97 - Rock The Boat

Any further conversation was cut short as the sound of the boat’s motor dulled and the smaller vessel quickly pulled alongside the large boat. With his elbows perched upon his knees, Jesse linked his fingers together and pressed his chin against his thumbs.

Identical curious blue eyes locked onto one another as both men sat there looking, waiting for the other to speak first. After a long pause, it was Jesse who finally spoke first.

 

“So.”

 

“Jesse, don’t...”

 

“Don’t what, Dad? You're the one that said we could ask you anything, right? That you’d never lie? Well, I’m asking.”

 

Biting on his bottom lip, Jon shook his head, while combing his fingers through his wind-blown hair. He did tell them that. And he meant it, but there was Dorothea. She didn’t want them to know, not just yet. He had about thirty seconds to decide if he would keep his promise to his kids and deal with the wrath of his soon to be ex-wife or respect her wishes and lie to his son. Pushing himself off of the bench he sat on, Jon stood and moved across the aisle to take a seat next to Jesse.

 

Staring at his flip-flopped clad feet, Jon rested his forearms across his thighs. 

 

“Jesse, what I’m about to tell you cannot leave this boat.” He turned back and looked at him, “Understood?”

 

“I won’t tell anyone.”

 

“Not even your sister.”

 

“I got it, Dad.”

 

“Then yes. Ari and I are having a baby.” Jon waited with bated breath for his reaction.

 

“That’s um... great, I guess.”

 

“You okay with that?” Jon asked as they continued to sit in the boat and talk.

 

“Well, to be honest, it’ll be a little bit awkward to have a little brother or sister running around again. Not to... I mean… I haven’t even...”

 

Jon gave him an encouraging smile, “Go ahead, say what you’re thinking.”

 

“We haven’t even met her, and now this.”

 

“Would you like to?” Jon asked point blank.

 

“I’m gonna have to eventually, dontcha think?”

 

“I’d like it to be sooner. If you want it to be.”

 

“Dad, I think the sun has gotten to you. What are you trying to say?”

 

“Jesse, this is between us, remember.”

 

“Yes, Dad. Father, son. Male bonding. Secrets to the grave. I get it. Now quit acting like a loon and tell me.”

 

Jon laughed at his son's choice of words. Leaning back against the wall of the boat, Jon rested his hands on his stomach. “Ariana is here, in St. Bart’s.”

 

“You sonofabitch. How could you?”

 

Startled, they both looked up to see Dorothea standing at the top of the platform looking down at them. Her arms clenched across her chest, she stepped aside so they climbed the ladder to where she stood.

 

“You.” Dorothea pointed to Jesse. Go and find your brothers and keep them far away from here. Do. You. Understand. Me?” Her voice was hard.

 

“Yes, ma’am.” Jesse bowed his head as he walked away.

 

“Don’t!” Jon’s voice was hard as he stared directly at her.

 

“You’re joking, right?” Her hands were ensconced firmly at her hips. “You bring her here,” her foot stamped as she pointed to the floor, “and you’re telling me not to... what...be angry. You have some set of balls, you know that?”

 

Jon stood, facing, so that they were now eye to eye. “That’s right, I brought her here. Did you really expect me to leave her alone after what we just went through? There was no fuckin’ way that was happening. Though I thought about telling you first, but I predicted this would have been your reaction and didn’t want to hear you.”

 

“Oh. My. God.” Dorothea threw her arms up in the air. “You’re such an asshole. What did you expect, I’d welcome her with open arms? This is a family vacation, Jon, or did you forget that?”

 

“This is not a family vacation! This was your idea, remember.” Jon motioned his arms in the air. “If it was up to me, all this would be out in the open already, and we would be spending Christmas at home, where it’s cold, but no, we’re here, in the middle of the water because you can’t or won’t deal with what is going on.”

 

Dorothea clenched her fist with all but her index finger, which was pointed firmly in his face. “Don’t you go blaming me for this shit. This...” her finger now wiggled back and forth between them, “is all you baby. You couldn’t keep your dick in your frigging pants and now we are here suffering for it.”

 

“Ha!” His laugh had a sarcastic undertone. “Nice try. You’ve had a bug up your ass for years now and didn’t care where my dick was, just as long as it wasn’t near you. So, don’t go playing the poor little victim now that you finally got what you wanted years ago.”

 

“Fuck you, you arrogant little prick! Maybe I should have fixed this long ago but excuse me for trying to keep my family together. I’m the selfish one here, right?  At least I didn’t bring my lovers along on family time.”

 

“Keeping the family together, that’s funny. Opposed to what you are doing now, making it harder on them than it already is.” With the back of his hand, Jon wiped away the sweat that was forming on this brow. “You wouldn’t have even known she was here, if you weren’t eavesdropping on my conversation with Jesse.”

 

“For your information, I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was coming to tell you that Jake and Romeo saw a photo of you hanging all over Ariana from London on television and that Jake was pretty upset about it.”

“Why were they watching something like that?”

 

Frustrated with his lack of intelligence sometimes, Dorothea rolled her eyes and shook her head. “They weren’t watching it. The local news caught you shopping today, and they did an entire story on you. I tried to get them out of the room, but it was too late.”

 

“You said Jake was upset, what about Romeo?”

 

“We bribed him with ice cream, and he didn’t stick around.”

 

“Where is Jake now? I’ll go talk to him.”

 

“Steph’s playing video games with him. Don’t you think we need to finish this first?”

 

“This is finished! All of it! I’m calling a family meeting and telling them everything, whether or not you like it. I will not have my kids learning about this or anything else from some cockamamie news reporter.”

 

“Oh, really and what exactly is it you’re planning on telling them?”

 

“All of it. After what happened to Ariana, all because of stress in our lives, I don’t want my kids under that stress. I’m gonna put it all out there. If they want to be mad, they can, if they want to yell, so be it. This hiding and keeping secrets is bullshit, anyway.”

 

“So, you plan on telling him you are having a baby with a woman they have never met?”

 

“No.” He barked. “I plan on telling them about Ariana and that she is here, and I would like for them to meet her. I will leave the part about the baby, for me and Ari to tell them together.”

 

“You do realize it’s Christmas eve?”

 

“And? Your point is.”

 

“Nice Christmas present, dontcha think?”

 

“Don’t go laying the guilt trip again. You just fuckin’ told me Jake was upset, I’m not about to wait till Christmas is over to talk about it. And don’t you worry about your precious ‘let’s have one last family holiday’, Ariana won’t be spending the day with us. She knows just how important it is for me to be with the kids right now. The only reason she’s here is so I can keep an eye on her. She’s been through a lot the last few days, and I wasn’t about to leave her alone. Her best friend is with her, no one knows they are here, except us.”

 

Jon pushed passed her and climbed the stairs that lead to the upper decks. Walking through the narrow hallway that led him past a few quest rooms, then through the formal living area. As he was about to open the door to the media room, he felt Dorothea’s hand on his shoulder.

 

“What?” He snapped.

 

“Are you sure about this?” she asked.

 

“Absolutely! You’re either with me or you’re not.” 

 

He didn’t bother waiting for her answer. He turned the knob and pushed open the door. There they were, his kids. Stephanie was reading a book, Jesse and Jake were in the middle of some video football game and Romeo was coloring. None of them noticed him as he moved closer. Picking up the remote, he shut the game down, which caught their attention.

 

“Hey.” Jake whined at the interruption.

 

“I need to talk to you, come sit down.” Jon said as he took a seat on one of the room's numerous sofas.

 

Stephanie curled her legs to make room for Romeo, who hopped over the back of the couch and into her lap. Jesse took up the empty cushion next to her, while Jake opted to just straddle the arm of the couch. Jon raised himself off his seat a little and reached for the remote control still in Jake’s hand, then tossed it on the empty space next to him. Jon didn’t notice if Dorothea had come into the room with him, and frankly, he didn’t care.  He had four sets of eyes looking at him and waiting. He cleared his throat and began.

 

“You all know that I love you very much, and I would do anything for anyone of you. Well, now I need you to do something for me. I need you to listen to what I’m about to say, I’m not asking you to like it, or agree with it, just to listen and not interrupt. Then when I’m finished, if you have questions, and I’m sure you will, we can go from there. Deal?”

 

Four heads nodded in unison at him. He wasn’t sure if they were afraid to answer, but for once he was grateful for their silence. With a raised eyebrow, he looked at Stephanie and Jesse before he started to speak.

 

“Divorce sucks. For everyone. But what sucks more, is trying to protect the ones you love from it. Not being honest about it doesn’t help either. Sometimes, we think if we hold back from telling you everything, we are protecting you and, we lose focus on what is really important, like your feelings. Having said that, I wasn’t completely honest with any of you. What I haven’t told you is...” Jon took a long breath in and held it for a moment before exhaling. “I’ve met someone. Actually, we’ve been friends for a pretty long time. Now before you go bombarding me with questions, I will say this much, she isn’t the only reason for your mom, and I are getting a divorce. There are other reasons you don’t need to know about. So now...”

 

Before he could finish, Jake shot the first bullet.

 

“Do you love her?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Is she going to live with you?” Another from Jake.

 

“Eventually. She has a business in Canada.”

 

“I saw you on the tee vee kissing her, Daddy.” Romeo chimed.

 

“Yes, I know. That is one of the reasons why I’m telling you all this now. I’ve told you before that what you see or read in the papers isn’t always the truth. People like to talk, and they don’t always know the entire story, or the truth for that matter. If you hear something, whether it be on the television or from your friends. I want you to come to me first.”

 

“What’s her name?” Again, it was Jake asking the questions.

 

“Ariana.”

 

“How does she feel about us?” Stephanie winked at her father.

 

“Can we meet her? Does she like kids? Does. She. Like. Peeeeezza” Romeo raised his hands and shook them emphatically while asking his last question.

 

“C’mere.” Jon pulled his youngest child into his lap and noogied his head. Leave it to Romeo to lighten up the mood. “Yes. Yes. And Yes. Who doesn’t like pizza?”

 

A chorus of, “Montana.” filled the room, followed by a fit of laughter.

 

When they all calmed down, Jake looked at his father, then to the floor and in a small voice asked, “So, when can we meet her?”

 

Jon turned and looked over his shoulder at Dorothea, who was sitting on a bar stool in the back of the room. She just gave a shrug of her shoulders. What choice did she have, when Jon had his mind made up, there was nothing anyone could do to make him change it.

 

“Would you like to meet her today?”  

 

You could have heard a pin drop, as a series of looks scurried around the room.

 

“How?” Jake finally asked.

 

“Well, she is staying on the mainland. If you want, I can call and see if we could take a trip. But only if it’s something you are all in agreement with. This is your decision to make, not mine.”

 

Jon picked Romey up off his lap and plopped him on the couch, then stood, unsticking the orange swim trunks from his legs as he did.

 

“I’m gonna go up top and talk with your mom. You guys think it over. When you’re ready, come find me. Now remember, it is totally up to you. I will accept whatever you decide.”

 

A good fifteen minutes went by, before four very serious looking faces appeared on deck. Jon and Dorothea put down their books and waited. Looking at her siblings for the go ahead, Stephanie began to speak.

 

“After talking it over, we all feel it would be a good idea if we met Ariana. But only if it’s okay with Mom. We don’t want to hurt your feelings by doing this.”

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

Ariana stood at the big bay window that overlooked the private beach and watched the blue waves ripple against the shore. She’d been pacing back and forth since Jon called to tell her that he and the kids were coming over. Once the initial shock wore off, Ari had no time to worry about what she would wear, whatever she decided it had to cover her noticeable baby bump. Choosing to go with something simple and casual, Ariana picked a sleeveless, salmon colored cotton sun dressed.

 

As Cara was preparing to head into town, she told Ari she should just be herself and not to overthink things if it didn’t go smoothly. ‘Try and put yourself in their shoes’ she told her. They are probably just as nervous as you are, meeting their father’s new girlfriend, and although Cara was sure that Jon had raised them to be polite and well mannered, she shouldn’t take it personally if they weren’t.  

 

Ariana looked at her watch once again and wondered what could be taking them so long. Jon had said two-thirty, and it was now two-forty-five. Maybe they changed their minds and decided not to come. Maybe they didn’t want to meet her after all. Pulling her hands through her long, thick curls, Ari twisted them, then tucked them into a knot on top of her head. From the corner of her eye, she saw four children racing down towards the water. She wondered where they came from. Besides the couple two villas’ over, she had seen no one else on the beach.

 

There were two older and two younger children. Three boys and a girl. Could it? Nah! There was no sign of Jon.Inching closer to get a better look, she startled when she felt his hand slip around her waist.

 

“How are my girls today?” He whispered against her neck.

 

“Me and the boy are just fine. A little nervous, though.” She leaned back against his chest.

 

“Don’t be. They’re just kids.”

 

“Easy for you to say. Why are they out there, anyway?”  

 

“I thought it might be easier to let them go play first. I told them I’d go get you and we’d be right out.”

 

Ari turned and faced him, his hands now resting at the small of her back. She softly placed hers atop of his shoulders. “You sure they’re ready for this?”

 

“It was their decision. We had nice talk. I told them you were here and if they wanted, they could meet you, but it was up to them. I would not force them. So, yes they are ready for this.”

 

He brushed her lips softly with his and gently pulled at the knot on top of her head, releasing her chocolate curls.  

 

Shaking them loose, she smiled and said, “I don’t know if I am, but let’s do this.”

 

Jon kicked off his flip-flops at the door and reached for her hand. “There is one more thing I need to mention.”

 

“Oh, great.” She sighed.

 

“Well, two... first, you look extremely sexy in that dress. Got anything on underneath?” He tried lifting the hem, but she grabbed his wrist.

 

“Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like the second part?”  

 

Jon started walking towards the water, “Jesse knows about the baby.”

 

“WHAT!?!?” Was her very shocked, very loud reaction?

 

Before Jon could try and explain, Romeo was calling for Jon and running towards them. Jon gave her hand a squeeze just before she pulled it away.

 

“Daddy.... Daddy... Daddy look...” Romeo came to a halt in front of them, “Oh hey, you’re the preddy lady that daddy was kissing.” He looked up at Ariana, blocking the sun with his arm.

 

“Romeo.” Jon stated.

 

“What Dad?” He shrugged.

 

“Where are your manners?”

 

“I said she was preddy?” The young boy’s facial expression caused Ariana to let out a laugh before squatting down and reaching out a hand towards the boy.

 

“Nice to meet you Romeo, I’m Ariana.” Unprepared for the launched hug that she received, she nearly would have toppled over backwards if it weren’t for Jon behind her.

 

“Romeo! Careful!!” Jon barked out the words more aggressively than he intended to.

 

Romeo stepped back and wrung his hands together with his head low. Looking towards his father with a pouty lip, he nearly whispered, “Sowry Daddy, I just wanted to hug da preddy lady.. I mean Ari... Arianya.. Ariana.”

 

Eyes wide, Ariana looked at Jon as if to say calm down before returning her attention to Romeo. “It’s okay, I don’t break. What do you say you introduce me to your brothers and sister? Think you can do that?”  

 

“Yeah, c’mon.” He pulled on her hand as she stood and straightened herself out.

 

Tugging her by her hand, Romeo lead them closer to the water’s edge to where his brothers and sister were busily tossing around a football. The three stopped when they saw them approaching.

 

“Hey guys, mere.” Romeo called to them.

 

Stephanie was first to walk over and extended her hand she simply introduced herself to Ariana, smiling as she did. Ariana happily accepted her hand and wink when she added it was a pleasure to meet her. Jesse and Jake were not far behind their sister, but unlike with Stephanie, they just stood and waited. There was an awkward pause before Jon spoke.

 

“Jesse. Jake. I’d like you to meet Ariana.  Ariana, these are my other boys.”

 

Once again Ariana extended her hand and Jesse was the first to accept with a friendly hello and nice to meet you. Jake on the other hand was a little standoffish and simply waved and said hi. It was now Ariana’s turn to look at Jon for directions.

 

“Why don’t we sit down and talk.” He motioned to the sand.

 

They all sat down where they stood, except for Romeo. He managed to squeeze in between Jon and Ariana.

 

“Do you guys have questions you want to ask me?” Ariana nervously asked.

 

“Dad said you have a business in Canada, what kind of business?” Jesse spoke.

 

Ah, an easy one, Ariana thought, “Yes. It’s a pub, called Petit Soho. It’s been in my family since I was a little girl.”

 

“Were you born in Canada? Is that where your family lives now?” Stephanie inquired.

 

“No, I was born in California. My mother was Canadian, but I spent my summers there with my grandparents when I was a little girl.” Pausing for a moment, Jon reached around Romeo and stroked her back to comfort her. “My family is... they are all with the angels in heaven now.”

 

“You don’t have brothers or sisters?” It was Romeo’s turn to ask.

 

“No sweetie, I was an only child.”

 

“So, you’re all by yourself?” Sad brown eyes looked up at her.

 

“Well, not exactly. I have a best friend, she is like my sister and I have your dad, they are my family now. And maybe one day you guys could be part of my family.”

 

Jake didn’t try to hide his sarcastic huff or his rolled eyes. As a matter of fact, the whole time his brothers and sister were asking question, he barely lifted his head as he played with the sand. Ariana could see that Jon was about to say something, so she spoke before he could.

 

“I know this is a little awkward at the moment and a little hard to take in. I’d like us all to get along and maybe even be friends someday, but, if anyone can’t or doesn’t want that I’d understand. What I do want you all to know is that, I love your dad very much and if at any time you have questions we will do our best to answer them.”

 

“I’d like to add to that. I love Ariana very much as well and she will be part of this family for a very long time. I’m not asking you to like her, though it would be nice. But I am asking that you respect her like you would anyone else. The way your mother and I taught you. Understood?”

 

A medley of “Yes Dad.” rang out.

 

“Good. Now anymore questions before I let you go swimming?”

 

Romeo’s little hand rose in the air. “I have one.”

 

“Of course, you do.” Jesse laughed.

 

“Do you like peezza?”

 

“What kinda question is that, of course I like pizza. Who doesn’t like pizza?” Ariana poked the little boy in his side.

 

“Montana!” They all shouted, including Jon.

 

“Okay, now go. You can swim for half an hour, then we need to get back.” Jon shooed them. “Steph, keep an eye on them, please.”

 

“Sure thing, Dad.” Stephanie stood and dusted off the sand that stuck to the back of her legs.

 

“Daddy... please come.” Romeo pulled on Jon’s hand. Looking over at Ariana, she motioned with her head for him to go.

 

“I’m fine. Go play with your kids.”

 

Leaning over, he kissed her bare shoulder, “Thanks.”

 

“Ewww. Let’s go, daddy.” Romeo cried out as he ran down the sand and splashed headfirst into the water.

 

It wasn’t too long before Jon was tossing them the towels Ariana had gone back to the house to get for them and telling them for the hundredth time to dry off and get in the car. They all, even Jake, said goodbye and wished Ariana a Merry Christmas, then headed off to the car. Jon and Ariana walked back up the beach and through the house to the front door. Pulling her in close, he pressed his forehead against hers.

 

“I’d say that went well.”

 

“Yeah, it did. Even Jake started coming around in the end.”

 

“Yeah, he has his moments.” Jon said.

 

“Just like his father.” Ariana smiled.

 

Jon slipped his hand under her dress and cupped her ass, “I don’t have moments.”

 

She crossed her eyes. “If you say so.”

 

“I do.” He loosened his grip and gently caressed her bikini-clad bottom. “Mm... What color?”

 

“White.”

 

Jon snarled, then pressed his nose to hers. “I miss you.”

 

“I miss you too.”

 

“I’ll see you tomorrow, sometime.” his fingers walked their way up her back.

 

“Jon, it’s Christmas, spend it with your kids. Cara and I will be fine.”

 

“I will, but I’m coming to see you too.”

 

“We can celebrate when we get home.”  Ariana could feel the start of his arousal as she pressed closer to him. “ You should go before you need to explain to the kids who the captain is.”

 

“I love you.”

 

“I love you too.” Ariana took her pinky and crossed it over her heart and waited while he did the same. Before linking their pinkies, Jon pressed the palm of his free hand over her belly.

 

Opening the door to the villa, Ariana watched Jon walk down the pebbled pathway and climb behind the wheel of his rented red jeep. As he backed out of the driveway, she waved until they were no longer in sight and thought to herself.

 

That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.