Chapter 31

Richie was slowly waking up. With closed eyes he reached out for Fran, but the bed was empty and cold. Surprised he opened his eyes and saw her standing by the window fully dressed.

“Fran?” he stepped up behind her and carefully put his arms around her waist. She didn’t say anything, but he could feel her tense in his arms.

“Fran are you ok?” Slowly she turned around and he saw her red eyes. She obliviously had been crying.

“Darling, what’s wrong?” he asked worried. Please don’t let her regret last night. Please don’t let her have second thoughts, he pleaded in his mind.

“Could you watch Jason for a while? I have to take care of something.” She asked silently.

“Sure…” she turned and left the room. Rich grabbed his jeans and followed her cursing. “Fran, wait…where are you going?” he caught up with her in the living room.

“I’ll be back soon.” She only answered and was gone. Rich stared at the closed door and wondered what went wrong.

“What’s going on? Where’s Mom? Why are you here?” Rich turned around and saw Jason standing behind him in his pajamas and rubbing his eyes.

“Heh, buddy…your Mom just needed to get something. I’m sure she’ll be back soon. How about we make some breakfast?” Rich said in a cheerful voice.

“Ok. But why are you still here?” Jason pressed. Rich sighed. Smart kid.

“Listen…” he said down on the couch and Jason sat down next to him. “…your Mom asked me to stay last night. Is that ok with you?” he was really worried. When Jason would freak out now, he had no idea what to do.

The boy watched him for a minute. “So, you stayed in Mom’s room?”

“Uhm…yeah.” What else should he say?

“In her bed like Daddy did?” Ouch.

“Yes, I did Jason.“ Rich answered calmly. He wouldn’t lie to him.

“So you gonna be here now forever?” was there a little aggravation in his voice?

“Jason, your mom and I only know each other for a couple weeks. I think I will stay here maybe from time to time and maybe you two will also stay at my place, but I will not move in here right now.”

The boy looked at him. “So, you wanna be my dad now?” There was clearly anger in his voice.

“No, Jason.” Richie hurried to answer. “You have a great Dad…unfortunately he can’t be here anymore, but that doesn’t mean I wanna replace him. Nobody can replace a Dad….I know that…my Dad passed away too…” he added silently. Jason looked at him surprised and then suddenly put his small had on his shoulder to comfort him.

Rich smiled and hugged him softly. “Maybe we can be friends, Jason. And when you have a question or a problem you can always come and talk to me.” The boy nodded.

“That’s good…there are some things I don’t wanna talk to Mom or Auntie Kim about.”

“Really? Like what?” Rich asked surprised.

“Girls.” Jason admitted freely. Richie blinked several times. How old was this kid again?

“Ok, I can understand that. But how about we have breakfast first.”

“Ok. I change and brush my teeth.”

Rich watched him leaving the room. As soon as he was sure Jason couldn’t hear him anymore. He called Jon and asked if Kim was with him. His friend wasn’t very happy to hear from this early in the morning, but there was something in his voice that had him worried immediately and he passed the phone to Kim without further questions.

Richie quickly filled Kim in what happened this morning and she promised they would be over in a few minutes.

Just when Rich and Jason had finished breakfast a tired Jon and a worried Kim arrived.

“Auntie Kim!” Jason greeted her happily.

“Morning, buddy. How are you?” she hugged him and ruffled his hair.

“I’m fine. Rich stayed here last night…in Mom’s room.” He whispered. Rich laughed.

“You can’t keep a secret, huh?” he got a stern look from Kim.

“How about you show Jon the tricks I showed you on guitar, he always needs to practice.” Rich suggested which got him a stern look from his best friend as well. Nevertheless he followed Jason to his room.

“Kim before you start…” he said when she prepared for a long speech. “…Jason and I talked this morning and he said he’s fine with me being here.” She looked at him sceptical.

“He was only worried that I wanna be his Dad, but I told him he has a great Dad that can’t be replaced and that I hope we two can become friends.” Kim’s expression softened and tears started to shine in her eyes.

“Rich, you are great.” She hugged him sniffing. He smiled.

“So, can you tell me where Fran is?” he asked worried.

She nodded “I have a rather good idea….the cemetery.” Rich looked at her shocked.

“But I thought she was fine with it…I…” stuttering he sank on the couch. Kim put her hand on his arm.

“Rich I’m sure she was fine with it last night…but something probably snapped in her this morning. I’ll check on her.”

“I come with you.”

“No, Rich.”

“But...”

“Look I know you are worried about her, but this is something she needs to do without you. She needs to let the past behind her and open a new chapter of her life…that’s rather painful for her, even though I know she sure wants it.” Rich nodded beaten.

“I’m sure you two have a lot to talk too when she is back. But right now you would only make her feel worse.” He nodded again.

“Ok, take care of the two kids.” She winked at him. He smiled shortly.

“I will.” He whispered.