Chapter Seventy-Four

“That was delicious.”  Stephanie sat back in her chair, a hand on her very full stomach.  Joan had made the most delicious roast chicken and twice baked potatoes.  They had no sooner made it in the front door when Joan had informed them that she had made an early dinner and they were just in time.   

Joan smiled, “thank you dear.”  She started to stack the dishes and Stephanie stopped her.  “You invited me into your home and cooked us wonderful meal.  The least we can do is take care of the dishes.”  She gave Richie a pointed look.  “Isn’t that right?”  He looked like he was about to succumb to the long drive and his mother’s delicious home cooking and fall asleep where he was sitting.  She gave him a light nudge on the shoulder.

Richie looked up from his food-induced stupor.  “Huh, what?”  Blinking away the fog of a long drive and a good meal, he noticed the stack of dirty dishes.  He looked up and got her message. He added his plate to the pile, stood and picked up the stack of dinnerware.  “Right, Sweetheart.  You just sit there and finish your lemonade Ma.  We got this.”

Stephanie rinsed the dishes and Richie loaded them into the dishwasher.  “Your mother is wonderful.  She handed him another plate.  “She reminds me of my own and my grandma, all rolled into one.” 

Richie smiled and his dimple winked at her.  “Yeah, she’s a keeper all right.”  He dried his hands on a towel.  “Is there more out there?”  The day had been warm and the sun was still shining so Joan had insisted that they eat in the three season room. 

“A few things I think, and we need some containers to put the leftovers in.”

Joan wandered in with her empty glass in one hand, two other dirty ones in her other hand.  She handed over the glassware and headed across the kitchen to the pantry.  “I’ve got a million containers.  Here.”  She handed Richie a stack with lids.  “That ought to do it.”

“So Stephanie,” Joan said as she started the hot water in the sink and added a squirt of soap “Richie tells me you’re not from California, but from New York.  How did you end up out on the other side of the country?”  She slid a dirty pot into the hot water and wiped down the counters and stove while she waited for an answer.

Stephanie looked to Richie.  She had wondered just how much he had told his mother about her.  Apparently, not as much as she thought.  She turned to Joan, “I lost my husband and son two years ago.  I needed a change of scenery and I ended up in California.”  She watched Joan’s face, afraid she would find pity there.  She couldn’t have been more wrong.  Sympathy colored the older woman’s features and her voice when she spoke.

“You poor dear.”  She shook her head sadly, understanding all too well how hard it is to lose the ones you love.  “I’m sorry for your loss, but California is an awful long way to go for a change of scenery.” 

Stephanie’s smile was a little sad when it came.  “I know, but it doesn’t snow out there.  That was a big draw.  So was the job.” 

They continued to chat while they put the kitchen back in order.  Joan urged them back out to the three season room, the sun had shifted, the shadows grew longer and the view of the Manasquan river was spectacular. 

Stephanie ran a hand up and down her arms, the air was starting to get a little chilly.  She stood.  ”Excuse me for just a minute?”

Richie grabbed her hand as she started past him.  “Where’re you going?”

“Just to get my sweatshirt.  I’m a little chilly.”

Joan waited until Stephanie was out of earshot.  “I like her.  She seems very nice.”  She pondered that thought while she waited for Richie to answer.  She had liked Heather too, in the beginning before she hurt her boy.  Denise, well, she was glad Richie had had someone to lean on when Adam was in his last days.  But this new girl, there was something about her that seemed more real than either Heather or Denise ever had.  Maybe it was the vulnerability she didn’t hide when she mentioned her late husband and son.  Maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t from California and hadn’t yet become jaded to the world.  Maybe it was just because she was brunette and seemed to be the most sincere female Richie had ever brought home.  She looked to her son.  Whatever it was, he was happy again and that was really the only thing that mattered.

Richie stretched out his legs, “she is, Ma.  She’s the best.”  He meant that.  She had become the calm center in the storm that could be his life some days. 

“You be careful with her though.  She’s been through a lot.”  The poor dear she thought again.  Losing her husband and her child.  However does one survive that?

He nodded his understanding.  “I know Ma, I know.”  He knew he had found someone special and he wasn’t about to do anything to fuck it up.  At the sound of Stephanie’s footsteps, he quickly changed the subject.

“So, Ma, brunch tomorrow okay with you?”  When he was home, he always took his mother out for brunch on Mother’s Day.  And he always sent her flowers.  He had ordered the flowers before they left California.  Now, he needed to take care of brunch.

Stephanie stepped back into the room and sat down on the loveseat next to Richie and looked back and forth between her man and his mother.  “Brunch tomorrow where?”

Joan smiled as Stephanie got comfortable and Richie took her hand in his.  She wondered if they knew what a sweet picture they made together.  “I made a reservation at Avenue in Long Branch.  I hope that’s all right.”

“That sounds good” Richie replied.

They chatted awhile longer before Joan excused herself.  “My show is coming on shortly, you’re welcome to join me.” 

Stephanie and Richie watched his mother disappear into the house.  Stephanie stood.  “Do you want to go watch television?”

He stood and took her hand, “why don’t we go for a walk instead?”  Feeling the need to stretch his legs and wanting to get her alone for more than a quick minute, he tugged her toward the sliding door that led outside.  Together they ambled down the wooden steps and toward the path that would lead them to the river’s edge. 

The water was placid as they walked, lapping quietly along the shoreline.  The asphalt path was curiously empty of any other people, on foot or on bicycle.  The sun started its decent and was putting on a show of reds and purples for them.  It was almost idyllic.  Richie slipped his arm around her shoulder, “pretty night for a riverside stroll.”

“Mmm hmmm” she nodded and slid her arm around his waist, slipping her fingertips into his back pocket.

He urged her to a stop, turning to face her.  The waning sun gilded her skin and teased the red highlights in her hair.  With gentle fingers he brushed her hair back from her face and trailed those fingertips down her arm.  “Tomorrow’s going to be a hard day for you.” 

She cocked her head to one side. It hadn’t been a question, just a simple statement and his ever present understanding.  “I’ll be okay.”

He slipped a hand into the front pocket of his jeans.  “I don’t want to add to the emotional rollercoaster tomorrow, so here.”  He handed her the small cream colored box.  “Happy Mother’s Day.”

She looked at the box he was holding out and then up to his face.  “But, I’m not-” she started and he stopped her.

“Yes, you are.”  He picked up her right hand and settled the box in her palm.  “You’ll always be Ben’s mother, whether he’s here or not.”

She looked down at her hand, blinking furiously to keep the tears at bay.  With her left hand she turned the small box over, Pandora was embossed in gold on the box.  She unfolded the end and slipped the cotton batting out.  Carefully unwrapping the soft white packaging, the small silver charm landed in her palm.  Without looking at him, she set the box and cotton in Richie’s hand.   Picking up the charm she held it up to better see it.  It was angel wings with a little, creamy white pearl dangling from it. 

Richie stuffed the box and cotton in his pocket and reached out for her left wrist.  “It’s the Guardian Angel, Sweetheart.”  He got her bracelet open and eased it from around her wrist.  Dipping his head he could see the sheen of tears in her eyes.  “Hey.”  He drew her to him, holding her close.  “You know he, they, are both watching over you now, right?”

She nodded her head against his chest.  He was the most thoughtful man, ever.

“Now, you’ll never forget.”  He kissed the top of her head and held her until she was steady again.

Stepping back she sniffed back the tears and threaded the charm onto her bracelet and let him fasten it back around her wrist.  “Thank you.”  She leaned up and pressed her lips to his.  “I didn’t think… I was sure…” she stopped and looked at him.  “Just thank you.  You never cease to amaze me, Rich.” 

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders once more, he turned them and headed back to his mother’s house.  “I hope I never do, Sweetheart.”

She slipped her arm around his waist.  “Remember what I said this morning about no sex, oral or otherwise?”

“I seem to recall you saying something like that.”

 

She slid her fingers into his back pocket again.  “I think I might have just changed my mind.”

He grinned and made a show of checking his watch.  “Would you look at that, it’s bedtime already.”