She rolled onto her back, smiling, one arm thrown across her face. It had to be somewhere around nine, and she wondered why Jon hadn’t called yet. Feeling for her phone, she sat up suddenly when she saw the time, two twenty. Had she really slept for twelve hours? She quickly skimmed over the many text messages she had from Jon...
[4:15am] Jon: Home
[4:30am] Jon: Can’t sleep. miss you.
[4:45am] Jon: Going to work out
[9:30am] Jon: Are you up yet?
[10:30am] Jon: Where are you?
[10:43am] Jon: Hope everything’s okay. Call me
[11:00am] Jon: Smile crash, we made the news again....
Her eyes were drawn to the photo attached to last one. It was of them at the airport. Jon had a devilish grin as he played with her scarf that laid just above the vee in her sweater as she rolled her eyes up at him.
That Bitch!
She knew who exactly who was responsible for leaking them. That worthless reporter who took photos of them in London. She had a feeling that that woman was going to be a thorn in their side for a long time.
Groaning as her feet hit the floor, her thigh muscles painfully contracted. Ari stood up fully, rolling her shoulders back gently, then stretched her arms gingerly out in front of her before raising them above over her head. Their acts from the night before, no doubt, having to do with her particular aches.
After a quick visit to the bathroom, she twisted her hair into a loose bun and headed for the kitchen, calling Jon along the way. The call barely connected when she heard his frantic voice.
“Where were you? Did you get any of my messages? Are....”
“Slow down Jon...” she cut him off. “I was sleeping. My body must have needed the rest. So tell me what’s going on.”
“Photogs must have been watching me. Us. There are more photos of us leaving the doctors, dinner and at the airport all over the news.”
“I saw the one you sent me. Do they know why we were there?” Ari asked nervously.
“No. The did mentioned something about the different businesses in the building, but don’t think they figured it out.... yet.”
Ari heard his frustration along with the slight intake, then exhaling of air. She could envision him pacing back and forth with a cigarette in his hand. With the tour about to start, the last thing he needed was to be smoking like a chimney. It wouldn’t be good for his voice.
This is the side of him he lets no one see. He’d puts up this big important CEO, I can handle anything and then some. But deep down, when it came to things, he had no control over, it would eat him, and there was a handful of people he’d let see him like that.
“Have you spoken to Ken yet?”
“He thinks I should make another statement. Then there’s Dorothea, breathing down my neck to fix this.”
Ari heard the strike of the lighter. “Jon, stop smoking, it’s not helping. What exactly does Ken want you to say? And well, Dorothea, does it surprise you?”
“Ari, they know who you are. They know your name, about Sal and Hélène, Lili’s death. It’s only a matter of time before they find out everything. Ken feels if we bring it out in the open, they will back down. As for Dorothea, well, I don’t think she will ever be happy. She says it has to do with the kids, but I’m not falling for it. Just last week she seemed like she was finally getting used to the situation."
“I see.” She laid her hand across her midsection and thought for a moment. “What do you want to do? I will support whatever it is.”
“I want to tell them it’s none of their fuckin’ business. I want the world to know I’m madly in love with you. I want to tell my kids all about you, us, their new sister or brother. I want to stop sneaking around. I want Dorothea off my fuckin’ back!”
Ariana stayed silent until she knew he was finished. “Alrighty, then. Let’s start with the most important one first, the kids. When did you plan on talking with them and is Dorothea aware of this?”
“Today! Tomorrow! Who cares what she knows, she just wants it fixed.”
“I think it would be best if you both explained it to them together. Let them see somewhat of a mutual agreement to the situation. Then, once you've done that, you can go to the press.”
“I agree.”
“And the press?” She asked.
“Ken feels we need to come clean. It’s the only way they will stop digging.”
“Just how clean are we talking about?” Her concerned tone faulted a bit.
“As squeaky as we can be, without giving them every detail. How do you feel about that?”
Jon was concerned about how she would handle the ramifications of making a statement like this. There was no doubt in his mind that they would watch her every move, and then some. Not to mention that nosy ass reporter. They would have to be careful about going to the doctors. That was the one thing he was sure he wanted to wait on.
Ari stared out into the yard, just breathing in and out for a few seconds while she got her thoughts in order. How would she feel about everything being out in the open? Could she deal with the constant hassle from the reporters? What would tomorrow bring for them once it was out? None of the answers to these questions were immediately obvious to her. The one most important thing was that she wanted the same thing Jon did. She wanted the world to know how much she loved him.
“Having never been through this before, I can’t answer that honestly. So, I say do it, tell ‘em and whatever comes of it, we will face it together.”
“Are you sure.” Her answer surprised him.
“Yeah!” she replied matter-of-factly. “I love you Jonny, this being apart, and hiding is getting old.”
“If I was there right now, I would just...”
“Stop. Right. There.”
“You gonna sing me some Meatloaf now?” he laughed. “It’s a little late for that tune honey, you already gave it up a long time ago.”
“True, but I made you work for it.” she teased.
“Tell me about it.”
“Oh, please. Not like you sat around waiting for it, you had plenty keeping you busy.”
“None of those could fill the void.”
“Always the sweet talker, aren’t you?”
“Only for you.”
“Okay, I’ve heard enough. I need to get my fat ass dressed and downstairs to check on things and you, my little charmer, have some business to take care of.”
“Fine ass, not fat. S’alright. Call ya later.”
“Kay’s. Ciao for now.”
Simultaneously, their lines clicked silent, and they each went about handling the things that needed to get done.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Ariana had one more thing to do before she went to check in with Luc and Max. Grabbing the neatly folded blanket from the back of the chair, she stepped into her boots and headed outside. There was a fresh coating of snow from the previous night, but someone had already shoveled the steps and the pathway.
As her boots crunched against the additional layer of soft powder that covered the days of Montreal winters, Ari gingerly walked over to the tree to Lili. Dusting off their chair, she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. Bundled up warm and tight, she took her usual seat.
Afternoon Mamy, sorry I’m late today, but I slept in. Yes, I know you’re not surprised. I do love to sleep. But lately I haven’t had much, and I guess my body finally shut down and let me. Or maybe it was this little guy telling me I needed to rest. Anyway, it felt good.
Let’s see, Jon went home, that’s another reason I wasn’t around, but you knew that. I saw him come out here to sit with you. Oh Mamy, I love him so much. Did you love Papa this much? Do you think my mother and father loved each other like this? I never knew you could love someone so much that it made you ache.
Things are about to get a little crazy for us, and I hope I have the strength to handle it. Yes... yes, I know. The good Lord only gives us that of which we can handle, but he’s been throwing a lot at me lately. One can only handle so much. Jon too, for that matter.
Jon will tell his two youngest, he and his wife are getting a divorce, and about us. They are still so young; I hope they understand it had nothing to do with them. On top of that, the press has been snooping around again. They figured out who I was and about you and my parents. It is driving Jon nuts. You know how protective he is of his loved ones, but he feels if we tell them ourselves, they will leave us alone. I’m not too sure about that, but I support him in his decision. Besides, it’s only a matter of time before I’m showing and then we will have that too to deal with.
How about some happy news...? I had another ultrasound. The baby is the size of a pea. Everything seems to be going well with the pregnancy. The morning sickness has stopped, thank God. I seem to be eating a little more. And yes, I’m trying to be healthy. I have Jon, Max and Cara making sure of it. It’s still early to know what I am having, but I’m sure it’s a boy. Jon, on the other hand, feels it’s a girl. I will be happy with either. Can you believe it? I’m having a baby! Me, of all people, who for all these years was so afraid to even let myself think about having one.... I still am kinda. But for different reasons now.
Oh, how I wish you were here. For my baby, to know your love. for me, to help me through this. I hope I can be half the mother you were to me. Then I know he would grow up to be a decent man. I know you are all up there watching over me and will guide me through all of this; I see you in the stars every night.
Okay, Mamy, I gotta go before the search party comes looking for me. Kiss everyone for me. I love you all.
Ari wiped the tears away with the blanket fisted in her hands and rested her head back against the chair to gain her composure before heading inside. Closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths, in through her mouth and out through her nose.
“Hey Ariana, come inside. You’ll catch a cold.” Luc called from the backdoor of the kitchen.
Ariana looked up into the sky as she felt the light snowflakes against her chilled nose. Smiling, she stood and blew a kiss to the sky.
“Thank you.” She whispered.
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