quiet and uneventful day, for what could be called uneventful, she felt tired earlier than she usually did. Her husband would be home in a few hours, getting a book to read, she got in bed, determined to wait up for him.
At least Sarah would have her husband back home, at her side where she needed him most right now.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Chapter Forty-seven
37 weeks
5 hours later, Sarah had no clue how to tell Richie what had happened just now.
There were only a few options of how he'd react. He'd want to come home immediately and cancel the rest of the tour, or panic.
Either way, she had to phone him back, she'd been avoiding his calls for long enough now.
She picked up her phone carefully and phoned Richie back.
"Hey, did I wake you?" She asked when the phone was answered.
"No, I was going to phone you once more before going to bed." Richie answered, sounding tired.
Sarah hadn't figured out the time in Amsterdam but it must be the middle of the night. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep and missed your calls." She decided lying was easier than making her husband panic and act on overreacting thoughts.
"It's okay, I figured."
"Do you want to talk about the concert or are you too tired?"
"Never too tired for that."
Sarah relaxed back as she listened to her husband excitedly talking about the concert, the songs he played and the reaction of the crowd. She was sad to have missed it but knew he had an amazing time and his shows would only get better as he gained confidence with it every evening. That way the last concerts, the ones she would be able to go to, would be best.
It made her happy to know how happy her husband was, she knew that she had made the right decision by not telling him just yet. Maybe next week or when he was home.
She knew it wasn't right to lie to him and keep things from him but it was for his own good even though he wouldn't be happy about it once he found out. Worse than not happy, he'd be disappointed, sad and angry about it.
For now, she enjoyed her time with Sammy a little different.
"You should go to sleep." Sarah said after a few moments of silence.
Richie sighed. "Yeah, I think so. Time difference is catching up with me. How are you anyway?"
"As good as always." Sarah said with a smile even though Richie couldn't see it.
"And Sammy?"
"Really great." The happiness sounded through her voice.
"Good to hear. Tell Sammy to keep calm. I love you, both."
"We love you too. Phone me whenever you get up."
It took another second before Richie answered. "That's the middle of the night for you."
"Doesn't matter, I might be up anyway."
"We'll see. Good night, I love you."
"I love you too."
Richie hung up the phone and turned over in bed, he had already gotten comfortable in bed before Sarah phoned him. He was glad she had finally answered the phone but he thought something was up. It seemed like Sarah was keeping something from him but he didn't exactly know what, he couldn't think of what it would be either.
Hoping it wasn't anything bad, he also hoped that Sarah would tell him if anything seriously wrong happened or something very good and Sammy decided to make an entrance into the world.
Then he realized, even if Sarah let him know when Sammy was on the way, he'd never be there on time. A flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles was at least 9 hours, if she was in labor for that long, he'd feel horrible to not have been able to support her through it.
If that had happened, Sarah would have told him they had a baby now, he was sure of that.
Quickly checking the time again and making sure he had set an alarm for the next morning, he pulled the sheets up over his shoulders, got comfortable and closed his eyes, trying to forget all the worries, Sarah's strange phone-call had brought up.
5 hours later, Sarah had no clue how to tell Richie what had happened just now.
There were only a few options of how he'd react. He'd want to come home immediately and cancel the rest of the tour, or panic.
Either way, she had to phone him back, she'd been avoiding his calls for long enough now.
She picked up her phone carefully and phoned Richie back.
"Hey, did I wake you?" She asked when the phone was answered.
"No, I was going to phone you once more before going to bed." Richie answered, sounding tired.
Sarah hadn't figured out the time in Amsterdam but it must be the middle of the night. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep and missed your calls." She decided lying was easier than making her husband panic and act on overreacting thoughts.
"It's okay, I figured."
"Do you want to talk about the concert or are you too tired?"
"Never too tired for that."
Sarah relaxed back as she listened to her husband excitedly talking about the concert, the songs he played and the reaction of the crowd. She was sad to have missed it but knew he had an amazing time and his shows would only get better as he gained confidence with it every evening. That way the last concerts, the ones she would be able to go to, would be best.
It made her happy to know how happy her husband was, she knew that she had made the right decision by not telling him just yet. Maybe next week or when he was home.
She knew it wasn't right to lie to him and keep things from him but it was for his own good even though he wouldn't be happy about it once he found out. Worse than not happy, he'd be disappointed, sad and angry about it.
For now, she enjoyed her time with Sammy a little different.
"You should go to sleep." Sarah said after a few moments of silence.
Richie sighed. "Yeah, I think so. Time difference is catching up with me. How are you anyway?"
"As good as always." Sarah said with a smile even though Richie couldn't see it.
"And Sammy?"
"Really great." The happiness sounded through her voice.
"Good to hear. Tell Sammy to keep calm. I love you, both."
"We love you too. Phone me whenever you get up."
It took another second before Richie answered. "That's the middle of the night for you."
"Doesn't matter, I might be up anyway."
"We'll see. Good night, I love you."
"I love you too."
Richie hung up the phone and turned over in bed, he had already gotten comfortable in bed before Sarah phoned him. He was glad she had finally answered the phone but he thought something was up. It seemed like Sarah was keeping something from him but he didn't exactly know what, he couldn't think of what it would be either.
Hoping it wasn't anything bad, he also hoped that Sarah would tell him if anything seriously wrong happened or something very good and Sammy decided to make an entrance into the world.
Then he realized, even if Sarah let him know when Sammy was on the way, he'd never be there on time. A flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles was at least 9 hours, if she was in labor for that long, he'd feel horrible to not have been able to support her through it.
If that had happened, Sarah would have told him they had a baby now, he was sure of that.
Quickly checking the time again and making sure he had set an alarm for the next morning, he pulled the sheets up over his shoulders, got comfortable and closed his eyes, trying to forget all the worries, Sarah's strange phone-call had brought up.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Chapter Forty-six
37 weeks
After spending two wonderful weeks together, Richie had to leave. He had arranged something special for Ava's birthday with Heather. He wanted Sarah to go with them, for the last few days before he left for Europe but Sarah wasn't allowed to fly. Sammy was only a month away and the airline companies didn't trust it.
The day before, Abbey moved into the guest room to keep Sarah company and help her out whenever she needed something and Caleb and Noah couldn't help.
Richie had offered to hire a nurse during the time he was gone but Sarah claimed it was too much. Her mom's help would be just fine.
Every evening Sarah received a phone call at the same time, Richie sure was good at figuring out time zones and time differences. When it made her feel like Richie felt he needed to check in every night, she told him he didn't need to. She trusted him and knew he was busy with other things, especially next week when the tour would start.
"I just like talking to you." Richie said.
"As long as you don't feel like you have to phone me every night, I love talking to you too." Sarah explained.
"I know but I like telling you about my day."
"Alright, tell me all about it."
Richie continued to tell Sarah everything they had done for Ava's birthday in Vegas.
Hearing everything made Sarah feel left out but she knew there would be a lot more birthday that would be just as amazing. Ava's next birthday would be even bigger, that's how it went with turning 16 and having a daddy that could pay for the most amazing party of the year.
Sammy would be just as lucky.
As he waited for his plane to Amsterdam, Richie made another phone call to Sarah, he had to wait for several hours and thought talking to his wife and catching up was the best way to spend that time and calm his nerves.
He hadn't toured solo in a long time, it was different from touring with the band. He had to prove himself to the audience again, although he knew many of them would be Bon Jovi fans.
Luckily for him Sarah answered the phone on the first ring.
"We're almost taking off." Richie said, reading the time schedule once again. "It's gonna be a long flight." He sighed, knowing the flight would be over eight hours long.
"Just sleep on the plane." Sarah suggested, thinking that would be the easiest to do on such a long flight.
"Then I'll be jetlagged."
"Right, watch some movies then."
"That's what I plan to do. What are you doing?"
"The same, watching movies with mom. Relaxing, keeping calm."
"Good, you need to be calm."
Their conversation continued to more non important topics until Richie really had to go. He hung up after saying how much he loved everyone.
Along with everyone else from the band, he boarded the plane, found his seat and got comfortable for a very long flight across the world.
Amsterdam was a great city, next to sightseeing a little, they also went shopping.
Little tiny shops were most interesting to find unique items, he wanted to make sure he got something for everyone from each city he was visiting, make it extra special for everyone. Which also meant he had to look for 5 different things for 4 different people and one that still had to be born.
After a long search he finally found a onesie that would fit Sammy soon enough. Knowing Sammy's sex hadn't played in his advantage, he knew but he had to make sure he wouldn't tell Sarah in any way.
Gift shopping for everyone had been fun, but it also made him feel exhausted.
Along with Joel, they found a coffee shop, knowing well enough what coffee shops meant in The Netherlands. Those days were far behind but it couldn't hurt to just visit and find out if they sold any actual coffee too.
On the way back to the hotel it became noticeable that being around the fumes had an impact too, although it wasn't too great, it still made him feel a little different.
The next day was spent by holding rehearsals at the concert hall. The staff was great and helped as much as they could, answering every answer that was asked. That's how Richie found out the translation for Melkweg was The Milky Way which made him feel a little proud. He was performing in the milky way, the universe. He was greater than anyone else, except maybe the other bands that had played here, but even then he thought he was even greater.
They stuck to the schedule that had been set up, finishing rehearsals at 6 pm and going for dinner.
After dinner was when the good nerves started. He knew it was better to be nervous right before the show than hours or days before. Something he hadn't done in a long time but today was different. He was still confident, but a tiny little but nervous too. Nothing bad, he told himself.
An hour before the show, he decided to phone Sarah again to check up on things, maybe it would calm him down too.
Just as lucky as every other time, Sarah answered on the first ring. It became quite obvious she was carrying her phone with her all the time.
"Hey sweetie." He said gently, trying to let through he was feeling anxious.
"Hey, how are you doing? Aren't you about to go on?"
Richie checked his watch to be sure. "In about an hour, yeah. How are you doing?"
"Oh good, Sammy has been really calm today, no kicking or anything. Very relaxing today. Ava even stopped by to say hello after school."
"That's nice of her." He knew what a great daughter he had and how much she was looking forward to another sibling, still wishing for a sister.
They told each other about their days. Richie talked about his shopping trip the day before and how he was going to find Sammy a onesie in every city he was visiting. Useful souvenirs.
Sarah's days had been quite the opposite, calm and relaxed with very little going on. Everything around the house was taken care of by someone else, which made her a couch potato. She didn't object, with Sammy growing so much, there wasn't much she could do or wanted to do. Although today Sammy had been very calm, she had decided to agree with Sammy and keep calm.
"I gotta go." Richie finally said, a few minutes before he had to get ready.
"Go have fun. Good luck, I'm proud of you and I love you."
"Thanks, I love you too. I'll phone afterwards."
"I'll be waiting." Sarah said before disconnecting the call.
As she leaned over to put her phone on the coffee table, Sarah felt a strong contracting pain in her abdomen.
After spending two wonderful weeks together, Richie had to leave. He had arranged something special for Ava's birthday with Heather. He wanted Sarah to go with them, for the last few days before he left for Europe but Sarah wasn't allowed to fly. Sammy was only a month away and the airline companies didn't trust it.
The day before, Abbey moved into the guest room to keep Sarah company and help her out whenever she needed something and Caleb and Noah couldn't help.
Richie had offered to hire a nurse during the time he was gone but Sarah claimed it was too much. Her mom's help would be just fine.
Every evening Sarah received a phone call at the same time, Richie sure was good at figuring out time zones and time differences. When it made her feel like Richie felt he needed to check in every night, she told him he didn't need to. She trusted him and knew he was busy with other things, especially next week when the tour would start.
"I just like talking to you." Richie said.
"As long as you don't feel like you have to phone me every night, I love talking to you too." Sarah explained.
"I know but I like telling you about my day."
"Alright, tell me all about it."
Richie continued to tell Sarah everything they had done for Ava's birthday in Vegas.
Hearing everything made Sarah feel left out but she knew there would be a lot more birthday that would be just as amazing. Ava's next birthday would be even bigger, that's how it went with turning 16 and having a daddy that could pay for the most amazing party of the year.
Sammy would be just as lucky.
As he waited for his plane to Amsterdam, Richie made another phone call to Sarah, he had to wait for several hours and thought talking to his wife and catching up was the best way to spend that time and calm his nerves.
He hadn't toured solo in a long time, it was different from touring with the band. He had to prove himself to the audience again, although he knew many of them would be Bon Jovi fans.
Luckily for him Sarah answered the phone on the first ring.
"We're almost taking off." Richie said, reading the time schedule once again. "It's gonna be a long flight." He sighed, knowing the flight would be over eight hours long.
"Just sleep on the plane." Sarah suggested, thinking that would be the easiest to do on such a long flight.
"Then I'll be jetlagged."
"Right, watch some movies then."
"That's what I plan to do. What are you doing?"
"The same, watching movies with mom. Relaxing, keeping calm."
"Good, you need to be calm."
Their conversation continued to more non important topics until Richie really had to go. He hung up after saying how much he loved everyone.
Along with everyone else from the band, he boarded the plane, found his seat and got comfortable for a very long flight across the world.
Amsterdam was a great city, next to sightseeing a little, they also went shopping.
Little tiny shops were most interesting to find unique items, he wanted to make sure he got something for everyone from each city he was visiting, make it extra special for everyone. Which also meant he had to look for 5 different things for 4 different people and one that still had to be born.
After a long search he finally found a onesie that would fit Sammy soon enough. Knowing Sammy's sex hadn't played in his advantage, he knew but he had to make sure he wouldn't tell Sarah in any way.
Gift shopping for everyone had been fun, but it also made him feel exhausted.
Along with Joel, they found a coffee shop, knowing well enough what coffee shops meant in The Netherlands. Those days were far behind but it couldn't hurt to just visit and find out if they sold any actual coffee too.
On the way back to the hotel it became noticeable that being around the fumes had an impact too, although it wasn't too great, it still made him feel a little different.
The next day was spent by holding rehearsals at the concert hall. The staff was great and helped as much as they could, answering every answer that was asked. That's how Richie found out the translation for Melkweg was The Milky Way which made him feel a little proud. He was performing in the milky way, the universe. He was greater than anyone else, except maybe the other bands that had played here, but even then he thought he was even greater.
They stuck to the schedule that had been set up, finishing rehearsals at 6 pm and going for dinner.
After dinner was when the good nerves started. He knew it was better to be nervous right before the show than hours or days before. Something he hadn't done in a long time but today was different. He was still confident, but a tiny little but nervous too. Nothing bad, he told himself.
An hour before the show, he decided to phone Sarah again to check up on things, maybe it would calm him down too.
Just as lucky as every other time, Sarah answered on the first ring. It became quite obvious she was carrying her phone with her all the time.
"Hey sweetie." He said gently, trying to let through he was feeling anxious.
"Hey, how are you doing? Aren't you about to go on?"
Richie checked his watch to be sure. "In about an hour, yeah. How are you doing?"
"Oh good, Sammy has been really calm today, no kicking or anything. Very relaxing today. Ava even stopped by to say hello after school."
"That's nice of her." He knew what a great daughter he had and how much she was looking forward to another sibling, still wishing for a sister.
They told each other about their days. Richie talked about his shopping trip the day before and how he was going to find Sammy a onesie in every city he was visiting. Useful souvenirs.
Sarah's days had been quite the opposite, calm and relaxed with very little going on. Everything around the house was taken care of by someone else, which made her a couch potato. She didn't object, with Sammy growing so much, there wasn't much she could do or wanted to do. Although today Sammy had been very calm, she had decided to agree with Sammy and keep calm.
"I gotta go." Richie finally said, a few minutes before he had to get ready.
"Go have fun. Good luck, I'm proud of you and I love you."
"Thanks, I love you too. I'll phone afterwards."
"I'll be waiting." Sarah said before disconnecting the call.
As she leaned over to put her phone on the coffee table, Sarah felt a strong contracting pain in her abdomen.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Chapter Forty-five
34 weeks
Monday morning was the first time Sarah had slept late in a long time. When she woke up, she was alone in bed. Richie didn't have plans for the day either but must have gotten up to make sure everyone had gone to school.
Craving a nice breakfast, Sarah slowly got out of bed. Lately she did everything slowly, Sammy was growing a lot, which made it harder for Sarah to get up or move fast.
She made her way down to the kitchen but it was empty, Richie wasn't preparing breakfast for her as she had hoped, instead Sarah took an apple from the fruit-bowl on the counter and took a bite.
As she ate apple she made her way around the downstairs room but found every room empty and quiet. If Richie wasn't here, there was only one place left that he could be.
On her way back upstairs, Sarah took a detour in the kitchen to toss the core of the apple in the trash can. Then she slowly made her way back up the stairs to Richie's office.
Once she stood by the door, she could hear a few voices and wondered who he was meeting with, making her feel selfconcious about still being in pj's. Even though she had now replaced the flimsy nightgowns for lounge pants and large shirts she found in Richie's part of the closet.
Carefully she knocked on the door, not wanting to disturb in case it was an important meeting but Richie called her in right away.
As she opened the door, Sarah was a little surprised to see her husband and two sons sitting on the couches casually.
Frowning, she asked. "Shouldn't they be in school?"
"We had more important things to discuss." Richie explained, showing her the adoption papers again. "We kinda just started talking about it during breakfast and since I had all the info here, we sort of forgot school."
"Oh, it's okay. You're right, it's more important."
Richie got up, told the boys he'd be back in a few minutes, took Sarah's hand and walked outside of the office with her, closing the door behind them.
"How's it going?" She asked curiously.
"Great. I told them about all the options but they only want me to adopt them, change last names and everything." Richie said happily.
"I know, they're as excited as you are about it."
"We just need to sign every, you too, then we have to inform Jonathan about it and he needs to approve too. He can still say no but if so, we'll find a way around it."
"He said he wasn't their father, he should just sign the papers." Sarah said annoying, thinking about what might happen when Jonathan refused to sign the papers that would make it official that he had stepped away from being a father. "He never was their father anyway."
"I know," Richie wrapped his arms around Sarah to hug her, "he will. Remember he got a couple of years jail for not paying alimony? If he signs, those years might go away."
"What?"
"It wouldn't make a difference, he's never getting out again. It would still be 60 years of imprisonment."
"Are you sure?"
"He'll sign." Richie said confident, then reached in to kiss his beautiful wife. "You should go enjoy your time off with Sammy."
"Shouldn't I be there for moral support?" The reduction of years had her a little worried and wanting to be with her sons.
"We're doing fine. Go back to bed or stay upstairs and you'll be close by."
"Okay but call me when something happens."
"Nothing's gonna happen." He kissed his wife again and went back into the office, continuing his conversation with his soon to be sons instead of stepsons.
Sarah sighed and hoped Richie was right about Jonathan. Even-though she didn't like the possibility Jonathan might get a reduction on his sentence, it would only be one or two years, Richie was right. By the time Jonathan ever got free he would be a 100 years old.
She walked back to Sammy's room, turned on the little radio they had added to the room to play music to help Sammy sleep and put in Richie's new album. She loved it and could listen to it all day long, it was amazing. Carefully she sat down in the rocking chair and listened to the music with Sammy.
As she listened, Sarah started thinking of all the possibilities. Soon Richie would gain three children instead of just one. It wouldn't change anyone their relationships in the family. Even if the boys became Richie's son, she knew Richie would still treat them in the same way and the boys would do the same.
Sammy was another matter, with Sammy they were starting over again, they were starting a whole new family.
In a year, Caleb would go off to college and soon after that Noah and Ava would follow, leaving Richie and Sarah with Sammy and the possible other children. She always wanted a big family but she also knew that with such a big age difference between the children, they might not bond the same as sibling with a smaller age gap would. Ava, Caleb and Noah would always be fifteen years older than Sammy.
Sammy needed siblings, otherwise it would seem like Sammy was an accident. Who knew what kind of rumors people would make up about that too.
It had been a complete surprise to find out she was pregnant, but not in the way of Sammy being an accident.
They had talked about a little sister or brother for Sammy even thought Sarah still didn't know what Sammy would be but siblings had to be there. Because of their age, they didn't want to wait too long either.
It was too early to get ahead of themselves, Sammy still needed to be born.
With the next song, Sarah brought her thoughts back to the adoption. It seemed strange to adopt teenagers, usually people adopted babies but this was entirely different.
Richie would become their father instead of stepfather, his role would change.
Considering that thought, Sarah realized it wouldn't really change at all. The boys were living with them and Richie had made sure they had a college fund too. He had taught Caleb play guitar and drive, now he was teaching Noah and Ava. He did everything for Caleb and Noah as he would for Ava. Everything a father would do, see their school games, teach them life lessons, help with school lessons, made time for them when they needed a little bit of time.
The day Sarah had moved in with her two sons, had really been the day Richie had become their father.
Now all they had to do was make it official.
For the remainder of the album, Sarah tried to shut off her mind and just think about the music and their baby. The thought of naming the baby David if it was a boy ran through her mind again.
A knock at Sammy's bedroom door made her look up to see Richie walk into the room, holding the same file.
"All done?" Sarah asked hopeful.
"Just need your signature, then I'm bringing it to my lawyer's office."
Sarah smiled and got up from the chair, walking over to her husband she kissed him and wrapped her arms around him. "Congratulations with your new sons."
His hand stroked Sarah's pregnant belly, knowing soon their extended family would become even more extended. "I never knew going to rehab could turn out like this. I should have met you 7 years ago."
"7 Years Gone? You had to weather the storm first." Sarah teased.
"And take a chance on the wind with you." Richie went along.
"Now I'll always walk beside you."
Richie laughed. "Alright, enough."
She gave him an innocent look and reached up to kiss him, then teasingly whispered. "Don't you want to be my sugar daddy?"
"That's it." The files forgotten, he took Sarah back to their bedroom.
Monday morning was the first time Sarah had slept late in a long time. When she woke up, she was alone in bed. Richie didn't have plans for the day either but must have gotten up to make sure everyone had gone to school.
Craving a nice breakfast, Sarah slowly got out of bed. Lately she did everything slowly, Sammy was growing a lot, which made it harder for Sarah to get up or move fast.
She made her way down to the kitchen but it was empty, Richie wasn't preparing breakfast for her as she had hoped, instead Sarah took an apple from the fruit-bowl on the counter and took a bite.
As she ate apple she made her way around the downstairs room but found every room empty and quiet. If Richie wasn't here, there was only one place left that he could be.
On her way back upstairs, Sarah took a detour in the kitchen to toss the core of the apple in the trash can. Then she slowly made her way back up the stairs to Richie's office.
Once she stood by the door, she could hear a few voices and wondered who he was meeting with, making her feel selfconcious about still being in pj's. Even though she had now replaced the flimsy nightgowns for lounge pants and large shirts she found in Richie's part of the closet.
Carefully she knocked on the door, not wanting to disturb in case it was an important meeting but Richie called her in right away.
As she opened the door, Sarah was a little surprised to see her husband and two sons sitting on the couches casually.
Frowning, she asked. "Shouldn't they be in school?"
"We had more important things to discuss." Richie explained, showing her the adoption papers again. "We kinda just started talking about it during breakfast and since I had all the info here, we sort of forgot school."
"Oh, it's okay. You're right, it's more important."
Richie got up, told the boys he'd be back in a few minutes, took Sarah's hand and walked outside of the office with her, closing the door behind them.
"How's it going?" She asked curiously.
"Great. I told them about all the options but they only want me to adopt them, change last names and everything." Richie said happily.
"I know, they're as excited as you are about it."
"We just need to sign every, you too, then we have to inform Jonathan about it and he needs to approve too. He can still say no but if so, we'll find a way around it."
"He said he wasn't their father, he should just sign the papers." Sarah said annoying, thinking about what might happen when Jonathan refused to sign the papers that would make it official that he had stepped away from being a father. "He never was their father anyway."
"I know," Richie wrapped his arms around Sarah to hug her, "he will. Remember he got a couple of years jail for not paying alimony? If he signs, those years might go away."
"What?"
"It wouldn't make a difference, he's never getting out again. It would still be 60 years of imprisonment."
"Are you sure?"
"He'll sign." Richie said confident, then reached in to kiss his beautiful wife. "You should go enjoy your time off with Sammy."
"Shouldn't I be there for moral support?" The reduction of years had her a little worried and wanting to be with her sons.
"We're doing fine. Go back to bed or stay upstairs and you'll be close by."
"Okay but call me when something happens."
"Nothing's gonna happen." He kissed his wife again and went back into the office, continuing his conversation with his soon to be sons instead of stepsons.
Sarah sighed and hoped Richie was right about Jonathan. Even-though she didn't like the possibility Jonathan might get a reduction on his sentence, it would only be one or two years, Richie was right. By the time Jonathan ever got free he would be a 100 years old.
She walked back to Sammy's room, turned on the little radio they had added to the room to play music to help Sammy sleep and put in Richie's new album. She loved it and could listen to it all day long, it was amazing. Carefully she sat down in the rocking chair and listened to the music with Sammy.
As she listened, Sarah started thinking of all the possibilities. Soon Richie would gain three children instead of just one. It wouldn't change anyone their relationships in the family. Even if the boys became Richie's son, she knew Richie would still treat them in the same way and the boys would do the same.
Sammy was another matter, with Sammy they were starting over again, they were starting a whole new family.
In a year, Caleb would go off to college and soon after that Noah and Ava would follow, leaving Richie and Sarah with Sammy and the possible other children. She always wanted a big family but she also knew that with such a big age difference between the children, they might not bond the same as sibling with a smaller age gap would. Ava, Caleb and Noah would always be fifteen years older than Sammy.
Sammy needed siblings, otherwise it would seem like Sammy was an accident. Who knew what kind of rumors people would make up about that too.
It had been a complete surprise to find out she was pregnant, but not in the way of Sammy being an accident.
They had talked about a little sister or brother for Sammy even thought Sarah still didn't know what Sammy would be but siblings had to be there. Because of their age, they didn't want to wait too long either.
It was too early to get ahead of themselves, Sammy still needed to be born.
With the next song, Sarah brought her thoughts back to the adoption. It seemed strange to adopt teenagers, usually people adopted babies but this was entirely different.
Richie would become their father instead of stepfather, his role would change.
Considering that thought, Sarah realized it wouldn't really change at all. The boys were living with them and Richie had made sure they had a college fund too. He had taught Caleb play guitar and drive, now he was teaching Noah and Ava. He did everything for Caleb and Noah as he would for Ava. Everything a father would do, see their school games, teach them life lessons, help with school lessons, made time for them when they needed a little bit of time.
The day Sarah had moved in with her two sons, had really been the day Richie had become their father.
Now all they had to do was make it official.
For the remainder of the album, Sarah tried to shut off her mind and just think about the music and their baby. The thought of naming the baby David if it was a boy ran through her mind again.
A knock at Sammy's bedroom door made her look up to see Richie walk into the room, holding the same file.
"All done?" Sarah asked hopeful.
"Just need your signature, then I'm bringing it to my lawyer's office."
Sarah smiled and got up from the chair, walking over to her husband she kissed him and wrapped her arms around him. "Congratulations with your new sons."
His hand stroked Sarah's pregnant belly, knowing soon their extended family would become even more extended. "I never knew going to rehab could turn out like this. I should have met you 7 years ago."
"7 Years Gone? You had to weather the storm first." Sarah teased.
"And take a chance on the wind with you." Richie went along.
"Now I'll always walk beside you."
Richie laughed. "Alright, enough."
She gave him an innocent look and reached up to kiss him, then teasingly whispered. "Don't you want to be my sugar daddy?"
"That's it." The files forgotten, he took Sarah back to their bedroom.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Chapter Forty-four
34 weeks
Friday was Sarah's very last day. Today she'd be saying goodbye to the hospital, everyone she had met and became friends with, everything she had done and accomplished.
It felt like an ending of a chapter of her life. She was quitting her job as a receptionist and was starting her new job as a full time mommy. Sammy wasn't there yet but she had three other children to take care of.
Another part of her life was starting, she was going to be a mommy all over again. Her other children had grown up and soon would be off to college. With Sammy she was starting over again. It made her somewhat nervous too. Was she still a good mother? Did she still know how to take care of a baby? Sarah tried not to think of it and figured it was like riding a bike, something you weren't able to forget.
There were still 6 weeks to remember everything. Even though Richie wouldn't be there during the last final weeks, everything around the house was ready for Sammy's arrival. A few things were missing but they would be able to get everything in order after Richie got back. A car seat, a stroller, it could wait, as long as Sammy had a bed to sleep in.
After David's suggestion of naming the baby David, Richie and Sarah had agreed that it wasn't an option. David would have way too much fun with that. What they did decided to start thinking of was godparents, they hadn't picked out any yet. Richie had suggested Jon and Dorothea since Jon was his best friend but Sarah wanted to put more thought in to it. They both didn't have siblings so that wasn't a possibility either.
It were all worries for later, now she had finished her job and was leaving everything at the hospital behind her.
On the way home she felt both sadness and happiness about leaving the job.
She was glad to find Richie in the hallway when she got home and walked in. He must have known, immediately he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.
"Think of all the time you get with Sammy." He said, before lightly kissing her.
"I know." Sarah sighed.
"And you made a lot of friends. As soon as Sammy is here, they'll all be around here to visit again."
Sarah smiled. "Yeah."
"We can go lay down for a bit if you want."
Sarah agreed again and followed Richie to their bedroom.
A few minutes later she was in bed cuddling him, perfectly comfortable with her fantastic husband. He always soothed her and made her feel relaxed again. Happiness took over of sadness.
Sarah woke up alone, turning over she checked the time. Two hours had passed. Her stomach reminded her that dinner was over.
Carefully she got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up.
Walking down the stairs, Sarah could hear people talking in the living room. Quite a few people. She didn't remember Richie telling her he was having company tonight.
"Hey honey." Richie said when he noticed Sarah walking in the room. "Surprise." He smiled as he walked over to once again wrap his arms around her.
The room was full of Sarah's collegues from work, everyone she had called her friends.
Taylor wast he first to speak. "It's your goodbye party and baby shower."
"Baby shower?" Sarah asked confused.
"You hadn't had one yet and we all agreed to get a few things for the baby, something more useful than a goodbye present." Taylor explained.
Sarah looked around and noticed the table full of presents and two large ones standing on the floor next to the table.
"You didn't have to do this." Sarah said.
"We did." Taylor said happily.
After unwrapping the gifts, Sarah realized Taylor was right, they did need the gifts. The two large wrapped boxes were the last things they needed for Sammy, a stroller and a car seat.
The rest of the gifts were smaller, a few more clothes, bottles, stuffed animals and other toys for the baby.
For Sarah it was great to see all her collegues after work, it made saying goodbye different, a more happy occasion and less like she was leaving forever. She had made friends and they would still visit her at home.
"Happy?" Richie asked her when they had a quiet minute to themselves.
"Yeah. Who's idea was this?" Sarah asked.
"Taylor of course, she asked me if she could throw you a party and after you went to sleep, that was just perfect." He smiled.
"You helped?"
"A tiny little bit." He held her fingers closely together to indicate how little.
"Thanks." She smiled up at him and kissed him.
Breaking apart from their kiss, Richie said. "You have to thank Taylor though."
Sarah nodded.
A few minutes later she had took Taylor apart and thanked her for the party. Taylor had been the first one that she had connected with on a friendship level among her collegues. Eventhough Sarah knew Taylor had a crush her hushand, Taylor had never made that obvious and hadn't invaded on their relationship in any way.
Taylor was a real friend.
The party made Sarah cheer up about quitting her job and staying home for Sammy. Especially now that they had everything they needed for Sammy.
Now the only thing they still needed was Sammy.
Friday was Sarah's very last day. Today she'd be saying goodbye to the hospital, everyone she had met and became friends with, everything she had done and accomplished.
It felt like an ending of a chapter of her life. She was quitting her job as a receptionist and was starting her new job as a full time mommy. Sammy wasn't there yet but she had three other children to take care of.
Another part of her life was starting, she was going to be a mommy all over again. Her other children had grown up and soon would be off to college. With Sammy she was starting over again. It made her somewhat nervous too. Was she still a good mother? Did she still know how to take care of a baby? Sarah tried not to think of it and figured it was like riding a bike, something you weren't able to forget.
There were still 6 weeks to remember everything. Even though Richie wouldn't be there during the last final weeks, everything around the house was ready for Sammy's arrival. A few things were missing but they would be able to get everything in order after Richie got back. A car seat, a stroller, it could wait, as long as Sammy had a bed to sleep in.
After David's suggestion of naming the baby David, Richie and Sarah had agreed that it wasn't an option. David would have way too much fun with that. What they did decided to start thinking of was godparents, they hadn't picked out any yet. Richie had suggested Jon and Dorothea since Jon was his best friend but Sarah wanted to put more thought in to it. They both didn't have siblings so that wasn't a possibility either.
It were all worries for later, now she had finished her job and was leaving everything at the hospital behind her.
On the way home she felt both sadness and happiness about leaving the job.
She was glad to find Richie in the hallway when she got home and walked in. He must have known, immediately he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.
"Think of all the time you get with Sammy." He said, before lightly kissing her.
"I know." Sarah sighed.
"And you made a lot of friends. As soon as Sammy is here, they'll all be around here to visit again."
Sarah smiled. "Yeah."
"We can go lay down for a bit if you want."
Sarah agreed again and followed Richie to their bedroom.
A few minutes later she was in bed cuddling him, perfectly comfortable with her fantastic husband. He always soothed her and made her feel relaxed again. Happiness took over of sadness.
Sarah woke up alone, turning over she checked the time. Two hours had passed. Her stomach reminded her that dinner was over.
Carefully she got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up.
Walking down the stairs, Sarah could hear people talking in the living room. Quite a few people. She didn't remember Richie telling her he was having company tonight.
"Hey honey." Richie said when he noticed Sarah walking in the room. "Surprise." He smiled as he walked over to once again wrap his arms around her.
The room was full of Sarah's collegues from work, everyone she had called her friends.
Taylor wast he first to speak. "It's your goodbye party and baby shower."
"Baby shower?" Sarah asked confused.
"You hadn't had one yet and we all agreed to get a few things for the baby, something more useful than a goodbye present." Taylor explained.
Sarah looked around and noticed the table full of presents and two large ones standing on the floor next to the table.
"You didn't have to do this." Sarah said.
"We did." Taylor said happily.
After unwrapping the gifts, Sarah realized Taylor was right, they did need the gifts. The two large wrapped boxes were the last things they needed for Sammy, a stroller and a car seat.
The rest of the gifts were smaller, a few more clothes, bottles, stuffed animals and other toys for the baby.
For Sarah it was great to see all her collegues after work, it made saying goodbye different, a more happy occasion and less like she was leaving forever. She had made friends and they would still visit her at home.
"Happy?" Richie asked her when they had a quiet minute to themselves.
"Yeah. Who's idea was this?" Sarah asked.
"Taylor of course, she asked me if she could throw you a party and after you went to sleep, that was just perfect." He smiled.
"You helped?"
"A tiny little bit." He held her fingers closely together to indicate how little.
"Thanks." She smiled up at him and kissed him.
Breaking apart from their kiss, Richie said. "You have to thank Taylor though."
Sarah nodded.
A few minutes later she had took Taylor apart and thanked her for the party. Taylor had been the first one that she had connected with on a friendship level among her collegues. Eventhough Sarah knew Taylor had a crush her hushand, Taylor had never made that obvious and hadn't invaded on their relationship in any way.
Taylor was a real friend.
The party made Sarah cheer up about quitting her job and staying home for Sammy. Especially now that they had everything they needed for Sammy.
Now the only thing they still needed was Sammy.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Chapter Forty-three
33 weeks
During the weekend they finished Sammy's nursery room. The room had already been painted in different tones of brown. Along with the furniture, all the decorations were put in place too. Both were please with how the room looked and the fact they had finished it in record time.
"Looks great." Richie decided.
Sarah agreed as she sat down in the rocking chair. "Soon." She rocked the chair gently. "Who's all coming Tuesday?" Sarah looked up at her husband for an answer.
Tuesday they'd celebrate Richie's album release with some friends and family. Everything for the party had been arranged and by how many times the record had already been pre-sold, they knew it would be a success.
The tour would be amazing and Sarah felt disappointed and left out she wouldn't be able to go until the last two shows that were closer to home and even then she doubted she would be able to.
Richie playing at home, just for her was great too but it wasn't the same vibe as at a concert. Last year she had started to love seeing Richie play in concert, it did something to him. It was special to him and everyone that could see him. Unique, passion and desire.
"Everyone we invited..." Richie hesitated.
"Except Jon?" Sarah asked, already having a feeling she was right.
"Yeah." Richie sighed.
"His loss." Sarah tried to help with her words but knew it didn't.
Slowly she got up from the chair to hug her husband.
"Your album is great. Everyone already loved the single, the tour is sold out and you loved working on it." She reminded him about it all.
"Yeah." Richie agreed unsure.
"You had every right to make the album, Jon promised you all a break but soon as you start recording he gets jealous and wants an album too. He's scared you'll be successful and he'll need a new guitar player." Sarah knew what happened the past year and was almost sure she was right about Jon.
"He's not jealous. He's the same as me, when the music comes to you, you can't help it. You have to write it, play it." Richie denied it.
Jon was his best friend, why would he be jealous if he was successful? David had been successful on his own and so had Tico with his art and clothing line for children.
"He delayed the album release and the tour so I could do my solo." Richie explained.
"Then why isn't he coming? He didn't even stop by when he was on vacation here in the summer." Sarah put in.
Word had been out that Jon and his family had visited parks in California during the summer, but they hadn't stopped by their house for a quick visit.
Richie shrugged. "His vacation, they must have had other plans."
Sarah wasn't that easily satisfied and didn't buy the story but it seemed like Richie did. "Lets go watch TV, we had a busy day decorating."
Richie nodded, agreeing. "It's perfect, Sammy will love it."
Tuesday Richie was busy with more promotions for his new album. He had been busy with promotions the last few weeks and would be busy with it for a while long. The interviews were great, he didn't only get to talk about his music but was also asked about Sarah's pregnancy and their baby. Almost everyone asked to know the sex of the baby but so far he had managed to keep it a secret. Although he hoped next time Sarah would want to know before the birth.
By now Sammy was fast becoming his favorite subject to talk about. At the moment it was a tie with the new album.
After his interview he drove to the airport to pick his mom up. She was spending a few days with the family.
For November they had made arrangements so Joan could stay a few weeks. By then Sammy would be born and she would want to spent time with her new grandchild.
Abbey lives closer-by, it was easier for her to come visit but while Richie was going on tour in Europe and North-America, she'd move in to one of the guestrooms until Richie was home again. By then Sarah was close to the end of her pregnancy and with Abbey there they both felt safer in case anything would happen while Sarah was alone.
After picking up Joan from the airport, Richie made a stop at the school to pick up his daughter and his soon to be sons. He still needed to talk to them, make sure of everything and what they wanted to do and how. He was excited about the idea and had been able to talk to his lawyer about the possibilities but so far he hadn't had the change to talk to Caleb and Noah in private.
Around 6 pm the guests started arriving. They hadn't invited that many friends and therefor Richie had decided to celebrate at home. During the day a caterer had set up in the kitchen so everyone would be able to have something to eat.
All the band members of both his bands had been able to make it to the party except Jon. He tried not to think of it even though he thought of Jon as his best friend. Somewhat, he felt left down by him but everyone else had made it and was praising him for the new album. So far they too loved everything about it, they all knew what had happened in the last few years with Richie's personal life and heard the process of those years through the lyrics and music.
Sarah's evening was very different from Richie's even-though they were in the same room all night. Everyone came up to her to talk about Sammy and ask all sorts of questions.
"You know what would be a great name for the baby if it's a boy?"
"No David, but I'm sure you'll tell me in a second." Sarah said, already fearing what odd name suggestion he'd have.
"Davey. It's a great name, strong too but I suggest you name it David so it doesn't have to go through life being a diminutive and also, if you'd have a godfather named David, it's even better."
Sarah nodded. "Are you trying be godfather, Davey?"
"Just a suggestion." He said, trying not to make a big deal out of it.
"We haven't really talked about godparents yet but I'll tell Richie you really want the job."
"Job? What job?" Richie had head the last few words Sarah had said.
She smiled up at her husband. "David wants to be godfather. He also thinks David would be a great name for Sammy."
"Davey while he's small though, that's cuter." David pointed out.
Richie considered it. "I don't know, I was really set on just using Samuel."
"Samuel Sambora?" David questioned. "That just repetitious. Davey is a much better name."
"We really haven't decided a name yet." Sarah stepped in again, already knowing Samuel wasn't on the list of names they agreed on.
"Just add Davey." David suggested again.
"We'll let you know when the baby is born." Richie said. "Anyway, you should meet my keyboard player." He pulled David away, ignoring his attempts to suggest the name Davey some more.
Sarah shook her head. Davey? She didn't think so, David would have too much fun with it while Sammy was growing up. Richie and her had set up a list of names that they both had agreed on and neither Samuel or Davey were on the list. Luckily, Samantha wasn't there either. About that David was right, it would be too repetitive so have those first 3 letters in both first and last name. They also hadn't agreed on a definite name yet but still had 7 weeks to do so.
When Richie had another free minute, to his surprise his lawyer showed up at the door with information about adopting stepchildren. He had asked for the information as soon as possible but hadn't thought about it being tonight.
He agreed to a quick conversation and lead the man to his office.
That's where Sarah found him half an hour later after everyone asked her where Richie had gone too.
He was finishing up with the lawyers and could add another folder of papers to the stack on his desk.
"What was that about?" Sarah asked after the lawyer had left the room.
"Adoption forms."
"Oh." His answers surprised her. "Did you get to talk to Caleb and Noah about it?"
"Not yet but with this," He gestured to the folder, "it might be easier. It's got all the info about what we can do and how. The bad thing is, we need to contact Jonathan for it. He needs to sign papers too." He sighed. "Do you think he will?" Having seen Jonathan in the summer, he knew what a jerk he was and wasn't sure if he'd allow them any sort of happiness.
"I hope so." Sarah said, having the same doubts.
During the weekend they finished Sammy's nursery room. The room had already been painted in different tones of brown. Along with the furniture, all the decorations were put in place too. Both were please with how the room looked and the fact they had finished it in record time.
"Looks great." Richie decided.
Sarah agreed as she sat down in the rocking chair. "Soon." She rocked the chair gently. "Who's all coming Tuesday?" Sarah looked up at her husband for an answer.
Tuesday they'd celebrate Richie's album release with some friends and family. Everything for the party had been arranged and by how many times the record had already been pre-sold, they knew it would be a success.
The tour would be amazing and Sarah felt disappointed and left out she wouldn't be able to go until the last two shows that were closer to home and even then she doubted she would be able to.
Richie playing at home, just for her was great too but it wasn't the same vibe as at a concert. Last year she had started to love seeing Richie play in concert, it did something to him. It was special to him and everyone that could see him. Unique, passion and desire.
"Everyone we invited..." Richie hesitated.
"Except Jon?" Sarah asked, already having a feeling she was right.
"Yeah." Richie sighed.
"His loss." Sarah tried to help with her words but knew it didn't.
Slowly she got up from the chair to hug her husband.
"Your album is great. Everyone already loved the single, the tour is sold out and you loved working on it." She reminded him about it all.
"Yeah." Richie agreed unsure.
"You had every right to make the album, Jon promised you all a break but soon as you start recording he gets jealous and wants an album too. He's scared you'll be successful and he'll need a new guitar player." Sarah knew what happened the past year and was almost sure she was right about Jon.
"He's not jealous. He's the same as me, when the music comes to you, you can't help it. You have to write it, play it." Richie denied it.
Jon was his best friend, why would he be jealous if he was successful? David had been successful on his own and so had Tico with his art and clothing line for children.
"He delayed the album release and the tour so I could do my solo." Richie explained.
"Then why isn't he coming? He didn't even stop by when he was on vacation here in the summer." Sarah put in.
Word had been out that Jon and his family had visited parks in California during the summer, but they hadn't stopped by their house for a quick visit.
Richie shrugged. "His vacation, they must have had other plans."
Sarah wasn't that easily satisfied and didn't buy the story but it seemed like Richie did. "Lets go watch TV, we had a busy day decorating."
Richie nodded, agreeing. "It's perfect, Sammy will love it."
Tuesday Richie was busy with more promotions for his new album. He had been busy with promotions the last few weeks and would be busy with it for a while long. The interviews were great, he didn't only get to talk about his music but was also asked about Sarah's pregnancy and their baby. Almost everyone asked to know the sex of the baby but so far he had managed to keep it a secret. Although he hoped next time Sarah would want to know before the birth.
By now Sammy was fast becoming his favorite subject to talk about. At the moment it was a tie with the new album.
After his interview he drove to the airport to pick his mom up. She was spending a few days with the family.
For November they had made arrangements so Joan could stay a few weeks. By then Sammy would be born and she would want to spent time with her new grandchild.
Abbey lives closer-by, it was easier for her to come visit but while Richie was going on tour in Europe and North-America, she'd move in to one of the guestrooms until Richie was home again. By then Sarah was close to the end of her pregnancy and with Abbey there they both felt safer in case anything would happen while Sarah was alone.
After picking up Joan from the airport, Richie made a stop at the school to pick up his daughter and his soon to be sons. He still needed to talk to them, make sure of everything and what they wanted to do and how. He was excited about the idea and had been able to talk to his lawyer about the possibilities but so far he hadn't had the change to talk to Caleb and Noah in private.
Around 6 pm the guests started arriving. They hadn't invited that many friends and therefor Richie had decided to celebrate at home. During the day a caterer had set up in the kitchen so everyone would be able to have something to eat.
All the band members of both his bands had been able to make it to the party except Jon. He tried not to think of it even though he thought of Jon as his best friend. Somewhat, he felt left down by him but everyone else had made it and was praising him for the new album. So far they too loved everything about it, they all knew what had happened in the last few years with Richie's personal life and heard the process of those years through the lyrics and music.
Sarah's evening was very different from Richie's even-though they were in the same room all night. Everyone came up to her to talk about Sammy and ask all sorts of questions.
"You know what would be a great name for the baby if it's a boy?"
"No David, but I'm sure you'll tell me in a second." Sarah said, already fearing what odd name suggestion he'd have.
"Davey. It's a great name, strong too but I suggest you name it David so it doesn't have to go through life being a diminutive and also, if you'd have a godfather named David, it's even better."
Sarah nodded. "Are you trying be godfather, Davey?"
"Just a suggestion." He said, trying not to make a big deal out of it.
"We haven't really talked about godparents yet but I'll tell Richie you really want the job."
"Job? What job?" Richie had head the last few words Sarah had said.
She smiled up at her husband. "David wants to be godfather. He also thinks David would be a great name for Sammy."
"Davey while he's small though, that's cuter." David pointed out.
Richie considered it. "I don't know, I was really set on just using Samuel."
"Samuel Sambora?" David questioned. "That just repetitious. Davey is a much better name."
"We really haven't decided a name yet." Sarah stepped in again, already knowing Samuel wasn't on the list of names they agreed on.
"Just add Davey." David suggested again.
"We'll let you know when the baby is born." Richie said. "Anyway, you should meet my keyboard player." He pulled David away, ignoring his attempts to suggest the name Davey some more.
Sarah shook her head. Davey? She didn't think so, David would have too much fun with it while Sammy was growing up. Richie and her had set up a list of names that they both had agreed on and neither Samuel or Davey were on the list. Luckily, Samantha wasn't there either. About that David was right, it would be too repetitive so have those first 3 letters in both first and last name. They also hadn't agreed on a definite name yet but still had 7 weeks to do so.
When Richie had another free minute, to his surprise his lawyer showed up at the door with information about adopting stepchildren. He had asked for the information as soon as possible but hadn't thought about it being tonight.
He agreed to a quick conversation and lead the man to his office.
That's where Sarah found him half an hour later after everyone asked her where Richie had gone too.
He was finishing up with the lawyers and could add another folder of papers to the stack on his desk.
"What was that about?" Sarah asked after the lawyer had left the room.
"Adoption forms."
"Oh." His answers surprised her. "Did you get to talk to Caleb and Noah about it?"
"Not yet but with this," He gestured to the folder, "it might be easier. It's got all the info about what we can do and how. The bad thing is, we need to contact Jonathan for it. He needs to sign papers too." He sighed. "Do you think he will?" Having seen Jonathan in the summer, he knew what a jerk he was and wasn't sure if he'd allow them any sort of happiness.
"I hope so." Sarah said, having the same doubts.
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