Chapter 5 - What's A Boy To Do?

The American Wine Association event went off with out a hitch.  The awards ceremony was sold out and all 46 rooms at the Vineyard were booked.  

The place was buzzing with wine chatter, Beth was more than happy, she was thrilled.  The Bongiovi wine had made it's way the into mainstream and she's hoping that she can keep up with demand.  She decided to worry about that later. She was given their first hospitality award and felt that was an honor.  Just hosting their even their was also an honor, her weekend was amazing.

Her last guests to leave were Brian's parents.  Beth walked them to their car in valet and bid them farewell.  They promised to keep in touch and told her they would be back.  She wasn't holding her breath for either, even though she hopes that they do.

With the car door closed, the car pulled away.  Beth waved to them with exhausted arms until they were out of sight.  She stood there for a moment longer and when she was ready to call it a night, her cell phone rings.

As she leaves the parking area, she answers her phone.  "Hello."  Not familiar with the number, but it's 201 area code, so she knows it's the east coast.  

"Hey Beth, it's Peter." Says Jon's hired guns, the lawyer that oversees everything, letting nothing stick to the Bongiovi's. "Do you have a minute?"

"For? She asks, irritated that he's calling at the hour that he did and she knew it had to be Jon related.  Can she have ONE great memory that's not tainted or minimized by Jon or his family? Her cloud 9 high, crashed to earth.

He clears his throat, "Melissa's hearing is this week, I'm sure you know that."

Beth states, "Yes, I do know that."

"Well, I have talked with her doctor and her attorney and I believe that if we don't make a strong appearance at her hearing, she will most likely get out."

"Peter, I mean no disrespect, but it's late, it's Sunday night and I really don't want to talk about this now."

"Just hear me out." He pleads.  He needs her to listen, he's doing what his boss told him to do; to the letter.

"Okay.  Go on." 

"I need you at that hearing, I can't state your case for you.  So, Jon is sending his plane to pick you up tomorrow so we can prepare for the hearing on Tuesday.  I have booked you a room at the Renissance in Times Square.  We will have a service pick you up and take you where ever."

The more he talked, the angrier she got and she knows it's all Jon.  Armed with that knowledge, she can't tear Peters head off, he's just doing his job.  She takes a  deep breathe and let's it out slow, a technique she uses when her stress levels increases.  "When will the plane be here, I have an appointment in the morning at 9."

"It can be there whenever, you know that.  I just need time to prep you and Jon before the hearing.  There are things you need to say and things you need to avoid saying - you know, stuff like that."

"When Peter? My appointment should only be an hour or so.  I can get to the executive airport from there."

"Let's say noon then?" He asks.

"Sounds good. Thank you." And she ends the call.  She had the split second thought of why didn't I change my number? But is reminded that the kids had her number and she said she would always be there for them.

With her mind now going a mile a minute she knows she'll never get to sleep. She needs to unwind, de-stress.  She puts on her running clothes and off she goes for a late evening run.

Her thoughts change with every foot that hits the ground.  She a little excited to see Jon and a lot apprehensive about seeing him.  She knows she has to go and was just going to hop a commercial flight Tuesday morning, but there is some merit in meeting with Peter.  If anyone can keep her locked up, it's Peter.  And if she needed to help, she's helping.  She never wants to see Melissa again and if that means she needs to spend a little time with Jon, she'll do it.

She showers after her run and gets ready for bed.  While she's doing that, she throws a few things into a suitcase and packs for her trip east.  There isn't any part of her that's excited until she thinks of the kids. Maybe I'll get a chance to see the kids?  She smiles.  She's hopeful and she knows it's not a good idea at this point, her love for the kids will never change.  She knows that she holds a bond with all four of them and that will never change.

The doctor visit was all but routine, Beth wanted a clean bill of health and was able to get one.  She thought her blood pressure might be high, but the Doc told her it's stress elevated and that she just needs to minimize her stress.  Beth laughs.  "So, everything is okay?  I can get on with life as I have it planned?" She asks as the doctor gives her a script for anxiety medication.  Beth takes it from her and looks at it.  "What's this for?  Ativan? I dont need anxiety medication."

"I know what you have planned over the next couple of days, and given that history you may want one or two." The doctor puts her hand on her shoulder, "I know I would want the whole bottle."

"This hearing will be a walk in the park compared to what the crazy bitch put us through." Beth responds, putting the script in her purse.  "Are we done here?"

"Yep, everything went well, everything looks good.  Take it easy and don't be so hard on yourself."

Beth gets up, "When you live with perfection for two long, you begin to expect it."

"Just take it easy and don't let it get to you. You need to relax." The doctor tells her, more like orders her.

"Will do, I'll see you when I see you." Beth hikes her purse over her shoulder and adds, "That's in 2 weeks, right?"

"I'll have my nurse call you.  Your plane is waiting. You better hurry up."  The doctor shoos her out.

Beth leaves the Drs office and heads to the airport. Parking in executive parking made it much easier to get to the private plane that she has been on many times.  As she walks toward the building, her phone rings.  She sees that it's Jon and pushes decline.  She doesn't want to talk right now, and not only that, sometimes cell receptions sucked in the hanger.  She figures he'll leave a message and she'll listen to it later.  

Chris is at the top of the stairs with his back to the outside. Beth can see that he's talking and she gets a little irked thinking that they sent the flight attendant for the ride.  Beth couldn't stand the staff flight attendant.  They never got along.

At the bottom of the stairs, Beth looks up and says, "Hey asshole, you're in my way!" with a smile on her face.

Chris turns and smiles, "There you are!  Look at you all gorgeous and ready."  Beth starts to climb the stairs, Chris takes her bag and moves out of thehe way.  Beth boards the plane and turns to go into the passenger cabin, and there he is.  She is face to face with Jon.  Her heart does a million summersaults and then hits the floor.  She had been set up.

Once she catches her breath and her heart sits nearly back in place, she says "Hi."  And drops her purse on the closer seat.  Her mind is blank, her thoughts have escaped again so she's left with just her body and it's desires. She can't stop it, the force is too strong.  She walks into his and throws her arms around his neck and just holds him.  She doesn't want to talk, she doesn't want to listen to him talk; she just wants to hold him.  He kisses her head, several times, inhaling the intoxication that he was hooked on for years.  

Softly he says, "I missed you." And squeezes her, never wanting to let her go, ever again.

"Please, just give me a minute.  Don't talk."

She is wrapped in the only arms that made her feel safe and scared her all at the same time.  She's paralyzed by his smell and wants that scent memory to be even stronger. She wants THIS moment to last forever, until she remembers that Peter made no mention of Jon being on the plane when it came for her.  

Releasing her hold, she takes a half step back and asks, "Did Peter know you were coming?"

He shakes his head no.  "I decided in the middle of the night to come get you."

"Thank you, but you know it wasn't necessary." She states, secretly thankful that he did.

"I know.  I didn't want to wait to see you. And anyway, I needed to get out of the house for a while.  It's been crazy with this new album."

She doesn't ask what's been crazy about it. There would be no point, she already knows the answer.  He has a sound in his head and he can't get to it.  Even with Richie's help he can't get there. There was something missing, it needed something more.

Chris interupts and says, "We're almost up. Take a seat."  And he disappears into the cockpit.  Jon and Beth take a seat at a table, across from one another. They fasten their seatbelt and sit in silence as the plane takes off toward the runway.  They can't take their eyes off of one another, both afraid to blink for fear it's all just a dream.

"How have you been?  You are absolutely gorgeous.  Napa agrees with you." Are the only words he can say.  He's captivated by how fresh and happy she looks.  "How's the wine business?"

Beth reaches for Jon's bottle of water, unscrews the cap and takes a sip.  "The wine business is amazing.  I love it.  Did you get your papers?"

"The ones removing my name from it?" He asks.  Beth nods her head yes and she sets his water back down.  "I did.  You should get them tomorrow from Peter."

"Thank you." She silently says.

Jon wiggles a little in his seat, feeling that he can't believe the exchange of words they just had.  "So is it just business with you now?"

"What do you mean?"

He leans over the table and takes her hand. "I asked how you are doing along with how is the wine business and the only question you answered was how the wine business is"

Beth pulls her hand away, looking at him, feeling a little dazed that she is with him again, "Maybe that's the only question I have an answer for, Jon."

 

"What does that mean?" he gives her a small version of the stink eye. 

 

"I don't know how I'm doing, Jon." she leans back and closes her eyes.  "I take it day by day, or at least I thought I was."  She looks at him and with a smile, she continues with, "I've made some decisions that I think will help with how I'm doing.  How have you been?"

 

"Miserable."

 

"You can't mean that." she blurts out.  "How can you be miserable?"

 

"Really Beth?" they are at cruising altitude.  He unfastens his seat belt and stands up, "Life hasn't been the same since you left and it won't be the same until you come back."  He disappears into the kitchen to get a bottle of beer.  "Do you want beer or wine?"

 

"No thanks." she yells back at him, 'Water would be good."   Jon grabs a beer and a bottle of water and goes back to Beth.  Instead of sitting across from her, he sits in the empty seat next to her.  Taking her bottle of water, "Thank you."

 

"Are you going to tell me how you're doing?" his head rolls and they make eye contact.

 

Beth chuckles, "Jon, I'm fine.  Really.  And the wine business is fantastic, I think that's my true calling." She smiles, knowing that he knows better. 

 

Beth can feel him go serious, she can feel him tense up and he takes a deep breath, "I'm not going to dance around this anymore.  I have never been one to bite my tongue, until you came along."  He maintains eye contact with her, allowing her to feel what he's saying, a connection they have always had is one with their eyes.  "I'm sorry, babe.  I'm sorry that I did what I did to you!  Will you ever forgive me?"

 

Beth doesn't like the hurt that she can see in his eyes, she wants to avoid this conversation at all costs.  This is NOT the way this is supposed to happen.  They are not supposed to be on a plane together, 30,000 feet above the world with no escape plan for her.  She's starts getting upset with Jon.

 

"Please don't do this, please." she states, "I don't want tot go through this right now."