Chapter 53

“Ok, princess. What’s wrong?” Richie asked his daughter when he entered her room to say good night.

“I’m fine, Dad.” She answered and tried to turn off the light.

“No, you are not Ava. Come talk to me.” He said and stopped her hand when she reached for the lamp on her nightstand.

He watched her all day long and for the most of the time she was his happy and funny 12-year old daughter, but there were moments when he could see sadness and fear in her eyes.

“Come on tell me. I thought we could talk about everything.” He said and pulled her into his arms. She nodded, but still didn’t say anything. Rich sighed.

“Got a problem at school?” he guessed. “Boys?” But she shook her head no.

“Did you have a fight with Mom?” he asked carefully.

“No…” she whispered and stared at her hands.

“Ok,… but…” he gently lifted her chin with his hand.

“We talked about you and Fran and Jason.” She whispered a little sad.

I knew it!

“And that makes you sad?” he wanted her to say out loud.

Ava sucked on her bottom lip and looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “Mom said you’ll move in with Fran and forget me.” She sobbed.

I’m gonna kill that Bitch!

                                   

“Oh, princess….shhhh, baby don’t cry…” he pulled her into his lap and rocked her softly.

“Ava, I love you…I could never forget you and I will always be there for you, doesn’t matter if I’m together with Fran or not.” His daughter looked at him with big eyes.

“You are the most important person in my life. Fran knows and understands that, because she has the same feeling towards Jason. You are our kids, you come first. Can you understand that?” he let his hand ran soothingly through hair gorgeous blond hair.

“Yes, I think so, Daddy.” She said and leaned her head against his shoulder again.

“But how should this work? Fran and Jason live in New York. Will you fly back and forth all the time, dad?” Rich smiled.

“Well, I think I will do for another while. Fran and I ain’t together for long, but…well, I hope someday she’ll maybe move in with me here.” He didn’t tell her that they already talked about it and that Fran would check out some schools for Jason the next time she would be here. If everything would worked out well they would be living together next spring, well at least when he wasn’t touring.

“Really?” Ava’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah, would that be ok with you?” he asked smiling.

“That would be awesome, dad.” She said excited. “Will Jason go to school with me then?”

Rich laughed lightly. That was his daughter planning ahead already.

“Well, I don’t think so princess. Jason is five years younger than you. He started with 2^nd Grade this year and you are already in Junior High.” He watched Ava frowning.

“Maybe he can go to the same school as I did. I could show him around.” She offered. Rich smiled softly.

“That would be great, princess. We’ll see. Ok?” he kissed her temple.

“Ok, dad.” She agreed and let him tug her in.

“Sweet dreams, princess. I love you.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

Gently he closed the door and stepped into the hallway only to find Fran there with silent tears streaming down her face.

“Oh, darling…” he pulled her into his arms and led her into the bedroom.

“How can she do something like that to her daughter? How can she make her feel so sad?” she whispered. She felt terrible that the girl thought she would take her father away from her.

“Simply because she is a bitch!” he said with anger in his voice.

“She doesn’t give a damn about Ava’s feelings when she can hurt me.” Rich continued. “I so hoped she would play nice and accept the fact that I’m in a new relationship, just like she is, but apparently I’m wrong. She is still a cynical bitch who wants everybody around her being unhappy, because she isn’t happy with her own life.”

His voice gained more and more volume while he paced the room in anger. Fran watched him worried. She’d never seen him like that, but she could understand his reaction. If she was already feeling terrible about Ava’s tears and confusion, he must be out of his mind.

“Maybe she’ll come around.” Fran suggested carefully.

“No, Fran she won’t.” he yelled and turned to her only to watch her taking a step back.

I scared her!

“Oh, Franny I’m sorry.” He walked over to her and pulled her close. She told him that she had problems when men started to yell, because of her father’s behaviour. She immediately felt the need to take cover or hide.

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you, I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of his body. He wasn’t him. He wouldn’t hurt her.

“It’s ok Rich…really. She’s your daughter and she was upset and scared. I would freak out as well, if someone would do that to Jason.” She assured him

He smiled at her. “I’m so glad you are here…not only for me, but for Ava.”

“She is great. I love her.” She admitted.

“And I love you for loving her.” He said and kissed her.