Toni for the Defense

Richie had been quiet most of the night after her father and Gerry left and that had Toni worried. She hoped her fantasy mess was not still in the air. They got ready for bed and he lay down still very much into himself.

"Richie…want to talk about it?" Toni asked

"Oh Toni I don’t know," he said taking her hand.

"Is it me?"

"No…nothing like that…no babe it’s not you at all," he kissed her softly. All the talk at the dinner table had him thinking.

"Is it none of my business?" she asked.

Richie smiled Toni never gave up, "it’s actually Mike."

"Mike?"

"Yeah, Michael is Mike now, he told me in an email tonight to please call him Mike."

"Oh…you don’t like a nick name?"

"The thing is Toni…when did he cease being Michael and become Mike…he’s had his Bar Mitzvah and I wasn’t there. He’s in middle school his voice is breaking…all these things…he’s growing up and I don’t know him anymore. I’m missing out on his growing up years."

"You keep in touch Richie you email back and forth daily, talk on the phone, text message…there’s not much else you can do. Are you regretting moving here to Australia with me?"

"No, honestly I’m not…no not any of that Toni. I just wish he was closer."

"I know love," she took his head in her arms and ran her hand through his soft hair. "He actually is closer right now somewhere up there in the air. He’ll be here tomorrow. You have two whole weeks together I know he’s excited about coming."

"Yeah he is….I’ve never been a real father to him since he was born Toni, when I lived with him I wasn’t there mentally or physically. I’m not sure I know how…he deserves better…Wally’s probably a better father to him than I’ve ever been."

"Richie stop beating yourself up…you’re talking about the man I love who I know to be the most loving, generous, honest, giving and understanding man I’ve ever known. Life is the way it is…I know that doesn’t make it any easier but you have to make the best of what you have and you do Richie…you do. This is what divorce does it splits up children and their parents. It’s been five and a half years. You’ve been the best that you could be at least since I’ve know you."

"Anybody ever tell you you’d make a good defense lawyer?" Richie said reaching up and caressing her cheek.

"I’m always in your corner to defend you, loving you," she kissed him soundly.