Chapter 28

Jon pulled the bug, down the private road to his private beach property.  Driving slowly, to keep the duel glass pack muffler as quietly as he could, to keep his family from knowing they were on the property.  Pulling to a stop, in the small parking area he had set up, parking under the basketball goal.  The harvest moon shown across the ocean, set the mood, for a romantic walk on the beach.  He opened the driver’s door and toed off his boots and went around to open Colleen’s door.

Colleen took off her shoes, and left them in the car, rolling up her pants legs.  Jon was leaning on the fender of the bug, rolling up his jean legs, he then went over and opened the door for Colleen.  Jon took her hand and they began to walk onto the sand, still a little warm from the day’s sun.  The huge harvest moon, hung like a wheel of yellow cheese, over the outgoing tide.

They walked quietly, hand in hand, along the wet sand.  When Jon and Colleen got into a dark area, away from the lights from the houses, Jon pulled her to a dune, where they could sit and talk.  Colleen leaned back on her elbows, taking in the star filled sky.

“This is what I miss, teaching in the city.”  Colleen sighed.  “The stars are so close, you could reach out and touch them.”

Jon leaned back alongside her and looked up, they were magnificent.  He was still pissed at his mother’s attitude toward Colleen, she didn’t deserve the attitude.  He was going to have a serious talk with his mother, if he and Colleen were going to be a more permeant relationship, that talk would be needed.

“Why did you move to the city to teach?”  Jon asked her.

“Nothing was open here in the Hampton area, so the obvious place to go was the city.”  Colleen said as she lowered her head onto her bent arm, to look at the stars over her head.  “Polly is one hundred percent better than the inner city school.  My dad bought me a gun and made me take classes, for a carry and conceal permit.”

“Smart Dad.”  Jon said softly and he reached out his left hand to lace his fingers with Colleen’s right hand.

“I was living and in pretty decent area, but walking from the subway to the school was not safe.”  Colleen shuddered thinking about the time someone tried to rob her.  The hardest part to take, it was one of her students.  The threatening message’s let on her phone and being followed by friends of the student, leaving things on her desk.  She jumped at the opening at Polly.  The calls stopped, getting a new cell phone and number helped, along with moving into a new part of the city.  She would have to tell Jon, before her brother and father told him about it.

                                                              

Jon’s cell in his pocket vibrated and he about pulled it out and threw it into the sand.  Did he really want to look to see who called?  It could be one of the kids who needed him, or his mother.  His dad wouldn’t call unless someone was dyeing or there was a lot of blood, his dad didn’t do blood.

“You better answer, it could be important.”  Colleen told him, as she sat up.

“Hey Dad,” Jon said into the phone.  “What’s she done now?”

Colleen got to her feet and brushed the sand off her jeans, stepping away to give him privacy.

“Jonny, she wants you here now, she wants you to not have anything to do with Colleen.”  John Senior said.

“Well that’s not going to happen, she needs to get that thought out of her head.”  Jon paced back and forth on the beach.

“Is that Jonny?” Jon heard his mother’s shrill voice over the phone.

“No Carol, it’s Jesse, he’ll be here in the morning.”  John Senior just lied to his wife.

Jon looked over at Colleen, she was already comprehending that his mother was a problem.  He’d nip this in the bud tonight, even if he had to send her back to the city, he’d call Hank and get him to fire up the chopper.

“I’ll be there in an hour dad, she might not like the outcome, but this ends tonight.”  Jon didn’t wait on his dad to say anything, he slammed the phone closed.

“We better get back, I’ll drop you off.”  Colleen stretched out her hand for the keys.

“I see my woman to the door.” Jon started, he was letting this business with his mom spill over tonight.

“You can see me to the car door, it’s crazy for you to drive me home, when we are parked on your property.”  Colleen told him.  “You’d have to call a car that only puts whatever had you upset about, worse.”

“That’s what I pay them for, to pick me up, I will see you home.”  He said putting a period in his thoughts to this little talk.

“Then let me drive, I know a back way to get back to the bar.”  That seemed to please him a little bit, he reluctantly handed her the keys to the bug.

Colleen took the keys and opened the door to the bug to get her shoes. Slipping them on she watched Jon reach over to get his boots and put them on. She got in and fired up the bug, driving in a circle to head out the way they pulled in to his property.  Pulling instead of on to the street, she pulled up to the house.

“You’ll thank me tomorrow.”  She put the bug in park and reached over to give him a kiss, just as a car pulled in and Jesse got out.

“Hey you two.”  Jesse called out, the front door opened and his mother stood in the doorway.

“If I don’t end up in jail for killing my mother.”  Jon scowled as he got out and nearly slammed the door.

Colleen waved at Jesse and pulled out the drive.

      

Chapter 27

Colleen stepped back to let him into the living room.

“This is the sixth message since I talked to her this morning.”  He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, not what he planned to do, damn his mother.

“So you did tell her you were coming here?”  Colleen shut the door and followed him into the room.  “You want a drink, before you call her back?

“Yes, please, the stronger the better.”  He sighed. 

“Let’s see what’s in the bar.”  Colleen opened the small bar near the kitchen door.  Pulling out the Jack Daniels and flipped open the mini fridge for a can of coke to make him a drink.

Jon sat on the sofa and brought up the voice message.

“Jon where are you and the kids?  Your father and I are at the house and you aren’t here.”  Carol finally took a breath.  “Your father’s golf buddy called us this morning to make sure you gave us the invitation to come for Thanksgiving.  Your father said you did but we had Matt and his family to feed, and he said to bring them all.  You didn’t tell us Matt and his family were invited.”

He paused the message and dropped his head back on the sofa back.

“Your Dad, just invited my whole family down for Thanksgiving.”  Jon moaned.

“That’s my Dad for you, the more the merrier.”  Colleen brought the highball glass to him, leaning over the sofa she placed it in his hand.

“Call her back, tell her we’re going to dinner and they can join us.”  Colleen said as she stood behind him rubbing his shoulders.  “We can take them to Uncle Harrys place to eat, didn’t think your mom would be comfortable in the bar.”

“You sure?  I had plans for us that ends with a blanket on the beach with a bottle of wine and a picnic basket.”  Jon said as he slowly lets his shoulders relax, as her fingers worked their magic.

“Jon, I can’t let her think I’m afraid of her.”  Colleen stopped massaging his shoulders and walked around the sofa and sat beside him.

“She is a force of nature, that’s for sure.”  He sipped his drink, which he knew was just what he needed.

“So invite the family to dinner.  They’re going to have to get used to seeing us together, because I don’t plan on going anywhere.”  She informed Jon.

He hopped Colleen knew what she was getting ready to face. He had forgotten what dating was like around his mother.

Jon arranged a car to pick up the boys, and his parents to meet Colleen and him at the restaurant. That way the car could take them back again, and he and Colleen could finish their date.  He delayed calling his mom back, just calling the boys, started that tic he had and the beginnings of a headache was starting to build.

Jon pulled her into his lap and looked in her eyes.  Slowly his lips covered her lips. 

“Damn he sure knows how to change the subject.”  Colleen thought.

When they came up for air, Colleen put her finger on his lips.

“Call your parents, before she calls back Jonny.” Colleen said breathlessly.

Jon rolled his eyes and kissed her finger, grabbing his phone off the sofa seat, he called his mom.  Praying for voice mail, but, true to form she picked up on the second ring.

“Mom, I’m sending a car for you and dad.”  He took a second.  “We’re having Dinner with the kids and Colleen.”

“We just got unpacked Jonny, I don’t know.” Carol Bongiovi told her son.

“Mom, the car will be there at seven, he knows where to bring you all. The boys will be there too,” He rolled his eyes and thought, kicking and scream all the way.  “That gives you about an hour to be there.  Colleen’s Mom and dad might be with us.”  By the shocked look on Colleen face, he knew he had shocked her. In for a penny, in for a pound, he thought.

Colleen punched Jon in the arm, now she would have to get her parents for dinner.

“We’ll see you later Mom, Colleen needs me in the kitchen.”  Jon rolled his eyes at Colleen, she could really pack a punch.

“I can’t believe you just invited my parents to dinner.”  Colleen got off his lap.  “I ought to make you call them.”

Dinner was set up, all the cast and characters were there. The boys on their phones, playing whatever new game was hot, Stephanie was there texting to her friends. Their parents were there, Jon and Colleen dad’s chatting about their golf games, Jon’s mom was sitting at the table, not talking and Colleen’s mom trying to talk to Jon’s mom.  Colleen looked at Jon and about turned around and walked out.

“The gang’s all here.”  Jon said and watched the outcome of his announcement.

Colleen’s mom looked relieved, Jon’s mom looked in pain, having to sit and listen to Colleen’s mom.  The father’s stopped the rehashing of their last golf game, and the kids could care less.

“I’ll go tell Shamus, to start bring the food.”  Colleen’s mom Maggie looked happy to leave the room.

Mrs. Bongiovi motioned to Jon to come over.  Sighing, he went to his mom.

“Jonny, I thought you were meeting us here.”  She whispered into his ear, as he reached down to hugs her.  He heard this voice before, she was pissed, and this was not going to be a good night for him.

“I waited for Colleen to get changed, since she drove down, and wanted to change.”  He whispered back.  Looking up at Stephanie, he watched her roll her eyes.  So this wasn’t just his chewing out.

Colleen had followed her mother, he started to follow to apologies for his mom.  He was about to follow, when the door opened and Colleen and her mother came out, followed by the wait staff loaded down with food.

“Dinners on.” Colleen came out smiling.

Her mom on the other hand, the smile was one Jon had seen before, on his own face.

The food was fantastic, some of the same dishes he had in Scotland.  The wine was flowed for those old enough to drink.  His mom, seemed to pick at her food, but the wine was refilled many times.

Soon the food was devoured and the plates were removed.  Jon helped his dad load his mother in the car.  The boys didn’t want to go back to the house, knowing their grandmother was a trifle drunk.

“Why do we have to go back?”  Jake asked.

“Yeah Dad, why can’t we go back to Jeff and Mikes?”  Romeo asked.

Jon looked at his boys, he knew it was going to be hell at the house when he came home himself.

“Okay, but be home by curfew.” Jon told them.  Colleen came up to him as he told the driver where to take the boys.  Backing up, he looked up at the darkening sky.

Colleen placed her chin on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“It’s going to be okay Jonny.”  She spoke softly in his ear.  “As long as we’re together, there is nothing they can do to us.”

Jon placed his hands over hers, she was right, that was where he had let his life go to hell in a handbasket.  He let his mother run his life, just like she ran his fan club.  She was the General and he was the solider, or she was the Queen Bee and he was the worker bee.  It was time he took over his life.

A sound came from behind them, it was Colleen mom and dad.  He really needed to apologies about his mom’s shitty attitude.  He felt Colleen release his waist and he turned and went over to Maggie O’Sullivan.

“Mrs. O’Sullivan", Jon said as he reached for her hands.

“Call me Maggie, Jon, Mrs. O’Sullivan is my mother in law.”  The smile on her face was what a mom’s face should be.  A little lipstick and mascara, not looking like Mrs. Drysdale or Mrs. Howell, why couldn’t she be like June Cleaver?

“Maggie, I want to say how sorry I am about my mom’s attitude, it was terrible.”  Jon lowered his head a little to look into Maggie’s eyes.

Maggie reached up and patted Jon on the cheek.  “Jon, I met your mother several years ago, at a women’s function at the club, she thought I was part of the wait staff.  I think it embarrassed her.  I have forgotten about it, just let it slide.  She avoids me all the time at the club.  Tonight, I tried to talk to her about it, she just got more flustered.  Just let it go Jon. I have.”  She reached up an kissed his cheek.

Colleen came up and put her hand on Jon’s shoulder and smiled at her mom and winked.

“Don’t you two have plans for tonight?”  Maggie asked and winked at Jon.

“Don’t wait up, I’m staying at my apartment over the bar.”  Colleen told her mom as she and Jon walked to her car.

Colleen tossed Jon the keys.  Jon laughed as he held the door to the antique bug.  Adding a car to his list of things he wanted to buy her.  He ran around the bug and climbed in, good thing he knew how to drive a stick, a stick shift and four on the floor.  Firing up the bug, he jumped at the roar of the muffler.  The sound of her laughed made him shake his head.

“Runs smooth, doesn’t it.”  Jon joined her on her laughter.  “When you have an older brother, and you live over the family bar, it’s like a barking dog to warn his when you come home from a date.”

They pealed out, heading toward Jon’s home, and the private beach.

Chapter 26

Fuck, fuck, fuck a big fucking rubber duck.  Why did he ever think, he could run his own life at fifty five?  As long as he was a lead singer in a rock and roll band, his mom would try to run his life.  It was a joke when the band was young and his mom ran the fan club, but she was retired from there.  He was old enough to be in a relationship with a woman and she has nothing to say about it. 

“We’re having Thanksgiving with the O’Sullivan’s this year, Mom.”  He got it out without taking a breath. “Colleen invited us, and I think the kids would enjoy being with a large family.”

“Jon, you have a large family, the kids need to be with family.”  His mother was trying push all his buttons.  “This is the first year after their mother died, we can ask Dorothea’s family.”

“Mom, they have plans.”  Jon knew his in-laws kept in touch with the kids, but not as much with him.  Even though they never said it out loud, he felt they blamed him for their Dorothea's death.

“Well, your father and I were invited by Culan, to join the festivities. Matt and his family will need a place to eat, so we won’t be going.”  Jon knew what his mother was getting at, he just wasn’t going to let her get to him.   

“It’s your decision mom”, I have to get a shower and hit the road mom, have a great Thanksgiving.”  He hung up, he would hear about it later.

“Oooh, she’s going to call back and you lied to your mother.”  Stephanie said from leaning on the door frame.

“Yeah I did, so let’s get out of here and get on the road.” Jon laughed.  “Boys, let’s go, the car will be here in twenty minutes.”  Jon yelled up the stairs.  He took the stairs two at a time, his go bag was in the closet.  He had plans for this afternoon, he had a song lyric in his head and he needed to get it written down, before it got lost.

Taking the chopper to the Hamptons, they missed all the holiday traffic, his driver knew the backway to the house.  He pulled out his iPad and tapped away, as the scenery went by.

Colleen hit all the holiday traffic heading to the island.  Driving out to the Hamptons was enough on the weekend, but on a holiday, it was worse.  Bumper to bumper, move an inch, stop for thirty.  Her cell started to ring, she tapped her ear piece. One day she would get a car with Bluetooth.

“Hi” She moved another inch.

“Hey, where are you?”  Jon asked her.  He had ridden by the bar and her car wasn’t there.

“Sitting in the car, in bumper to bumper traffic.”  Colleen huffed out.  “I have about two miles to the turn off to the bar.”

“I should’ve sent the chopper back for you.”  Jon told her.

“I should’ve blown the meeting, half the staff wasn’t there, but being the new teacher, I had to be there.”  Colleen made the light, barely, she was lucky the police weren’t trying to make their quota today.

“Do you have plans tonight?”  Jon was going to be alone for dinner, all the kids had plans, which had its upside.

“Something standing for about an hour.”  Colleen laughed.  “Once I get to my apartment and unload Bugsy, I’ll need a drink or two.” She maneuvered her Bug closer to the bar.  “Two blocks to go, did you hear if your parents were coming down?”

“Oh God I hope not.”  Jon grumbled.

That made Colleen laugh louder.

They made plans to meet at the bar and go out for drinks and dinner.

Colleen opened the door to her apartment over the bar.  It was near the end of November, but the heat along the coast was hanging on for dear life.  The apartment was stuffy, so, Colleen went around opening windows and putting on the ceiling fans. 

Music trickled up from the bar, Colleen unpacked her bags, and she knew her mother would stack out the fridge and cabinets.  The smell also started slipping in through the windows, on went the air conditioner and down went the windows.

Jon pulled into the parking lot and found the Bug parked next to the outer steps.  He wouldn’t have to go through the bar, as he started up the stairs his phone started to ring.  Checking to see if it was one of his kids, he all but moaned seeing his mother’s name on the screen.  Letting it go to message, he continued to climb to the landing, he’d check it later.  He knocked on the door, and waited, his phone signaled he had a voice message.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck a big rubber duck.”  He mumbled as the door opened.

“It’s only fifteen steps.”  Colleen said with a laugh.

Jon held up his phone to show her the message sender.

“Oh Dayum.”  Colleen rolled her eyes.  “You didn’t tell her, did you?”