chapter 74

 The week before the wedding, Colleen packed everything in the town car, and she and Albert headed to her parents’ house.  She had wanted to stay in her old apartment for the last time, but it being a one-bedroom, Jon thought it was better if she stayed with Maggie and Cullen. She had nixed using the chopper, saying she only wanted to unload once not three-time.  So instead of sitting in the back, her dress bags were laid out on the backseat, she sat in the passenger seat in front with Albert. They made pit stops along the way for coffee and lunch, soon they were driving onto the island and to her parent's place.

 

“Oh Coco,” Maggie came out and pulled Colleen into her arms.

“Hi momma, is daddy at the bar?” Colleen hugged her mom. 

“Are you two hungry?” Maggie helped carry her dress bags. “He is, getting it ready for the bachelor party.”

“We stopped on the way unless Albert wants to go down to the bar for a beer,” Colleen said over her shoulder as Albert brought in the bags.  “I’m not going anywhere till we meet Jon and Farther at the church.”

 

She followed her mother to her old bedroom, this was where she would stay till the wedding.  Jon was not too happy, but Maggie had put her foot down. Jon would stay at his place, Jamie had worked with Jon’s brothers for the bachelor party, tomorrow night. Colleen made him promise there would be no strippers.  Stephanie, Desi, and Nina got a list of Colleen’s friends to be a part of her hen’s party.

 

Colleen hung the dresses up on the hooks on the closet doors, and went and sat on her daybed.

 

“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Maggie sat on the bed beside her.  “Jon is such a good man, I’ve tried to bury the hatchet with Carol.”

 

“What did you do mom?”  Colleen was shocked.

 

“I wrote her a nice letter, and asked her what color is she wearing to the wedding, and gave her the date and time for the bridal shower, that’s all,”

 

“Did she answer you?  Jon’s dad called yesterday, he’s back in Jersey,” Colleen told her mom. “He didn’t say anything about Jon’s mom being with him.”

 

“John called your dad, they’re going to play golf with Tico and David tomorrow, but he told your dad, she’ll be here the night before to attend the wedding, if Jon lets her,” Maggie picked up a purple teddy bear off the pillow behind her and handed it to Colleen. “You've heard they have separated, hasn’t Jon told you?”

 

“Mr. John told us at the cookout, he said it was coming for years,” Colleen hugged Mr. Bear.

 

Mr. Bear was the only thing she had left from her life before Maggie and Cullen adopted her, Mr. Bear and a battered old grocery bag of her meager clothes.  He had been her confidant when things went wrong, the one that held all her tears when she found out she had cancer and that at such a young life, to maybe never have kids.  She had needed Mr. Bear this past week, knowing her dreams were over, Jon was a good substitute for Mr. Bear.

 

Maggie got up and went to the door, “You want to help me with the last meeting with Marino’s about the rehearsal dinner?” 

 

“Yeah, sure Mom, let me change into my grubby’s,” Colleen said as she put Mr. Bear back on her pillow.  She would wait till tonight to tell her mom about what they learned at the OB/GYN later.

 

Jon and the kids made it to the house on the beach, it was already getting close to his meeting with Colleen and the Father of her Church. He had met with Max about the change in his will, that Stephanie was there as she was the executor of his estate.  Max suggested making both Stephanie and Colleen joint, incase to cover his butt.  Stephanie had agreed, so he gave both of his girls the power.  Thinking about Stephanie coming down with Greg and his girls and that she and the girls were staying with Colleen, Greg was bunking with him and the boys. 

 

Around two, Jon pulled up to the O’Sullivan’s house to see Colleen sitting on the steps. 

 

“Hey, you want to take a drive little girl?” Jon tried not to laugh keeping his stage sexy face that would melt panties in a huge arena.

“Oooh you look just like that Rockstar, what was his name again?” Colleen giggle as she grabbed her cross-body bag and walked over to the car and leaned in the window.

“Jon Bon Jovi?” Jon asked her.”

“No, I don’t think that’s him,” she leaned in further and kissed his lips.  “I know who you look like, David Bryan.” She quickly moved back from the car and walked around the car to get in the passenger seat.

“You better be glad I love you so much, or I had left your perky ass standing in the yard,” Jon scolded her.

“I always knew you were an ass guy,” Colleen laughed. He leaned over and wrapped his hand around her neck and devoured her lips.  They broke apart when Stephanie beat on the window.

“Hey you two get a room, better yet get thee to the Church or you’ll be late.” Stephanie laughed as Colleen blushed. She laughed harder when her dad gave her the Jersey State salute which she returned double-loaded.