Chapter 7

Faith dressed in denim shorts and a white tank top. She picked up the new bathing suit she splurged on and put it in her bag along with her wrap, towel and a comb. She also grabbed a sweatshirt, just in case. She pulled her dark hair into a ponytail and stepped into her flip flops. Hannah came running in, "are you ready mom?" She smiled at her daughter, "just one more minute honey." Hannah ran from the room, "okay, I'll be waiting." Faith turned to her dresser. She slipped the ring from her left hand and put it in her jewelry box. She looked down at her hand, it seemed naked without the ring, but she knew it was the right thing to do.

Faith and Hannah arrived at Richie's 20 minutes and two wrong turns later. Hannah barely waited for Faith to turn the car off before jumping out. "Hannah! Wait for me please." Hannah stopped in her tracks, "come on mom, hurry up!" Faith shut the car off, grabbed her bag and the cookies she had made and caught up with Hannah. They walked up the front step and rang the bell. As they waited they heard running footsteps and a young girl's shout "they're here!"

A smiling Ava opened the door, "Hi guys, come on in." Richie came around the corner and Faith stopped. He was wearing navy swim trunks and nothing else. Wow. Ava took Hannah off to her room and Richie and Faith were left in the foyer. "Hi Faith. Whatchya got there?" "Hmmm?" "Faith, are you all right?" Her cheeks reddened, "oh, sorry, I brought chocolate chip cookies." She handed him the plate. "I make them for the cafe and I hate to show up empty handed." "Well thanks. Come on back."

They walked through the house and Faith had to make a conscious effort not to gawk. His house was amazing. Big, open rooms, high ceilings, and a kitchen that made Faith want to cry. There seemed to be an acre of granite counter top, a restaurant-worthy stove, a sub-zero refrigerator and cupboards that went on forever.

Richie had set the plate down and watched as Faith took in the kitchen. He was almost turned on by the way she reverently touched the counter tops and lightly ran her fingertips over the stove. "I gather you like my kitchen." "Like is much too tame a word. Covet, crave, desire, those might be better." He laughed, "well, maybe next time I will let you cook for me." "Don't tease me like that." Richie looked at her, "who's teasing?" The girls came in then, all ready for the pool.

Richie led them through the family room and out the sliding glass door to the patio. The backyard was fantastic. The pool was huge, there was a hot tub over to one side, a cabana and the yard was landscaped beautifully. It took Faith's breath. "Do you have your suit on?" Faith turned at the sound of Richie's voice, "hmm, what?" "Are you sure you are all right?" Faith nodded, "I'm fine, its just so beautiful out here." "Thanks. I had nothing to do with it." Faith laughed, "well at least you're honest about it. So, where can I change?"

In the cabana Faith slipped out of her clothes and put on her new bikini. It was dark red and a little more daring then her old one, but still respectable for in front of the girls. She tied the black and red wrap around her waist grabbed her sunglasses on and went back outside.

Richie had just put the stereo on and was turning back to sit down when he saw Faith come out of the cabana. He felt as though he had been sucker punched. He tried to catch his breath as his eyes traveled her up and down. He had seen her in her bathing suit before, but this seemed different to him somehow. It wasn't the same suit, that much he remembered. Maybe that was it.

Faith felt his eyes on her, "what?" she asked as she got closer to him. "You got a new suit?" Faith sat down, "I did. It was time to retire the other one." They watched the girls for a bit. Richie looked over at her, "do you wanna get wet?" Faith jerked her eyes up to his, "wh-what?" He chuckled and pointed at the pool, "I asked if you want to get wet, you know, go swimming?" She flushed and nodded, "sure."

As the afternoon wore on the girls got out of the pool and went inside to watch a movie. Faith and Richie had moved from the pool back to the chairs they had occupied earlier. Faith reached for her sunglasses and Richie noticed the ring was gone. There was just faint tan line where it used to be. Before Faith could pull her hand back Richie reached for it. He ran his finger along the tan line. "Where is it?" Faith raised her eyes to his. "I guess I should explain." When Richie didn't say anything, she continued. "I was married, for 17 years." He nodded, "are you divorced?" "No, no I'm not."

Richie was dumfounded. "You say you're not married, but yet you are not divorced either. What kind of game are you playing Faith?" She looked at him, "I'm not playing any game Richie. I'm not divorced. My husband died two years ago. I'm widowed." Now he felt like an ass for saying what he did. "I'm sorry Faith." There were a million questions he wanted to ask, but didn't want to pry. She could see the questions cross his face. "What do you want to know?"

He wanted to know everything. "What happened?"