Chapter 46

 

 

Friday was a huge day at Casa Bongiovi, both houses.  Jon and Stephanie were at the river house. They walked into the room that was the master bedroom. The wallpaper was down, and the carpet up.  The crew had even sanded and laid the new hardwood flooring. The heavy curtains were down and the sheers were the only window covering up.

 

“Wow, dad the room looks huge,” Stephanie walked into the middle of the room and did a three-sixty. Moving over to the overstuffed chair that set by the balcony door was the only piece of furniture in the room.  Sitting in the chair she sighed.

 

“This came from Colleen’s place,” Stephanie smiled.  “Oh man, I see why you saved it, it’s big enough for two people or a great place to nap.”

 

Jon thought back to the time they cuddled in the chair and ended up taking a three-hour nap.

 

“Yep, it hugs you and lulls you to sleep,” Jon agreed.

 

They went into the master bath, once again the wallpaper was down and the Italian tile floor was cleaned. 

 

“Boy, mom really liked gold, gold faucets, gold rugs and curtains,” Stephanie wrinkled her nose.  “I can’t wait to see what you and Colleen do together, what’s her favorite color?”

 

Jon thought, ‘what was her favorite color, she tended to wear a lot of blues and some sort of pink colors.’

 

“I really don’t know?  I do know she isn’t a minimalist,” Jon remembered all the clutter in her house and the apartment over the bar.

 

“So Boho chic,” Stephanie said. “If this chair is any proof, its colorful eighties vibe.” Stephanie laughed, “Time to pull out the spandex dad.”

 

“Oh hell no,” Jon laughed “That ship has long passed.” They went back downstairs.  “So how’s it going with the contractor?”

 

“Good, I met his kids the night after I had dinner with you guys.  It’s strange dating a single dad,” Stephanie told him.  “Not strange creepy, but strange intriguing, something I want to explore.” 

 

Jon thought about his baby girl dating a dad, this was going to be different.  ‘Wonder if I should plan on more people on this vacation?’ 

 

“I was going to bring it up this weekend about coming Christmas with us, but it’s his weekend and they are going to have a ski weekend,” Stephanie told him as they headed to the kitchen. “I should have had them paint the kitchen to get rid of the yellow gold in here.  “Maybe a nice white, to bring out the brick, you think Colleen would agree?”

 

“I’m not sure baby girl, you can ask her tonight while you two set up for the party,” Jon told her. “I’m on pizza duty, Colleen started meatballs this morning before work.”

 

“I’m on dessert and sub duty, I ordered a monster sub to be delivered and rolls for the meatballs,” Stephanie told him.  “The bakery will deliver the cookies and cupcakes.”

 

“Cookies from a bakery when Colleen makes the best cookies?” Jon looked stunned.

 

“She still has to work dad, she didn’t have time to bake up a batch of cookies,” Stephanie admonished her dad.

 

“I just love her cookies,” Jon frowned and rubbed his tummy.  “Her mom bakes the best chocolate chip cookies ever.”

 

“Then you’re lucky dad to have found Colleen.  Better not screw it up.” Stephanie said as they locked up the house.

 

Jon thought about what she had said about not blowing it with Colleen. ‘I’ve toyed with the idea of getting her a ring for Christmas, was it too soon?’

 

They got in the SUV and headed to pick up the pizzas, then home.  Jon pulled into the parking lot and jumped out. Stephanie pulled out her cell and texted Colleen.

 

Stephanie: dads getting the pizzas then we’ll be home.

 

Colleen: That’s great, I’m waiting on the boys then we’ll stop at the store for soda, chips, and dips.

 

Stephanie: We should be there to meet the bakery delivery. Here comes dad now, damn he has eight boxes and there is a guy behind him with four more, how many kids are coming?

 

Colleen: I think around twenty to thirty kids.

 

Stephanie: Well I hope we don’t run out.

 

Colleen: If we do I have the pizza place on the corner on speed dial.  See you when you get to the house.

 

 

Colleen closed her phone as the boys came to the classroom.

 

“Ready to party?” Colleen asked the two boys.

 

“Yep,” Romeo said as they closed off her classroom and headed to the car.

 

“Jake you and Romeo pick up the place when we get back from the store and put on some music.  Alexa has some great dance music on her.” Colleen said. “I also need the guestlist for Hal, so no one not on the list can get in.”

Jake and Romeo handed her their list. Wilson took them to Whole Foods and dropped them off. All three of them got a cart. Jake’s was for sodas, and Romeo was for dips and chips.  Colleen headed to the deli bakery section for the trays, Colleen went to the produce for stuff for guacamole. Then they headed to check out.

 

Jon and Stephanie beat them to the house by about five minutes.  Coming down to help unload the trunk of the town car, Jon laughed.

 

“Did you three buy out the store?” Jon asked as he loaded up the hand truck that Hal brought to the back of the car.

 

“Teenagers can put away soda, like tap water,” Colleen handed bags to the boys and Steph to carry up.  “Hal, did you find the tub, I asked about?”

 

“Yes Miss O, I put it at the back door,” Hal said as he grabbed four bags of chips.

 

“Here’s the boys list of invitees, I’ll put them in your pocket.” Colleen slipped the folded lists in his coat pocket.  Albert grabbed the last of the bags, as Wilson closed the trunk lid and watched as Colleen went into the building.  He scanned the area before getting in the car, no one was hanging out that he had pictures of.

 

Colleen got to work on the Guac and Jon was filling the tub with ice and soda’s and put the tub on the bistro table in the kitchen. 

 

“I’m gonna go change,” Colleen told Jon as she washed off the knife and masher and then dried them off before putting them away.

 

“I’ll be up in a minute, going to check on the boys,” Jon patted her on the bottom as she walked past him.

 

“We don’t have time for that Jon,” Colleen laughed.

 

“Just putting in a rain check for later, then.” Jon winked at her.

 

“Promises, promises,” Colleen said as she headed up the back stairs to their bedroom.

 

“That’s a threat, not a promise,” Jon called up the stairs.  Turning around he faced his daughter shaking her head and giggling.