Chapter 95

Once the plane was in the air for their short flight, it was fairly quiet. Each family huddled in a group, catching up on the last few weeks before heading home and spending time together. The same went for Sarah and Richie, they sat in the back so Daniel could sleep in his father's arm.

Sarah looked over at her husband, thinking of the conversation she had overheard before they had left for the airport.

"What did Jon mean when he said more women than he could count?"
Richie met her gaze, slightly worried. "He meant that he can't count." He tried to dismiss the conversation with a slight joke but according to Sarah's look, he wouldn't be able to do so. "He shouldn't have said anything." Richie added on.
"But he did." Sarah pointed out just as quickly.
"Yeah, but that was decades ago when I was like 26 years old, being an idiot with a lot of spare time and a rock star title with probably a little bit too much weed and booze."
She frowned at him, not really sure what to think.
"We weren't all in college, going to medical school." He reminded her.
"I guess." She shrugged, a little unsure of what she thought. "Could you even count how many women?"
"Honestly? I wouldn't have a clue, plus, it's not like I remember those days clearly." After all, there had been a lot of weed and alcohol. "It was a long time ago." Richie tried to make her not worry because that time was very far behind him after all. "I've got a loving wife, I'm good."
"Yeah, I guess."
He sat up a little so he could look at her while he tried not to move Daniel. "What?"
"It just made me think you've been with a lot of women and I've only been with two men."
"So?" Richie asked confused by now, what did it really matter at this point in their relationship?
Sarah shrugged in thought. "I don't know, it just made me think."
"Doesn't mean I love you any less." He clarified, making sure she really did know that. "You're the only woman I'd ever need."

Not much later the airplane started their descent to the airport in New York. Having been on so many planes, he could sleep as soon as he was on one until they landed but with Sarah, he stayed awake, knowing he'd have to hold her hand as they landed. Which he would always happily do.

Their driver had offered to take Daniel's car seat to the car as soon as they had walked into the terminal, Sarah now carrying their son. Richie gladly passed the seat to the driver and assured Sarah to go ahead with Daniel so he could sleep while he'd get their bags. He didn't mind waiting with Jon, David and Tico, it gave him some extra time to bug them before not being able to for a couple days.

Their bags didn't take all that long to be taken off the plane and brought to the carousel. Everyone stood waiting, ready to head home in the middle of the night. Their drive to Point Pleasant would still take them another hour, by then, everyone else would be home. At least they weren't flying to the West coast.

Richie, now on his own, pushed his cart with suitcases outside, finding their driver waiting for him. As soon as he walked up, the driver hopped out and loaded the bags for him so he could go sit with Sarah and Daniel. He was glad to see Daniel was still asleep but a little surprised Sarah was as well, he tried to shut his door as quietly as possible.

"Sarah?" He asked gently an hour later, they had just turned onto his mother's street and would pull up to the house in just a moment. "We're here." He told her quietly, not wanting to wake Daniel up just yet. If he could get him out of his seat and into his bed without waking him up, he'd prefer that.

Sarah blinked a few times but as soon as she looked outside the window she recognized the driveway they pulled into. The lights in the living room window were still on, as well as the little outside light that would guide their path to the door.

"Your mom's still awake?" She asked, a little surprised, it was two in the morning after all.
"Or she left the lights on for us." He looked over at Daniel, checking if he was still sleeping. "I'll take him to bed right away, you can head upstairs too and I'll help the driver."
"Are you sure?"

As he carried Daniel to the front door, he realized it wouldn't be that easy as the door was being opened for them.
His mom smiling cheerfully at them. "Hi sweetie." She greeted him as he walked into the hallway and kicked off his shoes, knowing better than not to.
"Hi mom." He said quickly. "I'm taking Daniel to bed quickly and I'll be right back." His words left him as he went up the stairs.

Sarah wasn't able to follow him as she followed Joan to the living room, not having the heart to tell her she wanted to go to sleep. Instead, she accepted the drink Joan offered her and sat down on the couch.

A minute later, they could hear Richie come back down the stairs, straight out the door to help carry their bags inside. They were all dropped in the hallway before he joined them in the living room, plopping down with a satisfactory sigh on the couch next to Sarah. Glad to finally be home, overnight travel was always more stressful but being at home with his mom in Jersey was worth it.

"Why are you still awake?" He looked over at his mother.
"I couldn't go to sleep and let you arrive to the house without me here to greet you." She told him sweetly.
"You must be tired though."
She smiled at him. "You're worth it, I can always get more sleep."