Chapter 208

The flight back to L.A. seemed endless. Tori tried to distract herself by going over her notes from the meetings, but she couldn’t concentrate. She tried to sleep, but even though she’d hadn’t slept well in days – the bed just seemed empty – her mind wouldn’t settle. With a sigh, she gave up and let her mind go where it wanted to – her husband. She had to find some way to make him see what his catering to Heather was doing to her. To them. But everytime she thought about the situation, the tears would start again. Like now. Come on Tori, pull yourself together! You’re stronger than this! Blowing out a breath, she pulled out her I-pod and a tissue, leaned back in the seat and tried find some peace in music.

Richie arrived at the airport a few minutes before his wife’s flight was due to arrive. He hoped he’d be able to get a decent night’s sleep now that she was home. He wasn’t joking when he said that he couldn’t sleep well without her. He’d spent a lot of nights alone over the years, both enforced and by choice, and it had never been a problem. Until Tori. From the very first night they’d spent together he felt a peace and contentment, that he’d never felt before. Now, if she wasn’t there to curl up with his bed felt cold and empty. And so did he. He sighed, closed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose. He knew that this whole thing with Heather was putting a strain on their marriage and that they really needed to sit down and talk about it. He had to find some way to make her understand why it he had to do what he could to help Heather. Opening his eyes, he glanced at his watch then at the door to the terminal. A couple familiar faces caught his eye and he realized that the vultures were hanging around to see who they could find, those pests from TMZ in the forefront. Protective instincts screaming, he opened the car door and headed inside to meet his wife. He was waiting by baggage claim and saw her before she saw him. What he saw made his stomach clench. She looked pale and tired and had dark circles under her eyes. When she saw him her face lit up, then her glow dimmed and the sparkle in her blue eyes was replaced by pain and shadows.

Tori stopped in front of him, uncertain how to greet him. “Hi.”

“Hi.” His need to comfort her had him opening his arms and reaching for her.

Her need for his comfort had her walking into his arms, her own sliding around his neck. When he lifted her clear off the floor she closed her eyes against the tears threatening once again and buried her face in his neck, savouring the feel of his arms holding her close, his familiar scent surrounding them.

Setting her down, he cradled her face in his large hands. “I love you angel. Welcome home.”

“Thank you. I love you too.”

He kissed her gently, raised his head and turned her towards the luggage carousel. “You looked surprised to see me.”

“I was expecting to find you waiting outside, not in here.”

“I saw the vultures circling, so I decided to come and help you.” He lifted her suitcase off the belt, and pulled out the handle.

She waved her hand. “Oh they don’t bother with me if I’m not with you. I’m not worth their time and effort.”

His brow lifted in disbelief. “Oh really, Mrs. Bongiovi Sambora?”

She smiled. “Really. I’ve told you before. I don’t even rate a blip on their radar.”

“Okay. Care to put that theory to the test?” He handed her the suitcase and motioned her forward. “I’ll meet you outside.”

“But they know you’re here now.”

He shook his head. “Uh huh. They didn’t see me come in.”

She saw the challenge in his dark eyes and met it. “Fine. You’ll see.” Grabbing the handle she headed for the escalator.

When she reached the bottom she’d only taken a dozen steps before she was surrounded. “Hey Tori, are you travelling alone? Where’s Richie? Maybe he’s too busy with Heather. How is Heather doing?” The questions came at her like bullets. Keeping a smile pasted on her face she didn’t answer any of them and kept walking. “Come on Tori, give us something. How do you feel about what’s happened to your husband’s ex-wife?” Tori grit her teeth and kept walking. She would have responded but she was afraid that her bitterness would show.

Suddenly, the crowd turned and parted and she saw Richie coming towards her. “Hi honey. Sorry I’m late.” He leaned down to kiss her. Straightening he grinned at her, took her suitcase, laced the fingers of his free hand through hers and started for the doors.

She suppressed a glare at his barely concealed amusement. If they hadn’t been surrounded by vultures she would have swatted him, but she didn’t want to be an item in the rags being accused of assaulting her husband.

When they reached the Hummer, he opened her door for her, threw her suitcase in the back and climbed in behind the wheel. “What was that you were telling me about not being on their radar?”

She grimaced at him. “Oh shut up. Did you hear the questions? They weren’t about me. They were about you. And Heather.”

He sobered. “Yeah. I’m sorry about that.”

She shrugged. “It comes with the territory.” She leaned her head back against the seat and stared out the window.

Richie glanced at her. “Tired angel?”

“Yeah. It’s been a long week.” Tired didn’t begin to describe how she felt. She was physically and mentally exhausted. She felt emotionally drained. “What’s the plan for Bean’s birthday tomorrow?”

“I’ve made a reservation at that restaurant that she likes in Westlake Village. I’m not sure what’s going to happen though. It will depend on how Heather’s feeling.”

That had Tori’s head jerking in his direction. “Don’t you dare let her spoil Ava’s birthday! She’s had to give up enough already because of her mother’s….illness. She shouldn’t have to give up celebrating her birthday too.”

Richie was taken aback at the fierceness of her response, although if he thought about it he should have expected it. He knew how much she loved his daughter, and the Bongiovi in her would jump in to protect Ava’s feelings, and fight to make her happy.


At the house, Richie set down her suitcase near the bottome of the stairs just as Rosa came to greet them.

“Welcome home Mrs. Tori.”

“Thank you Rosa.”

Rosa studied Tori’s face. “You come sit down and relax. I make you a nice cup of tea. You want something to eat maybe? Airplane food is no good.”

Tori smiled. “The tea sounds great, but I’m not hungry. Thanks Rosa.”

She turned towards the stairs, but Richie stopped her. “Angel, I know you’re tired, but can we go sit down and talk?”

She sighed. As much as she knew they needed to, she wasn’t sure she was emotionally up to this tonight. “I need to unpack, and….”

“Please?” He interrupted her. “I don’t think we should put this off any longer.”

She searched the depths of his dark eyes for a long moment, then nodded wearily and turned towards the living room.