187 - Final Countdown

Weird as it was, talking things out with Carol somehow always helped Ari. Maybe it was her nurturing mothering that reminded her so much of her grandmother that calmed her. She was grateful she could have such a relationship with her, considering how her relationship with Jon began. 

When all was said and done, by the time Ariana left, her shoulders were slightly lighter and her waistline a little bit wider, thanks to John’s mouthwatering eggplant. Hands down, he had to be one of the best cooks. There was nothing he made she didn’t eat. Then again, there was nothing she hadn’t eaten in the last eight and half months. Well, except for Chinese pâté, no matter how many times she’s tried, just the smell alone would make her sick. Figures, her daughter was taking after her father already.

 

From there, she texted Andi to see if she was in. When she replied yes, she made a quick stop at Antoinette Boulangerie first, then headed over to her favorite shop in town, The Denim Boutique. Heck, her hips were wider than a mack truck. Why not indulge in the best Chocolate Raspberry… whatever you want to call it, she’d ever had. It had been months since they saw each other, and Andie could not believe how amazing Ari looked. She even had her try on a bunch of new items. Contrary to what Andie thought, Ari thought she looked like the spawn of Orca and asked that she hold on to some things in her size for after the baby was born. She did pick up a few things she knew Cara would love, as well as Stephanie and Nic. Between customers and a few deliveries, the women were able to catch up. Ari told her all about being grounded in Italy, while Andie told her about her breakup with Richie. Ari had been wondering what had happened, but didn’t seem it was her place to ask. Andie seemed okay with it ending, stating that she was well aware of Mr. Sambora’s recreational activities beforehand. They had forgotten all about the time when Ari’s phone dinged with a text from Jon.

 

[5:24] Jon: Nom nom… none for you.

 

The nerve of him to torment her with her favorite guilty pleasure. Asking him to bring some would be no good. It wouldn’t travel well from the city. Instead, she decided to do a little tormenting of her own. Looking around to see where Andie had gone with the customer that had just walked in, she quickly opened the camera on her phone, adjusted her t-shirt and nonchalantly snapped a photo.

 

[5:27] Ari: Nom nom… none for you.

[5:29] Jon: Like Hell! It’s all mine. Leaving in 5. Batten down the hatches.

 

“Rockstar sending you naughty text, girlfriend? You're redder than a stop sign.” Andie rounded the counter.

 

“Good grief, I am not.”

 

“If you say so.”

 

Gathering up the empty food containers, Ari stood. “I gotta head out, though. They are on the way and I have to prepare for dog-a-geddon.”

 

“Come again?”

 

“Long story short, we gave Romeo a dog for his birthday, which is now the size of a miniature horse.”

 

Walking Ari outside, she wrapped her arms around her for a hug. “Well, good luck with that. And don’t be such a stranger.”  

 

“It was good to see you, Andie. Talk to you soon.”

 

Thank God for a house with multiple bathrooms! Ari thought, tossing her keys and Tupperware on the island, while doing her best dash to the half bath in the alcove just off the kitchen, making it just in time. Good thing she kept up with her Kegel exercises, because, damn, this pregnancy was doing a number on her bladder. 

 

“Ms. Ari, is there anything else you need before I go?” Lidia asked, startling Ari as she opened the door.

 

“Lidia, what are you still doing here? You should be heading to the airport.”

 

“I’m going now. I wanted to make sure you and Mr. Jon are all set.”

 

“We are. Now, you enjoy your vacation and we’ll see you when you get back.”

 

Ari was still getting used to having people at her beck-and-call and since they would be local until the middle of the month, she suggested Jon give Lidia some extra time off. Closing the door behind her, Ari returned to the kitchen to put the goodies her father-in-law sent her home with in the refrigerator, then headed upstairs for a quick shower before her family arrived home.

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

"Daaaaaaaaaad. Hurry up, will ya? It's your turn... A-gain!" Romeo dramatically called for his father for the third time.  

 

Ari was sitting on one of the oversized chairs in the family room when they arrived home and Meatball came running and barking through the house, looking for her. The rest soon followed and since then they had been locked into a heavy competition of video games and why Jon seemed to keep disappearing. He loathed playing them and only did so for his kids’ sake. Oh, and that his wife continually cackled that he was a sissy girl because he didn’t. 

 

“Cool your pits, pipsqueak. I’m comin’.” Jon turned the corner with a dish in his hand. “Hiding my father’s eggplant will cost you big time, Mrs. Bongiovi.” Playfully giving his wife the stink eye as he set his plate down and reached for the microphone. They had been at this Rock Band crap for more than an hour and until now he had gotten away with singing for most of his turns.

 

“Ooooh, no, no.” Stephanie waved her arms. “You get the guitar this time.” Much to his dislike, father and daughter switched out musical instruments.  

 

“For the record,” Ari stated from behind the mock set of drums. “I was not hiding it. You just didn’t notice it when you pushed it to the back of the refrigerator when you came home with enough food to feed a small army.” 

 

“Riiight.” Jon teased while Romeo queued up the next song. “Wait, a sec. If I have to switch, so do you. No more hiding behind the drums, missy.”

 

“You sure about that?” Ari gestured to the television and laughed at his reaction to seeing Pat Benatar’s Heartbreaker up on the screen. “How ‘bout I make it easy for you to beat me and do both; sing and play.”

 

“Yeah, Yeah. Go Ari. Go Ari.” chanting, Romeo jumped up and down on the couch behind them.

 

“I’m soooo gonna kick your ass now.”

 

“We’ll see about that.” As the start clock counted down, Ari twirled the drumstick between her fingers.

 

By the end of the evening, Ari not only kicked his ass on that song, but a few more after. He even pretended to be upset about it, but they just laughed and laughed. And when Romeo could no longer hide his yawning, Jon called it a night for everyone.

 

Snuggling against her back, Jon draped his arm over her middle. “You didn’t tell me you were going to see Ma. Everything okay?”

 

“Yeah, just needed to talk.” He waited to see if she’d continue, and when she did, he gave a silent sigh. 

 

“Seeing Luc’s gift brought back some things. I asked her to promise that Lily will never ever doubt how much I wanted or loved her.”

 

“Crash, are we…”

 

“Shh,” she pulled his arm tighter around her. “I’m in a good place, really I am. Sometimes I just need a little reminder, and not from you. You know.”

 

“I do, and I’m glad you feel comfortable enough that you can talk to her, but you can also come to me.”

 

“I know. I do want to talk to you about a few things.”

 

“Shoot.”

 

“With your schedule being so close to home and my due date growing closer, do you think Dr. Barnes or Dr. Laurent would be upset if I asked that Nicole be the one to handle my delivery?”

 

“I don’t see why not? But why the sudden change?”

 

“I feel more at ease with her. With being in Italy, then London, I really haven’t seen either of them in a while. It just makes sense that she does it.”

 

“I’m sure they would understand. We can discuss it with Dr. Barnes when we go on Monday. You do realize she’s not here with us now.”

 

“Duh. I’ve still got three weeks to go.”

 

“Well, wisenheimer, you know that could change.”

 

“No, really?” She knew labor could come at any time. She just wanted to know what he thought about it.

 

“Okay, next.” He pushed closer to her.

 

“Godparents.” she stated matter-of-factly, squashing any ideas as to what he wanted to come next. “Have you given it any thought? I mean, I’m assuming you would choose one of your brothers, right?”

 

“I have. I was thinking it should be someone who holds a significant meaning for both of us.”

 

“I think so too, and Mick would be an excellent choice.” She giggled.

 

“Wise ass.” he nipped at her bare shoulder. “I’m assuming you will ask Cara.”

 

“Already asked her.”

 

“Matt and Tony would be the obvious choices, but I was also thinking about Johnny, or maybe Obie. And then there is Max.”

 

“I think they are all excellent choices. What about Jesse? He’s confirmed, right?.”  

 

His breath puffed against her hair in his uncertainty. There were no right or wrong answers. His brothers made the most sense. They were his blood, and he had been friends with Johnny and Obie for as far back as he could remember. They were two of his closest friends. As was Max for Ari, and now Jesse was thrown into the mix. Burying his nose in her hair, he inhaled. “Do we have to decide right this minute?”

 

“Nope.” she looked over her shoulder at him. “I love you.”

 

“I know,” he whispered against her puckered lips. “Good night.”

 

“Niters.”