Chapter 94

Monday morning Melody was packing another bag. She had just unpacked all the bags the day before when the kids had left only an hour after they had arrived home.

Now she was packing to go over to Jon’s, she was sure she had some clothes at his place but she needed her decent clothes for work too.

Melody zipped the bag closed and picked it up, ready to start her 12 hours shift at work, not really, but she had to, so why complain about it?

She threw the bag on the passenger’s seat and got in on the other side.

After parking in the hotel garage she went inside the hotel through the back entrance.

Lori wasn’t at the front desk when Melody started checking out the first guest of the morning. Then she realized Lori wouldn’t start for another hour. Melody didn’t like working without her best friend, at least she had someone to talk to when Lori was around. Lori was always asking her questions of what she had been doing. Maybe Melody liked the quietness for another hour.

It was the usual Monday for Melody. The morning was busy with people checking out of their weekend trips. Monday morning and Friday afternoon were always the busiest at a hotel.



Just a few buildings down the street, Jon had his usual Monday morning going on.

The kids had their breakfasts and he drove them to school before saying goodbye to them until Friday.

Back home the luggage from their trip was still standing by the door. The night before he hadn’t had time to unpack, he needed to get the two youngest to bed. He’d unpack later he decided and switched on the tv to watch the news.

A few hours later, around 10, he got a phone call, he picked up his iPhone that was lying on the couch next to him to check who it was, Richie Sambora, it read. Jon sighed, would it be good or bad news? He wasn’t very sure he wanted to hear it but answered the phone call.

“Hey, what’s up?” He asked as he held the phone against his ear.
“Not much, how was your trip?” Came the answer on the other end.

Jon quickly told him about the trip. The day at Sea Life with the dolphins, the hours they had spent on the beach and that he never wanted to say goodbye to Melody again.

“What do you mean?” Richie asked a bit confused.
“You know, I don’t want to say goodbye again, I want her here with me.” Jon explained.
“You want her to move in?” Richie hoped he had understood Jon correctly.
“Yeah, exactly.” Jon answered. “Anyway, how are you?” He had to ask, he had to know, even if it was bad. If it was bad it would still be ok, Richie’s health was most important.

Richie sighed, by his sighing Jon already knew what was coming. “I can’t do it Jon. I can’t” Richie sighed again. “I’m checking in next week.”
Jon sighed. “That’s good Rich, your health is more important than the tour, to all of us.” Jon knew it was best for him, even though he didn’t want it, but it wasn’t his decision to make.

They decided for Richie to come to New York for a few days so he could still be at rehearsals this week and help his replacement out.

After they hung up Jon threw his phone to the other side of the couch, resisting throwing it across the living room but making a pillow fly through the room. He didn’t want to tour without Richie. He had never done that.

It wasn’t up to him but he knew Richie needed the help he was getting now and that was most important after all.

He had to let the rest know, phone management and Matt to make an official statement to let the fans know what was happening. Next week they’d be on the road again, the fans had to know.

Then he thought of the legal stuff, he couldn’t cancel the tour, too many fans would be disappointed, especially Richie’s fans. He couldn’t risk disappointing more people by cancelling, even if fans decided not to go because Richie wasn’t there.

Jon spent the rest of the morning talking to everyone. They’d set up a statement and would announce it next week after Richie checked in.



Richie was on a plane to New York and should be here in a while. They hadn’t agreed to but Jon decided to pick him up, sure Melody was working until 8 and Richie would land around 5. He’d have enough time to pick up Richie and get some take off food by the time Melody got home.



By the time Lori left at 5pm Melody was already exhausted and she had 3 more hours to go. At least she didn’t have an hour drive home today and only had to walk a minute. Lori’s questions about her trip were tiring; she kept asking for details that Melody wouldn’t tell.

She couldn’t wait to see Jon again, even though they had only said goodbye last night, she couldn’t wait to wrap her arms around him.

The next three hours crept by slowly for Melody.



In the mean time Jon was at the airport picking Richie up.

Finally Richie emerged from the de-boarding crowd of people.

Richie noticed Jon standing there, happy he went over to give him a big hug, for a few minutes they just stood there, hugging, before letting each other go.

Without another word they got to Jon’s car, driving a short distance back to his building.

Richie dropped his bags in the guest room and met Jon in the living room, sitting down in a chair next to where Jon was sitting on the couch, he joined him watching tv.

They didn’t talk but the silence showed how sad they both felt. Jon had a lot of questions to ask and Richie probably had a lot of things to explain but they didn't ask or explain, just accepted.



Jon looked over at the clock, almost 6pm; Melody would have a short break in a bit. “Do you want dinner or wait until Mel gets home?” He knew he was always hungry after a flight, Richie usually wasn’t but it couldn’t hurt to be polite.

“No, I’ll wait until she gets home; it’s only 3 for me anyway.”
Jon shrugged and winced when his burned skinned rubbed over the inside of his shirt. Why did he keep doing that? It hurt, a lot.
“You alright?” Richie asked.
“Yeah, yeah got a little sunburned.” He waved it off
“How little? Show me.” Richie demanded, he knew Jon was lying.

Jon sighed and got up, he was still wearing a t-shirt and a long sleeved dress shirt like Melody had suggested the day before, he pulled up the backs of the shirts to show his back.
“A little sunburned.” Richie laughed. “You’re redder than a tomato!” He couldn’t stop laughing.
“Thanks Rich, glad I could brighten your day.” Jon said and plopped down on the couch, hissing when his back hit the back of the couch. “Fuck.”



Finally the elevator doors opened and Melody walked into the kitchen, looking over at the living room but only seeing Richie instead of Jon. “Hey, what are you doing here?” She asked a bit confused, she didn’t know Richie was coming and hadn’t expected him and where was Jon?
“I’m staying for rehearsals this week.”
“Oh right.” Melody remembered, the tour started next Friday so they would have to rehearse this week.
“Jon’s out getting dinner, he hoped to be back before you got home.” Richie finished his sentence as the elevator door opened again.


Chapter 95