John Francis

About an hour later Amanda came downstairs after the real reason for her grumpy mood that morning had revealed itself. Sometimes it sucks to be a woman! She knew it was coming, but she was not thrilled about having to travel while tending to her feminine needs. She also needed to go out for some more clothes as she needed things that she just didn’t have.

Richie and Jon had moved to the study for some more phone calls and she knocked on the partially opened door. Walking in, she saw both men were on the phone, on opposite sides of the room. She came in and sat down to wait for them to finish. Within a few minutes they were done and she explained what she needed to do.

Jon looked a little pained as he knew he couldn’t go with her on her errands.

“Babe, I gotta stay here and then go see the kids.”

Richie looked at Jon.

“Hey, I can run her around for what she needs, I’m set and my bags are here.”

Nodding at his friend, Jon thanked him and looked at Amanda to see if that was okay with her.

“You sure, Richie? I really can go by myself.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll be bored off my ass sitting here listening to this one on the phone.”

She smiled at them both. “Well, then thanks. I can be ready in about fifteen minutes, okay?”

He nodded at her. “Call me when you’re ready.”

Jon’s cell was already ringing again and he answered as she left the room, blowing him a kiss.

~~~

Amanda was as good as her word and was ready in fifteen minutes. She entered the study again, gave Jon a kiss on the cheek, and mouthed “a few hours” to him. He kissed her back, grinned, and then returned to his call.

Richie drove, taking Amanda at her request to a local mall. She hit a department store and found some of the more casual clothes she needed and a few dressier items, as well as what she would consider “concert clothes”. Richie advised her as to what she would need, stressing that the weather was very changeable where they were going. He also had her buy a good raincoat as England was notorious for its wet weather. She appreciated his help as she really had no idea and was basically winging it.

Her next stop was a drug store and she assured Richie that she could handle this one herself, not really wanting him to see her purchases. He grinned, but waited in the car. She didn’t realize that the bag containing her necessary items was a bit see-through and Richie had a good idea of what she had bought as she walked back to the car.

They stopped for a quick drive-thru coffee and she asked him if there was anything else she needed.

“Well, shit, women’s clothes…okay, you’ve got the basics, right? Cold weather, warm, casual, dressy, coat, sweaters, shoes…?”

“Yeah, all that. We’re actually going to be gone for two weeks?”

“Honey, two weeks isn’t anything. This is just a short tour to add on some dates due to demand. Real tours can go for over a year.”

Her mouth wide, she shook her head. “How do you all manage it?”

“We fly home a lot, call home constantly, and try not to lose our sanity in all the different hotels!”

“Well, this is a first for me, of course, so I guess it’s a good way to get my feet wet.”

Richie had something on his mind and he wanted to talk to her alone.

“Darlin’?” He started, “you saw a little at Giants that night…the way the fans are…the way the women…” he was hesitating badly now, struggling to say the right words.

Laughing gently at his efforts, she nodded. “Oh yeah, I saw. You’re referring to the blonde at the party specifically, aren’t you?”

Relief evident in his voice, he nodded, then continued. “Things were bad for Jon during this last tour and we can’t promise that some type of situation like that won’t come up again.”

She cocked her head at him. “I’m hoping you mean running into someone from that time, not a repeat of that time?”

With a shocked look on his face, he answered her. “NO! Not a repeat of that bad time, but yeah, very possibly other ‘issues’ to deal with.”

“Well, I can deal with that. Everyone deals with their grief in different ways, Rich. I wouldn’t punish him over something that happened before me.” She grinned wickedly then. “However, he might be singing soprano for what happens after me!”

He laughed then too. “Not worried in the least about that, Manda, that man is head over heels and I really do think he’s learning some lessons.”

“Hey! That reminds me, let me give you my new cell number. Guess I needed a global phone and he got me one yesterday.” She gave him her number and made sure his was correct in the new phone.

They finished Amanda’s shopping about three and returned to Jon’s. They were still chatting as they drove in to see his car was not back yet. He was probably over visiting with his kids. As they were walking in the house, her phone rang. It was Jon.

“Hey honey,” she answered.

“Hi babe. You guys still out running around?”

“Just got back to your house. You still visiting?”

“Yeah, need to wait for the older ones to get home from school, so I should be at least another two hours.”

“No problem, honey, tell everyone hello from me and I see you when you get here.”

“Thanks, babe, sorry to take so long.”

“John Francis! Shut up! Visit with your kids, stay as long as you need, got it?”

“Yes, ma’am! Jesus you’re bossy today!” He laughed into her ear and they said their good-byes.

She turned to Richie. “I’m going to go put these clothes in my suitcases and finish packing. Is there anything I can get you before I disappear?”

“Nah, I know where Jon keeps everything. Think I’ll watch the tube for a bit. Catch up on the news.”

He turned the TV on as she took her bags upstairs. Turning to an entertainment news channel, he watched for a few minutes, then swore softly.