I agree there is something more to this than spending time with his daughter.
Perhaps it was the contractual agreement for the tour. Any thoughts on this scenario:
Once the tour started, new contracts were signed. Richie didn’t agree with something in the contract and tried to work it out with Jon during the first leg. It could be about more $, how he was getting paid or the request to sing a solo album song or two.

As the second leg started, there was still no mutual agreement and Richie walked at the last possible minute. As I recall, Jon was not surprised when he got the call from management that Richie was not showing up as it seemed like something he expected. On stage that night in Calgary, I believe Jon said Richie would be gone for awhile (which makes me think that Jon wasn’t going to cave in to whatever Richie wanted in the contract). Didn’t Richie say once or twice over the summer that he hopes things would be resolved soon. I sure
he wants to come back but they can’t agree on terms and at this point in the
tour why bother anyway . *