Getting Closer to the FInish

A few months had gone by and Ellie had brought Jimmy back home weeks after her Mother’s attack and she needed to get him back to some semblance of a normal life. Her Mother was home and she had gotten her settled before she had left but was still uneasy when she left. But she knew she had to as she was getting her life settled in New Jersey. The only thing missing was her guy. But she knew New Jersey was the place he wanted to be settled in and her parents always told her that you go with the man that you loved. Why did they always have to be right? She was lonely there but she didn’t want to bitch to him about it and make her “one of those women” who always bitch to their men about every single thing that bothers them. It was bad enough that she didn’t see enough of him as it was. So she just went along with him as if nothing was wrong when he called.

In the meantime Carol had been driving Jon crazy about seeing her Grandson again and he had to tell her that he wasn’t going to be home for a while and she didn’t understand why they couldn’t go over there as long as John Sr. was with her. Jon had told her no that he had to be there or Ellie would have a fit. She just wasn’t ready yet to have them over without him not being there yet and she would have to understand or things would go back to the way they were. He also told her that he wanted to be there because he wasn’t sure either as she would have to stop calling him or he would make the decision not to let her see him. Carol finally gave in but didn’t like it.

Jon wanted to scream as he hung up the phone from his Mom. He thought they had explained everything to her when he left there for Vancouver but apparently again she only heard what she wanted too. He got up from his chair to grab a drink from behind the bar and poured him himself one when there was a knock at the door. He went over to answer it and when he opened it it was Richie.

“Hey Kidd what’s up?” he said as he walked in.

“Nothing much just same old shit with my Mom. What’s up with you?” he asked Rich.

Richie turning around, “Your Mom what’s up now?”

“Oh she’s bitching that I won’t let her go over to the house without me and see Jimmy. I really don’t need Ellie bitching at me that I told Mom that she could go and see him without me there you know?” he said taking a slug of the golden liquor coating his throat on the way down.

“You’re shitting me? Yeah Ellie would have a bird all right. You got anymore of that stuff?” he asked Jon.

“Yeah behind the bar.” He told him. ”Help yourself.”

Pouring himself one too, “So you’re not going to tell her are you?” Rich asked.

“Who Ellie? Hell no do you think I’m stupid!” Jon looked at him.

“Hey just asking Kidd. Oh by the way did you get the call from Mark? They want to start taking pictures for the cover of the album. He said he has some ideas that he wants to run by us.” Rich said.

“Yeah I did, he told me a couple of them and I’m not too sure about them but Mark said to keep an open mind about them. That’s why I’m drinking now maybe if I have a hangover I’ll have more of an open mind.” Jon told Richie in a sarcastic way.

“Why were they that bad?” Richie wanted to know.

“No I guess not but one of them he wants to shoot a girl with big tits and wear one of the Slippery When Wet t-shirts for the cover of the album. That’s going to set off red flags with the PMRC but I’ll see how it looks when they show us the finished product.” He said taking his last gulp and getting up to get another glass full.

“Really? Yeah that’s going to be sketchy to say the least. Depending on how much skin we’re willing to show on it and cleavage we may be pushing it.” Richie said sneering.

Looking at his best friend and chuckling, “Get your mind out of the gutter will you? This may be what makes us or breaks us dumbass. So we need to play this just right.” He told him taking a sip of his drink this time.

“Oh this coming from our Captain who didn’t want to put Living on the album.” Richie whined to him.

“Yeah exactly. I’m still not sure about that.” He told him giving him the stink eye.

“Well those kids thought it was a good idea didn’t they?” he gloated.

“Yeah, yeah well we’ll see now won’t we?” Jon moaned.

“You still have something stuck up your ass what it is?” Richie wanted to know.

Looking at him defeated. “We’re not going to have much time at home before we’re off on the tour you know? And I might have not told Ellie about it yet?” he told him.

“You haven’t told her yet? How the hell couldn’t you tell her? She’s going to be pissed Jon! It’s bad enough she’s trying to get adjusted to this life style but you’re not helping by not telling her stuff like your schedule man. She’s stuck in that house with your son all by themselves, what the hell were you thinking?” Richie asked him all upset.

“I know ok? She’s going to be pissed at me I get it. I just didn’t know how to tell her and well the days just kind of crept up on me and with all this shit going on with Doc and doing the new album well you know I just didn’t want to deal with it that’s all.” He told him as he ran his hand thru his hair.

“Oh that’s just great Kidd she’s going to love that. So what songs do you want us to sing at your funeral? Because she’s going to kill you.” Richie told him wincing.

“Oh gee thanks for the support.” Jon told him as he gave him the Jersey salute.

“Hey you’re the one that got yourself into this mess. It’s not my fault that you can’t be honest with your woman.” Rich said to him as he took a sip of his drink.

“Oh don’t even go there Rich.” Jon said to him pissed now.

“Hey after all the shit that you have put us thru trying not to tell her don’t even say that Jon.” Rich thru back at him. “Have you even told her that Dorothea is here as one of the damn models with Mark? That’s not going to go over with her.” Richie pointed out.

“No I haven’t told her yet because I haven’t spoken to her yet. Plus I have no way of telling her that she’s here. How the hell am I supposed to tell her that anyway? ‘Oh Baby guess what my ex is here as a model in a little bikini flirting with me.’ Yeah that’s going to go over real big.” Jon said sarcastically.

“Look Kidd just tell her because if you don’t and she hears it from someone else you’re dead. Look what happened the last time she found out.” he told him.

“Look I’ve been good since my last indiscretion haven’t I? You know how much I love Ellie and there’s no fucking way I’m going to lose my family because of it. But I also worked to damn hard to get where I am now and I’m not going to stop now and she’s just going to have to realize that.” He told him as he paced the floor.

“Well does she realize it, that is?” Richie wanted to know.

“We’ve talked about it. So yeah she does and she says she understands it. I’m here aren’t I?” he told him.

“Yeah but your guilty about it. I’ve never seen you guilty about it before. We’ve always come first and your relationships always came last. In fact all of our relationships have come last. The question is what is so special about this one Jon? Because you’ve heard everyone talking just like I have and they’re saying that this album may be the one. Everyone loves the songs on it and think we might have a couple on number ones on it. That this one just might put us on the map. So if it does then what are you going to tell her when we’re out on the road for let’s say two years. Because that’s what we’re looking at you know that. And your throat is going to get a work out so are you going to be able to handle that as well?” Richie wanted to know.  

Jon just looked at him and sighed. “You don’t think that all of those questions haven’t gone thru my mind like a thousand times Rich? You don’t think that I’m scared of each and every single one of them. My voice of maybe losing it? I guess maybe we can work something out and if you guys help me when it gets horse and maybe trying not to talk when we’re off and stuff. And as for Ellie just try and be honest with her as much as possible. I can’t lose her Rich I just can’t. I know what it’s like not having her in my life and I can’t go thru that again and I won’t fuck that up I love her too much.” He told him as he sat down in the chair and just stared at the floor.

Getting up and walking over to him and sitting on the arm rest, “Look Jon you won’t fuck this up as long as you tell her the truth ok? She loves you just as much as you love her. I see the way she looks at you. Believe it’s not how the groupies look at us. I would kill for someone to look and feel that way about me.” he told him as he patted him on the back.’

“You will man she may not be as special as my Ellie but you will.” Jon told him.

“And hey look as for the other stuff we’ll work everything out don’t worry about it ok? We’ll take care of it when and if it happens. We’ll always be there for you right? You do know that?” Richie asked him

“Yeah I do and Thanks.” Jon said to him.

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Jon had gotten back from a day of shooting photos of him and the guys outside in a parking lot with a bunch of barely there women glad in nothing but bikini’s in the Slippery in Wet t-shirts washing cars in soap and water like a car wash with the guys also soaked and Jon in nothing but his shorts. Mark Weiss was doing the photography and knew what he wanted as he had done other photos the previous week in the studio. So Jon let him do this shoot also. He needed a shower badly when he got in because he was hot and smelling badly of sweat and whatever it was that they used to wash those damn cars with. Oh and whatever those girls used as perfume because they were all over them especially Dotty who was trying to get his attention and the others who were giggling as they thought splashing and throwing the buckets of water at each other were just so funny. It may have if Ellie was with them but it just was another dig that she wasn’t. He really needed her and not over the phone that was getting old.

After taking his shower and eating he was looking at the phone and he really needed to hear her voice. What he really needed was to feel her but he would take what he could right now. So he picked up the phone and called her. As it rang he was getting antsy and he really didn’t understand why. It’s not like he’s never talked to her before so why was he getting this feeling he thought? Just then the phone picked up.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Hey Babe how are you doing tonight?” he asked her nervously for some reason.

“Hey I’m doing good but I miss you.” She told him sighing.

“Yeah I miss you too. So how’s Jimmy doing? When is he getting out of school?” he asked her.

“Oh um Hon he got out last week I told you that don’t you remember?” she asked him worried.

“Oh you did? I must have forgotten. I’m sorry Babe I’ve just been under so much stress you know with the album and shit.” He told her.

“Hon it’s ok I understand you can’t keep track of everything.” She told him in an understanding voice.

“Well I should. You guys are just as important to me as the band and I should know what’s going on in your lives too. Some provider I am.” He said sadly.

“Hey are you looking for sympathy? Because I can’t give it you properly you know over the phone Sweetie. Plus you’re not one for not asking for it either so what’s up?” she asked him wondering.

“Can’t I just once miss you and be a little whinny about it?” he asked her a little put out about it.

“Yes but it’s really not you so did something happen today? Because I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me Jon?” she explained to him.

“No it’s just everything I guess. Just being away from the two of you this time it’s been how long?” he asked her.

“Two and half months and I know how you feel but something isn’t right so what’s going on? Is Doc making trouble again?” she asked him.

“No more than usual. I just miss you and Jimmy. You with me and waking up with me and going to bed with me. Look we had this photo shoot today and well we had to shoot with these girls in bikini’s as we were washing these cars and throwing the water around and acting like we were having fun. Ok so the guys were but I would have if you were there you know. I would have had more fun getting you all wet if you get my drift.” He growled at her.

“Yeah I get your drift you big faker. Like you didn’t have any fun. Girls in bikinis yeah like you didn’t have any fun. Jon in cases like that it’s ok to have a little fun as long as you don’t take it to the bedroom or anywhere else where you’re going to fuck one of the girls then it’s ok to have some fun. Do you understand that Honey?” she asked him.

“Yeah I think so. So if and when you see these pictures then you’re not going to freak out then?” he asked her.

“As long as you tell me first that I’m going to see them and not be surprised by them then yeah I’ll be fined and my imagination won’t run away from me yeah sure. I know you want me to get use to this life style and all the crap that goes along with it and I’m trying I really am. I’m seeing in the rags what’s going on in Vancouver and it looks like you guys are having a grand time there. It says Jon Bon Jovi this and Jon Bon Jovi that. And it’s killing me not to call you on all of it. So I’m trusting you on everything ok?” she told him.

“Have I told you yet how much I love you?” he asked her.

“Nope not yet.” She told him with a hint of a giggling.

“Ok then Elinore I love you so much and miss you I can’t wait to get you in my arms.” He told her as he choked up.

“Well what are you going to do with me once you get me in your arms Sweetie?” she asked him cooing back at him.

“Oh, oh, oh I think you have a pretty good idea what I’m going to do to you when I get ahold of you young lady. So you better have a lot of lotion on hand Baby because between your ass and wrists you’re going to need it.” He told her as he kept growling into the phone.

As she continued to giggle, “Well then it’s a good thing I hired that Nanny then or do you want to send Jimmy to the Sambora’s for the first couple of nights when you get back?” she asked him.

“Oh crap I totally forgot. Wait a minute you hired a Nanny without me?” he asked her surprised.

“Yeah why? I had too because you didn’t want Jared to keep taking him to school when I couldn’t did you? So I asked Joan to help me look for one and we went thru this agency that she recommended and with her help we got this great lady named Janice Black. Her credentials checked out. I did have Jared check them out too and they came back clean so I hired her. She’s in her late fifty’s and is grandmother oh and is divorced so it works out great.” She told him.

“Well what if we want to be alone?’ he asked her.

“Well we can always drop him of at the Sambora’s I told you that weren’t you listening to me?” she asked him.

“Um no I don’t think I heard you after you said you hired a nanny.” He told her honestly.

“Jon it’s ok she’s working out great and Jimmy loves her. And it’s good for me when I don’t feel good and for when I need to lay down and take a nap and she also over sees the staff for me. So what’s the problem? You aren’t here all the time and I needed to get this done and how were you going to help me hire someone when your miles away? Are you trying to tell me you don’t trust my judgment?” she asked him trying not to jump down his throat.

Thinking real quick so he wouldn’t get his balls chopped off, “No of course not Babe but you never did this before and there are a lot of well how can I put this…Whacko’s out there that’s all.” He told her trying to keep his calm.

And trying to keep her calm she said back to him, “I told you we went over her credentials and credit checks. I know what I’m doing Jon he is my son too especially after what I’ve been thru with these Whacko’s and don’t you think I would take the necessary measures to make sure that our son would be safe with some stranger?” she empathized to him.  

Jon knew he put his foot in his mouth. Now he had to figure out how he was going to get it out.

“Sorry it’s just that I’m not there and it’s driving me crazy especially that I’m not making all the arrangements like I should.” He explained to her.

Shaking her head to herself, “Jon why do you need to make all the arrangements yourself when I’m perfectly able to do it myself? I’m not an idiot you know?” she told him upset.

“I know you’re not and I don’t mean to make you feel that you are. It’s just that I’m the man and I’m supposed to take care of my family that’s all and right now I’m not doing such a great job of it.” He told her upset at himself.

“Jon how many times do I have to tell you that you do not have to take this on all by yourself? Being a family and at least with me is a team effort. So get use to it got it? Maybe in your family it might go that way but in my family my parents share the responsibility so in ours it will be the same ok?” she told him matter of fact.

“Well I guess you told me huh?” he said smiling but was glad she couldn’t see him.

“Yeah I did so what are you going to do about it Kidd?” she giggled.

“Kidd? Did you just call me Kidd? Oh, oh you are so going to be punished when I get home you do know that Elinore!” he told her in his deep whiskey voice.

“Oh you can try Bongiovi you can try.” She told him as she giggled more. They talked some more for about another half hour when Jon started to yawn and she told him that he should get some sleep.

“Yeah I really should but I need to tell you something before we hang up Babe.” He said.

“Ok what we’ve been talking for ages so what could you have left out?” she asked him.

“Look it wasn’t my idea ok? But our photographer Mark Weiss who is out of Jersey well he brought the models with him so he could photograph them for the album and promo pictures. Baby Dorothea is one of the damn models and I swear I didn’t interact with her at all. She tried but I just ignored her the whole time I swear.” He told her and waited to hear her reaction.

There was quiet on the other end of the phone that you could hear a pin drop. At first Jon thought she hung up the phone but then he remembered that he would hear a dial tone if she did. Calling her name a couple of times she finally said something to him.

“Yeah I’m still here. So she got to you thru your photographer huh?  And you waited to tell me at the end of our conversation to tell me? Well I’ll give you credit for telling me and that you seem upset that she was there. But it’s up to you Jon to do what you feel is right and what you want. Do you want a free life as a Rock and Roll life style or still have the Rock and Roll but as a committed man? So let me know what you decide ok because if you choose the first one I need time to pack us up so we can be out of here before you get home.” She told him direct.

“Oh God you are so dumb sometimes aren’t you! What have we been doing for the past hour and a half? And I told you how much I love you haven’t I? I want you dummy and only you. And yes I told you til the last minute because I’ve been going thru this in my head because I wanted to know how I was going to tell you and see I still didn’t say it right. You know she doesn’t mean anything to me so stop.” He said getting annoyed.

“Well then you should have led with this first so we could have gotten this out of the way first. Oh I have so much to teach you.” She told him snickering.

“Yeah get the lotion Babe you’re going to need it.” He said in his most demanding voice.