Chapter 90

Jon punched in the access code on his phone to call his wife. 

Lexie jumped when her cell rang in her hand.

“Okay Jon, tell me what happened?”  Lexie asked as she took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Well, Stephanie went to spend the weekend with Dorothea, and I decided to.”  He was telling her what had happen, when she broke in.

“Stephanie went to spend the weekend with Dorothea?  You mean she isn’t there to help you guys this weekend?” Lexie asked almost in a panic.

“We’re fine, Jesse is here and so is Hellen, We got this covered.”  Jon reassured Lexie.  “As I was saying, I took Snowball to the dog park, instead of being at the townhouse when Dorothea got here to pick up Steph.  We got to the park, and I let Snow off the leash.”

“Jon, we never take her off the leash.”  Lexie rolled her eyes and sighed.  Somewhere in the pit of her stomach, she knew she should have stayed home instead of being here. What could go wrong Jon had said, he would have Steph to help him, if he got in over his head. Go have fun, your fans haven’t seen you since the trio was born.  How stupid was she to believe that she could go away for a week, seven whole days and nothing would go wrong.

“I didn’t know that, I figured she would do her business and we’d be back home in five minutes.”  Jon said as he sat at his desk looking at the pictures lined up on top of his desk.  “I didn’t think she would get knocked up the first time I take her to the dog park.”

“I know, I should’ve told you how she is off the leash.  At the river house, we could let her off the leash and she would be fine.  You’ll have to call the vet, he may just say to wait and see.  We could be worrying over nothing.”  Lexie said as she leaned on the headboard of the huge king sized bed.  Sighing she kicked off her shoes.  She was going to kick herself for asking, but she had to know why Stephanie was not home.  “Did Dorothea get in contact with Stephanie?”

“She called my cell to talk about graduation and wanted to know if Stephanie could come for the weekend.”  Jon said feeling that he dodged the Snowball and puppies bullet, only to step on a landmine that was his ex-wife and daughter debacle.

“So you let her go.”  Lexie said.  He never could deny his kids anything.

“It’s only two days, Hellen is here and Jesse and I can handle the trio.” Jon tried to reassure her.  “She be home Sunday and everything will be fine.”  He gave it his best try.  “So how has the set up gone?”  He changed the subject.

“Robbie and I got a great space, we missed Stephanie not being here to help.  We got all the grab bags set up and all the freebies out. I know what you just did, aren’t you ashamed trying to change the subject.”  She had to laugh in spite of herself.

Jon chuckled a little.

“Never could put anything over on you.”  Jon leaned back in his chair.  “Unless it was me over your naked body.” 

“Oh, now you’re going to talk dirty to ME over the phone?”  Lexie laughed.  When Jon was over in Europe, she would talk dirty to him.  Every night, after the show, they would talk to the wee hours in the morning.  She would make sure the On Stage stress was gone so he could sleep.

“Well, since we’re on the same time zone and I have six kids to see to bed, how about I call you after they go to sleep?”  Jon asked.

“Well, since you put it that way, and I do have to be up early for a breakfast with the writers, can we put it off till tomorrow night?”  She told Jon.

“Ah, that was a direct shot.”  Jon grunted and let his head fall down to the back on the chair.  “Shot down on my first attempt to get my wife hot and bothered in her hotel room.

Lexie nearly fell off the bed laughing.  Then she got a knock on her door.

“Hey Lex, you just got an invitation to drinks and dinner from your idols, Sandra Brown and Nora Roberts.  You wanted to me to remind you.”  Robbie told her from the other side of his door.

“Ah, sorry Babe, work calls.”  Lexie told Jon.  “Going out with the girls and that means talking shop then,” she sighed, “Try to go to bed without a story plotline running through my head.”

“Ok Hon, have fun with the girls and try not to get too drunk.”  Jon laughed.  “Remember a hung over writer, with thousands of hyper fans, doesn’t make Lexie a happy camper.”

“I won’t get drunk.  I never get drunk.”  Lexie slid off the bed and went to the closet to pull out a dinner dress.  God that means hose and heels.  “Nora will pump me about the kids and Sandra will want to know what you’re up to, she has such a crush on you.”

Robbie knocked on the door again.

“I’m getting dressed, Rob.”  Lexie yelled from the walk in closet.  “Kiss the trio and I will check in on then later.  Tell the boys to help you, oh Jon, don’t forget you have a doctor’s appointment Monday, going for the zero swimmers.”

“It’s flagged on the calendar, I’ll call you when I get the news.” Jon said.  “Love you.” He said as he hung up.

“Love you more.”  Lexie said as she hung up.

Going back down to check on the boys and then to the nursery to see the trio.  Baths, bottles and then singing with daddy, he had Hellen put all three in his arms.  This gave Hellen long enough to clean the bathroom and take a load to the laundry.

“What song shall we do tonight ladies, Cull?  Something from Disney, little South Side, or one of daddy’s songs?”  He set the rocker to rock. 

Livie and Maddie yawned and jabbered something and Cull chewed on his first and garbled something like Pooh.  Jon began singing the Winnie the Pooh song softly. 

Jon rocked and sang till Hellen came back in.  Hellen walked toward the rocker and got her feet tangled in a toy that was left on the floor and began to fall.  Jon couldn’t do anything to stop her fall, they both heard a bone or two snap as she hit the rocker and the floor.  Jesse head the ruckus and ran in.  By the time the ambulance showed up and took Hellen to be checked out, Jon and Jesse got the trio to bed and Jacob and Romeo to bed.  Jon headed to the hospital and waited to see what was broken and when Hellen would be back to work.

Jon came back into the house alone and wondered how he was going to make a week while Hellen recouped from a broken foot and a broken arm.  He had to call the agency for a backup. Maybe his mom could come and help.  There was no way he would tell Lexie that Hellen would be out of work for up to six weeks.

On the ride home on Sunday Dorothea and Stephanie were pulling off the highway headed toward the townhouse.

“It’s really been nice having you with us this weekend Stephie.” Dorothea told her daughter.

They had spent most of Friday night sitting up talking about graduation, and the college’s she had visited with Jon and Lexie.  Graham’s daughter was heading to NYU, so she could still stay home and ride the Path into the city.

“Yeah it was nice to get out of the house for the weekend.”  Stephanie agreed with her mom.  She had been hinting all weekend that Sarah, Graham’s daughter, and Steph should be closer. After all, she was her step sister.  A step sister that smoked pot and was starting to use harder stuff. In her head she heard he father saying the rules are the same.  It was hard to resist, Mom didn’t care, what was wrong with a little pot? 

“You know Stephie, you’re more than welcome to visit more often.  Maybe bring your brothers for a visit?”  Dorothea said as the car got close to townhouse.

There it was, her mom wanted her to spend more time with her.  She would start college in August, she would be up checking on dorm space in a few weeks.  Her summer was already planned, with the family vacation, now her mom wanted her to spend some time with them.  How was she going to tell her dad and Lexie, that her mom was actually wanting to be her mom again?

Chapter 89

Dorothea at first didn’t know if she should be mad or not, her son was calling another woman Mom.  After all, SHE was his mom, SHE gave birth to him, NOT her ex-husbands new wife.

“Jesse James Louis Bongiovi, I am your mother, she is your Step Mother.”  Dorothea got a little hot and bothered.

Jesse finally looked at the caller ID and then flipped off his father.

“You sold that right.”  Jesse hissed and ended the call.  “I told you I didn’t want anything to do with her.  I know about the blackmail, I heard you talking on the phone to Uncle Mookie and to Lexie before we all met.”  He stormed over to the door as the phone rang again.  Jesse left it on the desk for his dad to handle and left the room.

Making sure to check the called id first, sighing he punched the button to accept the call, waiting on the shrill voice of his ex-wife.

“How did our son know about that deal?  This was between us, the kids were not supposed to know!”  She all but screamed into the phone.

“I don’t like to lie to my kids, they asked and I told them.  They don’t know the amount, they just know you allowed Lexie to adopt them.”  He started to pace the floor of his office. Moving to the window, he looked at the skyline.  “I didn’t know how Jesse heard me talking to Richie, I thought they were in bed.  I had just gotten him from jail, my lawyer and I had just met with Graham.  I will own up to that.”  He sighed and sat down at the desk.

“It’s about time that you did own up to something.”  Dorothea growled at him.

Rolling his eyes he wasn’t even mad when the door to his office flew open and Stephanie charged in.

“Is that my mommy?”  Stephanie asked reaching for his cell phone.

“Stephanie wants to talk to you.”  Jon said getting up and handing her his phone.

“Mommy, I’m so happy you called.”  Stephanie gushed into the phone.

Jon pointed to his watch and then waited on her to signal she understood, then he left them to talk.  Checking on Jake and Romeo he slowly approached his oldest son’s room.

The door was partially open, tapping on it he walked in.

“You know I don’t want to talk to her, why did you pass her off to me?”  Jesse asked his father.  Jesse had time to stew while his father was dealing with his mother.

“You and me both, I am doing this for your sister and your mom.”  Jon said as he came in and pulled the desk chair out and straddled it.  “In a few weeks, it will all be over.”

“You’re doing it for which mom?”  Jesse asked, putting his text book down on his lap.

“Your mom Lexie,” Jon told him.

Jesse looked cautiously, he couldn’t see Lexie caring what happened between his dad and his mother.

“Since the surgery and all that happened that day, I didn’t know just how much all the last few months have been bothering your mom.”  Jon said as he crossed his arms over the back of the desk chair.  “I’m gonna talk to the guys about taking a year off, give your mom some time for her to do her work.  I know Lemma wants to do this theater stuff and your uncle Mookie has been hinting of doing another solo.” 

“I know you said Mom knew Steph was seeing, well seeing mother, but you and mom are okay, aren’t you?”  Jesse asked his dad.

“Yeah, we’re doing great.”  Jon told his son.  “We had a bad day of the surgery, but every couple has a few bumps in the road, this was our first bump.” 

The door burst open and Stephanie came in all excited.

“Dad is it okay, Mommy said she talked to you, can I spend the weekend with her and Graham?”  Stephanie gushed.  The excitement in her eyes was hard to miss.

“I was kinda hoping you would help me with the trio this weekend since your mom was going to be gone, it’s been a long time since I handled babies.”  Jon looked up into his daughters falling expression.

“Jesse’s here and you have Hellen, please daddy, we’re going to look at college clothes.”  Stephanie begged her dad.

Jesse was getting upset with how his sister was acting.  Didn’t she see that she was stabbing mom Lexie in the back?  Their mother took money from their dad, sold them in essence to his dad and mom Lexie.  He tossed his book of the floor.

“I gotta take Snowball out.”  Jesse got off the bed and rushed out of the room.

“I don’t know Steph, your mom and I thought you would be here to help me this weekend.”  Jon got up from the chair and put it back under the desk.

“Please daddy.”  Stephanie wanted this so much.

He didn’t have the heart to turn her down, but there would be some ground rules.

“Okay, but the rules are still the rules.”  Jon watched the emotions play across her face as she absorbed what he was saying.  “You understand right?”

“Yes daddy, I understand that the rules are the same.”  Stephanie reassured him.

“Thanks daddy, she’ll be here to pick me up in an hour.  I’ll be home Sunday late.” She squealed and threw her arms around his neck for a hug.

Jon hugged his daughter and followed her out of Jesse’s room and went in search of his son.  He found Jesse out in the alley way walking Snowball.

“Your Mother will be here in an hour to pick up your sister.”  He leaned on the wall and watched Jesse and the little white ball of fuzz.

“You mean your ex-wife, my mother is in Atlanta working.”  Jesse said as he tossed the ball for the dog.  “She isn’t going to be happy that you let Steph go away this weekend.”

“You think I can’t handle the trio along with you three boys?”  Jon laughed.

“Dad, you never took care of us.”  Jesse laughed along with his dad.  He bent down and picked up Snowball.  “She always took care of us, school events and sports.  You were always on tour.” 

Jon knew his son was right, he hated to admit it, that he wasn’t there for most of their life. 

“I regret that I wasn’t there a lot, but it was a job, not much different from any other dad in the United States.  Granted my job kept me out of the house more than those other dads.”

“You got that right.”  Jesse agreed with his dad.  “But we wouldn’t be where we are if you were like those dads.” 

“That’s true.”  Jon laughed. 

Jon and Jesse brought Snowball back into the house, Jon went and checked on the trio.  Hellen had just put them into their swings, Disney was playing on the television on the wall. 

“Hello my trio, Momma is watching on the camera.”  Jon watched the two girls smile a gummy smile.  Cullen tilted his head from one side to the other. 

Jon went over to Cullen’s swing and got down to his level and stopped the swing. “Cullen, smile for momma?”  He asked his son.

Cullen looked up at his dad and broke out a big gummy smile and Jon smiled back.

The then the trio started to jibber between then.

“They’ll be talking soon.” Hellen said as she was stripping the cribs and making the beds back up.

“Then they won’t ever stop.” Jon laughed.

The door to the trio’s room opened up and Stephanie came in.

“Mom is downstairs, she won’t come up.”  Stephanie told him as she gave each of the trio a kiss goodbye.  “I’ll see you Sunday.”  She gave her dad a hug and kiss.

“Remember the rules young lady.”  Jon reminded her as she rushed out the doorway.

“So that means it’s just us this weekend?”  Hellen asked him.

“Well, yeah.”  Jon went over and picked up the dirty sheets and headed out the door.  “Jesse will be here to help us, then there’s Romeo and Jacob.  So yeah, mainly us.  I’ll talk to the accountant for your raise.”  Jon laughed.

Hellen just smiled. 

Dinner was burgers and he had called in the order and Jesse and Jakey went down to get the order.  Jon assisted Hellen with the trio’s dinner.  This wasn’t so hard, he could handle this.  He got the boys settled with a movie and he took Snowball for her after dinner walk.  He checked the front camera and saw it was empty, he took Snowball out the front for her walk.  Ball cap and jacket, he and Snowball headed down to the dog park.

“You’re to do your business young lady and then it’s back home for dessert.”  He said as he took off the leash and watched the little dog take off across the park.

Pulling out his cell he checked for a message from Lexie.

From: Lexie Bongiovi

Subject: Atlanta MWC

To: JBJ

Got here and the weather is HOT for spring.  Robbie and I got checked in and set up the booth.  Really miss Steph helping us.   Robbie said we should get some work out of her before she’s in CT for college.  LOL!  Did I see you attempting to do laundry?  Please leave that for Hellen, I had to look everywhere to find that sheet set.  I called earlier and your line was busy for an hour.  I have to be down here on the floor early, so heading to bed early.  It’s gonna be hard being in the huge bed all alone, no one stealing my covers.  Miss you already and I’ve only been here for three hours.  Gonna be a long week.

Love you 

LMB

Jon smiled, looking around he decided to answer her when he got back to the apartment, as the dog park was getting busy.  He stood up and looked around for Snowball.  He looked around the park for the little ball of white fur.  Where was she?  Getting up he pocketed his phone and walked around the small park looking for Snowball.

“Snowball, come on girl.”  He called the dog’s name.

Several of the women looked at him, did they recognize him?  Making a circle of the small park he started to get worried, where was she?

”Snowball, let’s go girl, Romey will be waiting for you.”  He tried called again, and got more stares from the women in the park.  He was about to panic when he felt a tap on his back.  Turning around he looked down at a little girl holding Snowball, who wasn’t as white as she used to be. 

“Is this your dog mister?”  The little girl about Romeo’s age asked. 

“It sure is, thank you.”  He reached down to pick up Snowball.

“I think her and Max are girlfriend and Boyfriend.”  She told him as she handed Snowball over.

“Oh?”  Jon asked a little startled. 

The little girl was joined by a woman who turned out to be Max’s owner.  Max who appeared to be a small black poodle and straining out of the woman’s arms to get to Snowball.

“I hope she’s been fixed.”  The woman told him. 

“I don’t know, she’s my wife’s dog.”  Jon said as he brushed off the bits and pieces of Dog Park off Snowballs fur.  “I’ll check with her.”

“Well, good luck.”  The woman took the little girl and Max and headed to the gate.

“Thanks.”  Jon said looked down at the small dog.  “If you aren’t fixed, you will be by the time your momma gets home.”  Jon snapped the leash to Snowballs collar and they headed back to the townhouse.  “Well at least you have good taste, French poodle, you hussy.”  Jon laughed as he headed home. 

Jesse and Romeo, took Snowball to the bathroom to give her a bath.  Jon went to his office to shoot off a message to Lexie.

From: JBJ

Subject: Snowball

To: LMB

Lexie honey, I took Snowball to the park and met her boyfriend Max.  He’s a small black poodle and seemed very in love with our little girl.  So the point is, is she fixed?  She just might be knocked up by that piece of French trash.  I’m I gonna have to hire some Rotties to protect our little girl?  Max’s owner seems to think our little girl might be with puppies. 

Six days seems like a long time now that you’re gone.  The bed here is gonna feel just as empty. 

Love and miss you,

JBJ

In Atlanta Lexie got the post as she and Robbie were heading back up to their floor. 

“Message from the sexy rock star?”  Robbie asked as he got on the elevator with Lexie and a few mystery fans.

“The one and only.”  Lexie said as she moved to the back of the elevator.  She wasn’t about to check her phone in the elevator filling up with women who seemed all a sudden interested in her and Robbie.

“Do I need to give you time before coming to the room?”  Robbie asked.  They were sharing a suite in the Peachtree Ritz.  They had a suite with an adjoining room for Robbie.

“Yeah you better, He and Hellen are handling the kids this week.  I may have to go home between Atlanta and Nashville.”  She told him as they walked into the suite.  He headed to his bedroom, allowing her private time for her texting her husband.

From: LMB

Subject: Snowball

To: JBJ

OMG the vet number is on the fridge door, keep me posted. NO she isn’t fixed. Did you let her off the leash?  Where is Steph, she should have never let her off the leash?  Do I need to come home?  Call me.

Jon read the message and put his head in his hands.  He looked down at Snowball. 

“You’re next with the snip snip.”  He said as he dreaded this call.