Chapter 61 - We're Going To The Chapel

"Jon, Jon" screams reporters as he walks into the trendy Bar Pitt for a meeting with Paul.  "Is it true, are you and Beth finally going to get married?"

Another one yells, "Did you set a date yet?"

"When did you propose?" shouts yet another.  The restaurant has wrought iron patio gate that holds the reporters back once Jon makes his way in. 

As he's about to safety and privacy, he stops and tells the reporters, "I did propose, she did accept  and she hasn't set a date yet."  He's smiling ear to ear and anyone that knows him can see how happy he is when he says what he just said.

"What does your ex wife Dorothea say about it?" asks one reporter.

That stops Jon.  He turns to that reporter and says, "I see you're from TMZ, is that why you asked such a stupid question?"

"I'm sorry?" the reporter is stunned.

"Why does it matter what my ex wife thinks about my engagement?  THAT is a stupid question."  Jon gives the guy a shot of the stink eye and turns to walk away, but stops.  "My fiancé and my ex wife are friendly to one another and if you must know, just to put your mind at ease, Dorothea is very happy for Beth and me."

"Will she attend the ceremony?"

"Dude, it isn't even planned.  Again, another stupid question."  Jon smirks, being a little irritated that when these reporters have the opportunity to interview him, to ask him a question, they ask the stupid stuff that has no merit.  "Any questions that don't involve my ex wife?" he asks, looking at the half dozen that are there taking pictures.

A young reporter steps up and says, "Jon, how are you and Beth handling life in the new house, with the adjustment?"

"It's like she never left."

"So, she's forgiven the, quote unquote, indiscretion that ended with the loss of your daughter, at the hands of a woman that you had the indiscretion with?"

He's angered, very angered but knows that he needs to keep his wits about him.  If he were to say what he wanted to say, that would open a whole other topic of discussion and he told himself that he would never talk of that time again, publically. 

"While I know that you are just doing your job, I have no comment on that."  he looks around and says, "Any other  questions?"

The same young lady asked him, "How is Stephanie doing after her heroin overdose and her drunk driving charge?"

"No comment."

The reporter fires another one at him, "Will you and Beth attend the trial of Dalton Patterson next month in California?"

Jon can feel rage and question, wondering where this girl was getting her information.  He knows that most of it was kept away from the press and when he thinks about Dalton and the last assault that he committed, he gets really antsy.  "Beth and I will be there, to make sure he is finally put away."  He holds up his hands, "No more questions!" and makes his way behind the safety of the wrought iron gates.

At the table, he starts to tell Paul some of the questions that he was asked outside.  And that raises a concern for Paul.  "Are you sure that you want to attend the trial?"

"Yes."

"I think it's a bad idea, from a publicity standpoint."

"So, we're going.  I need to be there when they throw the book at him, and if they don't - I will."

"Does Beth want to go?" Paul asks him, wondering if Beth even knows that his trial is coming up.

Jon nods, as he takes a sip of his Pinot, "She knows and yes, she wants to be there."

"Do you think it will work this time?"

"It fucking better, he can't be loose on the streets.  She would really go into hiding if he was able to walk out of the court room." Jon states, thinking through what Beth would do if he was set free.  He shakes that thought away, after her rape, the conspiring with Melissa/Dani and then this last assault, Jon is sure that he will go back to jail for a very long time.

"I just want you to realize what could happen and that there is possible backlash over this.  The media will have a field day with it."

"Paul, I don't care.  There isn't anything that could happen that we haven't already been through, and if there is, we can handle it.  We are stronger and united."

"Okay, but I want to go on the record as stating that it's a bad idea."

"Noted." he downs his Pinot.  "Is that why you wanted to meet me here?" Jon asks, a little baffled that Paul wanted to meet and talk about something that they could have discussed over the phone. 

 

"That and I have had a few requests for you to do private corporate events.  Wanted to run a few by you."

"When and where?"

Paul starts to read the list and when he gets to one that might interest him, he stops him and asks for the date.  Of about 15 events, Jon agreed to do four of what was listed.  He's doing a benefit for the New York City Food Bank, one for a Habitat for Humanity build, one for Apple and one for one for his fan club.  Paul told him he would set it all up and give him the details once everyone signed on the dotted line.

Jon left out the back door, avoiding the press this time.  In his car, he points in the direction of home and dreads the talk that he needs to have with Beth.  The talk about Dalton's trial.