The ringing of the
house phone startled Brianna from her concentration on the proposal she was
preparing for Jon and the Foundation on lunch programs for the local public
schools. "Hello?"
"Mrs.
Bongiovi?"
"Yes?"
"Hi. This is
Judy Baker calling from the school."
Brianna frowned.
"Hi. Is something wrong with Jake?"
"I'm afraid so.
Nothing serious. I think he's caught the flu that's going around. He's warm and
he just threw up."
"Poor kid. I'm
on my way. Thanks for calling."
"He's in the
nurse's room laying down. Just go to the office when you get here."
"Okay. Thanks
again." Hanging up, Brianna stood and looked at Romeo who was playing with
some toys on the floor in front of her desk. "Come on Little Man. Jake's
sick and we have to go get him."
"Okay." He
rose and followed her, content to go along with what she wanted....until he saw
the winter coat she held out for him. "No!"
"Come on Romeo,
we have to go get Jake."
"No coat!"
"You have to
wear a coat. It's cold outside." November had been fairly mild, but
December seemed to be trying to make up for it. Two feet of snow had been
dumped on the area a couple days earlier and the temperature had dropped a good
ten degrees.
But Romeo wanted no
part of it. "No no no no no!" He shook his head vigorously as he
backed away from her.
Mary, one of the
cleaning staff who had occasionally helped with the kids appeared at the top of
the stairs. "I'll keep an eye on him if you want to leave him here."
Brianna looked at Romeo.
"Do you want to stay home with Mary or come with me?"
He considered for a
moment. "Stay wif Mawy."
"Okay. I'll be
back soon." Pulling on her coat and boots, she grabbed her purse and keys
and rushed out to her car.
At the school,
Brianna found a pale Jake huddled on the cot in the nurse's room. "Hey
buddy." She smoothed his hair off his forehead and frowned at the warmth
of his skin.
"I'm sick."
"I know. Do you
want to go home?"
He nodded.
"Okay. Can you
sit up for me?"
He nodded again and sat
up. Brianna reached over to a nearby chair where someone had set his coat,
boots and lunch box. She got him dressed and straightened. "Ready to
go?"
Jake nodded yet again
and held up his arms, obviously wanting to be carried. Brianna obliged, bending
to lift him into her arms.
The nurse handed her
his lunch box. "Feel better Jake."
Brianna got Jake home
and settled into bed with some Tylenol - and a bucket. Returning downstairs,
she went into the kitchen to start making a list of groceries and other
supplies they needed to cope with sickness in the house.
That's where Mary
found her. "Is there anything else you want me to do today?"
Brianna glanced at
the clock. "Can you stay until I pick up the other two?"
"Sure. No
problem."
List in hand, Brianna
set out again. The wind had picked up considerably in the short time she'd been
inside and the sky had taken on an
ominous cast. It looked like more snow was on the way. I hope it holds off
until I get home.
Pulling up in front
of the school, she was surprised to see Stephanie and Jesse both ready and
waiting. In fact, she'd barely come to a complete stop before they were
reaching for the door handles. "Hey guys. You're sure in a hurry today.
What's going....on? Uh oh." She'd turned to look at them as she spoke and
had her answer as soon as she saw Jesse's pale face. "Are you alright
Jess?"
He shook his head.
"I feel like sh...crap."
Brianna grimaced
sympathetically. "Jake came home early with the flu. Looks like you've got
it too. Can you hold on long enough for me to make a quick stop at the grocery
store? By the looks of the sky we're in for more snow and we need a few
supplies."
Jesse nodded.
"If I have to I'll puke in the parking lot."
"Nice
Jess." Stephanie wrinkled her nose.
He just shrugged and
leaned his head against the window.
At the grocery store
Brianna parked and shut off the car. "I'll be quick."
"I'll come with
you." Stephanie offered. "If we split up the list we'll be twice as
fast."
Brianna looked from
Jesse's face to the darkening sky. "Good idea. Thanks."
They were in and out
in record time and made it home just as the first flakes were starting to fall.
"Mary, it's
starting to snow." Brianna warned as she set down the bags she was
carrying. "You'd better get going unless you want to stay here."
Mary rushed into the
foyer to grab her coat and boots. She glanced at Jesse's face, frowned and
looked at Brianna. "Another patient?"
"Looks like
it."
"Do you want me
to stay?"
Brianna shook her
head. "No, that's okay. I've got it."
A couple hours later,
she wondered if her confidence had been a bit premature. After getting Jesse
settled into bed with Tylenol and a bucket, she returned downstairs and debated
options for dinner that would soothe a queasy stomach.
"Bina hep!"
"What's the
matter Little Man? You getting hungry?"
He shook his head.
"My tummy hurts."
Uh oh. She walked over to crouch down feel his
forehead. "Does your head hurt?"
"Bri, where's
the...."
What ever Stephanie
was going to ask for was cut off and forgotten as Romeo made a choking sound,
then threw up....on Brianna.
"Ew,
gross!" Stephanie grimaced.
"Grab some paper
towels please Steph."
"I sowy!"
"It's okay
Little Man. You couldn't help it." Three down.
Cleaned up, Romeo in
bed, Brianna was once again in the kitchen, this time with a clipboard and
sheets of paper.
"What are you
doing?" Stephanie sat on the stool beside her.
"Making a chart
to keep track of when they've had Tylenol so that I don't over dose them. With
so many sick this is the easiest way to keep track." She eyed the
teenager. "How are you feeling?"
Stephanie shrugged.
"I've got a bit of a headache, but otherwise I'm fine." She stood and
walked over to the window. "When does Dad get home?"
"Day after
tomorrow. They've got a show tonight...or last night, I've lost track of the
time difference, then they're coming home." The thought crossed her mind
that he hadn't called today like he usually did, but she pushed it aside. She
had enough to worry about right now.
"Hope the snow
stops in time."
"Me too."
A couple hours later,
Brianna stepped out of Jesse's room to empty his pail and met Stephanie coming
out of the bathroom. Her pale face and reddened eyes said it all.
"You too?"
Stephanie nodded and
headed for her bedroom.
Sighing, Brianna
cleaned the pail she was carrying, put it back in Jesse's room, then went in
search of another one for Steph.
It wasn't until
almost midnight as she wrote the latest Tylenol doses on her chart that she
realized Jon still hadn't called. Amanda hadn't contacted her either, but she
couldn't help but feel something was wrong.
Frowning, she went
into her office and booted up her computer. A quick internet search provided
videos of interviews done the day before and clips from the show. Uh oh.
The interviews showed a very impatient Jon fidgeting in his chair, checking his
watch constantly while Richie answered the majority of the questions. Wonder
what's got his panties in a twist?
Before she could
investigate further, a cry from upstairs had her rushing up to Romeo's room.
His bucket was empty, but it very quickly became apparent that while one end
had paused in its spewing, the other end had started.
"I sowy! I
sowy!" Romeo cried.
"Shhhh Little
Man, it's okay. You can't help it." She reassured him as she set about
getting him and his bed cleaned up.
Then it was time for
laundry and the next round of bed checks and Tylenol. She'd just sat down when
her phone rang. "Hi honey."
"Hi. You've got
to talk to Amanda."
Brianna sighed, not
sure she had the energy to deal with anything more. "What's wrong?"
"She's fucking
up left, right, and centre." Jon growled. "My ginseng's alway late,
she's mixing up interviews, switching them around without telling me so I don't
know who I'm talking to, my food's either cold or too spicy, and yesterday I
asked for lozenges and she brings me COUGH DROPS! It's a train wreck! You need
to fix it."
"I can't fix it
from here." Brianna sighed, too tired to deal with him in diva mode.
"Did she really not tell you about the interview switch or did you not pay
attention or check your schedule before you walked in?" She'd been there,
dealt with that. "As for the rest....it's her first tour Jon, and she's
never worked with a musician before. She's not familiar with how it works and
what your specific preferences are."
"You picked it
up right away."
Her lips twitched.
"That's 'cause I'm good."
"I have a whole
new appreciation of your skills Golden Eyes." He admitted.
"I'm glad to
hear that. You just need to be patient and give her time to find her
balance."
"I don't have
time for that! You were supposed to train her!"
Her own patience
snapped. "I can't train her from thousands of miles away! You're a big boy
Jon, open your mouth and tell her what you need - and don't yell it at her. Or
fire her and get someone else."
"You need
to..."
"You'll have to
deal with it. I don't have time for this Jon. I have four kids sick with the
flu. I'm up to my elbows in vomit and shit. I don't have any time for yours.
I'll see you when you get home." Disconnecting, she tossed the phone onto
the couch beside her.
Jon blew out a
breath, cursed and tossed his phone aside.
"Problem?" Richie asked from the doorway.
"The kids are
all down with the flu."
"Hmmm. Bet
they're glad we left Sunshine at home."
Jon just grunted.
"Glad we're
going home tomorrow." David rubbed his throat as he joined them. "My
throat is killing me."
"Well, keep it
to yourself." Jon instructed. "I've got enough to deal with."
He'd been ignoring the tickling in his own throat for two days.
Richie raised a brow
at his front man's grouchy tone. "Missing your wife already? Or just horny?"
Jon grunted.
"How are you
going to make it through the rest of the tour?"
Jon was wondering the
same thing himself.
Loved the way Bri gave it back to Jon. He is a big boy and Bri isn't on the tour so why should she fix it? He should he's the boss right? But if he goes nuts on her she'll just up and quit on him and he'll really be in a fix. So he'll have to trend lightly and explain to Amanda how he likes things. Or get Bri to go with him and get a Nanny for the kids. And what the hell is the damn difference between lounges and cough drops? I myself prefer cough drops! Big Baby!
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for Bri. taking care of sick kids is the worst. by the time Jon gets home she's going to need a vacation!
ReplyDeletegreat chapter
ReplyDeleteI get the impression that she will have another patient when he gets home.....
ReplyDeleteSorry...Ive been neglecting my stories..on a big catch up ...so glad I am cos this was a great chapter...Poor Bri...again Jon's taking her for granted...I just hope hes going to be there for her when she comes down with the illness...cos its bound to happen..ok..off on my journey to the next chapter...>>>>>>>>
ReplyDeleteWell that wasnt very clever of me..I just skipped 4 chapters...so back I go to catch up...der...yep...Im a smart one...lol
ReplyDelete