180 - Lay Down the Law

The bond they shared required no words, not now, not then, no matter how out of control he got. She would allow him to go until he had nothing left. Never faltering, his Zen, always - she served as a very solid center of gravity for him. This time was no different. Standing forehead to forehead, the sounds of their breathing and the voices coming from the other room were the only things between them as he looked into her deep green eyes. 

"Where is he and what the hell is so important that it required me to end my spa treatment to be summoned here like some misbehaving child?” The shriek could be heard very clearly through the thin wooden door.  

 

At the sound of Dorothea's indignant tone, he pulled away. The lines of aggravation from earlier once again settled on his forehead, along with a deeper fury in his eyes. “Jon.” Stopping him, Ariana curled her fingers around his bicep. “Let Paul handle her.”

 

“Let go.” His eyes said all she needed to know.  

 

This was going to happen no matter how hard she tried to stop it. Releasing her hold, the bedroom door flew open, hitting the wall with a bang, sending those on the other side scurrying for the exit, and all she had just accomplished came undone.

 

“You lying, cheating bitch. How long? How fucking long?”

 

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

 

“You and Bobby? How! Fucking! Long!”  

 

Snatching up the remote, Jon angrily smashed down the play button and Josie Johnson’s voice filled the room once again. He watched Dot’s face slip from the angry scowl and go almost white... then slowly it pinkened, then flat out turned red and back into a deeper scowl than when she first entered the room. Turning and facing Jon, her body was totally tense and coiled, as if she were prepared to strike. 

 

“I don’t see where it’s your concern what I do? Last time I checked, you have a new wife to worry about.” She spat the words out like acid.

 

“If you’re out gallivanting with your lover, and with our kids, no less you bet your sweet ass I deserve to know about it.” Jon’s attempt at controlling his anger was long gone.

 

“For fuck’s sake, Jon, the kids don’t know anything. It was a mere coincidence that the paparazzi got that shot with all of us in it. They’re trying to start shit up. Give me a break, like you’re really the one to talk.” she sneered with a note of finality. 

 

“A coincidence, yeah, right? Like me running into him that day on the street after Richie and I crashed there. Tell me something. Did we interrupt one of your late-night booty calls? Were you so horny that morning you couldn’t wait for the elevator to go down before you called him to come over, so you could do the same? Bet you didn’t expect us coming back. Had we been two minutes later and Jake there would have gotten an eyeful of his mother down on her knees.”

 

“Fuck off. You don’t get to belittle me because I happen to find someone who finally makes me happy.”

 

“Oh, that’s right, he didn’t make you happy the first time he had you, so you ran to me or maybe it was the other way around and it was you who didn’t make him happy, that’s why he left. Did he decide he wanted to take you out for another test drive?” Jon was practically growling.

 

“I see now. This isn’t about Bobby and me, it’s about your ego. Whatsamatta, Jon, you afraid he’s more of a man that you’ll ever be?”

Dorothea’s last spat comment snapped Jon’s last thread of control. Letting out an animalistic roar, he took one step forward and the ice in his eyes startled Dorothea. Ari quickly emerged from the other room and jumped between them, her glare aimed at Dorothea.

 

“You vindictive bitch - you go throwing around your demands and accusations while all this time you are doing the same thing. Well, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?”

 

“Aww, isn’t this so sweet, your knocked-up whore coming to your defense.”

 

Jon attempted to inch forward, but was immediately stopped by the palm of his wife’s hand pressed into his chest. 

 

“This whole whore calling is becoming quite redundant, wouldn’t you say, especially coming from one as saintly as yourself?”

 

“Please, like you should talk.”

 

“Oh, I am, and you will stand there and listen to what I have to say.”  

 

Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Ari braced her lower back with her hands. “I’ve had about all that I can with you and your bullshit double standards. Bottom line, you’re no better.” Ari snapped.

 

“Says the one who got knocked up by her married lover."

 

"As I recall, not that long ago, you wore a similar pair of my shoes you think you know so much about."

 

The abrupt opening of the suite’s door stalled their little tete de tete. Standing in the doorway was Carol, with eyes to kill. 

 

“Enough! I can hear the three of you from all the way down the hall. Sit. Now! All of you.”  

 

Carol's motherly tone sent them scampering to find seats like three disobedient children caught doing something they weren't supposed to be doing. Ari and Jon took the couch as Dorothea choose one of the high back armchairs off to the side. They sat silently with their hands tucked neatly in their laps as Carol fixed herself a cup of coffee from the room service cart before taking a seat of her own. 

 

"Would someone care to tell me what in God’s name is going on here? It’s a good thing we have the floor to ourselves and no one can hear you.” Like children, the three began whining, complaining, and blaming each other. "Stop." Carol held up a firm hand. "You’re acting like a bunch of spoiled rotten nincompoops, and since none of you are mature enough to discuss this like adults, you can sit there and listen to what I have to say.”

 

“I have a pretty good idea what this petty nonsense is about.” Carol stood, placing her coffee on the table in front of her and began walking throughout the furniture, her scolding eye watching each and every one of their movements. "This latest incident, though unfortunate, was bound to happen eventually and from what is going on in this room, it is clear to me that you all have lost sight of what's most important. The children. How do you think they are going to feel or are feeling? Do you think they don’t see the tension that emanates when the lot of you are in a room together? No wonder Jacob is the way he is. The poor kid’s probably afraid to say how he really feels because of the wrath that might come with it. And Romeo, innocence is bliss."

 

“Carol, in my defense.”

 

“And what defense would that be, Dorothea? We go back a long time. This is not the behavior I would expect from you. And you,” she turned to her son. “this is not how your father and I raised you to act. Ariana, what can I say to you? Your actions are no better than theirs, but at this moment you seem to be the more leveled one of the bunch. I get that you are only protecting your family, while these two knuckleheads tear into each other, but what would your grandmother think?” 

 

Jon opened his mouth to speak. 

 

“I’m not finished. I’m not saying you all have to like one another, but for the sake of the kids and the integrity of this family, it would do you all some good if you can tone down this vicious attacking. At least till we straighten this mess out. Have either of you thought of that?” The sighing and bowing of a head or two told her they had not. “The children need to be told. If not all the truth, some of it for sure, before they find out from the television or social media. Am I making myself clear?” She settled back and gave her coffee another stir.

 

“Yes.” the three replied in unison.

 

“Good. I will leave you three to figure out what you will tell them.” Looks of confusion looked up at her. “That’s right. You need to present them with a united front on this. I will get the food and bring them back. If you like, I will stay while you tell them.” Carol proceeded to the door, turning back just as she opened it. “On second thought, I will stay when you do. Someone needs to keep an eye on you three.”