Friday, February 28, 2014

Chapter 71 - I Bet All That I Had On You

 
 
 
Walking to the car wasn't such an easy task for Beth.  She was barefoot, pregnant, soaking wet in a dress that clung to her that was too long without shoes on. 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Chapter 70 - She Didn't Say Goodbye


Jon sits in the back of the car and just lets the driver drive.  He really had no idea where Beth might be.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Chapter 69 - Driving Blind, I'll Lay It All On The Line For You





With her heart racing and in her stomach, she runs until she runs out of room, with Jon right behind her.  When she stops and faces the wall that’s in her way, Jon grabs her and turns her around, holding her as tight as he can without hurting her. 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Chapter 68 - Can't Let The Clouds Cover The Sun


As they arrived at the Met, Beth was amazed at how beautiful the place had been decorated.  Carol had every detailed covered, leaving nothing out. 

Monday, February 24, 2014

Chapter 67 - Hoping It Would Never End

 
 
 
Beth has been so busy with her new firm and the kids, she's given very little thought to the gender of the baby that she has growing inside her belly. 

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Chapter 66 - We Throw Our Hearts, Into The Echo

 
 
 
They say that time heals all wounds, but whoever said that has never buried a child.  Beth was getting good at going through the motions - watching what she eats, exercising and she stays away from Jon when he's smoking.  She has taken all precautions and done all that was ever recommended for a pregnant woman, she was leaving nothing to chance. 

Chapter 65 - I've Been Through Some Changes

 
 
Turning off of 35 onto Navesink, as they get closer to the house they can see that the street is lined with media vehicles and reporters are scattered everywhere. 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Chapter 64 - Blue Eyes Crying

 
 
 
 
Beth remains seated on the settee and is floored by what he told her.  Part of her is afraid to move, and part of her wants to jump for joy. 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Chapter 63 - Live For The Fight

 
 
 
Her back is to Jon as she stands there looking out the window.  She sees people on the street and can't help but think, their life has to be so much easier than mine. 

Chapter 62 - Micro Not So Soft?

 
 
 
Headline News: Jon Bon Jovi breaks contract with Microsoft, the technology giant considers suing for breach of contract. Jon hears that as Beth turns the television on in their hotel room. It stops him dead in his tracks, and he listens. 

Chapter 61 - Have A Nice Day


 
As he sat there pissed at the world, he takes his sharpie out and rewrites the entire set list. Not one to play games or even pout, he just snaps. 

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Chapter 60 - Flip The Switch


Beth grabs the vegetables from the fridge and tosses them on the counter. Jon starts to open the packages so they can whip up a quick salad.  

Monday, February 10, 2014

Chapter 59- When I Can't Let You Go

"How was the service?"  Beth changes the subject, trying to take the spotlight off of herself.  "Did the boys behave?"  She looks up at Jon.  She knows better than to try to change the subject, Jon doesn't let things like that go away, but Beth didn't want to talk about Dalton anymore.  "How was Dot?"  

Looking down at her, Jon was a little overwhelmed with what he was feeling for the woman that was in his arms.  Without hesitation, he picks her up so they are eye to eye, "Are we done with the stupid shit?"  Beth scowls at him, not sure what he's referring to, so he clarifies it for her, "There will be no more Dalton surprises, if anything like that happens again, you need to let me know sooner.  Not days later."

"Did you really want me to call you with it, when you were getting ready for a burial ceremony?  Come on Jon, it's over - he's gone.  Our vineyard is thriving and I think I have come up with a great ad campaign, but I want to run it by Tony first."

"I don't care about the vineyard right now, Beth you need to understand how it makes me feel that you didn't call me with the news of him being here."

"It's over and done with.  Tomorrow we can call his parole officer and find out what happens next."  She wiggles a little, indicating that she wanted to be put down, but he didn't give in.  "Put me down, babe."

He kisses her lips and then her nose, "We need to finish this conversation."

"What more needs to be said?"

"Fuck, I don't know.  I just feel like I've been sucker punched and on the defensive.  That asshole weaseled his way into our life again and we were none the wiser.  What if you hadn't come out here, what was his plan?"

"That I don't know.  We can try to find out, or we can put measures into place to prevent anything like this from happening again and just put it behind us."

"I can't do that, you know that." Jon admits, kissing her again.

"Jon, I don't want this to be the focus of our life.  I want him WAY behind us and for us to move forward.  Can we do that?"

He gives her a look and compromises, "I'll call his parole officer tomorrow and we'll go from there, okay.  I just want to be sure that he hasn't put something into motion and it fucks us in the near future."

"Fine, you do what you need to do.  Tomorrow, I'm going to see Tony, are you going with me?"

"I thought we were here for a couple of days alone."

"So did I until you decide to ignore my questions.  I'm going ahead with what I have planned."

"What questions?"  He sets her back down on the floor, "What didn't I answer?"

"HOW WAS THE SERVICE?"  Beth says, annunciating every syllable.  "Were the boys good?  How was Dot?  Those questions, Jon."

He starts to pace the bedroom, walking to the window and looking down at all the guests that were out and about on the grounds.  From the master suite, they can look up the hill and see the lights on in the hotel.  The grounds and the buildings are beautiful, Jon is impressed with what Beth and Tony had done with the place.  Jon smiles when he sees the statue of the girls that's by the small fountain, "Where did that statue come from?"  he turns to Beth and asks her.  "I didn't know that there was one here."

"That my dear, is a father's day present.  I commissioned an artist from out here that works strictly with recycled materials.  It's 100% plastic water bottles - but we can talk about that later.  How was the service?"

"It was fine."

"Just fine?" she asks with a big hint of sarcasm, "It was just fine?  How were the kids and their mother?"

"The kids were fine, Steph didn't do too well once she seen her mother fall apart, but she stayed composed.  The boys were boys.  Jess did okay, but Romeo and Jake really didn't understand the concept.  The service was small and very nice, my money was well spent."

"You paid for it?" Beth laughs at that?  "How does that happen?"

"Dot has her ways."

"And that means what?  She has a healthy allowance, she cashes her checks every week, why did you pay for it?   Never mind, it doesn't matter, it's over and done with."

He comes back to the bed and sits next to her again, "Let's go with that.  It's over and done with and I have placed a very big period on it all."

"How was her behavior?" That's what Beth wants to know, how was Dot towards Jon when they were together? 

"She was pretty broken up, still is - but that's to be accepted."

"And?"

Jon raises an eyebrow and asks, "And what?"

"I can't believe that she was an angel when you were around.  Did she try anything?"

Now he feels pressured and guilty.  He knows that he has to tell her what she tried, but telling her will only piss her off and set them back a few steps.  Jon really thought that Dot was getting over him, but in Florida she showed him that was very far from the truth.  He lies back on the bed, with his hands under his head he tells her, "Last night she managed to get a key for my room.  The kids were with her parents."  He can see Beth's eyes get bigger and he can see the white wash over her face.  Has her worst dream just come true?

"What did she do?" she snaps

Jon sits up and tells her, "She climbed into bed with me while I was sleeping, moved in close to me and then woke me up."

"What did you do?" Jon can see that she is super pissed, her ears are red and she is breathing a little faster.

"My reaction when I rolled over and seen that it was her, I pushed her out of my bed and told her to get the fuck out of my room."

"Did she?" Beth is furious and is thinking that she knew something like this would happen at some time or another.

Jon takes Beth's hand and tells her, "She tried the crying game, but yeah - she left."

"Nothing happened?"

"Jesus Christ Beth, really?"

Beth knows that with the right conditions such as exhaustion and/or alcohol she can wake Jon just enough to get some loving out of him and he not remember it all the next day.  So she assumes that Dot knows the trick as well.  "I've been able to rape you in your sleep and you barely remember."

He's on the defensive now, and ready to snap - but he calms himself down.  He did nothing wrong, but Beth is about to turn the table on him.  "Nothing happened.  When I woke up, I pushed her out of my bed.  She was humiliated and embarrassed and tried t use her dad's death against me.  She said she needed to be comforted and I told her to go back to her parents."

"Why am I hearing of this now?  Why didn't you call me about it yesterday?"

"I didn't think it was important."

"Are you kidding me?  Was she naked?"

"Yes."

"A naked woman in your bed doesn't warrant a phone call to your fiancé?" Beth blurts at him, feeling slightly betrayed.

"Look, nothing happened.  I'm sorry you're hearing about it now, but I didn't think a phone call should be the way to tell you."

Beth takes a deep breath, "You're here with me now, can we just get something to eat and go to bed?" 

"I would love nothing more.  I'm starving and I want you in my arms when I fall asleep."

Chapter 58 - Hello Again, It's Been Awhile

 
 
 
Beth walks in the door and sees that there are lights on, but there isn't a sound.  She drops her purse and her messenger bag in the doorway and wanders off to find Jon. 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Chapter 57 - They Don't Make No Band Aid

 
 
 
Beth arrives at the vineyard around lunch time.  The place is a buzz with mashers and guests, she is in awe of what she sees.  People everywhere laughing, talking, having fun - soaking up the California sun. 

Chapter 56 - There's No Place Too Far

 
 
Head to head, he whispers, "Until next time.", with a smile on his face.  "I'll be back before you know it."  Beth looks up at him and tries to smile, but she can't. 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Chapter 55 - Unfolding Like A Mystery

Crawling to her across the bed in just his boxer briefs, he grins while he tells her, "You know I can't do that."