Chapter 101 and still going!

Lexie crawled into bed and pulled the covers over her head, she had so much to think about.  The hug this morning seemed to feel like a start to a new relationship with Stephanie, but after overhearing her talking to Sarah, well she just wasn't so sure anymore. 

 

Jon made sure the alarms were set, checked on all the kids and made sure they were all tucked in.  He was about to leave Stephanie's room when he noticed that she was still awake.

 

“Still excited about graduating on Monday?”  Jon asked.  “Or are you waiting to sneak out once I go to bed?”

 

“Can it be both?”  Stephanie asked with a laugh, sitting up in the bed.

 

“After Monday maybe but now I rather it be the first, just to be honest with you.”  Jon told as he turned back and went to sit on the foot of her bed.  “I was proud of you tonight.”

 

“Because I didn’t smoke weed?”  Stephanie asked him.  She had been tempted, and if he hadn’t caught her, before she could escape to meet Sarah, she would be stoned by now.

 

“Because you acted like an adult tonight.  Several of your friends had to be poured into a taxi, but you, I saw you switching to juice.”  Jon reached for her hand and looked at the Poly Prep senior ring on her right hand.  “Just know that I’m really proud of you.”

 

Stephanie dipped her head to hide the tears filling her eyes.

 

“Did you know Lexie got the boys to go down and see Mom?”  She had to change the subject, or she would be a ball of tears.

 

“She did, so she’s not a Disney Evil Stepmother after all?" Jon grinned. "And she wants us all to be happy! And if the boys are involved with Dotty, it makes you happy.”  Secretly, Jon was shocked that Lexie got the boys to go down to visit Dotty and Graham.

 

“Yeah, she told me that. I guess I always knew it, but, all my friends have their mom. This is such an important time when a girl just needs her mom.”  She looked up at her dad and the tears started to flow.  “Mommy has been with me since I was a baby, I’ve just known Lexie for a little over a year.  You met Lexie in January, married her in the fall and had babies the next year. That’s a lot to take in, ya know?”

 

“But that’s the way life happens Steph. I wasn’t planning to marry again, but there was just something about Lexie.”  Jon told her as he reached up and wiped the tears off her cheek.

 

“What made her so special?”  Stephanie wasn’t sure she wanted all the details, but she always wondered what Lexie had that he lost with mommy.

 

“When I came down the stairs that first morning at the cabin and saw her fixing breakfast, I just knew she was special.” Jon thought back to that first day in the cabin. “She shared her food with me and Romey, would you believe, she tossed a loaf of bread at me and told me to make toast.” He chuckled a little at the memory.

 

“She didn’t know who you were and that you can’t make toast?”  Stephanie was shocked, he never told them about his first meeting with Lexie. She could see the love in his face, and she remembered how cute they were this morning. She missed seeing that with her mom and dad toward the end.  They just grew apart and her mom was so in love with Graham, and they had their cute moments too.

 

“She knew who I was, but I didn’t know who she was.  Boy, did I get a shock walking into the grocery store and seeing that photo of her on the display.  I was shocked, I have read all of her books and they were sitting by my bed, and I never hooked it up in my mind that it was her.” Jon told her.

 

They both sat there digesting what the other said. 

 

“So you going to meet Sarah tonight?”  Jon asked her.

 

“Nope, not tonight, I can see her tomorrow before they leave.”  Stephanie said getting out of bed, fully dressed and reached for her pajamas.

 

Jon got up and headed for the door.

 

“Night baby girl, See you in the morning.  You riding back with me or Lexie?”  He stopped at the door and waited till he heard her get back into bed.

 

“I think I’ll ride back with Lexie and Hellen to help with the Trips.”  She said reaching for the lamp and turned it off.

 

“Okay, see you in the morning.”  He left and finally made it to the master bedroom.

 

As he slipped into the room, the light on his side of the bed was on, but he knew Lexie was sound asleep.  She had been busy, once the trio had been put to bed, making sure the food stayed full, the bar was manned at all times.  Dotty had sat her ass down and acted like Lady of the Manor, which had pissed him off.  He had actually read her the riot act and told her to get and start helping.  He got ready for bed and climbed in and spooned to her back, sighing he kissed her on her shoulder and closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep.

 

Graduation was another family photo op. Tuesday was Lexie's meeting with Thomas, which didn’t go so good,especially after she told him she was going on a sabbatical.  She had hinted to Jon that she was thinking about taking some time off from writing. They argued for an hour with Thomas threatening to cut her from his writing staff, she agreed to keep writing but not doing the conference appearance. He finally agreed. The whole ride to the townhouse just seemed longer than usual, she hated that he only agreed to give her a year of no publicity appearances, but she’d take it. Jon and the band were heading on tour and she would need to be there for the kids. 

 

Pulling into the garage she headed across the street to the townhouse.  Jon was to drop of Snow at the vet, while they were gone on vacation.  She had wanted to just go to the cabin, but she had been outvoted, and they were heading to St.  Barthes .  Since the family always went there in the summer, it was a tradition.  And to a Sicilian family traditions were important.  She and Hellen had been packing the Trio for the trip, they could buy diapers and other things that babies needed there.  But packing for seven kids was a huge job.  Lexie checked the boys to make sure underwear and swim trunks were packed along with enough clothes for the trip. She checked on Stephanie’s too, then she went to make dinner and afterwards she had to pack hers and Jon’s suitcases.  Needless to say, her emotions were wound tighter than a spring. 

 

The kids were hyper at dinner, Jon still noticed how quiet his wife was.  He had noticed a change in her since the graduation party.  He had tried to talk to her, see what had her so upset, but she just pushed it off as being tired. He asked the kids to clear the table and load the dishwasher.  When they left the room, he reached across the table and took her hand.

 

“Did Thomas give you any problems today?” Jon asked her. He could feel the tension in her hand.

 

“Not really, he gave me a year, I told him I was still going to be writing, just no personal appearances.” Lexie said as she took a deep breath.

 

“Do you need me to talk to him?”  Jon came around the table and pulled her up into his arms.  “I got contacts ya know.”  He was trying to get her to relax and laugh.

 

He got a chuckle, just a sad one.  “As much as he deserves it, I’ll be fine.  I’m just tired, trips with seven kids and two adults, with three of these kids under the age of one, it’s like moving your band for a week.  Wish we could hire some roadies to handle it all!”  She put her head on his shoulder and sighed.

 

“My roadies wouldn’t touch this bunch with a ten foot poll, but I did call Matty to come by and help get the luggage to the airport and loaded for tomorrow.”  He rubbed her back and just held her.

 

“Got the drops for the Trio, doctor said we give it to them an hour before we take off, Hellen and I have diaper bags packed, bottles, diapers and passies.  I think after this trip I can be a roadie.”  She stepped back and kissed him on the nose.  “I can’t lie, really wish we were going to the cabin instead.”

 

“We can slip off, just the two of us, like when we met.”  He placed his forehead to hers.

 

“We’d have to bring Romey with us.”  She laughed.

 

“Once we get Steph to her dorm we can take the long way back and go to the cabin.”  Jon told her. “It would give us some alone time before I head on this leg of the tour.”

 

“That would be nice, like a second honeymoon.”  She smiled.  Jon had a way of making everything right.

 

“Minus the morning sickness and the cracker crumbs in bed.”  Jon laughed.

 

“Yeah that was a little downer.”  Lexie agreed. 

 

Stephanie and Jesse were listening from the kitchen.

 

“Did we do the right thing by going to Saint Barth  instead of the cabin?” Jesse asked his sister.

 

“There isn’t as much to do there, just the community pool, Saint Barth's has the beach.” Stephanie told him.

 

“What about that guy you met, you seemed to enjoy him.” Jesse reminded her.

 

“I haven’t even heard from him since the wedding.  I hadn’t thought of Mark in a long time.  I’ll call him, its short notice, think Uncle Matty will help us?” Stephanie asked

 

“I’ll call Uncle Matt, you call Mark.”  Jesse told her.

 

They split up and headed to their rooms.  Jesse stopped in his brothers room along the way and told them what they were going to do.  After a little back and forth they agreed.  Now he had to get Uncle Matt on board.

 

Around Midnight Stephanie and Jesse went to talk to their dad.

 

“Daddy,” Stephanie whispered. Trying hard not to wake Lexie.

 

“Steph, I got to be up at 6! Is this important?”  Jon whispered back.

 

“Yeah dad it is.”  Jesse whispered back.

 

Jon got out of bed and grabbed his robe and followed his oldest two to the hall.

 

“Ok what’s up?”  He asked as he shut the bedroom door.

 

“Well, we voted last night after dinner, we want to go to the cabin.”  Stephanie told him.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 100 (I made it,yippee)

The boys took their time heading down to the guest cottage. Jesse was wondering how he was going to talk to her. Her new family had him arrested for saving the sister, who in essence threw him under the bus.  He looked back at his younger brothers, he needed to set a good example for them, and in one more year it would be just them and the trio left at home.

 

“Tell me again why we’re going to see our mother, the one who signed away all her rights to us?”  Jake asked as he lengthened his stride to catch up with his big brother.

 

“Because momma Lexie asked us to, Duh.”  Romeo said as he picked up a stick and tossed it off the path.

 

“That’s true Romey, but we can’t hide all weekend and not deal with her at some time.” Jesse told him as they neared the cottage. Graham was outside tossing a football to his son.

 

“Hey guys, want to join us?”  Graham asked.  To tell the truth he was shocked that they were there.  Thea had come back for her morning visit in tears, her oldest son had turned around and went back upstairs when he heard her voice.  Granted he had every right to not trust him or his family, after his mother had him arrested for assault.

 

“Sure.”  Jesse called back.

 

That’s where Dorothea found them, when she and Sarah had come out with a pitcher of lemonade.  She had sent Sarah back for more glasses.

 

“Hey you guys ready for some lemonade?”  Dorothea asked as they came over to the table and grabbed a glass.  They all sat down in the shade of the patio.

 

“How’s school been this year?”  Dorothea asked, School was a safe subject.

 

“Good.”  Jesse said. As he sipped his lemonade.

 

“Okay,” said Romeo. Not really looking up at his mom. He felt like he was, in some way, hurting his momma Lexie.  She’s been the one taking care of them and here they were drinking lemonade with the woman who had taken money to give them up.

 

“Same as always.”  Jakey said. He looked at the knot in the wood table they were sitting at. He wanted to be anywhere but sitting at the table with these people.

 

“Thea said you might be going to Notre Dame.” Graham asked his oldest step son.

 

“Yeah, Dad and I went up and talked to the coach, I got a good chance for being a walk on in my freshman year.” Jesse said.

 

“That’s hot man, freshman and walk on, you don’t hear much of that these days.” Jr. told him.  “I’m impressed, I got accepted at NYU and at Rutgers, not sure where I’ll be going yet.  Depends on scholarships and all.”

 

“I’ll still have one year left at Polly, but I’m already taking some college classes.  It was Momma Lexie’s idea, I thought I was just  gonna cruise senior year, all I need is senior math and PE to gradate, but she told me about a program that will help me get some of the required classes out of the way.”  Jesse liked talking the Jr., don’t get it wrong having Stephanie as an older sister brought girls into his life, but an older brother might not be a bad idea.

 

Time flew by and soon the three boys had to head back to the main house to dress for the party.  Jr and Jesse made plans to talk later, as they were heading back Jakey stopped Jesse.

 

“Don’t you feel a little disloyal to Momma Lexie, spending time with Jr?  His grandmother had you arrested and locked up or did you forget?”  Jakey stopped in the middle of the drive and put his hands on his hips.

 

“I’m not disloyal to Momma Lexie, she’s the one who told us to go visit mom and her family.  I’m just doing what she asked.”  Jesse told his brother.  “It kind of felt good talking to an older brother.”

 

“It’s not all what it’s cracked up to be.”  Jacky mumbled under his breath.

 

They made it back and rushed to get dressed for pictures.  Uncles Lemma and Mookie arrived along with David Bergman who was set up in the main living room for photographs.  He was going to take them all night at the party.

 

Lexie and Hellen brought down the trio for some photos. That was when Dorothea and her family came in.

 

She watched Jon and his new family be set up for pictures.  It was hard to see him so happy, playing with Cullen and making faces at Livie and Maddie.  Graham came up behind her and put his arms around her and pulled her back to him.

 

“Breath Thea, remember I love you.”  Graham whispered in her ear.

 

She took a deep breath, not knowing she had been holding it since she walked into the living room.  She did love Graham, he was nothing like Jon, and he was a nine to five kind of guy.  He was home with her and the kids every night and every weekend.  They had movie night at an actual theater, and while going out to eat, they weren’t harassed by fans. 

 

Soon it was Dorothea’s time for photos with Stephanie and her family and even a few with the boys. 

 

Then the party began. 

 

Sarah cornered Stephanie later and asked her where they could go to smoke.  Stephanie remembered her father’s warning and told Sarah about her father and the no drug rules.

 

“But we can meet up before I head off to Hamilton.”  Stephanie told her step sister.

 

“Man this is lame, it’s a little pot.”  Sarah said as they sat on the rim of the pool looking out on the river.

 

“Just a little pot got me grounded.  I graduate Monday, I have my family vacation and then I am off to college, away from Daddy and Lexie’s rules.”  Stephanie told her.

 

“Well, I’m glad I got the cool mom.”  Sarah told her getting up.

 

“Yeah she’s pretty cool.” Stephanie sighed and got up and followed her step sister back to the party.

 

Lexie moved out of the dark doorway to the house, she had been checking on the babies and heard the conversation as she came to join the party.  Sad as it sounded, being the enabler for her step daughter would make her the cool mom?  Not gonna happen, she would just have to be the un cool mom.

chapter 99

The morning of the party dawned a little cloudy and hazy, the tent people came bright and early, and the caterers would be here in two hours to start setting up. 

Jon got up early and met Jesse for a run.  Taking Snow along might have been a bad idea, because little momma got to the end of the long driveway and parked her little white puff ball butt down and refused to go further.  Jon called Romeo out to get Snowball and take her back in, as he and Jesse got their run on.

Lexie awoke to a small voice calling to her, dragging herself out of the bed she peeked out the door.  Stephanie stood there holding Maddie.

“She woke up and I fed her, the other two were asleep.  Hellen, said I should take her so that the other two wouldn’t wake up” Stephanie held the little blonde haired blue eyed baby.

“Bring her in. What are you doing up so early?”  Lexie asked as she tied the robe and backed into the bedroom.

“Birds woke me up.”  She laughed, as she carried Maddie and climbed on the bed.  “I guess I’m excited about tonight.”

Lexie went into her closet to get dressed.

“Did your mom get here last night?”  Lexie asked her, as she slipped into the sundress and came out carrying her shoes

“She and the family got in, they love the updated apartments, said you did a great job on the rehab.”  Stephanie said as she tickled Maddie and she giggled.

Lexie noticed that Stephanie was still wearing the same clothes she had on last night and knew it was the same thing and knew the birds didn’t wake the girl, she hadn’t been to bed yet.  She wondered if Stephanie and her step brother and sister had smoked a few joints before Stephanie came home, but didn’t notice any telltale scent or cover up smells.

“Glad she likes it.  Let’s get breakfast started, Romeo and Jakey should be up soon.”  She reached over for Maddie and headed out the bedroom door. As they were going down the stairs, Jon and Jesse were heading up, both were hot and sweaty.

“Ooh daddy you two are all stink.”  Stephanie wrinkled her nose, even Maddie made a sour face at the smell. 

Lexie stepped back away from her husband’s wet body.

“Jonny, not to be unromantic, but you two smell like you ran all the way around the block and took a dip in a septic tank.”  Lexie told her husband who kept trying to kiss her.

Stephanie started to laugh at her dad and step mom.  She had never noticed how they kidded around.  Most of the time, when she had spent any time in their home life, they had been trying to ruin her fun. She didn’t remember toward the end of her parent’s marriage, had they ever played that way with each other? Now she could see that maybe, just maybe, Lexie was good for her dad.

Lexie put Maddie in the highchair and started taking out pots and pans.

“Lexie can I ask you something?”  Stephanie asked as she sat down at the bar and watched Lexie move to the huge subzero fridge and freezer.

“Sure,” she pulled out a bowl of eggs, bacon and stuff for omelets. “You think the boys want eggs or pancakes?”  She asked as she carried the stuff to the counter by the eight burner gas stove top.

“Well that’s sort of what I wanted to ask you, why don’t you hire someone to cook for us, like my mom did?”  Stephanie watched her take down another bowl to crack eggs in.  “They’ll eat whatever you put on the table.”

“Well, I’m so used to cooking for myself, I never thought about hiring someone to cook for us.”  She got out a chopping block out and started to chop peppers and onions.  “I mean, I don’t work except to write, and since I have Hellen to help with the Trio, what would I do with myself?”

“You could help daddy with any of his charities.”  She told her step mother. 

“I wouldn’t know where to start with helping your dad.”  Lexie moved to the coffee maker and put on a fresh pot.  Then she flipped on the music on her cellphone for Maddie, who patted her hands on the highchair tray.  “Maddie is Uncle Tico teaching you to play the drums?”  Lexie laughed at her daughter. “You want to go get your brothers up and dressed?”  Lexie asked Stephanie, as she got Maddie out of the highchair.  “I think someone has to see Auntie Hellen.”  She held Maddie out for Stephanie to take her back up to the nursery.

“Sure.”  She took her half-sister and started up the back stairs.  “Momma is coming up to the house” Stephanie told Lexie.

Lexie didn’t think about asking Dorothea and her family to breakfast.  Stephanie had just told her, that Dorothea had used a cook when she was Jon’s wife.   She motioned for her to come in, when she knocked on the door.

“Morning Lexie, oh you’re cooking?”  Dorothea asked her.

“Yes, I cook all the meals for the family, when I’m home.  There’s a fresh pot of coffee, if you want a cup.”  Lexie told her.  She started to tell her where to find the cups, but this was the only room in the whole house that she hadn’t changed.  She had fallen in love with the kitchen and thrilled cooking in it.

Dorothea got a mug from the cabinet and poured a cup of coffee.   “You haven’t changed the kitchen?”  She went and sat at the bar where Stephanie had been sitting.  The only thing she noticed had changed was the addition of three highchairs.  For some reason that hurt her a little.  After Romeo, they had decided four kids were enough.  Now here Jon had three more children with another woman.

“I love the color and I love to cook, this kitchen is a cooks dream.  When we were remodeling the new house in the city I had them install the same store and fridge.”  Lexie took the bacon out of the oven and turned it and started cracking eggs into a bowl.

Jon came tripping down the stairs and stopped sharply at the bottom. There in the kitchen was his wife cooking breakfast and his ex-wife, this could be either really good or very very bad.

“Morning ladies.”  Jon came in and walked over to his wife and smiled. “Can I have my morning kiss now, I am clean and,” He sniffed “I smell really good.”  He leaned in for a kiss.

Lexie leaned into the kiss then shoved the bread bag into his chest.

“You’re on toast duty.”  Lexie said as she stepped back from her husband. “You smell good because, you used my mango body wash to get rid of your stankieness.”  She laughed.

Dorothea watched their interaction with a hint of a sad smile. “Well, I think I’ll go back and see if my family is up.” She took her mug to the sink and headed for the door.  “See you all at the party.”  As she was going out Jesse was coming down the steps and stopped short and slowly backed up the stairs. Dorothea saw him and her heart cracked a little, this just proved to her, that her son didn’t want to see her.

Dorothea was out the door and Lexie went over to the stairs and looked up into her step son’s face.

“She’s gone, you can come down now.”  She told Jesse.  She was really going to have to sit down with him before the party where he couldn’t avoid being in her company. She and Jon needed to sit the boys down and have a talk.

“I wish someone would warn me.”  He went over and got glasses down for breakfast. 

Lexie looked at Jon, waiting to see what he would say.

“Jess, what are you going to do today, stay in your room?”  Jon asked his oldest son.

“Maybe.”  Jesse went to the fridge and got out orange juice and the milk carton, carrying it to the table.

Jon looked at Lexie, he couldn’t understand why Jesse was like this.

“Can I ask you something?”  Lexie asked him as the other two boys came in.  “Sit down you two, this is something we need to discuss.”  Lexie handed Jon the plates to put on the table.  “Where is Stephanie, she needs to be here too.”

Lexie brought the bacon plate and eggs to the table and went back to grab the toast.  Jon had gone in search of Steph.

He found her curled up sound asleep.  He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.  Looking down she looked just like the little girl he used to watch sleep, when he came home off the road. He would wake her up and they would sneak into the kitchen and eat peanut butter sandwiches and chocolate milk and she would tell him about school, her friends and what Jesse did to make her cry.  He wished he could turn back time, to sneak with her down stairs, Monday, she would graduate and his little girl would be an adult.

“Steph,” he touched her shoulder and gave it a little shake.

“Daddy, what’s wrong?”  Stephanie asked blinking up to her father.  She had been talking on her cell with one of her friends, that was coming tonight and then, she was reading her email when she must have fallen asleep.

“Family meeting, and breakfast is ready.”  He looked down at her.  “When did you grow up?  I can’t believe in a few weeks you’ll be in college and we can’t sneak down to the kitchen for peanut butter and chocolate milk anymore.” 

“Dad, you were on the road so much of the time, but it was your job, we understood that.”  She said sitting up and giving her dad a hug.  “I enjoyed our time together too.”  She whispered as her dad held her a little tighter. “Who knows, I might sneak in some night and wake you up to sneak down to the kitchen, for peanut butter and chocolate milk.”

Romeo stood in the doorway.

“Momma Lexie said to get down there or eat cold eggs, and I hate cold eggs.”  He made a face at his dad.

“On the way Romey.”  Jon said as he got up and creeped up on Romey. “I hate cold eggs too.”  He grabbed at Romey and gave him a hug.

No one had cold eggs and they sat around the table talking and laughing.  In the back of his mind he was dreading this talk.  The last time their mother was brought up and Stephanie went ballistic over him calling Lexie her mom.  Legally she was, they had gone to court and all four kids told the judge, they wanted Lexie to adopt them.  He had bailed Graham’s business out of the ashes, bought them a new house and paid for Grahams two kids to go to a private college. Now she waltzes back into their life and turned Stephanie against Lexie, was she angling for more money? He was not an ATM machine to be hit when they needed money.  Hell if this kept up, they would have to extend this next tour if the D and G train was latching onto the gravy train. 

“We have to talk about this party this afternoon, boy’s your mom and stepfather are going to be here.”  Jon started the conversation and looked at Lexie for help.

“You three can’t hide in the house all day, you’re gonna have to spend time with your mother and her family today.” The three boys looked at their stepmom and inwardly groaned.  She knew that Romeo would take his cue for the older two, which meant that the older two would have to deal with it for three days.

Jesse looked at his younger brothers, he knew they would follow whatever he did.

“For you Mom, I’ll do it, but just till,” he turned to Stephanie, “You graduate and that is it.”  He got up and took his plate to the sink, scraping the rest of his, cold congealed eggs into the trash.

“Thank you, that means so much to me guys.” Stephanie said.  She knew her brothers were not too happy with her right now, but with vacation they’ll change their tune.

“Okay, that’s settled, Wednesday I have a meeting with Thomas, and I want to make sure you four will be packed and ready to go.  We leave bright and early Thursday morning.”  Lexie cleared the table, looking at Jon for his support.

“That’s right, it’s up to you four to pack for yourself, Lexie and Hellen have to pack the trio, and I have a meeting with the guys about tour this fall, while Lexie is meeting with Thomas. So, packed and sitting by the door before bed Wednesday night.” Jon went to the coffee pot and filled his cup, “I’m gonna check in the music for tonight.” Out the door he went.

“Okay, you guys need to be dressed for the party by 5pm, nothing ratty or holey.  Stephanie, your friends do know, no invitations no entry, and if they aren’t on the guest list they will be turned away?”  She looked from the boys to Steph.  When they nodded she turned and started loading the dishwasher.

“You two want to go toss the ball some?”  Jesse asked his brothers.

“Why don’t you three go down to the guesthouse and spend some time with your mom?”  Lexie said with her back to the boys still sitting at the table.

She knew they were rolling their eyes, she might not have been their step mother for long, but she knew they weren’t happy with her right now. One, they just found out they had to spend this weekend with their mom and two, they couldn’t go play football.

“Okay Mom, but Sunday can’t come fast enough.”  Jesse told her, as he guided his brothers out of the house.

“Everyone knows no invitation no entry and no guest that are not on the list.” Stephanie said as she finished her juice.  Carrying it to the sink she gave Lexie a quick hug.  “Thanks.”  She headed to the stairs.

Lexie turned around and stopped her step daughter with one word.

“Why?”  Lexie asked her standing there after the hug.

“You didn’t have to make the boys go down and spend some time with mom, and because they love you, they went.  No questions asked.”  Stephanie told her after thinking really hard what and how she was going to say it, without sounding bitchie.  “Daddy would’ve asked them to go, you told them to go, and they went.”

“I’m not the wicked Step Mother here, I do care about you four, just as much as the three up in the nursery.”  She told her as she went back to filling the dish washer.

“I know that, now.”  Stephanie said as she turned and ran up the stairs.

Looking at the clock on the wall, if she could make it to midnight without breaking the rules, she was not the wicked step mother.  It was going to be a long day.

Chapter 98 (OMG Its almost 100 Chapters long)

They were heading to the Jersey house today, the party would be this weekend with graduation on Monday.  Lexie and Hellen brought the trio down early.  They had unloaded the car, fed the trio and put them down for a nap.  

Lexie needed to go down to the apartments.  When Jon and Dorothea were in residence, they had apartments for the staff on site.  Dorothea and her family would stay out there.  Jon had given her the opportunity to redecorate the house and the apartments.  She had turned one into an office for herself.  Really it was the studio apartment attached to the recording studio, but she had updated the staff housing, bringing them up to date.  Dorothea didn’t mind staying on the property, and Lexie was just glad she wasn’t going to be in the main house.

She finished airing out the apartments and went to see if the wine and beer had been delivered and was chilling.  Matt had ordered it for the party and been here for the delivery. She loaded all the glasses into the dishwasher and got it started and headed back to the main house.

Her phone started to sing to her.  The boys had messed with her ring tone AGAIN, this month it played Welcome to the Jungle.  Last month it played the Adam’s Family song.

“Hey Jonny, have you left yet?”  Lexie stopped in the middle of the driveway and looked out at the river.  The tent people would be here later to put up the tent and the pool people would be here later to clean the pool.

“Waiting on the boys to get home.”  Jon said as he sat in the office.  “We’ll pick up little momma from the vet.”  Jon was the one who finally found out his little off the leash visit to the dog park had turned Snowball into a future mommy.

“Okay, I have to head to the grocery store, but everything is set for the weekend.”  She finally made it to the house and went in.  “Before I forget, we had the radio on in the car coming down and Bon Jovi came on and the kids woke up and giggled and Cullen screamed out Da Da.” 

“That’s my boy.”  Jon chuckled. “Happy they giggled instead of screaming and crying.”  He looked up as there was a knock on the door.  “Hang on Lex, think the boys are home, come on in.” He called to the closed door.  Romeo popped in followed by the rest of the kids.  “Boys are here, once I get them loaded well be on the way.”

“That Momma Lexie?” Romeo asked.

“Yes, you all need to get changed and pack up what else you need to take, so we can pick up Snowball and hit the roads.”  Jon told them as they all took a seat.

“Can we have Pizza and salad from Umberto’s for dinner?” Romeo called out.

“Yes Pizza and Salad.”  Jakey added.

“Garlic knots.”  Jesse called out.

“Diet Soda for me.”  Stephanie called out.

“Why don’t you call in the order and I’ll pick it up after I go to the store.”  Lexie told Jon.  He agreed to place the order after he left the vet.

Lexie grabbed her bag and told Hellen where she was going and pulled her beat up car out of the garage.  Her car looked like it might belong to a servant instead of the wife of a rock star.  It made her feel safe for her to drive around.  It was already on social media that they were in Jersey, and there were cars already driving by slow.  Matt’s security team would be there later to set up a check point at the gate.  She pulled out on River Road and headed to the store.

Grabbing a cart she started to walk the store.  She loved being down at the river house, no fans out on the sidewalk daily, and no sneaking out the back to walk Snow.  By the time she got halfway through the store, she wished she had brought the boys or even Stephanie, she had a full cart and needed another one.  She started to walk to the front and leave one cart and get another when she spotted Matt walking a few feet behind her.

“Are you my security?”  She passed off the cart to Matt.

“I’m just glad it’s just us.”  He took the cart and handed her the empty one.  “You do know, you can order online and just pick it up or have it delivered to the house?”  Matt told her as they headed to the baby area.

“I knew that they do it in the city but not in Rumson.”  She added snacks and toddler food to the cart.  Then moved to the chips and started tossing bags of cheese doodles, Frito’s and four different styles of chips and as an afterthought added dips.  She had to have extras because the kids would eat up all that the caterers’ will bring before the party will even begin.  By the time they made it to checkout Matt could barely push the cart. 

As they were checking out Matt scanned the rag mags and hit on the Star with Jon and Stephanie on the cover. Granted it was a postage stamp size picture but he tapped Lexie on the shoulder and pointed to it.

Lexie wanted the floor to open up, because even a little picture might set off Thomas.

Matt tossed one in the cart.   Then turned the others to face the back.  Getting the cars loaded they headed to pick up the order from Umbertos, and then headed home.  Hopefully Jon and the kids will be there to unload the two cars.

Pulling into the driveway she opened the garage door and the two cars pulled in.  Parking next to Jon’s car she texted his cell. Round up the kids to help with the groceries and pizza.  It wasn’t long till all four of the older kids were trooping out the door.

After dinner they got the kids down for movie and snacks, the adult sat out on the patio facing the river.

“Matt found a little shocker at the checkout.”  Lexie said sipping her water.

“Enquirer, Globe or Star?”  Jon groaned as he sipped his wine.

“No, Thomas is gonna have a field day.”  Desi said sitting next to Matt.

Matt got up and pulled the rag out of his back pocket.  Unfolding it, he handed it to Jon.   Lexie put her glass of water on the table and leaned on Jon shoulder and looked at the article.  It talked about stars kids going to college then brought up other stars kids and drugs, and of course Stephanie was front and center.

“IS it bad Jonny?”  Matty asked, he knew what his sister in law and brother was going through, Stephanie has been on a slippery slope.  He knew this one month grounding is just a short reprieve, he was afraid this incident was just the start.

“Not bad, it’s on the celebs and their kids heading off to college, it also touches on the pot issue, which I’m sure Thomas isn’t going to be too happy about.” Jon looked over at Lexie then to his brother.  “So, all in all it’s not bad, the picture is old, but there isn’t any of her pulling a Milly Cyrus.”

Lexie relaxed and leaned back, fingers crossed Thomas will skip over this and see the positive of the write up, who was I kidding, this was another nail in my coffin.

One by one the older kids headed off to bed, Lexie and Jon headed up to the nursery to check on the younger three, then head off to their bedroom.

Matt looked over at his wife.

“You’re quiet.”  He topped off there wine and corked the bottle.

“I’m worried about Lexie, this could ruin her.  Steph just doesn’t give a shit about anyone but Steph.”  Desi told her husband as the cuddled on the porch.

“I think you’re right, this freshman year is going to be an eye opener. Just hope they survive it as a family” Matt drained his glass.  His big brother was in for a rough ride.

Chapter 97

Jon sat there stunned, maybe he didn’t hear her right, did she just agree with Dorothea? What is this all this about, united front, backing each other to the wall, and she shoots him down.

“You agree?”  Jon asked Lexie.

“Yes, I agree.  Jon, she is going to be leaving in a few months, she has a few fashion show’s coming up, and we leave to go on vacation.”  Lexie said as she walked over and sat in the other chair across from Jon’s desk.  “We punish her, we punish the other six kids.”  She said as she leaned forward.

“Then she’s grounded, she’ll come right home from school.  I know she has some fashion show’s coming up, either you, Matty or I will be taking her and bringing her home.  Absolutely no hanging out with friends, and no cellphone.”  Jon said writing it down on the note pad on his desk.

“For how long Jon, because this would mean she can’t come and spend time with me.”  Dorothea said.

Jon looked at her shocked, by spending a weekend with her mother, she not only made bad press for Lexie but almost cost her the job that she loved.  She had allowed their daughter to smoke pot and do whatever else, while under her roof.

“A month, and I don’t think we’d be having this discussion if you had watched her and not been so lenient.”  Jon said.  Stephanie would be under what his brothers used to call house arrest.

“One month, but I can visit her here?”  Dorothea looked from Jon to Lexie.  “Will her graduation party still be on?”  She would tell her step kids no drugs period and none of them was to bring any friends, if Jon allowed the party.

“Okay, but if I smell one whiff of pot or see one line of coke, the police will be called.” Jon stated and that put an end to all discussion.

Dorothea didn’t stay much longer. She went and said goodbye to Stephanie and after she found out her sons weren’t home, she left with a promise to call later after, Stephanie had talked to her father.

Jon sat watching Lexie and running through his head what she had just dropped on him.  She was taking a break from writing.  She was always writing, in the car, in bed, on her iPad, her laptop and his computer in his office.  She even kept a small tape recorder, which was for when she was in the shower or tub and got an idea.  He had to smile, some of those tapes were triple X rated, since they always forgot it was on when they got in the mood for a little afternoon delight.

“Go ahead, blow your stack, I agreed with you ex-wife.”  Lexie broke the silence.

“When did you decided to stop writing?”  Jon got up and walked around the desk then held his hand out to her. When she took it, he pulled her up and then sat down with her in his lap.  “It was the first I had heard anything about you not writing.”

“I was thinking with all what is going on in the next three months I’d better take some time off.  I’m not stopping forever, just a short sabbatical.”  Lexie cuddled in his arms.  “With graduation, the party and vacation, I felt like I couldn’t give it what I needed to do, and I heard Southside will be at the Pony next week or so.”

“How did you know about Southside show?”  Jon asked as he shifted her on his lap.

“I got an email and an invitation, in other words, bring my husband so he can prance his white toast ass on my stage.” Lexie laughed.  “His words not mine.” Jon started to tickle her.

“My ass isn’t white toast.” He tickled her.

“I said his words not mine.” Lexie laughed even harder and slipped off his lap onto the floor, pulling him down with her.

Jon straddled her hips and held her hands over her head.  As he nuzzled her neck he nibbled a path down to her collarbone and back up to her earlobe.

“Jonny, baby,” Lexie moaned as he was getting her all hot and bothered.  “You know the door isn’t locked and ah,” She caught her breath when he released her hands and started to work on the buttons of her shirt.  They hadn’t had any Jon and Lexie time in a while, she didn’t want to stop him since he was the one inciting it.  It felt really good that, he was the one who decided they would finally check his office off the list of places they had made love in the new house. She just prayed that the kids would not put an end to this.

He had gotten to the last button at the bottom of her shirt undone and went to unbutton her jeans when there was a knock on the door.

“Fuck,” Both Jon and Lexie said in unison. Jon was uncomfortable as he helped since Lexie up as she was busy buttoning up her shirt.  Jon groaned as he got behind the desk to hide the tightness of his jeans.

“Daddy, mommy said you wanted to talk to me.”  Stephanie called through the door.

Groaning quietly, Lexie picked up a magazine and fanned her flushed cheeks and while taking deep breaths to calm down. Counting to 10 she nodded at Jon to let her in.

“Come in Steph.”  Jon called out, after taking a long breath.

Stephanie came in and froze in her tracks when she noticed her stepmother was still there.  This isn’t good, wonder what she said to my parents?  Moving into the room she sat in the other chair.  She sat there with her hands folded in her lap, trying to look angelic.

“We, Your mother, Lexie and I have decided to let you have your graduation party.”  He waited for that bit of information sink in.  “Well, your mom and Lexie decided you should have your party, I wanted to put a stop to it, but they decided that it would be hurting the people who already said they were coming, and the family, who changed their plans to attend.”

“Mom and Lexie, decided I get to have my graduation party,” She looked over at Lexie in shock, “you agreed I should have my party?”

Lexie put the magazine down and looked at Stephanie right in the eye.

“Yes, I agreed with your mom, but we, your dad and I set some rules that, your mom agreed with.”  Lexie told her.

“Rules, as in no drugs?”  Stephanie looked back at her dad.

“That’s right Princess, and by the way you’re grounded.”  Jon told her.

“Grounded?”  Stephanie took a deep breath.

“After school you’ll come straight home, either Lexie, Matty or I will take you to your fashion shows and rehearsals.” Jon read off what he had written down on the notepad that sat on his desk.

“How long am I grounded?”  Stephanie asked looking at her stepmom. I bet this is all her fault, why does she hate me so much?

“Ask your father, this is all him.”  Lexie said as she got up and headed for the door.

“All daddy, you mean you didn’t make any of the rules in this grounding?”  Stephanie snapped.

“You don’t speak to your mother like that.”  Jon said as he slammed his fist down on his desk.

Stephanie bolted up out of the chair.

“She isn’t my mother, she’s my stepmother.”  Stephanie yelled back.  “My mother is Dorothea Rose Hurley Bongiovi.”

“Yes she is,” Lexie said calmly.  “Stephanie, I never wanted to replace your mother, and I have never even asked you to call me mother.  I don’t know why you hate me so much. When I met your dad, your mother had already married Graham.  I have tried to be your friend, but you won’t let me.” 

Stephanie stared at Lexie open mouthed.

“I don’t hate you.”  Stephanie said finally.

“Yeah you do, you just accused me of plotting your grounding and turning your dad against you.  I give up.”  Lexie said as she left the in the office and went to make dinner.

Jon watched Stephanie absorb what Lexie said.

“She didn’t have anything to do with my grounding?”  Stephanie sank back into the chair.

“No she didn’t, she agreed with your mother that your party should not get canceled.”  Jon went and sat in the other chair.  “She has been your supporter through all of this.  Like at the concert when you smoked pot with the roadies, and she didn’t stop you from going to Dot and Grahams. She loves you, even when you treated her like shit.  I thought you grew up and had stopped being a brat.”

Stephanie thought about what they both said.  Maybe she had been harder on Lexie that she should have. When they had come to live with their dad full time, Lexie had been there.  They had to share their father with another woman, granted she was better than most of the women their dad had been with.

“You have a month to think on what you did and how you’ve treated Lexie.”  Jon said getting up and walking over to Stephanie and pulling her up in a hug.  “I love you kiddo, always remember that.”

Stephanie wrapped her arms around her dad’s waist and laid her head on his shoulder.  It made her feel like she did was a little girl, safe and secure.  When he would get off tour and they would meet the plane at Teterboro, she would run into his arms and hold onto him.

“Try and get along with your step mother, for me.” Jon whispered to her and he felt her slider body tense then relax in his arms.

Lexie worked on dinner when the boys came back from walking Snowball.

“Is it safe?”  Jesse asked as he got Snows water bowl up and gave her fresh water just as Jakey got down the food from the pantry.

“Yep, she’s been gone about twenty minutes.”  Lexie told then as she checked on the chicken and peppers.

“Is the princess off the hook again?”  Jesse asked as he washed his hands.

“I’m grounded for a month.”  Stephanie came in to wash her hands and grab the plates, to set the table.

Lexie didn’t say a word, she but on the water to boil for the rice.

Stephanie watched her stepmother fixing dinner.  That was one of the differences between her mom and Lexie.  Her mom had always had a chef, where Lexie, no matter how busy she was, she always made dinner every night.  She worked with the boys with on their homework and she very seldom missed a game or school show.

“Grounded for a month, is your party still on?”  Jesse asked his sister.

“Yes, thanks to Mom and Lexie.”  Stephanie smiled at Lexie.

“Mom, you’re letting her have her party? After she almost cost you your editor and publisher?”  Jesse asked.

“Yes, why punish the people who had changed their plans and all the arrangements that have been made already.”  Lexie explained not bothering to look at Stephanie.  “Call Romey to come down and butter the rolls, dinner will be ready in twenty minutes.” 

That took some of the wind out of her sails.  Her father said it was because Lexie loved her, that didn’t sound like love to her.  She took the plates into the dining room and set the table.  Her phone buzzed, pulling it out of her pocket and she started to answer, when her dad came up behind her and snatched it out of her hand.

“Nope, grounded.”  He turned off the phone and put it in his pocket.