Chapter 4

"Ma?" He called as he walked through the front door. Announcing himself but also wondering where his mother was.
"Richie?" He heard from the kitchen.
He followed her voice to the back of the house. "How many other people call you ma?" He teased once in the kitchen.
"Just you sweetheart." She smiled at him as he kissed her cheek. "You look tired."
Richie waved it off quickly. "A little hungover." He indicated an inch with his fingers.
"Sit down then." His mother gestured to the table as she reached for a glass. "Have some water, you'll feel better."
Richie smiled to himself, certain it wouldn't make him feel better but he wasn't going to deny his mother.

He sat down at the coffee table he had sat at so often, watching his mom put ice cubes in a glass before filling it with water.

"Thanks." He smiled as he accepted the cold glass.

It felt strange how easily he felt at home here, almost like he had never left. He'd grown up in this house, everything here was familiar. It was comforting just being here. The last few months had been extremely stressful. It had all snowballed over the last year but the last few months had been the worst. It was surprising how easy it was to feel at home again.

"Are you staying for dinner?"

Richie pulled away from his thoughts and nodded at his mother. "Yeah." A home cooked meal by mom would always make him feel better.

As he had done so often in his life, he set the table for three when his mom was almost finished preparing dinner. His dad would be home soon.

When he sat down again, they heard the front door open and close again.

"It's really starting to come down out there." His dad said as he walked into the kitchen, making both Richie and his mom look out the kitchen window, seeing the large flakes of snow falling through the sky.

He had spent most of his afternoon watching TV bit had not seen one weather report mentioning snow storms. Other programming had been far more interesting but now he felt stupid for not having checked a weather report. Hopefully it would clear up after dinner.

Richie had been right, having a home cooked meal by mom did make him feel better.

"Are you home now or will you be heading out soon again?" His dad asked as they ate.
"We better the fuck not." Immediately he felt them both stare surprised at him, he realized how harsh he sounded.
"Richard." His father scolded him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He said quickly, knowing better than swearing at his parents' dinner table but he hadn't meant to. "I'm… I'm just exhausted." He explained. "They've extended it so many times, it feels like I haven't been home in a decade. I don't want to do it anymore. The rest of them can do whatever they want, I'm staying right here."
"What do you mean?" His mom asked.
Richie shrugged. "I don't know. I'm done." He said.
"You're done? You haven't put down your guitar since we gave it to you and now you're done?" His father sounded astounded as he asked his question.
"Nah, not the guitar or the music. Just done with those guys."

He spent the rest of the evening with his parents, waiting for the snow storm to end but it continued on just as strong as his mom filled him in on what everyone they knew had been up to in the last few months. People were getting married and having babies left, right and center. While he had been all over the world, dating a girlfriend that hadn't worked out. Surprising. Just like each and every other one.

By the time he had been filled in on all the latest gossip and news he needed to know, it was getting late and the snow didn't show any signs of stopping.

"You may as well spent the night son, no sense in driving through a snowstorm if you don't have to." His dad said, knowing he was right.

He had nowhere to be, he'd make the 40 minute drive tomorrow, after they had plowed the highway. Taking his dad's advice, Richie decided to spend the night. Surely mom's breakfast would make him feel even better.

Upstairs in his old bedroom, he wasn't surprised anymore how comforting it was to be in this house, having the two people that had always supported him so closeby. He hadn't known it when he left this afternoon but being in his childhood home was exactly what he needed.

This would always be home, no matter how lost he felt.

Right now he felt utterly and completely lost. He had no clue where his life was going anymore. Not that long ago he thought he had it all figured out but in the last few months it had all started crashing down around him.

Another girlfriend had come and gone. He should have known, they always went. If Jon was able to get married and David able to get engaged, why wasn't he able to start a family too? The secret couldn't be to have a high school sweetheart, he couldn't even remember most of those.

His dream of making it big with his music had finally become reality but it hadn't been what he had dreamt of. He hadn't dreamt of it being like this, so endless and stressful. It was supposed to be fun, not end up in fights where he couldn't stand seeing their faces again. He knew they all felt the same way about his face.

He had no idea what the future held for him, careerwise or relationships. Where was he supposed to meet another girl? He really did want to start his own family sometime soon.. At least a relationship that would head that way. The next girl, he decided, has to be wife material. What about his music? Was this as far as he would get with it? Was he going to write another album with Jon or would he never see him again?