Chapter 33 - In it for Love

Mara smiled sweetly at me, and with a nudge and a turn of her head she indicated I speak to my Mom. I knew I had overstepped the line and rose from Mara's side and went across to my Mom.
"Coffee?"
she looked up at me, tears in her eye's and hurt written across her face. Taking her hand I pulled her gently for her to get up from her seat. She rose and I walked with her hand still in mine to the door. Opening the door I said "come with me Ma, lets have a coffee together. I want to talk to you and most importantly apologise." raising her hand to my face she stroked my cheek and smiled. We both exited the room, Mara and her mom waved us to go, I guess they were going to talk too, after all it was not everyday your boyfriend had connections with deranged ex wife's and mother in law's who were would be assigns.

Walking down the corridor to the hospital coffee shop I spoke to my mom.
"Ma, I am really sorry, jeez sometimes I'm a real dumbass. the Bongiovi temper always gets the better of me."
"Umm it does and your stink eye."
"I didn't give you a stink eye? did I"
"Well if you didn't you gave a good impression of one. Son, I am not out to control you in anyway, but, the way you spoke to that Detective was awful. disrespectful. on top of which it was embarrassing to listen and watch in front of Mara and her Mom. I understand your reason's for being angry, but that man was doing his job, I dunno sometimes I just don't recognise who you are anymore.... and well that saddens me in a way."
"I am a disappointment to you?"
"I didn't say that, I said sometimes I don't know who you are anymore."
I stopped my mom in her tracks and made her look at me.
"Why? what have I done to change? "
"the outbursts Jon, you have always had the Bongiovi temper, and that's not a bad thing when its needed, but behaving as you have the last few weeks, the aggression, well... it's not who you are.... and it saddens me."
I listened taking in what my ma said, a deep sadness filling my heart.
I had behaved out of character, but with good reason I thought, with Dot, the fire and the attempted murder, how else could I handle this?
"I'm sorry, I guess with everything that has happened I just lost it for a second..."
"It's not a second, its been with everyone.... the only person to escape your outburst has been Ruth. what is going on, there is more to this than what has happened to Mara. I can see hurt and pain in your eye's. I'm your mom I know you better than anyone, so what gives."
"I will explain ma I promise, but not here in the hallway of the hospital and not in front of Mara ok, there is more to this and I really don't want her to know what happened at Dots. When I take you home we can talk then ok?"
" Dot's? you are in contact with Dot?... and home? I'm not going home....Mara..."
"Mom, Mara is ok, and Ruth is with her, you have been an angel coming to my rescue and Mara's when I no we needed you...... but now I am telling, no asking you to go home and get some rest... please... for me.."
"I'll talk to Ruth first, we are on shifts ya know... if she is ok with it I will go home..... I promise ok. Mara is a really lovely girl...... and just so you know I would welcome her as a daughter" my ma turned her head slightly to look up at me with a smile spread across her face."
laughing I answered.... "Don't push it..."


Reaching the Coffee shop we got four take out coffee's, one for ma and me and one each for Ruth and Mara, then began the walk back. Clearing the air had been good so far, and I wanted to continue....
"Thank you"
"For what?"
"For everything... from helping me overcome my depression and bringing me up right, for introducing me to Mara... well I guess just everything.... you are the best mom in the world and I am truly blessed to have you.... I love you mom."
Stopping again, my ma looked up at me then pulled me close  for a warm hug, a warm smile filled her lips spreading across her face. It was god to see her smile.
"Thank you, that means the world to me. but then so do you" then linking her arm through mine, that's how we walked back to Mara's room.

Back inside, Mara and her Mom were talking, both stopping and turned to look at us as we re entered.
"Sorry to interrupt ladies, I've bought you both a drink, passing a coffee to Ruth, I put Mara's on her side cabinet, and I continued with my apology's.
"Ruth I am so sorry for my outburst earlier, I hope you will believe me when I tell you, I was not keeping anything from Mara, I was shocked at what I had learnt and just wanted to protect her for a long as possible...... I am really sorry."
"It's ok, Jon, really, no apology needed. I am grateful to you for looking out for my daughter. but as you are finding out; she is a force to be controlled in her own right. You two are so right together, you are each others yin and yang. I know your intentions and I know you don't have a bad bone in your body. So please don't' apologise to me really its not needed. as a mom though I do  think you should apologise to the detective. he was stunned and shocked when you gave him the stink eye... " Ruth said the last sentence with a grin and laughter in her voice.

I kept hearing about the stink eye, had I used it on the detective and my mom?, if I had I really had no idea I was doing it.... gotta work on that one. the guys in the band always used to refer to my giving them the stink eye when they hot wrong notes and stuff.......but hey that was needed.... but to a Detective and my mom no then was not the time.... I was definitely gonna work on that.

Chapter 32 - I did it for you......

"So Jon, how goes it man? what can I do for ya?"
"Fine yeah just fine Phil, listen I have a job for you, if you available to work for me?"
"Depends, what is it?"
"Are you free to meet me for a couple of hours tomorrow morning? I don't really wanna talk on the phone? lets meet up and Ill tell ya  over a coffee in Browns coffee shop on Hilmorton Boulevard"
"What time?"
"10am ok?"
" should be, I'll have to re schedule a couple of things but ... yeah I can meet ya there. will be good to catch up,... so see ya tomorrow bud."
"Tomorrow."

Hanging up the call I felt calmer and retuning my phone to my pocket I walked back round to Mara's room.
As I re entered the room the questions started. my ma could always be relied on to say her piece... sure enough she was the first...

" Jon, why were you so rude to that Detective, I did not bring you up to be like that. I was ashamed to say you are my son..... why? Jon he was doing his job... what has got into you... "

"Look Ma, I met with the Detective a few days ago, given what Mara has gone through he agreed to only go through me. I didn't want Mara anymore stressed than she is already. with her injures,
I wanted her out of hospital and on the road to recovery first that's all...... I am so pissed......  He had no right to come to the hospital and do what he's done... "

I could feel my anger rising again before I could hold back... I spat at my mom,

" so just leave it ok ma, I aint your little boy anymore, I don't need you telling me what I can and can't say... sometimes things aint all sugar candy and sweet like in your perfect world...." 

I stared at my mom and watched her reaction, immediately seeing her crumple under my words I knew I had hurt her again.... I was about to apologise again which is something that was becoming second nature to me now ; when Mara's sweet voice spoke, immediately breaking the tension in the room and between my ma and me.

"Jon,"

I looked at across at her from the doorway, as she spoke.....

"Jon, come sit with me...".
 I walked across the room from the doorway and sat on Mara's bed, and gently leaned in and kissed her lips, pulling back I looked into her eye's that always pulled me in and seemed to let me see right to her soul.......

"Jon,..... don't blame your mom, when you shouted at the Detective, I guess we all felt uncomfortable....  my mom and your mom listened as I was told... .... I know you were trying to protect me.....  and I thank you for that,..... but I am not made of glass, I wont break.... I am made of much stronger stuff than that. when the Detective arrived and said that someone had been arrested and was being charged with Arson and attempted murder.  I was shocked, until then I thought it was an accident, hell I did not even know the police were involved...... Jon, I was taking in the news and my character has always been what I know I can face and handle.... I don't like being in the dark and getting surprises and nasty shocks...... Jon if you had told me from the start about the stalking well we could have handled it together, maybe then we could have stopped it before it got to the stage we are facing now.... and don't think I am blaming you, I not ok?, I'm just  saying that if I had known we could have handled it together.....that's all.... we are a couple .....  I am the one that pushed to know who it was,  Detective Ross did not want to share the information. can you understand that?,  I could not understand who hated me so much that they would want to do this too me. I had to know for my own piece of mind"

Listening to Mara I knew she was right but I had to explain why I had made the arrangements with Detective Ross.

"I know you are more than capable Mara, but I did not want you to know just yet, I wanted you to be recovered and out of hospital before you had to handle all of this. I know your not made of glass, but given what's happened I wanted to shield you for as long as possible... simply because I love you baby"

"I know... but life is hard and a real bitch sometimes,  at least I know.... what I do not understand is.... why your ex wife's mom would hate me so much.... I have never met her or even new she existed. You have never spoke about her ever during our time together....."

"I never spoke about her because she was no longer part of my life. she was only part of my life when I was married to her daughter, or so I thought....  when Dot and I parted and divorced I cut all communication with her. She never liked me anyway and never wanted Dot to marry a rock star. she told Dot, he will break your heart mark my words.... I guess in a way, Dot and I marrying was her daughter giving her the finger..... then when our marriage failed and I of course broke Dot's  heart and  she vowed to pay me back... I thought it was hot air and words only......
Mara I am so sorry...."

I looked down holding my head in shame.... everything I touch or love I break.....

Mara put her hand on mine,

"Jon, please look at me..... Jon......"

I raised my head and tried to blink back the tears pricking my eye's.....and looked at Mara....

"Jon, stop blaming yourself, your ex mom in law is not your concern, you could not have known what she was planning. she is a sick person, ....... but as long as I still have you, everything will be fine, together we can face anything... right?  and Jon as much as you are there for me, I am here for you too.... I love you Jon Bon Jovi warts and all..."

fighting back the tears, my heart aching with hurt and love for the women I had been blessed to meet and fall in love with.... I leant forward and gave her a long and gentle lingering kiss.....

Chapter 31 - Little Things Mean Alot

Chapter 31

Pulling out of the drive turning left, checking my rear view I could see four sets of arms waving at me as I drove off the drive to go see Mara in hospital.

The drive was uneventful and I was grateful; as more than once my mind wandered thinking over all of the events that had taken place over the last few days.

Pulling on to the parking lot, I found a space, stopped my car and got out. my mind was thinking over and over, how the hell could I explain this to Mara. Should I explain about the detective and my former mom-in law?, I knew I could not tell her about what Dot had done, hell even I was struggling with that one... no keeping quiet was the best solution. Mara's safety was my everything, she had suffered enough. I would tell her about having the kids, at least a bit of good news for her, but that's it, until she was fitter and well on the road to recovery. My mind at last content with my decision.

Walking into the hospital I wound my way round the corridors on the way to Mara's room.
As I reached the door, from the outside I was aware of voices talking, opening the door and walking in I saw Detective Ross and his colleague, my mom and Mara's; sat by the side of her bed, with Mara's hand being comforted by her mom.

"Hey, what's going on? Mom? Mara? tell me please?" I walked over to Mara and gently kissed her forehead and waited for an answer, keeping eye contact with the Detective the whole time.

"Oh baby, they have called to tell us they have charged someone with arson.... and attempted murder...... Jon, sweetheart,.... it's Dorothea's mom."
"You have charged her Detective?"
"Yes Mr Bongiovi, that is correct."
"What the fuck are you doing coming here then?"
"Miss Goodward is the main victim and legally has a right to know Mr Bongiovi, this is all related to her recovery and well being."
"What the fuck? are you a Dr?"
"No Mr Bongiovi I am doing my job."
"Your job, your job was to go through me, I was the one that would explain, not you." I was so pissed but I had to continue....
"Detective, I thought we had agreed you were going to keep me informed, what has changed from that discussion?"
"Mr Bongiovi, as much as I understand your concerns for your girlfriend, I have a responsibility to do my job. if that upsets you I am sorry."
"your sorry? fuck, why didn't you just drive a god damn fucking truck through here and roll it right over her eh? it would be less painful than what you have done. Detective can I speak with you outside. There are things I need to discuss with you that I do not want to say in front of my family, please"

The detective looked at me, but granted my request, he said good bye to Mara with acknowledgement to Mara's mom and mine. Stepping into the corridor outside of Mara's room I lead the Detective  to the entrance of the hospital far away from  Mara's room.

"Detective, I am worried for Mara's safety."
"Mr Bongiovi, your Mom in law is behind bars and will be for some time..."
"no, detective, it's not my mom-in law I am worried about. it's.... my ex wife Dorothea, Detective I have my children staying with me at home, Detective my ex wife is unstable and I cannot guarantee what she will or will not do right now. I am afraid she will try and make her way to the hospital here in Arlington and harm Mara."
"What makes you think this Mr Bongiovi?"
"Detective, I can't explain now, but please trust me, she is behaving oddly and doing things far from normal. My kids have told me about her excessive drinking, they have told me she is obsessed with getting me back. Detective, I cannot say she will do anything but I am honest to god scared right now."  
"what are you asking Mr Bongiovi?"
"Fuck, do I have to spell it out for ya? I want an officer or guard on the hospital door 24 hours a day until Mara is discharged, no one to go in or out without I.D, with just me my mom and Mara's mom as visitors, would you do that for me Detective?"
"Mr Bongiovi, I feel you are extremely anxious, but this is a main hospital, you cannot just walk in and out and commit a crime against a patient, this is not the movies..."
I felt my frustration building, and that the Detective was ridiculing me."
"Detective, don't fucking patronise me, can you arrange that or not?"
"Mr Bongiovi, I do not have the power to offer that service for you, and we do not have the man power available to spare an experienced officer to sit outside someone's hospital door. I am sorry. Please excuse me, we will be in touch again"

Detective Ross left leaving me standing fuming with just my frustration for company. I needed a cigarette, something I hadn't done for four years, I searched for a vending machine to calm my need, I was out of luck, there were none. I found a coffee machine so purchased a coffee instead. I paced around the door of the hospital thinking. Grabbing my cell I made a call...
"Pop, yeah, listen.. do you still have Phil Bowdrys number? great can I have it?"
"What's this about Jon?"
"Can I have the number Pop I'll explain later."
"Ok,"
My pa gave me the number and I rang it immediately,
"Yo Phil, it's Jon... Jon Bon Jovi...