The Sauna Part 142

“That was quite a show” she said thoughtfully as she plunked down beside me and we both put our feet up on the coffee table.

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of watching them” I agreed.

“Did you know that Jon was gonna sing that Allman Brothers’ tune? I’ve never heard them do that before and he couldn’t take his eyes off you. What was that about?” she asked curiously.

“I had no idea, honestly. He never said a word about it, but it’s become a rather special song for us” I said without offering any details.

“Is that how he managed to get the fat lip, then?” Eva asked, cocking an eyebrow at me.

“No, no, not that time” I laughed as the guys walked in together.

“Whew, that was an aggressive crowd tonight. Sorry, babe, we couldn’t get away any sooner” Jon said as he bent down to kiss me.

“Man, I need a drink” Tico announced as he walked over to the bar and cracked open a beer.

“You need a shower, lover” Eva observed and Tico chuckled.

“Yeah, man, you stink” Jon agreed and we all laughed.

Jon took off his jacket and tossed it over the couch. He sniffed under his armpits and made a face.

“Guess it wouldn’t hurt me either. Wanna join me, babe?” he said with a devilish grin.

“That’s my cue, Eva. Later” I said as I stood up.

He grabbed his jacket and flung it over his shoulder, slipping his free arm around my waist as he steered me toward the door.

“Breakfast?” Eva called after us.

“Absolutely” Jon called back and we walked down the hall to our room.

“So, how was the show?” Jon asked as we went inside, closing and locking the door behind us.

“You were amazing. I couldn’t take my eyes off you, especially after you played that song” I admitted.

“So you liked that? I wanted to surprise you and I was worried we hadn’t had enough time to practice it. The other shit we could do in our sleep, but that was new and I only had a little time to practice it” he beamed.

“You astound me, I don’t know when you had any time to practice” I said, wondering how he managed it at all.

“My secret” he grinned as he touched my nose lovingly with his finger.

“You spoil me, but now it’s my turn” I purred.

I unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off over his shoulders, caressing his chest and reaching to draw his mouth down to meet mine. His lips weren’t so tender now and he kissed me fervently in response. I pulled away reluctantly and beckoned him to follow me into the bathroom and he came willingly, dropping his trousers as he did.

When he reached the bathroom, it was his turn to be surprised. The bathroom was bathed in candlelight and I bent down to turn on the water and fill the tub. It wasn’t a hot tub, but it would have to do. I’d brought scented oils from home and I poured them into the bath under the running water and the scent of vanilla musk permeated the air. I looked around on the counter and found the bowl of rose petals I’d asked the hotel staff to leave for me after lighting the candles.

“I wasn’t simply fussing with my hair after you left to do the sound check” I smiled slyly.

“I see that” he said appreciatively, sporting an impressive erection.

I knelt at his feet and took him in my mouth, lovingly kissing and stroking that beautiful flesh. I heard Jon mutter “shit” as he groaned and that made me smile. I felt his fingers dig into my hair and massage my scalp as I worked my own form of magik on his swollen flesh.

“Babe, you don’t have to …” he began.

“I want to” I interrupted, still sucking on my favorite treat.

I cupped his balls in my hand as I continued to lick and caress him, sliding my mouth up and down the length of his shaft. I wanted to show him how much I appreciated everything he had done to make this night so special. Not just for me, but for my family. It had been no small task to pull this all off without a hitch and he had left nothing to chance. I wanted to show him that I could be just as focused on his pleasure as he was with mine.

“Baby, the water…” he murmured in a dreamy voice.

I stopped momentarily to turn off the water and cast the rose petals into the bath. I took his hand and led him to the tub. He stepped in and turned around, crooking his finger for me to join him.

“Not yet, my love” I said softly.

I coaxed him to sit down and I began to wash him, slowly and tenderly. I kneaded the muscles in his back and his arms, planting tiny kisses as I went. I washed his hair, massaging his scalp and his neck until he felt like putty in my hands. I removed my clothes and stepped in to join him, washing his chest and his legs and he closed his eyes and leaned back.

I took his softened penis between my palms, stroking and caressing it back to life. He opened his eyes and smiled at me and I gazed back at him adoringly. I placed my hands beneath his hips and raised him slightly while the buoyancy of the water kept him afloat. He mouthed “I love you” and I bowed my head to take him into my mouth once more. I worked slowly and steadily, building his need until I felt him stiffen and sigh. He filled my mouth with his steamy milk and I swallowed, letting him bathe my throat with his juices.

He opened his eyes in time to see a trickle of cum drip from the corner my mouth as I removed it from his cock. He smiled lazily as he reached out to wipe the remains from my lip and I kissed his hand. He looked into my eyes and began to stiffen again, seeing the dark desire that met his gaze. I felt drunk with his love and I needed more of him, my appetite insatiable now.

He reached for me and drew me to him, his tongue finding mine as he searched my mouth and recovered his strength. Together we stood, naked and wet in the glowing candlelight, and drank from each other’s well. He reached for a towel and wound it about us as we stepped from the water and clung together, catching our breath.

We tumbled into the bed, still locked in a desperate embrace, unable to let go. Jon rolled on top of me and slid in easily, and I welcomed him with my own flood. We made love tenderly, taking our time and building the hunger. My hips rolled against him with a will all their own and his thrusts matched mine in perfect harmony.

We made love like we were starving; needing each other like we needed air to breathe. The months together had done nothing to diminish our wanting, our bond growing stronger with each passing day. The fire within us would not be quelled.

Jon and I made love for hours, feeding on the passion until sheer exhaustion overcame us. I lay cradled in his arms, too tired to move, and still I wanted him. It was nearly dawn and we’d barely slept, dozing off briefly only to wake and reach for each other again and again. I was insatiable and he was superman as we flew to the sun and back again over and over.

“Baby, I wanna make love to you until the stars fall from the sky, but we need to be up in three hours and I can barely move a muscle” he sighed.

“I know, love, I know. I feel the same way” I admitted, struggling to roll over and face him.

“Let’s try to sleep so we can be coherent at breakfast” he said, smiling weakly.

I was too tired to laugh but I nodded and nestled against him. He wrapped his arm loosely around my shoulder and kissed my head.

“I love you, baby” he said as his voice drifted off.

“I love you too, Jon” I said and sleep mercifully overtook us.

The Sauna Part 141

The food arrived relatively soon and it proved to be an excellent distraction for everyone. Jon’s dad and mine were talking and I couldn’t quite hear the conversation, but it seemed affable enough. Carol was drinking more than eating, but at least she was out of my direct line of vision so I scanned the room to see how Lainie and Richie were managing.

All appeared well, so I turned my attention to Jon, who surprisingly was standing at a distance from everyone and just watching pensively for signs of trouble. I made my way over to where he was standing and he set down his plate and pulled me against his chest for a quick kiss.

“Did you eat something, babe? Are your folks doing okay?” he asked anxiously.

“Everything’s fine, love. Relax, you’ve still got a show to do” I said as I looked closer, noting his lip looked nearly normal now.

“No sign of my battle scar, eh?” he grinned, noticing what I was looking at.

“Nope, not really. You’re every bit as gorgeous as ever” I reassured him.

He checked his watch and noted it was going on seven and he was getting antsy. He needed to change his clothes and get down to the stage and do a final sound check. I wanted to change and freshen up too and just get a little breathing space before an entire evening with his mother. The stage here was set up differently and there were no “sides” where I could hide unnoticed, so I would be at the table with our folks and the women.

Richie appeared at Jon’s elbow and he looked tired, but content. Apparently he and Lainie had made up, at least for now, and I was glad for all our sakes. He and Jon agreed it was time to head down and we excused ourselves from the group. Rick was in charge of making sure that the family got to the show and that everyone was seated at the right table. He whispered something to Jon who nodded a reply and we made our exit, leaving Carol to hold court in his absence.

“I just want to apologize for my mom, darlin’. She’s nervous about meeting you and your family and she’s had too much to drink. That’s just how she gets when she feels unsure of herself” Jon said, trying to excuse her behavior.

“It’s okay, baby, really. I’m glad that she’s proud of you” I responded, trying to reframe it in a more positive light.

Jon nodded and seemed satisfied that he’d explained her boorishness, but I wasn’t buying it. I would try to give her the benefit of the doubt, though, for his sake. I doubted I would ever come to like her, but I did like his father quite a bit. I wondered if perhaps I just had an issue with mothers because of my experiences with my own. But we both had difficult mothers, or so it seemed.

We went to our room and hopped in the shower for a quick clean-up as there really wasn’t time for much else. Jon dressed for the show without the proverbial black leather pants and vest I was so fond of, opting instead for black jeans with a white shirt and black jacket. He still looked amazing, but he’d toned it down for this show as he was conscious of the audience tonight.

He went down ahead of me, anxious to run the sound check and review some last minute details with the guys. I wasn’t quite ready anyway and I doubted I would ever be able to shake my hair and go like he did as women really required more maintenance than that. I was sure his mother had quite an elaborate grooming ritual herself, I thought smugly, and then tried to dismiss the negative feelings I’d developed.

I kissed him goodbye and figured it was the last time I’d see him until the show was over, so I lingered on the kiss before I released him. He gave me a squeeze and told me he loved me and to hurry down before they started letting in the paying customers. I debated my outfit briefly and decided to play it more conservative, taking my cue from Jon again. The Tienda Ho skirt I had just bought and the batik blouse were perfect-feminine and sexy, but not too much. I was ready.

I made it down as they were finishing the sound check and Jon winked at me from the stage. I went to our table and was pleased to see that the family was all present and accounted for, save Carol and John, and I thanked Rick for herding everyone to the spot. Lainie was there, and Eva too, and I was grateful that Eva offered to act as a buffer between me and Jon’s mother. Lainie was tickled to be seated between Eva and Carol and that offered another layer of protection.

Rick placed a glass of champagne in front of me and checked to see if anyone else needed anything. My sister sat on my left and Eva was on my right. I was ready. The guys had gone off the stage and were warming up in another room and I began to feel the buzz of excitement. This was a special show with a number of acoustic renditions of my favorite songs and I was really looking forward to it. It wouldn’t be as loud as a usual concert, so dad wouldn’t get annoyed, but it would still be loud enough for my mother to hear.

There was a bit of a commotion near the main entrance and we all turned to see what was going on. I should have known. It was Jon’s mother, not content to come in the back way like the rest of us, but preferring to make Rick bring her through the crowd so she could say hello to all her buddies from the fan club that were eagerly waiting outside. I felt bad for Rick and knew he had his hands full as he steered Carol and John towards our table.

She took her seat quietly enough, but it was clear that she had had a significant amount to drink as she bumped into the table before sitting down. She called imperiously to Rick and demanded he get her a drink and I really hoped he had the forethought to water it down. The doors opened and the crowd began to fill in. I could barely hear my dad as he commented on how nice it was to not have to stand in line and I knew that he appreciated how attentive Jon had been to every detail.

The lights dimmed as people found their seats and I noticed Rick hovering behind me protectively. I hoped that Lainie didn’t notice that the blond from last night was just two tables away and that she also had a ringside seat. They were the contest winners and had the best seats in the house next to us.

I heard the first strains of Richie’s guitar and immediately recognized the opening chords of ‘Lay Your Hands on Me’ and I scanned the crowd to see where Jon would appear in the audience. Lainie and I spotted him first, and I grabbed Linda’s arm and pointed and she passed word on to my father. Even Carol’s attention was riveted on her son then.

Jon made his way through the audience, encouraging the fans to reach out and touch him as he sang the words. He truly was like a preacher, working the crowd into a frenzy and many of us were on our feet by that time. Even Linda stood up, as did Pat, when Jon approached.

He halted in front of me, singing directly to me as he came to the line “if you want me to lay my hands on you”. I instinctively reached for him as he reached back and touched my cheek. The crowd went crazy and I could feel the blood rush to my face, my heart pounding at his gentle touch. And then he was gone, leaping onto the stage.

Even my dad was on his feet then, but he kept his hand on my mother’s shoulder and she stayed seated. The crowd roared and the sound of applause was deafening. Jon was a master of his craft. His timing was impeccable and he read his audience like a book. I swelled with pride and I felt like the luckiest woman in the world at that moment.

He launched into the next song, one of my sister’s favorites and she sang along to the chorus. My father was smiling and actually seemed to be enjoying the show and my mother followed Jon with her eyes. Jon pulled a girl on stage to dance from the table of contest winners and I saw Lainie stiffen as she noticed the blond, but she returned her gaze to Richie and I could see that he was looking right into her eyes.

The show continued through many of the usual acoustic numbers, but Jon had another surprise in store for me. My mouth fell open as I recognized the beginning notes of ‘I’m No Angel’ and I looked up at Jon in total amazement. He flashed me that mega watt smile of his that he usually reserved for the cameras, but this time it was genuine and I melted.

My mind flashed back to several days ago when he had sung it for me privately and I softly mouthed the words along with him. He continued to hold my gaze through the entire song and there wasn’t a soul in the room who understood what that song meant, but no one missed the fact that he sang it for me. I wanted him so badly it was all I could do not to run up on the stage.

The song ended, but the spell wasn’t broken. He mesmerized me and I couldn’t take my eyes from his face. He struggled too and forced himself to look away and pay attention to the audience. My dad was smiling and Eva touched my arm lightly. I leaned closer to her without taking my eyes from Jon and she whispered in my ear.

“Jesus, that man loves you” she said, having never seen Jon lose his focus on the audience like that before.

And so it was for the remainder of the show. I was incapable of conversation and Jon struggled to keep his mind on the audience. He closed with ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’ and everyone at the table was singing, except daddy and mother who really didn’t know the words but had picked up on the chorus.

It was just past ten-thirty when they left the stage and Jon wiped his face with a towel and bounded off the stage to join us. I rose to meet him and he crushed me to him in a huge bear hug. I didn’t care one wit how sweaty he was as I clung to him tightly. Pat and my father shook his hand and his own father clapped his hand on his back. His mom kissed him as she slurred her words.

“That wassa great show, Johnny” she said enthusiastically as she tottered getting to her feet.

“Thanks mom, dad. I’m so glad you could all be here” he said turning towards my family.

“Did you enjoy the show?” he asked them.

Linda heaped praise on his performance and Pat told him it was the best concert he’d ever seen. Even Linda admitted it was better than the BeeGees and that was high praise coming from her. He leaned down to hear my mom and I couldn’t make out what she said, but Jon grinned and I was glad.

“It’s not my kind of music, but I enjoyed it more than I thought. You’re a helluva performer” my dad said and Jon was elated.

I was grateful to Jon’s father who, realizing that Carol was hammered, excused themselves and went to their room under Rick’s watchful supervision. My dad wanted to get my mom to bed as well and accompanied them, but Linda and Pat stayed for a bit, energized by the crowd and the excitement.

Richie had come over to Lainie and stood with her at his side, signing autographs and soon Jon was thronged by fans too. We naturally moved off to allow him to focus on the fans and Tico left Eva with our group and she invited us all back to their room to wait for the guys. Linda and Pat declined, feeling they needed to go and check on the dog and take her for a walk and we said goodnight, promising to meet up in the morning for breakfast.

I motioned to Jon that I was with Eva and we walked to the elevator together, heading towards her room. We went inside and she poured me a glass of wine and set out some cheese and crackers from the little refrigerator. I was too excited to eat, but I accepted the wine and sat down in the big, plush couch in their suite.

The Sauna Part 140

We went up to the front desk and Jon got the keycards for the rooms and we went to inspect them. They should be arriving within a half hour and Jon’s parents would be here shortly after that. We went into the suite he’s reserved for Linda and I saw there was a basket waiting with champagne, snacks and dog biscuits and I laughed in spite of my gray mood.

“You really did take care of everything, didn’t you?” I said, hugging him.

“I probably should have had water or soda here instead of the champagne, but I can fix that” he said as he dialed the hotel lobby and asked for soda and water and some fresh fruit.

We went on to my parents’ room and went inside. The room was larger and there were handicapped rails in the bathroom and a basket with fruit, diet soft drinks and bottled water. There was even a box of diabetic chocolate and a special room service menu that had been made up to reflect what they had available in low calorie items. The hotel had done a good job and we were both pleased.

Jon’s parents’ room was similar and they had a basket too, but theirs contained champagne and wine and several cans of nuts and chocolate that his mother loved. There was also a full bottle of good whiskey available and I wondered about that, but didn’t comment. There was nothing left to do until Rick called when they reached the hotel. No news was good news so far.

****************************

My folks were ready when the limo arrived and Linda introduced Rick as Jon’s personal security assistant. My dad shook his hand and Rick loaded their bags into the car. The limo was stocked with food and drinks and my dad actually allowed himself to enjoy it and have a beer with Pat. My mother tried to empty the chocolates into her pocket, but my dad and Linda stopped her.

No one had ever been on a private plane before and they were all quite impressed. My dad knew Jon was wealthy, but it was all beginning to sink in more now. Vicky made sure everyone was comfortable and the dog settled down at my mother’s feet for the short plane ride. Linda asked Rick a few questions about the hotel and my dad was more interested in hearing about what it was like to work for Jon.

It had been a stroke of genius on Jon’s part, albeit unintentional, to assign this duty to Rick. Few people outside the band and his immediate family knew Jon as well as Rick or were as happy for him and I as was Rick. He took the opportunity to share the change he’d seen in Jon since we became a couple.

He explained that Jon was a demanding employer and a perfectionist, but that he’d mellowed substantially and gave the example from the night before about the PA system. He also went on to say that while Jon was tough, he was fair and always honest in his dealings with anyone and Rick respected that. So too did my father.

*************************

My family arrived at the Hard Rock just before one o’clock and Jon’s cell rang. It was Rick and we made our way to the lobby to greet them. There was a throng of fans and groupies in the lobby and Rick ushered my folks through the thick of it to where Jon and I were waiting, out of sight from the fans. My mother seemed a bit discomfited by the commotion and the dog was panting with excitement, so we escorted them to their rooms quickly.

We congregated in Linda’s suite and everyone began to relax away from the crowd and the flashbulbs. This had become a matter of routine for me now, but it was definitely new for my family. My dad was a bit overwhelmed with the accommodations and had never been treated so lavishly and Linda was tickled when she saw the dog biscuits and thanked Jon heartily.

“We’ll let you folks get settled. We’re in Suite 200, just two floors up, so come up and join us when you’re ready. If there is anything at all that you need, just call the front desk and they’ll make sure to take care of it and you let me know if there are any problems” Jon said with authority.

“Thank you, I can’t imagine what else we could need” my father said, shaking Jon’s hand.

We left them to get settled and went to our room to relax and unwind before Jon’s parents arrived. Rick had been assigned to keep an eye on both our families and make sure that no over-zealous fans managed to harass them, so he stayed behind, guarding the hallway. Jon was in total control of the situation and I was again proud of his ability to take care of things.

He called the guys and invited them to come up and Richie declined as he and Elaine were trying to work things out and maybe get some sleep. There was a knock on the door and Jon opened it to welcome his mom and dad. This was the first time I’d laid eyes on either of them and they weren’t quite what I’d been expecting.

Jon’s father was quite tall, a good head above Jon who was somewhat diminutive in stature by comparison. He was a handsome man and that didn’t surprise me, but it was his mother who I found a bit disconcerting. She was an attractive woman, though somewhat heavy, and she was dressed to the nines. In fact, she struck me as rather flamboyant and it was clear that she was accustomed to being the center of attention.

“Where is Rick? He wasn’t there to greet us when we got to the hotel and we had to deal with those fans by ourselves” she said petulantly as she swept into the room.

“C’mon now, Carol, don’t start. It was fine” Jon’s dad said as he turned to hug his son.

“I’m sorry, mom. Rick is here and he’ll take care of you and Trish’s family while you’re here” Jon said apologetically, trying to smooth her ruffled feathers. “Come in and sit down. Come and meet Trish” he added excitedly.

“It’s so nice to finally meet the woman who’s stolen Jon’s heart” his dad said warmly as he stepped towards me. “Welcome to the family” he said as he hugged me.

“I’m so glad to finally meet you too. I can see where Jon got his good looks and charm” I replied as I hugged him back.

“And I am so thrilled to meet you and to thank you for making Jon into the wonderful man that he is and to be part of your family. I love your son with all my heart” I said to his mom, taking a page from Jon’s book.

She embraced me rather coolly, and gave me a superficial kiss on the cheek and I knew instantly that Jon hadn’t gotten his warmth from her. She smelled heavily of perfume and alcohol and I was beginning to think I wasn’t going to like his mother much, but I would do my best to win her over for his sake.

“Well, I’m glad my son has found someone to take care of him again finally. He needs looking after, you know” she said pointedly.

“I will do my best to make sure that he’s happy” I replied, trying to sound more pleasant than I felt at the moment.

Jon looked very happy to have his parents here with us and I wondered if he saw his mother as I did or recognized the contrast between her and his dad. I had little time to ponder it any further as Tico and Eva arrived, followed by the others, all of whom received a much more affectionate welcome than I had. But then again, I was basically a stranger and she’d known the guys for most of their lives.

We uncorked a couple of bottles of champagne and began filling everyone’s glasses when the door opened and my family came in, escorted by Rick. I was grateful that Linda had left the dog in the room for once as I could have just imagined Carol’s reaction to that. We made the rounds of introductions and everyone began to settle into a seat. My dad helped my mother into a chair and got her a diet soda and we began to talk about the show.

It was nearing four-thirty when Richie and Lainie appeared and I was glad to see that they had appeared to have resolved their differences. They both looked subdued, but neither looked angry and I caught the relief in Jon’s face as he smiled at Richie. We introduced him to my family and Jon’s mother fawned over Elaine, much to my irritation. I began to wonder if she did it on purpose.

Jon’s dad, on the other hand, seemed to be all that his mother was not. It was as though he tried to make up for her almost dismissive attitude towards me by focusing his attention on me and my family. He was an engaging man and showed none of the haughty arrogance his wife displayed in abundance. I began to feel sorry for him and for Jon as I watched his mother more closely.

“You must be incredibly proud of your son” my father said to Jon’s dad.

“He’s done alright for himself” he replied humbly.

“Oh, for Heaven’s sake, John. Johnny’s done a bit better than just alright” Carol chimed in as she proceeded to list her son’s considerable credits.

“Mom, please, that’s enough now” Jon implored her, beginning to feel embarrassed.

“I’m not ashamed to brag about my son. How many parents could consider themselves as lucky as we are?” she continued.

I could see my father beginning to bristle as he hated arrogance as much as I did and it was clear that she was all too willing to view Jon’s success as her own. I began to think she was obnoxious and wondered whether this had been such a good idea after all. I tried to remind myself that she was Jon’s mother, and had contributed half of his genetic material and therefore couldn’t be all bad. But it didn’t go very far in convincing me.

“Is anyone hungry yet? Maybe we could skip going to the restaurant and just order it to be brought here instead?” Jon suggested, trying to change the subject.

“I’m getting a little hungry, Floyd” my mother piped in and Jon immediately showed her a menu and encouraged her to order whatever she liked.

“Johnny, what about your fans and the press? Won’t they be expecting you to make an appearance? You don’t want to disappoint your audience” Carol said loudly.

I was beginning to think it was Carol who craved the audience as Jon and the rest of us surely didn’t. She was insufferable and I remembered then that she had been a former Playboy bunny and was used to publicity and being in the spotlight.

“I think we can safely forgo any more publicity, mom. Besides, I’m not in the mood to divide my attention between that and my family” Jon said smoothly, having the final say.

We all began to consider what we wanted and Jon asked Rick to try and take everyone’s orders. My sister wanted to go and check on the dog and Rick escorted her to her room after assigning the task of ordering the food to one of his men. His first responsibility was to take care of the family.

“Wow, Jon’s mother sure is something, isn’t she?” Linda said to Rick as they walked to her room.

“She can be a bit overwhelming" Rick said in a neutral voice.

He couldn’t stand Carol either, but he was loyal to Jon and would never stoop to voice his opinion casually. Jon would have seen it as a betrayal and loyalty was everything to Jon among his friends and his staff.

The Sauna Part 139

Saturday morning came early, or so it seemed when the wake up call rang. We were both stiff and sore, but incredibly satisfied as we hauled ourselves into the shower. A hot tub would have done wonders, but there was none in our suite. The pulsing hot water from the shower and fresh coffee that appeared outside our door did much to revive us.

I inspected Jon’s lip in the light from the window and at least the cut wasn’t visible on the outside, but his lower lip was slightly swollen and bruised. We got dressed and went down to meet the guys for breakfast and check that everything was ready for my family and Jon’s parents. Tico and Eva were there already, but no one else was up yet.

“Shit, Jon. What the hell happened to you? I thought you guys were going back to your room when we left last night. Did you get into a fight?” Tico demanded.

“I can’t call it a fight since I didn’t struggle much” he said ruefully, as he gave me a lopsided grin and Eva giggled.

“Jesus, you’d better put some ice on that” Tico muttered, but he was laughing too.

We ordered breakfast and Jon scooped the ice from his water and held it against his lip. David came in and sat down and looked far worse than Jon and we all laughed. Hugh strolled in with a newspaper and sat down at the table and he looked as though he was well rested. Jon was a little worried as we were all supposed to meet for breakfast at nine and it was almost quarter to ten. He pulled out the cell phone and dialed Richie.

“Yeah?” Richie’s voice sounded annoyed.

“Everything okay, bro? We’re all downstairs at breakfast. Are you joining us or did you get a better invitation?” Jon asked, teasing him a bit.

“I’ll be right down” came the reply.

We all looked at Jon and he shrugged. We’d heard the phone call and no one missed the fact that Richie had used “I” and not “We”. Jon called Rick and confirmed he was on his way to pick up my folks and gave me a little squeeze to let me know everything was on schedule. Richie came in moments later and looked like shit. He hadn’t shaved and he looked haggard and hungover. I knew that wasn’t a good sign.

“Richie, what’s wrong?” I asked, feeling concerned.

“Elaine is pissed at me over that stupid bimbo from the party last night. I just can’t win. You saw what happened. What was I supposed to do? This is my life and the nature of the business, whether I like it or not and she won’t accept that. I can’t go through any more of this jealousy crap. Shit, man, what the hell happened to you?” he said to Jon, echoing Tico’s words.

“Never mind that. Where’s Elaine?” Jon demanded.

“She’s upstairs sulking. Were you in a fight?” Richie persisted but Jon ignored him.

“I’ll go and talk to her Richie” I volunteered and Jon looked at me gratefully, still holding the ice on his lip.

I got up and went upstairs, feeling a little annoyed with Elaine myself. This was ridiculous. Richie hadn’t done anything and Elaine had no reason to be jealous. She was younger than the rest of us, but still, she was no kid, not really. And she should know how this stuff works. The guys would never be rude to a fan. She needed to grow up or she was gonna lose the best thing that had ever happened to her.

“Lainie?” I said as I knocked on the door.

She opened it slowly and I went in. If Richie looked bad, Lainie looked worse. Her eyes were red and swollen and it was obvious that she’d been crying and hadn’t slept. I felt bad for her, but I was still irritated.

“Lainie, is this all about that blond bitch from the party last night?” I asked, seeing no point to beating around the bush.

“Richie doesn’t think he did anything wrong! Can you believe that! He’s just like my last boyfriend! If I can’t trust him when I’m around, how can I trust him when I’m not even there?” she shrieked and broke down in a torrent of sobs.

I’d never seen her like this before. Cool, unemotional Elaine reduced to a whimpering mess of tears. I knew her past relationship had hurt her deeply and I suspected that’s where this was all coming from, but it was a misperception. Richie hadn’t been unfaithful to her nor had he been disrespectful in any way. And he had his own baggage. This was a nightmare for him after his ex-wife accused him of an affair because some woman had thrown herself at him.

“Elaine. Elaine, look at me” I said firmly and she finally raised her head to meet my eyes.

“I know you’re upset and I know it’s hard to watch some woman coming on to your man, but Richie barely noticed her. He’s not like your old boyfriend, he didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t punish him for what Damon did to you” I said calmly.

“Didn’t do anything wrong? I know he didn’t start it, but he did nothing to discourage it either. He just stood there and let her rub herself all over him” she whined.

“Elaine, stop making yourself into the victim. Richie ignored her; he didn’t encourage her at all. He couldn’t pitch a fit for Heaven’s sake, she was a fan. The press was right there. What on earth did you expect? This isn’t high school” I said, wanting to shake her.

“I just wanted him to tell her to leave him alone. To tell her that he had a girlfriend and to get lost” she spat.

“Shit Elaine, you ask too much. Richie would never be rude and he shouldn’t have to in order to prove himself to you. Did you even notice what I did? I sent her over to Jon on purpose so she could fawn all over him because I trust him and I was afraid you were going to create a scene. You’d better pull it together or you’re gonna lose Richie. This crap happens all the time, so get over it” I warned her.

“I thought you used to be a counselor. I thought you were supposed to try and be understanding. Is this how you treated your clients?” she hissed.

“Elaine, I know you’re hurt and I know you’re tired, so I’m going to let that go for now. But I would tell a client the truth, the same as I’m telling you” I spat back.

I realized I had been a bit rougher on her than I would have been on a client, but she wasn’t a client. I was surprised and disappointed by her behavior and I began to think that she was more damaged than I’d realized. She just simply wasn’t being rationale.

“Lainie, do you love Richie?” I asked, wondering now if she was capable of really loving anyone.

“Yes, I just don’t like him much right now” she sniffled.

“Then you’d better stop and figure this out. He’s a rock star, Elaine. There’ll always be groupies and ones like that girl from last night. If you can’t handle that, then you’d better let him go” I said and I stood up to leave.

“It’s easy for you, isn’t it? You know Jon loves you. The whole fucking world knows that he loves you. Richie has never stood up and said he loves me in public” she shot back with such venom that I was caught off guard.

“Elaine, you twit, he hasn’t said that in order to protect you from the press because you’re so shy you shrink at the sight of them. Just last week he said he wanted to marry you, but he’s afraid to ask you for fear of scaring you off!” I said, wishing I had left when I wanted to.

I wasn’t sure what was clouding her judgment anymore. It might be her past wounds or it might be her jealousy over me and Jon or her insecurity about herself. Or maybe her inability to express her own feelings had kept Richie from sharing his and she really didn’t know. Or maybe she really still wanted Jon and didn’t really care about Richie at all. If she truly loved Richie, she needed to get past whatever was blocking her from seeing that he loved her.

“He really said that to you?” she asked, looking surprised.

“Yes, he did. If you love him, Elaine, tell him and ask him yourself. But if you really don’t love him, don’t hurt him anymore. Please, he doesn’t deserve this” I said as I left.

I went back downstairs to the dining area, but everyone was gone, so I headed for the bar. It wasn’t even noon, but that’s where I expected to find Richie and Jon. And there they were, sitting at the bar with a couple drinks.

I recounted my conversation with Elaine to Richie and apologized for sharing what he’d told us in confidence, but if this relationship had any chance at all, maybe it needed to be said. Richie wasn’t upset and felt encouraged. Maybe Elaine just needed him to really show her how serious he was and playing it safe had just made her more insecure. It was worth a shot he shot as he left us to go and talk with her.

I sat down at the bar and felt like I needed a drink myself. Jon ordered me a glass of wine and I took a long drink and sighed. He put his arm around my shoulder and we laid our heads against each other. I’d lost some respect for Elaine and I felt bad for Richie and my head was starting to hurt. I had my doubts about Elaine now, but it was out of my hands and I just hoped I hadn’t screwed things up.

“Your lip looks better” I observed, running my finger across it.

“Yeah, the ice brought the swelling down. At least I won’t have to make up a story for the press” he grinned wearily. “Babe, you did a good thing. It’s up to them now. If they can’t get out of their own way, it isn’t meant to be” he said philosophically.

He was right, but I still wasn’t feeling very good about it. I knew things would never be the same again between me and Lainie and I didn’t know if I could trust her around Jon again regardless of what happened between her and Richie. Her jealousy and her venom had given me pause to really wonder. I hoped I was wrong, but I decided to tell Jon what I was afraid of and reminded him how I’d said that Elaine had always been a “Jon girl” before she met Richie.

“I really don’t think that’s it, darlin’. But if you’re right, Richie will get hurt and there’s not much we can do about it now. I think she just wants what we have, but I don’t think anyone will ever be as lucky as we are” he said as he kissed me.

“Jon, you’d tell me if she ever tried to …” I asked tentatively.

“I would, but you’ve got nothing to worry about there. I’m not interested and she’s never done anything to make me suspicious of her motives. Let’s go check on the rooms. I wanna make sure everything is perfect when your family gets here” he said, changing the subject.

I believed him and I did trust him, but I just didn’t trust Lainie and I wasn’t sure why. I’d always trusted my gut, but I hoped I was wrong this time.

The Sauna Part 138

The next morning came early and Jon and I were up at the crack of dawn. No one else was even awake yet, so we snuck in the shower together and made love under the cascading water. It felt good to fall into what had become such a familiar routine and I felt closer to Jon than ever. We finished washing up and got out to dry off.

Pat was up now as we walked out to the kitchen and waited for the coffee to brew. He teased us about our efforts to conserve water and Jon grinned sheepishly, realizing that Pat didn’t miss much. I was a little more brazen this morning and told him we knew he’d be alright with it as long as Linda didn’t find out and he swore his lips were sealed.

We drank our coffee while Pat took the dog for a walk and I packed up our clothes and toiletries. As soon as it was a decent hour, Jon started making phone calls to check and make sure that all the arrangements were in place. We were leaving early to meet the guys at the Hard Rock for rehearsal and Jon had another limo picking my parents and Linda and Pat up on Saturday to take them to the plane and to the hotel.

Linda was up now and we reviewed the schedule for tomorrow. I called my dad and went over the details with him too. He’d forgotten that we were leaving today and offered to take us to the airport to get the plane, but the drive and the traffic was a hassle and we had already arranged the limo.

“Don’t worry, father. We’re all set. The limo will be here in an hour to get us. Just make sure you pack whatever you want to bring tomorrow and be ready when it gets there. They’ll stop and get Linda and Pat and the dog first and they should pick you up at around eleven o’clock. The show isn’t until eight, so we’ll have time to have dinner with Jon’s folks and meet the band and you can even take a nap if you want to when you get to the hotel” I reassured him.

“I don’t need a nap, I’m not that decrepit” he said vehemently. “But maybe your mother …well, alright. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow” he said finally.

I felt relieved now that everything was settled, so we sat out on the linai and sipped coffee while we waited for the limo. Jon went out in the backyard and tossed a Frisbee for Belle and Linda and I chatted. She was looking forward to the show and beginning to get excited. They would have ringside seats at a table in the front with Jon’s parents and Linda actually liked Jon’s music.

I heard the car pull into the driveway and I could barely contain my pleasure when I saw Rick step out of the limo and walk towards the door to get our bags. He smiled broadly and I gave him a hug, insisting he come inside and meet Linda after I realized Jon had made sure he was going to be in charge of getting my family to the hotel and the show and home. Rick was the next best thing to Jon taking care of it himself.

The drive to the airport went by fast and I was beginning to feel the excitement as we boarded the plane. Rick came with us and would be handling details and security at the hotel, but he was flying back tonight to be there in the morning to get my family. I was pretty wound up and told him and Vicky all about them and the dog and they listened attentively, assuring me that everything would be fine.

When we arrived at the hotel we were met by Tico and Eva; Richie and Lainie would be arriving around dinner time and David and Hugh were already there. Jon checked out the stage and the sound and showed me where we’d all be seated. We still had a few hours before Richie and Lainie got there, so we hung out at the bar and caught up with everyone.

I told Eva about my shopping spree at Tienda Ho and she admired the outfit I was wearing. I promised to take her there next time we could all meet in San Francisco. Jon was in an exceptionally good mood and radiated good humor. Even the problem with the PA system didn’t seem to faze him and he didn’t dwell on it, leaving it to Rick to make sure it was straightened out. We were on our third round of drinks when Richie strode into the bar, Lainie at his side.

I ran over and hugged her and she hugged me back warmly; she looked radiant and very happy. We all decided to have dinner in the hotel first despite the paparazzi who no longer really seemed to bother me. Lainie was still camera shy, but Richie kept the attention away from her and she stayed close to me. I pulled Richie aside and asked how she’d liked the dinner he’d made and Lainie overheard me and joined in.

“It was amazing! The plum pudding was just like my Mum used to make” she gushed and Richie swelled with pride.

“So how did it go with your dad? I see Jon didn’t get a haircut yet” he snickered and Jon made a face.

“You weren’t going to cut your hair, were you?” Lainie said, sounding a bit alarmed.

“I’ve been forbidden” Jon replied, nodding towards me. “And I know better than to argue with my wife”

“My dad overlooked his hair and actually liked him quite a bit. He hasn’t said much to me, but I can tell. The trip went much better than expected” I said to Richie as Jon slipped his arms around my waist.

“What’s not to like?” Jon smirked.

We had a wonderful time and it felt like a normal evening with friends except for the occasional flashbulb going off as we had dinner. The rehearsal and sound check were closed and took about an hour. The problem with the PA had been fixed and everything went smoothly so we managed to get done by about nine and we headed upstairs to the pre-concert party with a group of fans who’d won passes through a radio contest.

Jon and Richie and the band signed autographs and Jon did a brief press conference to satisfy the media. He spent time meeting and greeting the fans who’d won the contest and Lainie and I both smiled at each other, thinking how we remembered those days ourselves. Rick had left after the rehearsal and I felt a little more vulnerable than usual without his protection, but I noticed that Jon was keeping a watchful eye on me.

Eva, Lainie and I kept to ourselves, leaving the guys to their fans and I noticed Lainie bristle a bit as a lanky blonde in a skin tight dress kept rubbing herself against Richie’s thigh. To his credit, Richie seemed oblivious which only seemed to encourage her efforts. Eva and I exchanged glances as Lainie made her way through the crowd, heading towards Richie.

“Excuse me” she said, brushing the blond aside as she whispered something in Richie’s ear.

Jon shot me a look and Eva and I moved towards her, managing to get between Elaine and the blond who was whining now. I nudged Elaine, but she ignored me, looking at Richie who looked rather helpless. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I resorted to distraction as I introduced myself to the blond and asked if she’d met Jon and the other members of the band yet. She immediately forgot about Richie and focused her attention on Jon who shot me a grateful look. Richie and Lainie moved off to a corner and Eva and I withdrew then as the blond had Jon’s attention. She had no further use for us and Eva and I exchanged knowing looks.

“Nice save there; my hat’s off to you” Eva said as she made a mock bow.

“Lainie’s just a kid herself and it isn’t easy to watch some bimbo flirting with your man. I have to admit, though, I didn’t think she had it in her” I laughed.

I met Jon’s eyes across the room and he gave me a helpless look now that the blond had latched on to him and I grinned and shook my head. I knew he could handle it and I trusted him completely. He finally managed to break away and made his way over to us, slipping an arm around my waist.

“Thanks a lot, darlin’. You rescued Richie and left me there drowning” he said, making those winsome duck lips.

“I know you know how to swim, love” I said as I planted a kiss on his nose.

“I’ve had about enough of this scene tonight, let’s cut outta here” he said checking his watch.

It was after eleven and he’d put in his appearance and was anxious to make his escape as these parties were likely to go on all night. Eva and Tico made their getaway along with me and Jon and I guessed Richie wouldn’t be far behind. Hugh had already left, having little interest in this sort of thing and Dave would stick around, cleaning up the crumbs after Jon and Richie left. He was still unattached and I felt a little sorry for him, but Jon had said he was a party animal and thrived on it.

We reached our room after Jon signed a couple dozen more autographs for fans who hadn’t made it in to the party and were hanging around in the hallway trying to schmooze the security guards for entrance. That was the seamier side of rock stardom. Jon put his card in the door and we closed it behind us, glad to be alone finally.

“C’mere” he said, tilting my chin up to look at him as he bent his head to kiss me.

I threw my arms around his neck and he scooped me up and carried me to the bed. He collapsed on top of it, pawing at my shirt until he managed to get it off as he buried his head in my breasts. I clawed at his t-shirt until I had managed to get it up to his armpits and he raised his head just long enough for me to pull it over his head.

“I’ve wanted to ravage you properly for days” he crooned and I knew he’d been keeping himself in check since we’d arrived in Florida.

His lust was ruthless and savage and I felt myself growing hotter by the minute as he began to rip off my clothes piece by piece. My nipples were stiff and hard and ached for his mouth and he didn’t disappoint me. I undid the button of his jeans and unzipped them, pushing them frantically over his hips.

He wriggled free of the pants and his head dove between my legs, his tongue plunging inside my sticky center. He groaned loudly and I came almost instantly, flooding his mouth with my juices. I thought I would die as he continued his assault and I grabbed his head and yanked it up to my mouth where I attacked it with my own. He was panting and breathing hard as I pushed him onto his back and straddled him.

“God, I want you right now” I growled as I lowered myself onto his rigid pole.

His fingers dug into my arms and with all his strength he flipped me onto my back and rammed into me with the force of a hurricane. I relaxed completely as he drilled into me and I came in a rush of spasms and gasps. His teeth sank into my shoulder as he exploded deep inside me and I held him between my thighs like a vice. He shuddered as I raised my hips, rocking him against me as the frenzy subsided.

He raised his head and looked at me as he wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth. It wasn’t even clear where it had come from until he laughed and tasted it in his own mouth, realizing I had bit his lip. He shook his head and smiled.

“You’re a vixen, you wild thing” he said as he wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Baby, I am so sorry, but you bring it out in me” I said, genuinely apologetic as I realized I’d drawn blood.

I lifted my head to kiss his wound and he flinched slightly as it was still tender. I touched his cheek and smoothed his hair as he laid his head on my breasts, gently stroking my swollen nipples with his fingers. We did do some damage, but there were no major injuries, so all was well. At least we hadn’t destroyed the room this time.

The Sauna Part 137

We slept in late on Thanksgiving morning and I woke to the sound of Linda and Pat arguing about something in the kitchen. I caught snatches of the conversation and I heard Pat telling her that there was plenty of food while she insisted he had to go out and find somewhere open where he could get something or other she wanted to add. Jon stretched and yawned and I lay back down, craving the warmth of his body.

He folded me against his chest and his fur tickled my nose as I burrowed in next to him. We had both slept well after making love last night and I was feeling lazy today. It would be a long day with the family and as much as I enjoyed them, it was a bit of a test of my will to keep myself in check and resist the multiple temptations that arose daily with Jon nearby. Plus my cousin and his wife would be joining us for dinner and they could be a bit contentious.

“So, what’s the agenda today?” Jon asked.

I went over the details and started feeling a bit guilty that Linda was doing all the cooking without any real help, so I pushed myself to get up and we slipped on our robes and wandered out into the kitchen. Linda was already busy preparing things and the turkey was in the oven. Jon grabbed a piece of coffee cake and Linda offered to make breakfast, but he passed, seeing she was busy. Thankfully there was coffee and I noticed Pat wasn’t around so I assumed Linda had won the argument.

We went out onto the linai and smoked while I fought the urge to go back to bed. Jon decided he’d go for a run and give us some time for “girl talk” and I kissed him goodbye and joined Linda. She gave me scrub duty as I was nearly as useless to her in the kitchen as Jon and we talked about mother and daddy and, of course, Jon.

Linda liked him and thought he’d made a very good impression on everyone. He wasn’t quite what she’d expected, I knew. She had grown accustomed to my rather poor choices in men at times, although she’d always liked Jim and asked about him. I told her about the Halloween party and his penis costume, watching her reaction from the corner of my eye. She gave a disapproving grunt and changed the subject.

She wanted to know how I was going to tell daddy about quitting my job and wondered if I missed it at all. I really hadn’t missed working and that surprised us both. I told her what Jon and had said about telling daddy and about the conversation they’d had in the den yesterday. She stopped peeling the potatoes and thought for a moment.

“You know, he’s right. It may be better to tell him sooner as the longer you wait the harder it’ll get and you know how daddy is about lying” she pointed out.

I nodded my agreement and knew they were both right, I was just being a chicken. I didn’t like keeping secrets and the worst was over now. He met Jon and he seemed to like him and he really had no reason to worry about the money. Maybe I would try and talk to him this afternoon if we had a chance. I didn’t want to be in the position of lying yet again when my cousin asked about my job. Jon came back drenched with sweat from his run and I stopped myself when I went over to kiss him.

“Yuck! You’re sweatier than after a concert!” I exclaimed and he grinned at me.

“Awww, c’mon, baby. Give me a kiss” he coaxed as I squirmed to evade his reach, giggling all the while.

Linda watched silently as he chased me around the kitchen, but it looked as though she was smiling. I think she was truly happy for me and I guess it was obvious how much we enjoyed each other.

“Go take a shower and I’ll kiss you” I commanded and he pouted playfully, but obeyed and went off to get cleaned up.

“He really loves you” Linda said quietly, never looking up from her task.

“Yes, he really does. And I love him more than I ever thought possible” I said blushing.

“I can see that. I’m really happy for you, Trish. I’ve never seen you look more content” she said a bit wistfully.

I went over and hugged her, knowing that was a sure sign of approval. She hugged me back and then ordered me to go and get ready as soon as Jon was finished in the bathroom. I finished helping her with the food and soon it was all in the oven. It was almost one o’clock and Jon was dressed and ready to do whatever needed to be done.

“Why don’t you go out on the linai and look pretty while I take a shower” I teased as I kissed him now that he was clean.

He made a face and Linda suggested he could help her get some dishes down from a cupboard and get the table ready while I washed up. He was anxious to help and I left him in her hands. When I finished my shower, I came out and saw that she had found ways to occupy him. He whistled as I walked by, but continued vacuuming the living room. On impulse, I grabbed the camera and took his picture while he posed for me. All he needed was an apron and I could have sold that picture to the tabloids for more money than I made in a year!

I went out on the linai to smoke and dry off and Jon joined me after he finished his chores. My sister had been a teacher for too many years and she was a drill sergeant when it came to managing things, but Jon seemed no worse for wear. Pat came home then and joined us, Belle following on his heels. Jon picked up a toy and threw it for her and Pat smiled.

“So, how was the hot tub? Did it still heat up okay?” he inquired.

“It was great; thanks for letting us use it. I was going to surprise you, but I’m getting one put in at the house in Jersey and they’re putting one in your backyard in Buffalo” Jon said, turning to me.

“Are you serious? Oh Jon, that’s wonderful!” I replied beaming. “I’ve gotten to really enjoy them lately” I added, my voice a little lower.

Mother and daddy arrived just then and Belle tore into the house to greet them. Daddy leaned down to scratch her ears and then came out on the linai while mother aggravated Linda by offering to help. We stayed outside until Butch and Vivian arrived around four and the turkey was almost ready.

Daddy had brought a bottle of wine he’d probably had since he retired twenty years ago as no one in our family really drank much. I knew Jon was wondering how one bottle of wine was going to work for eight people, but I patted his arm to reassure him. Butch had a glass and my mother had a small one, but Jon and I were the only other ones drinking and none of us really wanted a refill after the first glass. Fortunately I did find some whiskey that Linda had forgotten she had and Jon got the blender down from the cupboard and we made whiskey sours or at least a version of it.

Dinner was served at four-thirty and we all took our seats. Daddy carved the bird as tradition demanded and because he was the only one who could slice it thin enough to satisfy Linda. Daddy and I went for the dark meat while everyone grabbed for the white meat and Jon didn’t have a particular preference.

Dinners in our house were strange events and many a friend who’d joined our family over the years had commented afterwards. I had forgotten to prepare Jon, but it was too late now and all our other friends had survived, including my ex-husband.

The conversation all but ceased as the food hit the table and everyone focused on eating. My dad’s attitude had always been “Eat while it’s hot, you can talk later” and we never questioned that until we had been invited to eat at friend’s homes. It was only then that we realized how different our family really was.

Jon adapted easily, though, and didn’t seem to mind as he followed suit despite my lack of a warning. The food was excellent as my sister was a fantastic cook and I always wondered where she got that from as my mother had been a lousy cook. It must have come from my dad’s side, but I’d certainly missed out on those genes.

“This is delicious” Jon mumbled, his mouth still full and my sister’s face lit with pride.

“The stuffing is perfect” I said as I took another mouthful, acknowledging the special effort she made to put in the chestnuts for my sake.

The only conversation was praise for the food and the sound of eight of us chewing, but we were a happy bunch. I saw my mother sneaking food to the dog who always managed to sit right by her feet as it was a standing order not to feed the dog. Pat saw it too, but said nothing, deciding it wasn’t worth starting a fight, but daddy saw her and yelled.

“I only gave her a little” my mother whined defensively and I rolled my eyes at Jon, hoping my dad would just leave it alone.

Everyone was on their best behavior with Jon there and we got through the meal without further incident. Afterwards I joined my dad in the kitchen to help clean up as he finished slicing the turkey. It would probably be my only opportunity to talk to him alone as Linda would be in shortly.

“Father?” I began.

“Yeah, Trish, what is it?” he asked, sounding tired.

My mother exhausted him and it showed. He never had a day with any peace as there was always something she did to upset him. I almost decided not to say anything, but it was now or never. I took a breath and decided to just get it over with.

“I quit my job” I announced.

“What?” my father said, as he stopped dead and looked at me.

“I quit my job. Jon is on tour a lot and the last time he went back to Jersey just for a few days was unbearable. I couldn’t imagine being separated for weeks, even months at a time and he has more money than we’ll ever need, so I quit. I’m going to run his charitable foundation and the fan club instead and we won’t have to be separated” I finished.

There. I’d said it. Whatever happened next, at least I wasn’t lying to him or evading the questions anymore. I took another breath and waited. Linda came in the kitchen and caught the drift, so she grabbed the dessert and made a hurried exit, knowing we needed the privacy.

“Did he ask you to quit?” my father wanted to know.

“No. And he understands that I may decide to start a career in New Jersey as we are moving there soon, but he never pushed me. It was my decision completely. He just supported me and I’m hoping you will too” I added.

“When? When did you quit?” he asked next.

“About a week ago. Just before we went to California” I answered steadily.

“I’m relieved actually. I know you loved your job, but I’d always thought you gave it too much. And he sounds like someone who can take care of you for a change” my dad answered calmly.

I nearly dropped the dish I was washing. Had I so misread my father or had he just changed more than I’d realized. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I was expecting a tirade, but I never expected approval. My father was full of surprises. I put down the dish I was washing and hugged him just as Jon walked in carrying an armful of dirty dishes.

“I just want you to be happy, honey. Happy and safe. That’s all I ever wanted, don’t you know that? Be happy before it’s too late” he smiled wanly and he looked over my shoulder at Jon as I began to sob.

Jon nodded his understanding to my dad and set down the dishes quietly, leaving us alone. Linda handed him another armful, but he motioned to her to wait. She looked at him with a question and he just smiled and whispered that everything was okay and that we just needed a moment.

We stood there a moment longer and I tried to collect myself and digest all that had just happened. I picked up the dish I’d been washing and my dad resumed carving the turkey. My hand was shaking and I needed a cigarette badly. I excused myself and went outside. Jon heard the door on the linai and joined me and I told him what happened, but it seemed like he already knew. He listened and told me what he’d overheard as he put his arm around my shoulder.

“You’re father loves you, baby. And so do I” he said comfortingly.

“I know that, it just took me by surprise, that’s all. And it was the sadness in his voice, Jon. Like he was telling me, don’t end up like me and your mother. My heart just breaks for him” I sniffed.

“I know, darlin’, I know” he said soothingly as he held me and I just cried it out on his shoulder.

This wasn’t a side of me that Jon was used to seeing, but he rather liked it in a way. He liked that I could be tough and strong, but he also liked being able to be there for me and knowing that I needed him. And he was grateful that I shared it with him. I got myself together and we went inside. We both managed to find room for dessert and we sipped our coffee as we finished our pecan pie.

My cousin and his wife left as soon after dinner as was seemly, just as they usually did, and my mother made a catty remark about how they never offered to bring anything for dinner. We’d heard it a hundred times before and it didn’t need to be said, but no one argued. She was right. We sat around and visited until about eight and my parents decided to leave. Today had been a big day and mother needed to rest or she’d be more disoriented than usual.

Pat took Belle for a walk and Jon went with him, hoping to walk off some of the dinner and I filled Linda in on what had happened. She cried too and we hugged each other, wishing more than anything that things could be different for my dad. Jon and Pat returned and we went out on the linai while Pat and Linda watched TV. Pat offered to fire up the hot tub, but we declined as the turkey was already beginning to make us sleepy. We went to bed early and I fell asleep cradled in Jon’s arms.

The Sauna Part 136

I heard a faint tapping on the door as I woke the next morning and it was Pat, letting me know the coffee was ready. He was an early riser and was getting ready to take the dog for a walk. I threw on my robe and joined him for a cup before he left. I told him I was surprised that mother and daddy were waiting for us last night and he explained that mother had insisted on being there even though she’d forgotten why before we arrived.

“Yeah, your father wasn’t very happy about it, but I think sometimes he’s just too tired to fight with her” he observed.

I nodded in agreement and we both wondered how much my dad would be able to take and for how long. I heard the door of the bedroom open and a sleepy eyed Jon emerged, his hair sticking up at all angles. I poured him a cup of coffee and he put his arm around my waist and kissed me good morning. Pat was getting ready to take Belle for a walk and he asked Jon if he wanted to join him.

“I was thinking about going for a run to wake up, but a walk would work” he agreed as he stretched. “Wanna come babe?” he asked, turning to me.

I shook my head no as physical activity wasn’t what got my blood moving in the morning and I figured it would give me an opportunity to take a shower by myself without argument. We hadn’t discussed that particular issue, but I wasn’t going to risk upsetting my sister who was pretty prudish about such things.

When they returned, I was dressed and cleaned up and Linda and I were in the kitchen. I made a fresh pot of coffee, having drained the last one, and Linda proceeded to list off the choices for breakfast. Jon’s eyes lit up when she offered to make French toast and I warned her not to ask for his help except with clean up and he pouted.

He noticed I’d taken a shower already and resigned himself to bathing alone. It was already getting quite warm outside and the humidity was high so we all dressed in shorts and cool clothes. It was probably snowing back home.

We finished breakfast and piled into the car for the short drive over to my parents’ house and my dad was outside washing the car. Mother was in the house watching through the window as she always did, never letting my father out of her sight. She came to the door and invited us in and it was a little sad to watch as she tried to play hostess. My dad took Jon in the den to show him his collection of model cars while I downloaded pictures from the car show onto the computer. I overheard snatches of the conversation between my dad and Jon.

“You’re a decent looking guy, why don’t you get yourself a haircut?” my father suggested.

“Your daughter forbids it. Honestly, I wanted to before we left Buffalo” I heard Jon reply.

“Yeah, that figures” my dad responded and they resumed talking about cars.

I smiled secretly, knowing it was something my dad would leave alone now as he knew me well enough to realize I was behind it. He also knew enough to choose his battles wisely and this wasn’t one he was going to win anyway. My dad made us a simple lunch with sandwiches or salads or both and I whined that there was no mayonnaise, so I opted for the salad.

Jon wasn’t fussy and had both without complaint. It was interesting to see how I behaved with my family, he thought to himself. It was like seeing a different side of me as I seemed to flip between being an adult and a child and he noted how both Linda and I always addressed my dad as father, but referred to him between us as daddy while mother was always mother. After lunch, the story-telling started as seemed to be the unofficial tradition in our family whenever we were all together.

Jon really seemed to enjoy learning about our history and my mother soon began bragging about the things I had done when I was in school and how she remembered typing all my papers. I gritted my teeth and smiled, as the reality was that she had done it grudgingly and had been a real bitch through most of it, always complaining about how much I wrote and how much time it took.

My dad took Jon into the hallway and showed him the plaque I’d received from one of my instructors for my research and my sister told him how I used to correct her students’ papers back when I was in high school. My dad asked me about work and I was evasive, not having the courage to tell him I’d quit my job.

I turned the conversation towards Jon and his career and soon he was in his comfort zone, talking about the history of the band and his own middle class background. My dad listened with rapt attention and I could see he was impressed as he began to realize that Jon was no dumb rock star, but an astute businessman. Linda and I rolled our eyes when my dad offered to show Jon the ten-year financial plan he’d developed that was written out in infinite detail, but Jon seemed genuinely interested and they disappeared together into the den.

I never expected my dad to be capable of using that as a ploy to get Jon alone, but he had been waiting for an opportunity all day. He did show him the budget he’d created and he was proud of it, but he used the time alone to grill Jon about his intentions towards me. Jon answered honestly and my father learned more from him than I had shared by far and he seemed satisfied that this was no fling. He also realized that for once I had chosen a man who could take care of me, if it ever came down to that, and he was relieved.

“Do you really love my daughter and can you promise me that you will never hurt her intentionally?” my father asked him seriously.

“I swear to you that I love her more than I ever thought possible and that I will always take care of her and do everything in my power to make her happy. And I also swear to you that I will never ever leave her” Jon told him.

That was a bit more than my father had even hoped to hear and he was impressed with Jon’s sincerity and willingness to answer his questions. When they finally rejoined us in the living room, my father looked relaxed and Jon was smiling. I wondered, but never expected my father to have been so blunt so soon. I should have known better, and Jon told me later that he’d been waiting for it and would have done the same thing if some hot shot rock star wanted his blessing with Stephanie.

The rest of the afternoon passed comfortably enough and we began to discuss dinner. Linda had planned a meal, but Jon wanted to take us all out to eat as his way to contribute and Pat suggested CeCe’s, a pizza parlor with a buffet that boasted twelve different kinds of pizza at a time. I saw the twinkle in Jon’s eyes and cast my vote on that, although my dad declined as it would be too much of an effort with my mother, so it was just Linda, Pat, Jon and I who ended up going.

After dinner I suggested we watch a movie and I wanted everyone to see ‘Pay it Forward’. It was one of my favorite movies and not just because Jon had a bit part and no one else had seen it yet. Jon was agreeable then after a little pressure and we all went over to my sister’s to watch as there was more room. My mother dozed off half-way through, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it and my father teased Jon a little about the character he played.

“That’s why they call it acting, father” I said, defending him.

“I know, I know. Just making a point” my dad said.

“Received and understood” Jon nodded, acknowledging my dad and I kept my mouth shut.

My parents went home after the movie and we stayed up and played Scrabble. I couldn’t resist teasing Jon about what his fans would think if they knew how he was spending his evening and he reminded me that he knew how to sing the Barney theme song and watched cartoons with his kids. Linda asked about the kids and Jon beamed as he talked about them. Pat fell asleep on the floor with the dog and my sister woke him up and told him he should go to bed and we all decided it was time.

Jon joined me on the linai for a smoke and noticed the hot tub. Since Linda had gone to bed and Pat wasn’t such a prude, I asked if he’d mind and he fired it up, glad someone would get some use from it as they rarely used it. It was a quiet, mild night and it felt good to sink into the hot water. I sat between Jon’s legs and he held me while he told me about his conversation with my dad.

“Jon, I’m sorry. Really. I just never saw that coming” I apologized, feeling annoyed that my father had interrogated him like that.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m glad we got it over with and I was actually expecting it anyway” he said coolly as he filled me in on all that he had told my father.

“You didn’t tell him I quit my job, did you?” I asked in a moment of panic.

“No, darlin’. That’s not for me to tell, but you need to tell him eventually” he prompted.

“I know, I know. And I will, but not this weekend, okay?” I pleaded.

“You know him best and I trust you, but I’m guessing that it is eating at you to keep a secret from him and I’m not sure he’ll take it as bad as you think if you tell him the truth” he said soothingly.

He really did understand me and he was right. It was bothering me and I knew the conversation would go much worse the longer I waited. But I just wanted to be sure he’d had a chance to know Jon and realize that it wasn’t just some stupid impulse on my part. Jon might trust my judgment, but I was less sure of my father. I’d sleep on it.

Jon bent down and kissed my neck and I felt a shiver of desire run through me. I turned around and he pulled me closer. I wrapped my legs around his waist as I floated into his lap and he kissed me deeply. I circled his neck with my arms and he stood up, still kissing me. The water dripped off our bodies as he stepped out of the hot tub and set me down.

“Will you come to bed tonight, wife?” he asked imploringly.

“Yes, husband” I answered as I shut off the hot tub and we wound our way back to the bedroom.