Chapter 212

They met Joan at baggage claim. “Hi you two. How was the honeymoon?”

“Hi Joan. Hawaii was beautiful.” Tori hugged her. “The people were so warm and friendly, and I’ve never seen such gorgeous flowers! I could have stayed there forever.”

Joan snorted. “If you think that I believe that you saw much of the people and the flowers, you must think that I don’t know my son at all!”

Tori laughed. Richie could feel his face flush. “Ma!”

“What? Oh get over yourself Richie, I’m slightly more than seven you know – and I had a honeymoon once too. Ah, here comes the luggage.” She glanced around as the conveyor belt began to move. “I hope there aren’t any of those pesky reporters lurking around downstairs.”

“If there are we’ll let Tori take care of them. She’s in Bongiovi Boss mode today.”

Tori crooked a brow at him. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, Fuck with me and I’ll kick your ass mode.”

“Richard! Language!” Joan admonished him while she fought a smile.

“Sorry Ma.”

Tori’s brow arched higher. “Keep it in mind or you’ll find yourself next on my hit list.” She winked at Joan.

Brown eyes twinkled. “Yes dear.”

Joan chuckled. “Good for you Tori. He requires a firm hand to keep him in line.”

She felt his familiar hands slip around her waist and his breath in her ear. “Mmm….a very firm hand. But then you already know that don’t you angel? You know just what your hand can do to me.”

“Stop it!” She hissed, swatting him on the arm, ignoring the shiver racing down her spine at the image his words evoked, and her own flushed face.

He just chuckled and hugged her tight before releasing her to reach for his mother’s suitcase. “We’d better get a move on before the vultures find us.”


That evening as they arrived at the restaurant in the Village, Tori heard her name being called. Turning as she stepped out of the Hummer, she grinned and caught Ava as she flew at her. “Hey Bean. Ready for your big party?”

Ava nodded, dark eyes shining, a huge smile wreathing her face. “Mommy came too! She said she couldn’t miss my birthday party.”

Staring into the young girl’s happy face, Tori knew she couldn’t take her away from her mother. She couldn’t hurt her that much. In spite of being generally ignored, being relegated to second or even third place, in spite of everything, Ava loved her mother. As long as she felt that way, and wasn’t at risk, as much as she wanted Ava for her own, she’d have to let things stay as they were –for now. She smiled. “I’m glad.”

Tori watched Heather approach while Ava greeted her father and grandmother. The two women nodded politely to each other, then Tori turned towards the restaurant. “Come on Bean, let’s go see your friends.” They headed inside, leaving Richie to escort his mother and his ex-wife.



“It’s okay angel, go ahead and say it.”

Tori raised a brow at her husband’s murmur. “Say what?”

“You told me so.” He nodded slightly in Heather’s direction.

She looked at him and grinned. “Obviously I don’t have to. Just remember not to doubt my instincts when it concerns some woman trying to destroy my happiness.”

“Yes dear.” He searched her eyes. “But you know I’m not going anywhere, right?”

She raised a hand to caress his cheek. “I know.” She hesitated. “So…no more ‘therapy sessions’, at least without her doctor present?”

He covered her hand with his, then turned his head to kiss her palm. “No more without her doctor. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

The sound of Ava’s squeals of delight had them turning back to watch her open her presents. Tori watched the glow of her face as she laughed with her friends, holding up her gifts to show checking with both her parents, Tori and Joan, to make sure they saw. Suddenly Tori’s eyes filled with tears and she blinked rapidly to try and clear them. Richie noticed.

“Angel? What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, not taking her eyes off Ava. “Nothing, just….wishful thinking.”

It took a minute, but the penny finally dropped for him. He reached over to squeeze her hand and kissed her temple. “Patience angel. It’s only been a few weeks. It’ll happen for us.”

She just sighed and squeezed his hand. “Mmmmm. We’ll see.”

He frowned. “Hey, what happened to our agreement? I haven’t pressured you. Stop pressuring yourself!”

She glanced at him and smiled weakly. “I’m trying. Actually I haven’t even thought about it since we got back from Hawaii. It’s just looking at Ava…..anyway, I must be tired.”

“Daddy, Tori, did you bring me this from Hawaii?” Ava brought their attention back to her as she held up the exquisitely carved and painted wooden doll in tradional Hawaiian dress.

“Yes.” Tori answered her. “We found it at the luau we went to and thought you might like it.”

“The artist’s son had a crush on Tori. He brought her a flower for her hair.” Richie added. Tori smiled at the memory.

“Really? What did you do?” Ava asked wide eyed.

“I gave him a kiss.” Tori admitted. At the surprised looks aimed at her, she explained. “He was about seven years old.”

There was a chorus of ‘oh’s’, then attention was returned to the unveiling of Ava’s loot. The sparkle in Tori’s eyes as she turned to her husband should have warned him to brace himself.

“Oh! I forgot to thank those divers properly for the lei!” She managed to look upset with herself.

He narrowed his eyes at her and grunted, then leaned closer to murmur in her ear. “Just remember what happens when you provoke the caveman.” Blue eyes locked with brown and he smirked when she shivered.

As the party broke up, they helped load the gifts into Heather’s car – except for the few Ava want to bring with her to her father’s house where she was spending the night so that she could spend some time the next day with her grandmother – piled into the Hummer and headed home.

Back at the house Tori watched Ava run up the stairs to put her bag in her room. Joan watched Tori.

“So when are you two going to make me a grandmother again?”

Richie grimaced at his mother behind Tori’s back. “Jeez Ma, we just got married!”

Tori just smiled weakly and walked into the living room. Joan would have followed, but Richie held her back, making sure that Tori was out of earshot before quickly filling her in on the situation and Tori’s fears.

Joan frowned. “But you’ve only been married for three weeks. She’s got to give it a fair try before worrying that something’s wrong!”

“I know Ma. Deep down I think she does too, but….” He shrugged.

Joan smiled. “But she’s a Bongiovi and wants things to happen when she wants them to.”

He nodded. “Exactly. We’re working on it, but only time will settle this one I’m afraid.”

“Well I’m sure you’re doing everything you can to make sure that it gets settled as quickly as possible.”

“Ma!” He might be closer to fifty years old than he’d really like to think about, but that didn’t mean he wanted to talk about his sex life – even remotely - with his mother!

Joan just chuckled and followed her daughter-in-law.

When they were all settled in the living room with drinks and popcorn – and in Richie’s case cookies, ignoring his mother’s pointed look at his stomach – Ava popped in a new movie that she gotten from Kate. Tori curled up beside Richie, resting her head on his shoulder. His kissed the top of her head and laced their fingers together.

Halfway through the movie, Joan got Richie’s attention and gestured towards Tori, and whispered. “She’s asleep.”

He nodded. “I know. It’s been a long few days for her, plus I think she’s probably still suffering from jet lag.” He glanced at Ava. “That reminds me. Don’t forget to call Aunt Dot and Uncle Jon tomorrow and thank them for your gift.”

“I know. Tori said we’d call after lunch. Do you want me to go up and pull back the covers so that you can carry her up to bed?”

Richie smiled. “Please.”