It was a cool and beautiful day in New Jersey, like most summer days on the shore. Jon was getting ready to go pick the kids up from his New York apartment. Walking through the house, making sure all cigarette evidence is gone he sees a light flashing on the answering machine on the kitchen counter. He immediately walks over and pushes the play button and leans on the counter to listen. Much to his surprise, it's Peter Laird, the keeper of his things. The message was simple, "Hey Jon, Peter here. I'm heading out for the day, call me tomorrow." That was is. Knowing Peter like Jon did, he knew there was no urgency, so Jon felt good about that. Had it been Dot stirring up more shit, he would have demanded a return phone call.
Delete. Message was gone. Grabbing his keys and sunglasses, he walks out to the garage. Standing there, he has to decide what he wants to drive and he's thinking to himself, This is probably the toughest decision I'll have to make all day. Chuckling, he gets in the Black BMW and starts his trek into the city.
On his way in, he calls Dorothea and asks he to have the kids ready when he gets there, he didn't want to show up and them have to wait for them to get ready. His time was his time, and he didn't want to spend 1 minute of his time with the women that was trying to come between him and the woman that he truly loves. His Beth.
Dorothea agrees to make sure they are ready, but she informs Jon that Romeo and Jake might be cranky, they should have a nap - at the very least, Romy is going to need a nap.
"Ok, please have them ready for me. Romeo can sleep in the car. I should be there in about 20 minutes. Thanks." and he ends the call. Shifting the gears, he feels free. He had the chance to talk to Beth and he was spending the day with his children, all 4 of them.
Arriving at the house of his soon to be ex wife's house, Jon thought that maybe he should have some feelings about this, but he didn't. The only feeling that he had was the excitement he gets when he's with his children. His children are his life and every second he has with them, is truly a blessing.
Knocking on the door, he can hear the pitter patter of little feet heading toward the door and the sound of Romeo saying, "Daddy." Jon's smile is from the inside out. Dorothea opens the door, and just like a metal and magnets, Romeo is on his dads leg.
"Hey little man, how are you?' Picking up his son, he kisses the pure milky skin of his youngest, time and time again.
"Daddy. Daddy." Romeo keeps saying. Jon looks at him and says, "Where are your shoes, can you go get daddy your shoes?" Setting the boy back down on the floor, Romy runs off, getting his shoes.
"I asked you to have them ready." he snaps at Dorothea, but he isn't surprised.
She snaps back, "You try to get 4 kids ready in 20 minutes, Jon. It's not easy." she's rubbing her brow and he can see that she's nervous. maybe it's the fact that he is taking their kids to do something and she isn't going? Our she's just excited to see him? Regardless, he doesn't care. "Are you going to see Beth?" And she says that with all the bitch that she has in her.
"Not now Dorothea. Please." he says with a firmness that she hasn't heard in a long time. "But to put your mind at ease, no we are not going to see Beth, she's away on business." he tells her just to calm her anxiety about Beth.
Dorothea can't help herself, it's like her filter is broken. Standing there with her hands on her hips, "Is she in Atlanta waiting for you?"
He throws his hands in the air. "I give up. What do you want from me? I have been honest with you from the beginning, why are you being such a bitch about it?" He is at his maximum bullshit level.
She gathers some bravery and tries to move close to Jon. She was thinking that a hug would start something, she wanted him to stay. Getting to close to him, pissed him off. He took a step back and said, "What the hell are you doing?"
"I was hoping I could maybe get a kiss or a hug?" she feels about an inch high, and is slightly embarrassed.
"Why would I do that?" Just then all 4 kids walked in and that conversation was over. Jon welcoming the hugs and kisses from all of his kids, asks them what they want to do today?
Jesse instantly said, "I want to go ride go-karts." That made Jake excited, and he said, "So do I." jumping up and down, holding his daddy's hand.
The female Bongiovi said, "Dad, I don't want to do that boy stuff. It's always what the boys want." she crosses her arms and starts to pout.
Jon, wanting to get the kids out of there, said, "Let's go, we'll discuss it in the car. Stephanie can you grab Romy's bag for dad?" He wants to run out.
Stephanie did as her dad asked and the clan kissed their mom goodbye and walked out into the hallway. Dorothea and Jon were alone. He looked at her and said, "Dot, I will always love you - but our marriage is over. Please call off the lawyers, or this could get ugly." He turns and leaves.
Before he gets to the street, his phone alarms him that he has a text message. He grabs his phone, hoping and praying that it's Beth. It's not, it's Dot. The message says, "I love you Jonny, we can make it through this." He left it. He will not be accused of deleting texts. No secrets from Beth.
Down at the street, the Bongiovi children take their sweet time getting in the car. Jon played with the little guys on the street while the two older ones got in and situated. Jon helped the 'littles' in and secured them into their seats. Once they were settled, he asked, "Ok, what are we doing?"
Miss Stephanie asks her dad, "Can we just go home and watch movies dad? All of us, with popcorn and snacks?" Jon loved that idea, just loved it. He was shocked that Jesse didn't argue or come up with a different idea.
Smiling at his loves, he asked, "Do we stop and rent some or do we have some at the house you want to watch?" hoping they had some at the house that they would be happy watching. Taking them into a video store could be challenging without security.
His oldest son says the magical words, "There are some at the house that we got for Christmas and haven't watched yet. Those will work." Jon is thrilled! So they head to the house in New Jersey. Romeo did fall asleep on the way, so they took the scenic route to allow his nap to be a little longer.
The Bongiovi family spent the afternoon and early evening watching movies and just playing around. Jon could have asked for nothing more. He is where he wants to be, with the ones he wants to be with. With that one exception.
Evening falls in New Jersey and Jon gets the little guys ready for bed. Romeo is ready and wanting to sleep with Jon. How could he tell him no? He tucks Romeo into his bed, once again and kisses him goodnight. Romeo looks at his daddy and said, "Where's Bef?" Jon laughed.
"Romeo, she's probably going to bed too, like you. Go to sleep bud, I'll see you in the morning." Jon turns to leave the room and stops in the door way, looking back at his son - he counts his blessing and silently thanks Dorothea for giving him 4 beautiful and healthy children. He flips off the light and goes back downstairs to round up the other 3 for bed.
It was a fun night. They laughed they joked, they wrestled and played games. All phones were off and the gate was locked. Nothing and NO ONE was getting in on his time with his kids.
Now they're all in bed and he boogies to get his phone. Did he miss a call from Beth? Maybe a text? Nothing. She hasn't called and she didn't send a text. He's hoping she'll contact him tomorrow.
He retires for the night. He has to go to Atlanta for 2 shows, which means the kids have to be back to Dorothea late morning at the latest. He climbs into bed with his little man and whispers to him, " I love you son.'
Jon is out, in less than 10 minutes.
In the Bahama's, Beth is sleeping ttoo. She had a great dose of pain medication and she will be out for a while.
Aww, glad Jon had a great day with his kids.
ReplyDeleteDon't know what Dorothea is up to but Jon better keep an eye on her.