Chapter 237

The next couple weeks were calmer and both Richie and Tori settled back into their normal routines. One day Tori was in the office typing up responses to some invitations Richie had received, when he came looking for her, his jacket in his hand.

“Angel, I’ve got to go out for a couple hours.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, just running a few errands. Do you need anything?”

“No thanks. I’m good.”

“Ok.” He bent over to kiss her. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

She watched him walk out the door. She was curious about what he was up to, especially since he usually asked her to do his errands for him while she was out – unless they were guitar related, but they didn’t live in each other’s pockets and if she didn’t want to have to account for every minute of her day to him, then she couldn’t ask him to give her a listing of his activities either. Besides, it was close to Valentine’s Day, and she knew how he loved to surprise her on special occassions. Of course, anything would be an improvement over last year. Had it only been a year since that whole episode with Jasmine? It seemed like a lifetime ago. So much had changed since then. Then she’d been afraid that their relationship was over before it had really had a chance to flourish. Now, her hand covered Peanut and she smiled. Now their future stretched before them, limitless and full of hope.

The first of the Valentine’s Day surprises arrived in the afternoon with the delivery of two dozen red roses. The card attached had the tears flowing. A dozen for each Valentine’s since we met, since you healed my heart and reminded me what it means to live and not just exist. I love you. R. Tori turned to find him standing behind her. With a hiccupping sob, she threw herself into his arms. “I love you too.”

The next surprise came when Rosa said goodnight a little while later. At Tori’s surprised look she smiled. “Mr. Richie is cooking tonight.” She glanced around to make sure Richie wasn’t close by. “I don’t know what he did, but he’s…how you say….sucking up?......real good.”

Tori laughed. “He hasn’t done anything, that I’m aware of, but maybe I should do a little investigating.”

Rosa grinned and winked. “Enjoy your evening.”

“You too Rosa. Is Manuel taking you out for dinner?” Manuel was Rosa’s husband.

Rosa nodded. “Si. And then maybe a drive to the beach.” She waggled her eyebrows.

Tori grinned. “Then you enjoy your evening too.”

After Rosa left, Tori wandered into the kitchen to watch her husband display his domestic talents. He glanced up at her entrance and winked at her. “Come to watch the master chef at work?”

She laughed. “Something like that. Rosa wants to know what you did that you need to suck up so much.”

He pouted. “Jeez. I try to do something nice for my wife on Valentine’s Day and I get accused of trying to make up for something I’ve supposedly done.”

Tori grinned. “Aaaw, poor baby. If it makes you feel any better, I appreciate it.”

He leaned over the counter between them, lips puckered. She met him halfway and kissed him soundly. “Thank you angel. That’s all that matters.”

While dinner was cooking, he suggested that she take a soak in the hot tub. She frowned as she stepped in. “Honey? You’d better check the heater on this. It’s much cooler than normal.” It wasn’t much warmer than her bathtub.

“It’s fine angel, I turned it down. It was too hot for Peanut. You can stay in there for ten, maybe fifteen minutes at a time, no longer.”

She looked at him and had to smile. He was in full caretaker mode. “Yes Daddy.”

He nodded. “That’s me.”

Sure enough, fifteen minutes later he stood by the side of the pool, a towel in his hand. “Out you get angel.”

Lips twitching, she meekly obeyed and let him rub her dry. Next he took her hand and led her inside where he smoothed lotion over her skin. “You’re spoiling me.”

“That’s the plan.”

When she walked into the dining room she found the table set for two, lit only by a few candles on the table and the sideboard, soft blues coming from the speakers in the corners – every room in the house, including the bathrooms, was wired for sound.

Richie appeared to hold her chair for her. “Dinner is served.”

She raised up on tiptoe to kiss him. “Thank you.”

After a delicious meal of chicken parmiagiana, Caesar salad and garlic bread, followed by tiramisu, Tori looked at her husband with new appreciation. “That was fantastic! I never knew you could cook like that! What other secrets are you keeping from me?”

He snickered. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Long fingers reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box. “I hope you like this too.”

Tori ripped off the paper, flipped up the lid and gasped. One finger reverently traced the outline of the heart shaped pendant that hung on the fine gold chain. Small stones were set in the gold frame. It took her a minute to realize that the stones were her birthstone, Richie’s and Ava’s. The rest were diamonds. It was a family pendant.

“If the baby arrives on time, you will share a birthstone. If the baby’s late, then Peanut and I will share a birthstone. The diamonds are just fillers…..or space holders.” He explained.

Without saying a word she rose from her chair and held the box out to him before sitting on his lap, and moving her hair out of the way. He lifted the necklace out of its box and fastened it around her neck. “Do you like it?” He nuzzled his spot beneath her ear. He just caught the tears glistening in her eyes as she turned towards him and kissed him.

One hand rose to stroke his cheek, the other touched the pendant resting at the base of her throat. “I love it . It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

Sniffing, she stood and picked up the packages she’d placed on the sideboard earlier and handed them to him. He opened the smaller one first. Tori watched his face closely for his reaction. For long minutes he just sat and looked at the pendant.

When he finally raised his gaze and met hers she saw the emotion glowing in the dark depths. “I hope that one day I can live up to it.”

It was her turn to fasten the necklace around his neck. This chain was also gold, but much heavier than hers. The pendant read #1 Dad. She slid her hands onto his chest and bent to murmur in his ear. “You already are.”

Clearing his throat, he reached for the other package, lips twitching as he pulled out the bottles. “Is this for me….or for you?”

She grinned. “It’s for both of us.” She’d contacted the hotel in Hawaii and had them send bottles of massage oil in vanilla, pikake and lavender.

He realized he’d be able to tell what she was in the mood for based on the scent she chose. “What’s this other one? The lotion?”

“Kiki’s note said that it was to help prevent stretch marks.”

“And you’re giving it to me because….?”

“I thought it was something you might be willing to help me with, but if you don’t want to…” She shrugged.

He snorted, and tugged her onto his lap again. “Nice try angel. You know I’ll take any excuse to touch you.”

She grinned. “Happy Valentine’s Day honey.”

He gave her a long and lingering kiss. “Happy Valentine’s Day angel.”



A couple weeks later, they were once again at Dr. Crandall’s office for Tori’s check up. After the usual blood pressure check and questions about how she was feeling, Dr. Crandall prepared for the ultra sound.

“Have you felt any movement yet?”

Tori frowned. “I don’t know. There’ve been a couple times when I thought I felt something, but…” She shrugged. “….I don’t know what I’m supposed to be feeling.”

“Close your eyes, breathe deep and try to describe to me what it feels like.”

“Just a….fluttering, bubbly kind of feeling. Sort of like gas.” She admitted.

Dr. Crandall smiled as she moved the wand around Tori’s stomach. “Are you feeling like that now?”

“Actually, yes.”

“Open your eyes and take a look.”

Richie leaned towards the screen and Tori’s eyes opened wide as they watched Peanut’s little arm jerk slightly as if he was waving.

“Oh!”

Dr. Crandall smiled. She always loved first time mothers’ reaction to early movement. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Richie frown. “What’s the matter Richie?”

Tori glanced at him and, guessing what was going through his mind, smirked and squeezed his hand. “Oh don’t mind him, he’s just bummed that he can’t feel it yet.”

Dr. Crandall patted his shoulder. “Won’t be long now. Just another three weeks or so, then you can start to monitor for kicks.”

Tori groaned. “Don’t tell him that!”

“Why not?”

“Because then I’ll have to figure out how to get through my daily activities with a hand attached to my stomach!”