Chapter 28

Jon and Richie walked Melissa and Angela up to their spacious suite and left them to unpack and change for dinner. The band had planned a group dinner to “get back in the swing of things” before their show tomorrow, and Angela was beside herself. Melissa was still unsettled about what had happened in the lobby. She flopped on Angela’s bed, pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and told Angela what she had seen.

Angela, who was already on her third outfit, sat next to her on the bed. “Mel, listen to me. You have got to accept that you can’t control all of this. You’re gonna drive yourself crazy and not enjoy yourself at all. Do not overanalyze this, please. You didn’t do anything wrong, I mean she’s seen her dad kiss other women before. You trust me right?”

“Of course, more than anyone,” Melissa answered still unsure.

“I understand why you’re upset about this, I really do Sweetie, but you have to have a little faith that everything is gonna be ok. Why don’t you go take a nice hot shower to clear your head,” Angela offered.

“A shower sounds nice. I’ll be back in a little while. Thanks Ang,” Melissa said giving her a hug.

“Don’t take too long, you need to help me figure out what to wear,” Angela said examining her dress in the mirror.

“Yeah, yeah. Why don’t you call your husband and tell him we got here in one piece,” Melissa called as she left the room.

“Oh fine, shoot me back to reality why don’t you,” Angela joked.

Melissa walked back into her room and started the water in the shower. Relinquishing control wasn’t something that she had been good at in the last 10 years, but for Jon she was determined to try.

***

Jon had walked with Cara back to her room as he thought of a dozen questions and things for her to check up on. Jon felt a little more relaxed after talking with her. No matter how long he’d been doing this, he always worried about the details. He walked back to his room determined to let someone else do all the worrying, for once. He had other, more important, things to occupy his time and thoughts with. The two women in his life were with him this weekend, he shouldn’t be thinking of anything else.

He used his key and opened the door to his room. He had spent so much time in Philly, this room seemed like a second home to him and he knew all the ins and outs to it. He looked around the living room area for Steph but didn’t see her. He walked towards the bedroom and called for her. He found it empty with the exception of his bag on the bed. He walked down the hall to the other bedroom and knocked on the door. He called to her and opened the door slightly when he didn’t hear an answer. He found Steph lying on her stomach on the bed and he walked over and sat next to her.

He put his hand on her back, “Steph, are you sleeping?”

She sat up and looked at him, her eyes red and her face tearstained. “Dad, do you even want me here?”

Jon pulled her into a hug and held her close. “Of course I do. How could you think that I don’t?”

She pulled away from him. “I saw you in the lobby, when I was waiting for the elevator. I saw you talking to her. It was like you couldn’t get rid of me fast enough so you could be with her. You were all over her, Dad, your tongue was like literally in her mouth, for the whole world to see.”

Guilt flooded over Jon, and he chose his words carefully before he spoke. “Sweetie listen to me, I never want you to feel like that. I don’t want you to feel the way you did at your mom’s with me too. I promise that’s not what I was trying to do. Cara offered to walk you upstairs so you could unpack, baby that’s all. What’s really going on, Steph?”

“Its just seeing you with her,” she said her voice trailing off.

“Talk to me. I thought you were ok with everything. About this weekend and about me and Melissa in general. You should’ve came and talked to me about this before you were so upset. I hate seeing you like this.”

“And say what Dad? Don’t let her come? You’re not allowed to date anyone? I just want you to be happy again. I really do. But then there’s part of me that’s selfish and I don’t want you to be with anyone but me. I don’t want to share you because I don’t want to lose you again.”

“That’s why you have to talk to me, I didn’t know any of this was going on in that pretty little head of yours. But you know this means Richie was right, he told me that you weren’t ok with all of this. You’d think I’d know my own daughter better that this,” Jon said pushing the hair out of her face. “Now I want you to listen to me, and really hear what I’m saying. You and your brothers are the most important thing in my life, and I would pick the four of you over anything, every time. I can understand why you’re upset, but I want you to know that you come first in my life, now and always. I’ve made that clear to Melissa, and she understands that. Do you think I would let someone into our lives that doesn’t know how important you are to me? I love you Steph, and nobody is gonna change that.”

“I love you too, Dad,” she said melting back into his chest.

“You trust me right,” Jon asked smoothing back her hair.

“Absolutely.”

“Then I need you to do me a favor. Don’t blame Melissa, this isn’t her fault its mine. She’s probably feeling the same way, and I just didn’t see it. Give her a chance, for me? I really think the two of you will like each other. Can you try?”

“I guess I can try,” Steph said still a little hesitant.

“Thank you. I appreciate it. Stephie, please promise me that you’ll come to me if I do something that upsets you, so we can talk,” she nodded at him. “Good, and are you sure you’re ok now and you’re not just saying that.”

“I want you to be happy, honestly, I just don’t want to lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere, you’re stuck with me kiddo,” Jon said and she smiled. “Finally I get to see those pearly whites. Why don’t you get ready? We’re leaving in 20 minutes.”

“Leaving,” she asked.

“Dinner, downstairs with the guys. Richie and me are picking the girls up at 8. Does that give you enough time?”

“Not really, but I’ll see what I can do,” she said scooting off of the bed.

“I love you Steph,” Jon said.

“I know, I love you too, Dad,” she said grabbing her bag and heading to the bathroom.

Shit what the hell have I gotten myself into, Jon thought. He got out his cell phone and walked to his room to change. He sent Richie a quick text, you were right Steph was pissed… Jon dug in his bag for a clean shirt to change into as he thought of the situation he had created.

Twenty minutes later he knocked on Steph’s door. “Steph are you ready to go?”

“Not yet I can meet you downstairs,” she called through the closed door.

“Are you sure? I can wait for you. I’ll send Richie down without me,” he offered.

“I’m sure, I’ll be down in a little while. I don’t wanna hold you up.”

“Steph,” Jon started, but stopped when she opened the door.

She was in a dressing robe and he could see piles of clothes scattered all over the floor. “Dad, I’ll be fine I know where I’m going.”

“You know I’d wait up here all night for you, right,” Jon asked.

“I know Dad,” she said smiling brightly. “I love you,” she said giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Her smile was so genuine that Jon hadn’t realized that it had been missing for weeks. How could he have missed how much he was hurting her? Now, at least, she seemed happy, he just wanted to keep it that way. “I love you too,” Jon said as the doorbell rang.

“Go ahead, get it. It’s probably Uncle Richie. I’ll be down soon.”

“Call me if you need me,” Jon said as the doorbell rang again.

“I don’t think I’m going to be calling you for fashion advice. Not with that skull necklace you keep wearing. But ok Dad, even though I’ll be fine once I figure out what to wear.”

“You’d look beautiful in anything. I’ll see you down there,” Jon said and headed to the door.

Sure enough it was Richie, and Jon laughed when he looked at him. “Is there only one way to dress us up,” Jon asked gesturing to Richie’s clothes. They were both “dressed up” in their usual jeans and a nice shirt.

“Hey, why fix what ain’t broke? Did you get everything under control in here,” Richie asked.

“Yeah we’re good. For real this time. Let’s go,” Jon said moving into the hall.

“Wait a second there lover boy. Aren’t we missing someone?”

“She’s still getting ready. She’s gonna meet us down there,” Jon said. “Don’t give me that look. I’m sure this time.”

“Uh-hu,” Richie said ringing the doorbell.

Melissa opened the door with a smile, “Don’t you two clean up nice?”

“Thank you my dear,” Richie said. “Where is my lovely date?”

“In her bedroom,” Melissa said pointing. “I just knocked on her door, but you can try if you want.”

“I love a challenge,” Richie said heading for her room.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” Jon said taking a good look at her. Her blue dress hugged her curves just enough to show her figure, but remained simple and classy; the blue of the dress made her eyes sparkle.

“Thanks, you don’t look too bad yourself. You know you’re lucky we over packed; this was quite a detail you left out. I swear Angela almost ended up at the nearest mall.”

“Darlin’ you would’ve looked perfect wearing anything that you packed,” Jon said and gave her a little kiss.

Melissa pulled away cautiously and looked down the hall. “Where’s Steph?”

“She’s still getting ready, why? Is this weird for you,” Jon asked.

“Honestly, a little,” she answered. “But I know how important she is to you,” she added quickly.

Jon smiled, “You know, women should just tell us these things. Steph was uncomfortable with this too, but I talked to her and everything’s ok now. I guess she just needed to hear again how much I love her. And I told her that you understand that.”

“I do. She is all you ever talk about, after all,” Melissa said teasingly.

“Now we’re ready to go,” Richie said appearing with Angela at his side.

“That’s what you’re wearing,” Melissa asked looking at Angela’s dress.

“Yeah, why what’s wrong with it,” Angela asked.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with it? I like it very much,” Richie said pouting.

“Nothing, but you had that dress on an hour ago,” Melissa said.

“We all can’t look good in everything, like you,” Angela said.

“Baby, you would look good in anything, hell or nothing,” Richie said.

“Watch it Sambora. I’ve got my eye one you,” Melissa said teasingly.

“You took the words right out of my mouth, gorgeous,” Jon said. “Now lets get going before we miss fashionably late.”

They walked hand in hand to the elevators and made their way to one of the smaller ballrooms. It was set up with a large table for about 15 and to Melissa’s surprise and delight, there was a piano in the corner. There were also a couple of couches and assorted chairs to one side of the room where people had already gathered and were talking. Melissa took Jon’s hand and squeezed it. Next to her she could feel Angela about to burst out of her skin. She knew it was taking a lot of self-control for her not to run to the other side of the room and do something that would surely embarrass them both. She hadn’t even noticed that they were still essentially in the doorway because she and Angela were looking around in awe like little kids who found the closet where the Christmas presents were hidden. She looked over at the group of people to see who she could identify and she saw Dave walking over to meet them. Oh my God that’s David Bryan. Stay calm this is not the time to turn into a fan, she thought.

He stopped in front of them, “My, my. Those pictures did no justice to you two. It also helps that you’re bigger than the screen on Richie’s phone and I’m not driving. Now from what I’ve heard, you must be the magical Melissa,” Dave said.

“Magical,” Melissa asked.

“It must’ve taken magic for you to get Jon out of that funk he was in. Now that I’ve met you thought I think you’re more like a siren. A nondestructive one that isn’t half bird of course,” Dave said.

“Thanks, I think,” Melissa said trying to fish out the compliment. “I always knew you were the smart one.”

“Now how could you know that, I haven’t even introduced myself to you. Dave, a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said.

Melissa let go of Jon’s hand to shake Dave’s. “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you,” she said.

“Oh no, that’s not the way we do things around here,” Dave said pulling Melissa into a quick hug.

“Wait a minute, should I be offended you thought that he was the smart one,” Richie said pretending to be hurt.

“Between Mr. I-got-arrested-on-graduation-day-and-they-almost-didn’t-give-me- my-diploma and Mr. I-almost-didn’t-graduate-because-I-missed- almost-100-days-senior-year, I wouldn’t say that the bar is set too high. Throw in the fact that Dave here had a 4.0 in the pre-med program at Rutgers and went to Julliard, you two never had a chance,” Melissa challenged.

“Touché,” Richie said.

“Damn Jon, she is a keeper. If things don’t work out between you two, give me a call,” Dave said with a wink.

“Hey you’ve got a girlfriend, don’t try to steal mine,” Jon said putting his arm around her shoulder. “Besides I don’t even know what you were calling her before. Can I assume you were being nice?”

“What’s the matter, Mr. Rock Star isn’t up to date on his Greek mythology? On behalf of Greeks everywhere I am insulted. Sirens are creatures whose beauty and charm would be so hypnotic that they would lead sailors to crash their boats so that the villagers could take all the goods from the wrecks. It was a very nice and creative compliment,” Angela stated as though he should’ve known.

“You must be Angela. I’ve heard a lot about you. I think I could’ve picked you out in that dress alone,” Dave said looking at her red dress that was probably a little too short and a little too low on anyone else for this occasion. Dave would have to learn that Angela dressed similar to her personality: a little loud, sexy, flirty and a lot of fun. Somehow she always managed to pull it off without looking inappropriate.

“What you don’t like it,” Angela asked.

“I didn’t say that at all. Can I call you Helen,” Dave teased.

“I should be offended. I am happily married, but from you Paris you can call me whatever you like,” Angela said giving him a hug.

“More mythology,” Jon whispered.

“Didn’t you see the movie Troy? She’s Diane someone and he’s Orlando Bloom. The married princess who led on dozens of men causing a war, and Paris kidnapped her,” Melissa said watching Angela enjoy every second of her hug.

“Ooh, wait a sec,” Angela said stepping back. She started to dig through her purse and pulled out her camera. “I’m gonna need to get this on hypothetical film,” she said handing the camera to Melissa and giving Dave another over the top hug.

“Angela,” Melissa started, but stopped because she knew that it was no use. She took a picture, the flash clearly seen from all over the room.

Angela moved her hand up to his hair. “You don’t mind do you,” she asked. “I always said if I met you I would have to see what it felt like.”

“Not at all,” Dave said laughing.

“Melissa you’re getting all this right,” Angela asked. Melissa obliged and snapped another picture.

“You got off easy you know. The first time she met me she grabbed my ass,” Jon said teasingly.

“Hey I’m starting to get jealous over here,” Richie said.

Angela ignored him, “Come on Mr. Piano Man, show me around.”

“Right this way m’lady,” Dave said putting his arm around her and led her across the room to the group of people.

“I think I should be jealous,” Richie said watching them go.

“You must’ve known it couldn’t last. If she fell for you that quickly it was only a matter of time before someone new came along,” Melissa said.

Richie shook his head at her and walked over to where Dave was introducing Angela to some of the supporting band members.

“So my little siren, huh,” Jon asked.

“If that’s what Dave says,” Melissa said. “I don’t know exactly who that makes you.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to begin to guess,” Jon said. He turned when he heard someone call his name.

Melissa turned to see Tico entering the room. He walked over to them and shook Jon’s hand. He turned to Melissa took her hand, and gave it a kiss. “Ay, Señorita! Que una magnífico mujer. El pelo como el sol, y ojos como el océano. Simplemente perfección!”

Melissa giggled when he spoke to her. Her Spanish was rusty at best, but the exoticness of the foreign language had her blushing. “Thank you. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s my pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman. Especially one that can take her eyes off of Jon and look at me,” Tico teased.

“I’ll look at you any day if you talk to me in Spanish. You can start with the phonebook if you’d like.” Melissa said.

“It’s a date,” Tico said giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Excuse me, I should go say hi to everyone else. It looks like I’m the last to arrive as usual.”

“So he’s the late one huh,” Melissa asked.

“Yeah, you can pretty much count on Teek being the last one in. We usually give him a different time to get him a little closer to on time; I think Cara told him a quarter of. Richie will usually give him a run for his money if it’s before noon though.”

“And just for the record he’s the second smartest being bilingual and all,” Melissa said teasing.

“I see how it is. What if I spoke to you in Italian,” Jon asked.

Melissa’s knees went weak at the thought. “You don’t speak it do you?”

“Not unless you count a string of curses I picked up growing up. My parents didn’t teach me, it was easier to talk about my brothers and me right in front of us if we didn’t speak it,” Jon said.

“Well then it looks like you’re still at the bottom of the pile,” Melissa said.

“I’ll see if I can work on that. Can I get you a drink,” Jon asked.

“Sure, whatever you’re drinking is fine. Just so you know bribery wont help you move up,” Melissa said.

“Moi? Bribery? I think I’m insulted,” Jon said.

“That doesn’t count as a second language either, but you may get points for creativity,” Melissa said.

“You can’t say I didn’t try, I’ll be right back,” he said giving her a kiss on her temple.

You’re doing fine, Melissa thought to herself. Two down, one to go. Two really I guess, I should count Hugh. But the other one’s the one that really counts.

Jon returned a minute later with two glasses of white wine. “For you my dear,” he said handing her a glass.

“Thank you,” she said taking a sip. This is probably the best wine I’ve ever tasted. I have a feeling I’m gonna need another glass of this, before the night is over. She felt him slip his arm around her waist, and she leaned in just a bit.

“Hi, Dad,” a voice behind them said.

They both turned around to see Steph, looking much more grown up that her 15 years in a sleek black dress. Melissa tried to smile at her, but Steph was careful to keep eye contact with Jon. Jon let go of Melissa and gave his daughter a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“There you are. You look absolutely gorgeous. I should probably make you go change into something that’s not so adult looking,” he said.

“Oh Dad, stop it,” Steph said blushing a little bit.

“Steph, this is Melissa,” Jon said putting his hand on Melissa’s back urging her to take a step forward. “And Melissa, this is my not-so-little girl Stephanie.”

Steph was quick to extend her hand, “It’s nice to meet you.”

Melissa, taken back by her openness, stumbled for words for a second while she shook her hand. “Its so nice to meet you too. Finally put a face to the name I’ve heard all about.”

“You too,” Steph said. “My dad said you work at a hospital.”

“Yeah I do, I run the children’s program there. And my best friend is one of the nurses there too. She’s around here somewhere you can’t miss her. She’s in the red,” Melissa said, not exactly sure what to say.

“Well it was nice meeting you, I’m sure I’ll see you later. I’m gonna go get something to drink, unless you just wanna give me your glass,” Steph said to Jon.

“Not a chance,” Jon said. “You want me to get you something?”

“No that’s ok, I can get it,” Steph said.

“Ok, bye sweetie. I’ll see you at dinner,” Jon said giving Steph a kiss on the cheek as she walked away.

“She’s beautiful, she looks just like you. I bet you have your hands full with all the guys trying to date her,” Melissa said.

“Don’t even say that. I still see her as a little five-year-old in pigtails,” Jon said. “Come on, let me introduce you around.”

I don’t think that could’ve gone any better if I planned it out myself. Now I get to go meet the band members, this night couldn’t get better, Melissa thought as Jon led her to where everyone was gathered already in conversation.