Chapter 65

 Jon sat up on the sundeck with his guitar, he had his trusty notebook on the lounger with him.  They had spent the day out on a beach at Harvest Cay, which made the boys happy.  Jesse and Jake met up with a couple of girls from a cruise ship, and spent the day chatting and playing in the surf, emails and phone numbers were swapped.   All in all, it was a great day on the beach.  No one hassled Jon and Colleen, it wasn’t like if they had gone to Saint Barts, no Camera clicks, and no demands for autographs. Colleen was getting a really nice tan, and thanks to the sundeck, no tan marks.  Thinking about their nights on the yacht a lyric floated in his head, he had to get it down on paper. He was trying to get the tune in his mind to match the lyric, which was the hard part of putting a song together.  

Colleen came up to the deck with a fresh bottle of wine for Jon, and a coke for her.

“How’s it coming?  You’ve been humming all day,” Colleen sat on the foot of his lounger. “Do you need to be alone to write?”

“No, it might help if you listen to what I have so far,” Jon strummed the intro. “I started it after meeting you and even Lema came over and played it on the piano.”

“So you’ve worked on it for about six months?” Colleen sipped her coke.

“There or about, I hadn’t picked up the guitar for, hell a year, but it hit me one night after you and I were on a date,” Jon did a key change and smiled at her.  He had vivid memories of the night, it was the first night they had made love.  “It’s called Real Love.”

“They're putting up the chairs to close, she let me settle up my tab

I tore the button off your coat as you jumped up to hail us a cab

We can get a cup of coffee unless you gotta get back home

Sitting across that table, a gypsy couldn't read her mind

I took her hand and told her I just wanna crawl into your eyes

She shook her head and said, "it's cold" cold is just a cheap disguise

Have you ever known a real love?

The kind of love that makes you feel, love?

No, this ain't let's make a deal, love

It'd make an angel give his wings up

It makes you guilty 'cause you want more

If it's a kiss that you would die for

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it could break your heart

It's real love

We drank that muddy pot of coffee it was morning when I walked her home

I've never been this lonely, lying in this bed alone.

Her words still ringing in my head, I said I sunk men like a stone

Have you ever known a real love?

The kind of love that makes you feel, love?

No, this ain't let's make a deal, love

It'd make an angel give his wings up

It makes you guilty 'cause you want more

If it's a kiss that you would die for

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it can break your heart

It's real love

I put on that same shirt, and I ran out the door

Stole a fistful of roses from the sidewalk store.

Just my heart in my hand, I had nothing to throw

Standing up on a front step calling to your window

Have you ever known a real love?

The kind of love that makes you feel, love?

No, this ain't let's make a deal, love

It'd make an angel give his wings up

It makes you guilty 'cause you want more

If there's a kiss that you will die for

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it can break your heart

It's real love

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it can break your heart

It's real love”

Jon sang the words that held so much meaning to him, it’s when the light came back into his life.  He strummed the last chord and as it faded over the water he looked up into her shining tear-filled eyes.  “You hate it?”

“I love it, it’s about us,” Colleen wiped the tears out of her eyes.  “I love it.”  She stood up and walked over, as Jon saw her intent and placed the guitar on the other lounger, Colleen sat in his lap.  “I’ve never had a song written about me, and it is perfect,” Her lips inches from his, she leaned in and gave him a kiss that showed the love the song’s words gave her.

Jon pulled her into his chest, his heart swelling in his chest, he had found his Muise again in Colleen.  He could now write songs again.  After Richie leaving on them Dorothea killing herself, the words wouldn’t come. Two Thousand and thirteen about did him in, killed the band. But this petite redhead was the sunshine that resurrected his life and his career.  In a few days, two thousand and fifteen would ring in a new life and a new thrill to write again.  Shock of all shocks it was a love ballad to start of the New Year. 

Matt and Tony were coming to get Jon and Colleen for dinner, but both stopped as they heard Jon sing to Colleen.

“Looks like we’re going back to work Brother,” Matt said as he patted Tony on the back.

“I see a long road trip in our near future, Bro,” Tony smiled looking up to the sundeck.  “Let’s give them some alone time.”

“Jonny, dinners ready, you and Colleen take your time,” Matt hollered up to them.

“We’ll be down in a little bit, don’t have the kids wait,” Colleen yelled back at Matt.   “We’ll be down soon.”

“Not too soon,” Jon told her as his hands slid up her leg and under her sundress.  “Is this something new?”  

“Desi and I went to shop while Nina was on kid duty, do you like it?” Colleen sat up and started to stand up when the hand on her thigh squeezed it.

“I’d like it better off of you, but it’s really pretty,” Jon told her, just as a chopper went overhead.  

“I see we picked up observers,” Colleen slowly stood up.  “Maybe after dinner and before the ball drops you see how it looks on the hanger.”

Jon reached for his guitar and put it in the case after putting his notepad in.  Handing the bottle of wine and his goblet to Colleen, they headed to dinner.

Chapter 64

 Jon rolled over and wonder of wonder the bed was empty. “Fuckin hell,” Jon moaned.  Sitting up he listened to see if she was just in the bathroom, nope all quiet.  “Did I not tell her, she had to be in bed till I woke up?  I distinctly remember telling her those words.”

Just then he heard the key in the lock on the door.  It began to slowly open, the smell of coffee hit him, had she gone to get him coffee?  Colleen slowly backed into the room rolling a cart of coffee, covered plates and Danish.  

“Did I not tell you Miss O’Sullivan, future Mrs. Bongiovi, you are to be in this bed when I wake up?” Jon asked in a very dominating voice.

“Shit, you were supposed to be asleep when I got back,” Colleen gasped.  Dressed in one of Jon’s tee shirts and her flip flops. “I was planning on breakfast in bed.”

‘”I was planning on us having a morning sex break,” Jon told her as she pushed the cart close to the foot of the bed. 

“You’re always thinking of a morning round of hide the pickle,” Colleen laughed as she fixed him a plate of eggs, bagel and bacon.  Adding a mug of coffee he walked to his side of the bed handing him the mug and plate, then leaning down kissed his lips.

“Hide the pickle hum, big chilly willy or a kosher dill?”  He put the plate on his lap and sipped the coffee.

“Gherkin because they’re crispy to taste,” Colleen giggled and tried to get away from Jon’s grabbing hands.  Losing the battle she ended up ass in a plate of warm eggs. “Shit, how do we explain egg yellow on my ass when they do the laundry?”

“Gherkin, a fucking Gherkin is small, more like a Kosher Dill, to hell with the laundry” Jon said pulling the steaming sheet off his chest.

“Who told you to grab me before setting the fucking cup down?” Colleen struggled to get off his lap and back to standing, ripping the coffee stained shirt over her head.  There were red spots on her chest and neck.  Rushing into the bathroom to splash water on her next.  “I have fucking coffee Hickes.”

“Next time don’t get out of bed,” Jon said as he pulled the sheets off the bed and put them in a pile by the door. Picking up the cold and congealed eggs off the floor, putting the plate on the cart.

“Ok, next time,” Colleen stuck her head out of the bathroom door.  “Will shower sex erase the missing morning hide the pickle?”

“I think this once that would be a yes,” Jon said as he headed to the bathroom.

Much later they joined the family around the table, Jon walked over to the buffet set up and fixed two plates.  When he got back to the table, sitting one before Colleen and then sitting down, with his own plate when the young lady filled his coffee cup and Colleen’s.

“I thought I saw you earlier on my jog around the deck, take a food trolley to the room?” Matt asked as he sipped his coffee.

“We had a little mishap with a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs,” Colleen said looking down at her plate trying not to laugh.

Jon gave Matt his own personal stink eye, Matt just laughed it off.

Colleen looked at Jon and busted out laughing along with Matt.

Jon rolled his eyes and joined in the laughter.

The purser came to the table to talk about putting out the sea toys.  “We have the slide going out and we have Jet Ski’s in the water and float’s for the younger ones.”

Jon thanked her and yelled to his boys about the things for them, and to be careful.  The adults finished eating, Desi asked Colleen to join her and Nina on the tanning deck.  “Matty, watch the kids,” Desi said as she got up from the table.  “You too Tony, you’re on daddy duty,” Nina told him. “Use that new Go Pro you bought for underwater pictures.”

Colleen looked at Jon and smiled as she took off her beach cover-up and showed off her tiny black bikini, “You can join your brothers on Kid Watch.”

The three women headed up the stairs to the top deck. 

“Sun block Colleen, don’t get burned up there,” Jon called as he looked at his brothers smirky faces.  “At least my kids don’t need to be watched.”

“Uncle Jonny, can I ride with you on the jet ski?” Allie asked Jon.  “You won’t dump me off like Daddy.”

Jon looked at Tony and smirked, “You got it Alliekins, give me about thirty minutes and we’ll get on the Jet Ski.”

“Okay Uncle Jonny,” Allie yelled from the launch rim splashing her feet in the water.

Colleen and her future sister in laws claimed a lounger each after lathering up on sun block. 

“You two set a date yet?” Nina asked Colleen. 

“Not yet, but spring sometime, I was thinking of a backyard, but Jon isn’t on board with that idea. He said the paparazzi would be in the air over the whole thing.” Colleen told them as she got on her stomach.

“Yeah that a hazard of marrying a rock god,” Desi told her.  “I loved your small Church at the Hamptons.”

“That would make my parents happy and have the reception at the bar or the club.  I just don’t know how Jon’s mom would take it.” Colleen rolled her eyes. “I need you two to help me pick the perfect dress.”

“Yeah Carol is a handful, but we’d be happy to help with the dress,” Nina said.  “Too bad you can’t do ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ Jon might put his foot down on that.”

“Why would he do that?  Not like I’d do that, I want my dress to be special,” Colleen told them.  “But I wouldn’t put a kibosh on looking there.”

“You got an idea of what you want?”  Desi asked.

“Irish lace, maybe sleeves, Maybe a trumpet style, I haven’t much thought into it,” Colleen told them, which got them to laughing.

One of the ship pursers brought up glasses and a picture of water with cucumbers in it.

“Ooh spa water,” Nina moaned accepting a goblet of spa water.

Desi took hers and Colleen took hers.

“A toast to the next Jovi wife.”  Nina said as the girls leaned in to click glasses.

“To Colleen,” Desi said.

“To Colleen,” Answered Nina.

Colleen giggled.

 The purser went to the captain with the information she got from the three woman on the sundeck.  The purser then went to the ladies that would do the master bedroom and informed them of the engaged couple that were in that room. Rose petals on the bed were warranted.

The rest of the day was spent in the water and the sundeck.  The girls went on mommy duty while the guys hit the sundeck. 

Chapter 63

 Jake, Jesse, and Romeo helped their uncles unload the bus.

“Hey Uncle Matty you know why dad’s so upset?” Jesse asked as he stacked the suitcases on the trolley.

“You know how your dad hates to have his plans screwed up.  He worked on this for a month,” Matt handed him another suitcase.  He had overheard what Colleen said to Jon, about the boys who weren’t happy with this new tradition.  “First you three bumming about the Maldives and plus a hell of a lot of bad weather, it was more than he could handle.”

“Dad heard what we said?” Jake had walked up to take the full trolley.

Matt had also heard what Colleen said and how upset she had been.

“Yeah he heard you, do you think maybe you three were being sort of brats? This being Colleen's first Christmas with you kids, being in your mom's shadow isn’t very comforting,” Matt told them waiting on the empty trolley to come back.  “Wait till the fans get hold of the fact that your dads engaged.”

Jesse, Jake, and Romeo stopped and looked at each other.  They were in deep shit.

Jon was in talking to the captain of the Yacht about what he wanted for them, a place for them to hit a beach a few days, but no one was to know he and his family were on this trip.  Privacy was the key.

Jon found Matt hauling a luggage trolley onto the deck, where the staff of the yacht waited to take to the rooms.  Jon had a trust thing with his luggage, after finding shirts and jeans missing out of his stage locker in LA. Heads rolled and a new wardrobe mistress was hired.  For some reason, his Takamine was along on this vacation. ‘He must be working on a new album, then tour, wonder if the wedding will be before, after, or during tour.  Knowing Jon, before so he can have a real honeymoon this time,’ Matt thought.

“Hey we need to talk,” Matt told Jon.  “As far as the boy’s attitude adjustment, they think you, not Colleen, heard their brattiness.”

“The stink eye must’ve worked,” Jon finally smiled. “I can’t believe how they’ve acted.  I think they need to stew a little more before they’ll come to me.”

“Yeah, I think so too,” Matt agreed.  

They split when Jon went to find Colleen. Checking the hot tub first, he found Desi and Nina, they told him she was in their suite. Climbing the steps to where the captain said their suite was, he found the door open and Colleen putting their go-bag stuff away.  Jon leaned on the doorjamb and watched her.  He could see her on her first tour, taking care of him.

“Now that’s what I like to see,” Colleen said as she finally acknowledged Jon watching her.  

“The views not bad on this side either,” Jon walked into the suite and shut the door.  “Our luggage is coming soon.  Captain Mike said lunch is set up when we want, buffet-style today.”  Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled her into the V of his legs.  “I thought you’d be with the ladies in the hot tub.”

Colleen ran her fingers in Jon’s silver locks of hair, leaning down she covers his mouth with hers.  Jon slipped his hands around to hold onto her ass cheeks.  Just then there was a knock on the door before they could say they were there, the door opened and the porter came into the suite and brought in their bags.

Colleen looked down at Jon and laughed.

“Lunch?”  Colleen shook her head.

“Lunch,” Jon stood up and took her hand as they left the room.  “Remind me to find the do not disturb sign for the fucking door.” 

Colleen laughed all the way to the buffet.

Much later the yacht left Key West, Colleen and Jon stood at the upper deck and watched the sunset,

“This is beautiful,” Colleen cuddled in the circle of Jon’s arms.  “I almost hate to go back in a week.”

“If you didn’t have to work, I’d say let’s send the kids back and stay in Key West,” Jon kissed her neck. 

The sound of footsteps on the stairs to where Jon and Colleen stood, Jesse was the first to join them, followed by Jake and Romeo.

“We need to apologize to you two,” Jesse said as they watched their dad and Colleen move from the rail to the sectional seats.

“Oh, is that so?” Jon said as he gave Colleen’s hand a squeeze. “Why do you need to apologize?”  

“Well we might’ve said some things that we shouldn’t,” Romeo told his dad.  “We really didn’t want to go that far, it would take almost two days to get there.”

“And our friends couldn’t come,” Jake said as he looked from Colleen to his dad.  “We always got to bring a friend with us, talking to the fans was not allowed.”

“And, you let Steph go home with Greg and his girls,” Jesse finally let his dad know what really broke the camel’s back.  

“I let her go back because she asked,” Jon told his sons. “I did the no friends so we could do family things.  If you didn’t want to come, why not just tell me, before I planned all this?”

“You two seemed so happy and wanted these new traditions, why did we have to go to the India Ocean to make a new tradition?” Jake asked.  “Why with all the other islands in the Atlantic we could’ve gone to?”

Colleen listened to their arguments and had to agree, they really didn’t talk to the kids on the where, just the why.  She placed her hand on Jon’s thigh and gave it a squeeze.

“I agree with you and your dad, I wish you guys would’ve said something sooner,” Colleen said as she turned to the boys.  “We’re now on the same page, but remember for us to work as a family, you have to speak up. Mindreading is not easy to learn this late in life.  Can we just enjoy this week and move forward from here?”

The three boys looked at each other and nodded.

“Okay, I think I heard dinner was ready if anyone was hungry,” Jon told them as he covered his hand over Colleen’s and linked his fingers with hers. Once they were alone again he looked up at the sky.  “Thank you, but I thought all teachers were mind readers, or it seemed when I was in High School they seemed that way.”

“Nope, but we are all seeing and that comes from the eyes in the back of our heads,” Colleen laughed.  They went down to eat with the family.  

Much later as they got ready for bed, Jon came up as Colleen brushed her hair.

“Have I told you today how much I love you?”

Chapter 62

 It was going to be a long flight, which Jon and Colleen dozed.  Colleen woke up and headed toward the front galley for a snack.  Granted her mom had sent a huge care package of cookies for the rest of the holiday, but she was craving salt.  As she got near the seats with the older boys, she heard them talking.

“If we’d gone to St Bart’s we’d be on the beach by now,” Jake moaned.  “The Maldives is more for adults than kids, the little dudes will be bored.” He would be bored, he missed Rose already.

“Yeah and the fact that our friends couldn’t come really makes this trip suck,” Jesse said and Romeo agreed.

“I’ll be stuck watching over the little ones, because you two will run off on me,” Romeo complained.  They always went off and left him out.

Hearing this finally from the kids, made her feel like the wicked stepmom in Cinderella.  Suddenly her need for salty chips and coke turned her stomach.  Turning around she headed back to her seat. 

Jon woke up and reached for Colleen, ‘Damn even on the plane I wake up alone’, Jon thought.  Getting up he saw Colleen turn around and walk back to her seat. The look in her eyes, like someone kicked her puppy.

Jon stood up and was going to see what hurt her when the flight attendant told him the pilot wanted to talk to him. Very important, she said.

Jon was in the cockpit for a while the pilot showed him the weather reports and told him it would be a dangerous flight.  As he walked back, he went into his take charge Jon mode, he called out to his brothers and wives.  “I need adults to the back please,” Jon watched Jesse stand up.  “Over 30 adults only. We have to make some decisions, I will let you know soon.”

“We have a problem, the weather is bad, really bad. We can either go to Florida or the Caribbean, but Italy and the Maldives are out. I need to get us a place to stay, Matt contact the ship and tell them a change in plans, and can we still get a ship here in Florida or the Caribbean?” Jon pulled out a map and the other five looked at the map.  Jon placed an X on St Barts, which was out of the mix.

Matt came back to the group, “Ship in Maldives canceled, we can pick up the ship in Key West, I told them I can give them the decisions once we get to Key West.”

“Okay that makes this a whole lot easier, let me call my assistant to get us from Miami to Key West,” Jon reached out and gave Colleen hand a squeeze and noticed her smiling again.

Jon leaned over and whispered, “We need to talk,” He kissed her cheek.

Jon gave the pilot the news then went back and sat with Colleen.  Colleen had a pack of chips and a cold can of coke, she and Desi were talking about going shopping where ever they ended up.  Jon laughed, as he grabbed a chip and sat in the window seat. Reaching for another chip, Colleen snatched the bag away from him.

“Get your own, these are mine,” Candy brought him a bag of chips and a glass of Rose’.  Colleen laughed at him.  “I like coke with my chips.  How can you drink wine with potato chips?”

“I can drink Rose’ every day, with anything,” Jon told her as he crunched a chip loudly.

Jon watched as his brothers and their wives moved back to their seats.  “You look happy we aren’t going to the Maldives,” Jon asked Colleen as they finished their snacks.

“Anyplace as long as we’re together,” Colleen told him.  “Yeah, I’m happy.  I was reading online it’s more of an adult playground.  Maybe for say a honeymoon instead of a family vacation?”

“Honeymoon hum, say a private room on the water?” Jon pulled Colleen on his lap.

“Little skinny dipping?” Colleen giggled. She opened the top button on his shirt and slipped her hand in his shirt.

“And the kids will be happy not in the Maldives?” Jon asked her. He said as he rubbed her back.  Keeping her mind on his questions.

“Well, yeah,” Colleen agreed then it hit her what he said.  “Oh shit, how did you guess?”

“I woke up and saw you walking back, you weren’t smiling the way you are now when we had the change of destinations,” Jon rubbed her back.  “You know you can tell me everything.”

“Don’t say anything to the boys, I don’t want to be the future wicked stepmom who ruined their holiday,” Colleen begged him, her eyes brimming with tears.

That got to Jon, she was more worried about how the boys would take her telling me what they said.  He pulled her closer to his chest.  They sat that way till Candy came to tell them they were landing and to get into their seatbelts.

They landed on the private area of the airport and taxied to the hanger where the transport to Key West waited.

“Grab your luggage people and move it to the bus,” Jon told the boys.

“This doesn’t look or feel like Italy dad,” Jake said.  He looked around at the palm trees.

“That’s because we're in Miami,” Jon loaded his and Colleen’s suitcase.  “Change of plans, due to weather.  We’re going to the Belize area a place called Harvest Cay for the beach, but we have a Yacht to stay on.  Too late to get a house.”

The boys looked at Colleen then to his dad, who was giving them the world's worst stink eye.

“Oh Shit,” Jesse mumbled.

The bus pulled out on the highway and they had a long ride to try and figure out what and who was in deep shit.

Chapter 61 HO HO HO

 HO HO OH NO

The bedroom door flew open and four little kids jumped on the bed, one of them barely missing little Jonny.  Colleen pulled the covers over her head, glad she had on her nightgown when they finally went to sleep.  Jon on the other hand was buck naked under the covers.

“Santa came, Santa came,” Four voices squealed so high only dolphins could understand.

Maggie stood in the doorway biting back her laughter.

“Breakfast first my darlings,” Maggie shoed the kids out.  “I bought you about twenty minutes, you better hurry.”  Maggie closed the door as her laughter could be heard as she went downstairs.

Jon pulled the quit off Colleen’s head.

“Your mom said twenty minutes,” Jon snuggled close, his hand going under the tail of her gown.  “You want your present now or later?”

“You only have eighteen minutes now,” Colleen mumbled as she lifted her hips for Jon to ease up the gown.

Jon smiled as she started to move over Colleen when the door opened with no knock.

“Dad, Santa time for the little dudes,” Jesse, Jake, Romeo, and Stephanie stood in the open doorway.

“Shut the door,” Colleen giggled.

“With you four on the other side,” Jon groaned.  “GET OUT.”

His four kids backed out of the door and shut the door, rolling with laughter.

“Damn locks on the door next year, I swear this will not be a new tradition for them,” Jon continued to slide his hips between her open thighs.

“Fifteen minutes,” Colleen giggled. Colleen sat up so Jon could pull her gown over her head. She put her hands on his shoulders. “If the next person is my dad or Jamie I will kill them.”

“My brothers understand a closed door means keep your ass out,” Jon said as he pulled her nipple between his lips.

“Ah,” Colleen gasped.  “How about their wives?”  It was hard for her to talk as Jon played in her folds till all words left her head.

“Then you can kill them,” Jon groaned no other words were needed.

They used their last twelve minutes to the fullest, a quick shower later they joined the family down in the kitchen.

Things got crazy when the doors to the living room opened at the screaming started.  After all the packages were opened, Colleen slipped away to put out the personal gifts for Jon. These were nowhere PG13 packages.  Jon must’ve beat her upstairs because her side of the bed was covered with packages.

She never heard the door open and close till the lock clicking in.

“I see Santa came while we were downstairs,” Jon said coming up behind her.  He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her neck.

“He’s been very busy,” Colleen said turning in his arms.

“Think he peeked in on us earlier?  Just to see if we went downstairs,” Jon said as he kissed her lips.

“Well you know he sees you when you’re good or bad,” Colleen snuggled in his arms.

“Well we were sort of bad,” Jon patted her on her bottom.

“But we are so good at being bad, don’t you think?” Colleen asked him as she rubbed his butt.

“Let’s open these before we need that bed, some of them are breakable,” Jon said as he let her come out of his arms.

They moved to their side of the bed and picked up the first package. Seems they went to the same stores.  

“Well it must be true that when you stop believing in Santa you get underwear,” Colleen laughed as she opened panties, teddies, and sexy pantie bra sets.

Jon smiled as he held up his penis warmers, jockey briefs, and undershirts.

The one that got the most screams was the albums and the IOU from Sir Paul McCartney for the Meet the Beatles album that was destroyed.

“I told him we’d come and pick it up on the way home,” Jon told her only to nearly fall of the bed, as she launched herself to hug him.

The rest of the packages were quickly opened, seems they had the same idea at the bookstore buying duplicate copies of the Fifty Shades trilogy books.

“Well, we won’t have to share when we read them,” Colleen laughed.  “I bet the clerk gave you a strange look.”

“I told her it was for my girlfriend,” Jon laughed. “Matt bought a set for Desi too.”

“Tony too,” that made them both laugh a little louder.

Colleen leaned over and kissed Jon.  “Thank you, I better go help mom and the ladies get lunch ready.”  

“Oh babe, Stephanie isn’t going on the cruise, Greg and his girls will be here for lunch,” Jon told her as she unlocked the door to go downstairs. “She’s going home with them tonight.”

“Good, I knew she was hoping they would change their minds about her being with them,” Colleen said as she looked back at Jon.

“If they hurt her,” was all Jon said.

Greg and the girls got there with packages for Stephanie.  Colleen pulled out the boxes she had picked up for Stephanie to give the girls, just in case. They squealed at the American Girl dolls and hugged Stephanie.

After Lunch, they saw Greg, Stephanie, and the girls off, with promises of pictures of the cruise.  Jon called his dad to wish him a Merry Christmas to find out he was home in New Jersey while mom was still in Miami.  They talked for a while and Jon texted his mom with a Merry Christmas and a family photo.  He sent the one of all over them on the stairs with him and Colleen standing to the side of the steps, making sure it said Family Christmas picture in the text heading. 

Much later as the younger kids got to sleep, the adults repacked suitcases for the plane ride to India.  Jon had the big plane sent to take them to India, instead of the band plane, just to hold the luggage.

“Just to think you get to wear your new bikini tomorrow on the ship,” Jon said as he closed his suitcase and started on his go-bag.

“I have to pack more than the bikini Jon,” Colleen scolded him.  “Maybe some short sets and sundresses.”

“Don’t forget your new panties and bra’s,” Jon laughed.  “Well, you can leave out the bras.”

Colleen rolled her eyes at Jon.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” Jon asked.

“Yes Christian,” Colleen laughed.

“OH no you didn’t just call me HIS name,” Jon groaned.  I’m nowhere like him.”

“I think you two share a lot of idiosyncrasies,” Colleen said as she closed her suitcase and grabbed her own go-bag. “The pops on my butt for one, or is that just a man thing?”  She took it into the bathroom to pack her pills and Jon’s vitamins, coming out she added her kindle and the fifty shades books, along with slippers and sandals.

“Well I think it’s a guy thing, we see those heart-shaped bottoms and our hands itch to touch it,” Jon told her.

“Well I loaded the movies on your laptop when you were down having a beer with dad,” She giggled as she finished loading her bag and zipping it shut, putting it next to her suitcase by the doors.

“You put porn on my laptop?” Jon had just zipped his laptop bag.

“It’s not porn, they are R. rated,” Colleen sat on the bed to take off her shoes.  “I know you’ve watched porn before.”

Twas the night before Christmas Chapter 60

 

Christmas Eve

Once again Jon rolled over and reached for Colleen, only to find the bed empty on her side.   Once again this week, he’d have to take care of his morning wood in the shower.  Looking at the clock, it was close to nine in the morning. Sitting up in the bed, he reached for his phone.  He had missed two calls from his mom and one from his dad. The voice mail from his dad wasn’t a shock, he knew it was coming, they were separating again.  This was the second time they had taken a breather, in their marriage. Of course, his mother’s voice message was blaming Colleen for the split.  He decided to put his mother on an allowance, if she won’t see the damage her viciousness was causing by herself, maybe this would help.  He would support his dad and Tony’s sauce business, but mom would be on an allowance.  

After taking a hot shower he dressed and headed down to the kitchen.  It was full of the women in his family.  Maggie was calling out directions like a military general, and her happy little soldiers in Santa hats were snapping too.  Going up behind Colleen he put his chin on her shoulder and his hands around her waist.

“When we get on that ship, you don’t get out of bed till I do, or I might have to pink your ass,” he whispered in her ear.  

“Momma, he threatened me,” Colleen told her mother, as she fed Jon an apple slice she had cut for pies.

“Then you must’ve deserved it, sweetie,” Maggie told her as she cut butter into the dough on his counter.

That statement brought laughter to the other women in the room.

“Did I miss breakfast?”  Jon said still holding onto her waist.

“I saved you a plate of bacon in the warmer, and a bagel,” Colleen told him as she turned her head for a kiss.

Jon gave her a smacking kiss on her lips and as he uncurled himself from her he popped her butt. That sounded loud in the suddenly quiet kitchen.

“Ouch,” Colleen squealed. “Momma.”

“Yep, you must’ve deserved it, Colleen,” Her mother rolled her eyes.

Jon laughed getting his plate out of the warmer of the stove. Taking it into the living room where Stephanie came and handed him a mug of coffee.

“Hey Dad, would you be mad if I didn’t go on the cruise?” Stephanie sat beside him on the sofa, looking at the tree in the corner of the room with half the floor covered with packages.

“Greg?” Jon asked her.

“Yeah, he called me this morning to see when I would be home,” she turned and looked at him.  “The girls missed me.”

Jon sat his plate and mug on the table and turned to face his baby girl. “Stephanie, I don’t want to see you hurt like you were after the dance, it killed me that this man could hurt you like that,” Jon said softly

Stephanie placed her hand on his arm, “Dad, I love him so much, I want his girls to see me the way we see Camo,” Stephanie told him, “I think they’re starting to accept me because they asked for me to be around.”

“How will get back to Jersey?” Jon asked her.

“They’re coming tomorrow for lunch, and I’ll go back with them,” She told him.

“We’ll miss you, but if it’s what you want,” was all he got out before Stephanie threw her arms around him and hugged him.

Stephanie jumped up and ran back into the kitchen, Colleen stood in the doorway watching them.

“If he hurts her, I’ll kill him,” Jon told Colleen.

“Did my dad tell you that?” Colleen asked as she came in and sat on his lap.

“Not in those words, but the look in his eye told me all I needed to know,” Jon admitted as he cuddled Colleen to his chest. Rubbing her back he sighed. “I know she’s almost thirty years old, but damn it she’s my baby girl.”

“She’ll always be your baby girl, but just think Jon,” Colleen sat up and put his face in her hands. “Those girls might be your first grandkids, other little girls to spoil rotten,”

“Oh my God, grandpa,” Jon gasped.  “I’m not ready.”

Colleen laughed, “At least you won’t need to change their diapers.”

“That’s one blessing,” Jon pulled her back down to his chest, kissing the crown of her head.

“Uncle Jon,” Isabella said from the doorway.

“Yes Izzie,” Jon answered and looked at Matt’s daughter.

“I’m so sorry, don’t be mad at me,” Izzie stood there in tears.

Jon waved her over and pulled her up in his arms as Colleen stood up to give up her spot in Jon’s arms to Izzie.

“I’m not mad, I could never be mad at you sweetie,” he told her as he wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

“I’ll never do it again Uncle Jon,” Izzie said. “Never ever.”

 

“Aunt Colleen had some cookies in the kitchen, why don’t you go get us a cookie?” Jon asked.

Jon saw Matt standing in the doorway, watching his daughter make her apologies to her uncle.

Once Izzie was out of the room, Jon motioned for Matt to come and sit down.

“Dad sent me a text, did you get one?” Jon finished his now cold coffee.

“About the separation?  How many does this make seven or eight?” Matt snatched a slice of bacon from the plate.

“Second, it just feels like eight,” Jon pulled the plate out of Matt’s reach.  “It’ll get worse before it gets better, this time mom is blaming Colleen for this.”

“Damn, when she goes off her meds, she really goes off,” Matt said as Tony came into the room.

“You two talking about Mom again? Let’s make a pact,” Tony snatched a strip of bacon, “No mom talk till we get back to Jersey, in the spirit of the season, happiness.”

“Sounds like a plan, Bro,” Matt agreed.

“I’m in, after tomorrow, no mom talk,” Jon agreed.

------***-----***-----

After Mass they all congregated into the Livingroom, it was stocking time. Colleen sat on Jon’s lap as her mother passed out each stocking.

“Wow was this all in one of those boxes Tony brought up?” Jon whispered in her ear.

“Santa’s little helper,” Colleen laughed.  Tony was up capturing all this for the family.  The little girls loved their mini-dolls and princess jewelry and candy.  The little boys loved their hot wheels, army guys, and the candy.  Each stocking had an orange, candy, and little dollar store goodies.

Jon took his stocking, the fruit, nuts, and candy reminded him of when he was a kid.  The pens, paper clips, and hot wheels car made him chuckle. “Thanks, babe, I love it.” Then at the very toe of the sock, he found a coupon book for Frosty’s from Wendy’s.  “Trying to fatten me up?”

“I know how you like a little non-dairy treat every once in a while.” Colleen accepted Jon’s kiss and started to pull things from her own stocking.  She was really enjoying this time with all the family together.

Soon it was time for the milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.  All the kids off to bed, while Cullen, Matt, Jamie, and Jon went to the bar in Tony’s van to pick up Santa gifts, and haul it to the house.  It was close to three before Jon and Colleen made it to bed.

“Merry Christmas Babe,” Jon said as he cuddled her close, spooning her to his body.

“Merry Christmas, Jonny,”  Colleen yawned and patted his arm.