He had spent most of the day on the phone hammering out the details regarding the press release, about the divorce and his relationship with Ariana. With a plan in place, one which he was more than comfortable with, Jon had hung up with his publicist and began calling the long list of people who needed to be apprised of what was about to happen.
Starting first with his parents, he had worked his way through the rest of his family and friends who needed to know. Jeanie and his bandmates were next. Since they were aware of what was happening, his call was more of a heads-upfor what was about to take place. Next on his list, his band manager, and tour manager asking them to send out an email to all those who were contracted for the next eighteen months reminding them of the confidentiality and NDA agreements they had signed.
Emerging from his office carrying his empty coffee mug and crumb speckled plate, Jon padded through the living room on his way to the kitchen, stopping for a moment to glance at the family photos that lined the antiqued credenza.
Once in the kitchen, he placed his dishes in the sink and smiled at Lidia, who was putting the finishing touches on dinner. When Dorothea agreed to bringing the kids out to him so they could talk to them, he had Lidia prepare all their favorites, even down to the desserts. Who cared if it was a school night, tonight was going to be tough enough. Who needed vegetables and grilled chicken to go with it?
Tonight, there was a smorgasbord of all their favorites that was usually only served for parties or special occasions. For Stephanie, there were mini fried egg roll looking things, sliders with all the trimmings for Jesse, Jake’s famous “hot” wings and for Romey, what else, mini pizzas, of course.
Lidia started working for them when Romeo was a baby. To get to know the kids better, she spent one day with each of them before officially accepting the job. The children got to decide what they wanted to do for the day and then helped her prepare their favorite dish. Naturally those foods had changed over the years, but when it was someone’s birthday, graduation or they need a special pick-me-up, Lidia stepped into the rescue.
Jon sat down with Lidia when he and Ariana came back from London and informed her of some things that were about to happen. She was sad and expressed her feelings. Then asked if he would still need her services. He ensured her he absolutely needed and wanted her to stay on.
The sound of the doorbell chiming and feet pounding against the wood floor had Jon walking towards the archway.
“Daddy... daddy.” Romeo leapt into his father’s arms.
“Easy does it buddy.” Jon caught his son. “You don’t want to hurt your old man now, do you?”
“Silly, daddy. You're not old, pop pop's old.”
Wiggling free from his father’s arms, he headed straight for the assortment of food Lidia was setting out on the counter. Jake came in next, followed by Jesse. Both boys high-fived their father as they shouted to Romeo to save some food for them. Stephanie was not far behind, her blue eyes and smile not as bright as usual.
Walking right over to him, she pulled him in for a tight hug and a kiss on his cheek.
“Hey, Dad. How are you doing?”
“Better now, princess. How are you?”
“Liar.” She whispered in his ear. “Same as you.”
Her annoyed look as she pulled away when she heard her mother’s clicking heels come to a stop didn’t go unnoticed by him. It matched Dorothea’s who stood in the archway.
“Jon.”
“Dorothea.”
He stepped aside and let her walk by him and over to the kids who were already perched up on the stools. Lidia poured them both a glass of wine, explaining that she had prepared something else for them to eat, and it was in the warmer when they were ready. Then she excused herself for the night.
Making their plates, they went to sit at the table in the corner, leaving the kids to eat up at the island. Pulling out her chair so she could sit first, Jon then slid into his own chair. Their dinner conversation comprised small chitter chatter about routine, mundane stuff at first, until Jon eventually brought up the matter at hand.
“So, you're still okay with what we discussed earlier?" He pushed his plate aside, wrapping his hand around the globe of his glass.
“We don’t really have a choice, do we?”
“I think it’s best we do it now.”
“If you say so.” Dorothea drained her glass.
Reaching for the bottle on the table to refill her glass, she held her hand over the top stopping him. Topping off his glass instead, he glanced over at his kids, who were smiling and laughing while enjoying the mini cupcakes and brownies that were made for them.
Readjusting himself to face more towards the whole table, he called to them. “Hey kids. Bring your desserts over here, your mom and I have something to discuss with you.”
Stephanie and Jesse looked at each other, communicating silently before herding the smaller kids over to the dining room table. Taking a seat on either side of them, they nodded at their parents.
Jon looked across the table at his kids staring back at him, pushing down the lump that had formed in his throat as he began.
“You know how much your mother and I love you and only want what is best.” he watched his kids intently as they all nodded. “But sometimes, in order to do that, we have to make important and sometimes difficult decisions. And even if things change, we will always love you very much.”
“What’s goin’ on?” Jake asked suspiciously.
“Your father and I are getting a divorce.” Dorothea calmly stated.
“What’s a divorce?” Romeo inquired, with one eyebrow raised, looking just like his father.
“It’s when two people who are married, don’t want to be married anymore.” Jon said, as he folded his arms on the table.
“This is all your fault, isn’t it?” Jake glared at his father.
“It’s no one’s fault, Jake. These things happen sometimes.”
“Your father is right, Jake. Sometimes people don’t love each other for as long as they thought they would.”
“Did you stop loving us too?” Romeo questioned.
Jake made a face at his little brother. “No peckerhead. It’s not that kind of love. They have to love us we are their kids.”
“Jake, watch your mouth.” his father sternly stated.
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Enough!” Jon snapped. “If you have something to say, now's the time.”
Dorothea gently touched Jon’s arm, startling him at first. They hadn’t physically touched in a long time. Turning to look at her, her face held an expression he hadn’t seen in a while. It was one she gave him when his temper was rising. One that meant he should take a few deep breaths before opening his mouth. Seeing the fire still in his eyes, Dorothea took it upon herself to try to defuse the spark that was about to ignite.
“Is there something you would like to ask us, Jake? It’s okay. We will answer whatever questions you have.”
“No.”
There was a hefty pause between the six of them, and Stephanie could see both her parents fumbling for what to do next. Deciding to help them move the conversation along, she spoke up.
“So, we will live with you most of the time, but be able to see Dad whenever we want?”
“Yes. When his schedule permits it.”
“I’ll do my best to always have time for my kids, Dorothea. My schedule can always work around you guys.”
“Daddy, where will you live?” Romeo asked.
“I will live here in Jersey.”
“Can I live in Jersey too?”
“No, buddy, you need to stay with your mom for now. Daddy’s gotta go to work in a few months.”
A sarcastic hmph came from Jake. “Daddy’s always at work. Why can’t you stay home like Mark’s dad? You don’t like us enough to see us.”
This statement caused a klaxon-like wale to emit forth from Romeo, whose eyes welled up and spilled over. “I... I thought Daddy loved us. Why can’t he stay home now? I WANNA LIVE WITH DADDY!”
Reaching for the crying child, Jon pulled him into his lap before he contended with his other overly boisterous son.
“Jake, that is not true, and you know it. I love you all so much and living the way we have been, giving you false hope that we were one big happy family, wasn’t right. Therefore, we decided this was the best decision for all of us.”
“Your father and I have made this decision together and doing what will be best for your future. It will be rough going at first, but we will work together to keep things as normal as possible. Why don’t the little ones head up to bed, we’ll be up to tuck you in soon.”
“We can sleep here tonight?” Romeo asked.
“Yes, you can.” Jon tousled his hair.
“Mon Jake, race you upstairs.” Romeo hopped off his father’s lap and bee lined it down the hallway.
“Go on, Jake. We need to talk to your brother and sister for a minute.” Dorothea addressed her stubborn son.
She waited until she heard his footsteps on the stairs before turning to her two eldest children.
“Thank you both for not making that harder than it was. It will not be easy on them, or anyone of us for that matter. I am counting on the two of you to be there for your brothers, especially Jake. Romeo is still too young to completely understand what is going on, but Jake looks like he might have a hard time with this.”
“He’ll get over it.” Jesse retorted.
“Your mother is right. This is going to be hard on them, not being able to understand completely. We’re going to need your help with them.”
Pushing her chair back from the table, Stephanie stood, and the others followed her lead.
“They’ll be okay.” She hugged her mother first. “Goodnight Mom, I’ll make sure they get ready for bed.”
“Thank you. Goodnight, you two.” Dorothea hugged them both again.
“I’ll be up in a little bit.” Jon called after them.
Clearing some dishes off the table, Jon walked over to the sink. “Can I get you something, more wine, coffee?”
“No. I need to be going.”
“Just one drink, Dorothea. We still need to discuss some things.”
She carried the rest of the dishes over to him and started putting the food into plastic containers.
“There is nothing left to talk about. The kids and I will leave tomorrow afternoon as planned. Is the press conference still scheduled for tomorrow?”
“Yes. As soon as you’re in the air. All the arrangements once you land have been made too. There will be a car waiting to take you to the port and a boat waiting to take you to the yacht. I will fly out in a few days.”
“That’s fine.” Dorothea slipped into her coat and took her keys from her pocket.
“I’ll walk you out.”
Jon dried his hands and tossed the towel on the counter. Following her down the hall to the door. Holding it open, he watched as she walked to her car, pausing before getting in. She looked over the hood at him.
“And Jon, don’t be too hard on Jake. He might need some time with this, try to keep calm.”
“S’alright. I can handle the mini-me."
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