Chapter 114

“Mommy?”

Cheyenne’s heart was still thundering, not sure how she should take this, when Romeo stood at the door. Rubbing his eyes, his voice shaky…

“Oh, honey you are visiting daddy remember? Mommy is at home.” She lifted Jon’s head gently and slipped from the bed.

She put her satin robe on and kneeled at the little boy’s side.

‘What’s wrong sweetie, bad dream?”

“aha “ A single tear ran from his little face.

She caught the tear and hugged the little body to hers.

“Why don’t we go back to your room. I can always read you a bedtime story. Mommy told me she sent some of your favourite books.”

She picked the little boy up and felt a lump in her throat when he snuggled into her warmth.

She got into bed with him, letting him choose a story and settled in to read it.

He lay on her chest, his little chubby hands holding on to her robe.

“..and the little train said to the …”

“He’s fast asleep, honey. You can lay him down now.” Cheyenne jerked lightly at the soft voice coming from the door.

Richie was leaning against it, bare chest, a short showing of his long legs.

“God, Rich!”

He smiled at her and walked towards the bed and lifted the little boy from her. She slid from the bed and opened the covers. Richie lay Romeo back into the bed and drew the covers over his sleeping form. Cheyenne bend down and kissed him lightly on the forehead.

Richie was standing at the door way , looking at her.

“You are going to be one hell of a mother someday, honey.”

He saw the sadness in her eyes, and his heart bled for her.

“Can I interest you in a nice steamy cup of coffee?”

“Richie Sambora making me coffee? Hell there’s no way I’m gonna miss this one! After you sir.”

“Don’t get all nasty on me honey! I might just change my mind!”

“Get your ass into that kitchen, will ya?”

He snickered and they walked through the silent mansion.

Richie flicked the light and showed her towards the table.

“Welcome to Sambora’s little corner, two coffees coming up.”

He brought a plate of cookies and put it down

“These cookies are gonna be you downfall, you know that don’t ya?”

“Well, you gals always eat tubs of ice cream when your down..so I eat cookies. Big deal!”

He put his hands on his hips, parading in front of her, batting his eyelids at her.

“At least it doesn’t go to my hips.”

Cheyenne laughed so hard, tears were streaming from her eyes.

“Oh crap Richie YOU are gonna be the death of me!”

He put the two cups down and sat opposite the table.

He grabbed a cookie and stuffed into his mouth.

“So what are you all upset about that you feel the need to go on a cookie binge?”

He sighed “Oh the usual. Heather shit.”

She took a sip, the coffee was delicious.

“What happened. Another fight?”

“I wouldn’t call it that. I asked her if Ava could spend a few days with me here. She immediately started going on about my drinking and shit. Fuck I stopped my careless drinking when she filed for divorce. She’s just being a bitch, that’s all. When Ava visits me I never drink anyway…she is just too precious.”

“Now is it a definite no, or is she prepared to think this over for a while?”

“She said she’ll let me know this week.”

“Well, I’m sure she’ll see the light. She cannot keep your daughter from you that’s just cruel.”

“She is the queen of cruel honey.”

Cheyenne put her hand on Richie’s arm, soothing him. His eyes were so sad and it got to Cheyenne everytime. He was a gentle creature and his sense of humor could lit any cloudy day. It broke her heart to see him suffer like this.

He took her hand into his, playing with her fingers, staring at their intertwining hands thoughtfully.