Well, Faithful Reader, we’ve made it together to the end. I’m a little sad the story has to end, but it’s time. In this final chapter, I have tried my hand at songwriting again; please don’t make too much fun of the lyrics.
Thank you for sharing your precious time with me and my tale. I truly hope you’ve enjoyed the journey I’ve taken you on. I hope you’ve come to love Richie and Julianna as much as I have. I hope they’ve made you laugh a little, and want to cry. I hope you’ve gotten a little angry, a bit outraged, and maybe, just maybe, a wee bit hot.
And now, without further ado, here is the link to the final chapter. The Finale. Opening Night.
If you'd like to start at the begining, you can click here. Just keep clicking on "Newer Post" at the bottom of each chapter to progress through the story.
Please, don't post my work anywhere, but do feel free to share this site with a friend, and leave a comment or send me an e-mail and let me know what you think.
Faithfully,
Hathor
TheGoddessHathor@gmail.com
Welcome!
Epilogue
Over the course of the next two weeks, Julianna mostly lived at the theater, sleeping in her office. It was partly because she wanted to be close to the theater because the show was close to opening, and part of it was because she couldn’t stand to be in her apartment and see Richie not there – it made her remember.
When opening night finally came, Julianna was a wreck. She knew that the show would go off without a hitch; it was the finale that she was having trouble coming to terms with. She hadn’t heard from Richie since he left her apartment, and she was devastated. How the finale would play out was an afterthought in her head and her heart. She had been in contact with Jon over the last two weeks, and just this morning, she received a call from him, confirming the time and a thousand other details. The plan was for Jon to sing with her, and he didn’t know yet if Richie was even going to come. He wasn’t talking. Jon was all business. Gone was the easy friendship they had fallen into. She wasn’t surprised.
Shaking off the melancholy feelings, Julianna put on her professional face, and waded into the comfortable chaos of backstage. Inserting her earpiece, she was immediately bombarded by the booming voice of her stage boss barking orders to a dozen different groups within the crew. They were making last second preparations. Once the curtain rose, the only chatter she would hear was to the scene changers. She could feel her excitement growing despite the pain in her personal life.
The backstage lights flashed – five minutes to curtain. Julianna sought out her leads to give them hugs and to tell them to break a leg. Her leads and the other actors rushed around back stage, getting into position. Finally, the curtain rose to the opening strains of “Prayer”, and they were off and running.
Julianna watched most of the performance from the wings, smiling at the reaction of the audience. She saw a few of the younger crowd singing along, and everyone she could see had smiles on their faces. If this was any indication, the show was going to be a success. She sighed. At least one thing in my life will be, she thought.
Absently, Julianna fingered the charm on the necklace Richie had sent her to celebrate opening night. It was a silver heart with an elaborate T&G engraved on it. The gift came with a rather impersonal note, one he could have sent to anybody: Congratulations on the show. I know it will be a success. Yours, R.
Julianna was so lost in thought that before she knew it, the show was approaching the end – the finale. Julianna ducked into the ladies’ dressing room, and pulled her mother’s gown from the closet. Swallowing hard against a lump in her throat, she got changed. Positioning herself backstage in the wings, she signaled to the stage boss, who took her earpiece from her. As she waited in the wings for her cue, she grinned and winked at the pointed stares she was getting from the dancers and crew.
In the orchestra pit, hidden from the audience’s view, she could see the band getting into position – all but Richie. She sighed, resigned to singing with Jon. Not a hardship by any means, but not what her heart wanted. Jon caught her eye and winked at her. What the hell? She heard the opening bars of the final song, and started. This wasn’t the version they had rehearsed for the show – this was the acoustic version with Richie on the Alvarez. She looked at Jon again. This time, he was grinning broadly, and pointed at her, motioning that she should start. Julianna’s heart skipped. Could it be?
In this version, Julianna had the first verse. Shaking slightly, she stepped out from the wings. Her voice pure and strong, permeating the theater.
We’ve been through Hell before
Baby, we’ve seen all the signs
But we’ve always made it through –
We’ve stayed just within the lines
Richie answered with his lines, stepping from the wings on the other side of the stage, resplendent in black tie. The theater erupted into applause and cheers, which he ignored. Usually he would have acknowledged the audience with a nod or a smile or a wink, but he wasn’t in the mood tonight. The 12-string Julianna had given to him was strapped to his broad chest, filling the theater with haunting music. He sang beautifully, but wouldn’t meet her eyes.
Now that life is getting hard
It’s too easy to give in
But we never took the easy way
Now’s not the time to begin
They joined their voices together in the chorus, still sounding perfect together; always the consummate professionals.
Hey, no matter where you go and no matter what you do
Know that I’ll be by your side. Babe, I’ll always be with you.
No matter what the cards may show, when they’re all dealt from the shoe
I won’t give up, I won’t give in. I will always be with you.
Julianna looked tentatively at Richie. She thought she still saw love in his eyes, but it was tinged with confusion, sadness, and pain. She imagined he must see the same in her eyes. Richie sang his next verse, staring across the stage at Julianna.
Things are going to get tough
They are going to get bad
But Hell, they can’t be tougher
Than the times that we’ve just had
When Julianna took her next lines, she crossed the stage, stopping to stand toe-to-toe with him, and sang the words with such passion, such emotion, that her eyes filled with tears.
I know your love is true
I know you’re always mine
And baby, that won’t change
From now ‘til the end of time
Julianna looked, really looked into his eyes. She watched as his love for her chased some of the shadows from his eyes. Her heart soared. After they sang the chorus again, Richie launched into a beautiful solo, his fingers flying across the strings. His eyes closed in concentration, chin tilted up, his head swayed back and forth gently with the music.
The music was uplifting and heart-wrenching at the same time. Far more poignant than she’d ever heard it in rehearsals. Glancing around surreptitiously, she noticed a look of surprise on the rest of the band’s faces. Guess this is a surprise to them, too. Julianna had to blink hard to keep from crying outright. They sang the bridge together, to each other. After that and one last chorus, they were done.
We’re in each other’s hearts, and we’ll never let that go
We’re in this for forever, and I want you to know
That no matter where you go, no matter what you do
You know that I’ll be by your side – I will always be with you.
No matter what the cards may show, when they’re all dealt from the shoe
I won’t give up, I won’t give in. Babe, I’ll always be with you.
Yeah we won’t give up, we won’t give in. I will always be with you.
The final strains of music faded, and the theater was completely silent. Looking into front row of the audience, she saw tears streaming down her mother’s face. A heartbeat later, the theater erupted in a cacophony of applause, cheers, and whistles. The crowd rose as one to their feet as the curtains closed on the show.
Once the curtain dropped, Julianna led Richie deep into the wings, still not touching him. “I didn’t think you’d come,” she said.
“Honestly? I didn’t think I would, either.” Richie handed his guitar off to a stage hand, and took Julianna’s hands in his, looking into her eyes. “Julianna, I’m sorry. I overreacted, and should have talked to you about, well, things. I never should have let it get this far. Never. Can you forgive me?”
Julianna was crying in earnest now. “Only if you can forgive me for my behavior. I can’t believe how childish and selfish and stupid I acted. I should have been more persistent; should have come to you; I’m too stubborn for my own good. I’m so sorry.” She squeezed his hands, and pulled him into a hug. “You mean so much to me. I’m sorry that I made you doubt that even for a moment.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Richie said. “I know you love me. I love you too."
At that moment, as the two were locked in an embrace, the rest of the band joined them. Tico spoke up first. “Guys, that was wonderful. You two sounded great.” He took in the sight before him, and broke into a grin. He asked “It looks like you’ve sorted things out?” The two nodded. “Good. Man, you are perfect together. I was, we all were, all so upset over all this.”
The others all voiced their agreement with Tico’s sentiments. Julianna could see the stage manager gesturing to her. It was the cue for the band’s bow. “Guys, it’s time for your bow. Get on out there.”
The curtains lifted, and the foursome strode out onto the stage like they owned the place. The crowd cheered loudly as the boys took their bows. Jon motioned to Richie, who stepped forward. After taking his own bow, he extended a hand toward Julianna. Blotting the remaining tears from her eyes, she smiled and stepped out onto the stage. If it was possible, the crowd cheered even louder. Reaching center stage, she made a deep diva curtsey, and turned to give each man a hug and kiss. Joining hands with Richie, they stepped forward together and bowed. Julianna’s father approached the stage with a bouquet of roses for her. She bent to take them as her father mouthed “I love you” to her. She blew him a kiss, and returned to Richie.
They stepped back to allow the leads, Sam and Lila, to take their rightful place on center stage. They each kissed Julianna, as they passed her. They made their sweeping bows and the curtains fell for the last time. Backstage, everyone came bustling over to Julianna, to congratulate her on the show and her performance; and to chide her for making it a surprise. Stan even made his way down from his box to add his accolades to the mix. Julianna didn’t register any of it, however. She handed her flowers to Stan, and turned. She had eyes now for only one man, and he for one woman.
They made their way toward each other, oblivious to the noise and commotion around them. Melting into each other’s arms, Richie and Julianna whispered to each other words from the song they just shared.
We’re in each other’s hearts, and we’ll never let that go
We’re in this for forever, and I want you to know
That no matter where you go, no matter what you do
You know that I’ll be by your side – I’ll always be with you.
The couple shared a steamy kiss and left the theater, their arms wrapped around each other.
Lyrics: With You © 2008
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 65: Threats and Promises
It was tomorrow, and Richie didn’t feel any better. He had hardly slept, and by the time the first rays of sunshine were poking through the window, he was done being in bed. He had tried to relax, had tried to put things into perspective, but couldn’t get past the point that Julianna had lied to him. Richie felt so let down, so betrayed.
He knew, though, that he had to deal with this or else risk going back to that place he swore he never would revisit. He pulled himself together as best he could, and went up to the house. When he walked into the kitchen, he was not surprised to see it empty. Jon was probably up in the studio or still in bed, and Dave and Teek were most likely home with their women. The song for the finale done, there wasn’t anything to do except wait for opening night.
Richie set about making coffee and after pouring himself a mug, sat at the table and stared at it.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Jon asked from the doorway.
“Waiting for you,” was his wingman’s tired response.
Richie told Jon everything and waited. Jon just looked at him. “You fucked up, man,” he said to his friend.
“What do you mean?” Richie answered.
“Julianna hasn’t done anything to make you think she’d get back together with that tool. In fact,” Jon said, taking a seat across the table from Richie, “if anything, she can’t stand him. I don’t believe for a minute that she invited him back.”
“Whose side are you on?” Richie asked, getting angry.
“Look,” Jon said. “Didn’t you tell me he just showed up at her apartment one day and she threw him out?” Richie nodded. He’d conveniently forgotten about that. “Why would she do that if she wanted him around?”
“Maybe she was lying about that too,” Richie said.
Jon was getting impatient. “You don’t really believe that, do you?” He looked at his friend’s face, and shook his head. “Man, you have to decide if you trust her or not. It’s an all or nothing thing.” He stood and slapped his brother’s shoulder. “You have to make that decision on your own.”
* * * * *
Julianna was in such a mood, that the final rehearsals, rehearsals that should have run smoothly, were choppy. Nothing made her happy. At one point, she made Lila so upset she left the stage. Stan, who’d been watching from the balcony called down to her, “What the hell is going on down there?”
“Nothing,” Julianna said, and promptly burst into tears and fled the stage, slamming into her office. She wouldn’t open the door for anyone, and Stan finally resorted to calling Julianna’s mother. Stan had a car bring Teresa to the theater, and she lightly knocked on the door.
“Cara,” she called softly, “Please talk to me.”
Julianna opened the door and fell into her mother’s arms. The two women disappeared behind the door and Julianna told her everything. Resting her head in her mother’s lap as she did when she was a girl, she told her mother everything from the time Mark came to her apartment to Richie leaving. “Have you called him, Cara, tried to explain?” Teresa was stroking her daughter’s hair.
“No, Mama,” she said. “I told him if he didn’t trust me, he should leave,” her sobs got greater. “And he left.” She was crying in earnest now.
“Then he’s a fool,” Teresa said.
* * * * *
Mark’s secretary rushed into his office without knocking. “Mark, there’s someone here to see you,” she said excitedly.
“Jesus, Martha, don’t you know any better than to rush in here?” Mark hurriedly closed what he was working on, not wanting her to see the change he had made to Sam and Lila’s contracts. He was going over to the theater today to get their signatures, and Julianna wasn’t going to stop him.
“But Mark, it’s…” She was cut off by the person in question coming through the door.
“Valentino,” he said, eyes cold and hard.
Mark nodded at him. “Well, well, well,” he said. “Martha, you can leave us, and shut the door.” He waited for Martha to comply before continuing. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“It’s not a pleasure, believe me.” Jon started advancing on Mark, who had the good sense to retreat behind his desk. “I want you to stay away from BIO,” he said.
Mark just laughed and sat in his chair. “What’s the matter? Little Julianna go running to her boyfriend for help?” Mark’s laugh was bitter and evil.
“No,” Jon said, “she hasn’t said anything to Richie or me.” It was true enough, Jon supposed. Not that Mark needed to know the whole truth.
“What’s it to you, Jon?” Mark sneered.
“You’re fucking with my family, and I don’t tolerate that,” Jon said, steel creeping into his voice. Jesus, he thought, this guy really is an asshole.
Mark shook his head. “Look, I’m a big boy, and I don’t have to take orders from you. If that’s all you came to say, you can just take your ass on out of here. I’ve got work to do.”
Jon knew that threats wouldn’t work on this guy, so he switched tactics. Taking a stroll around Mark’s office, he saw photographs of Mark with various people – famous people. People Jon considered his friends. Taking out his phone, he dialed a number. Mark looked on, amused. “Hello? Yeah, it’s Jon.” He waited a few moments for the person to finish his response. “Yeah, listen, I’m calling to ask a favor. Do you know a Mark Valentino?” Mark’s eyes narrowed at the mention of his name. “Yeah, well, he’s fucking with Richie’s girl.” Jon laughed. “I know. So anyway,” he stopped as his friend spoke some more. “That’s exactly it. Thanks, Chris. See you soon.” He hung up and looked at Mark. “That’s one,” he said, and dialed again.
“Look,” Mark began. “I have shit to do, and it doesn’t include watching you make inane phone calls.” He buzzed for his secretary. “Martha,” he said, when she opened the door. “Mr. Bongiovi was just leaving.”
“Oh, OK. There’s someone else waiting for you,” she said.
“Tell whoever it is to wait,” Mark answered, dismissing them both.
“This isn’t over,” Jon said to him.
“Yeah, rock star, it is. Bye-bye now.” Mark went back to rewording some of the clauses in the contracts he had drawn up for Sam and Lila. By the time he was done with them, there was no way they could get out of the contracts without giving up everything they had. He’d own them.
When Jon went out to Mark’s outer office, he was surprised to find Teresa there. “What are you doing here, signora?” he asked her. Teresa looked up from the magazine she was reading.
“Jon!” she said, pleased. She stood and Jon kissed her cheek. “I am here to see that snake,” she said, distaste evident on her face, “and to tell him to keep away from my baby. What are you doing here?”
Jon laughed. “I was doing the same thing, though Richie isn’t my baby. He’s a piece of work,” Jon said, waving at the door.
Teresa rolled her eyes. “Tell me something I do not know,” she said.
Martha looked up at them. “Ma’am, Mark will see you now,” she said.
“I’ll wait for you,” Jon said, and settled into the waiting room,
Teresa breezed into Mark’s office.
“Teresa? What the hell are you doing here?”
“Delivering a message. Stay away from my daughter or I will have you killed.”
Mark sputtered and stood, outrage turning his complexion red. “How dare you come in here and threaten me. You can’t do that!”
“It is not a threat, it is a vow,” Teresa said quietly. “Do not think I cannot or will not have this done,” she said. She opened her bag and took out a single black rose. “This is your only warning,” she said, and laid the rose on Mark’s desk. Without looking back, she headed for the door.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Mark mocked, and didn’t see the narrow-eyed look Teresa shot him before closing the door.
Jon rose when she came out. “Well?” Jon asked.
“One way or another,” she said cryptically, this is done.”
* * * * *
Buried on page 23 of the New York Times, several days later
An unidentified man was the victim of a hit-and-run accident last night, outside the Bring It On theater. The man was Caucasian, 34-40 years of age, 6’2” dark hair and eyes. He was wearing a business suit and trench coat, of good quality. No identification was found on the body. Anyone with any information is urged to call their local police station.
Neither Julianna nor Richie saw this article, but Teresa did. She went outside, taking her pre-paid cell phone with her. “I see it is done. Your debt is paid.” She dropped the phone on the ground, crushed it with a rock, and threw away the pieces.
Buried on page 32 of the New York Times, two days later
The man struck outside the Bring It On Theater earlier this week, has been identified as Mark Valentino. Valentino, producer of television’s, ‘New York Minute’, had apparently just left the set of the upcoming Broadway show, ‘Tommy & Gina’, when he was struck and killed. Officials still have no leads and are asking the public for help. Anyone with any information is urged to call their local police station.
This one, Julianna saw, but said nothing.
Chapter 64: Setting Things Right
Julianna sat on the floor in the middle of her room, and cried. How could he not believe her? How could he believe Stan over her? Did he really think so little of her – she trailed off in her thoughts. Obviously that’s what he thought. She looked around at the room, focusing on the bed; its sheets still mussed from last night. The sight broke her heart. “Well, fuck him,” she said out loud through her tears. She stood, dried her tears, and stripped the bed. Carrying her sheets to the washing machine, she pressed her face to them, inhaling the musky smell of Richie. She refused to let the tears overtake her again, and got the laundry started.
Pacing her apartment, she could feel the walls closing in on her. This was ridiculous. It was all a big misunderstanding, but she couldn’t think how to fix it. “Snap out of it, Jules,” she told herself, but it was easier said than done. The pacing picked up speed. This was not her fault, damn it, she thought. She wasn’t the one who was being stupid and stubborn and unyielding, and – she stopped. She was getting distracted from the problem. The problem was Mark. He was the one who was the cause of all of this, and it started when he showed up at rehearsals again.
Grabbing her bag and keys, she strode to the door. No way was she letting Mark win.
* * * * *
Richie made the drive back to Connecticut in record time. He didn’t want to face his friends – not yet – so he went to Julianna’s cottage. He pulled out his keys and let himself in. Standing there among her things and her smells, he let the grief that he was holding at bay flow free, and collapsed to the floor. Laying there, looking up at the ceiling, he tried to be objective about this – tried to hear Jon’s reasonable voice in his head. He couldn’t. The emotions were too raw.
Richie crawled into the bedroom. He climbed into Julianna’s bed, clothes, shoes, and all, and let himself give in to the blackness. He didn’t relish the numbness like he thought it would, but maybe, just for a little while, it would help. He lay there, staring at the walls, trying desperately to think this through. He wasn’t going to be able to. He needed his best friend’s help. Again.
Exhausted, Richie looked at his watch. Tomorrow, he thought, and tried to sleep.
* * * * *
Someone was pounding on the door. Mark looked at his watch and swore. It was 9:30 at night – who the hell could that be?
“What?” he called through the door.
“Open the fucking door,” a very angry woman’s voice demanded.
Mark complied, and smiled when he saw his ex. “Julianna, darling, how wonderful to see –“ his words were cut off by a jab to the mouth. “Son of a BITCH!” he screamed, and before he knew it, she was in his apartment.
“Shut up and listen, asswipe,” Julianna said, slamming the door and advancing on Mark. “You are NOT welcome in my life. Not personally, not professionally, not tangentially. Not at all. Period.” Mark had backed up as far as he could, and was wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “Stay away from my theater, my actors, my apartment, and my life.”
When Julianna raised a hand again, Mark caught it and twisted her arm around behind her. Pulling her close, he pinned her other arm between them, and grumbled in her ear. “Now you listen, bitch,” he spat, “I will do whatever I want, whenever I want. Always have, always will. You do not scare me, you stupid little fool.” He hiked her arm up higher, making Julianna wince. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of crying out.
“Get your filthy hands off of me,” she said angrily.
“When I’m good and ready, sweetheart,” Mark answered, menacingly. “I am not ready to abandon this little project. I have too much invested, and nothing you do or say is going to change my mind.” He opened the door, and still holding Julianna close, walked through it. “Now, kindly go away,” he said, and releasing her roughly, he stepped back into his apartment.
“This is not over,” she said to him, daggers firing from her eyes.
“Not by a long shot,” Mark agreed, and slammed the door.
* * * * *
The next morning, Julianna was the first one to the theater. As people entered, she told them to go take a seat in the audience; she had an announcement to make. She was going to take care of this once and for all. Everyone, including Stan and her leads were sitting with puzzled expressions on their faces when Julianna strode onto the stage.
“Everyone, thanks for bearing with me,” she started, looking out over the people who worked with and for her on this project from the very beginning. “I know most of you personally as well as professionally, and if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll know that I don’t make personal requests lightly or often.” There was some shifting among the staff, but it appeared as if they were just anxious to get to work.
Julianna continued. “It has come to my attention that Mark Valentino has been hanging around the theater again. I want to make this absolutely clear.” She stopped and scanned each face in turn, noting the apprehension on her leads’ faces. “I have banned Mark from this theater. I cannot stop you from pursuing personal relationships with him, but he is not welcome here at all. Period.” She saw Sam and Lila slide looks at each other then turn their attention back to Julianna.
“We only have a few short weeks until opening night, and I need everyone to be focusing on their roles in making this show the success I know it can be. I’m asking for you to honor my wishes in this respect.” Julianna sighed and paced the stage a little. “For those of you who don’t know the history, or who have only heard the rumors, Mark is my ex-husband. We did not part on good terms, and I do not want him around. Any questions?” There weren’t any. “Thanks, everyone. Sam, Lila, with me. Everyone else, back to business.”
Julianna led her leads into her office. “Now, you two want to tell me what you’re all twitchy about?” Julianna smiled at them. “I could practically feel the nervous energy wafting off of you out there.”
Sam and Lila looked at each other, then at Julianna. Sam spoke up. “Mark, Mr. Valentino, offered to help us negotiate a record deal after this run was done,” he said sheepishly. “We didn’t know that he wasn’t supposed to be here,” he added.
Julianna seethed inside, but didn’t let it show. “Did you sign anything yet?” she asked. The pair shook their heads. “OK, I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to get independent verification if you don’t believe me. Mark is not a nice man. He is good at what he does, but he is ruthless and will cut corners and tell you whatever you want to get his way.” She grinned ironically. “He’ll probably tell you the same things about me, but you’ve worked with me, and I hope that you don’t feel that way.”
She sat behind her desk. “Now, if you’re serious about wanting to get into the recording business, I have lots of contacts I can set you up with, but AFTER we get through opening night. I don’t want to stop you from realizing your dreams, but I do want to keep you from getting distracted. You need to be focused on your roles right now. Your performances are excellent, and I want them to stay that way. Does this make sense?”
Lila nodded. “I’m so glad you said something; he wanted us to sign a contract right away, and we were a little anxious about doing that.”
Julianna nodded. “That’s fine. If you want a contract with someone to manage your careers, that’s your business. If it’s Mark, that’s your business too, but he’s not welcome here.”
Sam shook his head. “No,” he said. “We heard the rumors about what your ex did, and knowing it was Mark who’s the ex, we don’t want anything to do with him. Our loyalties are to you, Julianna.”
Julianna stood and hugged her leads. “Thank you. I promise you, when we get through the first night, I will help you any way I can.”
Chapter 63: Confrontation
Julianna was in high spirits when she got home. Rehearsals were going smoothly, and her leads were performing better and better with each run-through they did. Admittedly, she hadn’t spent too much time with them today, but in the last run-through, everyone hit every mark, and executed every step and sung every note perfectly. She was humming to herself as she fit her key into the lock, and called out, “Rich, baby, I’m home!”
There was no answer. Frowning, she looked around the main living area, but Richie was nowhere to be found. She called him on his cell, but there was no answer. She left a brief message, and went to take a shower. As she entered her bedroom, she stifled a gasp. Richie was sitting there on the bed, staring at the doorway. And he looked mad.
“Baby, didn’t you hear me call out?” She laughed nervously. “You surprised me.”
“No more than you surprised me today,” he said coldly.
“What are you talking about?” Julianna was confused, and a bit uneasy. He looked angry, hurt, and, well, dangerous.
“You lied to me today,” Richie said, “and I don’t like being lied to.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Julianna’s uneasiness was turning to annoyance. She didn’t like this cryptic game, whatever it is.
“You know damned well what I’m talking about,” Richie said. “Stan told me all about it.”
“Stan? He told you what, exactly,” Julianna demanded.
“If you have to make me say it,” Richie said, disdain dripping from his voice. “I came to the theater to find you and apologize for earlier today.” He shook his head. “Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t find you,” he finished bitterly.
“You should have checked with the booth,” Julianna said. “I always have a radio on me; they could have called me and let me know you were here.” She was still puzzled. “But what does this have to do with Stan?”
“Stan set me straight on some things,” Richie said.
“And so we go, back around in a circle. Will you just stop a minute and tell me just what the hell you’re talking about?”
Richie shook his head. “Mark,” he said, but didn’t say anything else.
“Mark what?” Julianna said, exasperated. “Jesus, Rich, stop making me drag this out of you one sentence at a time. What the hell is going on?”
“Mark is what’s going on,” Richie said, his eyes flat. “Stan said that you decided that Mark could hang out at the theater.”
“WHAT?” Julianna was incredulous. “I’ve said no such thing! Why on earth would he tell you that, and why the hell are you getting all bent out of shape about this? You’re being ridiculous.”
“Then what the hell was Mark doing there, palling around with your leads like he owned the place.” Richie looked daggers at Julianna. “Level with me, what the hell was he doing there?”
“I’ve been doing nothing but leveling with you.” Julianna was shaking with rage. “I have no idea what he was doing there, but you can bet your obstinate ass I will find out.” She pointed an unsteady finger at Richie. “You have one hell of a nerve, pal. You’ve apparently got a trust issue here and I don’t deserve it.” She turned on her heel and stalked from the bedroom.
“Don’t you walk away from me, Julianna,” Richie said, springing from the bed and following her. He caught her arm and turned her roughly. Julianna yanked her arm from his grasp and shoved at him, sending him backwards several steps.
“Do not put your hands on me in anger, Rich,” Julianna said, heat and pain firing from her eyes. “You are scaring me.”
“Don’t try to turn this around on me. I’m not the one cavorting with my ex and letting him back into your life.”
Julianna just shook her head. “You aren’t listening to me, you stubborn jerk,” she said quietly. “If we don’t have trust, we don’t have anything. I can’t believe you’re accusing me of, well, I don’t know; just what exactly is it that you’re accusing me of?”
“You lied to me,” Richie said simply.
“I already told you I didn’t,” Julianna said. “If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do to change that.” She walked into the kitchen, and put the counter between them. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she willed them away. “You believe what you want. But I will not spend the next couple of weeks fighting with you. If you believe me, get over it. If you don’t,” now she couldn’t hold the tears back, “then you need to go back to Connecticut with your friends.” She crossed slowly to the door, seeing the shocked look on Richie’s face. When she reached the door, she turned back to look at him. “The choice is yours,” she said, then left her apartment.
Mark was congratulating himself on neatly slipping back into the show. He had talked to Sam and Lila about the show and they gushed on and on, and it was all Mark could do to not puke. He had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that they had strong voices. He told them that after the show’s run was done, they should consider a recording contract, and guess what? He was someone who could make that happen for them. They were understandably excited, and anxious to get a contract in place, naming Mark as their manager.
On the way back to his office, Mark dictated a rudimentary contract to his secretary. He made sure that there was a clause in there stating that he had final rights over what work the pair did and did not accept. It was a standard clause he added to most every contract, and usually, the simps were so eager to have “A Manager” that they signed without a second thought. He smiled to himself. Sam and Lila were young and naïve; this will be a piece of cake. And, he thought, he’d make sure they had nothing to do with his bitch of an ex-wife after this run of the show was done.
Several hours later, Julianna returned to an empty apartment. Her heart was heavy, because her phone hadn’t rung. She ran to the bedroom, and found the drawers that had held Richie’s things gaping open and conspicuously empty. His toiletries were gone from the bathroom. He had left. He didn’t believe her.
Chapter 62: A Man Scorned
Richie wasn’t thrilled that Julianna decided to keep this from him. “I thought we had agreed on total honesty?” he said.
Julianna was a bit surprised at his tone, but really couldn’t blame him. Much. “I didn’t want to talk about it, “she said. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
Richie sighed. “It’s not that it’s a big deal, it’s that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me.”
“No, Rich,” Julianna insisted. “That isn’t it at all.” She started pacing. “Look,” she said, looking at him. “When he called, I was not exactly in the best place, if you’ll recall.” Richie nodded. “I didn’t want to talk about it. Sorry. Sue me.” Richie was a little surprised by her sarcastic attitude, but said nothing. Julianna continued. “I actually forgot all about his call until he showed up here.” She was trying not to get aggravated with him, but it was hard.
Richie looked skeptical. “You mean you never gave it a second thought? Really?”
“Really,” Julianna said. “Rich, he doesn’t mean anything to me. Not anymore. Not good, bad, or otherwise. He’s just a nuisance now, not part of my life, and I don’t want to waste another moment talking about him.” She crossed the room to take his hands. “You helped me make him powerless against me. End of story.”
“So quickly?”
Julianna sighed angrily. “Look, believe me or don’t, but don’t preach about trust to me if you don’t trust me yourself.” Her eyes searched Richie’s, darting back and forth between them. “Now,” she said, her voice softening. “I’ve got a lot of work to do this afternoon and need fuel. What’d you get for lunch? It smells delicious.”
All the way back to his office, Mark was livid. How dare that bitch attack him. Who the hell did she think she was? Just because she was screwing a rock star didn’t make her any better than him. He sat behind his desk and fumed. Then he plotted. He knew that she wouldn’t make a scene in front of the company – she never was one to do that. He’d simply take what he wanted. He wanted in on her show.
Later that afternoon, Mark presented himself at the theater. Since he had made himself scarce in the past weeks, nobody was really expecting him. He waltzed in like he owned the place, and sat quietly in the back of the darkish theater. Nobody said anything to him, and he smiled. This might just work out after all. He watched the rehearsals for a while, bored out of his mind. He thought the story line was insipid, the choreography simple and plain and the songs? Well he never did understand the appeal.
Still, his nose knew when he smelled something good, and given the popularity of this band, the show was sure to be a success. Any success was worth being a part of. He made his way out of the theater, and walked around the rehearsal rooms, being careful not to be spotted by Julianna. If his plan had any hope of succeeding, he had to make nice with everyone first, then let Julianna know he’d been around. That way, she’d look like the bad guy for sending him away when all he was trying to do was make nice.
Attack him? He’d show her. He’d get what he wanted from her, then she’d be sorry.
When Julianna left to go the theater, Richie sat and looked out the window, thinking. He knew that he was being ridiculous. Julianna had never given him any reason to doubt her. He was just being a jealous fool, and what was worse, he was being jealous of someone she hated. That was screwed up. Sighing, he decided he needed to apologize to Julianna. He didn’t want this to fester between them. Decision made, he slapped his thighs and stood. After cleaning up from their lunch, Richie went shopping.
When he arrived at the theater, Richie went in the back entrance, as he did the last time. He found someone to tell him where Julianna was working. Making his way to the rehearsal room, he smiled, patting his pocket. Nothing says “I’m sorry I fucked up” like jewelry.
Walking quietly to the door, he peeked in the window, and gaped. Mark was sitting there, talking to Julianna’s leads, looking as if he had every right to be there. Julianna was nowhere to be found. Fuming, he stalked around looking for her, but with no luck. He did run into Stan, and asked him why Mark was there.
“I guess Julianna decided he wasn’t hurting anything by being here,” Stan said.
“What about all the rumors and gossip he was trying to start?”
Stan just shrugged. “She doesn’t run all her decisions by me,” Stan said. “Maybe you should ask her yourself.”
“Maybe I will,” Richie said angrily, and left.
Chapter 61: The Ex-Husband
Mark Valentino sat across the desk from the private investigator he had hired. Ever since he had been banned from his ex-wife’s theater, he had been seething. There must be something she was hiding if she didn’t want him around, and he’d been in the business long enough to know that if it was worth hiding, it was worth knowing. He also was patient, and confident that he’d find out what it was. He had hired a PI who was the stereotype of a b-movie dick: rumpled suit, rumpled tie, rumpled hat, cheap cigar. Mark didn’t like him much, but the man did get results. Spread in front of them were pictures of his ex-wife cavorting with some men. Plural.
“What the hell is this?” Mark demanded.
“This is your ex-wife with a houseful of men,” the PI responded, leering at his employer. “They all went out together Friday, left separately on Saturday morning – your ex hauled ass out of there like the house was on fire, and the big one here,” he tapped the picture of Richie, “followed. Wherever they went, they were back Wednesday, and that’s these pictures here.”
“Who are they?” Mark demanded again.
“Some rock group,” the PI hedged. He knew he could sell these photos for a lot of money to some rags he occasionally worked with. He didn’t want to share all the information if he didn’t have to.
“Wait a minute,” he said, turning to his computer. He connected to BIO’s website and saw the ads for the new show. “That’s where I know them from. They’re working with her on the new show, you idiot,” Mark berated the other man. “Of course they’re hanging out together.”
“Yeah, but she seems pretty chummy with that big one,” the PI said. “More than just a working relationship, if you catch my meaning,” he said. “These two went back to that other house on the property by themselves.”
Mark turned up a lip in disgust and steepled his fingers together. Maybe he could use this information to his advantage. Maybe this rock star was married or something; he could use that. He thought more. They were probably doing something special for the show; something that she didn’t want to get out. Why else would they be out in the sticks rather than in New York?
He smiled an evil smile to himself. Time to pay the ex a little visit.
* * * * *
Richie was out picking up something for them for lunch, when there was a knock on her door. Thinking he’d forgotten his key again, she threw open the door without checking through the peephole first.
“Sweetheart, did you forget –” the words dried up when she saw who was darkening her door. “What are you doing here?” she asked incredulously; amazed that he’d have the balls to show up at her apartment.
“Is that any kind of way to greet the man you were married to?” he asked. “Hi, baby.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek and shouldered his way past her and into the room before she could react. “I told you I’d call; I thought I’d drop in instead. Where’s your rock star?” he asked.
“Out,” she said icily. “I ask you again, what the hell are you doing here?” She searched inside herself and didn’t feel any panic at his presence on her doorstep. She felt only anger, hurt, and betrayal. It didn’t even occur to her to ask how he knew about her and Richie.
“I was trying to be cordial, but OK, you want to do this the hard way? Fine.” Mark made himself comfortable on the couch. Julianna just glared at him. He had planned to try to finesse her, but something had happened since he had spoken to her last. He looked up at her, and grinned. “I want in on your show. You’re going to make that happen.”
Julianna gasped. “No fucking way.”
Mark was a little surprised. Where was the simpering little wench he spoke with on the phone nearly two weeks ago? No matter. Her newly found spine doesn’t mean shit. “Yes fucking way,” he said, his voice going hard. “You will or your secret will come out,” he bluffed. “I will make sure everyone knows about it.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about but you’re done talking.” She pulled on Mark’s arm, levering him off the couch and surprising him with her strength. “I want to see you walking. Get the hell out of here, and don’t come back. You made your choices.” She pulled Mark toward the door, and he dug in and yanked his arm out of her grasp and grabbed her upper arms, giving her a little shake.
“Listen, you bitch,” he said. “You left me, remember? I’m the one who was left out in the cold. Your family made sure I didn’t have an easy time finding work here. You owe me.”
Julianna was incredulous. She tried to pull away, but Mark’s grip was firm. “Let go of me, you bastard. I’m not the one who brought someone else into my house or into my bed. Of course I left you, you ass. I loved you, and you treated me like shit.” She was able to shake him off, and started ranting at him, letting go of the bile that had been building up and poisoning her life. “You know, you are just a spoiled child. You expect everything to be all about you, and if you don’t get your way, or you aren’t the center of attention, you get all pissy.” She gave him such a look full of hatred, he was taken aback. “You are nothing to me now; less than nothing. I owe you nothing, and you are getting nothing.” She stopped and shook her head. “I take that back. You are getting two things. You are getting the fuck out of my house and you are getting the fuck out of my life before I kick the ever-loving shit out of you.” She stalked to the door and flung it open.
Mark knew that she wasn’t going to budge on this now, but that didn’t mean he was giving up. He made a show of shooting his cuff to look at his watch and grinned. “Look at the time. I have an appointment across town, and I need to be going.” He sauntered over to her and put a hand to her cheek. “You better watch your temper there, sweetheart. I’m sure you don’t want your rock star to see what a bitch you really are.”
Julianna turned her head and bit Mark, making him curse. “My rock star doesn’t make me mad, so it’s not a problem. Now, get out.” She pushed him out the door and slammed it closed behind him.
Mark was muttering all the way to the elevator. When the doors opened, he saw Richie getting out. “Scuse me,” Richie said, surprised to see someone waiting for the elevator. He was beginning to wonder if there were any other people living up here; he never seemed to see anyone.
“A word of advice there, rock star,” Mark said as he got into the elevator. “Julianna will go cold on you too. And she can be a real jealous bitch. Get out while it’s still good.” The doors slid closed before Richie could react. Puzzled, he stared at the doors for a minute, shook his head, and went back to the apartment. He couldn’t find his key, so he knocked on the door.
After a moment, Julianna flung the door open, her eyes hard and her color high. “For Christ’s sake, you son of a bitch, I told you – ” she stopped when she saw Richie standing there, and chuckled at the irony. “Richie! Thank God you’re back.” She threw her arms around him in a hug and pulled him into the apartment.
“I ran into someone at the elevator…”
“That charming man was Mark, my ex,” Julianna said. “Did he say anything to you?”
Richie shook his head. “Nothing really. He warned me that you can be a jealous bitch and I should get out before you go cold on me.”
Julianna’s color got high again, and she started to pace. “That fucking bastard.” Richie was surprised at the venom in her voice. “He has one hell of a nerve.” Julianna told Richie about the conversation she and Mark had, and Richie laughed when she got to the part about biting him.
“If I had seen him with his hands on you, he would have known what temper is,” he said stonily. “Why the hell did he come here?”
Julianna got quiet. She may as well tell him the rest of it.
Chapter 60: Rehearsals
Even as Richie pulled the car into the underground garage, Julianna was unfastening her seatbelt. Before he had the car turned off, she was circling around to the back, to grab some of their bags.
“Where’s the fire?” Richie asked.
“Well, we’re home now,” no sense in fighting it anymore, wherever they were was home, “and you still look a little sad.”
Richie laughed, and loaded his hands and arms with bags. “Get a move on, woman!” he shouted over his shoulder as he strode quickly for the elevator. Julianna laughed and hurried to keep up. They were laughing all the way up to her apartment, and barely had the door closed behind them before their bags were dropped on the floor, and they were in each others’ arms.
They toed off their shoes and kissed greedily, knowing that this time their joining was different. They each felt that this was forever, or as sure a thing as they hoped for. Julianna unbuttoned Richie’s shirt and pushed it roughly from his shoulders, all but tearing it off his arms. Richie broke their kiss to whip Julianna’s shirt up and over her head, tossing it behind him. He skimmed his hands across her collarbone and down over her breasts and Julianna thought she was going to lose control right then and there.
Julianna reached for Richie’s belt, and pulled him toward her. She unbuckled him and had had pants undone and shoved down in seconds. Her hand closed around him, making him growl. With a deft flick of a finger, Richie had Julianna’s bra unclasped and pulled the straps down her shoulders, trailing kisses in their wake. He spun her against the door, and bent to take one pebbled nipple into his mouth and suckled greedily while his hands unfastened her jeans and slid them and her panties down her legs as far as he could reach. He dropped to his knees, kissing the length of her torso, and pausing to lave at her tattoo before diving between her legs and thrusting his tongue into her. Julianna scrabbled for purchase on the door but could not get any. She settled for twining her hands into Richie’s silky hair and holding on for all she was worth.
Her head thrashed back and forth as Richie worked his magic on her. One finger had maneuvered into caress her clit, stroking in light, lazy circles that had Julianna moaning loudly. Her eyes rolled back as the tension started to build in her toes and moved its way slowly up her body. The tightness crept over her, tensing her like a cat and when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, Richie latched his lips onto her nub and sucked hard as he drove two fingers roughly into her. Julianna screamed as the waves overtook her, and her legs gave out. Richie eased her down to the floor, never stopping his assault. Julianna was whimpering helplessly, her arms useless to push Richie away to give her a minute to compose herself. All too soon, she felt another wave cresting. She cried out Richie’s name on a breath, and let the flood overtake her.
Smiling, Richie stood, gathered Julianna up into his arms, and carried her into the bedroom. He seemed to be doing that quite a bit, and he loved it. He loved that she made him feel so deeply. A line from one of his songs popped unbidden into his head: To make you feel like a woman makes me feel like a man. As sure as he knew his own name, he knew he was drowning in her and God help the man who tried to save him. He wanted to go down that third time. He sat on the edge of the bed, and settled Julianna across his lap. She shifted to straddle him, and sunk roughly onto him, making his head drop back for a minute before he brought it up again to lock eyes with Julianna.
Neither moved as they sat joined intimately and just stared at each other. “I love you so much, Julianna,” Richie said, pulling her in close to his chest. “So much it’s scary. You are as essential to me as breathing.”
“I love you too,” Julianna said, “more than my own life.”
She kissed him hard, holding his head captive to her plundering mouth, tasting herself on him. Richie wasn’t complaining, however. He gave as good as he got, twining his hands in her hair and anchoring her to him. She started undulating against him, moving as sensuously as a cat. She hooked her ankles around Richie’s back when he stood and turned them so Julianna was lying on her back at the edge of the bed.
Richie stood there, looking down at his love, and started stroking slowly in and out of her. He lifted her hips to give deeper penetration, and started quickening his pace. Julianna gripped Richie’s wrists and begged, “Harder.” Richie complied, bringing himself roughly into her over and over again. He could feel her tightening around him, and saw her eyes start to roll back. “More,” she cried, as her head started thrashing from side to side. Richie pounded faster and faster; sweat covering his chest. He felt his orgasm building, and it was taking all his willpower to not lose himself. He watched as her chin hitched just a little, and she bit her lower lip; tell-tale signs that she Julianna was as close to oblivion as he was.
“Jules?” he croaked, “I want to watch you come for me. Open your eyes, my love.”
She complied and stared with unfocused eyes at Richie. It was a struggle to keep her eyes open as the waves of pleasure crested again. Her body flushed and convulsed, and clamped down on Richie so hard he hissed.
“Oh thank God,” he said, thrusting fiercely once more before he spilled inside her. He rode her until he felt her relaxing, and gently slipped from her. He crawled up on the bed next to her, and pulled her to him, cuddling her against him. Julianna kissed Richie’s chest and laid her head against his heart. With his strong heartbeat in her ear, and his arms banded around her, she sighed, “I love you,” and fell asleep.
* * * * *
“What’re you doing today,” Julianna asked Richie as she was getting ready to go to the studio. She was dressed for working, in footless tights, a leotard, and filmy skirt overtop of it.
“I’m, uh,” he was distracted by Julianna’s proximity to him, and didn’t really want to tell her what he had planned anyway. “I’m just gonna bum around the city for a while, I guess,” he hedged. That wasn’t entirely a lie, he convinced himself, because he did plan just to hang out for a little while.
“OK,” Julianna said, distracted herself with thinking forward to rehearsals. “I’ll probably be late, but I’ll try to call and let you know.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Richie said.
Richie waited about an hour after Julianna left before heading over to the theater. He really did want to watch some of the rehearsals. He parked around back, and Stan let him in, as pre-arranged.
“Mr. Sambora, a pleasure,” Stan gushed.
Richie smiled wryly. “It’s ‘Richie’, and thanks. Where can I watch from?”
“Well, that depends on what you want to see. Julianna is working with the leads in one of the smaller rehearsal rooms, and the company is on the main stage, working through the second act.
Richie nodded. “I’d like to watch the stage,” he said.
Stan led him up to the control box at the back of the theater. “This room has darkened windows, and nobody save the techs will know you’re here. Does that work for you?” Richie nodded again, and let the other man lead him away.
From the booth, he watched as the company of performers went through “It’s My Life” and “As My Guitar Lies Bleeding”, impressed with the story and the company. He called Jon and told his friend where he was, and held up his phone so Jon could listen for a couple minutes.
“Sounds great,” Jon said. “How’s Julianna?”
“:She’s fine; she’s rehearsing with the leads in another room; I didn’t want to disturb them.”
“Uh-huh,” Jon said. “So, we’ll be out in two weeks. What do you need?”
Richie knew exactly what Jon meant, and asked him to bring the Alvarez Julianna had given him. He had his strat, and between those, he should be all set.
Hours later, Julianna was watching her dancers when her earpiece buzzed. It was Jerry, her main tech. “What’s up, Jer,” she asked, using the small mic that was clipped to her sleeve.
“Nothing, Ms. Cavanaugh, just wanted to let you know that Mr. Sambora had left. I don’t know if he found you or not,” he answered.
Julianna smiled. Bumming around the city, indeed. “Thanks, Jer, we missed each other, but I’ll see him later.”
“OK, Ms. C.,” Jerry said, signing off.
Julianna smiled to herself, thinking about Richie coming around and trying to keep it a secret. He was too much. She sighed happily. Things seemed finally to be perfect. Julianna was happier than she could ever remember being.
Chapter 59: Looking Ahead
The next morning, Julianna and Richie headed for Manhattan. They had the radio tuned to a classic rock station, and sang along with nearly every song they heard. Julianna laughed when “Livin’ on a Prayer” came on, and Richie pulled a face.
“What’s the matter, baby?” she asked.
“Classic rock? This song is classic rock?” Richie did indignant well. “Why not play it on an oldies station, then?”
“Yeah, well it is twenty years old,” Julianna said. “That counts as classic rock, you know. You should be flattered.”
“Flattered?”
“Yeah, not all the boy bands of the 80’s are considered classic rock.” Julianna was smirking. She knew that would push his buttons.
Richie nearly plowed Julianna’s car into the guardrail. “B-b-boy band? BOY BAND! What the –” he broke off when he heard great gales of laughter coming from the passenger seat. “You bitch!” he said, joining in her laughter. “If Jon ever heard you refer to us as a boy band, he’d KILL you!”
“No, he wouldn’t. He likes me,” Julianna countered, smugly.
“Oh yeah?” Richie pulled out his cell and pressed a button. “Yeah, man, it’s me,” he said into the phone. “So, how do you feel about us being called one of the boy bands of the 80’s?”
Richie pulled the phone away from his ear, wincing, and Julianna could hear colorful Jersey language coming from the tiny speaker. That made her start laughing again. She pulled the phone from Richie’s hand, and yelled into it. “Jon! Jon!” Finally, it got quiet on the other end. “I was kidding.”
“That was you that said that?” Jon was incredulous. “How could you? We like you!”
Julianna laughed. “Sorry, but Rich was acting all sad about hearing ‘Prayer’ on a classic rock station, and I was trying to cheer him up!”
“Well hell, Julianna, fuck him next time! Don’t call us a boy band, for Christ’s sake.” Jon hung up on Julianna’s strangled giggles.
“What’s so funny?” Richie wanted to know. “Why aren’t you in tears from the lashing you should have gotten?”
Julianna slid over closer and dropped a hand in to Richie’s lap, making him jump and jerk the steering wheel a little. “Well,” she said, whispering in his ear. “Jon said next time you need cheering up, I should just fuck you instead of calling Bon Jovi a boy band.”
“I think I’m feeling a little sad,” he said, pulling a face that would make angels weep. “Can you cheer me up?”
“Can you wait until we get ho – to the apartment?” Dammit, she thought. That slip again. She didn’t understand why her subconscious was so far ahead of where she and Richie were.
“Yes, darlin’,” he answered, his eyes soft and full of love. “I can wait until we get home.”
“Sorry about that,” Julianna said. “It just keeps popping out. I don’t know why.”
“I do,” Richie said. He checked the rearview mirror and pulled off to the side of the road. He stopped the car and turned to face Julianna, taking her hands. “You keep saying that because it’s the way we both feel. You can’t deny it – I know you feel that this is it – that whenever we’re together, it feels like home. Julianna, I think you feel that this is forever.”
Julianna gasped. “That isn’t what I meant –”
“Yeah, it is,” Richie insisted. “I feel it too. These last few days have been perfect. We’ve gotten into a routine that seems so natural, like we’ve been doing it forever.” He squeezed Julianna’s hands gently, and waited for her to look him in the eyes. “Can you honestly tell me that you aren’t thinking ahead to what happens after the show opens?”
“No, I can’t say that,” Julianna answered. She had been. She had been wondering what was going to happen when he went back to LA and she went back to Connecticut. She was afraid to plan for anything past the end of the summer, because she didn’t know if this was really as strong as she thought it was. Looking into Richie’s eyes, she saw now that it was.
“I’ve been thinking, too,” he said. “There are lots of logistical things to work out, but bottom line, I don’t want to go back to LA – not alone.”
Julianna stared. “But I can’t --” she started in protest.
Richie held up a hand. “And I’m not asking you to. I said there were logistical things to work out, and I’m working on them.” He sighed. “This really isn’t where I wanted to get into this,” he said, sighing again. “Heather was talking about relocating to New York; the California scene isn’t treating her too well right now. Plus, there’s a guy in her life,” he paused for a moment, “and he lives in New York. He wants her and Ava to move closer.”
“So, you’re thinking about moving to the city?”
“Well, if it ends up being where my daughter will be, then yeah; or close to anyway.” Richie looked at Julianna, trying to gauge her reaction to that. He really hadn’t wanted to mention anything to her until things were finalized with Heather – no sense in getting their hopes up until he had things worked out.
Julianna was thinking. On the one hand, she was ecstatic that he was considering relocating to her side of the country. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but see the regret in his face when he was talking about his ex-wife and her new love interest. She was quiet for so long, that Richie started getting nervous.
“I gotta say, Jules,” he said softly, “I thought this would please you; at least a little.”
Julianna looked at him closely. “I won’t lie to you, I’m very happy that you’re considering moving out here; I just want to make sure it’s for your daughter, and not for your ex-wife.” Richie just looked at her.
“How can you say that?”
“What was that pause all about? Do you have regrets about your ex-wife?” Julianna knew she sounded like a petulant child, and she couldn’t believe she just asked him that. This was not the time or place to get into it, but she couldn’t take it back now; and besides, she really wanted to know.
Richie considered her question. “I regret the way we handled things, but no, I don’t regret that she’s my ex-wife now. I spent a lot of time looking at our relationship.” He laced his fingers with Julianna’s and continued. “We weren’t going to get any better. Even if all the shit that happened didn’t happen, we couldn’t sustain ‘us’ anymore.” Richie searched Julianna’s face, trying to gauge what she was thinking.
Julianna nodded thoughtfully. “OK, I believe you. Sorry, old habits are hard to break, I guess.” She smiled sadly. “It’s been so long since I could trust a man implicitly; I don’t think I remember what that feels like.”
Richie’s heart was breaking for her. “I’m not asking for implicit trust. You have questions; all you have to do is ask. I will never lie to you. I do ask you to trust me, at least a little. At least trust what you’re feeling and what we have together.”
Julianna nodded. “I can do that,” she said.
“Good,” Richie replied. “Now, how much longer until we’re home?” He had lust in his voice and a twinkle in his eye.
“Not as long as it will take if we stay here yapping,” Julianna answered.
With squealing tires, Richie sped them away.
Chapter 58: A Mother's Gift
The next several days were wonderful. Richie and Julianna woke tangled in each other’s arms, words of love on their lips. They would linger in bed in the mornings, making tender love (and fucking once in a while). They would spend the day together doing little domestic things, running errands, or playing in the studio. Julianna showed Richie how to ride a horse, and they would go on rides down to the lake and sit together watching the peaceful tranquility of the water, often staying to watch the sunset together. Julianna had forgotten all about Mark’s call last week. She had never mentioned it to Richie.
They felt at home with each other, and often communicated without words; each knowing instinctively what the other needed. More often than not, they went back to the main house for dinner, the pair cooking for their friends. The last night before Richie was going to accompany Julianna to Manhattan, her parents and grandmother were joining them. Julianna had laid out a beautiful table in the dining room, and she and Richie had been cooking up a storm.
They were preparing a simple chicken parmegian dinner, with freshly-made pasta and sauce, salad, loaves of homemade garlic bread, and tiramisu for dessert. By the time Riley, Teresa, and Francesca arrived, a loaf of bread had already disappeared. Seeing buttery traces on their lips, Julianna had laughed and scolded Dave and Tico for poaching. They sheepishly admitted they hadn’t eaten all day specifically because she and Rich were cooking, and they simply couldn’t wait anymore. They licked their lips and looked as if they were going to take something else.
“Go get some wine from the cellar,” she said sternly, “and stay out of my kitchen until dinnertime.”
Jon called from the other room, “Don’t let those philistines select the wine, for God’s sake. I’ll do it.”
Julianna laughed. “Fine, but take these two with you. I don’t want them pilfering any more of my food.”
The three men went in search of wine, trading insults as only brothers could. Richie laughed at them as he came into the kitchen. “OK, the car’s packed; your parents and grandmother are settled in the great room. Tomorrow, all we have to do in the morning is take off.”
“Take off what, dear,” Julianna said saucily.
“Ha ha,” Richie said, crossing to Julianna and taking her in his arms. He growled into her ear just exactly what and how he would take things off her later, making her blush and giggle. As natural as breathing, she hooked a leg high around his hips and kissed him deeply. That’s how Jon and the others found them when they came back into the kitchen a few minutes later.
“Jesus, you two,” Jon said, “you’re cooking food we gotta eat in here, you know.”
Tico whistled. “You’re pretty flexible there, little sister.”
The pair sprang apart, and turned to face the group. Dave clapped a hand over his eyes with a mock scream. “Rich, man, I don’t wanna see that. Go get yourself together before Julianna’s parents see you, for Christ’s sake.”
Julianna blushed and turned back to the stove, stirring the sauce for lack of something else to do. She heard her mother’s voice from the other room. “Everything alright in there, cara?”
Richie sprinted from the room, making everyone laugh. “Yes, Mama, we’re fine. Jon is coming out with wine.” She gave him a pointed look, and shooed him out the door. Dave and Tico came up alongside her; sniffing appreciatively at the pot she had simmering.
“Oh, baby, that looks so good. Can’t we please have a taste?” Dave begged.
“Yeah,” Tico chimed in, his voice deep and gravelly. “Just a nibble, querida.”
Richie called from the porch, “You two had better be talking about food in there.”
Julianna just shook her head. Taking two spoons from the drawer, she gave one to each man. “Just a taste,” she said. “And no double-dipping.”
The two men dug into the sauce and barely blew on it before putting it into their mouths and moaning loudly enough to get Riley into the kitchen, glass of wine in hand. “Those are happy noises I hear,” he said, crossing to the stove. He took his own spoon from the drawer and took a small taste of the sauce. “Perfect, my dear,” he said, kissing his daughter’s cheek.
Julianna put on a haughty expression. “Of course it is, sir,” she said. “I learned from the best cook there is.”
Riley smiled broadly for a moment, then the corners of his mouth began to falter. “Wait a minute, I didn’t teach you how to make sauce…” he trailed off as his mother-in-law swept into the kitchen.
“Feh, such an ego on you,” she said. Without being asked, Julianna gave her grandmother a sample. “Yes, it is good,” she said, nodding. “You continue to do me proud.”
“Where’s Mama?” Julianna asked.
“She’s in there drinking wine with the handsome blond; he’s how do you say, charming her socks off,” Francesca answered, causing Julianna to giggle. “They’re talking opera.”
David looked stricken. “Signora, am I not a handsome blond?” Richie had come back into the kitchen in time to hear that, and was shaking his head, giving his opinion on the matter.
Francesca considered David, tilting her head this way and that. “No,” she decided. “You, my child, are cute.” She pinched his cheeks like she would a toddler’s. “Like a puppy.”
Tico and Richie laughed loudly at that, patting Dave on the head. He glowered at them and surreptitiously flipped them off.
Julianna laughed and crossed to Dave, looping an arm around his waist, and kissing his cheek. “Don’t pay any attention to them. You will always be my sweet one,” she said to him, trying to get him to laugh.
“Are you sure you wanna be with Sambora over there?” David whined, as he slung an arm around her shoulders. “I like you. I’ll treat you right, I promise.”
“I like you too, sweetie,” she said gently, “and I’m sure you’d treat me like a queen. But I love Rich.”
“Well, shit,” David answered, earning a smack on the back of the head from Francesca.
“Such language!” she scolded.
“Sorry, Signora,” David said.
Julianna looked at her grandmother, and the two women burst out laughing. Riley took pity on a very puzzled David and told him, “You have not heard coarse language m’boy until you have heard my wonderfully delicate mother-in-law curse out somebody – in two languages no less.” He laughed at David’s shocked expression. “Trust me,” Riley said, sliding a knowing glance at his daughter. “You do not want to be on the receiving end of one of her tirades.”
* * * * *
After dinner, Richie left to take Francesca home; the older woman wanting another ride in the Humvee. Riley and the other men were in the library sipping brandy, and “talking of manly things”. Teresa and her daughter were in the kitchen cleaning up.
“Isn’t this wonderfully sexist?” Julianna commented.
Teresa laughed. “Yes, it is, but I do not mind – I do not like brandy,” she said. Turning serious, Teresa considered her daughter. “I have refrained from talking about what happened, but do not think I do not know about it.”
Julianna’s hands stilled, and she nearly dropped the pot she was washing. “Mama,” she began.
Teresa held up a hand to stop Julianna. “Do not ‘Mama’ me. I am not going to lecture you. I only want to say that I am sorry you felt you couldn’t come to me with this; that I had to hear it from my own mother.”
Julianna looked sheepishly at her mother. “Mama, Nonna only knew about it because Rich called her. Frankly, I wouldn’t have told any of you, and I would have killed any of the boys if they came squealing to you. I had it under control.”
“No, you did not,” Teresa said. “But that is neither here nor there. The important things are first, that you are okay, and second, that you feel guilty for keeping this from me.” She searched her daughter’s face, saw evidence of both, and nodded. Teresa cocked her head in perfect imitation of her own mother and asked, “So, what are you wearing for opening night?” The subject change caught Julianna off guard but she was grateful for it.
Julianna looked at her mother. “I don’t know, Mama. I haven’t found the perfect gown yet. I do want it to be a gown – I’m only doing this once, and I want to do it up right. Why? Do you want to come shopping with me?”
Teresa just smiled. “Something better; I have something for you. It is out in the car. Come with me.”
The two women made their way outside by way of the library, where they stopped to check on the men. They were all happily sipping brandy and Riley was regaling them with stories of his and Dev’s antics when they were young men.
Teresa led her daughter outside to the Cadillac that her husband had owned for a dog’s age. It looked as pristine as the day he drove it off the lot more than thirty years ago. Teresa opened the back door and pulled a garment bag from off the hook. As she was straightening, Richie returned from his errand. Teresa watched as her daughter’s face lit up. Richie came to the women; his face split by a beautiful smile, and kissed each on the cheek. “What’s this?” he asked Teresa, indicating the bag.
“This is the gown for Julianna to wear opening night when she sings,” Teresa said.
Richie looked at Julianna, surprise in his face. Julianna laughed. “Nicky told her way back when. She’s good at keeping secrets, though; Daddy still doesn’t know.” Richie just shook his head.
Richie took the hanger from Teresa, who lowered the zipper and drew out a long, burgundy gown. It was trimmed at the wrists and hem with fur, with a row of tiny covered buttons running up the back. There was a slight train that would trail gracefully along the stage behind her. The front had tiny delicate sequins swirling around in a graceful pattern. “Mama, this is beautiful!” Julianna exclaimed, running her fingers over the soft fur cuffs. The color was exquisite, perfect for a fall Opening, and the gown was simply gorgeous. It would drape her like a Goddess’ robes. “Why have I never seen this before?”
“I have not worn this gown since before you were born,” she answered. “Since the night I met your father. It has been in the cedar closet for decades, but looks just as beautiful as the day it was made for me.” Teresa’s eyes closed briefly in reminiscence. The gown was made for her years ago by her best friend for the after-party on the night she met Riley. The party she never quite made it to. “In any case,” she said, opening her eyes, “I would love for you to wear it for your debut.”
“Oh, Mama, thank you. It is perfect.” She looked at Richie, and saw he was just smiling at them. He carried the gown into the house and hung it in the hall closet. The two women each took one of Richie’s arms, and he escorted them to the library. Richie joined the others in a brandy, and the women opened another bottle of wine.
Chapter 57: At The Cottage
It was a quiet ride home. Tico and David were snoozing from the carbohydrate overload. Jon, who had an amazing metabolism, was energized and once again driving. He cast a look into the rearview mirror and saw Richie and Julianna cuddled up, talking softly and kissing gently. He smiled at them, glad to see they had worked things out. He smirked and said to them, “Hey you two, no fucking around while I’m driving, please.”
Julianna reached forward to flick the back of Jon’s head. “Such language!” she scolded. “For your information,” she continued, channeling her best grandmotherly tone, “what we do is not ‘fucking’. It’s ‘making love’.”
Richie gave a startled laugh and looked at her. “Now, darlin’,” he said gently, “I think what we did in the shower, and in the garden, and,” he met Jon’s eyes in the mirror, “in the limo was technically ‘fucking’.”
Jon chuckled from the front seat when Julianna blushed, then full-on laughed when she launched into a graphic lecture about syntax and semantics, and the technical difference between making love and “good old-fashioned fucking”. She had Jon and Richie in such hysterics that they woke Tico.
“What’s so goddamned funny?” Tico asked, yawning widely and stretching. He scrubbed at his face and pushed a hand through his thick hair, making it stand up. His accent was thicker, more sexy when he was groggy, Julianna noticed.
Julianna looked at Tico, and said, with a straight face, “I’m educating these two yahoos about the difference between making love and fucking. Apparently, the fact that the two are different is news to these two.” Tico burst out laughing, and reached forward to hit David on the back of the head. David’s head fell forward and the truck’s momentum around a corner had it smacking into his door’s window.
“Wake up D,” he said. “You’ve gotta hear this.”
Jon complained, “Now Teek, man, why couldn’t you have woken me up like that? Why try to suffocate me?”
“Because it’s fun to torture you,” Tico said to him.
David had woken up somewhat and half-turned to face Richie and Julianna in the back seat. He was rubbing the side of his head and scowling at Tico. “What do I have to hear? What the hell is going on? Jesus, man, I was having a helluva dream.”
Julianna sighed dramatically and launched into her lecture again, and had them all laughing so hard that when they pulled into the driveway of the house, nobody noticed the car parked across the street, watching. They all tumbled from the truck, laughing and carrying on, arms around each other, oblivious to the fact that they were having their pictures taken.
* * * * *
Later that night, Julianna helped Richie pack his things. Although she was feeling better, she didn’t want to tempt fate by sleeping there again tonight. Richie didn’t want to sleep without her, so he was packing to move to the cottage with her. Dave and Tico sat in Richie’s sitting room, complaining the whole time that she was taking away their cook. How would they survive? They kept up the banter and complaining, trying to make deals with her, and making her laugh so hard that her sides hurt. In no time at all, they had the room packed up. Julianna suspected they were keeping her mind busy so she wouldn’t be concentrating on where she was. Her heart squeezed a little at their thoughtfulness. As she passed, she trailed a gentle hand across their faces, and made eye contact with them, mouthing ‘thank you’ to each in turn.
When the pair returned to the cottage, they were suddenly shy. This was the first time they were really alone together since getting back from the city. Richie thought that they had gotten back to where they were before, but didn’t want to push. Julianna didn’t know if her advances would be welcome; she felt really stupid about the past few days. She sighed and looked at Richie, who was leaning against the door, watching her.
“Well, what now?” she said.
Richie looked at her, tilting his head to one side. “I’m up for whatever,” he said, shrugging.
Involuntarily, Julianna’s gaze traveled downward and she gasped. He was up for whatever. He just stood there, however, letting the decision be hers.
Julianna approached him slowly.
Richie straightened from the wall.
When she was standing toe to toe with him, she leaned in to gently kiss his lips. It took all of Richie’s control not to haul her against him and kiss her senseless. Instead, he threaded his hands into Julianna’s hair, and held her as he kissed her back, deepening the kiss and tilting her head to give him better penetration with his tongue. Julianna groaned against Richie, and wound her arms around his neck, pulling herself flush with him. Richie still caressed her head with his hands, his thumbs dampened by tears leaking from Julianna’s eyes.
“Rich,” she said to him, her voice a hoarse whisper.
“What is it, darlin’,” he answered his own voice a breathless shadow of itself. He had a tenuous hold on his control.
“I love you so much,” she said, a moment before she wrapped her arms around his neck, jumped up to wrap her legs around his waist, and tangled her tongue around his.
Richie groaned into Julianna’s mouth and turned them so he could lean her against the door. He ground against her until she ripped her mouth from his to scream his name, shattering against him. Richie leaned his forehead against Julianna’s, breathless with need, and said, “I love you too. So much it’s scary.”
“Can you forgive me?” Julianna already knew the answer, but she needed to hear the words.
“Darlin’, there’s nothing to forgive.” Julianna gave him a look, and he sighed. “Alright; all is forgiven, my love.”
“Thank you.” She kissed him deeply. “Thank you for not giving up on me and for putting up with me these last days. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“Julianna, to give up on you would be to give up on me,” Richie said. “I can’t say it any plainer than that. And for the record, I’m not gonna do that again.” He kissed her lightly. “You’re pretty much stuck with me for the duration.”
Julianna smiled. “I’m glad. So damned glad.” She mashed her mouth into his in celebration.
Julianna still clung to him like a monkey, and Richie walked them through the house to her bedroom – amazed that he didn’t crash them into anything. He brought her to the bed and laid her gently on it. He stretched out beside her, kissing her face and neck, running his hands all over her body. She was letting her hands roam too, re-learning the contours of her lover’s body. They slowly stripped each other, and Richie positioned himself over Julianna. Kissing her gently, he eased into her body and stroked slowly in and out of her. They locked eyes and watched each other go over the edge, eyes clouding with passion, reaffirming their love, never having said another word.
Chapter 56: Dinner
Dinner was a loud, boisterous affair on a regular family night. Since it was Julianna’s last dinner until after her show opened, every last person who was invited came to wish her luck. The result was a cacophony of voices that made it all but impossible to have a quiet word with anyone.
Richie and Julianna were looking around at the sheer number of people gathered. They all pretty much just accepted Richie as Julianna’s ‘boyfriend’, but there were a few that were star-struck, and kept sneaking glances at him. He chuckled. These people had no clue that the rest of the band was here tonight. The others were still in the kitchen. They were planning to try to just slip in to the crowd once everyone had gathered. Richie smiled to himself. That was gonna be interesting. Jon could never just “slip into the crowd”.
Nonna kept an eye on Julianna, still showing some of the disapproval from last week, but her expression softened when Richie came up behind Julianna and put a hand on her shoulder. She could see that the pair had worked through things, and it did her heart good to see it.
Richie leaned down to whisper in Julianna’s ear. “Was your grandmother giving you the evil eye just then?” He made a show of trembling. “Scary thought.”
Julianna laughed. “No, silly, that was her disappointed face. If she gave me the evil eye, I’d be writhing on the floor in pain right about now.”
Richie laughed at her. “You’re too much.” He couldn’t quite tell if she was kidding, though. He knew a thing or two about Italian grandmothers. “Just to be safe, though, I’m gonna go make nice. She likes me.” He dropped a juicy kiss on Julianna’s neck and went to greet Francesca.
“Buena suerte, Signora,” Richie said, kissing the old woman’s cheeks.
Francesca grabbed onto Richie’s hands and pulled him in for a hug. “You will call me Nonna, like my grandchildren do. You have earned that right.” She pushed back from Richie, but kept hold of his forearms. “’Grazie’ is not enough for what you have done for this family. But, it will have to do.”
“Signo – Nonna – no thanks are necessary.” Richie looked into Francesca’s face. “I love your granddaughter. What hurts her hurts me. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.” He turned to glance at his love, who was talking with her brothers. “I’m just glad she’s not mad at me for butting in.”
“Ah, she is stubborn, but not too stubborn to know when she is wrong,” Francesca said with a chuckle. “Although, for Julianna to know when she is wrong, sometimes it takes a slap, yes?”
Richie laughed. He resembled that remark. He looked around the room at Julianna’s family gathered there. Many faces he recognized from the last time he was there. But, there were so many new faces. These people were all there to give Julianna support and well wishes for her show. She was an incredibly blessed woman to have so many people in her life who loved her. He felt lucky to be included with them.
He saw the kitchen door open and watched as his friends tried to slip unobtrusively from the kitchen.
David came first, and had luck in running into one of Julianna’s brothers, and pulled him aside. Since he was fair, he blended in well with the Irish side of Julianna’s family.
Tico, with his dark coloring, was able to pass for Italian and blend in with Teresa’s side of the family. While people cast him a “which uncle is that?” look, nobody really thought twice.
When Jon entered the room however, somehow every female’s head in the room turned toward him – even Julianna’s. Richie shook his head. He never understood just what it was, but Jon was literally a chick magnet. Women couldn’t help but be drawn to him. Every female in the place, from Nonna to the youngest female cousin still in diapers, had her eyes locked on his best friend.
Richie chuckled and thought about going to rescue Jon, seeing that he looked uncomfortable – something you didn’t notice unless you knew him well. While Jon loved the attention when he was on stage, Richie knew that when he was trying to be ‘just John’, this kind of attention made him feel twitchy. Julianna noticed, which Richie thought was pretty amazing, and was making her way to his side. Richie decided he’d let her handle it.
“Welcome to the madness,” Julianna said to him, laughing softly. She looked around, startled to see Dave and Tico chatting with some of her cousins. “How do you do that?” she exclaimed. “I had my back to the kitchen door, and I didn’t notice Dave or Teek coming in, but I instinctively turned when you came through the door.” Jon blushed and shrugged, and just for a moment, he looked like he wanted to bolt back into the kitchen. Julianna latched onto his arm, kissed his cheek, looped a hand around his neck and none too discretely dragged him close for a sniff. Jon jumped a little at this brief contact.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jon was incredulous. He couldn’t recall ever being sniffed by a woman before.
“Just seeing if you were wearing some sort of ‘come and get it, baby’ cologne,” Julianna answered, making Jon laugh out loud. He wrapped his arms around Julianna and gave her a smacking kiss square on the mouth.
“Thanks, I needed that,” he said, as his laughter subsided into chuckles. “Now, introduce me around.” He looked around at all the women, young and old, just staring at him. “Jesus,” he said under his breath.
Julianna brought him around to everyone, and he exchanged handshakes or kisses with most people. He was very outgoing and comfortable with himself, and once he got over his initial shock, he relaxed and fit right in. Once Julianna’s family got over their shock, they treated Jon and the guys just like everyone else, trading insults and sharing jokes with them.
Soon it was time to bring out the food, and everyone, including Richie and the other guys, helped bring out heaping platters of meats and pastas, baskets of bread, and countless bottles of wine. The men found themselves spread around the room, engaged in conversation ranging from football to politics to cars to music. All of them laughed and talked comfortably, and felt like they knew these people forever. They were that quickly accepted into the fold simply by their association with Julianna. No questions, no second thoughts.
Jon envied his friend this new family he’d found.
After dinner, Teresa stood and the room instantly quieted.
Jon, who had moved to sit next to Richie, looked at him and whispered, “I see where Julianna gets her commanding presence from.” Richie grinned and nodded.
Riley rose to stand next to his wife, and they raised their glasses. “To our Julianna and to Tommy & Gina.” Teresa said, looking at her daughter. “Break a leg, cara.”
A chorus of cheers went up around the room, and Francesca stood to add to her daughter’s words. “And to our family and friends,” she caught Richie’s eye, “old and new. May you never know loneliness; never live without laughter or love, and may you always have joy in your hearts.” A ‘hear hear’ echoed through the room.
“Julianna,” Maddie called from the back of the room, “will you sing something for us? Not something from the show, because I don’t want you to spoil it for us, but can you sing something else?” She blushed and had a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “David said he’d accompany you.” When Julianna saw who was sitting next to Maddie, she laughed. She’d bet dollars to donuts that Dave had put her up to the request. Everyone clapped in encouragement.
“Okay, okay,” she said, rising.
Julianna cast a look down at Richie, who was grinning up at her like a fool. He took her hand and kissed it gently, letting his tongue run over her knuckles, making her shiver. Everyone followed them to the other room, where it looked like her brothers had been busy, setting up all the instruments. She laughed and shook her head. She consulted with David about what she wanted to sing, and how she wanted to do it, and he nodded. “I’ll follow your lead. I have done this before, you know.” She swatted him on the shoulder, called him a brat, and turned to take the microphone. Closing her eyes, and after clearing her throat, she began to sing as sweet as any angel ever had.
There’s a saying old that says love is blind
Still we’re often told, ‘seek and ye shall find’.
So I’m going to seek a certain lad I’ve had in mind
Julianna’s eyes sought out Richie’s and locked on, skipping the next little bit. Her voice was pure and soft and sensual, and more than one person cast glances at Richie, since that’s where Julianna’s attention was.
There’s a somebody I’m longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who’ll watch over me
I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood
I know I could be very good
To one who’ll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
Jon yelled out, “damn straight!” making everyone laugh. Richie flipped him off, then remembering where he was, ducked his head with a sheepish “Sorry.”
To my heart he carries the key
Won’t you tell him to put on some speed,
Follow my lead, oh how I need
Someone to watch over me.
David played the bridge, and Julianna sang the chorus one more time. When she was done, the room broke into applause. David stood and took Julianna in his arms, and dramatically dipped her over his arm and kissed her. Richie yelled from his seat aside the stage, “Hands off my woman, Rashbaum!” Everyone laughed, and Julianna blushed.
When Julianna and David left the stage, her cousins were all looking at each other, then throwing elbows at and whispering to Maddie, who seemed to be ‘in’ with these guys. Richie saw what was happening, and caught Jon’s eye. Jon had seen what was going on too, and nodded. He stood. “Folks,” Jon said, “we have had a fine time breaking bread with you tonight. As thanks for letting us share your family, we’d like to play a little, if that’s OK.”
He hardly got the words out of his mouth, when Julianna’s cousins started squealing and cheering and clapping. Jon laughed. The four went on stage, and played for a while, some songs of theirs, and some others. Julianna and her brothers joined them for some of the set, and everyone was singing along.
When they were done, Richie leaned over to Jon and said something. Jon nodded and addressed everyone. “Hey guys, Richie would like to do one more, and dedicate it to Julianna. Jules, stay here, baby.” To Julianna’s delight, she sat at Richie’s feet, and looked up into his eyes, seeing love and adoration in them. He started playing softly, and her breath caught in her throat. He was singing “I’ll Be There For You”. To her. And he meant every word – she could see it in his face.
I’ll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe, I wanna be the air for you
I’ll be there for you
I’d live and I’d die for you
Steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can’t say what love can do
I’ll be there for you.
When he was done, Richie blindly stuck out his arm, waiting for someone to take the guitar from him. Nicky grabbed it before Richie could drop it. Richie reached for Julianna, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her stupid, right there in front of everyone. There were catcalls and whistles, until Riley finally put a stop to it, rising and clearing his throat. “Let’s go clean up then, everyone.” There were good natured groans and general rumblings, but they all left the room.
Julianna and Richie, still wrapped in each others arms and locked in a passionate kiss, were oblivious to it all.
Chapter 55: Lunchmeat and Leftovers
Once inside the house in daylight, Julianna admitted to herself that being there wasn’t that bad. She trailed Richie into the kitchen, which was largely unchanged from how she remembered it. She took comfort at the familiarity of it. “Hey guys,” she said as she came into the kitchen. “Rich and I are making lunch.”
To their credit, neither Tico nor Dave made a big deal about Julianna being in the house. “Thank God,” Tico said, dramatically. “We’re nearly starving.”
“Can it, drama queen,” Julianna said, her head buried in the fridge.
Tico looked at Richie and raised an eyebrow, silently asking if everything was OK. Richie nodded and smiled.
“OK,” Julianna said, coming out of the icebox. “You’ve got pretty slim pickin’s here, boys. I could only find lunchmeat and leftovers. What the hell have you been doing for food since you came back?”
Dave answered. “Lunchmeat and leftovers, mostly,” he said with a straight face, making Julianna laugh.
Julianna shook her head. “Boys, what am I going to do with you?”
“You can start by feeding us,” Jon said, with a playful wink, “and we can go from there.”
“In your dreams, sweetheart,” Julianna threw back at him. She looked at the other two men. “I simply can’t feed you with what’s in this house,” she said, disapprovingly. “My larder is just as bare. Let me think.” Julianna paced around a little, touching this and that, reacquainting herself with the kitchen she grew up with. She snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it. Boys, get your shoes and get in the truck. We’re going to Francesca’s.”
“You’re going to get your grandmother to cook for us?” Richie asked.
“No, you goof, we’ll raid Daddy’s kitchen. The restaurant is closed today, and he’s there cooking for tonight; we can be his guinea pigs. He won’t mind.” She looked around, exasperated that nobody was moving,
“Do I have to light a fire under your asses? Let’s go!” she ordered. “I thought you were starving!”
Jon and David hastened to comply with Julianna’s order. Tico hung back, and waited for the others to leave. Richie caught his eye before he left the room. Tico just smiled. He gave Julianna a big hug, and whispered in her ear, “Welcome back, little sister.”
Julianna, with tears in her eyes, hugged him back. “Thanks, Teek.”
Everyone piled into the truck and set off for the restaurant. The half hour trip took no time at all, since everyone was joking and laughing. Jon was driving, with Dave in the passenger seat. There were only two other seats, so Julianna had to sit on Richie’s lap, which was fine by her. She was so grateful to these men for just accepting her, warts and all, into their lives. The least she could do is repay them with some of the best food that would ever cross their palates.
“I gotta warn you,” Julianna said. “There could be a couple random cousins hanging around helping. I’ll ask them to be discreet, but they’re young,” she paused dramatically, “and they’re girls.”
“How young?” Jon asked with a sly smile in his voice.
Julianna reached forward to smack Jon on the back of the head. “Too young for you, buddy. They may call you The Kidd, but you’re way too old for these girls.” Julianna emphasized ‘way’.
“Jesus, Julianna,” Jon complained, checking his reflection in the mirror. “I’m not all that old. And watch the hair. I do have a reputation to protect, you know.”
Julianna snickered. “You are such a prima donna,” she said in a snooty voice. Julianna looked at Richie with mischief in her eyes. Richie nodded, and she leaned forward, put both hands in Jon’s hair, stopping for a moment to savor the feel of it, and mussed it up. Julianna collapsed back against Richie in a fit of contagious giggles. Soon, all of them were laughing.
“Son of a bitch! What was that for?” Jon was laughing too hard for the epithet to have any sting. If anything, his outburst only made them laugh harder.
“Stop,” Tico said, wiping tears from his eyes. “You’re gonna make me piss my pants!”
“Not in my truck you don’t,” Richie said. “Tie a knot in it.”
“Show me how, asshole,” Tico retorted.
“Screw you, T,” Richie said.
“That the best you’ve got Sambora?” Dave called from the front seat. “I expected better from you.”
“I’m weak from hunger. I’ll think of something better later.”
“GUYS!” Julianna had to yell to be heard over the insults and taunts being traded among them. “Zip it. We’re here.”
They parked around back, and Julianna used her keys to open the kitchen door. “Hi Daddy!” she called, as she led the guys into the large space. The kitchen was set up like a standard restaurant kitchen, with large sinks lined up along one wall, an industrial sized dishwasher, huge Sub-Zero refrigerators, walk in freezers, and miles of stainless-steel counters. The Viking stoves had pot racks hanging over them, loaded with beautiful stainless and copper pots. One of the counters had stools lined up in front of it.
The smells of fresh bread and bubbling sauce and Italian spices hit them dead on, and had all of the guys salivating. Tico groaned, and David even rubbed his hands together with glee.
“Julianna! What a pleasant surprise!” Riley turned from the stove at the sound of the door opening. He hurried over to give his daughter a kiss. “What brings you here in the middle of the afternoon? With friends, no less?”
“Daddy, these are Rich’s band mates Jon, Tico, and David.” Each man shook hands with Riley.
“Ah yes,” Riley said. “Dev told me about these new friends of yours. Big-time rock stars, huh?” The four of them nodded unselfconsciously. Riley shrugged. “No matter. Dev said you were good people, and in the end, it’s who you are, not what you do to make a living, that matters.” He poured each of them a glass of an excellent Cabernet, and went back to stirring something delicious-smelling on the stove. “So my darling daughter,” Riley said, “what’s up?”
Julianna indicated the four men. “These guys here are renting the house, and they are doing your kitchen shame by filling the refrigerator there with nothing but lunchmeat and leftovers.”
Riley made a dramatic gasp, making them all laugh. “That’s terrible,” he said, a horrified expression on his face. “Julianna, you must evict them immediately. It’s bad karma to be in that kitchen and not treat it properly.”
Julianna laughed. “Daddy, I’ve already properly chastised them. I’ve brought them here to be your tasters – for whatever you’re preparing for tonight.”
“Ach, girl, you think my fares need to be sampled before they are served?” He gestured haughtily toward the door. “Away with you!” Riley faked indignation well.
Julianna joined the improvisation. Not for nothing did she take drama classes as part of her curriculum. “But, Daddy, these men are starving! Look at them.” She went to each in turn and walked around them, turning them this way and that. She looked at her father. “There’s not a decent lump on any of them! Clearly they haven’t had a good meal in weeks! You can’t be so callous as to turn your back on their plight.”
Jon laughed at their antics, and chimed in. “I’ll have you know young lady, that many, many people have admired the lump I sit on,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with it.” He turned around and stuck the lump in question out. He turned his head to glance at it. “In fact,” he said, “I’d say it’s more than decent.”
Tico took up the conversation. “It’s true. I’ve spent most of my life looking at it. It’s not bad, and that’s a straight guy’s perspective.” He turned and lined his lump up next to Jon’s. “Mine isn’t bad, either.”
Riley laughed loud and hard. “Alright,” he said to Tico, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You have earned you and your friends a meal.” He shook his head. “Honestly, not a humble one in the bunch, is there?”
“Nope,” Julianna answered. Slipping a look at Richie, she added, “But, after more than 20 years, I think they’re entitled, don’t you?” Richie spit out the wine he was drinking, choking back a laugh as he heard his words thrown back in his face. “Daddy, what are you making?” Julianna asked, changing the subject. “It smells to die for.”
“It smells to kill for,” Dave amended, looking at his friends through squinty eyes. “Take notice, boys,” he said, making them laugh.
Riley shook his head. “Julianna, I’ll only tell you if your friends promise to stay with us for dinner.”
Julianna looked warily at the guys. “Uh, Daddy…” She had just started speaking when Jon interrupted.
“Mr. Cavanaugh, it would be our great pleasure to stay for dinner.” He nodded at Julianna’s questioning look. “Rich has assured us that your family are all good people. We’d be honored to join your family tonight, right guys?”
Nods and grunts were the response. They would probably agree to wear ladies’ clothing if they could eat what they were smelling, Julianna thought. Riley considered Jon’s words. Julianna laughed. “Daddy, they’ll stay, they’ll stay. For the love of God, man, feed them!”
While Riley was dishing out heavy potato gnocchi and ladling on the sauce, Teresa chose that moment to sweep into the kitchen. Her expression changed from surprise to pleasure as she saw her daughter holding court in the kitchen. “Cara! How lovely to see you!” She crossed to her daughter and wrapped her in an embrace, taking the time to whisper in her ear, “Mama told me everything, but you look OK, so I’ll leave it for now.” Teresa turned to Richie. “And Riccardo! How nice you came back to us. Are these your famous friends? The ones you play with?”
The ones in question were all sitting at the counter, shoveling food into their mouths like they hadn’t eaten in months. Richie shook his head at their lack of manners. He introduced each of them, but none had given more than a nod in acknowledgement. “They are, Signora, and I apologize for their abysmal manners.” Behind Teresa’s back, Tico flipped him off. Richie ignored him and continued. “Julianna brought us here because we are putting the kitchen in the house to shame, and have nothing decent to eat. Your husband has graciously invited us to stay dinner.”
“He threatened not to feed us, actually, unless we agreed,” David said, his mouth full of pasta.
Teresa laughed, and crossed to David. She put a soft hand on his shoulder. “You eat like my Salvatore: with gusto and with pleasure. Of course you will stay!” she said, indignant at the thought that they would not. “But, really, are you sure? You know that Maddie and her cousins will not stop staring at you or pestering you to play.”
Jon approached Teresa, took her hand, and kissed her knuckles. “Signora, it is the very least we can do to repay your hospitality.” He looked at her with his sparkling blue eyes and wide, white smile, and Teresa blushed.
Julianna laughed, shaking her head. She just didn’t get it. “Watch it, Jon. Daddy has a very large cleaver and two walk in freezers.”
Riley laughed at his daughter. “Julianna, a pretty young face may turn your Mama’s head, but her heart and soul belong to me.”
“They do at that, cara mia,” Teresa said, looking adoringly at her husband. “They do at that.”
