Chapter 46 - Just This Side Of Dawn

 

 

Beth sat there dazed, unsure of why he hung up.  With her phone in hand, she starts down the hallway into the twins room, quickly typing to Jon, Why did you just hang up?  She presses send and goes about her business, giving little thought to if he would even reply.

 

Scooping up Spencer from his crib, she kisses his cheek and tells him hello.  She sits in one of the rocking chairs and starts to feed him.  Looking down at her beautifully perfect son she asks him, "What am I going to do about your daddy, he's driving me crazy."  Spencer just looks up at her.  She smiles, caressing his cheek she holds him close while she feeds him.  When she's finished feeding Spencer, she puts him in one of the swings and tends to Brianna. 

 

Back in Madrid, Jon and Matt make it back to the hotel and head to their own rooms.  Jon, in his, grabs his laptop and starts to type an email.  He can't concentrate, he can't focus.  Frustrated he gets up and decides he'll take a run.  With his running clothes on, he heads out and runs for what feels like forever.  In his mind he's trying to work out the best way to deal with Beth when he sees her next week in Jersey.  He knows that once he sees her, he'll want her.  He'll want to hold her, he'll want to kiss her and he knows that he will want to make love to her.  His thoughts are everywhere and in only one place - lately they have been fixed on Beth and what he can do to get her back, to make her happy.  He is miserable without her and is sure that if they could just talk, just work out a few things they can make it work.  With a few minor changes they can be the happy couple that has it all, like he has always wanted.  He stops at a little café and buys a bottle of water, sitting at a table, he's spotted by a few fans and patiently deals with them before he gets up and jogs back to the hotel. 

 

With a little more clarity, he sits back with the laptop and quickly types to Beth:  I'll have the yacht, you bring the kids and we'll sail away for a few days.  It will be all set when you get to Jersey.  No is not an option.  I'll see you in a week.  I love you -j.  Once he presses send, he drags his ass to the shower and gets ready for all the pre-show stuff that he needs to be at. 

 

The twins are fed and sleeping in their swings when Beth hears a knock at the door.  She quickly looks over and sees Gloria standing in the door way.   "Hey!"  Beth says to her, smiling.  "What's up?"  Beth is standing at the cribs, admiring her beautiful children.

 

"I was getting ready to head out, will you need me anymore today?"  Gloria asks Beth, as she walks into the nursery, with a warm smile on her face.  "Your dinner is in the oven, ready whenever you are."  Gloria stops next to Beth.

 

Beth reaches over and rubs Gloria's hand, "You didn't need to make dinner, Gloria.  But thank you."

 

"It was nothing.  There was some kale and stuff going bad, I just whipped up some chicken with it and tossed it in the oven on low.  It should be ready at anytime."

 

"Do you want to eat with me?"

 

Gloria nods her head, "I would love to, but I need to get home.  Scott has a meeting and I wanted to head into the city with him."

 

"Go, go."  Beth tries to shoo her off, "Get out of here."

 

"Are you sure?"

 

"Yes, get.  Go."  Beth gently pushes her, "Will I see you tomorrow?"

 

"Yeah.  As planned." Gloria gives Beth a quick hug and takes her leave.  Beth was thrilled that she found Gloria when she did.  Gloria saved her life and the twins, Beth believes that she was sent to them, to get them through the hard times and to share in the good.  Gloria was the best friend that Beth had since Tammy.  The relationship between Gloria and Beth was a mature one, one that Beth had longed for for many years.  Gloria was more like a mother to Beth, and she was a great 'grandmother' to the twins. 

 

Beth sees her phone on the dresser and grabs it, checking to see if Jon had texted her back.  She sees the email and opens it.  When she reads it, she smiles at first - loving the fact that Jon was trying to take charge and that quickly turns to anger.  Who do you think you are, Jon?  With her phone in her hand, she walks into her bedroom and sits on the bed to call him.  When he doesn't answer, she leaves him a message.  "Jon, I am not taking the twins on a yacht, they are too young and I don't think it's a good idea.  Call me when you get home, we can then discuss me coming to Jersey." She plugs her phone in on the dresser and makes her way to the kitchen.  Gloria made her hungry by telling her what she had made for dinner, so Beth had to go eat.

 

As she sat in the kitchen by herself, eating alone, she watches the people that are walking by.  She feels herself getting a little jealous, watching couples smile and walk hand in hand, happy to be together.  She can't help but feel cheated, she can't help but feel like she's missing out - but the man that she loved came with too high of a price tag.  Her heart could take no more.

 

The press schedule was grueling for Jon.  He wasn't big on doing it, but it was part of the job.  He knows that he has a certain amount that he's contractually bound by and he made the most of it - but today, he wasn't feeling it.  The interviews were cut short, the fan meet and greets were rushed and sound check was minimal.  He wanted it over, the next week was going to be torture for him.  He's backstage trying to write the set list when he's interrupted by Dawn, his assistant.  "Hey Jon?"

 

"WHAT?" he blurts at her.

 

"Dorothea is here." Dawn says.

 

Quickly he looks at her, "Dorothea is here?  Where?"

 

"Right here!"  Dorothea says as she walks passed Dawn and enters his dressing room as if she had belonged in there. 

"What in hell are you doing here?" he barks at her, in no mood to deal with whatever nonsense she's bringing.  "Where are the boys?"

"They are with my parents."  She smugly says as she sits down on the couch across from him.  "I'm here  because I'm worried about you?"

"You shouldn't be here.  Go home Dorothea."  he throws his sharpie down on the table and gets up, "Dawn, make her arrangements to get home please."  He looks at his trusted assistant and she simply nods and closes the door behind her as she leaves.

"I'm worried about you, Jon.  You look like shit and what I'm hearing from inside the camp isn't good."

"I don't care what you're hearing.  You need to go and not come back, Dot.  I'm at work and you should be with the kids."  He walks over to the mini fridge and grabs a bottle of water, his blood boiling on the inside.  He's thinking to himself, what else could go wrong?  What the hell is she doing here?  With his water in hand, he sits down on the back of one of the couches and asks her,  "Why didn't you tell me you were thinking about coming here, I could have told you that I was fine and saved you the wasted trip."

"Why do you have to be such an asshole?" she snaps at him, "I flew all the way here because I was worried about you.  You of all people know how I can get."

"I do Dorothea, that's why I skeptical as to why you're here.  When I talked to the boys last night you never even mentioned coming here, so why are you really here?" 

She gets up and moves closer to him, "When are you going to see that I'm the only one that has ever and will ever care for you?  I'm here because I love you and I'm concerned.  I know your last split with Beth has been hard and I hear that you are drinking more.  THAT concerns me, Jon.  Not only as the mother of your children, but as a woman that loves you more than life itself."

"Ok, I've heard enough.  It's really time for you to go.  I have a show in 2 hours, I don't need this shit now."  He stands to go open the door, to escort her out, she grabs his hand and stops him.

"Don't." she pleads, "Don't be like this."

He pulls his hand away, knowing how this could go down.  "Go to wherever you're staying and I'll call you later.  I want to be alone right now."  he reaches the door and opens it.  "Just leave, Dorothea."  he tells her, really just wanting her gone.  He's rather enjoyed the way that their relationship has been and a part of him knew that it was too good to last, it would only be a matter of time before she got bored and started to bother him.  He never imagined that she would fly all of the way to Spain to start it. 

As she passes him, she stops and kisses him on the cheek.  "No matter what has or what will happen, I have always loved you Jon."  He turns away and waits for her to leave.  He's just wanting her gone.  The afternoon wasn't a good one for him with Beth and Dorothea just made his evening suck.  When she leaves, he slams the door and runs both hands through his hair, frustrated and upset.

He gave Madrid the best shows that he could, even though he mis-stepped of the stage and twisted his ankle.  He needed some down time.  Him and his injury were about to make headlines all over the world. 

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Bon Jovi finish the two day run in Madrid and make their way to Zurich, Switzerland.  One show there, one in Warsaw, Poland followed by a day off before another two day run in Paris.  As Jon is packing his bag, making sure that he has everything from his hotel suite, his phone alerts him that he has a new text message.  He sees that it's from Beth and slides it to read it.  When he does, his heart hits the floor.

Did you make the yacht arrangements before or after you were out with Dorothea?  I hope your sprain isn't anything serious.   Attached is a picture of Jon and Dorothea leaving a café in Madrid, Jon on crutches.