181 - Catch My Breath

No sooner had the door snapped shut, Ari sprung to her feet, dismissing the wave of dizziness, and began frantically futzing around the room. What was she thinking, telling Jon that she was okay with having the whole truth out in the open? Nuts!!! That’s what she is. Saying it was a good idea to tell and actually telling them… them being the four little people who are now her step-children. The ones who seemed to finally have accepted her and their father’s relationship, as well as feel comfortable having her around. But this, this right here, was about to get as real as real can get. Clutching the pronounced swell of her stomach with one hand, her other one moved rapidly in front of her face as she struggled to catch her breath.

 

"Ari!" Jon shouted, jumping from his seat, steading her just as she sank back against the arm of the loveseat. Her olive skin was pale and clammy. "Are you okay? Is it the baby?” she shook her head no between gasps. “Contractions? Your heart. That’s it. I’m calling Dr. Cummings.”

 

“Nnn…. Nna... No.” was all she could manage while trying to catch her breath. 

 

“Yes.” he barked, trying to dig his phone from his pocket and keep her steady.

 

“She’s hyperventilating, you ass.”  

 

Dorothea came from the other side of the chair, holding what looked to be a paper bag from the hotel’s gift shop or something. 

 

“Here.” she tossed its contents onto the chair and handed Ariana the empty bag. “Breathe into this. Slow, deep breaths. Jon. JON! Go get her a bottle of water.” She shot him a look she would give one of the kids and pointed him in the direction he should go.

 

Scrambling to get the water, Jon nearly tripped over his own two feet as he returned to his wife, who had moved and was now sitting in the chair. Dorothea was perched on the coffee table in front of her. 

 

“In through your nose, out through your mouth.” Her hand moved as she demonstrated the breathing technique.

 

“Here.” Jon shoved the bottle of water at her.

 

“Can’t you see she’s still not calm enough?” Dorothea snatched the bottle from his hand. “Sit. Before you make her more nervous.”

 

“What makes you such an expert? I’m calling Nicole.” Jon dug his hand into the front pocket of his jeans. “My daughter will not be born in this hotel room.”

 

Her breathing was still a little labored. Ariana pulled the bag away from her face. “I’m fine.” She said in a shaky voice.

 

“Here, take a sip, slowly.” Dorothea twisted off the cap and handed her the bottle of water.

 

“Are you sure?” Accepting the bottle from her shaky hand, Jon took a seat on the table as well.

 

“Yeah.” Ari covered her chest with her hand. The racing of her heart from moments ago had slowed back to its normal rhythm. “Wow, where did that come from?”

 

“Has this happened before?”  

 

Dorothea’s concern was a little unnerving, but Ari was not about to question it now. “Not in years. Thanks.” she handed her back the crumpled bag. “I’m much better now.”

 

“Maybe I should call Ma.”

 

‘No.” Ariana nudged him so she could stand up. She needed to move and when he did, she walked over to where she was before this whole thing started. “This needs to be done. No more waiting.”

 

Crossing the room to join her, Jon gently set his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back into him. He knew her bravado was just that and this whole thing had shaken her and caused the hyperventilating. The opening of the door and the chaoticness that followed didn’t allow for him to tell her what he wanted, so he gave her shoulders one last squeeze and whispered, I love you.

 

“Mommy. What are you doing here?”  

 

Romey called out, not really paying attention if anyone answered. He was too busy chasing after his furry pal. After him, the rest of the Bongiovi clan followed suit, even John Sr., who gave his son a sympathy shrug as he closed up the ranks and secured the door was shut.

 

“Romeo Jon. Stop that. Everyone come sit.”  

 

Carol held her arms open, waving them like they were a herd of cattle. Steph and Jesse were the first to sit down on the floor. They already knew what this was about. Having seen bits and pieces come through their phones, they questioned their grandmother during dinner. Dorothea took the seat Ariana had vacated, while John Sr. and Carol took spots on the couch.  

 

Exhaling deeply, Ariana and Jon walked over to the loveseat. Waiting for his wife to sit, Jon then sat on the arm. Meatball scurried across the room, plopping down at her feet and Romeo next to him. The only one who hadn’t taken a seat was Jake. Looking around the hotel room and at his family staring at him, waiting for him to pick a spot, he pulled one of the black metal chairs from the dining room table and sat.

 

“Alrighty, then. Who’s going to go first?” Carol looks between the three adults with whom she reprimanded earlier. “Jon. Dorothea?”

 

Dorothea’s eyes widened as she looked over at Jon. This was his mess. He should have to clean it up.

 

“Yeah, c’mon, Mom. Dad. Why don’t you tell us what that news reporter already told the universe?”  

 

There was an underlying tone in Jake’s voice. Inquisitive, with a hint of annoyance. Okay, more than a hint. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Jon turned to face his son.

 “Jake.” Jon waited until he looked up at his father. “Come sit with me. Please.” 

Jake set down the electronic toy in his hands on the table and, with slumped shoulders, walked over to his father. “Did you watch all of it?” nodding his head yes, Jon pulled him onto his lap. What a clusterfuck. This was the part of his fame he hated the most. Not so much for him, but for his family. At the gentle touch of Ari’s hand on his back, he took a deep breath and began… from the beginning.

 

It wasn’t easy, but he told them all of it. Reassuring them every chance he could that though what he did was wrong, that it no way impeded the undying love he had for each one of them. Surprisingly, even Dorothea admitted to not being perfect, in the only way she could without most of the blame still falling on Jon. And he was okay with that.  

 

They had questions, lots and together as a family, they answered each and every one the best that they could. For some, it was a little easier to understand things now. For others, there was still some unsureness and for some there was still that innocence. Which helped the three adults. There were questions for Ari too, some really personal ones. She answered every one with the same sincerity and honesty she would if it had been adults that had asked.

 

Still sitting on his father's knee, Jake lowered his eyes when he asked his next question. “Was there anyone else besides my dad?”

 

“Yes.” Ariana stroked his arm, letting him know it was okay that he asked. “I was even engaged once.”

 

“What happened?” Steph questioned.

 

“Bottom line, he wanted me to quit working and stay home and have babies.”

 

“Guess he didn’t really know you at all.” Jesse chimed in as they laughed.

 

“No, he didn’t.”

 

“Dad?”

 

“Yeah, buddy.” Jon mussed Romeo’s hair.

 

“You love Ari and Ari loves you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And you love Mom, and Mom loves you.”

 

“We went over this, remember? I will always have a special love for your Mom, but I’m not in love with her. You remember there is a difference?”

 

“Yeah. But what I wanna know is,” eyes as big as Hershey kisses looked innocently up at Jon, “Does Mommy and Ari love each other?”

 

“Silly boy, what do you think? They wouldn’t be here if they didn’t.” Carol to the rescue, yet again. “Now, it’s late and we all have to be up early tomorrow. Who’s sleeping with Nana and Pop Pop?”  Carol motioned for her husband to get up before anyone had a chance to ask another question.  

 

“Can I stay here?” Jake asked.

 

“Me too. Me too.” Romeo sang.

 

“You and the mutt are sleeping in, Your. Own. Bed.” Jon waved an index finger at him.

 

“Fine.”

 

“No sneaking in, in the middle of the night.”

 

“Fine.” his eyes rolled.

 

“Then yes, you and Jake can stay here.”

 

“If it’s okay with you, I’m going to go back with Mom.”

 

“Sure, honey.” Carol looked at Jesse. “And you?”

 

“Pop Pop, are you up to playing some cards?”

 

“Sure. Just go easy on me. Your grandmother doesn’t like when I lose all my money.”

 

“Then that settles sleeping arrangements. What time should we be ready tomorrow?” Carol asked as she hugged her son.

 

“I’ll let you know. Once we get these guys settled, I’m going to call Jeanie. Thanks again for everything. Both of you.”

 

“Nonsense, get some rest.”

 

With everyone gone, Jon returned to the living room, where Ari was now sitting on the couch. Plopping down next to her with a thud, he stretched his arms over his head, giving an exhausting groan as he did.

 

“I don’t know about you boys, but this girl right here needs ice cream. Whaddya say?” Two thrilled boys jumped up and down as Meatball howled along with them. “Jake, do you think you can handle calling room service? I need to talk to your dad a second.”

 

“Seriously, dude? You’ll let me do that?”

 

“Only if you can be responsible enough and not go overboard.”

 

“Sweet. C’mon Rom. Let go figure out what we want.”

 

“Just make sure you get me some chocolate.”

 

“Deal.”  

 

Two boys and a dog went running down the hall into the other room, leaving the welcoming silence as they did. Scooting closer to Jon, Ari laid her head upon his chest and nestled into the crook of his arm. 

 

“You okay?”

 

“I was just going to ask you that.”

 

“I’m good.”

 

"You sure? They asked you some pretty tough questions.”

 

“Yeah, they did. I just hope my answers helped. I mean, Steph and Jesse get the gist of it. Jake seems to be still struggling and Romey, sweet Romey.”

 

“I’m still worried about Jakey. Do you think I’m doing the right thing by sending them home?”

 

“Yes. Being held prisoner in a hotel suite, even if it is a five star one, pretty much sucks for them.”

 

“You’re right. I still wish you would go too. As much as I don’t want you to, I feel it would be better if you were in Jersey. No one bothers me there.”

 

“Well, you can just forget it, mister. I’m not leaving you.”

 

“I know better than to make you. So, ice cream at this hour. You have a lot to learn about this parenting thing.”

 

“Meanie.”

 

“Just speaking the troofs,” he replied in his best Joe Pesci imitation.

 

“Saved by the ice cream.” Ari slapped him on his stomach, then got up to answer the door.