They both turned as the door slowly opened and Romeo’s head came into view “You sleep daddy?” he whispered.
Both men closed their eyes. The head retreated behind the door but they both heard him whisper, “They sleep Miz Alex”
Alex said a little prayer that they both went along with the plan. Then she remembered the shocked look on their face when she forced Richie back into the bed. Oh shit she thought turning to Hattie, who held the other tray, they forgot to tell them! Too late now thought as she rolled her eyes.
“Go on Meo.” She whispered a little loud to let the two men know they were out there Romeo pushed the door open wider and the four kids went in yelling
“Happy Father’s Day Daddy and Uncle Mookie.” They all piled up in the bed. Jessie had the paper, which was still badly wrinkled where Hattie had rolled it up to swat Jon. Jake carried the cards they had made; Stephanie held the packages and Meo just plopped down on Jon’s lap. Alexis knew he was uncomfortable from the oomph he moaned. Richie just shook his head and laughed.
Alex sat the tray down and moved Meo off Jon’s lap. Smiling down she whispered “Sorry” Picking up the tray she laid it on his lap. Hattie put her tray on Richie’s lap.
“Were you prized daddy?” Meo asked hopping up and down.
“We knew you weren’t going to be home so we decided to have Father’s day today.” Stephanie explained. Alex and Hattie slowly left the room, leaving the kids alone with the guy’s.
As they walked downstairs they started to laugh. Heading into the kitchen they surveyed the damage.
“You should have seen Mr. Jon’s face when I opened the front door.” Hattie laughed as she began to clean up the mess on the counter by the stove. “I had to push him to the stairs.”
Alex laughed and grabbed the wet rag to wipe down the island counter. “I think Mr. Sambora thinks we are crazy.” She stopped short and looked over at Hattie “Oh my God I forced him to take off his shirt and get back into bed!” She laid her head down on the counter “I threw Jon Bon Jovi out of his own house” she banged her head on the counter but Hattie just laughed. Things were never dull at Chez Highpoint.
Back up in the master bedroom the kids were telling their Father and Uncle Mookie about how it had been Miss Alex’s idea that they make breakfast and serve them in bed. Richie looked over to Jon and mouthed You lucky shit. They both picked up their coffee cup and toasted each other.
“I made the coffee Daddy, just like you like it.” Stephanie said with a smiled.
Richie took a sip and tried not to make a face Damn that is like tar he shuddered but swallowed it anyway, grounds and all. Jon took a sip and smiled Ah just the way I love it strong and what was that crunchy stuff? Coffee Grounds? He shuddered but drank the whole cup.
“We tried to get Ava to come Uncle Mookie but Aunt Heather said she couldn’t come.” Jessie said as he watched them eat the eggs. “Miss Alex didn’t help us cook.” He said proudly. “I cooked he bacon and Jake scrambled the eggs” he patted his younger brother on the back. The eggs were soft along with the bacon. Romeo stood at the end of the bed and smiled brightly
“Meo made the towst” he said as he watched them each pick up a piece of perfectly browned toast on one said and burnt on the other. Richie looked over at Jon and chuckled
“Like Father like Son.” He took a bite of toast and washed it down with watered down Orange Juice. Concentrate thank God, not fresh he downed the glass.
Hattie peeked into the room and caught Jon’s eye Finished? She mouthed and when he nodded she and Alex walked back into the room to take the tray’s. Alex couldn’t look them in the eye. What must they think of her now?
“Open your gift Daddy.” Stephanie put the package down in his lap once the tray was gone. “We all chipped in and got it for you.” She smiled at her brothers.
Jon opened the box and looked in at the picture frame. It was one of those digital picture frames. He took it out and turned it on. The picture slowly appeared. They were of the kids. Jake and Jessie at baseball practice. Stephanie at one of her Fashion shows. Romeo doing what he did best looking cute.
“It’s so you won’t be lonely while you’re gone.” Stephanie said with a tear in her eye.
Jon couldn’t say anything. Here was a man who made a living writing hit songs and he couldn’t say anything. He just looked at the pictures and at his kids sitting around him on the bed.
Richie leaned over and looked at the pictures as they changed. Then ones of Alex and the kids started showing up with the ones of just the kids. He cocked and eyebrow at Stephanie who just smiled at him.
“Oh yeah Uncle Mookie we have a gift for you too.” She handed him a smaller package. “Miss Alex helped us with it. She called Ava and well” she let it trail off as Richie opened his package.
The frame was smaller but the pictures were all of Ava and California. He kept watching the pictures change but there were none of Jon’s kids with Alex. He looked up at Stephanie and gave her a questioning look, but she winked at him. He looked over at Jon who just looked around at his kids. Lucky bastard he thought and he doesn’t expect a thing, he just shook his head.
Alex peeked in and watched them with the gifts.
“Okay kids we need you downstairs for KP” she ushered the kids out and looking back she whispered “Hattie is coming up with a cooked breakfast. And a bottle of Pepto.” She laughed as she got the kids out of ear shot.
Richie looked over and Jon and shook his head “You are one lucky bastard you know that?” He said as he got out of bed and put his gift in his bag. “Great kids and someone who cares about them.” He picked up his cell and called Ava. Then he caught site of the clock and about snapped it shut when he saw that it was only 9 AM. then he remembered it was a three hour difference in the time. He had been on European time for so long he forgot he was calling Ava at 6 AM.
Jon put his frame on the nightstand and went to the bathroom the give him some privacy. Yeah one lucky bastard, He thought as he closed the door.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Chapter 20
“Hattie must have left the pot made last night.” She went to the sink and tossed out the cup and then the pot.
Hattie had looked at her puzzled she turned to her and mouthed Jon. Hattie nodded and went over and turned the coffeemaker off. Alex tried to get her attention catching her eye she mouthed Front door, praying that she understood. Hattie looked at her puzzled.
“Hattie why don’t you go get the morning paper?” She stressed the words to get her point across. Then she saw the paper on the table where Jon had left it. Damn that man these kids have worked so hard on this. She thought. Grabbing the paper she handed it to Hattie behind her back. Praying that the kids didn’t see her maneuver.
“Jake and I will go Miss Alex.” Stephanie volunteered.
“No!” She and Hattie said together. “You have to get the juice and pour the glasses and Jake is on bacon duty.” She said trying to cover their goof.
Hattie headed to the front door. When she opened it she was shocked to see Jon there waiting to be let in. The look on his face was priceless.
“Okay Hattie what’s going on?” Jon said trying to get to the bottom of being thrown out of his own house.
“Mr. Jon, You get up to that bedroom and you and Mr. Richie better be asleep!” Hattie ushered him to the stairs. “These kids have been planning this for a week.” She pushed him a little to get him on the first step. “Now get!” she smacked him with the paper.
Jon mumbled his way back up the stairs. Get home and everything is changed, thrown out of my own house, barefooted no less, And Hattie…My sweet tempered housekeeper smacks me with the paper…this is all a dream…I’ll wake up and everything will be back to normal. When he got into the room he noticed Richie was up and dressed. Nope not a dream..must be a nightmare if it was a dream Sambora would be a sexy brunette with green eyes he thought to himself then he stopped…where did the green eyes come from?
Richie looked up at his best buddy, his soul brother. With a puzzled look on his face he went over and put his hand on his forehead. Nope it was cool, and he did have that crazed look in his eyes. Jon looked up at his with a funny look on his face.
“What?” He asked
“You were talking to your self” Richie said
“I think I’m in another, dimension” he walked past Richie and headed over to the bed. “I burnt my mouth on my coffee.” Sitting down on his side of the bed he got in
“Burning your tongue put you in another, dimienson?” Richie was confused, why was he getting back in bed? “Why are you getting back in bed?”
Jon pulled the covers back up. “Alex threw me out of the house and Hattie hit me with the paper.”
Richie was really confused. Heading to the door Jon stopped him.
“I wouldn’t if I were you!” He said as he flipped the covers back on the side Richie had slept on. “She’ll only make you come back and get in bed.”
Richie shook his head and opened the door anyway. There stood Alexis and she wasn’t happy.
“What are you doing up and dressed?” she pushed her way in shutting the door behind her. “Get that shirt off and get back into bed.” She turned him back toward the bed.
Bossy little thing he thought as he took off his shirt and got into bed beside Jon. All that kept running through his mind was the theme from the Twilight Zone.
“Now stay the both of you.” She went to the door turning around to make sure they were still there she huffed. “Don’t make me send Hattie up here to check on you!” she went out the door making sure she didn’t slam it.
Jon looked at Richie and Richie looked at Jon and they both went..
“Do do do do do, Do do do do do” But they stayed in the bed.
Thirty minutes passed and Richie went to get out of bed and Jon grabbed the covers.
“No way in hell do I want Hattie in here!” he said in a whisper “She hit me with the news paper.” He shook his head.
“I’m not afraid of Hattie” he said and when the doorknob turned he jumped back in the bed.
“Not afraid are you?” Jon questioned. Richie smacked him on the arm “Damn it I am tired of getting smacked this morning!” He ruubed his arm and rolled his eyes.
Hattie had looked at her puzzled she turned to her and mouthed Jon. Hattie nodded and went over and turned the coffeemaker off. Alex tried to get her attention catching her eye she mouthed Front door, praying that she understood. Hattie looked at her puzzled.
“Hattie why don’t you go get the morning paper?” She stressed the words to get her point across. Then she saw the paper on the table where Jon had left it. Damn that man these kids have worked so hard on this. She thought. Grabbing the paper she handed it to Hattie behind her back. Praying that the kids didn’t see her maneuver.
“Jake and I will go Miss Alex.” Stephanie volunteered.
“No!” She and Hattie said together. “You have to get the juice and pour the glasses and Jake is on bacon duty.” She said trying to cover their goof.
Hattie headed to the front door. When she opened it she was shocked to see Jon there waiting to be let in. The look on his face was priceless.
“Okay Hattie what’s going on?” Jon said trying to get to the bottom of being thrown out of his own house.
“Mr. Jon, You get up to that bedroom and you and Mr. Richie better be asleep!” Hattie ushered him to the stairs. “These kids have been planning this for a week.” She pushed him a little to get him on the first step. “Now get!” she smacked him with the paper.
Jon mumbled his way back up the stairs. Get home and everything is changed, thrown out of my own house, barefooted no less, And Hattie…My sweet tempered housekeeper smacks me with the paper…this is all a dream…I’ll wake up and everything will be back to normal. When he got into the room he noticed Richie was up and dressed. Nope not a dream..must be a nightmare if it was a dream Sambora would be a sexy brunette with green eyes he thought to himself then he stopped…where did the green eyes come from?
Richie looked up at his best buddy, his soul brother. With a puzzled look on his face he went over and put his hand on his forehead. Nope it was cool, and he did have that crazed look in his eyes. Jon looked up at his with a funny look on his face.
“What?” He asked
“You were talking to your self” Richie said
“I think I’m in another, dimension” he walked past Richie and headed over to the bed. “I burnt my mouth on my coffee.” Sitting down on his side of the bed he got in
“Burning your tongue put you in another, dimienson?” Richie was confused, why was he getting back in bed? “Why are you getting back in bed?”
Jon pulled the covers back up. “Alex threw me out of the house and Hattie hit me with the paper.”
Richie was really confused. Heading to the door Jon stopped him.
“I wouldn’t if I were you!” He said as he flipped the covers back on the side Richie had slept on. “She’ll only make you come back and get in bed.”
Richie shook his head and opened the door anyway. There stood Alexis and she wasn’t happy.
“What are you doing up and dressed?” she pushed her way in shutting the door behind her. “Get that shirt off and get back into bed.” She turned him back toward the bed.
Bossy little thing he thought as he took off his shirt and got into bed beside Jon. All that kept running through his mind was the theme from the Twilight Zone.
“Now stay the both of you.” She went to the door turning around to make sure they were still there she huffed. “Don’t make me send Hattie up here to check on you!” she went out the door making sure she didn’t slam it.
Jon looked at Richie and Richie looked at Jon and they both went..
“Do do do do do, Do do do do do” But they stayed in the bed.
Thirty minutes passed and Richie went to get out of bed and Jon grabbed the covers.
“No way in hell do I want Hattie in here!” he said in a whisper “She hit me with the news paper.” He shook his head.
“I’m not afraid of Hattie” he said and when the doorknob turned he jumped back in the bed.
“Not afraid are you?” Jon questioned. Richie smacked him on the arm “Damn it I am tired of getting smacked this morning!” He ruubed his arm and rolled his eyes.
Chapter 19
Alexis got up early and got the kids up. This was to be Father’s Day for Jon. Seeing as how they would be back in Europe during Father’s Day. The kids had made the menu and she was to supervise. Hattie turned over her kitchen to sit back to watch the excitement. The only problem was when she got into the kitchen to set out the menu and the ingredients she found Jon sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.
“No you can’t be here” she whispered to him, “You’ll ruin the surprise!” She looked back to make sure the kids weren’t behind her. “Go back to bed!”
Jon looked up at the sound of her voice and about burnt his tongue on the coffee he chugged. Sitting down the cup he sloshed coffee onto the counter. Dang he hadn’t heard her come in. There she was in jeans and a t-shirt. He had been thinking of her since he got up.
“Get out of here before they come in! Go round to the front door and then go back to bed!” she grabbed the cup shooed him out the backdoor.
Jon got to the backdoor and turned back to her. Damn I’m like putty in her hands he thought looking back at her.
“Did you…” was all he got out when she slammed the door in his face. Looking down at his bare feet he laughed he had just barely missed getting them caught in the door. Shaking his head he headed around to the front door.
She had just turned around when the kids came in. Trying not to let the kids know that their dad had been in the kitchen, she grabbed the cup she tried to make it look like she had been drinking. Taking a sip she about choked Damn did he have to drink it black….my God it is like tar, she thought trying not to gag.
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Sorry screwed up and posted underscored.
“No you can’t be here” she whispered to him, “You’ll ruin the surprise!” She looked back to make sure the kids weren’t behind her. “Go back to bed!”
Jon looked up at the sound of her voice and about burnt his tongue on the coffee he chugged. Sitting down the cup he sloshed coffee onto the counter. Dang he hadn’t heard her come in. There she was in jeans and a t-shirt. He had been thinking of her since he got up.
“Get out of here before they come in! Go round to the front door and then go back to bed!” she grabbed the cup shooed him out the backdoor.
Jon got to the backdoor and turned back to her. Damn I’m like putty in her hands he thought looking back at her.
“Did you…” was all he got out when she slammed the door in his face. Looking down at his bare feet he laughed he had just barely missed getting them caught in the door. Shaking his head he headed around to the front door.
She had just turned around when the kids came in. Trying not to let the kids know that their dad had been in the kitchen, she grabbed the cup she tried to make it look like she had been drinking. Taking a sip she about choked Damn did he have to drink it black….my God it is like tar, she thought trying not to gag.
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Sorry screwed up and posted underscored.
Chapter 18
Alex had gotten Meo down and was walking toward Steph's room. When she peeked in she saw Stephanie sitting on the bed, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Stepping in she crossed the room and sat on the bed beside her.
"Honey, it's okay." She said as she wiped a tear off her cheek. "It's just one date. who knows I might end up liking the guy."
Stephanie shook her head, making a terrible face she tried not to cry harder.
"No Miss Alex, I never should have gone along with it in the first place." Stephanie took hold of Alex's hand. "It was wrong."
"yes it was, but I understand, it was important to Jessie and you wanted to help your brother." She leaned toward Steph and they put their foreheads together. "It I had a little brother I might have done the same thing. So no more tears? Your dad just got home and your off restrictions." She liked that Stephanie had started to smile. "Not go to bed we have loads to do tomorrow." She kissed her on the forehead.
Throwing her arms around Alex, Stephanie smiled.
"I'm gland you are here for us Miss Alex."
Hugging her back Alex sighed, "Me too Stephie, me too."
Getting Stephanie all tucked in she headed down the hall to Jessie's room. Not looking forward to this she peeked in. Jessie was laying on his bed tossing the ball in the air and catching it.
"Ten minutes and lights out Jess." She said. Jessie nearly hit himself in the face with the ball at the sound of her voice. "Careful, you don't want to break anything important." She laughed.
Jessie sat up and looked at her laughing.
"How can you laugh? You have to go out with Coach Davis?" he asked when she came into his room.
Taking the ball and putting it on the dresser, she went back and sat on the edge of his bed.
"Jess all you had to do was tell me the truth." She moved a lock of his hair out of his eyes and smiled. He had his dad's eyes and his mother's complexion. "You might be surprised I might have helped you out."
"Really?" Jessie asked sitting up "I was afraid you might not go out with him." He searched her face looking for an answer.
"NO but if you told me what was going on we could have sat down and figured a way out of this mess." She smiled; she really loved these kids and finally felt like they were jelling as a fragmented family.
"Daddy and Uncle Mookie will come up with a plan. They're really good at this." Jessie said smiling up at Alex.
"Get some sleep we have a big plans for tomorrow. You and Jake have chores for the morning. You were planning on cooking breakfast for your dad since he's going to miss Father's Day."
She helped him get under the covers and tucked him in. "Steph's is getting the juice and coffee and Meo and I are getting the flowers for the tray." Kissing him on his forehead she went to the door and turned off the light and left the room.
Leaning her head on the door she sighed. One day down a week to go. It felt really strange having Jon home. It was easy when it was just the kids. Now it was real. Going and checking on Jake she smiled to see him already asleep. He was the good kid, next to Meo. She was almost to her room when she heard them coming up the stairs. She turned and laid her finger on her lips to tell them to be quiet. She mouthed goodnight and headed into her room, shutting the door quietly.
Jon looked at Richie "Guess that means you're in the guest house unless you want to bunk with me?" Jon asked as they walked into the master suite.
Richie thought about walking across the lawn and thought about the room he usually stayed in when he was there. Turning he looked at Jon then back at the closed door.
"You don't snore do you?" He asked with a chuckle as he closed he door. "I could casually go into Miss Alex's room by mistake....seeing as how it was my room before she came." Ducking when Jon tossed his overnight bag at him, putting it on the floor he sat on the end of the bed. "It was just a thought." he smiled. "Did you see how Romeo had taken up with Alex? The way she plays with the back of his hair and strokes his back reminds me of how much I miss that kind of touching from a woman."
"Yeah I got the same feeling." Jon looked around the room he had shared his inner most feeling with the woman he thought he would grow old with.
Richie could tell the mood was shifting. they were both single men now. Once it came out the women would be all over them.
"How should I know, I'm asleep." He looked round the room; they had moved stuff around so that he didn't miss Dorothea's stuff. "Just stay on your side of the bed and no one will get hurt." he sat in the arm chair by the window; this is harder than I thought he said to himself.
Richie thought for a minute then turned to Jon.
"You just do man, you remember that you have someone waiting for you to be both parents." He looked down at the shirt in his hands thinking about when he came home the first time and Heather was gone. "It does get easier." he said finally "and you get on with your life." getting up and going over and putting his hand on Jon's shoulder giving it a pat he turned to the bathroom door. As he went in he heard Jon say thanks.
Getting undressed and pulling on sweatpants he laughed when Richie came out with the same sweatpants on. "Man we are like too old married farts." Richie wearing Soul sweatpants they started to get into bed.
Jon looked over at the clock. It was ten PM. throwing back the covers he headed to the door. "I got an idea get up we need to make some calls...I'm calling in a few favors! Get your ass out of bed Dean...I got a bottle of Pinot that is chilled we can get this worked out tonight!"
They headed back to the family room.
~~~~
"Honey, it's okay." She said as she wiped a tear off her cheek. "It's just one date. who knows I might end up liking the guy."
Stephanie shook her head, making a terrible face she tried not to cry harder.
"No Miss Alex, I never should have gone along with it in the first place." Stephanie took hold of Alex's hand. "It was wrong."
"yes it was, but I understand, it was important to Jessie and you wanted to help your brother." She leaned toward Steph and they put their foreheads together. "It I had a little brother I might have done the same thing. So no more tears? Your dad just got home and your off restrictions." She liked that Stephanie had started to smile. "Not go to bed we have loads to do tomorrow." She kissed her on the forehead.
Throwing her arms around Alex, Stephanie smiled.
"I'm gland you are here for us Miss Alex."
Hugging her back Alex sighed, "Me too Stephie, me too."
Getting Stephanie all tucked in she headed down the hall to Jessie's room. Not looking forward to this she peeked in. Jessie was laying on his bed tossing the ball in the air and catching it.
"Ten minutes and lights out Jess." She said. Jessie nearly hit himself in the face with the ball at the sound of her voice. "Careful, you don't want to break anything important." She laughed.
Jessie sat up and looked at her laughing.
"How can you laugh? You have to go out with Coach Davis?" he asked when she came into his room.
Taking the ball and putting it on the dresser, she went back and sat on the edge of his bed.
"Jess all you had to do was tell me the truth." She moved a lock of his hair out of his eyes and smiled. He had his dad's eyes and his mother's complexion. "You might be surprised I might have helped you out."
"Really?" Jessie asked sitting up "I was afraid you might not go out with him." He searched her face looking for an answer.
"NO but if you told me what was going on we could have sat down and figured a way out of this mess." She smiled; she really loved these kids and finally felt like they were jelling as a fragmented family.
"Daddy and Uncle Mookie will come up with a plan. They're really good at this." Jessie said smiling up at Alex.
"Get some sleep we have a big plans for tomorrow. You and Jake have chores for the morning. You were planning on cooking breakfast for your dad since he's going to miss Father's Day."
She helped him get under the covers and tucked him in. "Steph's is getting the juice and coffee and Meo and I are getting the flowers for the tray." Kissing him on his forehead she went to the door and turned off the light and left the room.
Leaning her head on the door she sighed. One day down a week to go. It felt really strange having Jon home. It was easy when it was just the kids. Now it was real. Going and checking on Jake she smiled to see him already asleep. He was the good kid, next to Meo. She was almost to her room when she heard them coming up the stairs. She turned and laid her finger on her lips to tell them to be quiet. She mouthed goodnight and headed into her room, shutting the door quietly.
Jon looked at Richie "Guess that means you're in the guest house unless you want to bunk with me?" Jon asked as they walked into the master suite.
Richie thought about walking across the lawn and thought about the room he usually stayed in when he was there. Turning he looked at Jon then back at the closed door.
"You don't snore do you?" He asked with a chuckle as he closed he door. "I could casually go into Miss Alex's room by mistake....seeing as how it was my room before she came." Ducking when Jon tossed his overnight bag at him, putting it on the floor he sat on the end of the bed. "It was just a thought." he smiled. "Did you see how Romeo had taken up with Alex? The way she plays with the back of his hair and strokes his back reminds me of how much I miss that kind of touching from a woman."
"Yeah I got the same feeling." Jon looked around the room he had shared his inner most feeling with the woman he thought he would grow old with.
Richie could tell the mood was shifting. they were both single men now. Once it came out the women would be all over them.
"How should I know, I'm asleep." He looked round the room; they had moved stuff around so that he didn't miss Dorothea's stuff. "Just stay on your side of the bed and no one will get hurt." he sat in the arm chair by the window; this is harder than I thought he said to himself.
Richie thought for a minute then turned to Jon.
"You just do man, you remember that you have someone waiting for you to be both parents." He looked down at the shirt in his hands thinking about when he came home the first time and Heather was gone. "It does get easier." he said finally "and you get on with your life." getting up and going over and putting his hand on Jon's shoulder giving it a pat he turned to the bathroom door. As he went in he heard Jon say thanks.
Getting undressed and pulling on sweatpants he laughed when Richie came out with the same sweatpants on. "Man we are like too old married farts." Richie wearing Soul sweatpants they started to get into bed.
Jon looked over at the clock. It was ten PM. throwing back the covers he headed to the door. "I got an idea get up we need to make some calls...I'm calling in a few favors! Get your ass out of bed Dean...I got a bottle of Pinot that is chilled we can get this worked out tonight!"
They headed back to the family room.
~~~~
Chapter 17
~~~
"You can laugh at all this?" He sat back on his heels. Pretty, smart and smells good too. Not the type of woman that usually turned him on. But there was something different about Alexis Jones that made it all seem right. "How did you get that they set you up?"
Jon turned to see Richie and Jessie walk back into the room.
"How did she know what?" Richie asked giving Jessie a shove into the room.
"She knows?" Jessie asked looking from Stephanie to Alex to his dad.
Alex got up and walked back to the sofa, Romeo climbed back into her lap.
"It was easy really." She waited till they were all seated again.
Playing with the curls that lay on Romeo's collar she smiled.
"I put two and two together and f came up with a sleezeball."
Romeo's eyes were drifting closed as she rubbed his back. Jon and Richie squirmed a little in their seats.
"Don't get me wrong what they did was not right. Matthew is a great coach. But he hits on anything female with a pulse and you get the idea." Alex told the,. Romeo cuddled to her chest and snuggled down in her arms. "Ever since I started taking the boys to practice, he has gone out of his way to ask me out."
She watched them faces of those around her as her words sunk in.
"It was just a matter of the hints Jessie gave me and the look in Stephanie's face when I went back to check on them, it hit me." She felt Romeo sigh against her chest and smiled.
"But you went on and called him?" Richie asked stunned that she would go through with the date, after the way she felt about the man.
"Well it is one game and I don't think Jessie will try this again." She looked over at Jessie who by now was counting his lucky stars that he might just get by with this. "But, If he ever does it again, Jessie James Louie Bon Jovi will be grounded for a month!" She gave him a squinted eye look that meant business. "And for using your sister sister like that, you will be doing her chores for two weeks." Jessie swallowed hard.
"You know you could call and cancel the date, seeing as how you were roped into going." Jon finally got two words in edge wise.
"No, I'll go. I gave my word." She looked down at Romeo, he was sound asleep. "Let me get him down. Guys it is bed time." She told Jessie and Stephanie. "Say good night to your dad and Uncle Mookie." She cradled Romeo and headed for the door.
"night Daddy," she kissed her dad on the cheek and then went over to Richie, "Night Uncle Mookie." She gave him a kiss too. "You and daddy think of someway to help Miss Alex, won't you?" She turned and followed Alex from the room.
Jessie went over to Richie "Thanks Uncle Mookie I know you and dad will figure something out." He turned to his father. "Night Dad" he turned and was heading to the door when Jon stopped him.
"We'll talk more about this tomorrow Jess. It isn't over yet." Jon noticed how Jessie dropped his head that he gave him a lot to think about. he watched his son leave the room he turned to Richie who was shaking his head.
~~~
"Man I'm so glad Ava is still an only child!" He laughed "So Frank, got any ideas how to save your Alexis?"
Jon liked the way that sounded, his Alexis, had a good ring to it. Getting up he went to the wet bar and fixed a drink.
"Well you did say you were going to the game right?" he tuned and nodded toward the bar. Richie nodded and waited until Jon fixed him one too. "Let's work on it. We have three days?"
Richie took a deep drink of the cold liquor, much better than tap water. He felt safe drinking, seeing as how they wouldn't be leaving the house.
"Yeah, three days." He watched Jon, you could almost see the wheels turning in his mind.
Jon tapped his finger on the glass, and then he stopped tapping. Richie knew he had an idea.
"You got something?" Richie smiled.
"Yeah I think I do. I'll make some calls later and it just might work." Jon raised the glass in a salute. Richie raise his to salute the idea.
"Wanted?" Richie asked with a smile.
"What?" Jon asked not sure what Richie was talking about.
"You were tapping out the beat for Wanted on the glass. I've see you do it before." Richie began to tap his glass.
Jon Smiled
"It helps me think." Jon said as he drained his glass.
"You can laugh at all this?" He sat back on his heels. Pretty, smart and smells good too. Not the type of woman that usually turned him on. But there was something different about Alexis Jones that made it all seem right. "How did you get that they set you up?"
Jon turned to see Richie and Jessie walk back into the room.
"How did she know what?" Richie asked giving Jessie a shove into the room.
"She knows?" Jessie asked looking from Stephanie to Alex to his dad.
Alex got up and walked back to the sofa, Romeo climbed back into her lap.
"It was easy really." She waited till they were all seated again.
Playing with the curls that lay on Romeo's collar she smiled.
"I put two and two together and f came up with a sleezeball."
Romeo's eyes were drifting closed as she rubbed his back. Jon and Richie squirmed a little in their seats.
"Don't get me wrong what they did was not right. Matthew is a great coach. But he hits on anything female with a pulse and you get the idea." Alex told the,. Romeo cuddled to her chest and snuggled down in her arms. "Ever since I started taking the boys to practice, he has gone out of his way to ask me out."
She watched them faces of those around her as her words sunk in.
"It was just a matter of the hints Jessie gave me and the look in Stephanie's face when I went back to check on them, it hit me." She felt Romeo sigh against her chest and smiled.
"But you went on and called him?" Richie asked stunned that she would go through with the date, after the way she felt about the man.
"Well it is one game and I don't think Jessie will try this again." She looked over at Jessie who by now was counting his lucky stars that he might just get by with this. "But, If he ever does it again, Jessie James Louie Bon Jovi will be grounded for a month!" She gave him a squinted eye look that meant business. "And for using your sister sister like that, you will be doing her chores for two weeks." Jessie swallowed hard.
"You know you could call and cancel the date, seeing as how you were roped into going." Jon finally got two words in edge wise.
"No, I'll go. I gave my word." She looked down at Romeo, he was sound asleep. "Let me get him down. Guys it is bed time." She told Jessie and Stephanie. "Say good night to your dad and Uncle Mookie." She cradled Romeo and headed for the door.
"night Daddy," she kissed her dad on the cheek and then went over to Richie, "Night Uncle Mookie." She gave him a kiss too. "You and daddy think of someway to help Miss Alex, won't you?" She turned and followed Alex from the room.
Jessie went over to Richie "Thanks Uncle Mookie I know you and dad will figure something out." He turned to his father. "Night Dad" he turned and was heading to the door when Jon stopped him.
"We'll talk more about this tomorrow Jess. It isn't over yet." Jon noticed how Jessie dropped his head that he gave him a lot to think about. he watched his son leave the room he turned to Richie who was shaking his head.
~~~
"Man I'm so glad Ava is still an only child!" He laughed "So Frank, got any ideas how to save your Alexis?"
Jon liked the way that sounded, his Alexis, had a good ring to it. Getting up he went to the wet bar and fixed a drink.
"Well you did say you were going to the game right?" he tuned and nodded toward the bar. Richie nodded and waited until Jon fixed him one too. "Let's work on it. We have three days?"
Richie took a deep drink of the cold liquor, much better than tap water. He felt safe drinking, seeing as how they wouldn't be leaving the house.
"Yeah, three days." He watched Jon, you could almost see the wheels turning in his mind.
Jon tapped his finger on the glass, and then he stopped tapping. Richie knew he had an idea.
"You got something?" Richie smiled.
"Yeah I think I do. I'll make some calls later and it just might work." Jon raised the glass in a salute. Richie raise his to salute the idea.
"Wanted?" Richie asked with a smile.
"What?" Jon asked not sure what Richie was talking about.
"You were tapping out the beat for Wanted on the glass. I've see you do it before." Richie began to tap his glass.
Jon Smiled
"It helps me think." Jon said as he drained his glass.
Chapter 16
Jon took that moment to come in to see what was going on.
"You lost Dean?" noting the glass of water in his hand. "Sambora and water? I never thought I would see the day Dean!"
He tried to make light of the fact that not only was his best bro was looking upset, but his best girl was looking worse.
"Hey why all the long faces? You want Mookie instead of your old dad to take you Saturday?" He watched them walk past him, sort of like dead man walking.
"Frank you take her, I think I might take in the Mets game." Richie said as he walked past Jon who looked more puzzled than before.
Richie and the Mets, are they playing the Dodgers? he thought it was strange that he would all of a sudden decide to go to a baseball game. Richie didn't even like baseball.
"Well, I have a date for Saturday." Alex said walking back into the family room.
Once again thinking to herself its just one game, its just one game. She sat on the sofa next to Jessie, Meo claimed up in her lap.
"Oh yeah Jessie, Matthew said to tell you that there is a roster change and you are back on second base. Mark wants to go back in the outfield."
With that announcement Stephanie broke down in tears and Jessie left the room slamming the door behind him.
"What did I say?" Alex looked dumbfounded. Jon went to his daughter and Richie went out after Jessie. Alex looked down at Meo and asked, "Do you know what is going on Meo?"
Romeo looked up at Alex and shrugged his little shoulders. "Meo not like Maffue...Youckie!" She scrunched his face. Alex ruffled his hair and whispered in his ear. "Me neither Meo, Me neither."
Richie caught up with Jessie as he headed up the stairs.
"Whoa there buddy. You and I need to have a little one on one." he followed Jessie up to his room and grabbed he door before he could slam it shut.
Richie waited for Jessie to talk. Jessie felt like he had been kicked in the gut. He had used Miss Alex, used her, just to get second base back. Miss Alex would do just about anything for them and he ruined everything.
"She is going to hate me isn't she?" he finally asked looking up at Richie. Doubt shadowed his face.
"Not sure Jess, but I think you need to go and talk to her." Richie walked around the very neat and tidy room. Takes after his mother, not a thing out of place, he thought not a thing like his dad.
"No way Uncle Mookie, then she will hate me for sure!" he grabbed the ball and glove off his pillow, pulling it on he began to slam the ball into the mitt. "I should have just played outfield and let it go at that."
Richie reached in and grabbed the ball. Damn that hurt he thought the flicked his hand to stop the stinging. "She might understand, I just can't understand why you used Stephie to do your dirty work?" He sat on the bed next to him, putting the ball back into his mitt.
Jessie laughed a little at that.
"Not so sure I am proud of that myself." Kicking off his shoes he turned and sat cross legged on the bed facing Richie. "She and Steph hadn't gotten along, well not at the first."
"What do you mean Jessie?" Richie was now interested in what had happened since Dorothea had left.
Jessie preceded to tell Richie about how mean Steph had been to Miss Alex, not letting her get close. Then after Stephanie's little trip looking for their mom, things had been different.
"They got really close Uncle Mookie." he looked down into his mitt. "I knew if Stephie asked her, Miss Alex would go." He slumped down and tossing the glove on the floor he buried his head into his hands "I used my sister and my sitter. Kill me now Uncle Mookie, before they do."
Richie shook his head. "Can't do that Jess, I think I am third behind the girls!" He chuckled. "come on lets go down and face the music. I promise it will only hurt once, well maybe twice, knowing Stephie, Miss Alex on the other hand...." he cooked his head to one side, "She might just let you slid on this."
Jessie looked up, fresh hope in his eyes. "You think so Uncle Mookie?"
"You'll just have to wait and see kiddo. We'll think of something to make it right. Won't we?" they headed back down to the family room.
~~~
Mean while back in the family room, Jon knelt down in front of Stephanie.
"Honey whats wrong?" He hated it when they cried. Somewhere in the back of his mind he always thought it was his fault, even when it wasn't. Crying always gave him a major guilt trip.
Stephanie was crying so hard that all he and Alex could make out was...Jessie....coach....bench....ruined....and something that sounded like Kill my brother. Jon looked at Alex, puzzled at what to do next. Dorothea had handled all the problems and he just made the money and paid the bills.
Alex sat Meo on the sofa and went over to Stephanie, dropping down beside Jon, she lifted Stephanie head and wiped a tear away.
"Stephanie, did someone die?" she asked and Stephanie shook her head. "Is someone sick?" Stephanie shook her head again. "Did you and Jessie fix me up with Coach Davis just so Jessie could play second base on Friday?" Jon looked dumbfounded when Stephanie nodded her head.
"You got all that out of what she just said?" he asked stunned at how in such a short time, she had become more a parent than he was.
Turning to look over at Jon, it just dawned on her how close he was to her. She could actually see the little flecks of gold in his eyes. Get a grip girl, he is your boss, she chided herself.
"Doesn't take rocket science to smell a set up." She chuckled.
"You lost Dean?" noting the glass of water in his hand. "Sambora and water? I never thought I would see the day Dean!"
He tried to make light of the fact that not only was his best bro was looking upset, but his best girl was looking worse.
"Hey why all the long faces? You want Mookie instead of your old dad to take you Saturday?" He watched them walk past him, sort of like dead man walking.
"Frank you take her, I think I might take in the Mets game." Richie said as he walked past Jon who looked more puzzled than before.
Richie and the Mets, are they playing the Dodgers? he thought it was strange that he would all of a sudden decide to go to a baseball game. Richie didn't even like baseball.
"Well, I have a date for Saturday." Alex said walking back into the family room.
Once again thinking to herself its just one game, its just one game. She sat on the sofa next to Jessie, Meo claimed up in her lap.
"Oh yeah Jessie, Matthew said to tell you that there is a roster change and you are back on second base. Mark wants to go back in the outfield."
With that announcement Stephanie broke down in tears and Jessie left the room slamming the door behind him.
"What did I say?" Alex looked dumbfounded. Jon went to his daughter and Richie went out after Jessie. Alex looked down at Meo and asked, "Do you know what is going on Meo?"
Romeo looked up at Alex and shrugged his little shoulders. "Meo not like Maffue...Youckie!" She scrunched his face. Alex ruffled his hair and whispered in his ear. "Me neither Meo, Me neither."
Richie caught up with Jessie as he headed up the stairs.
"Whoa there buddy. You and I need to have a little one on one." he followed Jessie up to his room and grabbed he door before he could slam it shut.
Richie waited for Jessie to talk. Jessie felt like he had been kicked in the gut. He had used Miss Alex, used her, just to get second base back. Miss Alex would do just about anything for them and he ruined everything.
"She is going to hate me isn't she?" he finally asked looking up at Richie. Doubt shadowed his face.
"Not sure Jess, but I think you need to go and talk to her." Richie walked around the very neat and tidy room. Takes after his mother, not a thing out of place, he thought not a thing like his dad.
"No way Uncle Mookie, then she will hate me for sure!" he grabbed the ball and glove off his pillow, pulling it on he began to slam the ball into the mitt. "I should have just played outfield and let it go at that."
Richie reached in and grabbed the ball. Damn that hurt he thought the flicked his hand to stop the stinging. "She might understand, I just can't understand why you used Stephie to do your dirty work?" He sat on the bed next to him, putting the ball back into his mitt.
Jessie laughed a little at that.
"Not so sure I am proud of that myself." Kicking off his shoes he turned and sat cross legged on the bed facing Richie. "She and Steph hadn't gotten along, well not at the first."
"What do you mean Jessie?" Richie was now interested in what had happened since Dorothea had left.
Jessie preceded to tell Richie about how mean Steph had been to Miss Alex, not letting her get close. Then after Stephanie's little trip looking for their mom, things had been different.
"They got really close Uncle Mookie." he looked down into his mitt. "I knew if Stephie asked her, Miss Alex would go." He slumped down and tossing the glove on the floor he buried his head into his hands "I used my sister and my sitter. Kill me now Uncle Mookie, before they do."
Richie shook his head. "Can't do that Jess, I think I am third behind the girls!" He chuckled. "come on lets go down and face the music. I promise it will only hurt once, well maybe twice, knowing Stephie, Miss Alex on the other hand...." he cooked his head to one side, "She might just let you slid on this."
Jessie looked up, fresh hope in his eyes. "You think so Uncle Mookie?"
"You'll just have to wait and see kiddo. We'll think of something to make it right. Won't we?" they headed back down to the family room.
~~~
Mean while back in the family room, Jon knelt down in front of Stephanie.
"Honey whats wrong?" He hated it when they cried. Somewhere in the back of his mind he always thought it was his fault, even when it wasn't. Crying always gave him a major guilt trip.
Stephanie was crying so hard that all he and Alex could make out was...Jessie....coach....bench....ruined....and something that sounded like Kill my brother. Jon looked at Alex, puzzled at what to do next. Dorothea had handled all the problems and he just made the money and paid the bills.
Alex sat Meo on the sofa and went over to Stephanie, dropping down beside Jon, she lifted Stephanie head and wiped a tear away.
"Stephanie, did someone die?" she asked and Stephanie shook her head. "Is someone sick?" Stephanie shook her head again. "Did you and Jessie fix me up with Coach Davis just so Jessie could play second base on Friday?" Jon looked dumbfounded when Stephanie nodded her head.
"You got all that out of what she just said?" he asked stunned at how in such a short time, she had become more a parent than he was.
Turning to look over at Jon, it just dawned on her how close he was to her. She could actually see the little flecks of gold in his eyes. Get a grip girl, he is your boss, she chided herself.
"Doesn't take rocket science to smell a set up." She chuckled.
Monday, July 24, 2017
Chapter 15
"Miss Alex, why not let daddy or Uncle Mookie take me Saturday?" Stephanie rolled her eyes at her brother and tried not to choke while she talked to Miss Alex.
"Then you can go to the game with Coach Davie." She linked arms with Alex and they walked into the family room with Jessie trailing behind them. You really haven't had a day off since you started with us." She hated using such a guilt trip on her father but he would be leaving them again soon and she hated these little drop in weeks.
She knew her dad tried to get there when he could. But when they were on tour those days were few and far between. It was hard on her when he came in for a few days then he would be gone. It as easier when their mom was here. Now that she was gone it just hurt more.
Jon looked up as they all walked into the room. She hasn't had a day off? He thought She deserves a day off. "Alex, I can take Stephie and you can go to the game." He smiled, he was doing a good thing for the woman who gave up a lot to help him.
Alex knew when she had been out smarted. Just the thoughts of going out with Matthew Davis sent chills running down her spine, but she had lost her last out. She had no other reason not to go now.
"Okay, I guess I can go to the game." She tried not to shudder.
Jessie tried not to look as excited on the outside as he did on the inside.
"I'll go call Coach and let him know." Alex said as she went out of the room. It's just one game, you can do it. She said to her self over and over as she went up to call Matthew. Remember it's just one game!
Stephanie turned to her brother, "You owe me big time."
She hit him on the shoulder as she passed him. Richie wasn't sure if he heard her right or not. But something just wasn't right. Now these were Jon's kids, not the 'Stephford' Kids who came out of the kitchen.
He took Stephanie by the elbow and walked back into the kitchen, "Steph, come help me find something to drink" He said as they walked out of the family room back into the kitchen. "Okay kiddo, what the he...heck just went on in there?" he asked as he pulled a glass out and ran water into it.
"What do you mean Uncle Mookie?" She tried to play dumb, when all along she was feeling sick on her stomach. "I just want Miss Alex to enjoy herself." She went over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of soda. "She has been watching us 24/7 she needs some free time." Worse thing of all was lying to her Uncle Mookie. She started to walk back into the family room but Richie stopped her.
"Stephie, I wasn't born yesterday; Alex doesn't' want to go out with the dude." He sipped the water making a face and poured it back into the sink Who drinks this shit? he asked himself. "You practically pushed her into this date." He head her gasp. "You did push her didn't you? why? Is it something to do with Jessie?"
"You wouldn't understand Uncle Mookie, you just wouldn't understand." She said softly. The sick feeling in her stomach just got worse. She hated hurting Miss Alex, as they had gotten so close since her little trip into the city.
"Then you can go to the game with Coach Davie." She linked arms with Alex and they walked into the family room with Jessie trailing behind them. You really haven't had a day off since you started with us." She hated using such a guilt trip on her father but he would be leaving them again soon and she hated these little drop in weeks.
She knew her dad tried to get there when he could. But when they were on tour those days were few and far between. It was hard on her when he came in for a few days then he would be gone. It as easier when their mom was here. Now that she was gone it just hurt more.
Jon looked up as they all walked into the room. She hasn't had a day off? He thought She deserves a day off. "Alex, I can take Stephie and you can go to the game." He smiled, he was doing a good thing for the woman who gave up a lot to help him.
Alex knew when she had been out smarted. Just the thoughts of going out with Matthew Davis sent chills running down her spine, but she had lost her last out. She had no other reason not to go now.
"Okay, I guess I can go to the game." She tried not to shudder.
Jessie tried not to look as excited on the outside as he did on the inside.
"I'll go call Coach and let him know." Alex said as she went out of the room. It's just one game, you can do it. She said to her self over and over as she went up to call Matthew. Remember it's just one game!
Stephanie turned to her brother, "You owe me big time."
She hit him on the shoulder as she passed him. Richie wasn't sure if he heard her right or not. But something just wasn't right. Now these were Jon's kids, not the 'Stephford' Kids who came out of the kitchen.
He took Stephanie by the elbow and walked back into the kitchen, "Steph, come help me find something to drink" He said as they walked out of the family room back into the kitchen. "Okay kiddo, what the he...heck just went on in there?" he asked as he pulled a glass out and ran water into it.
"What do you mean Uncle Mookie?" She tried to play dumb, when all along she was feeling sick on her stomach. "I just want Miss Alex to enjoy herself." She went over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of soda. "She has been watching us 24/7 she needs some free time." Worse thing of all was lying to her Uncle Mookie. She started to walk back into the family room but Richie stopped her.
"Stephie, I wasn't born yesterday; Alex doesn't' want to go out with the dude." He sipped the water making a face and poured it back into the sink Who drinks this shit? he asked himself. "You practically pushed her into this date." He head her gasp. "You did push her didn't you? why? Is it something to do with Jessie?"
"You wouldn't understand Uncle Mookie, you just wouldn't understand." She said softly. The sick feeling in her stomach just got worse. She hated hurting Miss Alex, as they had gotten so close since her little trip into the city.
Chapter 14
" I see coach Davis had the roster up for your game on Saturday Jess. "Alex asked as she was getting Romeo cleaned up.
"Yeah he posted it right before you got there." Jessie stated moving his peas around on his plate.
Bingo it has something to do with the game on Saturday Alex thought reading signs that this was his problem. she turned to Jon to see if he caught any of this. Jon looked oblivious to any problem with Jessie.
"I thought you played second base?" She asked him turning to give Jessie her full attention. He has you playing left field for this game."
She had tried to be at all their practices, dividing her time between Jessie's age group and Jake's.
Yeah , but Coach Davis wants Mike to start out there this Saturday." Jessie shrugged his shoulders. "Coach Davis has these tickets for the Mets game on Saturday night"
Alex was a little dumbfounded.
How did Jessie know about the tickets to the game? She thought.
That was what the coach had hinted at when she went to get the boys. What had the fact that he had Mets tickets have to do with Mike playing Second base?
"You know since dad and Uncle Mookie is here, you could always go to the game with him." Jessie Suggested. "I saw him ask you today when you got there to pick us up."
Looking up Jessie gave her a smile.
Jon and Richie finally seemed to feel the tension at the table. Jon looked between his son and Alex.
Still in shock that Coach Davis had said anything to Jessie about asking her to see the Mets play Saturday, she wasn't sure how to tell him that Matthew Davis gave her the creeps.
"I told him and I will tell you, I do not have time off to go to a ball game." Alex got up and took Romeo off the phone books. "Your sister is in a show on Saturday morning and I'm her transportation."
Alex shook her head, Damn Matthew for getting his hopes up that she would jump at the chance to go see the Mets, She thought as she headed out of the room.
Stephanie waited until everyone had left the room then she turned on her brother.
"What was that all about?"
She had never seen Miss Alex so upset before. Why did she feel she wouldn't like what Jessie was hiding? She was closer to Jessie than her younger brothers and would do anything to help him.
Jessie pushed his plate away and looked up at her.
"I get to go back to second base if she goes out with him."
He actually blushed when he finally got it out. It was tearing him up inside that he was using Miss Alex just to get second base back.
"Oh my God Jessie, how fan you do that to Miss Alex?" She was shocked that he had been used by the coach to get Miss Alex to go out with him. "Can't you see she doesn't want to go out with him?"
"It's just one ballgame!" he said tossing his napkin onto the table and getting up. "Mike's sister went out with him last week and now Mike is playing second base and I'm in the outfield!"
He started out the door to the family room, but Stephanie stopped him.
"Jessie, play outfield this game. It's only for one game and then he will forget about asking her out."
She tried to reason with her brother. Can he not see that Matthew Davis was a creep? Just the thought of what Jessie was trying to do made her sick on her stomach. No wonder he didn't eat his dinner.
"He's using you to get him a date!"
Jessie shook off her hand, tuning he looked into her eyes.
"Help me, if she doesn't go he will bench me the next game."
He pleaded with her to the point that Stephanie was so shocked she didn't know what to say.
Alex came back in to see where they were.
"Hey everything okay in here?"
She saw the shocked look on Stephanie's face and the pleading look on Jessie's.
"Please Steph?" He begged his sister.
"Yeah he posted it right before you got there." Jessie stated moving his peas around on his plate.
Bingo it has something to do with the game on Saturday Alex thought reading signs that this was his problem. she turned to Jon to see if he caught any of this. Jon looked oblivious to any problem with Jessie.
"I thought you played second base?" She asked him turning to give Jessie her full attention. He has you playing left field for this game."
She had tried to be at all their practices, dividing her time between Jessie's age group and Jake's.
Yeah , but Coach Davis wants Mike to start out there this Saturday." Jessie shrugged his shoulders. "Coach Davis has these tickets for the Mets game on Saturday night"
Alex was a little dumbfounded.
How did Jessie know about the tickets to the game? She thought.
That was what the coach had hinted at when she went to get the boys. What had the fact that he had Mets tickets have to do with Mike playing Second base?
"You know since dad and Uncle Mookie is here, you could always go to the game with him." Jessie Suggested. "I saw him ask you today when you got there to pick us up."
Looking up Jessie gave her a smile.
Jon and Richie finally seemed to feel the tension at the table. Jon looked between his son and Alex.
Still in shock that Coach Davis had said anything to Jessie about asking her to see the Mets play Saturday, she wasn't sure how to tell him that Matthew Davis gave her the creeps.
"I told him and I will tell you, I do not have time off to go to a ball game." Alex got up and took Romeo off the phone books. "Your sister is in a show on Saturday morning and I'm her transportation."
Alex shook her head, Damn Matthew for getting his hopes up that she would jump at the chance to go see the Mets, She thought as she headed out of the room.
Stephanie waited until everyone had left the room then she turned on her brother.
"What was that all about?"
She had never seen Miss Alex so upset before. Why did she feel she wouldn't like what Jessie was hiding? She was closer to Jessie than her younger brothers and would do anything to help him.
Jessie pushed his plate away and looked up at her.
"I get to go back to second base if she goes out with him."
He actually blushed when he finally got it out. It was tearing him up inside that he was using Miss Alex just to get second base back.
"Oh my God Jessie, how fan you do that to Miss Alex?" She was shocked that he had been used by the coach to get Miss Alex to go out with him. "Can't you see she doesn't want to go out with him?"
"It's just one ballgame!" he said tossing his napkin onto the table and getting up. "Mike's sister went out with him last week and now Mike is playing second base and I'm in the outfield!"
He started out the door to the family room, but Stephanie stopped him.
"Jessie, play outfield this game. It's only for one game and then he will forget about asking her out."
She tried to reason with her brother. Can he not see that Matthew Davis was a creep? Just the thought of what Jessie was trying to do made her sick on her stomach. No wonder he didn't eat his dinner.
"He's using you to get him a date!"
Jessie shook off her hand, tuning he looked into her eyes.
"Help me, if she doesn't go he will bench me the next game."
He pleaded with her to the point that Stephanie was so shocked she didn't know what to say.
Alex came back in to see where they were.
"Hey everything okay in here?"
She saw the shocked look on Stephanie's face and the pleading look on Jessie's.
"Please Steph?" He begged his sister.
Chapter 13
They had reached the bottom of the stairs She stopped and handed Romeo back to Jon.
"We were going to show you this tonight when we went to bed." Alex turned back around and went back up the stairs as she explained to Jon and Richie.
Richie looked more puzzled, Jon even more so, they were all going to bed together? He wasn't so sure he saw anything wrong with that.
"When I first got here, Romoe had a rough time. So when I put him down for the night we had a time getting him to sleep."
Hattie had told him that during one of his calls that, of all the kids Romeo was missing his mother the most. That there were nights, he didn't sleep at all, till dawn as about to break.
"I would go up to the top of the stairs and call down to him." She slowly got to the banister overlooking the foyer.
"Romeo, Romeo, where fore art thou, Romeo? It is night and tis time for all brave young knights to rest as there are dragons they must slay tomorrow for the faire Alexis."
Romeo looked up at Alexis the rest of the kids came out to the foyer and smiled.
"I thought we were going to eat first?" Jake whose stomach was growling asked. Stephanie punched him in the arm and whispered for him to shut up.
"Fair Lexis, it is I Meo, I sway da dragons for you! I da bravest knight in da house and I more better than sir Jakey or sir Jessie!" Romeo reached into his pocket and pulled out his ninja Turtle and held it up high like a sword.
Richie covered his mouth to keep from laughing and Jon just stared at his youngest son. That was the most words he had strung together since he was home last. Then he looked up at Alexis as she started coming down the stairs. He started to feel that itch in the back of his throat whenever he got the urge to cry. She had worked miracles in such a short time.
"And that is how Meo got his new nickname," She bent down and took Romeo up in her arms. Alexis never tired of getting a hug from these kids. "Even his teachers is starting to call him Meo, that is after out little talk."
Just then Hattie came out in the hall.
"So this is where you all are, and my dinner is getting cold!"
They all went into the dinning room. The kid's had booted eating in the kitchen - this was special! The first dinner their dad was home and their mother wasn't.
Jon mad a mental not to discuss the problem with Romeo's Teacher. Hattie had not spoken about any of these concerns. He had been told about Jake and Jessie trying to decide who was going to be the man of the course. Jessie being the oldest had started bossing his little brothers around. Stephanie had just laughed when he tried it on her. Things had really changed in the big white house on the river.
Dinner was fun, to say the least. Richie had them all laughing with stories from tour. Telling them abut Jon getting locked out of the hotel in Germany and Jon forgetting which hotel they were staying at, ending up checking into a hotel that was not on their list.
Jon felt his cheeks getting redder by the time Richie was through with his little sideshow.
Alex was watching the kids react to their father's antics. Was it just her or did they seem to act like he was a guest in his own home? She noticed Jessie was looking from his father to her. Something was up. She was just going to have to wait him out. Jessie was the quiet one, the man of the house. Since they had gotten home from picking up Stephanie, he had seemed thoughtful. Like he had a problem, but not sure who to ask for help. Should he as her or his dad?
"We were going to show you this tonight when we went to bed." Alex turned back around and went back up the stairs as she explained to Jon and Richie.
Richie looked more puzzled, Jon even more so, they were all going to bed together? He wasn't so sure he saw anything wrong with that.
"When I first got here, Romoe had a rough time. So when I put him down for the night we had a time getting him to sleep."
Hattie had told him that during one of his calls that, of all the kids Romeo was missing his mother the most. That there were nights, he didn't sleep at all, till dawn as about to break.
"I would go up to the top of the stairs and call down to him." She slowly got to the banister overlooking the foyer.
"Romeo, Romeo, where fore art thou, Romeo? It is night and tis time for all brave young knights to rest as there are dragons they must slay tomorrow for the faire Alexis."
Romeo looked up at Alexis the rest of the kids came out to the foyer and smiled.
"I thought we were going to eat first?" Jake whose stomach was growling asked. Stephanie punched him in the arm and whispered for him to shut up.
"Fair Lexis, it is I Meo, I sway da dragons for you! I da bravest knight in da house and I more better than sir Jakey or sir Jessie!" Romeo reached into his pocket and pulled out his ninja Turtle and held it up high like a sword.
Richie covered his mouth to keep from laughing and Jon just stared at his youngest son. That was the most words he had strung together since he was home last. Then he looked up at Alexis as she started coming down the stairs. He started to feel that itch in the back of his throat whenever he got the urge to cry. She had worked miracles in such a short time.
"And that is how Meo got his new nickname," She bent down and took Romeo up in her arms. Alexis never tired of getting a hug from these kids. "Even his teachers is starting to call him Meo, that is after out little talk."
Just then Hattie came out in the hall.
"So this is where you all are, and my dinner is getting cold!"
They all went into the dinning room. The kid's had booted eating in the kitchen - this was special! The first dinner their dad was home and their mother wasn't.
Jon mad a mental not to discuss the problem with Romeo's Teacher. Hattie had not spoken about any of these concerns. He had been told about Jake and Jessie trying to decide who was going to be the man of the course. Jessie being the oldest had started bossing his little brothers around. Stephanie had just laughed when he tried it on her. Things had really changed in the big white house on the river.
Dinner was fun, to say the least. Richie had them all laughing with stories from tour. Telling them abut Jon getting locked out of the hotel in Germany and Jon forgetting which hotel they were staying at, ending up checking into a hotel that was not on their list.
Jon felt his cheeks getting redder by the time Richie was through with his little sideshow.
Alex was watching the kids react to their father's antics. Was it just her or did they seem to act like he was a guest in his own home? She noticed Jessie was looking from his father to her. Something was up. She was just going to have to wait him out. Jessie was the quiet one, the man of the house. Since they had gotten home from picking up Stephanie, he had seemed thoughtful. Like he had a problem, but not sure who to ask for help. Should he as her or his dad?
Chapter 12
Jon watched Alex stand. She was not as tall as Richie but a tiny bit taller than he was. Richie had it all wrong, her eyes weren't brown, they were Green. Alex looked over at him.
Damn! Did I just say that out loud? He tried not to stare into her eyes.
"Actually, my name is Alexis but the kids call me Miss Alex," she said with a laugh. "We were planning on greeting you at the front door, but Meo had to wear his lucky Transformer shoes."
Romeo held out his foot for everyone to see his shoes.
"Lucky shoes? How can they be lucky if he keeps losing them?" Jessie asked as he headed out the door.
Jake, trying to be a grown up, struggled hard not to rush to his father and followed his brother out. Stephanie shook her head and walked and gave Richie a hug.
"Can I have my cell phone back Miss Alex?" She asked turning to look between her dad and Miss Alex.
Alex looked at Jon and he nodded his head. She turned to look at Steph and smiled. Rushing to her father she gave him a huge hug and kiss.
"It's in my room, in the box marked 'stuff that the kids can't have'. "Alex said with a laugh.
As Stephanie ran out of the room, Alex remembered what else was in the box and call out to Stephanie.
"Hey Steph don't tell Jake his..." was all she got out before they heard Stephanie call out to Jake....
"Hey Jake! I know where your iPod is!" Stephanie called from Alex's room.
"I had him thinking he lost it at the mall" Alex had to chuckle as they headed down the hallway.
Richie laughed along with her. "How long has it been missing?"
He remembered how many times they' d had to search for it on the last tour. Jake was always misplacing his iPod.
"We went to the mall for new baseball gloves and he had it in his pocket." Alex explained as they walked toward the stairs.
Jon walked a little behind them. She's different, he thought, she doesn't seem fazed that they were Rock Icons.
"It must have fallen out of his pocket when he got out of the car. I had to go out and get Meo's turtle and there it was laying in the seat." Alex turned to take Romeo from Jon as she explained the missing iPod. "It took him three hours to miss it."
They had gotten down stairs and Richie turned to look at her and then to Jon.
"Uh darlin', I know all of Jon's kids, but who is Meo?" nd. She was not as tall as Richie but a tiny bit taller than he was. Richie had it all wrong, her eyes weren't brown, they were Green. Alex looked over at him.
Damn! Did I just say that out loud? He tried not to stare into her eyes.
"Actually, my name is Alexis but the kids call me Miss Alex," she said with a laugh. "We were planning on greeting you at the front door, but Meo had to wear his lucky Transformer shoes."
Romeo held out his foot for everyone to see his shoes.
"Lucky shoes? How can they be lucky if he keeps losing them?" Jessie asked as he headed out the door.
Jake, trying to be a grown up, struggled hard not to rush to his father and followed his brother out. Stephanie shook her head and walked and gave Richie a hug.
"Can I have my cell phone back Miss Alex?" She asked turning to look between her dad and Miss Alex.
Alex looked at Jon and he nodded his head. She turned to look at Steph and smiled. Rushing to her father she gave him a huge hug and kiss.
"It's in my room, in the box marked 'stuff that the kids can't have'. "Alex said with a laugh.
As Stephanie ran out of the room, Alex remembered what else was in the box and call out to Stephanie.
"Hey Steph don't tell Jake his..." was all she got out before they heard Stephanie call out to Jake....
"Hey Jake! I know where your iPod is!" Stephanie called from Alex's room.
"I had him thinking he lost it at the mall" Alex had to chuckle as they headed down the hallway.
Richie laughed along with her. "How long has it been missing?"
He remembered how many times they' d had to search for it on the last tour. Jake was always misplacing his iPod.
"We went to the mall for new baseball gloves and he had it in his pocket." Alex explained as they walked toward the stairs.
Jon walked a little behind them. She's different, he thought, she doesn't seem fazed that they were Rock Icons.
"It must have fallen out of his pocket when he got out of the car. I had to go out and get Meo's turtle and there it was laying in the seat." Alex turned to take Romeo from Jon as she explained the missing iPod. "It took him three hours to miss it."
They had gotten down stairs and Richie turned to look at her and then to Jon.
"Uh darlin', I know all of Jon's kids, but who is Meo?"
Jon watched Alex stand. She was not as tall as Richie but a tiny bit taller than he was. Richie had it all wrong, her eyes weren't brown, they were Green. Alex looked over at him.
Damn! Did I just say that out loud? He tried not to stare into her eyes.
"Actually, my name is Alexis but the kids call me Miss Alex," she said with a laugh. "We were planning on greeting you at the front door, but Meo had to wear his lucky Transformer shoes."
Romeo held out his foot for everyone to see his shoes.
"Lucky shoes? How can they be lucky if he keeps losing them?" Jessie asked as he headed out the door.
Jake, trying to be a grown up, struggled hard not to rush to his father and followed his brother out. Stephanie shook her head and walked and gave Richie a hug.
"Can I have my cell phone back Miss Alex?" She asked turning to look between her dad and Miss Alex.
Alex looked at Jon and he nodded his head. She turned to look at Steph and smiled. Rushing to her father she gave him a huge hug and kiss.
"It's in my room, in the box marked 'stuff that the kids can't have'. "Alex said with a laugh.
As Stephanie ran out of the room, Alex remembered what else was in the box and call out to Stephanie.
"Hey Steph don't tell Jake his..." was all she got out before they heard Stephanie call out to Jake....
"Hey Jake! I know where your iPod is!" Stephanie called from Alex's room.
"I had him thinking he lost it at the mall" Alex had to chuckle as they headed down the hallway.
Richie laughed along with her. "How long has it been missing?"
He remembered how many times they' d had to search for it on the last tour. Jake was always misplacing his iPod.
"We went to the mall for new baseball gloves and he had it in his pocket." Alex explained as they walked toward the stairs.
Jon walked a little behind them. She's different, he thought, she doesn't seem fazed that they were Rock Icons.
"It must have fallen out of his pocket when he got out of the car. I had to go out and get Meo's turtle and there it was laying in the seat." Alex turned to take Romeo from Jon as she explained the missing iPod. "It took him three hours to miss it."
They had gotten down stairs and Richie turned to look at her and then to Jon.
"Uh darlin', I know all of Jon's kids, but who is Meo?"
Sunday, February 12, 2017
chapter 11
Alex had the boys in the car and was pulling into the studio parking lot to pick up Stephanie when she noticed a black BMW parked near the building. The tinted windows kept her from seeing anyone inside. Jake nudged Jessie and pointed to the car. Jessie shook his head and motioned his brother to be quiet. Alex looked for a place to park. Checking her watched she sighed.
"Jessie, can you run in and get Steph?" Alex couldn't believe that there wasn't a place to park. damn!
She had less than an hour to get the kids back, showered and ready for their father to get home for dinner. Damn Matthew for keeping her, she had turned down his advances each time she picked up the boys. This time the enticement was tickets to a Mets game. Why can't this man take no for an answer she thought. Hell she would have to risk a ticket and double park. What was taking him so long?
Jessie stood inside the door and motioned for his sister.
"Steph, Come on."
what he really wanted was a better look at the car parked beside the building. Could it be his mother's car? Finally as Stephanie broke away from some of her friends he approached her with his concerns.
"hey, do you remember what mom's tag was on her Beamer?" He asked as she got closer.
Stephanie looked confused at first until Jessie told hr about the black Beamer parked by the building.
"Yeah, dad got it for her, one of those vanity plates." She told him as started to walk past him. "Why?"
"Do you remember what it said?" he asked grabbing her arm to keep her close.
"It was something like I kick butt, but it was spelled funny like 'eyekikbut'." She reached for the doorknob behind him.
Jessie stopped her from opening the door.
"I think mom is parked by the building watching us." He told her. Stunned she just looked at him. Mixed emotions crossed her face. "I want a better look at the back of that car. Is there a back door to this place?"
Stephanie shook her head. Grabbing his arm she stopped him from going further into the room.
"I don't care Jess! She left us, why do you care?" She said as she pulled him toward the door. "Let's go! daddy should be home by the time we get there."
Jessie just looked at her. Wasn't this the same sister that took off by herself to New York City to ask their mother why she left
them?
"Don't you want to know Steph? Isn't that why you went to the townhouse?" he stood there shaking his head. "Well I want to know!"
he turned and got almost to the back of the studio when Stephanie's soft voice stopped him.
"What if it isn't her?" She could feel that cold feeling coming into her heart again. "What if you get your hopes up only to find out it isn't hear car, just one that looks like hers?"
She saw the confused look come over his face. Everything Miss Alex had said felt right.
"Like Miss Alex said, when she is ready, She will contact us. I have to believe that Jessie." She took his arm and walked him back up to the front. "Then we might be ready to hear her out."
They both stopped seeing Miss Alex and their brothers waiting at the front door. Quickly coming up with a reason for not coming to the car Stephanie covered for her brother.
"Sorry Miss Alex, Jessie had to use the bathroom." Jessie knocked her hand off his arm and under his breath murmured thanks.
Alex shook her head and followed the kids back out to the car. They were going to be cutting it close, but keeping her fingers crossed and her car a tiny bit over the speed limit , she should make it home in time. Alex didn't notice that the older Bon Jovi childern kept looking behind them, searching the traffic for the black BMW. But it wasn't there.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
they made it home, thankfully ticket less, she got the kids cleaned up. She had just gotten out of the shower when she heard the kids yelling that their dad was pulling up to the gate. Hell, her hair was still wet. She had no choice but to let it go.
Dressing quickly she was dashing down the hall when she about collided with Hattie.
"Have you seen Meo's shoes?" Hattie asked.
Alex turned and headed back the way Hattie had just come. Dropping down on her knees she slipped under Romeo's bed.
That was where Jon found them all. Romeo was sitting on the bed, one shoe on one shoe off. Hattie was in the closet throwing shoes out the door., Stephanie was in the toy box, Jessie was looking behind the bookcase and Jake was looking under the dresser. Alex, with her ass hanging out from under the bed, felt Romeo start to bounce.
"Meo! Stop bouncing!" Your on my head Kiddo!" Came Alex's muffled voice from under the bed.
Jon laid his finger to his lips to keep Romeo from calling out his name.
Seeing the missing shoe on the bed, Jon went over and picked the boy and the shoe up. Putting it on his son he whispered into his son's ear.
"Should we tell them we found it? Hummm?"
Romeo Laughed.
"Jessie, can you run in and get Steph?" Alex couldn't believe that there wasn't a place to park. damn!
She had less than an hour to get the kids back, showered and ready for their father to get home for dinner. Damn Matthew for keeping her, she had turned down his advances each time she picked up the boys. This time the enticement was tickets to a Mets game. Why can't this man take no for an answer she thought. Hell she would have to risk a ticket and double park. What was taking him so long?
Jessie stood inside the door and motioned for his sister.
"Steph, Come on."
what he really wanted was a better look at the car parked beside the building. Could it be his mother's car? Finally as Stephanie broke away from some of her friends he approached her with his concerns.
"hey, do you remember what mom's tag was on her Beamer?" He asked as she got closer.
Stephanie looked confused at first until Jessie told hr about the black Beamer parked by the building.
"Yeah, dad got it for her, one of those vanity plates." She told him as started to walk past him. "Why?"
"Do you remember what it said?" he asked grabbing her arm to keep her close.
"It was something like I kick butt, but it was spelled funny like 'eyekikbut'." She reached for the doorknob behind him.
Jessie stopped her from opening the door.
"I think mom is parked by the building watching us." He told her. Stunned she just looked at him. Mixed emotions crossed her face. "I want a better look at the back of that car. Is there a back door to this place?"
Stephanie shook her head. Grabbing his arm she stopped him from going further into the room.
"I don't care Jess! She left us, why do you care?" She said as she pulled him toward the door. "Let's go! daddy should be home by the time we get there."
Jessie just looked at her. Wasn't this the same sister that took off by herself to New York City to ask their mother why she left
them?
"Don't you want to know Steph? Isn't that why you went to the townhouse?" he stood there shaking his head. "Well I want to know!"
he turned and got almost to the back of the studio when Stephanie's soft voice stopped him.
"What if it isn't her?" She could feel that cold feeling coming into her heart again. "What if you get your hopes up only to find out it isn't hear car, just one that looks like hers?"
She saw the confused look come over his face. Everything Miss Alex had said felt right.
"Like Miss Alex said, when she is ready, She will contact us. I have to believe that Jessie." She took his arm and walked him back up to the front. "Then we might be ready to hear her out."
They both stopped seeing Miss Alex and their brothers waiting at the front door. Quickly coming up with a reason for not coming to the car Stephanie covered for her brother.
"Sorry Miss Alex, Jessie had to use the bathroom." Jessie knocked her hand off his arm and under his breath murmured thanks.
Alex shook her head and followed the kids back out to the car. They were going to be cutting it close, but keeping her fingers crossed and her car a tiny bit over the speed limit , she should make it home in time. Alex didn't notice that the older Bon Jovi childern kept looking behind them, searching the traffic for the black BMW. But it wasn't there.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
they made it home, thankfully ticket less, she got the kids cleaned up. She had just gotten out of the shower when she heard the kids yelling that their dad was pulling up to the gate. Hell, her hair was still wet. She had no choice but to let it go.
Dressing quickly she was dashing down the hall when she about collided with Hattie.
"Have you seen Meo's shoes?" Hattie asked.
Alex turned and headed back the way Hattie had just come. Dropping down on her knees she slipped under Romeo's bed.
That was where Jon found them all. Romeo was sitting on the bed, one shoe on one shoe off. Hattie was in the closet throwing shoes out the door., Stephanie was in the toy box, Jessie was looking behind the bookcase and Jake was looking under the dresser. Alex, with her ass hanging out from under the bed, felt Romeo start to bounce.
"Meo! Stop bouncing!" Your on my head Kiddo!" Came Alex's muffled voice from under the bed.
Jon laid his finger to his lips to keep Romeo from calling out his name.
Seeing the missing shoe on the bed, Jon went over and picked the boy and the shoe up. Putting it on his son he whispered into his son's ear.
"Should we tell them we found it? Hummm?"
Romeo Laughed.
Chapter 10
Jon and the band were due to land at four in the afternoon and then go through customs they should be home around 7 PM.
Alex had to pick up Romeo at 2 PM and meet the kids as they got off the bus. She had to take the boys to baseball practice and then Stephanie to modeling class. If she was very lucky she would miss running into the boy's coach. Matthew Davis had been hitting on her since she had started with the bon Jovi's. Keeping her fingers crossed she should have time to charge before making the return trip at 6 PM. She used to think her mom was super woman handling all this plus making dinner for her and her father. Thank God for Hattie! She and Hattie had been airing out the master suite for Jon's homecoming. She dropped her keys in a bowl by the door and headed upstairs, passing Hattie in the hall.
"Mr. Jon called on his cell; they had to land in Boston." She followed Alex into her room. "Problems in Kennedy - the Pope flew in and Secret Service closed the airspace for several hours."
Alex threw open her closet door and looked for something to wear.
"Does that mean they will be here sooner? I mean if they can go through customs in Boston, won't that be faster than Kennedy?"
She pulled out a floral blouse off a hanger and thew it on over her tank top. walking over to her dresser she grabbed her brush and tired to make her hair look decent.
"He said they were stuck on the tarmac and would be here when they got released." Hattie laughed, "He wanted to be home for dinner. I told him we would hold it for him.
Alex checked her watch and laughed. You would think meeting Jon for the first time she would be more nervous. She would be, if she had time to worry about all that.
"I have to get the boys and then Steph, then we'll be home."
She gave herself a spritz of her Code Blue bottle, fanning the air till it dissipated. She and Hattie headed back downstairs. Grabbing her keys from the bowl she turned to Hattie.
"All they've talked about after school was their dad coming home."
Hattie smiled, "Stephanie will be off restrictions too. That is all she talked about this morning."
Alex laughed. Stephanie had asked her for her cell phone in the car earlier and Alex had told her she had to wait until she saw her dad.
"Got to run or we won't be home when he gets here." She headed to her car and went for the kids.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jon kept checking with the pilot to see when they would be cleared to take off. Richie came up and got Jon to sit down and relax.
"I want to be home for dinner." he groused.
looking out the window for the twentieth time Jon leaned his head on the window. Richie called the flight attendant over for more wine.
"The guy said the pope was heading for the airport and once he got into the air we could leave." Richie could see that Jon was not happy with the delay.
Jon started to get up and Richie chuckled.
"Your going to get him to throw you off the plane If you keep bothering him."
He handed Jon a glass of Zin.
Sipping his wine Jon got lost in his thoughts. Going home had a whole new meaning not that Dorothea was gone. It was still hard to believe his wife of over seventeen years had left him. Since receiving the divorce papers he had found out she had closed her Dojo and as his lawyer said vanished off the face of the earth. He figured she would close her Dojo, seeing as how it was one of the gift he had given her for an anniversary.
If he believed her sisters, she was just not ready to face him or the kids. She was tired of all the "Rock Star LIfe" as she had called it. Wanting to have a husband that had a nine to five job, who would be there for her and she didn't have to share with ten hundred thousand other women.
Richie looked over at Jon, who had that far away lost look in his eyes. He had seen that look the closer they had gotten to the States. His friend seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders lately. They had been through a lot and lately they had gotten closer, more like brothers than just friends. He had seen what Dorothea's leaving had done to him. It had torn him up, being so far away from his kids, not being there when they needed him the most. Hell being a rock star was not all that it was cracked up to be at times.
The flight attendant came down and tapped Richie on the shoulder. Looking up he smiled at her as she nodded her head at him. Richie smiled even wider.
"Thanks darlin, you saved a life today."
Jon looked over at Richie, not sure he heard him right.
"We're going him Kidd!" Richie said as he patted Jon's arm good naturedly.
Jon downed his wine and handed the glass back to the attendant.
"About fucking time Rich, About fucking time." Jon laughed for the first times since they left England.
Flipping open the cell phone he still had clutched in his hand since his last call home, he punched the button for home.
"Mr. Jon that better be you telling me my roast isn't going to be dried out." Hattie laughed as she answered the phone.
"Hattie, We're heading for the runway now. Your pot roast has never been dry in all the years you've worked for me!" Jon chuckled.
Hattie laughed just hearing him laugh.
Alex had to pick up Romeo at 2 PM and meet the kids as they got off the bus. She had to take the boys to baseball practice and then Stephanie to modeling class. If she was very lucky she would miss running into the boy's coach. Matthew Davis had been hitting on her since she had started with the bon Jovi's. Keeping her fingers crossed she should have time to charge before making the return trip at 6 PM. She used to think her mom was super woman handling all this plus making dinner for her and her father. Thank God for Hattie! She and Hattie had been airing out the master suite for Jon's homecoming. She dropped her keys in a bowl by the door and headed upstairs, passing Hattie in the hall.
"Mr. Jon called on his cell; they had to land in Boston." She followed Alex into her room. "Problems in Kennedy - the Pope flew in and Secret Service closed the airspace for several hours."
Alex threw open her closet door and looked for something to wear.
"Does that mean they will be here sooner? I mean if they can go through customs in Boston, won't that be faster than Kennedy?"
She pulled out a floral blouse off a hanger and thew it on over her tank top. walking over to her dresser she grabbed her brush and tired to make her hair look decent.
"He said they were stuck on the tarmac and would be here when they got released." Hattie laughed, "He wanted to be home for dinner. I told him we would hold it for him.
Alex checked her watch and laughed. You would think meeting Jon for the first time she would be more nervous. She would be, if she had time to worry about all that.
"I have to get the boys and then Steph, then we'll be home."
She gave herself a spritz of her Code Blue bottle, fanning the air till it dissipated. She and Hattie headed back downstairs. Grabbing her keys from the bowl she turned to Hattie.
"All they've talked about after school was their dad coming home."
Hattie smiled, "Stephanie will be off restrictions too. That is all she talked about this morning."
Alex laughed. Stephanie had asked her for her cell phone in the car earlier and Alex had told her she had to wait until she saw her dad.
"Got to run or we won't be home when he gets here." She headed to her car and went for the kids.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jon kept checking with the pilot to see when they would be cleared to take off. Richie came up and got Jon to sit down and relax.
"I want to be home for dinner." he groused.
looking out the window for the twentieth time Jon leaned his head on the window. Richie called the flight attendant over for more wine.
"The guy said the pope was heading for the airport and once he got into the air we could leave." Richie could see that Jon was not happy with the delay.
Jon started to get up and Richie chuckled.
"Your going to get him to throw you off the plane If you keep bothering him."
He handed Jon a glass of Zin.
Sipping his wine Jon got lost in his thoughts. Going home had a whole new meaning not that Dorothea was gone. It was still hard to believe his wife of over seventeen years had left him. Since receiving the divorce papers he had found out she had closed her Dojo and as his lawyer said vanished off the face of the earth. He figured she would close her Dojo, seeing as how it was one of the gift he had given her for an anniversary.
If he believed her sisters, she was just not ready to face him or the kids. She was tired of all the "Rock Star LIfe" as she had called it. Wanting to have a husband that had a nine to five job, who would be there for her and she didn't have to share with ten hundred thousand other women.
Richie looked over at Jon, who had that far away lost look in his eyes. He had seen that look the closer they had gotten to the States. His friend seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders lately. They had been through a lot and lately they had gotten closer, more like brothers than just friends. He had seen what Dorothea's leaving had done to him. It had torn him up, being so far away from his kids, not being there when they needed him the most. Hell being a rock star was not all that it was cracked up to be at times.
The flight attendant came down and tapped Richie on the shoulder. Looking up he smiled at her as she nodded her head at him. Richie smiled even wider.
"Thanks darlin, you saved a life today."
Jon looked over at Richie, not sure he heard him right.
"We're going him Kidd!" Richie said as he patted Jon's arm good naturedly.
Jon downed his wine and handed the glass back to the attendant.
"About fucking time Rich, About fucking time." Jon laughed for the first times since they left England.
Flipping open the cell phone he still had clutched in his hand since his last call home, he punched the button for home.
"Mr. Jon that better be you telling me my roast isn't going to be dried out." Hattie laughed as she answered the phone.
"Hattie, We're heading for the runway now. Your pot roast has never been dry in all the years you've worked for me!" Jon chuckled.
Hattie laughed just hearing him laugh.
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