Chapter 112

When they pulled up in front of Jake's school, Brianna undid her seatbelt and climbed out of the car, surprised when Jon met her when she rounded the hood. "Afraid I'll get lost?"

Jon just shook his head and reached for her hand.

Since he'd pretty much been holding her hand all the way from the city, she chalked it up to residual afterglow. And since she was feeling some of that herself, she didn't tease or even question him further as they entered the school, although considering the looks and greetings directed at him from the mothers and nannies, she had to wonder if there was an ulterior motive for his public display of affection.

They found Jake by his classroom, struggling with his backpack and the large piece of paper he was holding.

"Here buddy, let me help you." Jon reached to take the back pack.

"Thanks Daddy. Look at the picture I made!" He held out the paper so they could both see it.

"That's great buddy!"

"It sure is." Brianna agreed. "That one goes in the spot of honour on the fridge!" Neither of them had a clue what the picture was supposed to be, but they could fake it.

"Bianna, when's supper?"

"Not for awhile. You hungry?"

He nodded.

"Didn't you eat your lunch?"

He shrugged.

Brianna looked at Mrs. Baker, Jake's teacher, who was standing in the doorway behind him. She shook her head, but smiled. 

"Jake?" Brianna knelt in front of him to be on his level. "What happened to your lunch?"

"Joey Tribbiani forgot his, so I gave him some of mine."

"Joey Tribbiani? Seriously?" Brianna had to ask.

Mrs Baker nodded. "His mother's a huge Friends fan."

Brianna turned her attention back to Jake. "So you shared your lunch with him?" He nodded. "That was very generous of you." 

Jon stepped closer to Mrs. Baker, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Do 'forgotten' lunches happen often?" He murmured.

She shook her head. "Not here, thank goodness. But my cousin teaches at a public school and says it happens there every day. It's very sad that in this day and age children are going hungry."

Jon agreed. There must be some way to help them.

Brianna hugged the little boy. "I'm very proud of you. You know what? For being so kind and generous, you get to choose what we have for dinner."

"Pizza!"

"Pizza it is." Brianna agreed. She reached out a hand for Jon to help her stand. "Ready to go?"

Jon was quiet all the way home...and for the rest of the day and evening. When the kids were all in bed and the adults were enjoying a nightcap before heading to bed themselves, Brianna decided he 'd brooded long enough.

"What's wrong?"

"Hmm? Nothing. Why?"

"You've been quiet and broody ever since we got home. Something's bothering you."

He frowned. "I keep thinking about that kid having no lunch. No child in this country should have to go without lunch."

"He forgot it Jon. It's not like his parents couldn't afford it." She reminded him.

"Yeah, but Jake's teacher said where her cousin teaches kids go without every day. It's not right."

"No, it's not." She sighed and shook her head sadly. "But I'm afraid it probably happens more than we think.

"There must be some way to help. But not just charity."

"What have you got in mind?"

"I don't have anything in mind....yet."

"I'll do some research. See how bad the problem is and what kind of programs are out there."

He leaned over to kiss her. "That's one of the reasons I love you. You can read my mind."

As they were preparing for bed, Brianna pulled open the drawer in her bedside table in search of her favourite hand lotion. "What the hell?" She lifted out the stack of papers that was lying on top and flipped through them. Most looked like magazine articles. When Your Kid Catches You Having Sex, What to Do When The Kids Catches You In The Act, You Kid Saw You Having Sex Now What. Then there was a list of excuses and explanations to use and a list of locations least likely to be caught in. She sat down heavily on the bed. "Oh. My. God."

"What's wrong?" Jon asked as he stretched out on his side of the bed.

Brianna held out the papers. "Recognize the handwriting?"

It only took a glance. "Richie."

She groaned.

Jon flipped through the pages and snorted. "Looks like he's trying to tell you something."

"That's so....helpful...of him. Remind me to thank him the next time I talk to him."

Her sarcasm made him chuckle. "Think you'll be over your embarrassment by then?" A pillow in his face was her answer.

"You're as bad as he is!"

"Hey!" He protested, still laughing. "How about you either pick an exotic location or an explanation if we get caught and you can tell him what worked the best?" He waggled his eyebrows and puckered his lips.

The only thing he kissed was the pillow that landed in his face again.

Jon was walking down the hallway towards his office, when music coming from Brianna's office caught his attention. He stood in the doorway and smiled at the sight of her sorting through a pile of papers and singing along. She used the song like instructions, turning a page every time she was told to. "I haven't heard that song in ages."

Brianna jerked and looked up. "It's one of my all time favourites."

Moving into the room, he sat in the chair across the desk from her. "Mine too. It was the inspiration for Wanted."

"Really?"

Jon nodded. "It came on the radio one day when we were on a bus going to the next gig. As I listened to it I realized how much I could relate to the lyrics and I wanted to have our own version of a travelling band song."

"Cool." She eyed him thoughtfully. "Have you ever performed it yourselves?"

He shook his head. "No sax player."

"Who are you looking at for an opening act for this tour?"

"Not sure yet. AEG has suggested Kid Rock."

Brianna's brows rose thoughtfully. "He has a saxophone player."

Catching on to what she was thinking, he nodded. "Yes he does."

"Then you need piano." She mused out loud. Reaching for her phone, she dialled and put it on speaker.

"Hey Beautiful! Sick of Frank already? Need me to come take you away from all that intense grouchiness and show you a good time?"

"Not necessary thanks Lemma. I'm happy where I am."

"Are you sure? We could meet somewhere. Frank would never need to know."

"I'm right here asshole." Jon spoke up.

"Aw man! Beautiful you were supposed to call me when he wasn't around!"

Smirking at Jon' rolling eyes, Brianna tried to get control of the conversation. "Anyway, Lemma, can you play 'Turn The Page'?"

"Seger's song? Sure. I'm a little rusty, but I know it. Why?"

"I'd like to hear you guys perform it."

"Okay, but there's one tiny problem with that idea." David had to point out. "We don't have a sax player."

"We're looking at having Kid Rock as opener for the tour." Jon informed him.

"And he has a sax player. Could work." David smirked. "But I thought guitarists wives couldn't dictate band activities."

When Jon raised a brow at her, Brianna raised one right back. "But when the wife of the frontman makes a song request, well, let's just say it's in his best interest make her happy."

Jon snorted but didn't argue.

"You're not his wife yet, Beautiful." David reminded her.

Turning the ring on her finger, she smile and shrugged. "Close enough."

Was it? Even Jon, oblivious man that he was, could tell her smile was forced.

"So when do we start wedding preparations?" Sara asked, her eagerness evident even through the phone.

"I don't know Mom. We haven't picked a date yet."

Sara was silent for a moment. "Who's dragging their feet, him or you?"

"Neither. It's not like that. It's...."

"The children. I know you've said that, and it's very commendable that you're so concerned about their feelings, but.....I can't help but think there's more to it."

"Like what?"

"Like.....are you sure you want to marry him?"

"Yes, I'm sure I want to marry him!" Brianna scowled. "Why do you keep asking me that?"

"Because you don't seem to be the eager, excited bride-to-be. And if he's not pushing either, I have to wonder if the 'engagement' is just for show and to put a respectable gloss on your living together."

"What? You seriously think we got engaged because it would look more respectable than if we just lived together? Why would you think that? Just because we haven't set a date yet? We've only been engaged a few weeks."

"But if you don't push to start planning, he certainly won't. He's a man, who is enjoying the benefits of marriage without any of the legal strings. You know the saying about cows and free milk."

"Mother! Now you're sounding like Father!"

"Just because his views in some areas are a little....old fashioned....doesn't mean he's wrong all the time."

Brianna snorted. "Old fashioned. That's one way to put it I guess." She sighed. "It's fine Mom. We're really busy right now with a new album coming out and organizing the tour."

"Which will put the wedding off even further. Are you really prepared to wait that long?"

"If that's what the kids - this family - needs then yes."

"What about what you need?" Sara countered.

Since when did anyone in my family care about that? Brianna swallowed her bitterness. "I need them to be happy."

Sara sighed. "Don't you think you've put other people's happiness ahead of your own long enough? Don't you think you deserve to have someone put you first for a change?"