Don't Be Cruel

Chapter 30

*A couple of days later*

"Richie, why are we at the airport?" Evie asked, as Richie pulled into the terminal. "We are going on holiday, a very special holiday" Richie replied, smiling and turned off the engine. He opened the door and clambered out, grabbing his suitcases out of the back of the car, Evie got out as well and shaded her eyes from the sun. "Where exactly?" she asked, taking her suitcase into the airport, quickly followed by her soon-to-be husband. "It's a surprise" he replied, strolling up to the check-in desk and the lady scanned the bags. Added a tag and put them on the carrier. Richie smiled as they travelled towards security, past a bunch of bustling tourists and some children.  Richie kissed Evie on the lips as they passed through security- Richie was overjoyed. "Ready to go?" he asked as they went up the steps towards Richies' private plane, Evie smiled and sat down in a comfortable seat, with a cocktail in her hand, Richie followed and sat down opposite her.

Evie nodded. The engines rumbled, the planed rolled forward and began to taxi to the runway. Evie fastened her seat belt, the plane stopped. The engines roared as she blew out a deep breath, Richie held her hand tightly as a sign of comfort and she began to relax. The speed grew faster and faster, the plane then soared into the sky, Richie took off his seat belt and took a white wine from the bar. Richie sipped slowly; Evie was captivated in an action novel, her eyes scanned the page eagerly. Richie sighed; he grabbed his notebook, and decided to write down some lyrics after his newly-found inspiration. As time wore on, hour by hour, Richie grew more and more tired. Finally, he lugged himself to a bed at the back of the plane, he snuggled himself under the covers, Evie was wide awake and was enjoying having some coffee, cake and a book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By early morning, after ten or so hours on the plane, the plane was coming in for landing. Richie was awake and fastened in, Evie was asleep.  He nudged her slightly; enough to stifle her senses and make her open her eyes.

"Morning beautiful" Richie told her, she groaned and stretched, popping her back. Richie winced at the sound. "Top of the morning to ya" she told him, letting go a bit of her British ancestry, he nodded and smiled gently. He told her that they were landing in a few minutes, she done up her belt and looked out of the window. "Welcome to Gran Canaria, my darlin'" he replied, suddenly, he felt the back wheels touch the ground with a thud, then, the front. The plane slowly rolled around the bottom corner and taxied to the private gate, it stopped.

Richie grabbed his belongings from the overhead cabinet, Evie did also, he took her hand and they both walked down the steps to the airport. Once they were inside the airport, Richie wrapped Evie in a tight hug, and quickly gave her a passionate kiss. She chuckled, strolling down towards passport control, Richie by her side. Finally, after avoiding paparazzi, probably because they hadn't told anyone, the airport was quiet. Richie liked it better that way, less autographs to sign and much less hassle. Richie gave in his passport, the worker checked; peering to make sure that is was a genuine document. He nodded and gave it back, Evie gave hers in, and once again, he peered at everything.

With the passports done, they moved to get the luggage, because Richie had a private plane, his luggage was waiting for him at the departure part of the airport.

Richie chucked his, and Evies' suitcases into the boot of his car. Once done, he sat next to Evie in the back seat. The chauffeur started to drive to the hotel; Evie gazed out of the window, all of the sights and smells. Richie smiled. The drive to the villa was short and sweet. When, the car reached the villa, Richie plopped on his baseball cap and gave the chauffeur a sincere thank you. They were given their suitcases, guitars and assortment of hats and strolled to the front door; it was painted a dark oak with a glossed finish. Richie opened the front door, Evie gazed at the amount that was in here: a kitchen with cutlery, cupboards, a marble worktop, a lounge with sofas, a state of the art television, (colour nevertheless) and a range of guitars were in the corner, from Kramers to Ovations. Richie carried the bags up to the bedroom, it was a creamy white with a King sized bed tucked neatly in the middle; a bay window sat looking the ocean and beach, and a wardrobe. Richie chucked them down on the floor and crashed on the bed, and most probably, passed out.

Evie, too busy looking at the grounds, kitchen and music room, never noticed Richie going to bed. She ran upstairs, and opened the bedroom door, revealing a unconscious Richie with all of his clothes on. Evie sighed; she took off Richie's hat and shoes, putting his baseball cap on the side table. "Sweet dreams Richie" she told him before kissing him on the forehead, and strolling to the door; she quietly shut it, careful not to awaken him, and made her way downstairs.

The room was a deadly silence, she gazed at the guitars, one was a cherry red Kramer, and another was a deep shade of blue, not navy. She noticed a piano in the corner; she stepped over there and sat down. She started to play She Is Always a Woman to Me by Billy Joel. She sung with grace and such emotion:

She can kill with a smile; she can wound with her eyes

She can ruin your faith with her casual lies

And she only reveals what she wants you to see

She hides like a child, but she's always a woman to me

Richie heard sweet piano music coming from downstairs, Billy Joel, if he was correct. He stood up, waited to get his balance and rushed downstairs. Evie was singing sweetly, with pure grace and emotion in her voice, she didn't notice Richie; he sat down and watched her play. She finished, Richie sat in awe of her. "Can I join?" Richie asked, grabbing an old Ovation off the wall. "Richie? I thought you were sleeping". "I was, until I heard this and had to join in". Evie nodded as Richie pulled up a chair alongside the piano, Richie started to tune his guitar, when done, and he started to sing the lyrics as Evie played the piano. Richie joined in with the guitar and it was a luscious duet between the two instruments.

Soon enough, the time flew by and the sunset was appearing on the private beach behind the house.

Richie put his guitar back on the wall and Evie stood up, tucked her chair in and grabbed Richies' hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I love the sunset" Evie told Richie before she yawned. Richie smiled. "You seem tired, let's go bed. Shall we?" Richie replied, drinking his pint of beer, Evie nodded, he finished his beer. He picked her up, and carried her to the bedroom, placing her gently on the bed. She nuzzled under the covers and drifted into a sound sleep. Richie took of his clothes and hopped in as well, said goodnight and passed out.

1:26 AM.

Richie tossed and turned, groaned and grumbled as the sweat once again washed over him. Another cold sweat. The bed was soaking, Evie woke up, and she mumbled something and looked at Richie, shocked. "You're having cold sweats? Richie, this isn't good" she told him as Evie stood up and dragged him to the shower. Evie switched on the shower, with boiling hot water coming out. Richie stripped down, in front of his fiancé. "Get in" she told him, her voice was soft yet firm, it was clear she was worried about Richie. He stepped in, so did Evie, as she had already stripped down. She washed Richie's hair for him; he had a ghostly pale face and looked stressed.

 Evie sighed and washed him, her fingertips were soft and relaxing, once done, she done herself.

Evie turned off the shower; they both stepped out and wrapped in fluffy towels, Richie looked extremely sick now, and looked like he was going to throw up. Evie would have to wash the sheets in the morning; Richie was currently her main priority. Evie dried his hair, helped him get into the spare room and laid him down. Evie wrapped him in a couple of blankets, and gave him a couple of sleeping pills to knock him out; he needed a good night's sleep.