178 - Déjà Vu

The Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s in Paddington, west London, was a private maternity facility and boasted every conceivable amenity fit for a princess and had. Not that she was one, she was just there for her weekly check-up. Once a week since they arrived in London, they made the trek to the facility so Dr. Cummings could check on her and the baby. Then it’s off to the conference room for a conference call with Dr. Barnes and Dr. Laurent. Like visits of the past, she and Jon would arrive an hour before the doctor, to have her blood drawn, urine collected and have her blood pressure monitored for a short time and, like always, everything had been fine. Now, as they waited for Dr. Cummings, Ariana laid back on the examination table and tried her best to breathe steadily and relax.  

 

“You okay?” Jon asked. He had noticed she was a little out of sorts, but he just chalked it up to having been tired because of the late night they had had. 

 

“Um-huh.” She stared at the ceiling, her fingers nervously tapping the paper under her.

 

“Crash?”

 

“Jon?” she mimicked his long drawl of her name.

 

Lifting his ass off the chair, he dragged it along behind him and scooted closer to the table and her side. “Talk to me.” He entwined his fingers with hers.

 

“Did you hear what that nurse said?”

 

“Yeah, everything looked good?”

 

“Thirty-five weeks. Can you believe it? We were here for your BBC show when I had just found out I was pregnant and scared to death.”

 

“And now?”

 

“Besides the few scares and the nightmares, I really haven’t thought about it till now.”  

 

She started nibbling the side of her thumb on her free hand. A sure tell sign she was worried.  

 

“So, talk to me. I can’t help if you don’t. Is it the delivery, something happening or if you will be a wonderful mother? Cause let me tell you something, you will be an amazing mother. I see how you are with my brood and you have that mama bear's instinct that no one will cross.”

 

“It’s a little of all of them. Being with your kids is easy. They are pretty much self-sufficient. What do I know about two a.m. feedings and changing a diaper.”

 

“We can get someone for that.” Rolling her head to the side, she gave him the death stare. “S’alright. I can show you.”

 

“You’ve changed diapers before?”

 

“I’ve done a few in my day, thank you very much.”

 

Their little chat was interrupted when Dr. Cummings knocked on the door. Glancing over at her computer one last time, she set it down to wash her hands.  “

 

“Everything seems to be good. Blood and urine are okay. Your blood pressure has leveled nicely. Let’s have a looksee and I’ll send you on your way.”

 

“We don’t have to stay for the conference call?” Ari asked as she lifted her shirt.

 

“Dr. Laurent was called into an emergency delivery. I will just forward my notes to them.”

 

Jon could feel some of her tension slip away from how she was holding his hand now. As Dr. Cummings squirted some gel over her stomach, their eyes both went immediately to the monitor.

 

“There she is.”  

 

Moving the doppler to get a better image, she pressed a few buttons and continued moving. When she had all she needed, she set the instrument back in its holder.  

 

“She looks really good. Still on track for the eighteenth, though you know that could change.” Pushing the machine into the corner, Dr. Cummings reached for the glove box hanging on the wall. “Now, for the uncomfortable part, sorry. Jon, are you staying?”

 

“I’m staying.”  

 

Ariana really didn’t care if he stayed or went but was happy he stayed. All of this was new to her, and she held her breath as Dr. Cummings talked her through what she was doing.

 

“Okay. First, I’m going to swab you for Step B. Remember we talked about that.” Ari nodded and braced herself for…. nothing. She barely felt a thing. Waiting as the doctor took care of what she needed to with the culture, she felt Jon’s lips caress her knuckles. “Now, this is where you may feel some pressure.”

 

Clenching his hand in anticipation of what was coming next, Jon decided to try to distract her. 

“Nothing like the pressure you felt last night, Crash.” 

 

“Jerk.” 

 

Dr. Cummings dipped her head to hide her smile. “You are one centimeter dilated and just about twenty-five percent effaced. The baby’s head is in the down position, which is where we want her to be.”

 

“Is that normal?” Ari opened her eyes at the snapping of her gloves.

 

“Yes. From here on out, you will need to be checked once a week. Either by myself or one of your other doctors, depending where you are. I want you to pay close attention to any contraction like pain and pay attention to your toilet trips from now on.”

 

“Oh, that’s just a lovely image.” His lips puckered like a child who didn’t want to eat his broccoli. “Can we please not talk about mucus plugs before lunch?”

 

Rolling her eyes, Ariana pushed up on her elbows. “Gotcha. Anything else?”

 

“No, we are done here. I should have that culture back in a few days.”

 

“Thank you, Nicole.”

 

“You’re welcome. See you later.” She slipped out the door so that Ari could get dressed.

 

Moving between her legs, Jon took her hands in his and pulled her up. “See, that wasn’t so bad now, was it?”

 

“Says you, she didn’t have her fingers all up in your junk.” Tossing her bag over her shoulder, Ari opened the door and proceeded down the corridor.  

 

“Thank God!” Jon called out after her.

 

Cliff was waiting inside the lobby when they exited the elevator.

 

“Everything okay?” Jon asked.

 

“There are a few photographers outside. Someone must have leaked you were here. The car is right out front with the driver waiting to open the door. I just wanted to give you a head up.”

 

Jon didn’t hold back his disgusted groan. He needed to place a call to Ken to see if he knew what was going on. There had been a little more press around than usual. As Cliff took his position in front of Ari, Jon stood behind her with his hand planted firmly at the small of her back.  

 

“Ready?” Cliff asked.

 

The minute the door opened, the flashbulbs began as well as the calling of their names from every direction. As Cliff waited for them to get settled, the driver quickly rounded the car. Once they were all in, they sped away down the street.  

 

“Are we still going to the restaurant?” 

 

“Have you given Matt a heads up?”

 

“He is aware.”

 

“Then lunch it is. With just one slight change. I’m changing the restaurant, just to be on the safe side. Texting it to Matt now.”  

 

“Smart move. Where to, boss?”

 

“Waxy O’Connor’s.”

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

Anything and everything goes on in the world of rock and roll, but the one thing we knew for sure is that International Rockstar Jon Bon Jovi is the exception to the rule. That was until his sudden divorce from his high school sweetheart and a quick marriage shortly after.  

 

Ariana Moretti, now Mrs. Bongiovi, the second is expecting the couple's first child and the rocker’s fifth and why most believe the reason for the marriage. Though the couple claims they only dated briefly before marrying, we have it from a reliable source that isn’t the case.  

 

The current Mrs. Bongiovi comes from a family of roadies. Her father, Salvatore Moretti, ranked as of the best in the business, winning many awards. He worked his entire career for T.E.L. Productions before his death in 1996 and worked exclusively for Bon Jovi whenever they went out on tour. It is said this is when the couple first met back in 1984, which coincidentally was Ms. Moretti’s first job with the same company, and may have been the start of an off and on romance throughout the years.

 

And if that wasn’t enough to shake, rattle and roll you, it’s clear the ex-Mrs. Bongiovi has a few skeletons of her own hiding in her designer closet. She’s been seen getting friendly with this man around Manhattan lately. As recently as last week outside Sal’s in Soho with her kids in tow. The man is none other than Bobby De Luca, Ms. Hurley's first high school boyfriend. Story has it, Mr. De Luca left to join the Army without saying goodbye and that’s when the inspiring rockstar wanna be jumped in. Wonder if Mr. Bon Jovi knew what was going on when he ran into Mr. De Luca outside his posh Soho apartment.