Chapter 98 - That Fateful Night

Monica patiently waits for the band to finish the show.  Keeping herself busy, she grabs one camera and heads out into the hallway, snapping shots of random things. 

She can hear that Jon and the band are still going strong and that lets her know that she has a few minutes.  A few minutes of time to kill and an all access pass.  There is no where that she can't go.  After all, she is Jon's wife.

She passes through catering, through wardrobe and when she reaches the VIP room, she is very surprised to see who was in there.  After she enters and sees Dorothea sitting there, she kicks the door closed with her foot, letting her camera fall around her neck.  "What are you doing here?"  Monica snaps, surprised by the sound that's coming from her mouth.  She's shocked to see her, in Florida of all places.  

Dorothea, in her skin tight acid washed jeans and t-shirt stands up and walks toward Monica, "I'm on vacation with my parents and seen the guys were playing tonight."

"You're on vacation here?????" Monica doesn't the hide skepticism in her voice, "How did you get back here in VIP?"

"I bought a ticket to the show and when I walked in, I seen Richie and he got me back here."

"Richie?"  Monica snaps, "My Richie?"

Dorothea nods her head and smiles, "I guess so."

"Sambora?" shaking her head, thinking that she's going to kick Richie's ass for not telling her, she wonders if Jon knows.   "Does Jon know you're here?"

"Not unless Richie told him." Dorothea tells Monica, "I haven't seen him.  It's not a secret, if that's what you're thinking."

Monica takes a seat on the VIP couch and starts to snap pictures of the VIP room, focusing on the amazing spread that VIP guests get.  Beautiful fruit and veggie platters, an ice sculpture that says Bon Jovi, among other things.  "Why are you here, back in VIP?"

"This is where Richie told me to wait."  Hearing that,  Monica felt relief from thinking that she needed to sit with her,  but since she's there at Richie's direction,  Monica stands and walks to the door.

Looking back at Dorothea,  "If you're here with Richie, he should be just about done.  Help yourself to whatever, and maybe I'll see you later?"  She turns the door knob and starts to open it.  Dorothea stops her. 

"Hey Monica, I'm sorry to hear about your accident and the loss of your baby."

Without thought, Monica closes the door, stands there and looks at Dorothea.   She's not really sure how she feels about what she just heard.  "Thank you.  It was a hard time for both Jon and me, but it has definitely made us stronger."

"He was pretty hurt, pretty scared." Dorothea throws in there,  "Devastated is what Richie said."

"It was bad for both of us, Dorothea,  not just Jon."  She reaches for the knob again, opening the door, "It was the worst time of our life."

"You can have another baby."  Dorothea states and that statement pisses Monica off.  She heard that for the last time.

Anyone that knows Jon and Monica knows that they were thrilled about being parents, they were blessed and they knew it.  And whenever they ran into someone and the miscarriage was brought up, everyone told them 'well you can try again.'  That was true, but another baby would never take the place of the baby that they lost.   They both still grieved over the loss and the loss was made worse by not knowing who hit them.  They can't stand the thought that whoever ruined that part of their life is still out there, obviously feeling no remorse.

Monica wasn't even going to dignify that with a response.  She knows that Dorothea didn't say it to hurt her and the words had sentiment, but it didn't lessen the blow that she felt in her gut, and in her heart.  She, with class, let the VIP room and truly hoped that she would never see her again.  

Monica made it back to Jon's dressing room just before he did.  After he wiped his face and towel dried his hair, he grabbed a soda and started to unwind by telling Monica how great the show was.  She stopped him, "Stay right there, don't move."  Is what she said to him, "You look so sexy right now."  She puts her camera in place and snaps a pic of Jon drinking his soda.  

"Hurry up." he barks at her, "I want to get in the shower."

"Go get in the shower."

He walks up to her and whispers in her ear, "Do you want to join me?" He winks and she smiles.