Water Ch. 119- Who Says

 

The weekend flew by so quick, Jon and Beth both had no idea where the time went.  They spent all of their time with the kids and hated to see it end, but the road was calling.  It was time for them to leave and head to Europe. 

 

The doorbell rang and Jon's anxiety level just rose.  They knew it was Dorothea picking the children up and they just wanted to do the exchange without any confrontation.  Walking to the door, Jon yells "Kids, your mom is here.  Grab your things." 

 

As soon as the door opens, Dorothea starts barking at Jon, "When did you change the code? I could have let myself in."  And she blows passed Jon.  Well, today wasn't the day to do that.  Without even turning around to look at her, again Jon yells - but it wasn't for the kids, it was at Dorothea. 

 

"Dorothea, stop!  This isn't your house anymore."  And he listens for the heels to stop.  They do and he hears what sounds like her turning around.  He stands in the door way, and motions for her to leave the house.  She didn't know what to do. 

 

She walked up to him and asked again, "When did you change the code, and why?"

 

"Why?" and he laughs.  "Why?  To prevent you from coming in here while we're gone.  To prevent you from ever just walking in like you wanted to."

 

"Did she make you do it?"  she blurts at him?  "Did miss Beth make you do it, Jonny?"

 

With his hand on her shoulder, he gently guides her out the door, hearing the kids coming from behind him.  "Romeo needs a nap.  He laid down with Beth a little while ago, and all he wanted to do was talk." 

 

"Seriously?  You had our son laying down with your girlfriend?"  she is pissed.  Really pissed.

 

"Well, he seen Beth laying down and joined her.  Did you expect me to make him get up?  Nevermind, I'm not going there with you."

 

The kids all rounded the corner and kissed their dad goodbye.  Jon hugged all of them and told them that he'd be home in two weeks and added, "Did you all tell Beth goodbye?"

 

Jesse said, "Yes dad, we all hugged her goodbye and she said what you just said.  That you guys will be home in two weeks."  As the words fell out of Jesse's mouth, Jon watched Dorothea's expression.  He can see that she's thinking, that bitch touched my kids?  why would she tell them that they will be back in two weeks?

 

"Go get in the car.  I need to talk to your dad for a minute."  Dot instructs her children, and they do as they are told.  Jesse and Stephanie being the bigger kids, always helped the littler ones. 

 

Dorothea turns to Jon and says, "Are you done playing with her yet?  It's time to come home and start being a husband and a father."  And she says it like it's really the way she thinks that things should be, he should do what he's told.

 

Puzzled, wondering if she really believes what she just said, his only response is, "I"ll never be done with her.  I'll never come home and act like a husband and I am always a father.  Please leave, Dot.  I don't want to fight with you.  I have to leave for the airport in an hour."

 

She stands there and looks at him, wishing she had powers to burn holes in him.  She goes from hot to cold in a blink of an eye and when she sees one method isn't working, she quickly switches to another.  Everyone has a hard time staying on Dot's page - even the kids struggle.  But they have learned to just blend and that keeps her cool, when they are around.

 

"Come on mom!  Let's go."  Stephanie Rose hollers out the window. 

 

Dot spins on her heels and yells back at her daughter, "Didn't I tell you I needed to talk to your dad?  Roll the window up and be quiet."  And then she turns her attention back to Jon.

 

"Was that necessary?"  Jon snapped at Dot. 

 

"I'm getting sick of her always being your protector.  When is someone going to protect me?"  is what she says, but what he hears is, 'I can't do this on my own, these kids are way too much.' 

“Do you want me to take the kids to Europe with us?  We will be more than happy too?” Jon tells her, with a great amount of certainty in his voice.

She was surprised by what he had just asked and the only thing she could think of to say is, “That’s the last thing I want you to do.”

“Then what is the first thing you want me to do, I don’t like you talking to the kids like that or in front of them like that.” Expressing his displeasure with her, if she didn’t hear it I his tone – she definitely seen it on his face.

With a look on her face, the only thing she can think of to say in response to how and what he said, is, “Fuck you, Jon.”

Walking outside and to the SUV sitting in the driveway, Jon opens the passenger door and tells the kids, “Get out, you’re going to Europe with Beth and me.”  And he helps the kids get out. 

Stephanie, being the one happiest about it, grabbed her little brother and ran passed her mom.  “Thanks again, Dot.”  And off she went into the house, where she found Beth blow drying her hair.  Stephanie sat on the toilet, with Romeo on her lap and explained what was going on. 

Beth thought it might be a good idea to go down and at the very least, referee.  She wouldn’t be much help either way, because she was in fact biased.  She knew Jon could handle himself, she just went down to see that the kids were okay and away from the drama that followed Dorothea.

When she made it to the door, all 4 kids were inside and headed to the family room.  Stephanie had followed her down with Romeo and took him to hang with his siblings while Beth and Jon dealt with Dorothea.  Jon was in the middle of a sentence when Beth appeared out of nowhere and surprised Dorothea.

"you need to move on.  We are over.  I realize you are desperate, but what are you really losing Dorothea?  You will still have tons of money at your disposal, you'll be able to come and go as you please.  I will never be with you again.  If that hurts your feelings, I truly am sorry, but I'm not happy with you and I haven't been in a very long time."  He puts his arm around Beth to show the united front and waited for Dot to reply.

"You're picking her, over your family?"

"No, Dorothea.  I'm picking her over you."

"She's a phase.  You'll out grow her and get bored and look for another one - younger and with less baggage."  And she said that with a look, meant for Beth that said, 'Wait and see.'

Beth seeing that this was going nowhere quickly, Beth just stated, "Dot, we will gladly take the kids to Europe with us, I would love that.  So, please just go home and do what it is you do.  I have tried SO hard to be nice to you and you do nothing but run me down.  The facts are this - he loves me and I love him.  Be happy for him, if you truly loved him, that's what you would want."

Dot getting even more pissed, tells Beth, "Mind your own business.  This doesn't concern you, Beth Ann." In the snidest of tones.

Jon coaxes Beth into the house, looking back at Dorothea and tells her, Go home Dot.  We will have the kids back in two weeks.  Take this time to go over the divorce papers and consult with your attorney.  When I get back, it will be final.  Goodbye."  Jon and Beth went into the house and closed the door, setting the alarm.

When they met up with he kids in the family room, Jon said, "Kids, quickly go pack for Europe.  We need to leave soon.  What you need, we can get when were there.  Stephanie, could you pack a few things for Romy?"  Stephanie nods her head and takes Romeo to help pick out what he wants to take, in regards for toys.  Stephanie grabs a few outfits and the things that he uses on a regular basis.  Jesse helps Jake grab his things while  Jon and Beth finish getting their things together.  Jon had alerted the pilot that they were running behind and the necessary plans were made.  Both Jon and Beth were excited that they were taking the kids with them.  They have been to Europe before but not with dads cool girlfriend. 

Packed and waiting for the car, Jon walks up to Beth and says, "You have no idea what you mean to me.  You welcoming our kids on the trip, and making me feel like they matter - babe, that means the world to me. "

"Jon, they do mean the world to me.  As do you.  I look forward to spending time with them in Europe.  We can do some fun fun things.  Let's get out of here, before Dot changes her mind." 

They get to the airport and they see Dave and Tico there.  Jon asks, "Where is Richie?

Dave points to the plane and says, "He's on there with the flavor of the.day.  He got here about 20 minutes ago.  Probably drunk already."  Dave chuckles, because it's probably true.

Jon and his crew board the plane and they are off to Europe.  Eight shows in 2 weeks, with a little more time to sight see.  The kids do their thing, play video games, color and just bug their dad.  And he loves every second of it.