36 - Mama Said

Standing at the marble counter waiting for her tea to steep Carol caught sight of the burning red ember coming from the terrace door. Tightening up her bathrobe she picked up her mug and pushed open the door.

"You should really try quitting, Jon."

 

"Yeah, I know, Ma." He dabbed the half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray. "What are you doing up?"

 

"Your father is snoring." She sat her mug on the table and lifted the chair so not to cause any noise. “What’s your excuse?”

 

His bare feet hit the cold tiles as he straddled the lounger he was lying on. Jon stood and reached for the half-empty pack of Marlboro Lights, his water bottle and phone, and went to join his mother at the table.

 

“Can’t sleep.” His fingers flipped the little white box over and over.

 

“Why is that?” She wrapped her fingers around her mug to warm her hand.

 

Jon blew out a slow, disconcerted breath. “I have a lot going on.”

 

Carol placed her hand over his, stopping him from playing with the box. “Does this have to do with your recent trip to Canada?”

 

“It has a lot to do with a number of things.” He nudged open the carton and slid out a cigarette. Tapping it twice on the table, he dangled it between his lips.

 

“Don’t light it.” She was not asking.

 

At forty-seven, she still made him feel like a kid with his hands in the cookie jar. “I won’t.”

 

“Why don’t you tell me what’s got you sitting out here?”

 

He passed a heavy hand through his hair. “Dorothea and I. Lately things haven’t been good. In the past, we always managed to work through our differences, but these last few years have been different.”

 

“Well, I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you, I already noticed. Is that all you want to tell me?”

 

“I saw Ariana while I was in Canada.”

 

“Did you sleep with her?” Carol didn’t hold back. When she wanted to talk or make her opinion known, she did.

 

“Ma.” He held out as long as he could. If he was about to have this conversation with his mother, he needed one of two things, and he wasn’t about to drink at this hour. He reached for his lighter and lit his cigarette.

 

“Jon, I wasn’t born yesterday.”

 

“It’s not what you think.” He stood to retrieve the ashtray from the snack table, then sat back down.

 

“Then tell me, what made you go there in the first place?”

 

“Short version, I went to get away from here. New album, tour, blah... blah, you know the routine. While I was there, I found out that her grandmother had recently passed away unexpectedly.”

 

“Oh, my! How was she?” She questioned.

 

“Better now, but it wasn’t good. No one had heard from her. I thought for sure she would’ve called me. That’s when I started worrying, so I called her. When she finally answered, she was drunk and disoriented. By the time I finally found her, she was passed out in her hotel room.”

 

“Oh my. That poor girl has had her fair share of grief.” 

 

Carol’s heart ached for her. No one should have to go through losing a loved one alone. Having known her father, Sal for his years of service to the Jovi family she was all too familiar with Ariana’s family history. She also knew how much she meant to her son. She watched as their friendship evolved into something much more over the years.

 

“Exactly.”

 

“And is that what’s bringing on this reflection?” she asked as she sipped from her mug.

 

“It’s all I’ve thought about for the past week.” Elbows on the table, he folded his fingers together and locked his thumbs under his chin to blow out a breath.

 

Carol watched her son for a moment. He looked tired. The faint circles under his eyes confirmed that. He was generally good at not letting anybody see him like this, but not tonight. Tonight, his eyes said it all. 

 

He was agonizing over something, and she felt she knew what. As a parent, you always want what’s best for your kids, even if it’s not what you want.

 

“Jon, you are well aware of my feelings about your relationship with Ariana, but if this is what you want, and she makes you happy, then so be it.”

 

“Ma, finding her like I did in that hotel room made me see things in a new light. Ari is who I want to be with.”

 

Her finger traced along the rim of the mug. She was confident this had been weighing on his mind.

 

“Then, I trust you to do what’s best because that’s how I raised you.”

 

“I’m trying too.”

 

“You’ve talked to Dottie about it, I presume.”

 

“Not exactly.”

 

“Jon, you deal with this how you choose, but Dorothea needs to know the truth. All of it.”

 

“I know she does. I tried to explain to her earlier, but she cut me off after I asked for a divorce.”

 

“Ahh. That explains why you’re sitting out here. Son, you’re a smart man but, I hope you understand that this is going to take some time. There is a lot of history here, on both counts. Dorothea isn’t stupid. You going away, only to return asking for a divorce? Well, let’s just say I’m not surprised by her reaction.”

 

“Of course, I didn’t expect it to be easy. What I wasn’t expecting was her quickness to say no.” Jon pushed his chair away from the table and stretched out his legs in front of him.

 

Carol moved the empty mug to the side and leaned across the table. “There is no more you can do about it tonight. What do you say your father and I take the kids back to Jersey tomorrow for a few days? That way, the two of you can discuss this further without the extra distractions.”

 

“As much as I’d hate to do that to them, seeing as I just got back, I think you are right. I need, we need to discuss this. But after breakfast. I promised them I’d make pancakes.”

 

“Sounds like a plan. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed. I think you should do the same. A few hours of sleep will do you good.” cup in hand, Carol stood.

 

“I will in a minute. Goodnight. And Ma….” Jon waited for her to get to the door before reaching for his smokes.

 

“Goodnight Jon.” she called to him.

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

“Dad... Dad.... Dad-deeee. Wake up.”

 

Jon squinted open his right eye, only to find Romey standing over him with a spatula in his hand. “Hey buddy. Whatcha got there?” 

 

“Pancake flipper. Jake said you would make pancakes.”

 

Jon lifted his son up onto his stomach. “I sure did. You wanna help?”

 

“Yeah. Can I flip ‘em?” He waved the spatula, pretending he was flipping a pancake.

 

“We’ll see about that. You can help mix ‘em.” Jon scooped him up as he swung his feet off the couch.

 

After his conversation with his mother, he still could not sleep. So, as not to disturb everyone, he moved into his office to work. He’d apparently fallen asleep on the couch.

 

“Hey Dad.” Jesse walked into the room. “You slept in here?”

 

“Mornin’ Jess. Yeah, couldn’t sleep, so I came in here to do some work. Guess it did the trick ‘cause here I am.” Jon stood. “Whaddya say we go make some pancakes?”

 

“Yippeeeee!” Romey ran out of the room with Jon and Jesse following behind.

 

They made their way to a full kitchen. Stephanie and Jake were setting the table while Carol made coffee. John Sr. stood over the stove, cooking the bacon.

 

“Coming through! Outta my way! I get to make pancakes.” Romeo burst into the kitchen.

 

“Whoa there, young man.” John Sr. turned away from the griddle to slow down the running child. “You shouldn’t run into a kitchen like that. You can get hurt.”

 

“You shouldn’t run in the house at all. Are you trying to get me in trouble with your mother?” Jon said as he walked into the room. “Mornin’ Pop. Ma.” He gave his mother a nod.

 

“Coffee, Jon?” Carol gave him a mug.

 

“Yeah. Thanks.” After taking a sip, he set the cup down. “S'alright Ma, out.” He pointed toward the door. “The guys are taking over the kitchen. Right, boys.”

 

“Go, grandma.” The little boy helped nudge his grandmother out of the way.

 

“Jesse. Jake. You two helping?” Jon asked.

 

An enthusiastic, “Sure,” came from Jake. Jesse’s “I guess so” was less convincing.

 

The kitchen was a little worse for wear by the time breakfast was ready. Three generations of Bongiovi men walked into the Dining room. "Breakfast is served." the youngest announced.

 

The sounds of laughter echoed along the halls of the house as Dorothea walked down the stairs. Seeing her family laughing together at the table brought a small smile to her face. “Smells delicious. Did you make breakfast, Ro?”

 

“Yup. How did you know?” He looked up at his mother.

 

She wiped the smudge of pancake batter off his forehead. "Oh, I don't know. Lucky guess."

 

Dorothea filled the extra mug that was left on the counter with coffee and joined her family at the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught her mother-in-law signaling her husband. “Did I miss something?” She looked at them both.

 

“Nana and Pop Pop are taking us to Jersey with them.” Jake blurted out before either could answer.

 

“Is that so?” She glared at Jon.