It was Thanksgiving eve and, as tradition had it the Bongiovi family, they went skating at Central Park, dinner at Celeste before heading over to The Museum of Natural History to watch the balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade be inflated. His mother and father had started this tradition when he and his brothers were kids. It was only natural when they had their own kids, it continued.
So, his clan, along with Matt's, their mom and pop, Richie, Ava and Mrs. Sambora, the tradition lived on another year. The only thing that would have made this day better would be if Ariana was there to share it with him. She had been so wrapped up in handling things; it made little sense for her to fly in for the day. She promised they would do it together next year with their baby as well. For now, he sat in the back of the black SUV listening to Richie snore so loudly it sounded like he was sawing wood.
When they arrived at the plaza, a small crowd had already gathered. They signed a few autographs and posed for a few photos before heading inside to where Tico and David were waiting.
"What took you so long?" David asked.
"Bite me." Jon answered.
"Oooh, I see grouchetta has joined us this morning." David spoke in an uptight British accent.
"Cut the shit Lema."
How anyone could be so cheerful this early was beyond Jon’s imagination. The only thing he should be doing this hour was sawing logs or getting laid. Both of which he was not doing.
"Mornin' Boss.” Jon was rescued by the sound of Jeanie's voice and the coffee she was carrying. "For you, just like you like it." She handed him the venti sized Starbucks cup filled with piping hot black liquid.
"Have I told you how grateful I am to have you?" He accepted the cup.
"You keep telling me that. Wish you would show me just how much. I recall something about sending me on a vacation." Jeanie gave her boss a hopeful look.
"Nice one, Jeans." Richie high-fived her on his way down the hall toward the makeup room.
Flicking his wrist in a shooing motion, Jon jokingly barked, "Why don't the rest of you clowns go get your make-up, and let me get some work done."
Taking a seat in the director’s chair, Jon pulled the red folder out of his assistant’s’ hand.
"Yes, broom Hilda." David raised his voice to a falsetto, then reverting back to normal, crying out, "Ouch. What's that for?"
"For being an ass. Get moving." Tico biffed David in the back of the head and shoved him down the hallway toward the others.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Jon entered the penthouse just in time to witness the football sail across the room, and as much as he wanted to congratulate Jake on a pretty impressive pass, he knew he had to be a bit fatherly and reprimand him instead.
“Ahem. We do not play ball in the house Jacob.” He said is a semi stern voice.
“Yeah right Dad. You can cut the act Mom’s not home.” His son replied as he tossed his father the ball, adding a little extra spin to it.
“That’s no excuse. You may break something.”
Not following his own words, Jon couldn’t resist and tossed the ball back to Jesse, who stood in the opposite corner of the room.
“I’m tellin’ mom-mee.”
A younger voice called from the top of the stairs, only to stop mid-sentence when Romeo spotted his father standing at the front door.
“Daddy, Daddy.”
“Tattletale.” Jake gave his younger brother a snarled look.
Romey stuck his tongue back at him as he walked past and into his father’s arms.
“Enough. Put the ball away, Jake. Where are your mother and sister?”
“Mother, daughter, pow-wow breakfast. Steph’s been in trouble since she ran away to you the other night.”
“Hmm. I see. How is Mom doing?” Jon looked at Jesse.
“She was really pissed when she found out what Steph did, but other than that she’s okay.”
“We going to see balloons, daddy.?” Romeo jumped onto the couch next to his father.
“Yes, a little later.”
“And pizza.”
“Yes, pizza, but skating first.”
The click of the door had his three sons shouting ‘later’ as they scattered in three different directions. His arm resting on the back of the couch, Jon turned his head and watched as his daughter’s glum look change to a bright smile when she saw him.
“Dad, when did you get here?”
“Not too long ago. Came straight over when we finished. Hello, Dorothea.”
“Hello Jon. Stephanie you need to finish that project or you won’t be going tonight.” Her mother’s tone left no room for argument.
“Yes, mom.” Her monotone reply showed her annoyance as she made her way up the stairs.
Dorothea hung her coat, put away the groceries she had picked up on her outing, poured herself a glass of wine, and then went to join Jon in the living room. Taking the seat opposite him, she stared out into the beautiful city skyline. The clouds were out in abundance but yet the sun still shone through.
The awkward silence was finally broken when she turned to Jon. “I’ve signed the papers and had my attorney add an addendum regarding the houses.”
“S’okay, but it was just the Jersey house, wasn’t it?”
This was not what he had expected to talk about, in fact he was prepared for another fight since they hadn’t really talked about what punishment Stephanie’s latest actions warranted, but this was just as good of a topic to be discussing, so he just went with it.
“It was... it is, still technically. I had them list this resident as a temporary one. I’m still undecided if I want to stay here or not. It’s what the kids are used to at the moment and they will go through enough changes as it is.”
“Dottie, you can stay. I’ve already told you, you will not need to worry about any of that. I will always take care of you and the kids.”
“I know. It’s not that, too many memories. Good and bad and if I’m going to try to get past this, I might need a clean slate.”
“I understand.”
“No Jon, I don’t think you can, because I don’t even understand.”
“I’m....”
“No, don’t. I’m not in the mood for a fight. It is taking all I have to be civil, and that is solely for my kids benefit. They deserve to have the best holiday season and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
“And we will give it to them. You are still coming tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’m assuming everyone will be there?”
“The regular clan as always.”
“And how many of them know what’s going on?”
“Ma and Pop, Matt, Richie and that’s all. Unless Richie said anything to his mom, I’m not sure. Oh, and there is Ava. Has Stephanie mentioned anything to her?”
Sighing, she replied, “So pretty much everyone. Not that I’m aware of, and since her little stunt she had no phone or computer unless it is during school hours. I was not happy with that little incident.”
“Neither was I. And I told her just the same. She shouldn’t be doing stuff like that. Told her I was leaving her punishment up to you and that I would fully support you in whatever it was you decided.”
“Thank you for that. Let’s just say the only thing she is allowed to do is breath.”
“Breathing is a good thing.” Jon smiled.
The pounding of four sets of feet interrupted whatever conversation was going to occur after that. Romeo rushed into the room, nearly crashing into Jon’s legs.
“It’s time to go Daddy.” Tugging on Dorothea’s pant leg, he looked up at her, “Mommy, you comin too?”
“No sweetheart, I can’t come this time, but we’ll all go out soon.”
Little eyes watered and that famous Bongiovi pout went into full gear. Sensing a fit coming on, Jon picked up his son and distracted him. “Hey Little Man, how about after we go out for pizza we stop and get slushes, then off to see the enormous balloons? You remember the big turkey from last year, right?”
Smiling at the memory, Romeo rubbed clenched fists to his eyes and nodded. “Okay, Daddy... lemme down now” With a wiggle and shake, Romeo ran back into the kitchen and could be heard loudly informing his brothers and sister that they were ‘goin to get smushies after pizza’.
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