Sarah gave him a smile. "Morning, how did you sleep? How are you feeling?"
She had added the last question the whole week. Her concern, made him smile. "I'm feeling good, ready for our week."
A little while later he was down in the kitchen, wearing the same pj pants but with a clean tshirt today, making waffles. An exception on a Friday morning. He was making up for not making breakfast all week.
The first waffle he finished, went to Daniel, happily tearing pieces off of it as he started eating.
It didn't take long for the teenagers to make their way down and join them for breakfast. Which meant Richie started brewing another cup of coffee, this one for Ava before he went to sit down at the table with his own mug.
"Are you coming to the airport with me?" He asked Sarah over Daniel between them.
She frowned, thinking before she answered. "It'll be close to Daniel's nap time."
"You're picking grandma up before we get home?" Ava asked surprised, looking over from the corner where she was waiting on her coffee to finish.
"Yeah, she wanted to be here before you got home from school." Richie explained even though he was sure he had mentioned the flight schedule before.
When her coffee finished, Ava sighed, "I just like picking her up with you," and walked over to the table to start her breakfast.
The first waffle he finished, went to Daniel, happily tearing pieces off of it as he started eating.
It didn't take long for the teenagers to make their way down and join them for breakfast. Which meant Richie started brewing another cup of coffee, this one for Ava before he went to sit down at the table with his own mug.
"Are you coming to the airport with me?" He asked Sarah over Daniel between them.
She frowned, thinking before she answered. "It'll be close to Daniel's nap time."
"You're picking grandma up before we get home?" Ava asked surprised, looking over from the corner where she was waiting on her coffee to finish.
"Yeah, she wanted to be here before you got home from school." Richie explained even though he was sure he had mentioned the flight schedule before.
When her coffee finished, Ava sighed, "I just like picking her up with you," and walked over to the table to start her breakfast.
"I'm sorry." Richie said, understanding she was disappointed but there wasn't anything he could change now. Most likely, Joan was already at the airport. "She'll be just as happy to see you after school." He assured her before looking over at Sarah to continue their conversation.
Sarah thought about his earlier question. "It'll depend on when Daniel wants to nap." She said.
Richie nodded, accepting that answer.
Sarah thought about his earlier question. "It'll depend on when Daniel wants to nap." She said.
Richie nodded, accepting that answer.
After breakfast they said goodbye to Ava and Noah who were off to school. Sarah insisted on cleaning up the kitchen and getting some cleaning done before Joan would arrive. Richie made his best efforts to offer to help her to do so but Sarah insisted he should still take it easy and sent him off to the living room with Daniel. He picked Daniel up out of his high chair and carried him to the living room, walking past the sitting area towards the corner where all Daniel's toys lived opposite of where Richie's toys were housed.
"What should we do?" He asked Daniel, wanting a reply from him but not expecting one.
"Tar."
He looked down in shock at his son in his arms. "What?" He asked, did he just hear that?
"Tar."
"Tar? What's tar?" He asked confused, wondering if he'd even heard his son right and what he meant to say to begin with.
"What should we do?" He asked Daniel, wanting a reply from him but not expecting one.
"Tar."
He looked down in shock at his son in his arms. "What?" He asked, did he just hear that?
"Tar."
"Tar? What's tar?" He asked confused, wondering if he'd even heard his son right and what he meant to say to begin with.
He watched as Daniel squirmed in his arms, trying to get down. Obliging him, Richie let him down on the ground, this time he didn't pull up his legs and stood on his feet as his father let go of him. Richie was dumbfounded again as Daniel took a few steps closer to his guitar stands. He only kept a few in the living room for whenever he had the urge to play something and the boy had been taught not to go near them. Daniel stopped a couple feet away from the stands.
"Tar." He repeated, looking at the guitars.
Richie shook his head, sure he was seeing and hearing things. He went and picked up his son. "Guitar?" He asked him, still surprised at getting an answer to begin with, followed by steps. He picked up the acoustic guitar and held on to it as he carried Daniel to the kitchen to find Sarah. "Sarah?" He asked as he walked over.
"Yes?" She asked, looking up at her husband, a cleaning cloth in hand as she paused from wiping the counters.
"You won't believe this." He bent down to let Daniel stand again but this time Daniel refused to stand on his feet, pulling his feet up each time Richie tried. He sighed after a few tries. "Fine." He let Daniel sit down. "I asked him what we should do and he said 'tar' so I asked him what he meant and he wanted down so I put him down and he walked over to my guitars and said it again." He explained excitedly.
"Really?" Sarah asked, putting her cleaning supplies on the counter and walked over to her boy. "Can you say it again?" She squatted down in from of him as she asked Daniel, who looked up at her with his brown eyes.
"Daniel." Richie said, trying to get his attention. He held up his guitar. "What's this? Say guitar again." He tried to coax him into it.
Daniel looked up at them both, confused brown eyes watching them.
Richie sighed, followed by Sarah repeating it. "Guess not." He looked down at Sarah again. "I'm sorry babe."
She waved it off quickly as she stood up but he noticed it did matter to her. "It's alright, he'll be saying tons of words soon enough."
"Yeah," Richie agreed, "We'll go play some guitar, you're free to come join us." He reminded her as he picked Daniel up again but Sarah insisted on cleaning the kitchen before Joan's arrival.
Back in the living room, he let Daniel down on the couch and sat down next to him. Daniel looked up at him expectantly. "Tar?"
Richie sighed. "Couldn't say that when your mom was around?"
He moved the guitar onto his lap and checked if it was tuned before starting to play an easy tune that Daniel would like. Even if he knew Daniel would like anything he played.
The little boy sat next to him, watching and listening to the music. It always made Richie happy to watch his son enjoy something he was so passionate about. To be able to share that with him when there weren't many other ways to share with him. Especially while he was still so little. If Daniel stayed curious, it could be something they'd share for the rest if their lives.
Soon enough, his easy tunes meant for Daniel's enjoyment transitioned into songs he enjoyed playing. Bits and pieces thrown together with some lyrics that went with them.
He didn't notice when Sarah walked into the living room, something that didn't surprise her anymore these days. She walked over and sat down in the spot Daniel had vacated to go play while he listened to the music. Watching her husband get lost in what he was playing was something she admired. There wasn't anything she was so passionate about that she forgot everything around her. Carefully she reached out and touched his arm.
He felt the soft caress on his bicep and opened his eyes as he looked to his right. He smiled and stopped playing, making Daniel look up at the missing sound. "Hi." He said to his wife.
She couldn't help herself and reached in for a quick kiss before asking her question. "I just wanted to ask what time you had to leave. Was it 11 or 12?"
"11 sweets." He answered, looking for the time. His wrist didn't have a watch and he didn't know where his phone was at the moment.
"Oh, okay 'cause it's 11 now." Sarah said.
"Now?" He got up to put his guitar back in it's stand. "I have to go." He wasn't even dressed yet.
"I'm sorry." Sarah said quickly. "I didn't realize you were so focused." She also got up from the couch and picked Daniel up from his toys to follow her husband upstairs.
In the bedroom, he headed to the closet to grab a clean pair of jeans, deciding these pj pants had done their best work this week, he pulled them off and threw them into the laundry basket. His shirt was clean, he grabbed a new pair of boxer briefs and a pair of socks, carrying it all as he walked out.
Sarah looked up and gave him a raised eyebrow, not minding him in boxers and a tshirt at all.
"What?" He asked as he walked by on his way to the bathroom.
"Nothing." Sarah said quickly.
It made him frown.
"Just a nice view." She clarified.
Richie finally clued in, realizing he wasn't wearing much. "You just like looking at my ass."
Sarah shrugged. "It's nice."
"Nice?"
"You need to get ready." She reminded him he was wasting time.
"You need to stop insulting my ass."
She was almost offended, she gasped. "I didn't insult it. I said it was nice."
"Underappreciating it is an insult." Richie clarified to her, waiting for her to make up for it, he gave her an impatient look.
"Okay, okay." She sighed. "You have a lovely tushy. Now go shower."
"Thank you." He said, accepting it. "I know you like the front better anyway." He added quickly as he started to continue his way to the bathroom.
"Go shower!"
Half an hour past 11 they were heading out the door. Opting for Sarah's SUV as Daniel's car seat and stroller were still in it and would plenty of space left for suitcases once they got to the airport.
"Are you sure he'll be okay?" Richie asked, knowing it was almost lunch time and nap time after that as well.
Sarah nodded. "I thought maybe we could go out for lunch and then by the time we get home it's definitely nap time."
He wasn't opposed to that, he liked spending his time with Sarah and Daniel even if it wasn't anything important. It was better than making the drive alone. This way, instead of blaring music, he'd get to talk to his wife.
At the airport they parked in arrivals and headed into the large building, using parking was the easiest way to skip out on paparazzi as they could just walk into the airport and skip the drop off zone where they hoarded the doors. He pushed Daniel in his stroller as Sarah walked beside him.
"Do you remember where we need to be?" She asked.
"I know where we're going." He confirmed as he lead the way through the airport. "I even checked if there were delays before we left."
"That's smart." Sarah agreed, following him.
He stopped near a Starbucks with seating area, the gate just across from it. "We can sit and wait if you want. Mom will probably be one of the last to get through." He explained, already looking for a table they could sit.
"Sure." Sarah agreed.
Richie found them a table and sat down, placing Daniel's stroller between the two chairs before he went and ordered some drinks for their wait. He returned a few minutes later and handed Sarah a slice of cake and a tea she liked before he sat down with her. The wait wouldn't be too long but he was right that his mother would stay on the plane until most people had left to not be rushed by others. It made sense to him and he didn't mind waiting for that. He sipped his coffee as he waited, people watching with Sarah.
At first a large crowd of people came from the gate, he looked up but stayed in his seat, watching the crowd thin out before standing up and walked closer to the gate. At least he was tall so he could look over some of the people crowding around the area, his mom being short made her easy to hide but he finally spotted her. He waved, trying to catch her attention as he walked over to her.
After a quick hug, he helped her back to their table at Starbucks and offered the drink he had ordered earlier for her.
"Sarah suggested we go for lunch before we head home, if you want to." Richie suggested, now ready to head back.
"That would be nice." Joan agreed.
They had a simple lunch in the city, not bothering with anything too fancy. Daniel kept up his good behavior until they were back in the car and ready for the hour drive home. Knowing he was just tired, Richie tried to ignore the crying as they drove and Joan and Sarah tried their best to calm him down but Daniel was relentless. Generally whenever he drove alone, he had music playing loudly, Daniel's crying was probably just as loud but it wasn't near the same of having loud music. He knew his son was upset.
Not until they were home and Daniel was being rocked in his rocking chair in his bedroom did he stop crying. Relieved, Sarah carefully got up with him and put him down in his bed. Glad he was finally asleep and hopefully would have a long nap.
Joan had decided on the same while Richie carried her bags to her bedroom, a quick lay down before Ava and Noah would get home from school.
Richie shook his head, sure he was seeing and hearing things. He went and picked up his son. "Guitar?" He asked him, still surprised at getting an answer to begin with, followed by steps. He picked up the acoustic guitar and held on to it as he carried Daniel to the kitchen to find Sarah. "Sarah?" He asked as he walked over.
"Yes?" She asked, looking up at her husband, a cleaning cloth in hand as she paused from wiping the counters.
"You won't believe this." He bent down to let Daniel stand again but this time Daniel refused to stand on his feet, pulling his feet up each time Richie tried. He sighed after a few tries. "Fine." He let Daniel sit down. "I asked him what we should do and he said 'tar' so I asked him what he meant and he wanted down so I put him down and he walked over to my guitars and said it again." He explained excitedly.
"Really?" Sarah asked, putting her cleaning supplies on the counter and walked over to her boy. "Can you say it again?" She squatted down in from of him as she asked Daniel, who looked up at her with his brown eyes.
"Daniel." Richie said, trying to get his attention. He held up his guitar. "What's this? Say guitar again." He tried to coax him into it.
Daniel looked up at them both, confused brown eyes watching them.
Richie sighed, followed by Sarah repeating it. "Guess not." He looked down at Sarah again. "I'm sorry babe."
She waved it off quickly as she stood up but he noticed it did matter to her. "It's alright, he'll be saying tons of words soon enough."
"Yeah," Richie agreed, "We'll go play some guitar, you're free to come join us." He reminded her as he picked Daniel up again but Sarah insisted on cleaning the kitchen before Joan's arrival.
Back in the living room, he let Daniel down on the couch and sat down next to him. Daniel looked up at him expectantly. "Tar?"
Richie sighed. "Couldn't say that when your mom was around?"
He moved the guitar onto his lap and checked if it was tuned before starting to play an easy tune that Daniel would like. Even if he knew Daniel would like anything he played.
The little boy sat next to him, watching and listening to the music. It always made Richie happy to watch his son enjoy something he was so passionate about. To be able to share that with him when there weren't many other ways to share with him. Especially while he was still so little. If Daniel stayed curious, it could be something they'd share for the rest if their lives.
Soon enough, his easy tunes meant for Daniel's enjoyment transitioned into songs he enjoyed playing. Bits and pieces thrown together with some lyrics that went with them.
He didn't notice when Sarah walked into the living room, something that didn't surprise her anymore these days. She walked over and sat down in the spot Daniel had vacated to go play while he listened to the music. Watching her husband get lost in what he was playing was something she admired. There wasn't anything she was so passionate about that she forgot everything around her. Carefully she reached out and touched his arm.
He felt the soft caress on his bicep and opened his eyes as he looked to his right. He smiled and stopped playing, making Daniel look up at the missing sound. "Hi." He said to his wife.
She couldn't help herself and reached in for a quick kiss before asking her question. "I just wanted to ask what time you had to leave. Was it 11 or 12?"
"11 sweets." He answered, looking for the time. His wrist didn't have a watch and he didn't know where his phone was at the moment.
"Oh, okay 'cause it's 11 now." Sarah said.
"Now?" He got up to put his guitar back in it's stand. "I have to go." He wasn't even dressed yet.
"I'm sorry." Sarah said quickly. "I didn't realize you were so focused." She also got up from the couch and picked Daniel up from his toys to follow her husband upstairs.
In the bedroom, he headed to the closet to grab a clean pair of jeans, deciding these pj pants had done their best work this week, he pulled them off and threw them into the laundry basket. His shirt was clean, he grabbed a new pair of boxer briefs and a pair of socks, carrying it all as he walked out.
Sarah looked up and gave him a raised eyebrow, not minding him in boxers and a tshirt at all.
"What?" He asked as he walked by on his way to the bathroom.
"Nothing." Sarah said quickly.
It made him frown.
"Just a nice view." She clarified.
Richie finally clued in, realizing he wasn't wearing much. "You just like looking at my ass."
Sarah shrugged. "It's nice."
"Nice?"
"You need to get ready." She reminded him he was wasting time.
"You need to stop insulting my ass."
She was almost offended, she gasped. "I didn't insult it. I said it was nice."
"Underappreciating it is an insult." Richie clarified to her, waiting for her to make up for it, he gave her an impatient look.
"Okay, okay." She sighed. "You have a lovely tushy. Now go shower."
"Thank you." He said, accepting it. "I know you like the front better anyway." He added quickly as he started to continue his way to the bathroom.
"Go shower!"
Half an hour past 11 they were heading out the door. Opting for Sarah's SUV as Daniel's car seat and stroller were still in it and would plenty of space left for suitcases once they got to the airport.
"Are you sure he'll be okay?" Richie asked, knowing it was almost lunch time and nap time after that as well.
Sarah nodded. "I thought maybe we could go out for lunch and then by the time we get home it's definitely nap time."
He wasn't opposed to that, he liked spending his time with Sarah and Daniel even if it wasn't anything important. It was better than making the drive alone. This way, instead of blaring music, he'd get to talk to his wife.
At the airport they parked in arrivals and headed into the large building, using parking was the easiest way to skip out on paparazzi as they could just walk into the airport and skip the drop off zone where they hoarded the doors. He pushed Daniel in his stroller as Sarah walked beside him.
"Do you remember where we need to be?" She asked.
"I know where we're going." He confirmed as he lead the way through the airport. "I even checked if there were delays before we left."
"That's smart." Sarah agreed, following him.
He stopped near a Starbucks with seating area, the gate just across from it. "We can sit and wait if you want. Mom will probably be one of the last to get through." He explained, already looking for a table they could sit.
"Sure." Sarah agreed.
Richie found them a table and sat down, placing Daniel's stroller between the two chairs before he went and ordered some drinks for their wait. He returned a few minutes later and handed Sarah a slice of cake and a tea she liked before he sat down with her. The wait wouldn't be too long but he was right that his mother would stay on the plane until most people had left to not be rushed by others. It made sense to him and he didn't mind waiting for that. He sipped his coffee as he waited, people watching with Sarah.
At first a large crowd of people came from the gate, he looked up but stayed in his seat, watching the crowd thin out before standing up and walked closer to the gate. At least he was tall so he could look over some of the people crowding around the area, his mom being short made her easy to hide but he finally spotted her. He waved, trying to catch her attention as he walked over to her.
After a quick hug, he helped her back to their table at Starbucks and offered the drink he had ordered earlier for her.
"Sarah suggested we go for lunch before we head home, if you want to." Richie suggested, now ready to head back.
"That would be nice." Joan agreed.
They had a simple lunch in the city, not bothering with anything too fancy. Daniel kept up his good behavior until they were back in the car and ready for the hour drive home. Knowing he was just tired, Richie tried to ignore the crying as they drove and Joan and Sarah tried their best to calm him down but Daniel was relentless. Generally whenever he drove alone, he had music playing loudly, Daniel's crying was probably just as loud but it wasn't near the same of having loud music. He knew his son was upset.
Not until they were home and Daniel was being rocked in his rocking chair in his bedroom did he stop crying. Relieved, Sarah carefully got up with him and put him down in his bed. Glad he was finally asleep and hopefully would have a long nap.
Joan had decided on the same while Richie carried her bags to her bedroom, a quick lay down before Ava and Noah would get home from school.
No comments:
Post a Comment