Standing out back of the arena in Rio, smoking a cigarette, Jon is caught by an MTV reporter and answers some questions.
"Jon, Jon!" Jon stops and smiles at the reporter.
"Are you excited to be playing in Rio?"
"Yeah, we just hopped on the Monster's of Rock tour."
"Will you finish the tour?"
"Yeah, we're signed on to headline and we're going to end this tour back in the states."
"Will you hit the studio when you get back? Bon Jovi is a huge success and tearing up the charts, both the video and album."
"Yes, we will. We have plans for our sophomore album, already."
"Do you have songs written?"
"Oh yeah man, Richie and I are always writing. Always working on a sound."
"Will you tour to support your next album?"
"Definitely, as soon as it hits the shelves, we'll hit the road."
"Your video, Runaway, is hugely successful. Will you make any more videos to support the Bon Jovi album?"
Jon nods his head yes and says, "We have one in the can and the director has concepts worked out for two more. So yeah, there will be more videos."
"Speaking of your director, how is she doing? Has your success been a hindrance on your relationship?"
The reporter had just crossed an imaginary line that Jon had drawn in his mind, months ago. He isn't one to talk to family about his relationship - he certainly won't talk to a reporter about it. But he's not wanting to be rude. "Our relationship is fine, we're doing good."
"My director tells me that she's in California at the Playboy Mansion, is that true?"
Jon smiles a big smile and says, "Yeah, she's there."
"Business or pleasure?"
"Both."
"How is everyone dealing with the news that you're going to be a father?"
His heart drops. They haven't told anyone the news except her parents. His band didn't even know. He has no idea what to say, and even less of an idea of what to do, so he does what first comes to mind. "Hey man, I'm sorry I gotta run. Thanks." he waves as he walks back in the arena door. He cannot believe that the press knows about it, when his own mother has no idea. He knows that he has to tell her before they do.
The door slams closed behind him and he breathes a sigh of relief. He finds a place out of the way and collects his thoughts. He needs a phone, and he needs one now. It will only be a matter of time before the interview hits the states and his mother gets word of it.
He wanders around until he finds a room with a phone in it. It looks like someone's office, unlocked and vacant - he made himself at home. He sat at the desk and dialed his home number. No one answered.
He was still feeling a little uneasy about MTV knowing about Monica being pregnant, but there wasn't anything that he could do about it. He grabs the piece of paper from his pocket and dials the number for the Playboy Mansion. Working his way through the proper channels, he's finally able to speak to Monica. "Hi Honey!" she says as she answers the phone.
"Hey babe, how's it going?" he asks her, hearing in her voice that she's having the time of her life. "Are you getting in some good shoots?"
"Oh yeah, everyone here is great. So far, I've only done three shoots, but Hugh wants me to hang around for three more."
"When are those?"
"I think later this week. They have to do a big set change and it will take a couple of days to construct, how are things in Rio?"
"Well, they were going good until I had a reporter just inform me that you're pregnant."
"WHAT?" she blurts out.
"He asked me how everyone was dealing with the fact that I'm going to be a father."
"What did you say?" her heart is racing now, she doesn't want anyone to know, and she doesn't want anyone to find out via the news. "This is bad."
"Well, I excused myself and walked away. I won't talk about my personal life to reporters, they always twist the truth and add what they want."
Monica doesn't know what to say, Jon can tell that she is terrified that people will find out this way. "Your mom, you have to tell your mom."
He takes a deep breath and tells her, "I tried to call her before I called you. No one is home, I'll try after the show."
"She's going to be pissed. Specially if she finds out through a third party."
"I know." as he responds, the door on the office that he was in opens.
Looking up, he sees Richie. He nods to him and Richie comes in, "Hey man, we have to do sound check - they're looking for you."
Jon covers the mouth piece of the phone, "I'll be right there, I'm talking to Monica."
Richie sits in a chair across from Jon, "Is she loving it at the mansion?"
Jon nods his head yes, as he hears Monica says, "Tell that asshole I said hi."
Jon laughs and relays the message to Richie. Richie sits there and pretends to be hurt, but he knows that Monica is only kidding. "Tell her to kiss my ass."
Jon had uncovered the mouth piece and Monica was able to hear what he said, she responded with, "Tell him to pick a spot, he's all ass."
Jon gave Richie her response and then he told Monica, "Babe, I have to go. We have to do sound check. Can I call you after the show?"
Monica thinks for a moment and tells him, "There's a party here tonight, I don't see why not. I'll be here."
"Okay, I'll call you when we're done and I'm back to my room."
"Sounds great. I love you." she tells him and he can hear the smile in her voice and he can picture it on her face.
"I love you too."
Richie sits across from Jon and makes a gagging sound, picking on them for pledging their love to one another. No one is happier for them than Richie. He loves Monica like a sister and if she had to pick anyone for her, it would be Jon. Richie has come to know Jon as a friend and band mate and is proud to call him friend. Richie is in awe at his dedication, to his personal life and his career, and inspired by his ability to keep it all going - in the right direction.
Jon and Richie head toward the stage when Jon stops Richie by grabbing his arm, "Hey."
"What?"
"Monica is pregnant." he confesses and waits for Richie to go off on him. But Richie stands there and looks at him, making Jon feel a little uneasy.
"What are you going to do about it?"
Jon has no idea what he means, "What do you mean what am I gonna do about it?"
"You're both in the beginning stages of amazing careers, are you going to let a baby get in the way of that?"
"We're having the baby." Jon tells him, and in a way that lets Richie know that there is no alternative.
"How does Monica feel about it?" Richie hopes that she's dealing with it well, bumps in her road can piss her off and cause her to act radically and sometimes without thought.
"She's happy."
"And you?" Richie wonders how lover boy feels about it, knowing that not too long ago he went through a baby scare with the crazy Liz.
"I'm terrified." he admits. "I love the idea that I'm having a baby with her, she is such a wonderful, amazing, beautiful woman - I just never pictured myself to be a dad at this age."
"Well, picture it, cause it's happening." Richie puts his arm around his friends shoulder and gently guides him toward the stage, "While you're here and doing this, you're a rock star. Let's blow this fucking place away and get on the road."
Jon thanks his friend and they walk out on the stage. The rest of the guys are there, making terrible noises with their instruments. When they see Jon and Richie, they stop and make comments about the both of them being late to their own rehearsal.
Bon Jovi does a run through of Runaway and She Don't Know Me, satisfied - they returned backstage and started to get ready. They don't have much time, everyone sets had been cut by 10 minutes, so the new headliners had more time, before curfew.
Jon does his stretches and vocal warm up. Tico sits there with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and taps his drum sticks on the couch arm. Alec sits in a lazy chair and does nothing. David, disappeared and Richie was hitting on a lady in catering. He's not having much luck, there is a language barrier. He gets frustrated and gives up.
Bon Jovi gives the folks in Rio one of their best performances and leaves them wanting more.
Jon better tell his parents they are about to become grandparents before someone else does.
ReplyDelete