Chapter 29

I awoke early, still thinking on the news about Manning and his accomplices being caught, finally it looked as if justice would be done, and not just for Jon but for the innocent gymnast that had lost his life through manning too. 

and now thinking about my two sons, yes; I regarded Richie as my son too; both in hospital, Jon  recovering from the operation, and Richie recovered to be discharged. I kept thanking god for Richie, for without the kindness of this young man; and undoubted love for my first born son, well it did not bare thinking about.

Laying in bed I looked across at Carol sleeping, for the first time in months we had both slept well, I felt refreshed and not stressed for a change. Man we had been on one hell of a roller coaster ride, but the light at the end of the tunnel was getting brighter.

There's something about the stress, that makes you behave in a far from logical way, I suppose that does come with being a parent though, when one of your kids is hurt so are you, and no it matters not if there adults or kids, toddlers or teens, no matter there age there still kids to you and your flesh and blood, I know me and Carol would give our lives for all our boys,

so, as I lay there thinking, today was gonna be a big day, Richie was being discharged from hospital he was finally fit enough to resume his normal activities, both ma and me wanted to be there when he left to take him out and buy him a meal, nothing grand just a small gesture to say thank you, plus ma and me had decided to include Richie into our will and give him a share of the Bongiovi estate too, equal to all our boys,

Carol had chatted to Joan, Richie's mom; and she was very happy for us to include her son. She became overwhelmed and emotional when we told her. Now; time was ticking and it was time to move our butts, time waits for no man, as they say, even less for Drs in hospitals, I'd spoke to Doc and gained a few minutes if we were late, but I did not want to keep the Doc from his patients for to long knowing how busy he was, so I started hauling my bones outta bed checking with the clock on the night stand , it was 8.45 am, it was gonna be tight on time, best wake Carol too, the nurse had given a time slot for the dr giving Richie his release, it was scheduled for 11am, and with breakfast to be cooked still, I had to push us both to start moving and fast to the max!  Joan knew our plans but Richie had no idea, so when Doc discharged him he'd be gone and we would have missed our chance. Turning my head I Looked at my sleeping wife, I shook her,

 " mmmm" 

"Carol, hunni, come on time to wake up?" I waited, nothing, I swear this women could sleep through an explosion at a nitro glycerin plant, I tried again;
"Carol, hunni its time to get up, were going to meet Richie out of hospital remember?.... Carol......" I waited and apart from a grunt, nothing. I decided on the best way to wake her was with a cup of coffee and breakfast in bed.
Once downstairs  I set about fixing breakfast, all cooked and coffee made with the tray loaded I headed back upstairs to our bedroom, as I entered my elbow caught on the handle which caused the cups to chink together, Carol stirred, "John?"
"Yes, Good morning sleepy head"
"Good morning, what have you got there?"
"I thought i'd make us breakfast, and that we could have it in bed"
"Oh hunni that's so nice a real treat, Thank you..."
as I placed the tray down ma could see the crispy bacon and pancakes and egg I had made for her.
"Ooooh my favourite," put patting her stomach, "not for the waistline, still once in a while eh?"
"You look perfect to me, "
"Awww thank you" I leaned over and we both kissed." Carol was my soul mate, and I can honestly say hand on heart, if I had all the women in the world to choose from again I would still choose my Carol. 

 While we ate we discussed Richie and Jon, "Ma, should we tell jon what we have done regarding adding Richie to the estate after we pass?"
"Yes,  I think Jon would be pleased with our decision, he has been trying to think of some way he could thank Richie himself, now, in a way we have done it for him, as a family, right?"
"Right, pa this bacon is delicious, by the way, I'm thinking, what time are we going, have you spoke to Dr Markus?"
"Yes, yes, relax it's all sorted. Doc will be doing his rounds about eleven, doc said if we aint there he would chat to Richie before giving him his release. I do think we should start moving real soon though, you done?" 

Finishing her last bit of bacon she pushed her plate at me, "all done" 

" right, you go shower and dress first I'll take these downstairs" 

"Ok, leave them on the side I'll rinse them through later"

I left the bedroom and headed downstairs and left the dishes on the sink to be rinsed when we got back, then I made my way back upstairs to shower and dress too.

In our bedroom ma was already in the shower and singing, badly... where Jon got his talent I will never know, I sat on the bed listening, " that's life, that's what all the people say.... riding high in April, shot down in may....." she was singing one of her favourite songs, Frank Sinatra's "That's Life" as I say badly, I am sure the notes were in there somewhere, but they were definitely in the wrong order. I felt the smile on my face and before long I was laughing.
"What's so funny?"
Ma caught me off guard, "Eh, Oh nothing, I was just thinking to myself that's all.."
"Don't lie, you were laughing at my singing"
"well hunni, lets just say our first born got all the talent"
"I know, but I do like to sing, its so not fair," I know it was cheesy but I could not resist, "I know hunni, but That's life" Ma responded by throwing her slipper at me, fortunately she was just a bad shot as she was a singer and it missed me. 

Now with Ma out of the shower it was my turn to head in and get ready.

Half hour later we were both downstairs and ready to leave, a bit behind time but nothing major, final checks done, including the paperwork in the envelope that showed the inclusion of Richie with entitlement to our estate  in equal share with our boys and all signed by us in the presence of the lawyer; now back inside the envelope and sealed complete with red bow on top,  we could finally leave and head off to the hospital.

Pulling up we parked, and checking the time, we were ten minutes late,  with speed we headed to the entrance and the elevator. It arrived and we got on, hit the button to Richie's floor and prayed we were not to late, we rode up one floor when it stopped to allow more people to get on, both ma and me kept checking our watches, then the elevator door opened and on got Dr Markus , "Mr & Mrs Bongiovi, Good Morning..." good Morning Doc."
"perfect timing, I'm just on my to see Richie,  I have been told he's with your son, so is today the day?"
"Yeah todays the day, show him ma.." ma got the papers out to show to the Dr. and watched as he read the document.
"Wow, an equal share to your other sons... incredible... he is a lucky guy." " no doc  we are the lucky ones"