4 - She's a Mystery

Jon spent most of the afternoon on phone calls. 

With the release of their new album, “The Circle”, set to drop in October, there were countless tasks that required his attention.  It probably wasn’t the best time to up and leave his regularly scheduled life, but when it came right down to it, anything that needed to be done could be done by phone. 

He was nearing the end of a conference call with the German and Irish recording labels when a familiar face appeared on his iPhone screen.

“I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to take that other call.  If you need anything else, just give my assistant Jeanie a call.” Ending one call, he swiped his finger over to the other. “Hey buddy, how are you?  How was school today?”

“Hi Daddy!  School was school, it’s second grade.  Where are you?”

Jon chuckled at response that was typical for his middle son, Jacob.  “I’m in Canada.”

“ROMEO stop!  Stop it! I’m trying to talk to Dad.”

“NO! You stop, jerk face. I wanna talk too.”

“Wait your turn, you little...!”

“Jake. Jake! Jaaa-key…. Let me talk to Romey.”

“Fine! Bye Dad.  Here you go, baby.”

“Hey Daddy, guess what?  I went to the big park today and got to see the animals, and then I had ice cream.  Chocolate with sprinkles.  You know how I love sprinkles? I didn’t even get it on my shirt. I miss you.  Love you Daddy.  Here’s Jesse.  Bye.”

Before Jon could get a word in edgewise, the youngest Bongiovi child handed the phone off to his oldest brother.

“What’s up, Jesse?”

“I got roped into watching Thing 1 and Thing 2 while Mom and Steph went out to dinner and a movie.  Where are you anyway?”

“Canada. So, the girls went out?”

“Yeah, just us boys tonight.  Listen Dad, I don’t mean to cut you off, but if I don’t go see what they’re up to, we could have a natural disaster right here in Soho.”

“Right? You better go, and I’ll talk to you soon.  Don’t forget to tell Mom and Steph we chatted tonight.” Jon hung up the phone feeling a bit melancholy.   THAT is what he missed most when he was on the road.

After talking to the kids, Jon lost interest in business calls and impulsively grabbed his jacket.  He may not have had a plan when he did, but choosing a destination came easy.  He needed to eat and, as far as he was concerned, there was only one place to get a beer and burger in this town.   

The taxi pulled up in front of 347 Rachel East Street, and Jon couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious as he stepped onto the sidewalk.  What had seemed a logical choice fifteen minutes ago now didn’t feel like the best idea he’d ever had. 

Wiping his hands on his jeans, he grabbed the door handle and stepped inside.

All these years and it’s exactly the same.  I can’t believe it.

At least the décor was the same.  The crowd, not so much.  There were a lot of empty stools for a Friday night, but it was early yet.  Maybe business would pick up later. 

Working his way over to the long oak bar that sat in the middle of the room, he scanned the room to see if he recognized anyone.  He had just pulled up a stool and was preparing to take a seat when a familiar face came toward him.

Jon abandoned the stool with a smile and extended his hand, “Hey Max, how’s it going?  It’s been awhile.”

The burly man did the same.  “How’s it going Jon? Long time no see.  What brings you to Montreal?”

Max circled behind the bar, pouring two drafts from the tap and placing one in front of Jon.

“I don’t really know.  I had some downtime and ended up here.  Go figure.  Kinda quiet in here for a Friday, wouldn’t you say?”

“Business is doing well, but I’m guessing you haven’t heard yet.” Max leaned against the bar’s edge to address Jon somberly.  “Lili passed away a few days ago. Tonight’s the first night we are open.  I’m guessing folks might think we are still closed.”

Jon swallowed a bitter pang of sadness along with the beer foam, swallowing both before saying with utter sincerity.  “Damn, Max.  No, I definitely hadn’t heard, and I’m so sorry.  I didn’t even realize she’d been sick.” 

“She wasn’t.  It was just her time.  She went peacefully in her sleep.”  With a manly snuffle and clearing of his throat, he switched to business.  “Can I get you something to eat?”

“Yeah.  How about a cheeseburger and fries?”

The bartender nodded without speaking and went to deliver the order. 

Jon couldn’t help but think of Ariana.  Okay, so he’d been thinking of her ever since that dart landed on Montreal, but not this way.  Not with sympathy. 

He knew just how much Lili meant to her.  Losing the woman she loved so dearly must have been devastating, and he considered the possibility that Fate had guided that dart.  What else could’ve brought him here at this exactly time, when she might need someone to lean on? 

Jon was so deep in thought that he scarcely heard Max return with the food. 

“Penny for those thoughts?” he asked as he delivered a cheeseburger with all the trimmings and another cold one.

“I was thinking about Ari and how she’s handling all of this.  Is she upstairs?”

“I couldn’t tell you.  I do know she was in Europe when it happened, but I haven’t seen her or heard from her yet.”

“Really? I thought for sure something like this would bring her home.”

“Lili’s last wishes were very specific – no memorial.  I suppose she’ll be coming sooner or later, since Lili left her everything.”  A woman on the other side of the bar beckoned his attention, and he lifted a finger in her direction.  “Listen, I don’t mean to leave you, but I have customers.  Just give me a holler if you need anything else.”

While Max went about his business, Jon was left with his burger and brewing thoughts. 

It didn’t really surprise him that Lili left everything to Ariana, but he was surprised by Ari’s absence.  He would’ve expected her to drop everything to be here – and to call him.  Why hadn’t she called?  If anyone knew what Lili and Petit Soho meant to her, it was him, because he shared those feelings.

As the crowd grew, Max became anchored behind the bar, giving he and Jon a chance to reminisce.  There had been a lot of visits to Petit Soho over the years, going all the way back to 1986.

Jon first met Salvatore Moretti – and his daughter Ariana – when Bon Jovi opened for Kiss in 1984.  Sal was one of the senior roadies on that tour, and there was nothing the man couldn’t do.  Everyone who was anyone said he was the BEST in the business. 

If he was the best, Jon wanted to know him and made a point to become friends.  When the band made it big, he would want only the best and could put Sal on his team. 

That had been Ariana’s first tour.  Well, first paid tour, anyway.  She’d been hanging around with her dad for years, but this time she was there in an official apprentice capacity, working with Sal’s crew.   

She may have been the only girl in a predominantly male profession, but Jon remembered her having no trouble hanging with the big dogs.  She had the cojones for the business, and hers were bigger than some of men on the crew.   

It’s the reason they became instant friends. 

The time they spent together over those few months had nothing to do with how hot she was, or how hot she made him. 

That was his story, anyway, and he was sticking to it. 

Tour life was crazy back in those days.  He’d lost track of how many consecutive days he’d lived on a bus, so there was no hope for remembering the number of parties or groupies.  In the beginning it was great, but there were times when he just needed a break.  

Ariana gave him that break.  She was someone he could talk to without judgment.  Someone who would understand, and he turned to her more and more often. 

When the tour ended, they promised to keep in touch. Sal even gave them an open invitation to come to Montreal to jam at Petit Soho, and the band took him up it after they finished recording the Slippery When Wet album.

The rest, as they say, was history.

The 80’s became a whirlwind of touring for Bon Jovi, and Jon hired Sal just like he promised.  Of course, that meant hiring Ariana also.

As the evening went on, Jon became increasingly relaxed, which was a feeling he hadn’t had in a long time.  The numerous beers might have had something to do with it, but he didn’t care.  He needed this.

Looking at his watch, he couldn’t believe it was nearly midnight already. Where had the time gone? 

Jon gave Max a quick wave so he could settle up his tab.

“How much I owe ya?”

“It’s on the house. Lili would kick my butt if I took money from you.”

They both paused at the mention of Lili.

“Thanks man. It was great seeing you again”

“How long will you be in town?”

“Not exactly sure, but you can bet I’ll be back!” 

The two men shared a parting handshake before Max turned his back to serve another customer.  While he wasn’t looking, Jon took the opportunity to tuck a couple of bills under his empty beer glass. 

I wonder how long it will be before Ari turns up?

He planned on coming back until she did.