Chapter 4

After Jon proceeded to embarrass both himself and his daughter he hugged her and told her that she could ask him anything.

“Dad there are just some things about you I really don’t want to know.” Her cheeky grin got Jon to smile again.

“Good because there are some things I’d like to keep private too.” He smiled while rustling her hair.

“So dad, can I really just talk to you?” She wondered softly.

“Absolutely honey, I want you to know you can come to me for anything.” Jon stood up and started pacing the room they were in.

“When will I know its right? Like when do I know the guy is the one I should have sex with?”
Steph asked only to see her dad run his hand through his hair and turn to her.

“None of them.”

“DAD! You said I could talk to you!” She immediately was offended at his comment.

Jon sat took her hands into his and looked her in the eye, “I’m kidding - sort of. Honey, no one in my eyes will ever be good enough to touch you, no one will ever be good enough to marry you but that’s your dad speaking. Right now acting as your friend and dad I can tell you that when you are thinking of sex with the guy and the thought of explaining him to your 15 yr old daughter when you’re 46 doesn’t make you cringe you might be making the right choice.”

“Seriously dad, come on.”

“I am serious Steph. Make sure he counts; make sure the recounting of that event will mean something to you. Don’t make it something you’d like to wish away.”

“Dad what do you mean? What was your first time like? It was with mom right?”

“Baby I wish I could say that. Remember what I said 2 sec. ago about making it count and making it something you wouldn’t mind recounting to your child?”

“Yes.” She wondered exactly what he was getting at. She had never seen her dad look this ashamed.

“Steph I was 13 the first time I had sex and I can’t tell you her name, not because I’m being secretive but because I don’t know it. I’m embarrassed to say that my first time was nothing more than getting in and getting off. It was cheap and I’d love to believe that I learned something since then, I hope I’m able to pass on that knowledge to you and let you know that a nameless faceless person isn’t worth that special part of yourself. Make him count, whoever he ends up being just make sure he truly matters to you.”

Steph let go of Jon’s hands and hugged her dad. “Thank you for being honest with me daddy. I love you.”

“I love you too princess, now and forever.”

As the plane touched down in Esky Danielle was on the phone to her best friend before they deplaned. Finding out Helen was 10 min outside of Esky made her smile. “Ok we’ll meet you at the Days in, take US 2 through town and it’ll be on your left on the far side of town, that’s about 20 min from where you are now.”
“Ok hon see you soon.”

“Ok Helen will meet us at the hotel so lets all pile in a rental.” Dani smiled and started to walk over to get a rental when Jon stopped her, “I’ll do it sweetheart you just relax.”

“Relax chasing your four kids around is relaxing?” She asked with a smile.

“Of course, kids are a joy baby.” He kissed her quickly and walked the 10 feet to the counter to get a rental.

As he returned he heard Jesse say “You’re not my mom.” Before Jon could respond he heard Dani, “You’re right I’m not, and I’m not trying to be. But when you are in my hometown and around my friends and family you will show me respect Jesse Bongiovi, I’ve done nothing to be disrespectful to you and I expect the same courtesy from my husband’s children.”

Jon wrapped his arm tight around Danielle’s waist immediately backing her up. “If you show her disrespect in anyway Jess you and I are going to have issues.”

“Do you have ears in the back of your head or something?” Jesse asked not knowing how his dad even knew that he and Danielle were having words.

“I’m your dad Jess, I see and hear everything. Now come on lets get out of the airport.” Jon smiled softly and as the kids walked out he pulled Danielle tight to him. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah I’m fine Jon, thanks for backing me up.”

“Care to tell me what I was supporting?” He smiled putting his hand in her back pocket.

“He said he wasn’t going to call my mom grandma and I advised him that she technically is his grandma. Jon she’ll be sad if kids don’t accept her. It's not her fault.” Danielle said softly into his chest.

“I’ll cure that baby, come on lets go.” Jon then got everyone and everything packed into the car, Richie opened the passenger side door for her and helped her in.

“Rich are sure you don’t want to sit up here you’re legs are much longer than mine?”

“No sweetie I’m good, besides I can’t give directions in a town I’ve never been in.” He closed the door and jumped in the back with the kids.

While in the back he quietly talked to Jesse asking him what is issue is.


“She’s not my mom.”

“Oh trust me kid we all know that.” Richie laughed thinking of a million and one differences between Dani and Dot.

“What do you mean Uncle Mookie?”

”Well Jess, do you want your dad happy or not?” He always had a great relationship with Jon’s kids but especially Jess.

“Of course I do.”

“Well then get over your ‘tude kid. You aren’t 4 anymore, Romeo’s got that covered. You are old enough to understand that mom and dad have been divorced for a while now – Danielle didn’t cause it but she’s putting the smile back in your dad’s heart so stop acting like a baby and realize that sometimes in life the best relationships can’t work and people have to move on. You’re dad didn’t leave your mom, it was the other way around. He had to get through it and get to the other side. Your mom and dad moved on and your dad found love again, be happy for him Jess. He’s happy when you’re happy. Don’t you think you owe him the same?”


“Are you mad at me Uncle Richie?” Jesse asked not liking the words or tone coming from his uncle.

“I’m disappointed Jess. I’ve always looked at you like the kid that just wanted people to enjoy life. Here you are, in the town Danielle grew up with giving her shit about how you’re going to treat her mom. Come on Jess- Does Danielle’s mom really have anything to do with your parents getting divorced?”

“No.”

“Ok then why are you acting like this? This isn’t the Jesse I know. Danielle is pregnant, scared and all alone really out in Jersey. She moved there only knowing your dad so that he wouldn’t have to leave you guys to start a life with her. She brought all of us to her home to share that with us and you immediately disrespect that and put her on the defensive. I expect adults to do stupid mean things to one another, as you get older you stop caring as much about how your actions affect people around you but I never thought you’d hit that at 13.”

“Hey Danielle what’s that building?” Steph asked trying to cover the conversation Richie and Jess were having in the far back of the vehicle.

“That was my high school Steph.”

”Wow its small – compared to ours.”

”Yes but honey this is tim-buck-two. We don’t even have our own city school it’s the AREA high school, kids are bussed from all the surrounding cities to attend school here.”

“No way- how far away?”

“Some of the kids lived 25-30 miles from school.” She told her.

”I not going that far to school-make me tired getting there.” Romeo laughed from his booster seat Jon had rented.

As the family arrived at the hotel, Jon brought the kids up to the room and Danielle waited downstairs for Helen. When Jon looked at her to question her actions she just smiled, “Need some sister bonding we’ll be up in a few.”

Jon pulled Danielle to him without a concern for how it looked or who was watching. “You are mine, don’t freak out because of my 13 yr old, I want you in my arms, in my bed, in my life and in my heart. I love you Danielle.”

Smiling she ran her hand up and moved a short strand of hair from his face. “I love you too Jon. We’re good.”

”Why don’t you play with my hair more?” He asked absently as he kissed the palm of her hand.

“Because you’re hair is too damn dark and short and I don’t like it.” Just then Helen walked in and Danielle ran over to her for a hug.

Jon smiled softly and whispered, “Wife needs a spanking.” As he got in the elevator leaving the sisters alone to bond for a bit. He had a child to set straight.