The bell rung at the Bongiovi household while Pauline was still in the kitchen. "Jess, they're here!" she yelled from there hoping Jesse was somewhere close. "I heard that!" he yelled back and walked closer to the door and opened it. "Hello! Come in!" Jesse said with a smile and gave a quick hug to his parents. "We brought dessert!" Jon said holding a bag. "It's cheesecake!" Dorothea answered and Jesse closed the door behind them. "Where are the boys?" Jon asked his son while he was trying to spot them on the living room. "Oh here they are!" he said and gave Jesse the bag. PJ and Kevin were sitting on the floor playing with some trains and cars when they saw their grandfather walking to their direction. Kevin was the first to recognize him and started clapping his little hands.
Jon's heart started melting as soon as he walked closer and lifted them both up into the air. "You missed me guys?" he asked them but the only answer he got was a smile. "Jon they're too young to talk!" Dorothea said from behind and took PJ from his husband's hands. "Don't listen to him PJ, he's too old to understand!" she joked. "Very funny, very funny!" Jon answered a little annoyed. "Where's Pauline?" Jon asked as he let Kevin on the floor to play with his toys. "She's in the kitchen! Wanna go outside? The table is all set!" Jesse said smiling proudly because he set the table. "Yeah, sure! Bring some wine on the way back son!" Jon said again and lifted Kevin while he followed his wife with PJ on the pattio.
Jesse walked in the kitchen to where Pauline was making a vinaigrette for the salad that was on the fridge. She checked the famous lasagna in the oven. Jesse put the cheesecake on the fridge. "Everything alright in here?" he asked and put his arms around her. "Yeah, i'm just finishing this and we're all set!" Pauline answered a little nervous and he saw that. "Don't tell me you're nervous, because that should be me." "Me of course not! It's just your parents!" Pauline answered and turned off the oven and opened its door. "It's a big night and i hope to hear a yes." Jesse added and Pauline faced him. "Hey, it's a great idea and i'm sure your Dad sees that too. You have nothing to worry about Jess." she tried to comfort him with a kiss that followed soon enough. "Hope you're right." he replied praying she was right.
Momments later they were all sitting at the table next to the pool enjoying the early night breeze. "This taste amazing Pauline!" Jon started with his seconds place half finished. "Thank you!Its not the best but you know with work and the kids time seems so little." Pauline answered and took a bit of her plate. "How is work? It's been almost 2 months right?" Dorothea asked her. "It's good, i mean better than i thought. My Dad helped me a lot and things were getting better by the day!" Pauline asnwered feeling a little more confident about the new role she had in her father's company. "How about you? A new song perhaps?" she asked and looked at Jon. "We're taking a break from this now, we have more important things to do." Jon replied and looked over to this grandsons who were sound sleeping.
"I'm sure you do!" Jesse said smiling. "I think i'm full, where is that cheesecake?" Jon said as he put his fork and knife down next to his plate. "I'll go get it!" Jesse answered back quickly and stood up. "I'll go with you." Jon said right after and both of them left leaving their wivies alone. As Dorothea watched them walking away she turned to Pauline. "How are you Pauline? Really?" she asked her with a glass of wine in her hand. "I'm okay, just a little tired but coffee helps a lot." she joked because that was her mechanism when she was nervous and she was for some reason she didn't know yet. "You sure? You barely touched your plate tonight and that lasagna you made were amazing." Pauline was looking at her trying to find out where this was going.
After taking a sip of the wine Dorothea said again "You probably don't know this but Jon saw you in the Kitchen on your birthday, the night before we had a fight about something i don't even remember." she paused and chuckled a little. "And he came back home with a huge bouquet of roses and he told me 'I met a girl today in the Kitchen and she had the same fire in her eyes just like you.' and he gave me the roses and disappeared." she paused again and drunk more wine. "And i was standing there wondering what just happened. And when i met you that day the fire in your eyes turned into light in Jesse's eyes. I'm old enough to know what's wrong or what's right and you are something more than right for my son. When Jesse was in the hospital i blamed you, i blamed her and i blamed myself and i know i apologized to you so many times but still i don't think that's enough. I mean you were only 17 when that happend and still you were acting like an adult when Jennifer walked in."
Dorothea stopped and took Pauline's hands into hers and looked deep into her eyes until a tear appeared in the corner. When she heard Jennifer's name she felt sick to her stomach. She hadn't heard it in years and still the anger she was feeling didn't go away. "I know we don't talk too often but if you ever want talk to someone about anything i'm here for you and i mean that." Dorothea finished leaving Pauline speachless next to her. They never had that kind of conversation before not because they didn't like each other but simply because it didn't happen. "Thank you." she managed to say between tears.
As these two women were hugging tight each other, the men of their livies were in the kitchen. Jesse opened the door of the fridge and found the cheesecake. "You good Jess?" Jon asked as his son closed the fridge's door. "I'm perfect! Really." he replied and placed four plates and four spoons on the table next to the cheesecake. "I'm happy for you. Both of you." Jon said and turned to his son. "Thanks Dad!" smiling Jesse took the dessert with the plates and silverware in his hands. "I hope this doesn't change when you'll working more hours." Jon added when Jesse was on the edge of leaving the room but he stopped when he heard those words. Trying to process the last sentence it hit him. Jon on the other half was laughing when he saw his eyes open wide when he faced him.
"Does this mean that we're doing it?" he said while the feel excitement took over his entire body. "Yep, i wanted to tell you first." was all he could say before Jesse was hugging him closer than any other day. "You won't regret this one Dad, i promise!" "You better!" Jon said when they broke the hug. "I spoke with some friends and we're leaving next week." he added. "Leaving? I can't leave Pauline alone with the boys." Jesse asked back suprised with eyes opened wide. "We need a supplier Jess and we can't make this kind of deals from here." "Where are we going? I did my research and i must say on the South they have some very nice wineyards." Jesse answered and looked up at his father. "Yeah, i know but if we want to do this the right way we must go all the way..." Jon said but stopped as he was a little afraid to tell him where they're going. "Dad where are we going?" he asked him again. Jon sighed and finally told him "Languedoc." Jesse was looking at him puzzled trying to understand where on Earth is this place. "Where is that?" "It's about 40 miles outside of Montpellier." Jon answered as calmy as he could.
"That's in fucking France!" Jesse yelled this time. "Hey watch your tongue young man!" Jon stopped him soon enough. "Sorry, but i can't leave them! Pauline needs me here to look after the boys when she's at work." Jesse spoke his truth. "I know but if we miss that chance there is no point of doing it. It's your idea Jess you must fight for that." Jon told him and nodded his head. He knew what was going on in his head. He had been in that place more times that he could recall. Jon knew what was asking from him was hard and he hated it but this was business. "I know." Jesse replied simply while he was looking down at his feet. "I'll send you your ticket when i get home." Jon said after several seconds of silence and touched his shoulder with his right hand. Jesse just looked at him and nodded while his father was walking away leaving him alone with the cheesecake in the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesse was siting on the edge of the bed with a suitcase half ready in front him. He was starring at it for minutes now and he didn't notice Pauline walking in. "Ready?" she said softly knowing the thoughts in his mind were is someplace else. He jumped a little at the sound of her voice. "You need a helping hand with this?" she said again and she sat next to him on the bed. "I got it!" he said. Pauline was looking at him his eyes were locked in that suitcase. "You should pack that baby blue shirt, it looks great on you." she tried to keep the conversation going. "Already in." Jesse answered simply. "The boys will up soon, you should spend some time with them before you leave." she said and looked at him. "Are you sure you can handle this? I can stay here if you say the words." he faced her this time. "No way! You go there and make a fucking deal. Besides what kind of a wife i am if i'm not here to support you." Pauline said and hugged him close. "Just focus on this Jess. We will be fine here!" she added while she was still hugging him.
When they broke apart Jesse watched her eyes close. They looked so tiried and black cirles were beneath them. He knew she was tiried but she never said a word to him. "I'm doing this for us, i hope you know that." he spoke after several seconds. "Yes, Jess. I know. Now let's wake up the boys." Pauline answered and stood up quickly. Jesse followed her and soon enough they were in the nursery room. He watched his sons sound sleeping in their cribs and how much they grew up the last months. He couldn't be any prouder of the family they created. Jesse walked closer to PJ's crib and he tried he wake him up and gentle as he could. "PJ come on buddy. Time to wake up." he whispered and touched his back. PJ slowly opened his eyes and saw his father smiling down at him. He smiled back at him as he said with his sleeping voice. "Dada!"
Jesse could feel his heart melt at the sound of this simple word. He took him in his arms and filled up his lungs with that baby smell PJ had. His little hands were around his neck as Jesse was still hugging him so close. "Dada!" he heard an another voice from the other side of the room. Kevin was standing tall in his crib trying to find his balance. Pauline was sitting right next to to him and was wacthing them. Jesse walked closer to Kevin and took him in his arms. He was holding them so close that he thought that this is how Heaven must look like or feel like. "I love you so much!" he said while some tears followed because he will not see them for the next three weeks and that was tearing him apart.Pauline was watching the men in her life together thinking how will be able to take care of them for the next three weeks. Of course she had all the help she needs but still it was not the same. Jesse looked over at her and said "Come in here Mommy!" she smiled at stood up from the rocking chair and filled the gap between the three of them. "We love Mommy too, right boys?" Jesse said and looked at them who smiled. Pauline chuckled a bit as he kissed him softly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pauline was at the office. It's been a week since Jesse was in France with his father. It was not the best week and not the worst. Her mother was taking care of the boys while she was at work but when she was back home she was all alone with them. Work was hard the last couple of days and she was getting tired very quickly. She thought that being young and full of energy will help her get throught this but at this point she was mistaken. She was looking at the computer screen for sometime now. They were about to close a huge deal with a client and that will be the first she did on her own. She was nervous because she wanted to show her father that she could manage this position. Time flew by and outside was getting dark and cloudy. She checked her phone and no text from Jesse who was half world away. She wished they could talk more but with time difernce and their busy schedules that seemed hard enough.
She knew at this point she will not get any work done so she diceded to leave. She was alone in the building after all. She turned off the computer and closed the door behind her. She was about to text Jesse when she saw in the office next to her that Harry was still there. She looked in throught the glass door but the chair was facing the Trenton skyline but she was able to see his blonde hair. Pauline knocked before she opened the door. "Hey, what are you doing here?" she asked him. Harry heard her and quickly moved his chair. A violin solo was echoing from the speaker and as she walked closer she notised a bottle of Jameson whiskey half empty. He whipped his tears as quickly as he could. "I-I'm sorry i thought you were gone. You need anything?" Harry said with a shaken voice. "Are you arlight?" Pauline asked him and sat on the chair rigth across from him.
"Yeah, i'm okay. I'm just blowing some steam." he answered trying to hide the truth. She was starring at his eyes that were now turned red from crying. "I know it's not my place but if you need anything you can talk to me. I'm pretty good friend and i'm not your boss, we're way passed working hours." she said laughing hoping this will make a diference in his emotions right now. Harry chuckled a little and took a sip of the whiskey that was on the table without using a glass. "It's too late now, Pauline." he simply said and stood up. With the Jameson in hand he was looking outside of the window but he was not paying any attetion actually. "Her name was Emily.We met in London. I was visiting a friend from College and she was cousin of my friend's girlfiend." he started but he stopped to take a sip of whiskey. "She was the most beautiful person i've ever met and i was just a boy who fell madly in love with her. I was supposted to stay there for a week but that week turned into a month. It was hard with the time difference and the things i needed to do here but somehow we managed. She was a member of the Royal Orchestra playing the violin, Queen's favourite." he stopped again as tears were rolling down his cheeks.
"She gave all that up in a heartbeat. My apartnemt was not that big but we managed, found her a job here and i was feeling like i owned the world only because my world was hers. She was playing for me every night and with every note she was hitting i was flying to place far away from here with her. The next day i spend all the money i was saving to buy a new car and proposed to her, she accepted. A few weeks later we found out she was prengant. Nine months later our daughter Charlotte was home with us until..." he paused only to whip his tears now. Harry looked at Pauline was waiting for his next words. "On a rainy day just like this on this exact date they were coming here to pick me up and all three of us we were going on a party to one of Charlotte's friends from school but THEY NEVER FUCKING MADE IT HERE!" Harry screamed at the top of his lungs the last words and with whatever strenght had left in his body he threw the dark green bottle of whiskey to the wall on his left.
The bottle shattered as soon as it hit the wall while the liquid was rolling down slowly. Harry was in his knees crying and swearring to God, to the universe, to his luck. "I bought that new car and it took everything i ever cared about with it including myself. I'm fucking empty! I feel nothing! I care about nothing! Do you understand?" Harry met Pauline's gaze who was still in shock and her brain was not working properly right now. What can she possible say to a man who lost his wife and daughter? Probably nothing. "I was blaming myself and wondering what i've done wrong. I'm trying to be sane 364 days only to loose it for one day of the year." he said and slowly stood up.
Pauline was still looking at him and she could not imagine how much pain his was feeling right now. Being a mother herself she couldn’t ever bare the thought of not seeing her sons again. Soon her own tears followed as she was watching him like this. She approached him while he was down on his knees crying. She didn’t speak a word. She knew words don’t matter at all in these situations. She hugged him close hoping all the broken pieces of his heart will find their way back together. Harry hugged her back a little tighter than the usual.
"I’m sorry…" he said between tears while his head was resting on her shoulder. "Let it out Harry. Let it out." Pauline answered back meaning every word. Her heart was breaking inside as Harry let out a scream that could make all his demons hide or that was what she thought. She was holding him for more than 40 minutes while hard autumn rain was falling down from the dark clouds. "Come on, I’ll drive you home." Pauline whispered.
"I have my scooter." Harry simply said and stood up. He used a tissue to whip off the remaining tears in his eyes. "I’m sure your electric scooter is 100% waterproof." She said and stood up as well and checked the time on her watch. "Don’t come tomorrow and on Friday." She added while she watched him folding his shirt in his pants. "No, no! We’re about to close that big deal. I need to be here." Harry replied quickly. "All you need to be is home. We’ll be fine for two days without you Lord Commander!" Pauline answered trying to make him forget what today was and she knew he was a huge Game of Thrones fan.
Harry chuckled a little. "Okay, your Grace." He said and watched Pauline making probably the worst bow he had ever seen. Both of them laughed out loud. "Thank you for tonight. Things might have been different if I was alone." Harry said when he found his breath from the previous laughter. "Don’t you ever say that again. I really can not imagine how much this hurts but as long as I’m around you are not going anywhere! Is that understood?" she spoke looking his in the eyes. As she was keep staring at them she realized how much they look like Jesse’s and how much she was missing him right now.
In just a few minutes they were inside Pauline's car. With Harry's direction they arrived at his condo. "Thank you so much for tonight, again." he said when Pauline stopped the engine of the car. "That's what friends are for." she answered with a smile. "I should probably go." Harry spoke as he saw the rain outside getting harder and harder. "See you on Monday Harry Charlesworth." she told him hoping that he won't show up tomorrow at the office. "Drive safe." he said as he opened the door and with a rapid move he closed the door behind him and disappeared into the rain.
As she watched him walking away from the car there is ony one thing she wanted at this moment. She grabbed her phone and called Jesse. She waited a few seconds until he finally answered. "Hey Paul, i can't talk right now. I'll call you back." that was what Jesse said and hung up the phone leaving his now crying wife alone in the rain.
