Water Ch. 83 - Satellite

 

It's reported than Jon Bon Jovi and his on again off again girlfriend, Beth Adams, have finally parted ways.  Here's she's seen leaving him at the airport.  Sources close to the rocker tell us that Jon wouldn't choose her over his children and she refused to move to New York City.  Miss Adams is still healing from the accident that sidelined her a few weeks ago.  The source says that Jon tried to help her through the healing process and she didn't want him around, part time.  The source also stated that Beth said it was her way or the high way and the rock star hit the road.  Friends of the couple say that it will be just a matter of days before Jon drops the divorce he filed earlier this year.  Rumors are that he intends to reconcile with his wife of 20 years, Dorothea Hurley.

 

Is what Beth read when she opened her newspaper, the morning her cast was to come off.  Her and Jon had talked on the phone several times over the past 3 weeks and she's really baffled by who this source could be.  She re read the article, looking for something she may have missed, when she noticed that in one of the pictures, her and Jon are kissing.  Why would the L.A. times print such rubbish.

 

Beth is surprised that she feels nothing in regards to the lies that she just read.  She's confident that they are lies.  There is no truth to any of it, except she dropped Jon off at the airport.  She hasn't felt this strong about their relationship, and she thinks she can chalk that up to space.  They have had space and absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? 

 

She's finishing her coffee and fruit before she heads to the doctor.  The plaster cast comes off today and she gets an air soft cast on instead.  She likes the idea of that, no more wraps for the shower and tonight she's taking a bath.  Cleaning up the kitchen, her cell phone rings.  She pick it up and sees it's Jon, "Good Morning gorgeous." she says to him.

 

"Good Morning babe, how are you?" he asks his soul mate.  "Did you sleep well?"

 

"I slept better than I have in days.  I think it was because I knew I was getting this ball and chain off my leg today.  How did you sleep?"  This was an everyday routine for them, whether it be email, text or phone call.  They vowed to wish one another a good morning. 

 

"I slept really good.  The 5 or 6 drinks I had last night at Dave's probably helped some.  Are you excited to get that thing off?'

 

"Hell yes, and as soon as I get home from work, I'm taking me a long hot bubble bath, I'm going to soak until I prune.  Soooo looking forward to it." she tells him, and he knows she has had her fill of that cast.

 

"When is your appointment?"

 

"I have an hour to get there, so I better get going.  Call me at my office later, if you have time." she hopes that he will.  "What does your schedule look like today babe?"

 

"Um, just a press conference for the Soul, I think that's all.  I'm not sure yet, it's only 7am here." he laughs a little bit.  "Are we going to avoid the article in the AP?  I know you seen it in the L.A. times, cause it was here in the New York Times.  Are you okay?"

 

"I seen it.  It doesn't bother me.  I know the truth and I know that reporters lie to sell papers.  I'm okay, really.  What about you, Jon?" she knows the answer before she asks it.

 

"Oh, I'll take care of it, don't worry.  I got damage control over here. Get going to your appointment, I'll call you later."

 

"Ok, babe - until next time."

 

Yep, I love you.  Until next time." he replies.

 

"I love you, Jon"

 

And they hang up.  Jon feels good that she isn't swayed or upset by the article she read today, but he doesn't know if she knows that they will get worse before they get better.  He knows what he has to do.  He calls Paul.  His manager and tells him to set up a press conference, at his house TODAY!"  Paul doesn't even ask why he just agrees and tells Jon he'll call him with the details. 

 

Jon leaves the office of his Red Bank home and heads towards the kitchen.  Today he gets to drive the kids into Brooklyn to drop them at school and their mother gets to pick them up.  It's her night.  Jon has the Soul press conference, the press conference he just called for and then maybe an evening of playing poker with the guys. 

 

Kids are just about ready and Jon rounds them up and into the car.  Romeo goes to day school, also known as day care, at Poly Prep, so all the Bongiovi children are in school all day.  Once he has them all in the car, her reminds the older two to make sure they grab Jake and Romeo before they bolt out to find their mother.  Stephanie barks, "We know dad.  This isn't our first time."

 

Jon looks in the rear view mirror at Stephanie and asks, "What 's wrong Steph?"

 

She barks again, "Nothing dad, God!"  This tells Jon that there is something bothering her.

 

"Spit it out so we can talk about it, honey."  he wants her to open up.  They have come so far in their relationship over the last few weeks and he would hate to go backwards.  "Come on, what is it?"

 

She just looks out the window as he drives towards school, and finally Jesse says, "Dad we seen the paper this morning when we were eating breakfast.  Is it true?" 

 

Jon looks for a place to pull over and he does.  Putting the car in park, he turns to his children and says, "There is nothing in that article that even close to true.  Except Beth did take me to the airport and that she was in an accident.  Beth and I are still very much together and our relationship is strong.  The divorce is still in place."  He could see the older two smile now. 

 

The kids don't really want their parents to go through a divorce, but the older ones know that they aren't happy together.  They see that their dad is happy when he's with Beth and that's what they want to see.  They know their mother will never truly be happy, with whoever she is, because she pushes everyone away.  Her drinking problem is the biggest deterrent for men.  Sloppy drunk on the weekends and blaming everyone for her life's problems.

 

"Well, when are you going to be with Beth then, dad?"  Stephanie questions her dad. 

 

Jon smiles, just at the thought if them being with Beth and honestly tells his daughter, "I don't know yet.  It's pretty complicated right now.  Wait, it's not complicated, it's just a matter of me convincing her to move to New York."  Jon turns around and pulls the car out in to traffic again and he continues with, "If you kids have questions about any of this, please ask me.  I will be honest with you.  I'll tell you what's true, what's not and what's going to happen."

A little more chit chat with the kids and Jon pulled up to Poly Prep.  He got out and helped is kids out of the car and walked them in the building.  There was a student aide waiting for Romeo.  Jon kissed the boy and said, "Bye little man.  Have a good day, I love you."  And off Romeo went.  Stephanie, Jake and Jesse stood there with their dad and they all said their goodbye's.  Jon reminded Stephanie to not forget Romeo.  He kissed his kids goodbye and told them, I love you and I'll see you tomorrow."  The remaining three turned around and headed towards their classrooms. 

 

Poly Prep is a busy school, academic program unmatched by any other school of it's kind.  With a tuition of $45,000,00 a year - the program was highly sought after, and the waiting list is a long as the price tag is big.  Jon loves that his children are getting the best education that money can buy.

 

Jon walked back to his car and checked his cell phone.  Paul had called back and left a message.  Jon waited until he was out in traffic before he listened to the voicemail.  Putting in his pass code, he listened to the voicemail.  "hey Jon, Paul here.  I have a reporter from the New York Times meeting you at the house in Red Bank at 9:00.  Call me if you need anything else. Bye."  Jon hit delete and thought to himself, this is it, no more bullshit with these reporters.

 

Jon makes it home in time to shower and get ready for the reporter to arrive.  Once he's cleaned up and dressed, he goes int the kitchen and cleans up the kitchen.  He tries to keep staff at the house when he has the kids because he likes to do the things that they want and need.  He prides himself on being a hands on dad, when he has the opportunity. 

 

Dishwasher is loaded and running and all of the counters have been wiped down.  This morning, Romeo decided he wanted to get dressed in the living room and he did just that.  Jon picked up his pajamas up off the floor and put them in the laundry room.  Looking around, he sees that the house is good, grabs his coffee and cigarettes and heads out front.  He has about 20 minutes to kill before the reporter arrives, so he powered everything up in the Shoe Inn and waits.  When the reporter is gone, Jon might work some more on the Lost Highway album, but he's not sure.  He's working a few projects at the moment, so it will be a surprise to him what he decides.

 

He sees a car pull in the drive way, and greets the driver in the driveway.  "Good morning." he states to the young man that the NYT sent to the solves to be slaughtered.  The kid, Bob Redman, extends his hand to Jon. 

 

Jon shakes the boys hand and Bob says, "Good Morning, sir.  Thank you for the opportunity to interview you."

 

A little puzzled by that, Jon said, "To interview me?  Oh no no, you are here to take a statement and publish it.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Think you can handle it?"

Jon starts walking toward the Shoe In and Bob follow, even more nervous now that when he was when he arrived.  Bob is looking around, taking in the scene and remembering the way he wants to describe the place in his article.

 

"Have a seat." Jon tells him, pointing to a bar stool that sits at the bar.  Jon goes around to the other side and asks Bob, "Can I get you something to drink?" 

 

Sitting down, Bob shakes his head no and says, "Thanks anyway."

 

"Bob, you are here to get a statement from me, regarding the article that was in today's NYT and LAT.  Are you up for it?"

 

"Yes, sir.  I read the article today before I left the office.  Which part of the article do you want to comment on?" the mousy reporter asks.

 

"The whole thing."

 

"OK, where do you want to start?"

 

"Let's start at the beginning.  The on again, off again girlfriend Beth Adams - is my girlfriend and has been.  There have been no (he uses air quotes) break ups.  She took me to the airport yesterday because I need to get back here to the east coast.  I have never been given an ultimatum to choose her or my children.  She loves my children and they adore her.  She was in an accident while she was in the Bahama's and broke a leg and an ankle.  She suffered a closed head injury and is recovering just fine at home.  My divorce is going ahead as planned and I am not reconciling with Dorothea."  Jon clapped his hand and continued with, "That is all.  Print it word for word and you'll be all set."

 

He walks the reporter to the door, says, "Thank you." and he heads back into the house.  He felt good about the statement and hopefully that will dispel any further rumors.