After speaking with Ari, Jon did exactly what he said he would do. He called Richie and explained what was going on with Ariana, telling him about filing for a long-overdue divorce from Dorothea. When Jon asked if he wanted to come to Jersey a few days earlier than planned, his friend didn’t hesitate. In fact, he even offered to call Tico and Lema and invited them to join too.
Their schedule over the next couple of weeks was hectic, and his current marital situation was bound to cause some additional extra stress. Having his bandmates around would help keep his mentality even keeled. His only ask was that Richie not mention any of this to them. Jon wanted to be the one to catch them up to speed.
For now, the only thing he wanted was to survive the Saturday afternoon traffic out of the city to New Jersey.
Mid-October in New Jersey wasn’t as dreadful as the summer, but it still had its fair share of weekend visitors. The local farms and orchards that had beach goers stopping on their way home for vined tomatoes and fresh corn were now setup and decorated with corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkin picking. It was a fun way to spend an autumn afternoon, maybe he would take the kids after he picked them up.
Aside from the usual Holland Tunnel congestion, the traffic moved along I-78 onto I-95, and once he reached the Garden State Parkway, he cranked the radio up and rolled down the windows.
He had done this ride a million times; he could do it with his eyes closed. Approaching the top of the Driscoll Bridge, he activated the car's Bluetooth from the steering wheel. “Call Mom.”
The ringing replaced the music and then by the sound of his mother’s voice.
“Hello.”
“Hey Ma.”
"Jonny. Where are you? I can barely hear you." The sound of the wind muffled his voice.
"I'm driving. Hang on.” pushing another button, he closed the windows. “Is that better?"
"Yes. Where are you off to now?" Carol sounded a little perturbed. The reason for her taking the kids in the first place was so that he and Dorothea could discuss their future, whatever the outcomes.
"Your house. I'm just passing Exit 124. I should be there in fifteen minutes.
"Then hang up. I don't want you talking on the phone while you're driving. I’ll see you when you get here."
"S'alright. Do you need anything?"
"No. Now hang up."
Obeying his mother’s request, he disconnected the phone. By doing so, the sound of Nickelback singing about loving someone for so long started playing again.
For him, it was Ariana Liliane Moretti.
After all these years they would finally get to be together, he would make sure of that.
Veering right, he followed the sign for Exit 117, home of Keansburg Amusement Park, Sandy Hook, and the Atlantic Highlands, all very popular during the summer. Slowing down through the toll booth, he merged right following the signs for Route 35. A few lefts and a right and he was pulling into the driveway of the last house of the cul-de-sac.
Shutting-off the ignition, he draped his arms over the steering wheel, taking a minute to gather his thoughts. He knew the minute he walked through that door, the kids would question why he was there. He’d simply tell them he was meeting their uncles to rehearse for the tour announcement show at the new stadium.
Exiting the car, Jon followed the flower-lined path into the backyard and up onto the deck. He slid open the Arcadia door and was about to step into his mother's kitchen when he heard her call out. "Wipe your feet."
He retracted his foot and scraped both feet over the pumpkin and cornucopia doormat.
"Will you hurry and shut the door you’re letting the heat out. " Carol asked as she walked into the kitchen to greet her son.
"Anything else, Ma?"
"Don't get smart, I'm still your mother." She waved a finger at him.
He kissed her cheek, "Uh Huh." Hanging his coat over the chair he walked over to the stove. "Where are the kids?"
"The younger boys are in the basement, Stephanie is upstairs and Jesse is watching football with your father.” She picked up his coat and hung it on the hook.
"Smells good. What are we having?" He lifted the lid off the pot.
"Bolognese," she slapped his hand. "Get out of there." Taking the wooden spoon from him, she gave the sauce a quick stir.
Opening the refrigerator door, he reached for a beer. "I'm gonna go watch TV with Pop and Jesse.”
"Jon, are you okay?" His mother asked before he left the room.
"I will be." He answered.
Jon enjoyed the rest of his afternoon watching the games with his dad and Jesse, and after dinner, they went in the yard and played a game of their own. Him, Romey and Jake against Jesse and Steph. It was just what he needed. He loved his kids more than life itself, and the next few months would be difficult, and he would do whatever it took to make it easier for them. When they begged him to stay up later than usual, he let them.
It had been quite some time since Jon went upstairs to tuck the boys in, so Carol went to check on him. She found him asleep, one foot hanging off the edge of the bed and Romeo asleep on his chest. She hated to wake him up. He looked so tired lately but leaving him there with his sensitive back would not be fun later on. Lifting the little boy off his father, she moved him to the other side of the bed, pulling the covers over the little one. Jon woke as she did so "How long have I been sleeping?"
"Not long. Why don't you go downstairs, I've made a fresh pot of coffee?”
He swung his other leg off the bed for support before trying to stand. "You sure?"
"Yes, go, I’ll get him settled."
"Okay, I'll see you downstairs." At the door, Jon turned around and said, "Ma?" Carol looked up at him when she saw the pain and sadness radiating from his icy blue eyes. She sighed with empathy and said, "I know, I know."
Jon made his way downstairs and into the kitchen, where he found his father sitting at the table. "Come sit down, son." John Sr. patted the empty chair.
Filling his mug, he took it to the table and sat down. His hand wrapped around it as he lifted the mug, sniffing before taking a sip. He savored the hot liquid. "I'm guessing Mom's told you."
"She has. How are you holding up?" He knew his son well enough to know he was beating himself up.
"Hanging in. I love her, Dad. Have for a long time."
"I have no doubt that you do." Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned back against his chair. "Did you talk things out with Dorothea?"
"Yes. That's one reason I'm here." he took a sip. "She kicked me out."
"Is that all?" he asked.
"Not exactly. She's requested a couple of things, but I need to talk to the lawyers first. One thing we agreed on, is not telling the kids until after the holidays." Jon said, as he placed his empty mug in the sink.
"I agree." Carol spoke as she entered the kitchen.
"As do I." John Sr. replied.
"Are you driving back to the city tonight? His mother asked him.
"No. Richie is flying in on the red eye. He will be here in the morning."
"Do you want to stay here?"
"Nah. I'll go to the house." He slipped into his coat. "Thank you for dinner and for watching the kids." He gave his mother a hug and shook his father’s hand.
"Goodnight, son."
"Goodnight, Jon." Carol kissed his cheek before he opened the door.
"Night. Thanks again."
Jon got into his car and drove away, thinking about the past forty-eight hours and how he was feeling. Never one to sit back and have people tell him what he could and couldn't do, why should he start now? He knew he wasn't the only one at fault here, so why should he be punished for it? Dorothea wasn't a saint either, she may not have had an affair for as long, but she's had done her fair share of messing around.
Was it right on either part, no, but it worked for them. Now that he finally wanted out, she was throwing around demands. Resolving that he couldn't wait till Monday, he made the decision that he would call his lawyer when he got back to the house... Who cares what time it was, for what he was paying him, he should be available. Pressing down on the gas pedal, Jon followed the familiar streets towards home.
No comments:
Post a Comment