Chapter 67

Matt was waiting in the foyer when Jon walked into the house. He glanced at his watch. "What are you doing home so early? I thought you were spending time with your girlfriend."

"So did I." Jon scowled. "She shut the door in my face."

"Uh oh."

Their voices faded as they walked towards the living room.

Stephanie frowned as she continued down the hallway to her bedroom. Sitting on the bed, she contemplated what she'd just overheard. Daddy has a girlfriend? Her emotions were in turmoil over that news. She wanted her father to be happy, but the idea of another woman taking her mother's place in their lives......she just wasn't sure she was ready for that.

"What happened?" Desiree asked upon seeing Jon. "I thought you had a date."

"She didn't want to see him." Matt answered.

She studied her brother-in-law's face. "What did you do?"

"What makes you think I did something?" Jon turned his scowl on her.

"Because women don't turn you away.....unless you do something to piss them off."

He sighed. "She said she had hoped to spend her Saturday night with her boyfriend, but she didn't have one and she wouldn't be my whore."

Desiree stared at him, deep in thought. "I think I'm missing part of the story. I thought you'd talked to her and agreed to give a relationship a try."

"We did."

"Then why did she say she doesn't have a boyfriend?"

Jon shifted uncomfortably.

Desiree eyed him suspiciously. "Did you call her at all this week?"

"Yes." he answered defensively. "She came up with the idea of releasing an album but not touring it."

"Did you talk about anything personal and not work related?"

He was back to shifting uncomfortably. "No, I guess not."

"And you only called her the once?"

"Yes, but that's not unusual. There have been weeks I haven't called her at all."

"But that was when she was just your assistant."

"So?"

"Let me make sure I've got this straight. You spend the night with her last weekend, call her once in a week and that was just to talk about work......and you can't figure out why she's pissed off?" She shook her head. "Oh Jon."

"What?"

"I know it's been a couple decades since you've dated, but have you forgotten so much? For that matter, during the years of your marriage did you learn nothing about women?"

"Even I know ignoring them is not a smart move bro." Matt added.

"I've got a lot going on." Even to his own ear it was a lame excuse.

"Uh huh." Desiree responded dryly. "But I thought you wanted something more than just a roll in the sheets."

Jon raked his hand through his hair and leaned back on the couch. "Women drive me nuts!"

Matt patted his shoulder. "Yeah, but we love them anyway." He ducked his wife's swat and blew her a kiss.

"She's obviously not a woman that's going to be swayed by your fame, fortune or good looks." Desiree warned him. "You're going to have to put in some effort."

Jon sighed, but nodded.

Upstairs, Stephanie walked into her oldest brother's bedroom and closed the door. "Dad's got a girlfriend."

"What? How do you know that?"

"He's home. I heard him and Uncle Matt talking. I guess Dad went to see her tonight."

"Who is it? Do we know her?"

"I don't know. I didn't hear a name." She frowned. "What do you think?"

Jesse shrugged. "I don't know."

"Well think about it! Do you want somebody taking Mom's place?"

It was his turn to frown.

When Carol arrived the next day to check on them, she found the house almost eerily quiet, the atmosphere slightly tense. Jake and Romeo were napping, but she found the others sitting outside, Stephanie reading a book, Jesse playing a hand held game and Jon staring at the river, a book forgotten in his lap. All of them were so lost in their own worlds they hadn't heard the gate buzzer - or the door. They all jumped when she spoke. "Hey guys."

"Hi Grandma."

"Hey Mom. What's up?"

"Just came by to see how you're doing." She studied her grand children's faces. "What's wrong with you two?"

Stephanie and Jesse exchanged a look and shot a quick glance at their father. "Nothing."

Jon frowned at his children. Had he been so caught up in his own issues that he'd ignored them - again? "Are you sure?"

"Yeah Dad, we're fine."

He wasn't sure he believed them, but he didn't know how to draw them out. Bri was so much better at helping them cope with their grief than he was.

Bri. He still needed to figure out how to get himself out of the hole he'd dug with her. Something told him she wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"Jon would you get me a glass of iced tea please?"

"Sure."

When he'd closed the door behind him, Carol turned to her grandchildren. "Okay spill it. What's going on?"

Jesse shrugged and Stephanie shifted in her chair.

"Steph? What is it? Come on, talk to me."

"We......we think Dad might have a girlfriend."

Carol wondered why they would think that and who it might be, but that wasn't the important point at the moment. "And that idea bothers you?"

This time they both shrugged.

"Do you feel like that would be a betrayal to your mother?"

"Kinda." Stephanie admitted.

Carol hesitated, then lifted her purse onto her lap, to search through it. Pulling out an envelope, she handed it to Stephanie. "Both of you read that. It might help. We can talk about it after if you want."

Stephanie read their names on the front in her mother's handwriting, but before she could ask, the door opened and she shoved the envelope into her book before her father sat down.

After visiting with their grandmother long enough to avoid their father's suspicion, they excused themselves and ran upstairs. Sitting together on Stephanie's bed, she opened the envelope and pulled out the neatly folded sheets of paper. The sight of their mother's familiar handwriting made her hands tremble.

Steph and Jesse,

I'm writing this to you, because you two are old enough to understand and respect both my wishes and your father's needs. He and I love each other very much and have ever since we were not a lot older than you are now.

Love means wanting the other person to be happy, even if you can't be the one to bring him that happiness anymore. I want that for your father - for all of you. I don't want him to be lonely. I want him to find love again, even get married again. And I don't want him to wait a long time either. So when he finds a girlfriend, don't be mad at him. Don't think that he is betraying me and what we had together. He's doing what I want - finding happiness again and someone to help the four of you do that as well.

As for the woman he chooses.....you may have to help him a little with that. Make sure he finds the right person for all of you. She needs to be kind and caring, but not a pushover. She can't be after his fame and money, but she needs to understand and support his job and the time and effort it takes, and of course how to deal with the reporters. Someone who can make you laugh and comfort you when you're hurt or sad. Someone who will help you remember your past as well as prepare for the future.

But most of all, she needs to love you, all of you, with all of her heart. When you find that woman, welcome her into your lives and hearts with open arms....and don't let Dad blow it! The betrayal to me will be if you accept anything less.....or refuse it.

Be happy.

I love you.

Mom

They sat in silence, both digesting their mother's words and the meaning behind them.....and if there was anyone they knew that met the requirements she outlined and that they actually liked. Suddenly, they looked at each other, smiles curving their lips.

"Brianna!"