Richie stood at the gate as the passengers filed off the plane. He made it
though security just in time to get there for the unboarding. He had
thought about getting flowers or something corny like that but didn't have
the time. He spotted a familiar head of dark hair exit the passage.
"Hey!" he called going over to her.
"Hey!" she greeted.
"Took you long enough," he teased giving her a big hug.
"I'll make it up to you," she promised.
"I'll hold you to it."
"How about now?"
"Now, we have reservations for dinner. hope you're hungry."
"Sure," she smiled. "Airline food doesn't do anything for me."
"Good, because Mac made reservations at Magellan's and you have to try the dessert there."
He took her by the hand and led her to baggage claim and then to his car. They got to Magellan's just after 5:30. The hostess led them to the table where Duncan and Joe were already waiting. Dinner was very pleasant. Their conversation drifted from topic to topic with no uncomfortable pauses. They ended up sitting at the restaurant for over three hours before Richie mentioned that they were taking up a waiter's table during the dinner rush and should leave. Joe said his good byes and made Heather promise to make Richie bring her by the bar before she left.
Duncan said he had last minute errands to run and would see the young couple at the loft and left Richie and Heather at the parking lot. Richie took Heather to his home from the restaurant. Suddenly he was very nervous. He wasn't sure why. what if she didn't like it? What if she thought his little closet room was. something not good? He liked it okay. but what if she didn't? He'd seen her house; he'd seen her room. They were both huge. He'd shared a room as big as hers with nine other boys in the orphanage.
"This is it," he said awkwardly as he pulled to a stop behind the building.
"It's huge," she commented.
"Half of that's the dojo," he explained. "We just have the top."
"That's really cool, though. I've always wanted to live above something. like on Friends."
Richie smiled. "Well, now you get to for a week. As a matter of fact, my room is above the loft above the showers above the dojo."
"Really?" she smiled.
"Yeah. Way up in the nose-bleeds."
"Cool. am I going to get to go in? Or do I get the car?"
"Oh, yeah, come on." He got out of the car and got her bag out of the trunk. "This way." He unlocked the front door. "This is the dojo," he said as they walked in. "Nothing fancy, but it serves its purpose. That's the office," he added as he led her to the elevator and opened the grate.
"This is where you work when you're home?"
"Uh. yeah. not much, but it's half mine, so."
"Half yours?"
"Yeah, we. Mac and me. used the money from the antique store to buy the dojo. And since half the antique store was Tessa's, she left it to me, so now this is half mine."
"Wow. A business man," Heather smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"And this. is it. Home sweet home." The elevator slowed to a stop and the loft came into view. He opened the grate. "Now this is where it gets a little confusing," he told her. "That's the kitchen," he pointed around the corner. "This is the living room," he pointed to the couches. "That's Mac's room," he pointed to the bed. "That's the bathroom. there's only one, but it should be fine," he pointed to a door at the far end of the room. "And my room is up there," he pointed to the staircase. "Think you got it all straight?"
Heather smiled again. "Maybe if you draw me a map."
"I got one upstairs for you," he said picking up her bag again.
"Good."
They made their way up the narrow, spiral staircase. At the top of the stairs were two doors. "Roof," Richie said point to the far one. "My room," he said opening the other. "Now I know it's not much, but the rent's cheap."
"It's just what I expected," she interrupted.
"Really?"
"Nice, simple, and cute. just like you."
Richie grinned and put her bag down. "You think I'm cute?"
"Haven't I told you that before? I think you're adorable."
"Really. I think my ears are a little big."
"I think they're perfect," she assured him running her fingers behind them. It sent a shiver down Richie's spine.
"What about my nose? It's kinda."
"Perfect," she said kissing it. "Do you have a problem with your lips, too?"
"I can if you want."
"I think it's time I make it up to you for taking so long to get off the plane." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. He was more than happy to return the gesture.
Richie woke up the next morning still in his jeans. They must have fallen asleep while making out. He slipped his arm out from under Heather, changed his shirt, and went down to make breakfast.
"What happened to you two?" Duncan asked as he came out of the bathroom.
"Fell asleep," Richie shrugged.
"Ah," Duncan answered knowing fully well that that was all that had happened. "What are you making?"
"Breakfast, want some?"
"What?"
"Eggs, bacon, toast. usual stuff," Richie shrugged.
"Bacon?" Duncan questioned.
"You want sausage?"
"I thought you couldn't eat bacon?"
"I eat bacon all the time."
"You don't keep kosher?"
"Mac, I had shrimp and lobster last night and I want bacon now. obviously I don't."
"Oh. I just thought that."
"Since I went back to being Jewish, that I'm changing my diet back?"
"I don't know; I was just asking."
"Okay. So table for two or three?" Richie asked going back to his original question.
"Um. three. Want some help?"
"Sure."
"Did you ever keep kosher?" Duncan asked after a minute, taking the bacon out of the refrigerator.
"Yeah."
"Why did you stop?"
Richie shrugged and concentrated on scrambling the bowl of eggs in front of him. "Just did."
"When?"
"Few years ago," Richie whisked harder.
"Did Greg make you?" Duncan asked trying to mask rising anger.
"Nope."
"Who did?"
"Nobody made me, Mac. Just forget about it. I don't want to get into it."
That just made Duncan more curious, but he held his question as Heather came down the stairs. "Good morning," he greeted instead.
"Hey, babe," Richie smiled. "Breakfast?"
"You mind if I take a quick shower first?" Heather asked.
"Go for it."
"Thanks." She disappeared into the bathroom.
"Who did?" Duncan asked as soon as the door closed.
"Did what?"
"Made you change your diet."
"I did, I guess. What's with the fascination?"
"I don't know. I just want to know that if you were raised kosher, why aren't you now?"
"Because I got a taste of what I had been missing," Richie said. "You happy now?"
"What made you cross over to the dark side and who gave it to you?" Duncan asked with a smile. "Was it a bacon cheese burger or polish sausage? Angie or Nicki?"
"Pepperoni pizza," Richie answered.
"And what pretty girl gave it to you?" Duncan teased.
"You," Richie answered, pouring the scrambled eggs into the pan on the stove.
"Me?" Duncan repeated.
"Yeah, you."
"When?"
"The first time Tessa ever left us alone for the weekend. We spent the day unpacking shipments and rearranging the store. We skipped lunch so you got two large pepperoni pizzas for dinner," Richie explained. "But you made me eat a salad first. so I guess it was the bacon on the salad, really."
"I ruined your kosher diet?"
"Yes, oh evil one."
"Why didn't you tell me that you couldn't eat all that?"
Richie shrugged. "Your favorite reason for why I do anything, I guess."
Duncan couldn't help but smile. "You're real pathetic you know that? You thought I'd kick you out because you couldn't eat pork?"
"I was eighteen and stupid. Leave it at that."
"You were eighteen and in desperate need of psychiatric help."
"That, too." Richie agreed. Once again their conversation was cut short when Heather entered the room. They ate breakfast and after the dishes were done Richie took Heather out to show her where he had grown up, a task that would take all day, he joked. They made plans to meet that night for dinner. So went the rest of the week until Heather was scheduled to fly back home. They ate breakfast together, then Richie would take her somewhere for the day, and they would all meet up for dinner. Adam and Amanda even joined them a couple times.
"See you in a week," Richie said giving Heather a kiss at the gate.
"In a week," she agreed. "Brandon's very excited you're going to stay with us. He wants you to stay forever."
"Hopefully it won't take that long to get a job down there."
"Last call for flight 826," was announced over the PA system.
The couple said their goodbyes and after one last kiss, Heather boarded the plane back to Missouri.
"Hey!" he called going over to her.
"Hey!" she greeted.
"Took you long enough," he teased giving her a big hug.
"I'll make it up to you," she promised.
"I'll hold you to it."
"How about now?"
"Now, we have reservations for dinner. hope you're hungry."
"Sure," she smiled. "Airline food doesn't do anything for me."
"Good, because Mac made reservations at Magellan's and you have to try the dessert there."
He took her by the hand and led her to baggage claim and then to his car. They got to Magellan's just after 5:30. The hostess led them to the table where Duncan and Joe were already waiting. Dinner was very pleasant. Their conversation drifted from topic to topic with no uncomfortable pauses. They ended up sitting at the restaurant for over three hours before Richie mentioned that they were taking up a waiter's table during the dinner rush and should leave. Joe said his good byes and made Heather promise to make Richie bring her by the bar before she left.
Duncan said he had last minute errands to run and would see the young couple at the loft and left Richie and Heather at the parking lot. Richie took Heather to his home from the restaurant. Suddenly he was very nervous. He wasn't sure why. what if she didn't like it? What if she thought his little closet room was. something not good? He liked it okay. but what if she didn't? He'd seen her house; he'd seen her room. They were both huge. He'd shared a room as big as hers with nine other boys in the orphanage.
"This is it," he said awkwardly as he pulled to a stop behind the building.
"It's huge," she commented.
"Half of that's the dojo," he explained. "We just have the top."
"That's really cool, though. I've always wanted to live above something. like on Friends."
Richie smiled. "Well, now you get to for a week. As a matter of fact, my room is above the loft above the showers above the dojo."
"Really?" she smiled.
"Yeah. Way up in the nose-bleeds."
"Cool. am I going to get to go in? Or do I get the car?"
"Oh, yeah, come on." He got out of the car and got her bag out of the trunk. "This way." He unlocked the front door. "This is the dojo," he said as they walked in. "Nothing fancy, but it serves its purpose. That's the office," he added as he led her to the elevator and opened the grate.
"This is where you work when you're home?"
"Uh. yeah. not much, but it's half mine, so."
"Half yours?"
"Yeah, we. Mac and me. used the money from the antique store to buy the dojo. And since half the antique store was Tessa's, she left it to me, so now this is half mine."
"Wow. A business man," Heather smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"And this. is it. Home sweet home." The elevator slowed to a stop and the loft came into view. He opened the grate. "Now this is where it gets a little confusing," he told her. "That's the kitchen," he pointed around the corner. "This is the living room," he pointed to the couches. "That's Mac's room," he pointed to the bed. "That's the bathroom. there's only one, but it should be fine," he pointed to a door at the far end of the room. "And my room is up there," he pointed to the staircase. "Think you got it all straight?"
Heather smiled again. "Maybe if you draw me a map."
"I got one upstairs for you," he said picking up her bag again.
"Good."
They made their way up the narrow, spiral staircase. At the top of the stairs were two doors. "Roof," Richie said point to the far one. "My room," he said opening the other. "Now I know it's not much, but the rent's cheap."
"It's just what I expected," she interrupted.
"Really?"
"Nice, simple, and cute. just like you."
Richie grinned and put her bag down. "You think I'm cute?"
"Haven't I told you that before? I think you're adorable."
"Really. I think my ears are a little big."
"I think they're perfect," she assured him running her fingers behind them. It sent a shiver down Richie's spine.
"What about my nose? It's kinda."
"Perfect," she said kissing it. "Do you have a problem with your lips, too?"
"I can if you want."
"I think it's time I make it up to you for taking so long to get off the plane." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. He was more than happy to return the gesture.
Richie woke up the next morning still in his jeans. They must have fallen asleep while making out. He slipped his arm out from under Heather, changed his shirt, and went down to make breakfast.
"What happened to you two?" Duncan asked as he came out of the bathroom.
"Fell asleep," Richie shrugged.
"Ah," Duncan answered knowing fully well that that was all that had happened. "What are you making?"
"Breakfast, want some?"
"What?"
"Eggs, bacon, toast. usual stuff," Richie shrugged.
"Bacon?" Duncan questioned.
"You want sausage?"
"I thought you couldn't eat bacon?"
"I eat bacon all the time."
"You don't keep kosher?"
"Mac, I had shrimp and lobster last night and I want bacon now. obviously I don't."
"Oh. I just thought that."
"Since I went back to being Jewish, that I'm changing my diet back?"
"I don't know; I was just asking."
"Okay. So table for two or three?" Richie asked going back to his original question.
"Um. three. Want some help?"
"Sure."
"Did you ever keep kosher?" Duncan asked after a minute, taking the bacon out of the refrigerator.
"Yeah."
"Why did you stop?"
Richie shrugged and concentrated on scrambling the bowl of eggs in front of him. "Just did."
"When?"
"Few years ago," Richie whisked harder.
"Did Greg make you?" Duncan asked trying to mask rising anger.
"Nope."
"Who did?"
"Nobody made me, Mac. Just forget about it. I don't want to get into it."
That just made Duncan more curious, but he held his question as Heather came down the stairs. "Good morning," he greeted instead.
"Hey, babe," Richie smiled. "Breakfast?"
"You mind if I take a quick shower first?" Heather asked.
"Go for it."
"Thanks." She disappeared into the bathroom.
"Who did?" Duncan asked as soon as the door closed.
"Did what?"
"Made you change your diet."
"I did, I guess. What's with the fascination?"
"I don't know. I just want to know that if you were raised kosher, why aren't you now?"
"Because I got a taste of what I had been missing," Richie said. "You happy now?"
"What made you cross over to the dark side and who gave it to you?" Duncan asked with a smile. "Was it a bacon cheese burger or polish sausage? Angie or Nicki?"
"Pepperoni pizza," Richie answered.
"And what pretty girl gave it to you?" Duncan teased.
"You," Richie answered, pouring the scrambled eggs into the pan on the stove.
"Me?" Duncan repeated.
"Yeah, you."
"When?"
"The first time Tessa ever left us alone for the weekend. We spent the day unpacking shipments and rearranging the store. We skipped lunch so you got two large pepperoni pizzas for dinner," Richie explained. "But you made me eat a salad first. so I guess it was the bacon on the salad, really."
"I ruined your kosher diet?"
"Yes, oh evil one."
"Why didn't you tell me that you couldn't eat all that?"
Richie shrugged. "Your favorite reason for why I do anything, I guess."
Duncan couldn't help but smile. "You're real pathetic you know that? You thought I'd kick you out because you couldn't eat pork?"
"I was eighteen and stupid. Leave it at that."
"You were eighteen and in desperate need of psychiatric help."
"That, too." Richie agreed. Once again their conversation was cut short when Heather entered the room. They ate breakfast and after the dishes were done Richie took Heather out to show her where he had grown up, a task that would take all day, he joked. They made plans to meet that night for dinner. So went the rest of the week until Heather was scheduled to fly back home. They ate breakfast together, then Richie would take her somewhere for the day, and they would all meet up for dinner. Adam and Amanda even joined them a couple times.
"See you in a week," Richie said giving Heather a kiss at the gate.
"In a week," she agreed. "Brandon's very excited you're going to stay with us. He wants you to stay forever."
"Hopefully it won't take that long to get a job down there."
"Last call for flight 826," was announced over the PA system.
The couple said their goodbyes and after one last kiss, Heather boarded the plane back to Missouri.