Chapter 48

Sarah looked up when her husband walked into the bedroom, she smiled at him, hoping everything was alright.

Richie was surprised she had started packing for him. Daniel was playing on the bed, it didn't seem like he had been very helpful. He sat down on the bed and pulled Daniel into his lap.

"Everything okay?" Sarah asked him, putting the shirts down that she had just grabbed from the closet.
"Yeah."
"Why was she having a panic attack?"
Richie shrugged. "I think she was overwhelmed with emotions. She wants me to go and do what makes me happy but also wants me to stay home."
Sarah nodded. "I know that feeling."
"I just tried to explain to her that we sometimes have to let go of the ones we love so they and ourselves can grow."
"Yeah." She agreed to that. "Like Caleb going to university."
"Exactly." Richie said. "You started packing for me?"
"I figured I'd help out." Sarah said, showing what she had all packed. The basics, underwear and socks so far. She had just grabbed some tshirts from the closet to add to his suitcases before she would go back for more.
"Thanks." He smiled at her. "That's really helpful."
She shrugged. "You were a little busy with Ava anyway and then you have to drive her to Heather's so thought I would save you some time as well."

Richie got up from the bed again, letting Daniel sit on the bed alone as he walked over to his wife, wrapping his arms around her, holding her close and nuzzling her neck.

"I appreciate you so much." He said, brushing her long blonde hair aside to cup her cheeks with his hands and holding her to kiss.
"I know that." She smiled at him again but let him go. "Are these tshirts good or do you want other ones?"
"Doesn't really matter." He said. "Did you add the new ones you got? I didn't get to wear those yet."
"Got those right here." Sarah went through the tshirts and pulled it out to show him. "Do you want them all or maybe just the red one?" She suggested, holding it for him.
He frowned, questioning it.
Sarah chuckled. "What?"
"It's brown."
She chuckled again. "It's red sweetie." She confirmed.
"Must be a pretty dark red."
"I guess it's burgundy but I assure you it is red." She tried to convince him. "You would look really good in it."
"Okay."
"Besides, you'd look good in brown as well." Sarah added the stack of tshirt to his suitcase.
"I thought I just looked good in everything?"
"Or nothing?" She suggestively raised an eyebrow at him, only for him to repeat the gesture.

Richie helped her finish his packing by picking out the rest of his clothes and letting Sarah add them to his suitcases. She made sure to roll all his clothes up so more would fit inside. Beside his clothes, he made sure he got all of his toiletries as well. He'd leave his electronics until tomorrow so he could still use them if he needed to.

Once finished packing, he walked over to Ava's room, ready to drive her to her other home.

Sarah was left alone with her two sons and did their usual Saturday evening routine, until Richie was able to join them. SNL had become a regular in the household. A trustworthy show for all of them to enjoy during the weekend.

During the second commercial break Richie walked back into the living room to join his family.

"Hey, where's my popcorn?" He complained when he noticed both Sarah and Noah with a bag of it.
Sarah looked over her shoulder, up at him. "Pantry." She said.
He stuck his tongue out at her and missed her retaliating as he left for the kitchen.

Only a few minutes later he sat down next to her and Sarah snuggled up against him with Daniel in her lap.

As he watched the comedy show, he admired his family, his wife close to him, his sons nearby. It might not be a complete family picture in this moment but that didn't change how he felt about leaving them tomorrow.