Part 261/21/88 Vancouver, Canada
Dave opened his eyes, thinking the loud knocking on the front door was a dream. Seconds later it came again, he knew it was for real. He glanced at the clock on the VCR that sat on top of the TV when he got up off of the couch where he had fallen asleep.
“Who in the hell would be here at this hour?” He wondered out loud. It was 3:58 AM.
He stumbled to the door with no shirt, jeans and barefoot. When he opened it he was surprised to see that it was Ashley. Her eyes were red as if she had been crying. She smiled timidly at him.
“Ashley?” Dave mumbled. “What are you doing here?”
Ashley straightened her shoulders. “I have to see Richie. It's important.”
Dave frowned, confused as to what would be so important at this hour of the morning. He stepped away from the door to let her come inside out of the cold.
“Um, okay. I'll get him up,” Dave said in a low voice.
Ashley walked into the condo. A dim light was on by the couch. Beer cans and bottles were all over the floor, the place was a wreck. Dave disappeared around the corner down the hall. She heard him knock on a door. Once…twice...three times. A few minutes later, Dave came back around the corner.
“He and Jon must still be at the studio,” Dave said then laughed, “Or they picked up some chicks and are still out.”
Ashley's heart jumped in her throat. Did she make a vital mistake coming here unexpectedly? The sick feeling in her stomach had now intensified. She barely noticed Dave picking up the phone.
”I'll call the studio to see if they answer,” he said as he dialed a number.
Ashley stood motionless just inside the door. She was now shaking, she was so upset.
“Hey!” Dave said into the phone. “You guys still there ugh?”
Ashley felt weak, so she sat down on the chair just a few feet from the door.
Dave watched her carefully as he spoke to Jon on the phone. “Well, Ashley's here and she needs to speak to Richie. I'm going to bring her over there.”
Dave nodded his head and then said. “Okay, we'll be there in a few minutes.”
When he hung up the phone Ashley had her arms around her waist and she was sitting up on the edge of the chair, staring down at the ground.
“Ashley?” Dave said.
She looked up at him, dazed.
“Are you okay?” He asked concerned.
She shook her head but didn't say anything.
“Well, let me get decent and I'll take you to the studio, it's just around the corner.”
Dave went back down the hallway as Ashley continued to stare at the ground. She shouldn't have come here on such a whim. She was so upset, she tried to get in touch with Richie but it was useless. She called Julie and begged her to give her the address of the condo they were renting while in Vancouver. Finally Julie broke down and got it for her. She quickly made a flight reservation and packed her bags. She had to see Richie.
Ashley was still lost in thought when Dave came back in the room. He walked to the door. “Let's go,” he said as he opened the door.
When they were outside on the stoop, Dave saw a suitcase and a small bag sitting by the door.
“These are yours, I assume?”
She nodded her head. “Yes,” she answered, barely because of the lump in her throat. Dave picked the bags up and put them inside the door, then closed and locked it behind him. Ashley followed him to his car, a red corvette. She got inside and Dave started the engine and backed out of the driveway. He turned on the heater, but it didn't do any good a few turns and they pulled up into a parking lot.
When they got out, Dave said. “This way,” as he walked to the door on the far side of the building. As they reached the door, Dave opened it and let Ashley go first. She was surprised when Richie was standing inside. He looked like he just woke up, his eyes were heavy.
“Darlin, what's going on?” He asked when he saw her.
Tears ran down her face as she embraced him. Richie held her tightly in his arms waiting for an answer.
Dave lowered his head and went past the two of them, to the door that lead into the mixing room and sound room.
Richie could feel her tremble, he rubbed her back. “Come on, what's wrong?” He said.
“I'm sorry,” she sobbed. “I shouldn't have come here without telling you.” She stopped to get a breath of air and to catch her breath so she could tell him.
“Shhh…calm down, baby,” Richie whispered to her. He then led her over to the loveseat that sat along the wall of the reception area that they were standing inside.
They sat down and Ashley leaned against him, still crying.
It was driving Richie crazy, not knowing what was going on. Finally Ashley said in a small voice that was just a whisper, “Doc has cut all ties with me.”
“Cut all ties?”
She rose up away from him and nodded her head. “I have no management. He sent Julie to tell me yesterday.” She licked her dry lips. “You're the only one I wanted to talk to. I tried calling you at the condo.”
Richie's forehead creased. “I'm sorry.”
Ashley wiped the tears from her face. “I can't believe he's doing this. I never thought he'd go this far.”
Richie shook his head and reached out to rub her leg. “I can't either.”
Ashley's only response was a sniffle. Richie put his arm around her shoulders, trying to comfort her.
“Did you just get here?”
She nodded. “It was the only flight available.”
“Where's your stuff?”
“Dave put it inside the condo before he drove me here.”
Richie nodded. “Okay. You have to be tired. Let's go get a hotel room so you can sleep.”
Ashley smiled gratefully. “Okay,” she said softly.
Richie got up from the couch and went to the door that Dave walked through moments before. “Let me tell Jon where I'm going.”
Ashley nodded and then he opened the door and closed it behind him. She took in a long deep breath and let it out slowly. She got up from the couch and glanced at Richie as he walked out the door. He smiled warmly, put his arm around her and they walked out the door.
Richie first drove to the condo to pack his suitcase and to get Ashley's. Then he went to The Ritz Carlton, paid for the suite and then did everything he could possibly do to make Ashley feel better. He had told Jon what was going on and luckily they were taking the next day to rest.
After sleeping until late in the afternoon, Richie got up and ordered coffee and a light breakfast for the both of them. Ashley was still sound asleep, curled up on her side. Her face wasn't as serene as it had been the other times he watched her sleep. So many thoughts were running through his mind as what to do. He felt responsible for everything, since Doc made it so perfectly clear that he wasn't good enough for his daughter. Should he go to Doc and try to talk to him? He understood why Doc didn't approve of their relationship, but he was not being fair to Ashley. He wasn't being fair about any of it. Richie felt the weight of the world on his shoulders and saw no way to get it off.
Doc was the band's manager. Doc was Jon's good friend. How was all of this going to be affected? Richie sighed, closed his eyes and rolled his neck around relieving some of the tension that was trapped there.
Room service arrived. Richie quietly opened the door and stopped the deliverer from coming inside. He tipped him, and then rolled the cart inside himself careful not to wake Ashley up. He poured himself a cup of coffee and fixed a bagel with cream cheese then sat down on the couch to read the news paper.
The delicious aroma of the coffee and food woke Ashley up not long after Richie sat down. She slipped on her silk full length rose colored robe, tied it around her waist and then walked out of the bedroom. Richie looked up from the paper and smiled at her. She smiled back.
“I didn't wake you did I?” He asked as she sat down beside him, crossing her leg over the other one.
The robe fell open at her legs and she pulled it back over them.
She smiled. “No, the smell did. I'm starving.”
She got up and leaned over the cart that was sitting beside Richie. There was mixed fruits, bagels, muffins, two carafes one with coffee and the other with orange juice. She picked up a strawberry and took a bite.
“Mmmm,” she smiled. “That's the best strawberry I've ever had.” She gave him a wide grin and then picked up a bagel and spread butter on it.
After she made a cup of coffee she sat back down beside him and curled one leg under the other. She took a sip of coffee then sat the cup down on the table. She leaned back against Richie's arm as she ate her bagel and looked over at the paper he was reading.
“How long have you been awake?” She asked as she took a bite of food.
“Not too long.”
“When do you have to go to the studio?”
Richie kissed her cheek. “I don't have to today.”
Ashley grinned and took another bite of food. “So what are we going to do today?”
Richie tilted his head to rest against hers. “Anything you want. I'm all yours.”
She smiled and lifted her head up to him. Their lips met; tenderly, lovingly kissing each other. Richie parted her robe, his hands slid inside. She moaned and he laid her down all the while he untied her robe. It fell open, he kissed her neck. Moving down lower he placed random kisses on her body. She untied his robe and pulled it open, pulling it down his arms until it freed him.
She grabbed his shoulders and lifted him towards her. They kissed, they made love. Not giving thought to anything else, they were each other's comfort the rest of the day and night.
No comments:
Post a Comment