Chapter 30
Richie stood behind Jesse and took the package out of her hands. "Let's go."
"Where?"
"For a walk. The sun's setting and you don't need to do any more."
"I can't leave this stuff out, Richie."
"My kitchen, yes, you can. You've put away all the perishables." Wrapping a coat around her, he took her hand and pulled her with him. He led her through the courtyard and down the path to the beach.
The beach was empty as the couple held hands walking just on the edge of the water.
"Tell me about your dream wedding," said Richie.
"Don't really have one."
"You mean you never dreamed about getting married?"
"Yeah, when I was little...but there were several."
"Okay, so, the first time you ever thought about getting married...what was it like?"
"A fairy tale. Like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty."
"A princess - I can see you liking that kind of stuff."
"Daddy use to always call me his little princess."
"Do you ever wonder about your brother and mother?"
"Sometimes. I thought about them a lot when my dad died. Stevie is the only family I have now."
Richie stopped her and pulled her back to him. Standing face-to-face and holding hands, their fingers entwined, he said, "You've got family now, baby...me, Ava, my mom....Tony, Billy...the entire crew including the guys."
"OH MY GOD...your MOTHER!" panicked Jesse. "What is she going to say about me?"
"She's going to love you."
"Uh huh! She's going to HATE me! I'm young enough to be your daughter."
"But you aren't my daughter, you're my girlfriend and my mom isn't going to care how old you are as long as we're happy. I'll take you to meet her on my next break."
"Really?"
"Yeah. We can go to Woodbridge for the weekend, I can introduce you to my mom and head to Philly so you can see the place there." Looking out at the sun, he said, "Sun's setting, baby."
"Who would have known you were such a romantic?"
"Only you, baby...only you," answered Richie leaning in to kiss her. He let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her pulling her tight against him. His hand roamed her body as they kissed. He felt her body respond and his own...her hands moving along his back, her fingers in his hair.
"Richie," she whispered as he held her in his embrace.
"Yeah, baby."
"Can we head back? I'm kinda tired."
"Want me to carry you?"
"I can make it....with your arm around me."
They walked back, Richie's arm around her waist holding her.
"Rich...I saw a 'For Sale' sign on the front of the place."
"Yeah, I've been trying to sell the place now for a while."
"You still have the place in Malibu?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I like this place."
"I can take it off the market if you want me to."
"Would you?"
"I'll call Monday and tell my agent to take it off the market."
"Thank you."
The couple continued on in silence, Richie's mind racing. He wanted to ask Jesse to marry him and he wanted to give her the dream wedding. He had several ideas and she just gave him an idea for a wedding present. He needed to make some phone calls to check out a few ideas he had.
At the house, Richie gave her a kiss and Jesse went to change. When she didn't return, Richie went to find her and stopped at the door.
"You were exhausted, baby," he said seeing his beautiful girlfriend stretched out on the bed sleeping soundly. He moved to the bed to undress her and then tucked her into the covers. He placed a kiss on her forehead before returning to the living room to make some phone calls.
