Completely ignoring his stage directions, Romeo bounded to the center and searched the audience to wave at his parents and grandparents. Dorothea smiled as much at Jon’s fatherly pride as she did at their son, who delivered a rhyming monologue as the house lights went down. Just before the auditorium went completely dark, she caught sight of something that had her stiffening.
“Who is she?” Dorothea asked bluntly, her voice pitched low enough for only Jon to hear.
“Who’s who?” Jon whispered through his teeth, never taking his eyes off the stage.
“The whore who gave you that hickey.” Dorothea quietly bit out.
“What you are talking about.” Fighting back a smile he rubbed his hand over his neck.
“Collar bone.” Rolling her eyes in frustration she tried to keep her focus on her youngest child up on the stage.
Adjusting the collar of his dress shirt, he leaned just a little closer to her. “This is neither
the time nor the place for this.”
“Of course, it’s not.” Her tone, just above a whisper, caused the woman in the row in front of them to peer over her shoulder.
“Will you two hush? Carol quietly chided.
For the next forty minutes they sat quietly never uttering another word to each other. Jon was first to his feet the moment the curtain dropped. Weaving his way around the multitude of proud parents, grandparents and every other relative who filled the hallways congratulating their little ones he made it to the classroom of tiny tables and chairs with his wife and parents trailing not too far behind.
“Daddy, daddy!” Romeo squealed the minute Jon stepped into the classroom.
“Hey buddy.” Jon scooped him up into his arms. “I missed you.”
“Did you see me? Did you see me waving? I missed you too.” His tiny arms wrapped around his father's neck.
“I sure did. You were awesome.” He rubbed their noses together.
“I messed up a little.” The little boy’s shoulders sank in disappointment.
Returning him to the floor, Jon tousled his hair. “That’s okay, I mess up all the time too.”
Carol brushed her oldest son to the side as she bent to kiss her grandson. “Romeo, grandma and grandpa are so proud of you. You were the best one up there.”
“An old pro you were.” John Sr. complimented him as he placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Tanks.”
“Baby, you did so good up there. Mommy is very proud of you.” Dorothea reach for his little hand. “What do you say we go get your brothers and sister and get something to eat? Your choice. It’s your big day.”
“Anywhere?” His little brown eyes widened.
“Anywhere?”
“Italian ices at Sal’s?” He asked excitedly.
“After you eat something first.”
“Oh-kay.” he sighed. “Let’s go.” He tugged on this mother’s hand, leading them out of the classroom.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Surprisingly, dinner went as smoothly as one could expect, with four children and grandparents who seemed to have forgotten how to say no after all these years.
Jon carried a sleeping Romey to his bed and then went to tuck in his other children, promising to make them pancakes in the morning. Though he often left the cooking to Dot or his mother, he could manage a mean grilled cheese and pancakes.
Making his way down the hallway, Dorothea was on her way to say goodnight to the kids. “We need to talk.”
“Just let me say goodnight to my parents.”
“They’ve already gone to bed.” was all she said.
“Give me fifteen minutes to wash up and I’ll meet you downstairs.” She didn’t answer, she just waved him off as she entered their eldest son’s room.
Turning the silver handle Jon pushed open the oak door to their bedroom. Ironically, it hadn’t felt like their bedroom for some time.
Toeing off his boots, he bent at the waist to scoop them up and head towards the closet. After tossing the boots in the corner, he backtracked to the bathroom to heat the shower. It was then he noticed the bite mark.
He truly didn’t know it was there. Not that it would make a difference, the inevitable was going to happen, it just changed the, how. He quickly showered and dressed knowing Dorothea would be waiting. Much to his surprise, she was sitting on the couch when he entered the master suite.
“I...” she stopped him before he could finish.
“No! Me first. “You know I don’t like being lied to, let alone being made a fool. But you showing up here today, at the school no less, with that-” She motioned to his neck. “It’s not acceptable. You said you needed to get away, fine I get it. When I asked, you said there was no one. So, who is she? Do you even know her name? Do I need to be concerned?”
“You’re right. It’s not an excuse, but I honestly didn’t know it was there. When I left it was because I needed to get away. Something happened along the way to change that.”
“Like what, you got horny?”
“For Christ's sake, give me some credit.”
“Your about all out of credits.” Was her curt reply.
This was not the first time they’d had a conversation like this, and his excuses were sometimes quite entertaining. She wouldn’t lie and say it didn’t hurt, because it did. In the beginning, it almost ruined them.
Together since high school, struggling to make a name for himself and the band. Then when they did, it brought along a whole different dimension of struggles. Struggles neither one of them were prepared for. Like every other married couple, they worked through their problems. They had promised to love one another through good times and bad, sickness and in health till death do they part. Then they had children, which seemed to settle things down, establishing more of a home life with schedules, routines and a sense of normalcy.
“When I left here a week ago, it was just as I said it was for a break. With promoting the new album, tour hassles and the bombardment of meetings regarding my disentanglement with the football team, I needed to clear my head.”
“So, you chose Canada?” She folded her arms across her chest. The band had a special bond with Canada, with the Slippery When Wet album, but she always felt there was something more to it than that.
“Again. All coincidence. I shot Romey’s dart gun at the map in my office and that’s where it landed.” Jon sat on the opposite side of the couch. Feet planted on the floor, he leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs.
“I know these past few years haven’t been the greatest, and what we have wouldn’t seem realistic to others. But we need to talk about that.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“We have been through so much over the last twenty years. You have stuck by me when most others would have walked away. You’ve given me a beautiful family.”
“Just get to the point already, Jon.”
“I think that it’s time to see things for what they are. What has worked in the past, well it’s not working anymore. It’s not fair to the kids or to you. I think it’s time we talk about getting divorced.”
Dot slowly untucked her feet from under her and planted them on the floor. With her elbows resting on her knees, she looked up at him.
“Why now? You’ve always done what you wanted, and I have never stopped you. All that I ever asked was you not humiliate me. Now after a week away, to Canada no less, you come home and ask me for a divorce. Well, the answer is no. I’m still not going to stop you, but I’m not giving you a divorce so you can go marry someone else.”
Without looking at him, she stood. “I’m going to take a shower. Please don’t be here when I come out.” Her bare feet padded across the carpet. Pausing as she reached the door, she turned to him “Outta curiosity, just how long have you known this woman?” She didn’t wait for his answer. She just turned and disappeared into the bathroom.
