Chapter 70

He found her down the hallway, in the half bathroom.

"Are you okay?" He knocked on the door, before peeking in.
Sarah looked up at him from the floor. "Yeah." She stood up as Richie walked into the bathroom.
"I was waiting to tell you when we were alone."
He raised an eyebrow in question. "So?" He asked, hopeful.
Sarah smiled and nodded, then reached up to kiss him.

He helped her to the couch in the living room as she didn't want to be near the smell of eggs again.

"Can you text Ava for me?" He asked before leaving. "Ask her to come over to pick up her birthday present. If you text her, it'll be less obvious."
Sarah smiled at him, adoring how cute he was. "I will."

Once in the kitchen, Richie made her some toast and a nice hot cup of tea, just the way she liked it. The three boys were having their breakfast already.

"Is mom okay?" Caleb asked.
"She's just not feeling well." Richie explained, not sure if he should tell them.
"That sucks."
Richie agreed to that. "Noah, ready for school? I'll drive you."

He grabbed a plate for Sarah and carried it and the cup of tea to the living room for her.

"Ava said she's on her way." She accepted the cup of tea and wrapped her hands around it. "Is Daniel okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine. Caleb's helping him."
"Our kids are going to have a lot of experience before they have their own kids."
Richie shrugged. "They'll also know not to make any now."
Sarah smiled at him again. "I'm still a mom, I don't need to be a grandma yet."
He sat down on the couch next to her. "Exactly, another 10 years before that, please."
"At least."

After breakfast Caleb and Daniel moved to the living room as well, catching up on the last 6 weeks as Noah got ready for school.

The doorbell disturbed their conversation but before anyone could get there to open it, a key from the outside did the job for them as Ava walked in alone.

They all watched her as she walked into the living room, which made her instantly suspicious.

"Whaaat?" She asked, then realized. "Daddy!" She said happily, rushing over to hug him.
He hugged her tight. "Happy birthday Princess."
Ava pulled back a second later. "I thought you were in Vancouver?"
"Yeah but seeing you on your birthday was something I'd rather do."
"What about the tour? Will you be there for my party tomorrow?" She asked excitedly.
"I have to fly back tomorrow morning to be there in time for the next concert but you can stay here tonight, if you want."
"I do want." She hugged him again.

Noah finally made his way downstairs, confused at what had just happened, he had missed it all.

Even though it was it was Ava's birthday, it was still a school day.

"Ready for school?" Richie asked them both when Noah sat down on the other couch. "You're wearing pants and a jacket?" He asked Noah. "It's warm out, why not wear shorts? Ditch the jacket."
Noah shrugged. "It's fine."
"Alright." Richie said, thinking the kid would get too hot at school at some point today. He stood up and got his car keys before kissing Sarah goodbye. "Off to school." He announced, leading the teenagers out the door.