Chapter 59 Christmas Eve Eve Part 3

 

Jon took several deep breaths as he went down off the kitchen to the patio outside.  Matt and Tony walked out to see what was going on.  “Who told Mom about the engagement?” Jon asked his brother.

“Not me,” said Tony, who looked at his younger brother.

“Not me either, and I don’t think Desi did,” Matt told Jon.

“Well, I know it wasn’t Nina, she hates talking to mom,” Tony went over and sat with his older brother.  “You getting up the nerve to call mom?”

“Yeah, I wanted to wait till tomorrow when we call to wish them a Merry Christmas,” Jon told them, wishing he still smoked, Cigarettes or weed.

“Jonny you need to put mom in her place, you’re over fifty, and she needs to cut you loose from her apron strings,” Matt told him.  Neither Desi or Nina, have seen what mom can do to a marriage.”

“Yeah I have to agree with Matt, Jonny you have a woman who brought you back to life, you really don’t want mom to run her off, do you?” Tony came over and sat with Jon at the patio table.  Matt joined them as they waited for Jon to make the call.

They were soon joined by the two wives and the future wife, all three in sweats and wrapped in blankets.

“We decided you needed some real support,” Des told them as the girls sat with their men.  Colleen snuggled close to Jon.

Jon shook his head at his family, at least his kids weren’t out here.  Bringing up his dad in his phone, he waited on him to answer.

“Hey Jonny, congratulations, I’m happy for you two,” John Sr. said.

“At least one of you is happy,” Jon told his dad.  “Mom just called on one of her bitch trips.”

“I heard her, At least you two didn’t elope to Vegas,” John Sr. laughed. “I think she’d have a heart attack.”

“Once was enough dad,” Jon told him.  “She still awake?”

“John? Where are you, is that Jonny?”  Carol Bongiovi screeched.

“Damn, she has the hearing of a bat,” John Sr. moaned.

“You got that right dad,” Jon huffed and waited till his mom was on the phone, then it started.

“Jonny, please tell me Izzie was wrong, you and that woman are not getting married,” Carol was a cross between crying and spitting mad.  “Think of your children, they just lost their mother, not to mention you lost your wife of almost 30 years of being together.”

“Mom,” was all he got out before his mother took a breath and started again.  Jon was so glad he hadn’t put the call on speaker.

“I mean really Jon what do you know about her?  She had thugs after her, are you protecting the kids from these criminals?  I mean just look at her family,” Carol took another breath as Jon chose that second to stop his mother.

“That’s it mom, I’m only saying this once, so you better listen,” Jon was so mad, he was past caring if he hurt her feelings or not.  “Since I met Colleen, it’s like I’m reborn, the kids love her and we are getting married, and it’s time the diva was put to rest.  The O’Sullivans don’t put on airs, they don’t treat people the way you do.  Colleen’s dad is the president of the country club and dad’s golf partner.  You have to agree dad has great taste in friends.  His on the city council here in East Hamptons,” Jon got up and started pacing, this was only the third in his life he had to have this kinda talk with his mother.

“But Jonny,” Carol started talking, but Jon stopped her.

“No buts mom, you will accept Colleen as my wife, or this is the line in the sand Mom, you won’t be at the wedding or allowed in our home,” Jon stopped pacing and looked at Colleen, his love for her, shined in his eyes. “You think about what I just said and make a decision, either accept my life or not, because I can’t do this anymore, it’s the end of you trying to run my life.  You have until the new year to decide to continue being a part of my family or not.” Jon disconnected the call and sat back down pulling Colleen on his lap. Colleen placed her head on his chest, and just held him till his heart stopped pounding.  Sitting in the lounger by the pool no word were needed, just the feel of being together.

Matt, Tony, and their wives left them to talk.  As they walked into the kitchen, they saw Stephanie, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo heading to the back door.

“I think they need you four,” Tony told the kids.

“Grandma?” Stephanie asked.

“Yep,” Matt told them.

“We heard daddy yelling,” Romeo told his uncles.

“Yep, now I’ll have to talk to my little agitator in the morning on what we tell granny and what we don’t,” Matt looked at Desi.  “Isabella was our mole,” Matt was sitting close enough to Jon, he heard his mother say who told her.

Desi did a face smack and rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be hard on her, we’ve already told her, never tell grandma about anything Uncle Jonny does,” Jake said as the four pulled on jackets and went outside.

Jon and Colleen lay covered under the blanket she brought out.

“Why does she hate my family so bad?” Colleen asked Jon, as her voice cracked.

“She hates everyone I ever dated.  It took years before she tolerated Dorothea,” Jon explained.  “Give her time.” 

“Give her time or what will happen if she doesn’t?” Colleen asked looking up at Jon.

“Then she won’t be welcome in our house, just like I said.  It’ll be up to the kids to go visit her, but not in our house,” Jon told Colleen, stressing the words our house.

They heard the kids joining them.

“Steph, pull out another blanket from the bench, Colleen lips are starting to turn blue,” Jon could’ve warmed her lips, if the kids hadn’t chosen that moment to join them. “Unless you want me to warm them up another way?”

Stephanie pulled the beach blanket from the bench and covered Colleen and her dad. “Not in front of us kids dad”

“Grandma on her broom again, dad?” Jesse said as he sat on the chase next to them, to be joined by his brothers. 

Stephanie sat at the foot of her dad’s chase, tucking the beach blanket corner over her knees.

“Yep, things are going to change, I drew the line in the sand, she either changes her attitude or she’s not allowed at the wedding,” Jon sat up some pulling the blanket over them more.  “And she’s not welcome in our home.  If you four want to visit, you’ll go to her place.” 

The four looked at their dad and nodded.

Alright this is Christmas time, no sad faces, no time for things we can’t control,” Colleen sat up taking her blanket with her.  “Tomorrow will be busy with cooking, parties and church.  I only want to see smiles and no shaking of packages.”  She stood up and reached down for Jon’s hand.

“Camo’s right, and I am freezing my butt off out here,” Stephanie laughed.  “And it looks like snow.”

Colleen pulled Stephanie up and shared her blanket.

“I see where I stand in the pecking order, you women stick together,” Jon laughed as he folded the beach blanket and replaced it in the bench.

“Hot chocolate and cookies before bed?” Romeo asked as he and his brothers headed to the backdoor.

“I think that could be arranged” Colleen said as Jon came up behind her and scooped her up.

Jon and Colleen laughed, as Stephanie snatched the blanket and beat them into the kitchen.

It was close to one in the morning when the house was dark and quiet.  Jon and Colleen were snuggled in the bed. Jon spooned to Colleen back, his hand resting on her stomach.

“I love you Colleen,” Jon whispered and kissed her neck.

“Love you too Jonny,” Colleen whispered back, her hand covering Jon’s.  

As they drifted off to sleep, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

Chapter 58 Christmas Eve Eve 2

 Jon and Tony pulled in with twenty pizza, enough salad to feed an army.  They had left Matt and Colleen at the grocery store with the fruit, nuts, and candy for the Magi gift bags for the kids at the church for midnight mass, along with dessert for tonight’s pizza fest.

 

Tony went and got the older kids to help unload the van.

 

“Hey old man did you buy out the malls?” Jesse said as he looked in the back of the van.

 

“Oh good pizza,” Jake loaded Romeo up with pizza boxes. “You just miss Uncle Matt and Camo seems the cake got dropped. They headed back to the store.”

 

Stephanie came up and bopped her dad in the butt. “So tonight’s the night.  Got your knee pads ready?”  She grabbed the bags of salad laughing.

 

“Who told you kiddo?” Jon asked as he grabbed another bag of Salad.

 

“The Aunts were upstairs, Aunt Nina was pulling out Uncle Tony’s gear bag out,” Stephanie said as the headed into the kitchen.

 

“Just as long as Colleen doesn’t know,” Jon said as he followed her to the kitchen.  “Oh yeah and don’t tell Maggie, Cullen told me she would ruin the surprise.”

 

“I’ll tell the aunts,” Stephanie headed to the stairs.

“I think my mom dropped that cake on purpose,” Colleen told Matt as they stood inline again.

 

“Not a fan of store baked items hum?” Matt looked around at the people in line.

 

“I think she was hoping you all would eat the fruit cake she made at Thanksgiving, that no one touched,” Colleen moved up and waited her turn next.

 

Matt watched She pulls out the black card, not seeing if it had her name or Jon’s on it. Only one cashier gave her a problem using Jon’s card, and that was at the mall.

 

“G. or J.?” Matt asked Colleen and pointed to the card.

 

“G,” She said holding it up.

 

“If you get flack, I’ll pay for it,” Matt didn’t want a scene like earlier.

 

Moving up to the register she watches the cashier scan the cake and bags it.

 

“Twenty-five ninety-nine,” The cashier says as I hand her the card.  “Can I see some id please?”

 

‘Oh no, here we go again,’ Matt thought, as Colleen took out her license.

 

Colleen pulled out her New Jersey license.  Matt smiled when he saw it said Colleen Ann Marie Bongiovi.  Colleen was smiling a little smirky smile, as she showed the new card to the cashier.

 

“Thank you Mrs. Bongiovi,” The cashier ran the black card and handed it back.  Matt grabbed the receipt and the bag while Colleen put her card away. 

 

As they walked out Matt couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

 

“Did you see the look on her face when she saw the name match,” Matt laughed all the way to the car. “I can’t believe you have a Bongiovi name already.”

 

“Thank your brother for that, he pulled some strings,” Colleen said as she put the cake in the truck. “It matches my black card, when I use my charge card I use my New York ID.”

 

Matt smirked as he headed back to the house again, it was just like his big brother to be nine steps ahead of the curve.

 

There were people everywhere eating dinner.  Jon and Colleen sat on the steps near the front door.

 

“This what I love, a huge family gathering,” Colleen said as she balanced her plate on her lap.  “It makes a house a home.”

 

“Around sixteen people in a house can do that,” Jon told her as he sipped his wine. He was still in his ugly Christmas sweater, but he changed to black sweatpants, to cover the ring box in his pocket. He remembered the night he sat in his office doing a zoom call with the kids and asked them what they thought about making Colleen a permanent member of the family.  It was quiet for a few seconds when Jon thought he had finally shocked his kids.  Stephanie was the first to talk, telling the boys what he had seen while they were at school. Jesse nodded and Jake looked at Romeo and they held up their thumbs.  “We vote yes and add about time.” Stephanie and Jesse agreed to Jon's excitement and pride that they all wanted Colleen in the family.

 

They had finished dinner, Jon knew it was time.

 

“Before everyone goes down for movies in the basement, can I get everyone in the living room,” Jon yelled over the noise of family all talking as one.  “I got something that I want to say.”  He watched the room fill up with all of them looking at him like he was stalling. “Pull up a spot of the floor, make sure Mom and Pop O. have a seat on the sofa please, Kids on the floor.”

 

Jon held Colleen up in the doorway to the kitchen, holding onto her pinkie finger.

 

“Let me get my camera,” Tony yelled.  “He usually does this on Christmas Eve.”

 

Jon waited while Tony got his camera.  Once he rejoined the crowd, he nodded to Jon.

 

“This is a new tradition for the Bongiovi’s, a new start for us.  This includes tomorrow night joining the O’Sullivan at Midnight Mass,” Jon paused to all the moans and groans. “Yeah, Midnight Mass.”

 

He caught Stephanie’s eye and winked.  Stephanie tossed a pillow at him, which Jon caught and dropped on the floor.

 

“Colleen?” Jon turned her to face him and let her hand go.  “Close your eyes.”

 

Colleen turned to him and cocked her head, but closed her eyes.  Maggie gasped when Jon put the pillow to use, pulling the box out of his pocket and opening it as he dropped to his knee.

 

“Open your eyes.”

 

Colleen gasped as she looked down into Jon's eyes.

 

“Colleen Ann Marie O’Sullivan, I love you, you came into my life when I needed you the most.  You pulled me off the ledge and brought happiness back in my life.  My kids love you and they think I came alive when I met you.” He had rehearsed this a million times in the last four days.  “I want to go to bed knowing that you’re mine and wake up loving you more each day. I want to protect you, and be the man you turn to when you need me the most. I want to grow old with you,” Jon watched her eyes mist over with tears.  “I want to show you the world, write you love songs, and show the world that your mine.  I know we hadn’t talked about marriage, but I’ve thought about it for weeks.  If you say it’s too soon, let me show you why it isn’t. Colleen, will you join your life with mine and be my wife?” 

 

Colleen looked at the canary diamond ring to Jon’s eyes. She could see the love in his eyes.  As her tears rolled down her cheeks, she nodded her head and whispered yes.

Jon stood up and took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger.  It was a perfect fit. Pulling her close, he leaned in and softly kissed her, sealing his proposal.

 

Tony was so busy making a video and Nina was snapping pictures. Jon’s kids jumped up off the floor clapping with the rest of the crowd.  Colleen's mom and dad were the first ones to get to the couple.

 

“Oh, oh, oh my goodness,” was all that Maggie could say, she hugged Colleen.

 

Cullen slapped Jon on the back and welcomed him to the family.

 

“I’m a new grandmother again,” Maggie opened her arms to Jon's kids.  “And I didn’t have to change a diaper on these four.”

 

Colleen laughed as she hugged Stephanie. Then pulled the three boys into a group hug.

 

Much later after the champagne and cake, the kids headed to the basement for Christmas movies, popcorn, and soda.  The adults sat in the den talking.

 

“What does your mom say about this Jonny,” Maggie asked Jon, knowing the hell that she had made at Thanksgiving.

 

“Dad knows, I thought I would call them tomorrow and wish them a Merry Christmas and tell them then,” Jon sat holding Colleen's hand.

 

“At least you won’t be calling them like the last time,” Matt laughed.

 

“Last time?” Colleen and her mother asked at the same time.

 

“You know how I got married the last time, no one knew but me and Dorothea, not even Matt knew and he was my head of security.” Jon answered.  “I had the number one album, we were on a sold-out tour, and I just said let's go to Vegas and get married.”

 

“Oh yeah I remember reading something about that,” Maggie said.  Colleen had told Jon, her mother googled him.

 

“Well, I woke them up on the east coast and asked them if they wanted to talk to their new daughter in law.  My mom didn’t speak to me at all, handed the phone to dad and said talk to your son,” Jon looked over at Cullen, he knew that his dad had told him about how they found out I was married.

 

“Your dad told me it took Carol to the end of tour to speak to you,” Cullen added his knowledge to the story.

 

“Boy we had it easy, didn’t we Nina,” Desi asked Nina.

 

“Yeah, but she took over the wedding plans, it was more than Tony and I wanted,” Nina said.

 

“Well Carol will be dealing with me and Colleen, I’ve planned this since the day we adopted Colleen,” Maggie told them. “This red hair doesn’t stand for a walk all over me.”  Cullen patted her arm to calm her down.

 

“I didn’t know you were adopted, Colleen,” Nina told Colleen.

 

“My parents died in a car crash, mom and dad were my aunt and uncle, and they adopted me when I was almost two. They are the only mom and dad I remember.” Colleen got up and went and hugged her parents.

 

Much later Jon and Colleen were finally alone.  Jon pulled her close and just held her in his arms.  “You don’t want to go to Atlantic City tonight?”

 

“And kill both our mom’s,” Colleen put her hand on his chest and pushed him down on the bed.  “I see an outdoor wedding, with water in the background and lots of flowers.” Colleen pulled the ugly sweater over his head, when it started to flash and sing Santa Clause is coming to town, Colleen started to giggle.

 

“So a spring wedding, outdoors, a field day for the paps babe,” Jon said as he leaned back on the bed as Colleen undressed. His sweats starting to tent.

 

“I said it was a dream wedding.  We can use tents,” Colleen said as she slowly lowered her jeans, letting them drop to the floor and stepping out. 

 

“Tents,” He looks down at his own tent.  “That could work.”  Sitting up he began to stand and add the sweatpants to her jeans.  His hands go to her shirt and slowly take it up over her head.

 

Colleen was standing a demi bra and a tiny pair of thong panties in Christmas red and green. “These new?” Jon asked as he ran his hands around her waist.

 

“Something that caught my attention today at the mall,” Colleen allowed Jon to pull her close.

 

“I think it caught my attention too,” Jon lowered his lips to hers.

 

There came a loud knock on the closed door.

 

“Shit” Colleen groaned.

 

Jon laughed.  “Your mama thinks you don’t cuss,” Jon kissed her again.

 

“Hey daddy, grandma is on the phone and she is pissed,” Stephanie called through the closed door.

 

“Fuck,” Jon groaned.

 

“I’ll share my soap bar with you,” Colleen laughed as she tossed Jon his sweatpants and grabbed her robe.

 

“Be there in a second Steph, tell her I’ll call her back in a second.” Jon said as he looked at Colleen. “Rain Check?”

 

“Rain Check,” Colleen smiled.

Chapter 57 Christmas Eve Eve

 Jon woke up slowly to the scents of bacon, coffee, and fresh cinnamon rolls.  Mom O was already up making breakfast, Jon reached his hand out to Colleen’s side of the bed, and only felt cool sheets and no Camo.  Sitting up in bed, they had gotten very little sleep the night before playing Santa’s helpers at the bar.  He had truly forgotten the nicked fingers and sore legs, from sitting on the floor for hours putting dollhouses and bikes together.  Cullen had loaned them the bar to put together toys for the Church Charity and Matt and Tony’s Kids.  Jon even had the honor of putting a bouncy swing together for his soon to be new niece, Abbie.

 

Hearing the door open slowly, he turned his head and saw Allie, Tony’s daughter peaking in the door.

 

“Aunt Camo said to get your lazy butt up if you want breakfast, Granny Maggie said she’s not going to make seconds for those who miss firsts,”  Allie laughed as she ran over to the bed and climbed up to hug her uncle.

 

“Well, I guess we better do what Camo and Maggie said,” Jon started to tickle Allie. 

 

Getting up, wearing loose ND sweatpants, he tucked a giggling Allie under his arm like a football and headed downstairs.  Coming into the kitchen he sat Allie on a barstool and reached for a slice of bacon.

 

“Morning ladies,” Jon noticed Nina and Desi were helping just like Thanksgiving.  All three of the younger ladies were hiding yawns and downing coffee like it was a lifeline.  Jon noticed the coffee urn from the bar was sat on the counter, that’s why they were using the big mugs.  Grabbing his Rockstar mug that he got from his kids a few years ago and filled it to the rim and sipped and refilled before getting him and Allie a plate.

 

Colleen took his plate and added a huge cinnamon roll and bacon, leaning in for a kiss as she handed him the plate. 

 

“Do we have plans for later Camo, or are you four cooking all day?” Jon asked as he split the roll with Allie.

 

“Cooking and shopping,” Colleen told him as she went back to rolling balls of dough and filling pans.

 

“Shopping. Didn’t we haul all we needed up from Jersey,” Jon asked her?

 

“Fresh fruit and candy,” Colleen smacked his butt as he took the plate and headed to the bar.  “Maybe something for my boyfriend, who got to sleep in till eight, while I was wrist-deep in chocolate Chip cookie dough for his cookie fetish?”

 

“Oh, so now you abuse me and tell me you have a boyfriend?” Jon laughed.

 

“Yeah, from what Camo said about him,” Desie ribbed Jon.  “He’s great in the sack.”

 

Jon smiled and puffed out his bare chest, while Maggie cleared her throat going over to Allie and covered her ears.

 

“No talking like this in front of the C.H.I.L.D.” Maggie reproached the giggling ladies.

 

“Oh Momma Maggie, she’s heard worse than that around this family who Fuc…” Nina started saying before she got a momma stick eye from Maggie. “Misspelled duck is in about every other word out of these Bongiovi boys mouth.”

 

“I have a bar of Ivory soap to clean that one out of their mouths.” Maggie went back to dressing the ham to go into the oven.

 

Jon put the piece of bacon back on the plate and grimaced.

 

“I’ll tell my brothers and kids to lose the F word, Mom,” Jon said and then remembered the only time he heard cuss words out of Colleen's mouth was when they were having sex and she was in the throws of her orgasm.

 

“See that you do Jonny, I hate to have to sit you on the stool with a bar of soap in your mouth, and that goes for the rest of you. I know my daughter never cusses,” Maggie beamed at her blushing daughter, whose eyes were on Jonny.

 

Just then Matt and Tony came into the kitchen in about the same morning outfit as Jon.  The girls busted out laughing.

 

“I got some news for you two, No F word out of your mouths or you’ll be eating a bar of Ivory,” Jon smiled.

 

“Wives and girlfriends too?” Matt asked.

“Yes and Kids,” Jon answered.

 

Maggie went to the sink and held up a brand new bar of Ivory soap.

 

“Shi...Shoot,” Tony backed up with a mug of coffee.

 

“Yes Ma’am,” they both said.

 

It was around noon when Jon, Matt, and Colleen left the beach house.  Their first stop was to find a parking spot at a small strip mall.

 

“I need to go in a few of these stores, you two want to find a bench to wait?” Colleen put her crossbody handbag over her shoulder.

 

“I think Matt should go with you, I see a place I want to check out,” Jon told her as they got out of the car.

 

Matt pulled out his phone and shot off a text. “I’m with the sparrow, you follow the eagle.”  Not waiting on an answer, he followed Colleen to a book store, as he watched Jonny walk toward a store a few doors from the book store.

 

Colleen walked to the desk and talked to the clerk, the young woman pulled out a store eco bag and handed it to Colleen. Smiling she looked in the bag and looked at the girl and handed her a credit card.

 

Matt saw a couple of books on Massage and relaxation titles and thought of Desi.  Picking them up, he headed to the counter. Colleen was getting her recite.  “Do you guys do gift wrapping?” Matt handed the books and his card to the young girl.

 

“Yes sir, if you want to wait.” The young girl said as she rang up the order.

 

“Matty we can pick them up after the next shop,” Colleen told him.

 

It was agreed they would be back in about thirty minutes, then they exited the store.  Jon watched them leave and move to the next store.

 

“Ok, Tony, you can come out from behind the post,” Jon laughed.

 

“What gave me away?” Tony stepped out from behind the post that he stood by.

 

“Ah, I knew Matt wouldn’t let me walk away unguarded.” Jon tossed him the bag with the black bikini he had picked out for Colleen.  She only had a one-piece suit packed for the rest of their holiday.

 

Tony caught the bag and followed Jonny into the book store that Colleen and Matt had left.  Tony was shocked when instead of the biography section Jon had detoured into the romance section.  Pulling a list out of his pocket, Jon read the titles and checked the list. Pulling out several books Jon moved to the counter and paid for the books and then handed the bag to Tony.  This went on as they made it to a few more stores till Tony’s phone beeped.

 

“They’re ready to head to another mall,” Tony told his brother.

 

Jon tossed his keys to Matt to have him drive his car, and he rode with Tony to the mall.  They ended up parking on opposite sides, Jon crammed his hat on his head and kept his sunglasses on.

 

Planning on meeting them in the food court at two-thirty, the first place Jon made a beeline for was Victoria Secrets.

 

“Books, bikini and bloomers, Big brother?  You need to expand your alphabet some,” Tony laughed.

 

“You think you might want to add to Nina’s wish list too?  I bet you might find bloomer shopping as much fun as just being my pack mule,” Jon tossed over his shoulder as the shop's bells rang to show a new shopper.

 

From Vickie’s, they headed to a music store that showed they carried vintage LP’s. There Jon pulled out his cell, he had been having a hard time finding all the ones that were destroyed when she was robbed.  If this showed a bust he had a member of the bands on speed dial. Finding two he hit speed dial.

 

“Hey Beatle Paul, this is Jon Bon Jovi, I need a favor,” Jon said into the phone.  “I’m having a hell of a time finding a Meet the Beatles on Vinyl for my Girlfriend’s collection.”

 

“I know of a shop in Piccadilly I’ll have them look for you Mate, and global it to you,” Paul McCartney told Jon.  “When am I going to meet your bird, man?  Before the wedding, I hope.”

 

“That’s great, and I’ll see about a stopover before we head home from the rest of our holiday,” Jon told his buddy. They talked a few minutes while Tony paid for Jon’s purchases, and they were off again.

 

“Colleen is gonna shit a brick meeting you buddy BP,” Tony said as he followed Jon to another store.

 

“You think?  There are so many I want to introduce her to, I want her to be a part of this side of my life,” Jon checked his watch, then headed to the new age store.

 

Tony raised his eyebrow seeing Mister Allergies walking into a store he could smell before hitting the door.

 

Soon they were in the food court waiting on Matt and Colleen to appear.  Jon had ordered a coffee and hot chocolate at Starbucks and found a table. So far so good, he hadn’t been fan covered or harassed for pictures. Wearing the ugly Christmas sweater and bah humbug ball cap must have worked.

 

Tony sipped his hot chocolate and wishing he had made a car stop with all his bags, which the clerk helped him load into a Santa sack size bags so Colleen couldn’t see where they had been.

 

“When are you going to pop the question?” Tony asked as Jon scanned the crowd.

 

“Tonight after dinner, have your camera ready,” Jon pulled out his phone and sent a text to Matt. ‘Where are you two, it’s almost three and Camo’s hot chocolate is getting cold?’

 

‘In line, when will this hell be over with?’ Matt texted. “Hey Camo JBJ has a hot chocolate ready for you,” Matt told Colleen.

 

“Oh good, I need it.” She finally got to the register to pay at the sex shop they saw on the store list. “Give me your basket to pay for and we’re done.”

 

They headed to the food court. ‘Stand up so we can find you two’ Matt texted. Seeing a man in the ugliest Christmas sweater and ball cap motioning to them. They wove between the tables to get to them.

 

“Great disguise big bro,” Matt accepted his cup of coffee from Tony. “See you got the free Santa Sack over by the gift wrap kiosk.”   Matt lifted the heavy bag.

 

“The only way to shop little bro,” Tony laughed.

 

“Just one more store them I need to get home to help with dinner,” Colleen told Jon.

 

“Why don’t we pick up Pizza for dinner?  Your mom needs a break from cooking as that’s all y’all will be doing tomorrow,” Jon reached for her hand and rubbed her ring finger, thinking about the time he’ll ship that canary diamond on it.

 

“I’ll call mom, you order the pizzas,” Colleen told him.

 

That done they split up and headed to the cars.

 

The Bongiovi telephone service got around so that everyone knew but Colleen what was going to happen after dinner. Plans were changed and champagne was put in the bar fridge to chill.

 

Chapter 56

 

Chapter 56

 

The dance was really nice and Jake was voted Holiday King.  “You know Colleen, there’ll be no living with him after tonight,” Jon whispered in Colleen's ear as they swayed to Blue Christmas, on the sidelines of the dance floor.

 

Stephanie saw her dad standing behind Colleen with his arms around her waist, and they were swaying back and forth.  She had heard whispers from the catty bitches who also taught at Polly. She knew they had been giving Colleen hell before her dad had set them straight by pulling his money in sponsorships and the boys out of the school.  She walked over and stood behind her dad.

 

“You two are getting a lot of stink eyes from several of the faculty,” she said softly so only her dad heard her.

 

Jon turned and looked at Stephanie, who motioned with a dip of her chin, a group of teachers who looked like they were sucking lemons all night.

 

“Fuck’em,” Jon grumbled. He was not going to let a bunch of bitches ruin the dance for him and Colleen.

 

It was close to midnight when Jon and Colleen left the dance.  They still had to finish packing so Tony and Nina could head to the Hamptons in the truck with all the boxes Colleen had and the luggage.

 

Tony arrived in a van with his family, and once loaded, they were off to the Hamptons.

 

Jon and Colleen stood in the doorway watching the van pull out. Colleen yawned and snuggled to Jon’s chest.

 

“Someone’s sleepy,” Jon said and he gave her a hug.  “Let’s get some sleep, we don’t need to get up at the ass crack of dawn.  The chopper won’t pick us up till noon.”

 

Jon locked the door while Colleen turned off the tree lights, and they headed up to their haven, known as the master bedroom.

 

Jon flipped on the lights that controlled the shades and bedside table lamps. He found something new each time he walked in the room.  The only thing not changed in the room was his closet.  The only girly girl thing in the whole room was a few of the pillows and her bedside lamp, even the colors in the room were growing on him. Colleen had been so proud with designing of the room. Her chair, from her old place, sat at one of the windows overlooking the river with a small table with a Tiffany Lamp he found at the shop in Sayreville.  The room felt so comfortable and homey, like a warm hug.

 

The whole place felt like a home now, not a showplace right out of Architectural Digest.  Colleen took the museum and turned it into a home.  A place a kid could run in the rooms and not be afraid to knock something off the table or shelf.

 

Jon went into his closet and kicked off his shoes and socks and then used the one new item in the closet, a butlers chair to hold his Suit jacket and cuff links, no more dropping his clothes on the floor.  He heard the shower start and padded to the bathroom, damn he was glad they added the blackout shades like in the family room, or someone with a telescope could see him buck ass naked.

 

He slowly opened the door and walked into the bathroom, the steamed-up glass door showed the pink outline of his woman.  She was leaning back her face to the rain faucet in the ceiling of the shower, she was rinsing the shampoo out of her hair and humming to the piped-in music of Christmas carols. Gone were the old gold fixtures and the butterscotch walls, in its place, were pale blue walls with chrome fixtures. Hell, he might as well turn her loose on the Hampton house, she did such a great job on High Point.

 

“Are you going to stand there or come in?” Colleen asked. Opening the shower door she crooked her finger at Jon.

 

“Oh babe I won’t be the only one coming in that shower,” Jon growled as he stepped in the shower and pinned her to the wall, his lips devouring hers.

 

”Ooh talk dirty to me Sir,” Colleen crooned in her own growl.

 

Jon’s mind went to what they had read the night before, so he was the daddy Dom to her daddy’s girl.  He loved it when she got kinky after reading with him.  One day to surprise him she dressed in her best school teacher outfit when he was on a call with John Shanks.  He about forgot to hang up the call.                      

 

Jon felt Colleen's legs wrap around his waist and her newly trimmed bush was grinding against his dick.   This was going to over before it could start, because there was a knock on the bathroom door.

 

“Dad, have you seen Camo, I really need her,” Stephanie said as she knocked on the door. 

 

“She’s in tears Jonny,” Colleen said as she took a deep breath.  “Can I get a rain check on the fucking?”

 

Jon let her go and banged his hand on the wet wall of the shower.  “Cockblocked by my loving daughter.”  Jon turned the water from hot to cold, “Again!”

 

“I’m here Steph, give me a second to dry off,” Colleen called out toward the door.  Quickly drying off she pulled on her bathrobe and headed into the bedroom. “What’s wrong sweetie.”

 

“The girls don’t want me to go skiing with them,” Stephanie cried as Colleen sat by her on the bed and wrapped her in her arms.  “They just want their daddy to be with them.”

 

“Steph, this is all new and raw for them, you need to see their point in the matter,” Colleen tried to get Steph to see the young girl’s point of view.

 

“Why can’t they accept me the way we accept you?” Stephanie sniffed.

 

“Steph, they’re still in the pray mom and dad will remarry phase and they’ll be a family again,” Colleen heard the bathroom door opening, and Jon came out wrapped in a towel and headed to the closet.

 

“Sorry daddy,” Stephanie sniffed as she saw her father come out of the bathroom.

 

“One of these days your own kids will show you why you should always lock the bedroom doors, Steph.”  Jon smiled and headed to the Butler’s pantry once he was dressed for bed.

 

Colleen and Stephanie giggled, Stephanie rolled her eyes. That caused Colleen to really laugh out loud.

 

Jon came out with two cups of Hot Chocolate for his girls. “I’m gonna check on the Nutt Crew,” Jon kissed the top of their heads.  “This way you two can talk.”

 

They waited till Jon left the room.

 

“Remember when we had that talk about dating a man with children, I told you to give them time to get to know you?  Well it’s only been a few weeks, and this is their first Christmas without their mom,” Colleen held her hand and looked Stephanie in the eye.

 

“But this is our first Christmas without our mom, and we accept you into the family,” Stephanie lowered her eyes.

 

“Not the same thing, their mom is still in their lives, I’m living with a ghost,” Colleen admitted. “Your mom might be dead, but she’s still in this house and the Hamptons house.  Your dad let me make it our home, but he was there the whole time, watching.  Why do you think I asked you before I touched the family rooms before I touched anything?”

 

Stephanie thought about what all she said.

 

“You and Greg are just starting out, those girls might accept you as a friend of their daddy’s, but they still see you as a reason mommy and daddy aren’t in the same house,” Colleen lifted Stephanie chin.  “Your ghost is alive and breathing.”

 

“I never thought of that,” Stephanie said.

 

“You have to let them see, you’re not trying to take their mom’s place,” Colleen smiled. “Come with me.”

 

Colleen stood up and reached out her hand to Stephanie.  They went out of the bedroom and downstairs to the family wall going to Jon’s office. Colleen flipped on the light and it illuminated the pictures on the wall.  Their mom was still there in the family photos, along with the one's Tony took at Thanksgiving of the six of them.

 

“See, your mom is still here, and still in your hearts,” Colleen whispered as Stephanie walked down the hall looking at the pictures. “I can never take her place in your hearts, but you’ve let me take up a small corner in there too.”

 

Jon stood quietly behind Colleen listening to what she said.  It just made him love her more.

Chapter 55

 

Chapter 55

 

Colleen sat in the teachers’ lounge during lunch and went Christmas shopping. She was getting stocking stuffers and nick-knacks, and bits and bobs for the whole family.  She had cologne for all the ladies, earrings, coat pins, and gift cards, for the men it was cologne, cookies, cheese blocks, gift cards. All of them would have oranges and imported penny candies.  This was an O’Sullivans traditions Midnight Mass, then open stockings.  Jon had told her they didn’t usually do Midnight Mass, but he would go and he’d talk it over with the kids.

 

She had hoped Desi would give her some idea what to get Jon, but all she did was suggest pulling names, but it was too late. Nina said we should set a limit on the gifts to the adults. She had already gotten the little girls American Girl dolls, Wilson had taken her to the mall in Paramus, she even found a little doll ornaments for the tree that would be up by the time they all descended on the Hamptons.

 

The night of the Polly Prep holiday dance, Jon had gone to Pennington to get Jake and Romeo for the weekend. Following the party the family would head to the Hamptons, the boys were excited to see friends at the dance.  They both had dates for the dance, Jon was doing chauffeur and chaperone duty with Colleen.

 

“How’s the house coming along dad?” Romeo asked.

 

“The bedroom was finished two days ago, the family room will be done the same time the butler’s pantry and Camo’s office is done,” Jon told the boys.  “It’s really different but in a great way.”

 

“Dad who is Camo?” Jake asked.

 

“Jakey that’s Miss O’s nickname, Steph told me when she told us emailed me about what Miss O wanted for Christmas,” Romeo rolled his eyes at his brother.

 

“Oh, I haven’t read mine yet,” Jake told his brother.

 

“Steph gave her the nickname when they had girl’s night,” Jon told Jake.

 

“Can we call her Camo now, since she’s in the family now,” Romeo asked.

 

Jon thought about the night after the Girl’s night when they cuddled in the bed.

 

‘Camo, I love that,’ Jon said as he rubbed her back in an afterglow rest between their night of makeup sex. Not that they argued or anything, he was not as young as he used to after a mind-blowing sex session. ‘You know in the Bongiovi family, once a family member gives you a nickname, your considered a part of the Fam.’

 

Colleen had giggled as she tickled his stomach, drawing hearts on his damp skin.  ‘Why doesn’t Nina have a nickname?’

 

“Tone didn’t like the nickname I gave her so she’s just Nina,” Jon shivered and laced his fingers with hers.

 

“Can we dad?” Jake took him out of his daydream.

 

“Sure, you’ll have to ask her,” Jon said as he pulled up to the hidden gate to the house, rolling down the window and put his index finger on the touchpad.  The gate swung open.

 

“Cool dad, is that new?” Romeo asked.

 

“Yeah Uncle Tone will do your tomorrow when he brings Nina over to help Camo pick up some last-minute stuff.” Jon went around the studio to the new drive that connects to the parking pad by the front door.

 

Jon helped the boys bring in their laundry and backpacks.  When he opened the front door the boys walked in and stopped as a huge tree greeted them, it was decorated all in blue.  This was really different Blue and Silver dripping in pearls and crystals.

 

“Wow!” both boys gasped.  There was never a tree in the foyer before.

 

“Yeah, that’s what I said the first I saw of it,” Jon told them. “Hey Camo,” Jon yelled out and looked upstairs as Colleen peeked over the banister. “These mangy mutts followed me home, can we keep them?”

 

“I guess so, since they’re so cute,” Colleen laughed as she came downstairs in Yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt, her hair in doggy ears.  “Hey boys Merry Christmas.”

 

“Merry Christmas, uh, Camo?” Romeo went into Colleen's open arms for a hug.

 

“Merry Christmas, Roe,” Colleen hugged him. 

 

Jake stepped in behind Romeo for his hug.

 

“You can call me Camo boys, I’m no longer your teacher.” Colleen told them.

 

Jon had his cellphone out and took the picture of Colleen and the boys in front of the tree.  He’d send it to Tony to print out for him.

 

“I thought I smell prep school stinky laundry out here,” Jesse said as he came out of the kitchen eating a sandwich. He walked over to the three by the tree.

 

“Oh my God, do you two ever do laundry at that school?” and joined her brothers and Colleen, Jon kept snapping pictures of his family.

 

“I’ll toss these in the laundry room for later, I have a sandwich platter in the kitchen and hot chocolate in the coffee urn.  I need to finish getting ready,” Colleen told them.  She and Stephanie headed upstairs. Into the new master bedroom.

 

“Greg really did a great job in here, that bed just makes this room,” Stephanie said as they went into Colleen closet where she had her dress hanging up.  “So you decided on the green dress?”

 

“Red dress with this hair would look trashy,” Colleen said as the pulled dress and took it to the bathroom, to work on Colleen's hair.

 

Downstairs Jon and the three boys hit the try of sandwiches.

 

“Ok crew take that stink to the laundry room and start a load, I don’t want Camo doing your laundry, she has worked too hard to get the paint smell out of the house to have you two stank it up,” Jon said as he got a mug of Hot Chocolate.

 

“Ok, dad,” Romeo said as he grabbed a plate for his sandwich. 

 

“Grab mine too Roe,” Jake said as he got them a hot chocolate mug.

 

He waited on Romeo to get back, when he was taking a longer than usual time taking the laundry bags to the laundry room, Jake went to find him.

 

“You get lost, Roe?”  Jake went into the foyer. “Roe?”

 

“In here Jakey,” Romeo called from the family room.

 

Jake waked in and saw what was holding up Romeo.

 

“Wow, this is different too,” Jake said as he walked further into the room.  Gone were the heavy gold drapes and the uncomfortable sofa and chairs.  The room was painted a light almost white gray, there were white fluttery things on the windows. The chairs and sofa were gray with actual pillows in a rainbow of colors with huge beanbag like pillows on the floor.

 

“I think it’s great,” Romeo looked at Jake.

 

That was where Jon and Jesse found them.

 

“Y’all did a great job in her dad,” Jesse told him.

 

“I just handed her the checkbook and her own black card,” Jon laughed.  “Greg helped her with the big things, on the weekend they went to his renovating places.  Tony set up all the electronic changes.  Watch this,” Jon went to his huge controller and punched a button and shades dropped from the top of all the windows, as the television screen came up out of the floor and the glass panel over to projector cleared to put the news on.

 

He looked at the Nutt crew stand there with their mouths open.

 

Stephanie walked in and laughed.

 

“Dad, now would be the time to have that little meeting before Camo comes down,” Stephanie dropped onto the sofa and waited for the Nutt Crew to join her.

 

Jon went and closed the door and reached into his pocket, drawing out the blue box out.

 

“I need to ask you four something important.  I know it seems fast to y’all, but to me, it feels so right,” Jon paced a little then stopped and opened the box and turned it toward them.  The canary diamond sparkled in the light from the TV.

 

Stephanie punched the button to turn off the TV and raise the shades.

 

“I want to get your approval to ask Colleen to marry me on Christmas Day, I already asked Cullen for his approval and now I’m asking you four. I know it’s only been about twelve months since your mom left us, and we’ve only been about seven since I met Colleen, but it just feels so right.” Jon final took a breath and looked at their faces for some proof they were okay with it all.

 

The boys looked at their sister, who had tears rolling down her smiling face. She’s one of the four of them that had been home this whole time.

 

“You better plan on going down on one knee, is all I got to say dad,” Stephanie said though her tears.

 

“Well that’s one,” he turned to the boys waiting.

 

Jake thought about it, he really liked Colleen or now Camo, she really saved his bacon with his plagiarism case. She could’ve hung him out to dry and gotten him expelled.

“Have you told grandma yet?” Jesse asked.

“Not yet, I figured when before we go to midnight Mass on Christmas eve with Colleen and her family, we can do a skype call and tell her the news,” Jon slipped in the Christmas Eve Mass in on them.

 

The four of them looked at their dad. He was serious about going to midnight mass.  The last time they had darkened a church was at their mom’s funeral.

 

“We want you to be happy dad, and if Colleen makes you happy, then we approve,” Jesse said and the two younger nodded their heads in agreement.

Just then the doorknob rattled Jon closed the ring box with a snap and tossed it to Stephanie, who put it in her sweater pocket.

 

“Just in time Camo, I was showing the boys the new family room,” Jon said.

 

“I think I hear my phone ringing,” Stephanie said as she left the room and headed upstairs.  She detoured into the master bedroom and put the ring back in her dad’s bedside table, and rushed to her bedroom and got her cell.  By the time she got back with the family, they were in the kitchen eating sandwiches. 

 

“Glad you left me one,” She walked behind each of her brothers and smacked them in the head.  “You look great Camo, doesn’t she guys?’

 

Jon looked at his watch, “She looks gorgeous.”

 

“We need to get ready to go,” Jesse said as he put his plate and mug in the sink.

 

The younger boys followed his lead and after putting their stuff in the sink they went up and got dressed.  Jon went and loaded the dishwasher and started it to wash, then he too went up to get ready.

 

Stephanie and Colleen went into Stephanie's room for her to get ready.  Colleen pulled an amazon box out from under Stephanie bed.

 

“You think your dad would like this,” Colleen said as she opened the box and showing her the black and brown messenger bag to hold his laptop and all his journals and legal pads he used when he traveled.

 

Stephanie came out in her outfit for tonight’s dance.  “Oh, he’ll love it.”

 

“I noticed his old black one was held together with duct tape.” Colleen smiled and put it back in the box.

 

They were all coming down the stairs when the gate buzzed.  Jon pulled out his phone and looked at the gate camera.

 

“There’s the limo for you boys to go pick up your dates.  Remember curfew is one am.” Jon told his sons.  “We’ll see you at the school.”

 

Wilson was waiting with the town car when the limo pulled up to the house.  As the boys loaded into the limo, Jon, Colleen and Stephanie got in the town car.  Wilson used his gate remote to let the limo and town car out.