Chapter 16 - Hurt Me, Heal Me

Several months have passed and some much needed healing occurs, leaving both Jon and Beth a little more focused and mentally healthy.  

With each of them on opposite sides of the country and the chance of running into each other was slim - they both took the time that they needed and dealt with what they could.   Broken hearts take time and they took all the time that they needed.  Neither of them had a choice.

Beth focused on the vineyard and the recent connection that she made with Brian's parents.  It was great for her to have them back in her life, she missed them.  She missed the mellow and  calmness of the life that she had with Brian.  She's missing Brian, for some reason.  He was never very far in her thoughts and he's always been in her heart -maybe dealing with Jon, Dalton, Melissa, Rowan, Spencer and McKenna forced her to also deal with the loss of Brian.  She sees that she is repeating behavior that she did when she lost Brian.  She's immersed in her work, trying to get the vineyard on the map and the brand taken seriously. Her heart and soul is now wrapped up in that, with a few of her brain cells being given to her office in NYC. Tammy was still running that with many junior associates underneath her, she was definitely a woman to be reckoned with.

Napa has treated Beth very well and she feels better than she has in a very long time.  She chalks it up to the valley air and the reduced amount of stress that she used to be under.  The stress of being tied to Jon Bon Jovi could get to be too much to handle, or too much to sacrifice.  Over the course of the last 6 months, Jon and Beth exchanged phone calls, a text here and there along with several emails - but they haven't seen each other since she left him the day of Melissa's hearing.  The separation hurt them both, but the farther that they get into it, they see that it's better this way.  Missing someone sucks, but dealing with the heartache sucks even more.  Beth feels that being 3500 miles away from him is a big enough safety net for her.  She's let her guard down and has blossomed as a woman and a person.

Mr. Bon Jovi hit the road with the Because We Can Tour and was doing sold out show, after sold out show.  He didn't have time to miss anyone, or get over anyone.  His heart still longed for the woman that came into his life and gave her one beautiful blessing after the other, the woman that broke his heart and the woman that has the power to heal it.  While he's been away, whenever he's on the phone with Stephanie she asks him if he has seen Beth and he always tells her no.  Because he hasn't.  

The BWC Tour is heading to the west coast after a short run through the Midwest.  There are 4 dates scheduled for California and two of them are in the Napa Valley area.  Jon wonders if Beth will attend either.  They have talked about it and she said she might.  But there was nothing definite.  She was sent passes, just in case.  The road crew knows who she is, but venue security would give her a hard time - so she had the passes if she needs them.

Tonight, Bon Jovi plays to a sell out show in San Francisco.  The day after tomorrow, they play another sold out show in Fresno.

As the stage is being built, the band does a press conference and avoids any and all question of being so close to Beth and they ask if Beth will attend.  Jon is getting fed up with all of the questions regarding her, the babies, Melissa and Dalton.  When the reporters asks him about Beth, he says the speech that he has practiced many times in the days leading up to today.  

Their first real interview and out of the gate, the questions are non music related.  "You know, Beth has nothing to do with Bon Jovi.  We are here as a band and we will talk about things that pertain to the band.  I can't help but think that you, the press, are in someway responsible for the tragedy that we had to endure as a couple, and as parents.  You, again I mean the press, have no boundaries and will stop at nothing for the next big story.  So, from here on out, if you want to talk to us about the band or the music - let's talk.  But if you're here looking for or hoping to get the next big story, move along.  I'm sure there is someone just a little more interesting to follow."  

With that being said, another reporter stands up and asks, "Mr. Bon Jovi, how do you feel about the laws governing the mentally ill?  Do you think that we have safe enough safe guards in place to protect people like you and Miss Adams?"

Richie, at the top of his voice yells, "NEXT!  This dumb-ass can't follow directions."  The room goes crazy, every reporter wanting to ask a question.  Richie sees a young girl being walked over, elbows in her face "You over there in the corner, what's your question?"

She wiggles her way to the front and says, "Mr. Bon Jovi, how will Beth's pregnancy interfere with the rest of the tour?"

"What did you say?" Jon barks back.

"With Miss Adams pregnant again, how will it affect the rest of the tour?"  

His brothers look at him and he looks at them.  He has no idea what they hell this reporter is talking about, but he can't looked surprised.  The press would have a field day with it.  So, in true Bon Jovi fashion, Jon responds, "That's another one of those topics that we won't discuss."  His heart is in his throat and his mind is all over the place.  Can Beth be pregnant?  Why wouldn't she tell him all of the times that they talked?