Jon rang the doorbell at Amberley Manor at exactly noon the next day. Jeannette opened the door, smiled and ushered him inside. She noticed the presents and decided to tease him.
"Are those for me?"
"Umm, yes and no. The flowers are for you and the gift bag is for Chantal."
"Ah, I’m just teasing you, thank you. Chantal is in the dinning room, I’ll just put these in water."
When Jon walked in to the room, Chantal looked up and smiled. "Hi Jon."
"Hi Chantal, so what do you have planned for today?"
"I want to show you my room now because right after lunch, I’m going out with Mr. Ford to get more flowers."
"Could I go with you?"
"There isn’t room in the Lorry, it only seats two."
"Oh, these are for you."
She smiled, accepted the gift bag. When she saw the lid of the ceramic box she smiled and took it out. She traced her fingers along one of the flowers and gingerly opened the box. She pulled out a pretty fairy figure out and smiled.
"Thank you, the box is very pretty and will look great on my dresser. Let’s go put it in my room."
"Don’t be long, lunch will be ready in ten minutes." Jeannette called out as she entered the room
Jon liked her room, it looked more like a young lady’s room than a five year olds but he suspected that Jeannette had been the decorator. He found out that she really liked purples, pinks, greens and blues and that she had picked the colour of the walls, her quilt and the covering on her window seat. There was a teddy bear and antique doll that blended so well into the room, that it looked like they had been placed by a set decorator. It was the neatest room he ever saw in his life, even the silver brush and comb set were perfectly aligned on her vanity.
"Where are your toys?" Jon asked slightly alarmed.
Chantal, lifted the window box and showed him that it held a toy chest.
"You don’t sleep with a stuffed animal?"
"Winston is in my closet, mommy does not tolerate a messy room. My room must always look like this. If I play with something it goes away right after I’m finished with it."
"You must forget occasionally."
"Oh I’ll never forget again. We spent last Christmas here and after I opened all my presents Mommy helped me carry everything upstairs. I had left Winston on the floor near my bed. Mommy saw him and took all my new toys away from me for a month. The worst part, was that all I could have for the rest of the day and night was bread and water. No high tea, no Christmas dinner, I couldn’t even put butter on my bread. Betty felt so sorry for me that she snuck me a piece of Christmas pudding at bed time, but I couldn’t eat it. A rule, is a rule and a punishment must be served, no excuses, no crying and no sad faces."
Jon’s jaw dropped, "Isn’t that harsh? I mean you are only five!"
"No, mommy says I’m old enough to understand rules so I’m old enough to face punishment for breaking them. I rarely break a rule."
"I don’t blame you. I guess we better get downstairs."
"Yeah, I’m hungry and we are having one of my favourites for lunch."
"And what would that be?"
"Croque monsieur and Italian wedding soup."
"Mmm I love wedding soup."
"It’s my favourite soup in the world. It’s Mommy’s favourite too."
"Sounds great to me."
They entered the dining room and Jon glared at Jeannette who stopped smiling.
"Is something wrong Jon?"
"I’m just a little shocked about something. I’ll tell you later." He replied.
Jeannette stayed fairly quite as she was trying to figure out why Jon was angry at her. Chantal asked Jon several questions about his childhood and what he liked and then told him about the toys and games she liked playing with the most. Jon told her what it was like to fly on a private jet and why he liked owning an arena football team so much. As soon as Chantal left the house Jeannette laid into him.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"Rule are rules and punishments must be served, no excuses, no crying and no sad faces! She’s 5, for crying out loud, are you trying to be the next Mommy Dearest? "
"Whoa! How dare you question how I raise MY daughter!"
"Sorry, I’m doing that defensive thing again. I just think that is rather harsh. You make her put her teddy bear away and took Christmas away from her because she forgets in the excitement of Christmas morning to put the bloody bear back in the closet."
"Jon, it’s not like I force her to do the laundry or vacuum her room. She had to put her toys
away when she is finished playing with them. When she wakes up, she fold her PJ’s and puts them under her pillow then she puts Winston in the closet. That’s all she has to do."
"I think being neat is a good thing, but her room doesn’t even look like a child lives there. There is neat and then there is a room devoid of personality. What about the punishment though, come on taking her toys away and only letting her have bread and water on Christmas. Even Scrooge wouldn’t have done that."
"What is the point of having rules if there is no consequences when they are broken?. I hated having to do that on Christmas but Winston hadn’t been put away."
"You couldn’t have told her that considering it was Christmas she could wait to serve her punishment until the next day?"
"No, punishment immediately follows breaking the rule. It does not get scheduled for a more convenient time. She hasn’t broken that rule since."
"Of course not, because the punishment is so harsh. I’d like to point out that she hadn’t broken the rule before that one day either. You need to loosen up a bit, take TV away from her for the day or don’t let her work in the garden if her toys are spread all over the room. If one bear is on the floor, you can ask her what is wrong with this picture. Have her put the bear away immediately it’s not a big deal worth losing Christmas over. Come with me."
"What?"
"Just follow me, please."
"Fine."
Jon led her up to Chantal’s bedroom. He opened her closet and took out the big tawny bear and sat it on the top of her pillow. He went over to her toy box and pulled out a couple of toys, placing them on the bookshelf.
"There now it looks like a little girl lives here and any normal person would say this room is as neat as it can be."
"The bear does not need to be on the bed."
"One does not need to have high tea every day, but it’s a pleasure you enjoy. Did you ever stop to ask Chantal if she’d like to have her bear there waiting for her?"
"No."
"She should be able to arrange her room how ever she wants within reason. Clothes and toys shouldn’t be haphazardly thrown around the room. I think you’ve repressed her enough that she’d never even dream of cluttering her room, let alone letting it be messy."
"I’ll consider it. Before you decided I was public enemy number one, I was going to suggest going for a ride. Do you ride horses?"
"Yes and I don’t think you are public enemy number one, number five maybe but not one." Jon replied with a big smirk.
"Smart ass."
"That’s me."
Jeannette grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hall to her room. She pointed to her study went into her room. She came back out in jeans and a white shirt.
"Jon, she may look like she could be your child but she isn’t. You really had some nerve laying in to me and you are very lucky I was in a good mood or you’d be having a nasty accident while riding."
"Sorry, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. I haven’t rode in some time but I remember the basics."
They walked over to the stable and Jen introduced him to the horses. She went over to the hay stack and sat down to pull a few good long pieces out to give to the horses. Jon sat down beside her and leaned over, cupping her face in his hands and intended to leave a soft kiss on her lips. Once the kiss started he found he didn’t want it to end. He continued softly kissing her and she kissed him back. Jon ran his teeth over her bottom lip and sucked on it gently. Her lips parted and gone was the frantic tango instead their tongue entwined and a slow steady waltz began. He continued to kiss her as he brought her down on her back . His hands explored her body while she ran her fingers through his silky hair to keep his lips on hers. He unbuttoned her shirt and brought his lips down to her breasts.
"Please keep your lips on mine." She whispered and he immediately returned to them letting his fingers play with her breasts instead.
His kisses remained soft and lengthy and Jeannette found her self suspended in erotic bliss and she never wanted the feeling to end. Each kiss was more delicious than the next but a peak never came.
Jon felt as though time was standing still and he couldn’t believe how turned on he was. He never knew that kissing could feel better than sex, especially sex with her. The kissing only stopped when they both heard the Lorry driving up the gravel.
Jon reluctantly got off her and Jeannette stayed in the position she was in. Jon thought she looked like she was lost in a delicious day dream and it physically pained him to sit back up on the hay.
"I think you short circuited me." She finally said.
Jon smiled at her, "Thank you for the ride."
"Anytime."
"Mommy we are home!" Chantal yelled from down the path and headed towards the stable.
"Jon, we’ve got to move. I don’t want Chantal finding us in here, especially since my top is undone and my breasts are exposed."
Jon looked down her and grinned sexily. "Yes I agree, this should be a sight for my eyes only."
Jeannette laughed as Jon left a kiss on each breast and returned them to each cup, fastening the front closure and doing up her shirt buttons. He sprung off the hay and went over to pat the horse. She had just enough time to roll over and sit up before Chantal walked in.
"Hi Sweetie. Jon and I went for a ride."
"So how was the hunt for flowers?" Jon asked.
"Pretty good, Jon why is your hair so messy and Mom your hair has hay in it."
"I was scratching my head." He said quickly.
"They make a shampoo for that, you know." Chantal replied.
Jeannette started laughing and Jon simply smiled at Chantal.
"Tea is ready."
"Great, Jon why don’t you head towards the house, I just need to tell Chantal something, we’ll be right behind you."
"What’s up Mommy?"
"I wanted to ask you this with Jon out of the room because, I don’t want you to agree just because he is there."
"O.K. "
"What would you think, if I asked Jon to stay with you tomorrow night when I go to that silly party?"
"It’s fine with me. Now that he isn’t being mean to you, I’m liking him."
"That is good, since I like him too."
"Mommy, I was thinking, if Jon is here to see us and he comes over every day isn’t it a little silly for him to not stay here? We have enough rooms."
"I was actually thinking that myself. So it would be OK with you?"
"Sure."
"Kay, I’ll ask him. Now let’s go before our tea gets cold."
After tea, Jeannette escorted Jon out of the house and stopped him before he got in to his rental car.
"Jon, I have a stupid party to go to tomorrow night. I was wondering if you would like to watch Chantal while I’m gone."
"Really? I’d love to. What time do you need me here?"
"Why don’t you come over for tea and then just stay. Jon, I don’t know what time I’ll be home and it’s silly to make you drive back to the inn. Why don’t you check out tomorrow and you can stay here until you have to go home."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I’m sure as long as you get me off your bloody ten most wanted list!"
"You moved your way on to my ten best list with your version of riding a horse."
"See you tomorrow silly."
Jon flashed her a grin and drove off, happy that his plan was working so far. With some luck thrown in she wouldn't want to say good bye to him at the end of the week.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Just One Kiss Chapter 3
"Fine I suggest, upper Mongolia." Jeannette tried to slam the door but he caught it and walked in.
"Miss Pierce, I didn't realize you were having company."
"I'm not Betty, Mr. Bongiovi was leaving immediately." She said with a frosty glare.
"Miss Pierce was kidding, I'll take any room, what ever is easiest to fix."
"Over my dead body."
"That can be arranged." Jon joked with a grin.
"Leave my Mommy alone!" Chantal yelled wrapping her arms around Jeannette's waist.
"Chantal, Mr. Bongiovi was just kidding." She said to soothe her daughter and shot Jon a deadly glare.
"This week was suppose to be just for us Mommy, I don't want him here."
"Come on Sweetie, let's clean up for tea and Betty can suggest an Inn for Mr. Bongiovi."
"An Inn? This place has how many rooms?" Jon asked incredulously.
"I will not allow you to upset my daughter Mr. Bongiovi."
"I'd never do anything to upset her."
"This is my house and I can decided who stays in it and who can visit for that matter. I will have
you barred from the property, if you do not leave now. You can come over for lunch tomorrow at noon if you wish."
"Geez thanks ever so for your kind hospitality."
"Keep it up and I'll have you arrested for trespassing. Good day Mr. Bongiovi." Jeannette left
the hallway to go find her daughter.
"I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow Betty, good day."
"Good day Sir, do you know where the Inn is?"
"I noticed a few in town on the way up here, thank you." Jon muttered to himself as he returned
to his car and set out to find somewhere to stay.
Jon pulled up to Amberley Manour at eleven thirty the next day and rang the doorbell. Betty answered it and looked surprised to see him.
"Mr. Bongiovi, you are early. Miss Pierce and her daughter are still in dance class, they won’t be down until about 12:30. You can wait in the study if you’ll follow me." Betty lead Jon down a long corridor to the formal study and told him to help himself to the bar. She preceded immediately to the dance studio to let her Mistress know her guest had arrived.
Jeannette had no intention of ending her dance practice early and decided to teach Chantal five new steps. While Chantal worked on the new series of movements Jeannette recreated an ambitious dance routine that left her gasping for breath and perspiring profusely. Jeannette downed a bottle of water and repeated the five minute dance number three more times in succession until every step was perfect.
Jon opened a drawer in the study and found a playbill from Damn Yankees. The first thing he noticed was the billing on the front cover, Jeannette Pierce in Damn Yankees. He thought back and tried to remember if he had ever seen an actor take top billing over a play’s title and be in a slightly larger font. Every playbill cover he could remember in his mind had the Play as the most predominate feature. He started flipping through it and found three pages devoted to Jeannette. There was a glossy black and white picture of Jeannette in a plunging black velvet dress with this amazing come hither look that raised his body’s core temperature by several degrees. He started to read the write up and was amazed at how many roles she had played.
JEANNETTE PIERCE
Lola
Jeannette Pierce created the role of Eponine in the original London and Broadway productions of Les Miserables, earning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress as well as The Tony and Drama Desk Award. Miss Pierce has also won numerous awards for her roles in The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Jekyll and Hyde, Evita, South Pacific, The King and I, Phantom of The Opera, Kiss me Kate and Grease. Before bringing her Lola to the West End Jeannette stared the in revival of Damn Yankees on Broadway wining her 8th Tony award.
Jeannette has won critical acclaim for her performances in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Little Moon of Alban, Arsenic and Old Lace, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, School for Wives, Romeo and Juliet, The Philadelphia Story and Indiscretions. A Fellow of the Royal Shakespeare Company Miss Pierce spent last summer directing the Company’s production of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Jeannette has turned down several movie roles preferring the stage and spending time with her daughter. Her vocal talents have most recently been heard on Pavorotti and Friends as well as the cast albums of Kiss Me Kate and Damn Yankees. Miss Pierce has recently sung duets with Elton John, Garth Brooks, Sting and Harry Connick Jr.
The last page featured candid shots of Jeannette during the production of Damn Yankees. Jon stared at the list of credits and wondered how old Jeannette was and how she could have possibly played so many roles. Betty came in and Jon stopped her.
"How long has Jeannette been on the stage Betty?"
"I think she started at age 16 and she won the Olivier award for Eponine three days after her
seventeenth birthday. Can I get you anything to eat Mr. Bongiovi?"
"No thanks Betty, I think I can make it till lunch."
"Mommy can we stop now, I’m getting tired and hungry. "
"Sure Sweetie, you did a great job today. I’m proud of you, your form has improved so much."
"Thanks Mom you still take my breath away when you dance you’re so good."
"Thank you dear, go take a fast shower, change and we are having lunch in the dinning room."
"Oh yeah, Mr. Bongiovi is here, do I have to be nice to him?"
"No, but you must be polite."
"Why? He wasn’t very polite to you."
"Chantal, we are better than that and thus will act accordingly."
"Yes Mommy." Chantal dashed out of the dance studio and up to her room.
Jeannette glanced at her watch and was pleased to see it was 12:20. By the time she was ready it would be one and she would have made Jon wait for an hour. She hoped he would actually get fed up and leave, although she sensed he was as stubborn as she.
She hadn’t really noticed until she was brushing her hair but Jeannette had gone for a very sexy look for lunch. She’d dug out a sheer burgundy bra and matching panties, a pair of tight black jeans and a sheer burgundy top that she tied at her waist exposing her flat stomach. She slid her feet in to black mules, headed downstairs and straight in to the dinning hall. Chantal was already sitting at her spot to her Mother’s right and Jeannette laughed when she noticed the place for Jon had been set at the other end of the table for twenty.
"Betty as much as I like where Mr. Bongiovi’s place has been set, could you move it to mid table then bring him in."
"Yes Miss Pierce."
"Momma what do I call him?"
"Whatever you wish my dear."
"Interloper?"
Jeannette started laughing and gave her daughter a wink of approval. "It certainly fits, but let
that be our pet name for him."
"Fine I’ll call him Mr. Bongiovi."
The door opened and Betty escorted Jon to his place at the dinner table. Jon sat down and smiled at the little girl who seemed to be studying him and didn’t reciprocate his smile. Despite his best efforts Jon, couldn’t help gazing at Jeannette who looked so good Jon wished she was lunch. He thanked Betty for bringing his drink to him and set about to change the silence in the room.
"So Chantal what are you doing this afternoon?"
"After lunch, Betty was going to help me work on my special project for Mommy until Tea Time.
After tea Mommy and I always spend time together until dinner."
"Sounds like a full day. Do you think I could help you instead of Betty?"
"No thank you Mr. Bongiovi. Mommy pass me the salad dressing please."
Jeannette passed her daughter the home-made dressing before speaking to Jon. "The countryside is really quite pretty Mr. Bongiovi, you might want to take a drive this afternoon."
"I did not come out here Jeannette to see just the English Countryside, I came to see you."
"Well Mr. Bongiovi, sometimes when you invite yourself somewhere you unfortunately find out you are not welcomed. I wished you well didn’t I?
"Mommy you aren’t going to force me to spend time with him are you? This was suppose to be our week and now he wants to horn in on it. Mr. Bongiovi go home I don’t want you here!"
"Jeannette are you going to let her speak to me like that?" Jon asked.
"Mr. Bongiovi, I am not going to force my daughter to do something she does not want to do. She is not being rude, as she is only expressing her feelings. So to answer your question, yes, I will allow her to speak to you in that manner. If you don’t like it, you are free to leave."
"Mommy, I've lost my appetite may I be excused?"
"Chantal, you’ve barely touched your lunch. Just because Mr. Bongiovi is here, does not mean
meal time rules can be ignored. If you want to be excused you know what you must do."
Chantal sighed and started to eat her chicken so she could leave. She thought Mr. Bongiovi was good looking but she didn’t like how he spoke to her Mother so she decided to be as indifferent to him as possible, hoping he’d take the hint and leave her alone. Jon and Jeannette were silently glaring at each other until Betty interrupted them.
"I’m sorry Miss Pierce, but you have a phone call from across the pond. Will you take it in the study?"
"No Betty, I’ll take it in here if you could bring me the portable. I always find it easier to turn down job offers when Chantal is in the room, to remind me why I’m taking a break." She said to Jon.
Betty brought her the phone and she turned it on. Jon couldn’t help watch as Jeannette walked around the room bringing visions of how they met right back into his mind. Their eyes met, Jeannette shot him an icy glare but her body betrayed her as Jon noticed with interest that his attention cause her nipples to harden.
"Hello."
"Jeannette darling, how serious were you about taking a breather?"
"Deadly serious Martin, so the answer is no."
"But Jeannette they want only you, Universal wants to bank role a remake of Damn Yankees
the movie."
"Martin tell them to ask Madonna, she likes taking on roles others made famous. I’m not interested and you are interrupting my lunch, Good day and good bye." Jeannette turned the
phone off and sauntered by Jon to put it back in the hall.
"Mommy, I’ve eaten half of everything can I go now?"
"Yes Chantal, you may be excused."
Chantal didn’t waste a second making her hasty retreat leaving Jon and Jeannette alone at a table for twenty minutes of deafening, awkward silence. Jon was the first to break the silence.
"You know Jeannette, I guess just showing up was not a good idea but I had to see you again."
"So where does your wife think you are?"
"I don’t have a clue, we are divorced. It’s been almost two years."
"Oh." ( There goes my refusal to be the other woman. God he’s handsome.) "What about your children?"
"They are with their mother, I’ll be seeing them soon."
"I don’t think my daughter liked the way you talked to me."
"Sorry, about that, you got defensive and I went on the attack. Why don’t you show me around the property."
"I did have plans for this afternoon Mr. Bongiovi, but I suppose I can give you a quick tour for an hour. Just let me go find a jacket."
"Yes even in pleasant weather, a sheer bra and top could be chilly."
"I wasn’t planning on going out Jon, I was actually going to do work in a rather warm area of the house." She lied.
"Oh "
"You know Mr. Bongiovi, one of the most frequent complaints about Americans is their
obtrusive know it all nature. Do any of you ever think before opening your mouths or are you all genetically predisposed to meddling?"
"I might ask you if all Brits are snobs then or is it just those Aristocrat wanna bees with country estates?"
"Wanna bees ? Thank goodness my daughter’s vocabulary is not tainted by slang. Mr. Bongiovi, if you are looking for reading material, I’d suggest the Oxford Dictionary. Enriching your vocabulary would bode well with Chantal. She has little tolerance for her intellectual inferiors."
"This is bad on so many levels, I suggest we start this again. Hi I’m Jon, I’m a singer song writer
and I can’t get you off my mind. If you give me half a chance, you will discover that I’m a pretty decent guy, a loyal friend and when my defences are up, I’m pretty snarky. I have no desire to hurt you or Chantal. I just wanted to get to know you both better. I don’t think it was mere coincidence that brought us together again. I enjoy keeping my personal life, private and I trust that you don’t want to be in the tabloids either. Countless people can attest to my integrity and humanity. I’m not a bad guy Jeannette, I’m really not. "
Jeannette knew in her heart that he was speaking the truth but she still feared that she may fall for him and that could only lead to disaster. She finished her tea and stood up.
"I’ll be down in a few minutes."
Jeannette walked into the room a minute later with her sunglasses on. She hadn’t changed her top but had applied more lip gloss.
"It is kind of warm out there, just needed my sunglasses.
"Ah, well I’m ready." Jon replied pulling his sunglasses out of his jean pocket.
Her breasts were still distracting him and her shiny lips seemed to be calling his name. She led him through the house to the kitchen door and out to the herb garden. They walked in silence until they reached the formal gardens. Jeannette sat down on a wrought iron bench and he joined her.
"So where did you study theatre?"
"I didn’t Jon, I was thinking about what you said earlier. Hi I’m Jeannette, until Friday I was an international star of the stage. I’m one of the world’s best musical singers. I’ve been on the stage since I was sixteen. I finished high school by correspondence and I never fit in when I was actually in school. I would have liked to study at Oxford but the roles just kept coming in. Rhonda, convinced me that I already had what theatre majors would kill for and I let the subject drop. I can count my real friends on one hand and they all work for me so... I don’t know. I don’t kill puppies and while I must admit I have quite the diva attitude, I don’t normally freak out on people in the service industry. My daughter means the world to me and I’m not very good at relationships."
"Jeannette, I’m not asking you to marry me. I just would really like to get to know you. I have to be on stage in Canada on July 6th. This will be a short visit, I promise."
"Fine, I guess getting to know you better wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world." she replied with a smile.
Jon smiled back at her and leaned forward leaving a soft kiss on her forehead. He smiled once more and Jeannette couldn’t stop herself from leaning in to kiss him. Jon captured her lips in his and left a long, soft and gentle kiss on her lips. He moved away first, he wanted to kiss her senseless but knew that wasn’t what they needed.
"I hear Oxford is overrated anyway." He teased.
Jeannette laughed, "So there is a break in the tour."
"Yes, the tour was suposse to be over but we added a few dates, the tour is over July 15th with two nights in Madison Square Garden."
"Would you like the rest of the tour?"
"I thought you had plans?"
"My plans were to curl up with a good book until tea time."
"What time is tea?"
"Four, you should know Chantal and I take tea time very seriously."
"Pinky fingers up and all?" Jon grinned.
"Yes, it happens automatically when you hold a fine bone china cup instead of a mug."
"I’m partial to coffee myself. In fact, I don’t think I could function without it."
"I don’t mind a good cup of coffee but give me a cuppa any day."
"Cuppa?"
"Cup of tea, I love my tea."
"Spearmint but not peppermint."
"Yes, although there are many other teas I like. Jon would you like to join us for tea? I’d invite you to spend the rest of the day but Chantal might not react well to our special time being interrupted."
"I understand and I’d love to join you for tea, thank you for the invitation."
"You are welcome, so how about we continue the tour?"
"Sure, but I’d be just as happy staying here and continuing to talk."
"Jon, I’m very good at walking and talking at the same time but if you're not...."
"I watched all seven seasons of The West Wing and I’ve perfected that skill."
"I loved that show. Wait you were on the last season."
"Yes playing myself on the Halloween episode."
Let’s go."
Jeannette and Jon made it back to the conservatory moments before four. Chantal was already sitting in her favourite chair and was surprised and disappointed to see Mr. Bongiovi was still there.
"Good bye, Mr. Bongiovi. " She said with a grin.
"Actually darling, Jon is going to stay for tea."
"I promise I’ll leave afterwards, I wouldn’t dream of infringing on your special time with your Mom."
"Fine."
Jeannette knew by the look on her daughter’s face that she wasn’t thrilled but she would be polite and answer any questions Jon may ask her. He had decided to not press her or overwhelm her with questions, even though he wanted to know about her. Betty came in with the tea cart which had a three tier silver plate of tea sandwiches, scones and petite fours. A large silver dish was filled with clotted cream and two large silver tea pots held perfectly boiled water.
"Jon, if you’d prefer coffee...."
"Oh no, tea is fine with me. What kind is it?"
"Whatever kind you’d like."
She pulled a large mahogany box off the bottom of the tea cart, opened it and presented it to Jon. Jon counted quickly and there were twenty types of loose leave tea in the box. He was overwhelmed by the selection.
"Umm what is the kind they put in tea bags?" He asked.
"All teas can be put in a bag but it tastes much better loose. I suppose you are referring to the generic kind most Americans think is tea? That’s orange pekoe and we never drink it." Chantal answered as though any idiot knew that.
Jeannette smiled softly, "Jon, what kind of coffee do you drink when you have a choice and aren’t just after the caffeine?"
"A good full bodied dark roast but I’ve also never met a chocolate coffee I didn’t like."
"That’s my favourite coffee. Chantal likes apple spice and Earl Grey tea the best. The selection I
offer you are all favourites of mine. I’m in the mood for lemon Darjeeling today. I suggest you try the plain Darjeeling."
"I’ll defer to your judgement."
She removed the three tins they had selected from the box, grabbed three silver tea strainers and then placed a cup and saucer of tea in front of him. Chantal gave him a plate, napkin and butter knife. Jeannette placed a generous pinch of loose leaf tea in Jon’s strainer and poured ¾ a cup of boiling water over it. She fixed Chantal’s tea then her own before telling him what type of sandwiches they had and serving him a few. When the tea was sufficiently brewed she dropped a tiny bit of milk into her tea and offered it to Jon. He accepted the milk and tried the tea before deciding on sugar.
"I think a teaspoon of sugar would be good."
"It is called a lump." Chantal corrected and pointed out the silver bowl of cubed sugar and tiny silver tongs.
"One lump then please." Jon replied and smiled at Chantal.
He noticed that she put two lumps in her cup and Jeannette didn’t add any. Jon tasted his tea again and found it to his liking. Jeannette offered him a taste of her tea and while he didn’t mind it, he thought it needed sugar.
"Have you started school yet Chantal?"
"No, because of my birthday, I have to wait until September."
"When is your birthday?"
"January fourth."
"Oh my oldest son’s birthday is in February."
"What’s his name?"
"Jesse James."
"Oh."
"Chantal I was joking around earlier when I said I could arrange for your Mother’s death. It wasn't' a very good joke and I’m sorry if I scared you. I have four children and I really like kids."
"Do you have any daughters?"
"Yes, my eldest is Stephanie, she’s 15. Jesse is 13, Jacob is 6 and Romeo is 4."
"Romeo? He’s not going to like you when he gets older."
Jeannette couldn’t help laughing and Jon joined in.
"Mommy says you are a singer like her but you don’t act."
"Actually I do act, I really enjoy it but I don’t get much time to do it. I make records and then go on tour to promote them. I sing Rock and Roll songs not musical theatre songs."
"Mommy has won many awards, I bet she is a better singer than you."
"Chantal! That is not very nice."
"I haven’t heard your Mother sing so I couldn’t comment on that."
"Sing something Mommy."
"Chantal, now is not the time or the place."
"Please Jeannette." Jon asked with a grin.
She had half a mind to pick one of his songs and murder it but her pride wouldn’t allow her to. She thought for a few seconds and started singing Nessun Dorma. Jon’s jaw dropped as her beautiful voice filled the room and left him speechless.
"Wow, your Mom just kicked my butt." Jon said to Chantal.
"I told you, Mommy sing your love song. Mommy sings me this really pretty song every night before I go to sleep when she’s home."
"Actually Sweetie, Jon wrote that song."
"Really?"
"Mother knows best." Jon replied wondering what song it could be. "Start it Jeannette and I’ll join you."
She gave her daughter a look that was ignored and meet by a wide grin and a large smirk had formed on Jon’s mouth. She took a deep breath and started singing
It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
Jon couldn’t get over how amazing the song sounded and almost didn’t want to ruin it by joining in but a promise was a promise so he joined her
I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
When I couldn't fly
Oh, you gave me wings
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Jon and Jeanette were smiling and staring into each others eyes and about to kiss when Chantal started clapping.
"Wow, that was great. You sound really good together, my tea is getting cold though."
They both laughed and went back to the tea. Jeannette thinking that if she wasn’t careful she’d loose her heart and Jon wondering how he could get her to sing many more duets with him.
"Do you like M & M’s?" Chantal asked.
"I love them but I don’t think there should be blue ones."
"Me too, green is my favourite colour."
"That is my favourite too."
The questions continued until there was no more tea or food left. Jeannette didn’t have to say very much. She sat back and sipped her tea watching. She was happy to see Chantal slowly open up to him and when Jon said he should get going Chantal asked if she would see him again.
"That is up to your Mom, but I’d love to see you both again."
"You don’t have to go home?"
"Not for a little while."
"Jon, why don’t you come over for lunch tomorrow and if it is OK with Chantal you can stay for tea again."
"Chantal?" Jon asked.
"Fine, I can show you my room if you’d like."
"I’m looking forward to seeing it. Good bye."
"Bye Mr. Bongiovi...Jon."
"I’ll walk you to your car Jon. I’ll be back in a few minutes Sweetie."
"Kay, I’m going up to your room."
They walked out to the car without a word. Jon opened the door, sat down , fastened his seat belt and turned to look at Jeannette. "Thank you so much for today, it was very kind of you to be so gracious considering how I acted yesterday."
"You are welcome, I had fun today. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow Jeannette."
"You can call me Jen, Jon."
"Sweet dreams, Jen, give that adorable girl a hug for me."
"I will, drive safely."
Jon couldn’t have contained the huge grin on his face as he drove away. He turned on the radio and sang along with it, all the way back to the Inn. He had a few days to convince Jen that she wanted to see him again.
"Miss Pierce, I didn't realize you were having company."
"I'm not Betty, Mr. Bongiovi was leaving immediately." She said with a frosty glare.
"Miss Pierce was kidding, I'll take any room, what ever is easiest to fix."
"Over my dead body."
"That can be arranged." Jon joked with a grin.
"Leave my Mommy alone!" Chantal yelled wrapping her arms around Jeannette's waist.
"Chantal, Mr. Bongiovi was just kidding." She said to soothe her daughter and shot Jon a deadly glare.
"This week was suppose to be just for us Mommy, I don't want him here."
"Come on Sweetie, let's clean up for tea and Betty can suggest an Inn for Mr. Bongiovi."
"An Inn? This place has how many rooms?" Jon asked incredulously.
"I will not allow you to upset my daughter Mr. Bongiovi."
"I'd never do anything to upset her."
"This is my house and I can decided who stays in it and who can visit for that matter. I will have
you barred from the property, if you do not leave now. You can come over for lunch tomorrow at noon if you wish."
"Geez thanks ever so for your kind hospitality."
"Keep it up and I'll have you arrested for trespassing. Good day Mr. Bongiovi." Jeannette left
the hallway to go find her daughter.
"I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow Betty, good day."
"Good day Sir, do you know where the Inn is?"
"I noticed a few in town on the way up here, thank you." Jon muttered to himself as he returned
to his car and set out to find somewhere to stay.
Jon pulled up to Amberley Manour at eleven thirty the next day and rang the doorbell. Betty answered it and looked surprised to see him.
"Mr. Bongiovi, you are early. Miss Pierce and her daughter are still in dance class, they won’t be down until about 12:30. You can wait in the study if you’ll follow me." Betty lead Jon down a long corridor to the formal study and told him to help himself to the bar. She preceded immediately to the dance studio to let her Mistress know her guest had arrived.
Jeannette had no intention of ending her dance practice early and decided to teach Chantal five new steps. While Chantal worked on the new series of movements Jeannette recreated an ambitious dance routine that left her gasping for breath and perspiring profusely. Jeannette downed a bottle of water and repeated the five minute dance number three more times in succession until every step was perfect.
Jon opened a drawer in the study and found a playbill from Damn Yankees. The first thing he noticed was the billing on the front cover, Jeannette Pierce in Damn Yankees. He thought back and tried to remember if he had ever seen an actor take top billing over a play’s title and be in a slightly larger font. Every playbill cover he could remember in his mind had the Play as the most predominate feature. He started flipping through it and found three pages devoted to Jeannette. There was a glossy black and white picture of Jeannette in a plunging black velvet dress with this amazing come hither look that raised his body’s core temperature by several degrees. He started to read the write up and was amazed at how many roles she had played.
JEANNETTE PIERCE
Lola
Jeannette Pierce created the role of Eponine in the original London and Broadway productions of Les Miserables, earning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress as well as The Tony and Drama Desk Award. Miss Pierce has also won numerous awards for her roles in The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Jekyll and Hyde, Evita, South Pacific, The King and I, Phantom of The Opera, Kiss me Kate and Grease. Before bringing her Lola to the West End Jeannette stared the in revival of Damn Yankees on Broadway wining her 8th Tony award.
Jeannette has won critical acclaim for her performances in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Little Moon of Alban, Arsenic and Old Lace, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, School for Wives, Romeo and Juliet, The Philadelphia Story and Indiscretions. A Fellow of the Royal Shakespeare Company Miss Pierce spent last summer directing the Company’s production of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Jeannette has turned down several movie roles preferring the stage and spending time with her daughter. Her vocal talents have most recently been heard on Pavorotti and Friends as well as the cast albums of Kiss Me Kate and Damn Yankees. Miss Pierce has recently sung duets with Elton John, Garth Brooks, Sting and Harry Connick Jr.
The last page featured candid shots of Jeannette during the production of Damn Yankees. Jon stared at the list of credits and wondered how old Jeannette was and how she could have possibly played so many roles. Betty came in and Jon stopped her.
"How long has Jeannette been on the stage Betty?"
"I think she started at age 16 and she won the Olivier award for Eponine three days after her
seventeenth birthday. Can I get you anything to eat Mr. Bongiovi?"
"No thanks Betty, I think I can make it till lunch."
"Mommy can we stop now, I’m getting tired and hungry. "
"Sure Sweetie, you did a great job today. I’m proud of you, your form has improved so much."
"Thanks Mom you still take my breath away when you dance you’re so good."
"Thank you dear, go take a fast shower, change and we are having lunch in the dinning room."
"Oh yeah, Mr. Bongiovi is here, do I have to be nice to him?"
"No, but you must be polite."
"Why? He wasn’t very polite to you."
"Chantal, we are better than that and thus will act accordingly."
"Yes Mommy." Chantal dashed out of the dance studio and up to her room.
Jeannette glanced at her watch and was pleased to see it was 12:20. By the time she was ready it would be one and she would have made Jon wait for an hour. She hoped he would actually get fed up and leave, although she sensed he was as stubborn as she.
She hadn’t really noticed until she was brushing her hair but Jeannette had gone for a very sexy look for lunch. She’d dug out a sheer burgundy bra and matching panties, a pair of tight black jeans and a sheer burgundy top that she tied at her waist exposing her flat stomach. She slid her feet in to black mules, headed downstairs and straight in to the dinning hall. Chantal was already sitting at her spot to her Mother’s right and Jeannette laughed when she noticed the place for Jon had been set at the other end of the table for twenty.
"Betty as much as I like where Mr. Bongiovi’s place has been set, could you move it to mid table then bring him in."
"Yes Miss Pierce."
"Momma what do I call him?"
"Whatever you wish my dear."
"Interloper?"
Jeannette started laughing and gave her daughter a wink of approval. "It certainly fits, but let
that be our pet name for him."
"Fine I’ll call him Mr. Bongiovi."
The door opened and Betty escorted Jon to his place at the dinner table. Jon sat down and smiled at the little girl who seemed to be studying him and didn’t reciprocate his smile. Despite his best efforts Jon, couldn’t help gazing at Jeannette who looked so good Jon wished she was lunch. He thanked Betty for bringing his drink to him and set about to change the silence in the room.
"So Chantal what are you doing this afternoon?"
"After lunch, Betty was going to help me work on my special project for Mommy until Tea Time.
After tea Mommy and I always spend time together until dinner."
"Sounds like a full day. Do you think I could help you instead of Betty?"
"No thank you Mr. Bongiovi. Mommy pass me the salad dressing please."
Jeannette passed her daughter the home-made dressing before speaking to Jon. "The countryside is really quite pretty Mr. Bongiovi, you might want to take a drive this afternoon."
"I did not come out here Jeannette to see just the English Countryside, I came to see you."
"Well Mr. Bongiovi, sometimes when you invite yourself somewhere you unfortunately find out you are not welcomed. I wished you well didn’t I?
"Mommy you aren’t going to force me to spend time with him are you? This was suppose to be our week and now he wants to horn in on it. Mr. Bongiovi go home I don’t want you here!"
"Jeannette are you going to let her speak to me like that?" Jon asked.
"Mr. Bongiovi, I am not going to force my daughter to do something she does not want to do. She is not being rude, as she is only expressing her feelings. So to answer your question, yes, I will allow her to speak to you in that manner. If you don’t like it, you are free to leave."
"Mommy, I've lost my appetite may I be excused?"
"Chantal, you’ve barely touched your lunch. Just because Mr. Bongiovi is here, does not mean
meal time rules can be ignored. If you want to be excused you know what you must do."
Chantal sighed and started to eat her chicken so she could leave. She thought Mr. Bongiovi was good looking but she didn’t like how he spoke to her Mother so she decided to be as indifferent to him as possible, hoping he’d take the hint and leave her alone. Jon and Jeannette were silently glaring at each other until Betty interrupted them.
"I’m sorry Miss Pierce, but you have a phone call from across the pond. Will you take it in the study?"
"No Betty, I’ll take it in here if you could bring me the portable. I always find it easier to turn down job offers when Chantal is in the room, to remind me why I’m taking a break." She said to Jon.
Betty brought her the phone and she turned it on. Jon couldn’t help watch as Jeannette walked around the room bringing visions of how they met right back into his mind. Their eyes met, Jeannette shot him an icy glare but her body betrayed her as Jon noticed with interest that his attention cause her nipples to harden.
"Hello."
"Jeannette darling, how serious were you about taking a breather?"
"Deadly serious Martin, so the answer is no."
"But Jeannette they want only you, Universal wants to bank role a remake of Damn Yankees
the movie."
"Martin tell them to ask Madonna, she likes taking on roles others made famous. I’m not interested and you are interrupting my lunch, Good day and good bye." Jeannette turned the
phone off and sauntered by Jon to put it back in the hall.
"Mommy, I’ve eaten half of everything can I go now?"
"Yes Chantal, you may be excused."
Chantal didn’t waste a second making her hasty retreat leaving Jon and Jeannette alone at a table for twenty minutes of deafening, awkward silence. Jon was the first to break the silence.
"You know Jeannette, I guess just showing up was not a good idea but I had to see you again."
"So where does your wife think you are?"
"I don’t have a clue, we are divorced. It’s been almost two years."
"Oh." ( There goes my refusal to be the other woman. God he’s handsome.) "What about your children?"
"They are with their mother, I’ll be seeing them soon."
"I don’t think my daughter liked the way you talked to me."
"Sorry, about that, you got defensive and I went on the attack. Why don’t you show me around the property."
"I did have plans for this afternoon Mr. Bongiovi, but I suppose I can give you a quick tour for an hour. Just let me go find a jacket."
"Yes even in pleasant weather, a sheer bra and top could be chilly."
"I wasn’t planning on going out Jon, I was actually going to do work in a rather warm area of the house." She lied.
"Oh "
"You know Mr. Bongiovi, one of the most frequent complaints about Americans is their
obtrusive know it all nature. Do any of you ever think before opening your mouths or are you all genetically predisposed to meddling?"
"I might ask you if all Brits are snobs then or is it just those Aristocrat wanna bees with country estates?"
"Wanna bees ? Thank goodness my daughter’s vocabulary is not tainted by slang. Mr. Bongiovi, if you are looking for reading material, I’d suggest the Oxford Dictionary. Enriching your vocabulary would bode well with Chantal. She has little tolerance for her intellectual inferiors."
"This is bad on so many levels, I suggest we start this again. Hi I’m Jon, I’m a singer song writer
and I can’t get you off my mind. If you give me half a chance, you will discover that I’m a pretty decent guy, a loyal friend and when my defences are up, I’m pretty snarky. I have no desire to hurt you or Chantal. I just wanted to get to know you both better. I don’t think it was mere coincidence that brought us together again. I enjoy keeping my personal life, private and I trust that you don’t want to be in the tabloids either. Countless people can attest to my integrity and humanity. I’m not a bad guy Jeannette, I’m really not. "
Jeannette knew in her heart that he was speaking the truth but she still feared that she may fall for him and that could only lead to disaster. She finished her tea and stood up.
"I’ll be down in a few minutes."
Jeannette walked into the room a minute later with her sunglasses on. She hadn’t changed her top but had applied more lip gloss.
"It is kind of warm out there, just needed my sunglasses.
"Ah, well I’m ready." Jon replied pulling his sunglasses out of his jean pocket.
Her breasts were still distracting him and her shiny lips seemed to be calling his name. She led him through the house to the kitchen door and out to the herb garden. They walked in silence until they reached the formal gardens. Jeannette sat down on a wrought iron bench and he joined her.
"So where did you study theatre?"
"I didn’t Jon, I was thinking about what you said earlier. Hi I’m Jeannette, until Friday I was an international star of the stage. I’m one of the world’s best musical singers. I’ve been on the stage since I was sixteen. I finished high school by correspondence and I never fit in when I was actually in school. I would have liked to study at Oxford but the roles just kept coming in. Rhonda, convinced me that I already had what theatre majors would kill for and I let the subject drop. I can count my real friends on one hand and they all work for me so... I don’t know. I don’t kill puppies and while I must admit I have quite the diva attitude, I don’t normally freak out on people in the service industry. My daughter means the world to me and I’m not very good at relationships."
"Jeannette, I’m not asking you to marry me. I just would really like to get to know you. I have to be on stage in Canada on July 6th. This will be a short visit, I promise."
"Fine, I guess getting to know you better wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world." she replied with a smile.
Jon smiled back at her and leaned forward leaving a soft kiss on her forehead. He smiled once more and Jeannette couldn’t stop herself from leaning in to kiss him. Jon captured her lips in his and left a long, soft and gentle kiss on her lips. He moved away first, he wanted to kiss her senseless but knew that wasn’t what they needed.
"I hear Oxford is overrated anyway." He teased.
Jeannette laughed, "So there is a break in the tour."
"Yes, the tour was suposse to be over but we added a few dates, the tour is over July 15th with two nights in Madison Square Garden."
"Would you like the rest of the tour?"
"I thought you had plans?"
"My plans were to curl up with a good book until tea time."
"What time is tea?"
"Four, you should know Chantal and I take tea time very seriously."
"Pinky fingers up and all?" Jon grinned.
"Yes, it happens automatically when you hold a fine bone china cup instead of a mug."
"I’m partial to coffee myself. In fact, I don’t think I could function without it."
"I don’t mind a good cup of coffee but give me a cuppa any day."
"Cuppa?"
"Cup of tea, I love my tea."
"Spearmint but not peppermint."
"Yes, although there are many other teas I like. Jon would you like to join us for tea? I’d invite you to spend the rest of the day but Chantal might not react well to our special time being interrupted."
"I understand and I’d love to join you for tea, thank you for the invitation."
"You are welcome, so how about we continue the tour?"
"Sure, but I’d be just as happy staying here and continuing to talk."
"Jon, I’m very good at walking and talking at the same time but if you're not...."
"I watched all seven seasons of The West Wing and I’ve perfected that skill."
"I loved that show. Wait you were on the last season."
"Yes playing myself on the Halloween episode."
Let’s go."
Jeannette and Jon made it back to the conservatory moments before four. Chantal was already sitting in her favourite chair and was surprised and disappointed to see Mr. Bongiovi was still there.
"Good bye, Mr. Bongiovi. " She said with a grin.
"Actually darling, Jon is going to stay for tea."
"I promise I’ll leave afterwards, I wouldn’t dream of infringing on your special time with your Mom."
"Fine."
Jeannette knew by the look on her daughter’s face that she wasn’t thrilled but she would be polite and answer any questions Jon may ask her. He had decided to not press her or overwhelm her with questions, even though he wanted to know about her. Betty came in with the tea cart which had a three tier silver plate of tea sandwiches, scones and petite fours. A large silver dish was filled with clotted cream and two large silver tea pots held perfectly boiled water.
"Jon, if you’d prefer coffee...."
"Oh no, tea is fine with me. What kind is it?"
"Whatever kind you’d like."
She pulled a large mahogany box off the bottom of the tea cart, opened it and presented it to Jon. Jon counted quickly and there were twenty types of loose leave tea in the box. He was overwhelmed by the selection.
"Umm what is the kind they put in tea bags?" He asked.
"All teas can be put in a bag but it tastes much better loose. I suppose you are referring to the generic kind most Americans think is tea? That’s orange pekoe and we never drink it." Chantal answered as though any idiot knew that.
Jeannette smiled softly, "Jon, what kind of coffee do you drink when you have a choice and aren’t just after the caffeine?"
"A good full bodied dark roast but I’ve also never met a chocolate coffee I didn’t like."
"That’s my favourite coffee. Chantal likes apple spice and Earl Grey tea the best. The selection I
offer you are all favourites of mine. I’m in the mood for lemon Darjeeling today. I suggest you try the plain Darjeeling."
"I’ll defer to your judgement."
She removed the three tins they had selected from the box, grabbed three silver tea strainers and then placed a cup and saucer of tea in front of him. Chantal gave him a plate, napkin and butter knife. Jeannette placed a generous pinch of loose leaf tea in Jon’s strainer and poured ¾ a cup of boiling water over it. She fixed Chantal’s tea then her own before telling him what type of sandwiches they had and serving him a few. When the tea was sufficiently brewed she dropped a tiny bit of milk into her tea and offered it to Jon. He accepted the milk and tried the tea before deciding on sugar.
"I think a teaspoon of sugar would be good."
"It is called a lump." Chantal corrected and pointed out the silver bowl of cubed sugar and tiny silver tongs.
"One lump then please." Jon replied and smiled at Chantal.
He noticed that she put two lumps in her cup and Jeannette didn’t add any. Jon tasted his tea again and found it to his liking. Jeannette offered him a taste of her tea and while he didn’t mind it, he thought it needed sugar.
"Have you started school yet Chantal?"
"No, because of my birthday, I have to wait until September."
"When is your birthday?"
"January fourth."
"Oh my oldest son’s birthday is in February."
"What’s his name?"
"Jesse James."
"Oh."
"Chantal I was joking around earlier when I said I could arrange for your Mother’s death. It wasn't' a very good joke and I’m sorry if I scared you. I have four children and I really like kids."
"Do you have any daughters?"
"Yes, my eldest is Stephanie, she’s 15. Jesse is 13, Jacob is 6 and Romeo is 4."
"Romeo? He’s not going to like you when he gets older."
Jeannette couldn’t help laughing and Jon joined in.
"Mommy says you are a singer like her but you don’t act."
"Actually I do act, I really enjoy it but I don’t get much time to do it. I make records and then go on tour to promote them. I sing Rock and Roll songs not musical theatre songs."
"Mommy has won many awards, I bet she is a better singer than you."
"Chantal! That is not very nice."
"I haven’t heard your Mother sing so I couldn’t comment on that."
"Sing something Mommy."
"Chantal, now is not the time or the place."
"Please Jeannette." Jon asked with a grin.
She had half a mind to pick one of his songs and murder it but her pride wouldn’t allow her to. She thought for a few seconds and started singing Nessun Dorma. Jon’s jaw dropped as her beautiful voice filled the room and left him speechless.
"Wow, your Mom just kicked my butt." Jon said to Chantal.
"I told you, Mommy sing your love song. Mommy sings me this really pretty song every night before I go to sleep when she’s home."
"Actually Sweetie, Jon wrote that song."
"Really?"
"Mother knows best." Jon replied wondering what song it could be. "Start it Jeannette and I’ll join you."
She gave her daughter a look that was ignored and meet by a wide grin and a large smirk had formed on Jon’s mouth. She took a deep breath and started singing
It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
Jon couldn’t get over how amazing the song sounded and almost didn’t want to ruin it by joining in but a promise was a promise so he joined her
I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words when I
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
When I couldn't fly
Oh, you gave me wings
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Jon and Jeanette were smiling and staring into each others eyes and about to kiss when Chantal started clapping.
"Wow, that was great. You sound really good together, my tea is getting cold though."
They both laughed and went back to the tea. Jeannette thinking that if she wasn’t careful she’d loose her heart and Jon wondering how he could get her to sing many more duets with him.
"Do you like M & M’s?" Chantal asked.
"I love them but I don’t think there should be blue ones."
"Me too, green is my favourite colour."
"That is my favourite too."
The questions continued until there was no more tea or food left. Jeannette didn’t have to say very much. She sat back and sipped her tea watching. She was happy to see Chantal slowly open up to him and when Jon said he should get going Chantal asked if she would see him again.
"That is up to your Mom, but I’d love to see you both again."
"You don’t have to go home?"
"Not for a little while."
"Jon, why don’t you come over for lunch tomorrow and if it is OK with Chantal you can stay for tea again."
"Chantal?" Jon asked.
"Fine, I can show you my room if you’d like."
"I’m looking forward to seeing it. Good bye."
"Bye Mr. Bongiovi...Jon."
"I’ll walk you to your car Jon. I’ll be back in a few minutes Sweetie."
"Kay, I’m going up to your room."
They walked out to the car without a word. Jon opened the door, sat down , fastened his seat belt and turned to look at Jeannette. "Thank you so much for today, it was very kind of you to be so gracious considering how I acted yesterday."
"You are welcome, I had fun today. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow Jeannette."
"You can call me Jen, Jon."
"Sweet dreams, Jen, give that adorable girl a hug for me."
"I will, drive safely."
Jon couldn’t have contained the huge grin on his face as he drove away. He turned on the radio and sang along with it, all the way back to the Inn. He had a few days to convince Jen that she wanted to see him again.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Just One Kiss Chapter 2
"You know other than your hair being a bit darker you are still the stunning vision I met in that bar." Jon said trying to ease the tension as he led her to his car.
"Umm, so where is this car?"
"Right over here." Jon led her over to the waiting limo.
Jeannette got in the car and proceeded to pour herself a glass of water, took two aspirins and closed her eyes. Jon wanted to talk to her but decided to give her some silence. He watched her instead, which was a mistake because he found that uncontrollable lust he felt for her five years ago was back and stronger than ever. The limo pulled up at the back entrance and Jon tapped her on the shoulder. He watched in amusement as everyone at the hotel jumped to attention when they saw her and gave her the royal treatment.
"They know you I take it?"
"I'm very well known and adored in London, Mr. Bon Jovi. Hell, I'm well loved all around the world."
"I see."
"I don't suppose you have anything to eat in your room?"
"No but I could order you something. What would you like?"
"All you have to say is Miss Pierce would like her usual."
"Jeannette would you please call me Jon. Mr. Bongiovi is my father."
"Kay."
Jon opened the door to his suite and watched her slink in before him. Her dress was a stretch
black lace and seemed to be painted on her body. He wondered if she was still in the habit of not wearing underwear or if that was an island thing. The dress dipped very low in the back and he remembered the silky smoothness as if it were yesterday. One kiss with her, remained with him all these years and he often wondered what became of his mystery girl and who she was. He heard the phone being dropped back on the receiver and looked up.
"I ordered my own food." She kicked her heels off and sat down on the edge of the couch.
She took her first good look at him all night and tried to ignore the rush of adrenaline that invaded her entire body. Time had only improved Jon in her mind. His body was now as chiselled as his face and she found the tiny little lines around his eyes gave him a more distinguished look. His hair was shorter and a little bit darker but that was about all that changed. His eyes still drew her in and she looked away before she got lost in them once more.
"So Jeannette, tell me about Chantal."
"Chantal means the world to me Jon. She has an incredible imagination and a great capacity to love. She likes to think she takes care of me and she tries so hard when she has me to herself on Sundays. She's got a stubborn streak in her and she knows how to manipulate Mandy and I already. She..."
"Who is Mandy?"
"My dear friend and Chantal's Nanny. I spend most of my nights in one theatre or another so
Mandy looks after her for me."
"That must be hard."
"Yes it is. It’s one of the reasons I’m taking a break from performing. It’s bizarre, I listen to your music but I never looked at you. It wasn’t until you were in front of me that, I made the connection."
There was a knock at the door and Jeannette looked at Jon and curled up on the couch. "That should be my dinner, kindly get the door."
Jon got up and watched as a large room service cart was wheeled in and left in front of a lounging
Jeannette.
"Miss Pierce, I'm afraid we were all out of Vidala onions."
Every last ounce of patience she had was lost, normally she wouldn’t care but right now no Vidala onions was the straw that broke the camel’s back. "What? Oh this just won't do. There must be a market opened somewhere."
"We tried Miss Pierce, but none of the local markets carried any. We import them weekly and our shipment was delayed."
"If there are Spanish onions in this take it back."
"No Miss Pierce, there are no onions in it. We know you hate Spanish onions and the red onions were not sweet enough so George simply omitted them and included extra mushrooms."
"I'm not happy but I am starving so I will eat it." She took a sip of her tea and spit it back out.
"This is peppermint tea, I only drink spearmint tea. Rectify this situation at once!" she
demanded.
"I'm so sorry Miss Pierce, I'll just take that away and bring the proper tea."
"I want a fresh pot up here in five minutes or heads will roll. Now go!" she snapped.
Jon grimaced at the waiter and opened the door for him. "Jeannette you didn't need to snap at him."
"You know the point of having a usual is that it is made the same way each time and you don't have to deal with surprises. Then again, nothing has gone right tonight so why should my dinner be any different?" She lifted the silver dome and placed it beside her on the couch. She started picking at her egg white omelette.
"That looks pretty good to me."
"It's OK, it's much better with the right onions. Would you like a taste?"
"Sure, thanks."
Jon moved the silver dome and sat down beside her on the couch. He picked up the fork and cut off a sizeable piece and put it in his mouth. He placed the fork down and looked up at Jeannette.
Her lips were mere inches away and once again logic went out the window in one fell swoop. He leaned over, bracing her neck with his hand and kissed her hard. His hands moved to her neck and down her shoulders pushing the thin straps of her dress off her shoulder. Jeannette wrapped her arms around his neck and let the kiss intensify. The past, the fact that she didn't know Jon, meant nothing as his tongue found hers and a hungry tango began. Jon lowered her to the couch and pulled the clingy lace dress down her body getting the answer to his earlier question. He closed his mouth over a hardened nipple and began sucking on it as his fingers traced the edge of her sheer and velvet floral French cut panties. She moaned as his tongue made a circle around her belly button and his fingers started to move inside her. Her back arched wildly and Jon picked her up and carried her over to the bed, quickly shedding his tux before joining her. They didn't even noticed the persistent knocking on the door.
Jeannette woke up and found herself once more wrapped in Egyptian cotton sheets this time beside a rock star. She carefully left the bed and went into the living room to retrieve her dress. She wiggled her way back into it and picked up her purse and panties. She left a note on the table for Jon and left before he woke up. Jon shifted in his sleep and went to pull her closer to him. When his hands meet he woke up and called out to her. When he didn't get an answer he hopped out of bed and noticed the note sitting on the bedside table.
"So this is how that guy felt." Jon sighed and looked at the note.
Jon, thank you for dinner and last night. You were wonderful.
Jeannette.
Jon picked up the phone and dialled Obie, waking him up from a peaceful sleep.
"Hello?"
"Obie, it’s me. Do you know who Jeannette Pierce is?"
"The musical star?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, I’ve seen her perform a few times. She’s got a voice on her that..."
"I need you to find out where she lives for me. Can you do it in about fifteen minutes?"
"I’ll try my best."
"Good, I’ll get dressed and knock on your door."
"I thought you were going away to the estate alone Mommy."
"I changed my mind Sweetie, I thought it would be fun for just the two of us to go."
"Mandy isn't coming?"
"No Mandy is staying here. Go pack what you want to bring."
"Yes Mommy, right away Mommy." Chantal ran upstairs to start packing.
"Mandy could you go help her please?"
"Sure after we talk. Chantal said she met a guy that sort of looked like her last night. Then Rhonda was going on and on about the scandal that would rock us when the press found out about your affair."
"Oh brother."
"So are you actually coming back in a weeks time or should I bone up on reading cryptic messages."
"Last night, I ran into the man I shared a very passionate kiss with in Fiji. He kissed me and got spooked and left. Twenty minutes later, I met the guy who fathered Chantal. Rhonda thinks the first guy is her father, but he isn’t."
"Oh, so who is the first guy?"
"Jon Bon Jovi."
"What! You made out with Jon Bon Jovi in Fiji?"
"We kissed once."
"He was married then!"
"That must have been why he bolted, he remembered her."
"Chantal doesn’t look..."
"Yeah she does. I’d make the assumption everyone else is, if I hadn’t been there to know the truth."
"So you spent the night with him. What did you talk about? What’s he like?’
"I don't really know, we didn't say much to each other last night."
"Jeannette you spend all night with the man and you ..........Jeannette!"
"Mandy, I don't know what it is, but when I get near that man all I want to do is rip off his clothes and make wild passionate love to him. The feeling seems to be mutual."
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Keep me away from Jon Bongiovi for starters."
"So was the sex...."
"Mandy!"
"Spill or I’m going to tell Rhonda you are back."
"Incredibly hot. Are you happy?"
"For the moment, I'll go help our little rugrat."
Jeannette picked up the phone and dialled her country estate.
"Amberley Manour may I help you?"
"Hello Betty, it's Miss Pierce. There will be a slight change in my plans. Chantal will be joining me if you could prepare her room."
"It will be my pleasure Miss Pierce, Miss Chantal just brings sunshine into this house. You'll be needing someone to stay with her Wednesday night then. Or is Miss Rada joining you?"
"I forgot all about that party, yes I'll need someone to stay with her."
"I'll arrange it. Are you motoring up or flying?"
"Chopper actually, I should be there in time for lunch."
"I'll see you then Miss Pierce, good day."
"Thank you Betty, see you soon."
Jeannette went up to pack a few last minute items and grabbed her seldom used notebook computer. She wanted to find out everything she could about Jon Bongiovi.
"Mummy will we arrive in time for tea?"
"Yes dear, you know I never miss tea when I'm free."
"Do you hafta go back to the theatre on Monday?'
"No Mommy is taking a break from performing."
"So you'll be around during the night ?"
"Yes I will be."
"Cool. That man yesterday was he...."
"No, Chantal he is not your father. His name is Jon Bongiovi and he is an American rock star."
"Oh. I'm all packed and ready to go. Miss Mandy is bringing down my luggage."
"Why don't you go make sure you haven't forgotten anything and then get in the car. I'll be out shortly."
"Yes Mummy."
"Excuse me Miss Pierce, will you be back on Monday?" her housekeeper asked.
"No Molly, I'll be gone for the week and possibly a week and a half."
"Would you mind If I went to visit my sister in Chester?"
"Be my guest, if I return early I'm sure I can muddle through until you return."
"Yes, you'll just pack up and check in to the Ritz Carlton."
"You know me so well Molly."
"Yes I do Miss Pierce. Have a nice country vacation."
"Thank you, enjoy your visit with your sister."
Jeannette grabbed her weekend bag, purse and laptop and went out to her BMW. She said good
bye to Mandy, made sure Chantal's belt was fastened properly and started the car. It was a short ride to the helicopter pad where Jeannette's pilot was waiting for her. The helicopter landed forty minutes later at the landing behind Amberley Manor.
The entire household staff was waiting at the back entrance for their Mistress' arrival. Jeannette
employed three maids, a Butler, chauffeur, a kitchen staff of three and Betty to oversee them all. Jeannette purchased Amberley Manor for two million pounds eight years ago and spent every moment she could at the Eighteenth Century Sussex Estate. The twenty bedroom Manor sat on ten acres of rolling hills complete with four gardens, a stable and it's own lake. She had converted the two coach houses into staff quarters and given Betty and her family the small cottage on the property. Chantal ran into Betty's arms as soon as she saw her and was rewarded with a toffee.
"Betty, little Miss Moffat will ruin her lunch. She's already finished off a bag of Chocolate toffees."
"Yes Miss Pierce, I've made her favourite cheese toastie and barley soup for you."
"Thank you Betty, I was thinking tea in the Conservatory would be ideal."
"I'll have it ready for you at four then. Thomas! Miss Pierce's bags will not walk themselves up
to her suite."
"Right away Mrs. Hampton."
"Mommy, can I help Mr. Ford in the garden?"
"After you eat your lunch you may help him."
"Can I eat now then?"
"No you will eat lunch at noon with me. Run along to your room and help Susan unpack your
clothes."
"But I wanna...."
"Chantal!"
"Yes Mommy, I'll go unpack now."
"Miss Pierce, would you like me to draw you a hot bath?"
"That would be wonderful Betty. The last twenty four hours have been insane."
"Shall I pour you a snifter of Brandy?"
"No but a cuppa would be lovely."
"Your bath will be ready in ten minutes."
Betty left to make sure the household was working and went upstairs to draw her Mistress bath.
Jeannette went up the side stairs and looked in on her daughter who was bouncing on her bed. She cleared her throat and gave Chantal a pointed look and continued down to hall way to her room. Jeannette's room was actually an entire suite of rooms. The large master bedroom lead to a floral sitting room, a office/ library and a private dinning room. She could hear Betty preparing her bath and she unpacked her silk robe and left her clothes on the bed as she wrapped the luxurious material around her. One of the junior maids brought up a steaming cup of tea and left it beside the tub. Jeannette lit a few Gardenia scented candles and sunk into the tub to relax.
"Thanks Obie. I owe you one." Jon said wondering exactly how he was going to explain to the guys that he wasn’t getting on the band’s plane to go back to the states in a few hours.
"Jon, she has friends in very high places, tread very lightly or you will find yourself deported and
the press will eat you alive, before you can blink."
"I’ll be careful Obie. I promise I’ll be in Sarnia on July 6th."
"Now how do I get to East Sussex and Amberley Manor?"
"I have no idea."
"Think you could tell the guys something came up while I make a fast getaway. Rich will try to talk me out of this and call me crazy but I just have to see her again."
"You are crazy you loon. Get, I’ll sacrifice my life for you."
Jon gave Obie a wicked grin, grabbed his suitcase and went down to talk to the concierge.
After an hour long soak Jeannette didn't feel like going downstairs to eat so she padded into her private dinning room where Chantal was waiting for her.
"Mommy you aren't even dressed."
"I'm aware that I am still in my robe Chantal. When you go out to help Mr. Ford I think I will take a nap."
"You didn't sleep very well did you?"
"No Sweetie, I only got an hour or two of sleep."
"That’s no good Mommy, you need your rest or you'll be getting sick again."
"Yes Mom." she said with a grin.
"I mean it Mommy, you got really sick and I was scared you were going to die. While you are off
I'm going to take real good care of you."
"I must be the luckiest Mother alive to have you as my daughter. Now finish your toastie and you can go play in the garden."
"Promise you'll take a nap."
"I promise."
Jeannette finished her soup and looked out the window to see Chantal pulling out weeds with Mr. Ford and laughing as he made faces at her. She buzzed to let Betty know she was done and headed straight for her bed. She still wasn't back to a hundred percent after a nasty bout with phenomina that forced her to spend nearly a month in the hospital. The doctor had warned her that being physically and mentally exhustated left her immune system very weak and she could have died if she had tried to make it through one more performance. Jeannette had a lot of time to think while she convalesced and realized she didn't miss being on stage at all. She still hadn't figured out exactly what she wanted to do with the rest of her life but she knew she didn't want to be a star anymore. Jeannette drifted off for a long nap and woke up feeling refreshed. She wandered downstairs and was passing the front door when it rang.
"I'll get it Betty." She opened the door and her jaw dropped when she saw Jon standing there with a suitcase in his hand. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Thought I could use a country break too."
"Umm, so where is this car?"
"Right over here." Jon led her over to the waiting limo.
Jeannette got in the car and proceeded to pour herself a glass of water, took two aspirins and closed her eyes. Jon wanted to talk to her but decided to give her some silence. He watched her instead, which was a mistake because he found that uncontrollable lust he felt for her five years ago was back and stronger than ever. The limo pulled up at the back entrance and Jon tapped her on the shoulder. He watched in amusement as everyone at the hotel jumped to attention when they saw her and gave her the royal treatment.
"They know you I take it?"
"I'm very well known and adored in London, Mr. Bon Jovi. Hell, I'm well loved all around the world."
"I see."
"I don't suppose you have anything to eat in your room?"
"No but I could order you something. What would you like?"
"All you have to say is Miss Pierce would like her usual."
"Jeannette would you please call me Jon. Mr. Bongiovi is my father."
"Kay."
Jon opened the door to his suite and watched her slink in before him. Her dress was a stretch
black lace and seemed to be painted on her body. He wondered if she was still in the habit of not wearing underwear or if that was an island thing. The dress dipped very low in the back and he remembered the silky smoothness as if it were yesterday. One kiss with her, remained with him all these years and he often wondered what became of his mystery girl and who she was. He heard the phone being dropped back on the receiver and looked up.
"I ordered my own food." She kicked her heels off and sat down on the edge of the couch.
She took her first good look at him all night and tried to ignore the rush of adrenaline that invaded her entire body. Time had only improved Jon in her mind. His body was now as chiselled as his face and she found the tiny little lines around his eyes gave him a more distinguished look. His hair was shorter and a little bit darker but that was about all that changed. His eyes still drew her in and she looked away before she got lost in them once more.
"So Jeannette, tell me about Chantal."
"Chantal means the world to me Jon. She has an incredible imagination and a great capacity to love. She likes to think she takes care of me and she tries so hard when she has me to herself on Sundays. She's got a stubborn streak in her and she knows how to manipulate Mandy and I already. She..."
"Who is Mandy?"
"My dear friend and Chantal's Nanny. I spend most of my nights in one theatre or another so
Mandy looks after her for me."
"That must be hard."
"Yes it is. It’s one of the reasons I’m taking a break from performing. It’s bizarre, I listen to your music but I never looked at you. It wasn’t until you were in front of me that, I made the connection."
There was a knock at the door and Jeannette looked at Jon and curled up on the couch. "That should be my dinner, kindly get the door."
Jon got up and watched as a large room service cart was wheeled in and left in front of a lounging
Jeannette.
"Miss Pierce, I'm afraid we were all out of Vidala onions."
Every last ounce of patience she had was lost, normally she wouldn’t care but right now no Vidala onions was the straw that broke the camel’s back. "What? Oh this just won't do. There must be a market opened somewhere."
"We tried Miss Pierce, but none of the local markets carried any. We import them weekly and our shipment was delayed."
"If there are Spanish onions in this take it back."
"No Miss Pierce, there are no onions in it. We know you hate Spanish onions and the red onions were not sweet enough so George simply omitted them and included extra mushrooms."
"I'm not happy but I am starving so I will eat it." She took a sip of her tea and spit it back out.
"This is peppermint tea, I only drink spearmint tea. Rectify this situation at once!" she
demanded.
"I'm so sorry Miss Pierce, I'll just take that away and bring the proper tea."
"I want a fresh pot up here in five minutes or heads will roll. Now go!" she snapped.
Jon grimaced at the waiter and opened the door for him. "Jeannette you didn't need to snap at him."
"You know the point of having a usual is that it is made the same way each time and you don't have to deal with surprises. Then again, nothing has gone right tonight so why should my dinner be any different?" She lifted the silver dome and placed it beside her on the couch. She started picking at her egg white omelette.
"That looks pretty good to me."
"It's OK, it's much better with the right onions. Would you like a taste?"
"Sure, thanks."
Jon moved the silver dome and sat down beside her on the couch. He picked up the fork and cut off a sizeable piece and put it in his mouth. He placed the fork down and looked up at Jeannette.
Her lips were mere inches away and once again logic went out the window in one fell swoop. He leaned over, bracing her neck with his hand and kissed her hard. His hands moved to her neck and down her shoulders pushing the thin straps of her dress off her shoulder. Jeannette wrapped her arms around his neck and let the kiss intensify. The past, the fact that she didn't know Jon, meant nothing as his tongue found hers and a hungry tango began. Jon lowered her to the couch and pulled the clingy lace dress down her body getting the answer to his earlier question. He closed his mouth over a hardened nipple and began sucking on it as his fingers traced the edge of her sheer and velvet floral French cut panties. She moaned as his tongue made a circle around her belly button and his fingers started to move inside her. Her back arched wildly and Jon picked her up and carried her over to the bed, quickly shedding his tux before joining her. They didn't even noticed the persistent knocking on the door.
Jeannette woke up and found herself once more wrapped in Egyptian cotton sheets this time beside a rock star. She carefully left the bed and went into the living room to retrieve her dress. She wiggled her way back into it and picked up her purse and panties. She left a note on the table for Jon and left before he woke up. Jon shifted in his sleep and went to pull her closer to him. When his hands meet he woke up and called out to her. When he didn't get an answer he hopped out of bed and noticed the note sitting on the bedside table.
"So this is how that guy felt." Jon sighed and looked at the note.
Jon, thank you for dinner and last night. You were wonderful.
Jeannette.
Jon picked up the phone and dialled Obie, waking him up from a peaceful sleep.
"Hello?"
"Obie, it’s me. Do you know who Jeannette Pierce is?"
"The musical star?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, I’ve seen her perform a few times. She’s got a voice on her that..."
"I need you to find out where she lives for me. Can you do it in about fifteen minutes?"
"I’ll try my best."
"Good, I’ll get dressed and knock on your door."
"I thought you were going away to the estate alone Mommy."
"I changed my mind Sweetie, I thought it would be fun for just the two of us to go."
"Mandy isn't coming?"
"No Mandy is staying here. Go pack what you want to bring."
"Yes Mommy, right away Mommy." Chantal ran upstairs to start packing.
"Mandy could you go help her please?"
"Sure after we talk. Chantal said she met a guy that sort of looked like her last night. Then Rhonda was going on and on about the scandal that would rock us when the press found out about your affair."
"Oh brother."
"So are you actually coming back in a weeks time or should I bone up on reading cryptic messages."
"Last night, I ran into the man I shared a very passionate kiss with in Fiji. He kissed me and got spooked and left. Twenty minutes later, I met the guy who fathered Chantal. Rhonda thinks the first guy is her father, but he isn’t."
"Oh, so who is the first guy?"
"Jon Bon Jovi."
"What! You made out with Jon Bon Jovi in Fiji?"
"We kissed once."
"He was married then!"
"That must have been why he bolted, he remembered her."
"Chantal doesn’t look..."
"Yeah she does. I’d make the assumption everyone else is, if I hadn’t been there to know the truth."
"So you spent the night with him. What did you talk about? What’s he like?’
"I don't really know, we didn't say much to each other last night."
"Jeannette you spend all night with the man and you ..........Jeannette!"
"Mandy, I don't know what it is, but when I get near that man all I want to do is rip off his clothes and make wild passionate love to him. The feeling seems to be mutual."
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Keep me away from Jon Bongiovi for starters."
"So was the sex...."
"Mandy!"
"Spill or I’m going to tell Rhonda you are back."
"Incredibly hot. Are you happy?"
"For the moment, I'll go help our little rugrat."
Jeannette picked up the phone and dialled her country estate.
"Amberley Manour may I help you?"
"Hello Betty, it's Miss Pierce. There will be a slight change in my plans. Chantal will be joining me if you could prepare her room."
"It will be my pleasure Miss Pierce, Miss Chantal just brings sunshine into this house. You'll be needing someone to stay with her Wednesday night then. Or is Miss Rada joining you?"
"I forgot all about that party, yes I'll need someone to stay with her."
"I'll arrange it. Are you motoring up or flying?"
"Chopper actually, I should be there in time for lunch."
"I'll see you then Miss Pierce, good day."
"Thank you Betty, see you soon."
Jeannette went up to pack a few last minute items and grabbed her seldom used notebook computer. She wanted to find out everything she could about Jon Bongiovi.
"Mummy will we arrive in time for tea?"
"Yes dear, you know I never miss tea when I'm free."
"Do you hafta go back to the theatre on Monday?'
"No Mommy is taking a break from performing."
"So you'll be around during the night ?"
"Yes I will be."
"Cool. That man yesterday was he...."
"No, Chantal he is not your father. His name is Jon Bongiovi and he is an American rock star."
"Oh. I'm all packed and ready to go. Miss Mandy is bringing down my luggage."
"Why don't you go make sure you haven't forgotten anything and then get in the car. I'll be out shortly."
"Yes Mummy."
"Excuse me Miss Pierce, will you be back on Monday?" her housekeeper asked.
"No Molly, I'll be gone for the week and possibly a week and a half."
"Would you mind If I went to visit my sister in Chester?"
"Be my guest, if I return early I'm sure I can muddle through until you return."
"Yes, you'll just pack up and check in to the Ritz Carlton."
"You know me so well Molly."
"Yes I do Miss Pierce. Have a nice country vacation."
"Thank you, enjoy your visit with your sister."
Jeannette grabbed her weekend bag, purse and laptop and went out to her BMW. She said good
bye to Mandy, made sure Chantal's belt was fastened properly and started the car. It was a short ride to the helicopter pad where Jeannette's pilot was waiting for her. The helicopter landed forty minutes later at the landing behind Amberley Manor.
The entire household staff was waiting at the back entrance for their Mistress' arrival. Jeannette
employed three maids, a Butler, chauffeur, a kitchen staff of three and Betty to oversee them all. Jeannette purchased Amberley Manor for two million pounds eight years ago and spent every moment she could at the Eighteenth Century Sussex Estate. The twenty bedroom Manor sat on ten acres of rolling hills complete with four gardens, a stable and it's own lake. She had converted the two coach houses into staff quarters and given Betty and her family the small cottage on the property. Chantal ran into Betty's arms as soon as she saw her and was rewarded with a toffee.
"Betty, little Miss Moffat will ruin her lunch. She's already finished off a bag of Chocolate toffees."
"Yes Miss Pierce, I've made her favourite cheese toastie and barley soup for you."
"Thank you Betty, I was thinking tea in the Conservatory would be ideal."
"I'll have it ready for you at four then. Thomas! Miss Pierce's bags will not walk themselves up
to her suite."
"Right away Mrs. Hampton."
"Mommy, can I help Mr. Ford in the garden?"
"After you eat your lunch you may help him."
"Can I eat now then?"
"No you will eat lunch at noon with me. Run along to your room and help Susan unpack your
clothes."
"But I wanna...."
"Chantal!"
"Yes Mommy, I'll go unpack now."
"Miss Pierce, would you like me to draw you a hot bath?"
"That would be wonderful Betty. The last twenty four hours have been insane."
"Shall I pour you a snifter of Brandy?"
"No but a cuppa would be lovely."
"Your bath will be ready in ten minutes."
Betty left to make sure the household was working and went upstairs to draw her Mistress bath.
Jeannette went up the side stairs and looked in on her daughter who was bouncing on her bed. She cleared her throat and gave Chantal a pointed look and continued down to hall way to her room. Jeannette's room was actually an entire suite of rooms. The large master bedroom lead to a floral sitting room, a office/ library and a private dinning room. She could hear Betty preparing her bath and she unpacked her silk robe and left her clothes on the bed as she wrapped the luxurious material around her. One of the junior maids brought up a steaming cup of tea and left it beside the tub. Jeannette lit a few Gardenia scented candles and sunk into the tub to relax.
"Thanks Obie. I owe you one." Jon said wondering exactly how he was going to explain to the guys that he wasn’t getting on the band’s plane to go back to the states in a few hours.
"Jon, she has friends in very high places, tread very lightly or you will find yourself deported and
the press will eat you alive, before you can blink."
"I’ll be careful Obie. I promise I’ll be in Sarnia on July 6th."
"Now how do I get to East Sussex and Amberley Manor?"
"I have no idea."
"Think you could tell the guys something came up while I make a fast getaway. Rich will try to talk me out of this and call me crazy but I just have to see her again."
"You are crazy you loon. Get, I’ll sacrifice my life for you."
Jon gave Obie a wicked grin, grabbed his suitcase and went down to talk to the concierge.
After an hour long soak Jeannette didn't feel like going downstairs to eat so she padded into her private dinning room where Chantal was waiting for her.
"Mommy you aren't even dressed."
"I'm aware that I am still in my robe Chantal. When you go out to help Mr. Ford I think I will take a nap."
"You didn't sleep very well did you?"
"No Sweetie, I only got an hour or two of sleep."
"That’s no good Mommy, you need your rest or you'll be getting sick again."
"Yes Mom." she said with a grin.
"I mean it Mommy, you got really sick and I was scared you were going to die. While you are off
I'm going to take real good care of you."
"I must be the luckiest Mother alive to have you as my daughter. Now finish your toastie and you can go play in the garden."
"Promise you'll take a nap."
"I promise."
Jeannette finished her soup and looked out the window to see Chantal pulling out weeds with Mr. Ford and laughing as he made faces at her. She buzzed to let Betty know she was done and headed straight for her bed. She still wasn't back to a hundred percent after a nasty bout with phenomina that forced her to spend nearly a month in the hospital. The doctor had warned her that being physically and mentally exhustated left her immune system very weak and she could have died if she had tried to make it through one more performance. Jeannette had a lot of time to think while she convalesced and realized she didn't miss being on stage at all. She still hadn't figured out exactly what she wanted to do with the rest of her life but she knew she didn't want to be a star anymore. Jeannette drifted off for a long nap and woke up feeling refreshed. She wandered downstairs and was passing the front door when it rang.
"I'll get it Betty." She opened the door and her jaw dropped when she saw Jon standing there with a suitcase in his hand. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Thought I could use a country break too."
Just One Kiss
February 12, 2003
London, England.
"This is career suicide Jeannette, as your manager I must veto this."
"Rhonda, I appreciate that you are always looking out for the bottom line and my career but this time I must insist you let me be. Otherwise, you will have spent all these years cultivating a career for me that will go up in flames when I crash and burn. I need to get away from this infernal rain, the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd is making me sick instead of energizing me."
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know, I was going to Heathrow to get on the first plane to some place that seemed to intrigue me."
"Jeannette, you simply can't do that. I need to know where you'll be and ...."
"I promise, I'll keep in touch and check in from time to time. Just trust that I know what I need
Rhonda and I'm sure I can't get it in London. You'll look after Snoopy for me right?"
"Yes" Rhonda sighed knowing there was no talking to Jeannette once she made up her mind.
"Please be careful and protect that voice of yours at all costs. Silent Sundays are still very important."
"Yes Mum, now give me a hug and help me with this bag."
"Don't get fresh with me young lady or you won't have a career to come back to."
"I love you to Rhonda." She said with a sweet smile and hugged her manager of 8 years.
Jeannette was going to miss her brown Lab, but she needed a break badly and she knew just walking away from the theatre would never be enough. There would be command performances, the Prince's Trust and she was never very good at saying no. Last time she tried to walk away, Andrew Lloyd Webber created a musical for her. The black cab she had ordered was waiting for her in the back alley and she took one last look at her home for the last year and a half. The Marquee had already been changed while she was giving her last performance. Evita now stared Melissa Monroe. She was stepping into the cab when she heard her name being called.
"Miss Pierce, Miss Pierce, these are for you. There will only ever be one Evita in my books and it's you." The fan gave her a half dozen long stem red roses.
"Thank you that is so sweet. I'm glad I entertained you."
"Can I have your autograph please?"
"Sure what's your name?"
"Frank, Frank Wells. Is it true you are heading to Broadway to star in the revival of Oklahoma?"
"No Frank, there's one thing I know for certain, I won't be anywhere near Broadway. Thanks for
the flowers."
"You are welcome, I think you are just the best." He gushed.
"Thanks Frank, good bye."
"Where to Miss Pierce?"
"Heathrow"
"Which Terminal?"
"Pick one for me."
"Miss Pierce?"
"I'm serious, what ever Terminal you feel like going to is fine with me."
The driver decided to go to Terminal Four since he rarely dropped passengers off there. Jeannette groaned when he pulled up to the departures level knowing she didn't have much of a choice in destination from this Terminal. She didn't want to stay in Europe so she had two choices, Canada on Canadian Airlines or Australia with Quantas. She rationalized that Canada was too close to Broadway, not to mention colder than London and decided she was Australia bound.
I could hug a Kangaroo she muttered under her breath while waiting at the airline check in counter.
"May I help you Miss?"
"Umm yeah, I'd like to be on your next flight to Australia."
"We have a flight that leaves at ten tonight.."
"Oh joy oh bliss." She replied sarcastically.
"Is that a yes or no?"
"Fine, I'll hang around here for a few hours."
"Returning when?"
"A one way is fine for the moment."
"Unless you have a special visa Miss you are not permitted to stay for longer than three months."
"Fine give me a three month ticket then, just make it first class if I'm going to spend days in a flying sardine can."
"Passport and credit card please."
Jeannette handed over her British Passport and her platinum American Express Card. She was given her ticket and an ETA visa for three months and headed over to British Airways First Class lounge to wait for her flight to board.
Three and a half hours later she had both seats in row three and flipped open the in-flight magazine. For some reason, her eye caught the program list for in-flight entertainment and she shook her head when she saw what was playing on channel 4, The Best of the West End. Of the twenty selections of musical numbers she was singing ten of them. (I can't even escape my own bloody voice on a plane.) She opened her purse, extracted 2 sleeping pills from it's golden case and swallowed without any water. (With any luck I'll wake up in Sydney)
April 30, 2003
Fiji
Jeannette finally moved from her favourite place when the sun started to set. She brushed the sand off her shoulder and made her way back to her private beach house. She had spent a week in Sydney before hopping over to Fiji and liked it so much she hadn't left. She had lead a simple existence, lying out in the sun all day, picking at the fruit her house keeper brought her for lunch and drinking tropical drinks. Doing nothing all day long, tired her out quickly so she'd retire to bed right after dinner. Her house keeper had told her she should go out and socialize at one of the neighbouring beach bars. Lily had told her there were quite a few handsome young men vacationing on the island but Jeannette never had the energy to go. She caught her naked reflection in the mirror and smiled. Her one piece bathing suit had quickly been replaced by a bikini and the bikini was quickly replaced by nothing. The beach was private and thus deserted which helped to make her inhibitions disappear in favour of the perfect deep golden all over body tan.
She barely resembled the pasty, white, exhausted Brit who left London behind almost three months ago. Her dark blonde hair had turned to a sandy light blonde, a deep dark tan made her look like a native and picking on fruits had trimmed twenty pounds from her average build to make her thin. Tonight was her last night in Fiji and she had decided to go to one of those beach bars to make Lily happy. Tomorrow afternoon, she'd be diving the Great Barrier Reef.
She opened her suitcase and pulled out a thin short floral slip dress and pulled it over her head. She took out a pair of thin silver sandals and slipped them on her feet. A yawn escaped her lips and Jeannette splashed some cold water on her face. I can't very well fall asleep at the bar now can I? she thought. She grabbed a bit of money and disappeared into the warm night air before Lily could see her and warn her about her dress.
Jon Bongiovi, had been in Fiji for two days. His gift to his family after the Bounce tour had ended. His wife wasn’t about to let a stranger baby-sit her 10 year old daughter, 8 year old son or one year old boy so she stayed at the resort and told him to go have a drink. He headed out to a tiny little beach bar that the Concierge had recommended. He was sipping on a Fosters when the door opened and she walked in. The splendid sunset was just enough to back light her form. With the light behind her, the thin material of the dress became opaque and Jon could see every splendid inch of her naked body. His eyes roved her body before settling on her tanned face. Her pale green eyes and light blonde hair, combined with a heavenly body did a quick number on him as his blood began to coarse rapidly through his body.
Jeannette sat down at the first available seat at the bar, not even noticing the blonde to her left. She ordered a Long Island Ice Tea and turned slightly in her seat. Her gaze was meet by the most amazing pair of deep blue eyes she had ever seen. Her eyes quickly scanned his face and she couldn't help smiling. He was unbelievably gorgeous and she took a long sip of her drink to attempt to cover up giving his body the once over. She started to feel a strange sensation in her body and downed the rest of her drink to help settle her nerves.
"Another please" she said to the Bartender.
Before she could blink, another tall glass was placed in front of her and she gulped most of it down. His eyes were roaming her body and it was making her heady and self conscience at the same time. She polished off the rest of her drink and ordered another one. (Alcohol gives you courage right?) She took another long sip of her drink, mustering up the courage to say something to the perfect specimen of a male sitting beside her. She licked her lips and turned to face him completely. "Hi"
"Well hello there."
(He’s American, but damn is he ever sexy. Why did I wait till my last night to come here?) Her hand unconsciously slid over to sit on top of his.
(Well I'd say that was an invitation. Quick review: she comes in here barely dressed, licks her lips, smiles at me, says hello and is now resting her hand on mine. I'd be out of my mind not to see where this leads. Shut up stupid you are married.) He leaned forward to speak but it was as if his lips were being magnetically pulled to hers. "My Name is Jon yours is?"
(What did he just say his name was? Oh who cares his lips are coming this way and Oh what a kiss.) "J.." She attempted to mumble before his tongue slid into her mouth to deepen the kiss.
The kiss took on a life of it's own and Jon knew if he didn't move fast he'd be making love to a total stranger in a bar. "Sorry I’ve got to go." he whispered huskily and took off like a shot.
She pouted and ordered another drink. Several hours later a handsome brunette with deep blue eyes entered and sat down beside her. They started talking and before he knew it he was kissing the enchanting British girl. They rose as one, still locked in a searing kiss. Sam tossed some money on the bar and led her out the door. The quickest route back to his hotel room was from the back of the bar so he steered them in that direction. The kiss intensified dangerously and he pinned her up against the side of the building. Her hands ran through his hair keeping them engaged in the kiss that had robbed her of any logical thought.
His hands slid down her back until they were on the back of her bare thighs. She moaned as he slid his hands under the dress to caress her firm buttocks. Jeannette pressed her body against his, grinding her pelvis against him. Sam moved to look in her eyes and felt her unzipping his shorts, releasing him from prison. He picked her up, pushing her back against the wall, while she wrapped her legs around him and whimpered as he entered her and began making love to her. Theirs was a frantic union of uncontrollable lust and desire unlike anything either of them had ever experienced nor would ever experience again after that night. When the last explosion of pleasure wracked her body she slid down him to the deck. He caught her in his strong arms and placed a sweet kiss on her throat. He took hold of her hand and started to lead her back to his room. They had just made it onto the Resort property when he looked into her eyes and recognized the burning desire that was mirrored in his own eyes. The front porch of his Villa was in sight as his hand slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulder and let the dress hit the sand. He lowered them both down to soft sand and made love to her once more.
Jeannette woke up and felt the cool sensation of 400 count Egyptian sheets wrapped loosely over her body. She couldn't remember how they made it into his room, she remembered the back of the bar, the sand, the chair on the porch but she couldn't remember exactly how they managed to keep their hands off each other long enough to get inside. She looked at the clock on the bed side table and panicked. Her plane was leaving in four hours and she didn't even know where she was. She slid out of the bed and wandered around looking for her dress. She couldn't find it anywhere but something told her to open the door; looking out she saw her dress sitting on the sand about 70 feet out where it had landed once he relieved her of it. Propping the door open with her sandal she ventured out a bit further from the door. Jeannette didn't see anyone in sight so she dashed out to retrieve her dress, slipping it quickly over her head before returning to the room. She noticed a notepad on the table and scrawled a fast note on it before stealing one last glance at the gorgeous stranger who had given her a night of passion she'd never forget and walked out the door with no idea where she was. Jeannette wandered along the beach until she recognized a path that lead her to the front of her beach house. Lily was waiting inside frantic over Jeannette's disappearance.
Jeannette calmed Lily down telling her that she simply fell asleep on the beach and went to pack up the few remaining articles she had left for the last minute. She thanked Lily for taking care of her for the last two months, promised to send her a letter when she got back home and left. She asked the driver if he knew what resort she had been in the night before but her vague description couldn't help the driver at all and he told her she could have been at any one of the resorts that line the beach. She sighed and decided maybe it was best that she knew nothing about the tall handsome young man she'd spent the night with.
Sam woke up expecting to feel the silky smoothness of her skin beside him; instead he found an empty bed. He sat up straight in bed to call out to her when he realized he had no idea what her name was. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what she had said in the bar but all he could remember was how soft her lips were. He thought maybe she was out on the porch and wrapped the sheet around him to check. On his way to the door he noticed the note on the table and stopped to look at it.
Thank you for a night to remember. I'll never forget my last night on this island.
Sam went back to the bar and noticed a guy sitting at the bar who looked familiar. He sat down beside him and asked the bar tender if he knew who the British girl was.
"Blonde hair, pale green eyes, sheer dress?" Jon asked with a grin overhearing the guy.
"Yes. Do you know her?"
"Only that she’d be the end of my marriage if I did what my body was telling me too. One kiss made me forgot about my wife and kids for a few seconds. Never forget that face or body though"
"Me either, dude me either."
June 29, 2008
London England
"Jeannette, I really think you should postpone this little vacation of yours. Need I remind you what happened last time you decided to run away from the theatre."
"Rhonda, you know darn well I could never forget what happened last time. I swear I'm only going for a week this time not a year. I just need to get away and think on my own for a bit. I'm at the cross roads of my career and I simply can not make up my mind in this city. I was thinking of leaving right after the curtain closes tonight."
"You can't leave tonight! You have to be at the Palace for ten."
"I'm missing dinner I don't see why I even have to be there."
"Young Lady you were invited by his Serene Highness and you accepted two months ago."
"Two months ago, I had no idea I'd be leaving in the morning."
"You are going and that's final, now finish getting dressed intermission is almost over."
"I'm so bloody tired of singing that song."
"Well you won't have to sing it again after tonight just keep thinking of that."
"Two lost souls on the highway of life, we ain't even got ....." Jeannette sang showing her contempt for the song.
"Jeannette, watch it you did win the Tony for playing Lola."
"I know Rhonda, I just hate this song so much. I like What Ever Lola Wants."
"Of course you do, you get to be the vamp. Now finish your tea and get out there."
Jeannette was called back on stage for three encores and was presented with a dozen white roses from the company of Damn Yankees. She thanked the company and the audience and stepped off the stage. No one, not even Rhonda, knew it might be her last performance ever. She slipped into a black lace dress worthy of Lola and a pair of strappy high heels. The limousine Rhonda had ordered was waiting for her in the alley and Jeannette was on her way to Buckingham Palace.
Jeannette managed to sneak into the Grand Ballroom without notice and accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. She noticed the perpetually cheerful designer that grated on her nerves and went in the opposite direction. She noticed a famous musician and smiled while looking for a quite place to hide.
Jon was left alone, he scanned the room for a face he recognized and his eyes made contact with the bubbly designer he had sat beside during dinner. When she started to move in his general direction, Jon made a bee line across the ball room to escape from her before she bored him to death. (Sambora where the hell are you) He ended up standing behind Prince Charles and a man who looked vaguely familiar
"Tim, it's such a shame Jeannette is leaving the production. Edward was trying to talk her into doing a show for his production company but she regretfully declined saying she had already made commitments. I assumed you roped her into another role."
"No we wanted her on Broadway for our revival of Grease but she turned us down too. Word is she's taking another one of her breaks."
"Well, she certainly works hard enough to deserve a break."
"Charles, didn't Edward tell you what happened last time she went away?"
"No do tell, Oh wait.......... Jeannette dear, come over here."
(I've been summoned no escaping now.) "Your Highness so wonderful to see you again. Hello Tim and I'm afraid I don't know the gentleman standing behind you."
"Sorry chap, didn't know you were waiting to talk to us." Tim said.
Jon had his back to them and turned around to answer the man he finally realized was Tim Rice.
"That's OK I was.............." His sentence dropped when he realized whom the men had been talking to.
Jeannette looked up at that moment and all the blood drained from her head. The gentleman was the man she almost spent one unforgettable night with in Fiji.
"Oh my God." They both said in unison before Jeannette fainted. Jon grabbed her before she hit the floor.
"Tim, call Rhonda and let her know what happened. Jon do you know Jeannette?" The Prince asked.
(So that's her name.) "Sort of, we go way back."
"Well, if you'd like to pick her up we can get her into one of the sitting rooms."
Jeannette came to ten minutes later and assured the Prince she was merely exhausted and hadn't eaten all day. The Prince left her alone with Jon for a moment despite her efforts to leave.
"Well hello there, we meet again."
"Yeah" Jeannette replied weakly realizing that her killer Fiji kiss was with Jon Bon Jovi.
"There was a guy looking for you the next day."
"I had left, did you know him?"
"No, we just both agreed that we’d never forget your lips or face."
"Ah."
The door burst open and Rhonda came rushing in with a little blonde girl in her arms.
"Mommy are you OK?"
(Tonight could not get any more embarrassing) "Yes Sweetie I'm fine, I just fainted."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine, Rhonda why don't you both go to the car and I'll say good bye to the Prince and join you." (Will this day ever end? My brain is about to explode)
Jon took a step closer to look at the little girl and froze in his place. (Holy crap, if I didn’t know better.) He looked more intently (Her mother's hair, azure blue eyes, dimples, her mother's nose, whoa this is scary.)
"Hi Sweetie, my aren't you pretty. How old are you?"
"I'm five"
(Jon all you did was kiss the girl, this can’t be your daughter no matter how much she looks like she could be.) "Five is a great age, you look pretty in your sun dress."
"Thank you."
Jon noticed motion at the door and Richie walked in. He noticed Jon, then the pretty blonde who had smiled at him earlier and finally the little girl who was smiling warmly at Jon. He did a double take when the girl made a duck face at Jon. (Holy fuck, she’s Jon’s)
"Bro, what is going on here?" Richie asked looking wildly at his best friend.
Jon knew exactly what Rich was thinking but he couldn’t very well blurt out she’d not mine dude. "Jeannette fainted and I happened to be there and saved her from hitting the floor."
"Thank you once again Mr. Bon Jovi but I’m feeling much better now."
Rhonda kept looking from the rock star, to Chantal, to Jeannette and back again. The scandalous headlines began flashing across her eyes and she wanted to murder her oldest client. Jeannette caught the look Rhonda was giving her and knew there was no way she’d believe her, let alone give her a second to say anything.
"Rhonda please take Chantal home, she needs her rest since we are going to the country house in the morning. I have to apologize to the Prince and eat something."
"I’ll be waiting up young lady. We have soooooooooooo much to talk about." Rhonda replied her
voice dripping with venom.
"See you in the morning darling, give me a kiss."
Chantal went over to her mom and gave her a big hug and a kiss. She went over to Jon and presented her hand for a shake.
Jon lifted her small hand and gave it a kiss. "It was a pleasure meeting you Chantal."
"You too Mister."
Rhonda glared at Jeannette and the two rock stars and left. Jeannette dropped her head to her knees and covered them with her hands.
"Jon, when were you going to tell me you have another daughter?"
"I admit the resemblance is uncanny but that adorable little girl is not mine."
"She would have been, if you didn’t leave me that night." Jeannette sighed.
"So that guy..."
"Yup he kissed me and didn’t run away. We ended up making love several times and nine months later Chantal was born. Not that Rhonda will believe a word I say. Oh God, I don’t want to face her tonight."
"Why don’t you come back to my hotel with me and I’ll order you room service. You can crash and I’ll take the couch."
"Jon, do you really want to have a photographer taking your picture going in to a hotel?" Richie hissed. (The press won’t care when the paternity test comes up false, they will have made their money.)
Jon ignored his sensible friend, he didn’t want to let Jeannette out of his sights. She still had the same intoxicating effect on him and this time he was a divorced father of four, not a married father of three.
London, England.
"This is career suicide Jeannette, as your manager I must veto this."
"Rhonda, I appreciate that you are always looking out for the bottom line and my career but this time I must insist you let me be. Otherwise, you will have spent all these years cultivating a career for me that will go up in flames when I crash and burn. I need to get away from this infernal rain, the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd is making me sick instead of energizing me."
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know, I was going to Heathrow to get on the first plane to some place that seemed to intrigue me."
"Jeannette, you simply can't do that. I need to know where you'll be and ...."
"I promise, I'll keep in touch and check in from time to time. Just trust that I know what I need
Rhonda and I'm sure I can't get it in London. You'll look after Snoopy for me right?"
"Yes" Rhonda sighed knowing there was no talking to Jeannette once she made up her mind.
"Please be careful and protect that voice of yours at all costs. Silent Sundays are still very important."
"Yes Mum, now give me a hug and help me with this bag."
"Don't get fresh with me young lady or you won't have a career to come back to."
"I love you to Rhonda." She said with a sweet smile and hugged her manager of 8 years.
Jeannette was going to miss her brown Lab, but she needed a break badly and she knew just walking away from the theatre would never be enough. There would be command performances, the Prince's Trust and she was never very good at saying no. Last time she tried to walk away, Andrew Lloyd Webber created a musical for her. The black cab she had ordered was waiting for her in the back alley and she took one last look at her home for the last year and a half. The Marquee had already been changed while she was giving her last performance. Evita now stared Melissa Monroe. She was stepping into the cab when she heard her name being called.
"Miss Pierce, Miss Pierce, these are for you. There will only ever be one Evita in my books and it's you." The fan gave her a half dozen long stem red roses.
"Thank you that is so sweet. I'm glad I entertained you."
"Can I have your autograph please?"
"Sure what's your name?"
"Frank, Frank Wells. Is it true you are heading to Broadway to star in the revival of Oklahoma?"
"No Frank, there's one thing I know for certain, I won't be anywhere near Broadway. Thanks for
the flowers."
"You are welcome, I think you are just the best." He gushed.
"Thanks Frank, good bye."
"Where to Miss Pierce?"
"Heathrow"
"Which Terminal?"
"Pick one for me."
"Miss Pierce?"
"I'm serious, what ever Terminal you feel like going to is fine with me."
The driver decided to go to Terminal Four since he rarely dropped passengers off there. Jeannette groaned when he pulled up to the departures level knowing she didn't have much of a choice in destination from this Terminal. She didn't want to stay in Europe so she had two choices, Canada on Canadian Airlines or Australia with Quantas. She rationalized that Canada was too close to Broadway, not to mention colder than London and decided she was Australia bound.
I could hug a Kangaroo she muttered under her breath while waiting at the airline check in counter.
"May I help you Miss?"
"Umm yeah, I'd like to be on your next flight to Australia."
"We have a flight that leaves at ten tonight.."
"Oh joy oh bliss." She replied sarcastically.
"Is that a yes or no?"
"Fine, I'll hang around here for a few hours."
"Returning when?"
"A one way is fine for the moment."
"Unless you have a special visa Miss you are not permitted to stay for longer than three months."
"Fine give me a three month ticket then, just make it first class if I'm going to spend days in a flying sardine can."
"Passport and credit card please."
Jeannette handed over her British Passport and her platinum American Express Card. She was given her ticket and an ETA visa for three months and headed over to British Airways First Class lounge to wait for her flight to board.
Three and a half hours later she had both seats in row three and flipped open the in-flight magazine. For some reason, her eye caught the program list for in-flight entertainment and she shook her head when she saw what was playing on channel 4, The Best of the West End. Of the twenty selections of musical numbers she was singing ten of them. (I can't even escape my own bloody voice on a plane.) She opened her purse, extracted 2 sleeping pills from it's golden case and swallowed without any water. (With any luck I'll wake up in Sydney)
April 30, 2003
Fiji
Jeannette finally moved from her favourite place when the sun started to set. She brushed the sand off her shoulder and made her way back to her private beach house. She had spent a week in Sydney before hopping over to Fiji and liked it so much she hadn't left. She had lead a simple existence, lying out in the sun all day, picking at the fruit her house keeper brought her for lunch and drinking tropical drinks. Doing nothing all day long, tired her out quickly so she'd retire to bed right after dinner. Her house keeper had told her she should go out and socialize at one of the neighbouring beach bars. Lily had told her there were quite a few handsome young men vacationing on the island but Jeannette never had the energy to go. She caught her naked reflection in the mirror and smiled. Her one piece bathing suit had quickly been replaced by a bikini and the bikini was quickly replaced by nothing. The beach was private and thus deserted which helped to make her inhibitions disappear in favour of the perfect deep golden all over body tan.
She barely resembled the pasty, white, exhausted Brit who left London behind almost three months ago. Her dark blonde hair had turned to a sandy light blonde, a deep dark tan made her look like a native and picking on fruits had trimmed twenty pounds from her average build to make her thin. Tonight was her last night in Fiji and she had decided to go to one of those beach bars to make Lily happy. Tomorrow afternoon, she'd be diving the Great Barrier Reef.
She opened her suitcase and pulled out a thin short floral slip dress and pulled it over her head. She took out a pair of thin silver sandals and slipped them on her feet. A yawn escaped her lips and Jeannette splashed some cold water on her face. I can't very well fall asleep at the bar now can I? she thought. She grabbed a bit of money and disappeared into the warm night air before Lily could see her and warn her about her dress.
Jon Bongiovi, had been in Fiji for two days. His gift to his family after the Bounce tour had ended. His wife wasn’t about to let a stranger baby-sit her 10 year old daughter, 8 year old son or one year old boy so she stayed at the resort and told him to go have a drink. He headed out to a tiny little beach bar that the Concierge had recommended. He was sipping on a Fosters when the door opened and she walked in. The splendid sunset was just enough to back light her form. With the light behind her, the thin material of the dress became opaque and Jon could see every splendid inch of her naked body. His eyes roved her body before settling on her tanned face. Her pale green eyes and light blonde hair, combined with a heavenly body did a quick number on him as his blood began to coarse rapidly through his body.
Jeannette sat down at the first available seat at the bar, not even noticing the blonde to her left. She ordered a Long Island Ice Tea and turned slightly in her seat. Her gaze was meet by the most amazing pair of deep blue eyes she had ever seen. Her eyes quickly scanned his face and she couldn't help smiling. He was unbelievably gorgeous and she took a long sip of her drink to attempt to cover up giving his body the once over. She started to feel a strange sensation in her body and downed the rest of her drink to help settle her nerves.
"Another please" she said to the Bartender.
Before she could blink, another tall glass was placed in front of her and she gulped most of it down. His eyes were roaming her body and it was making her heady and self conscience at the same time. She polished off the rest of her drink and ordered another one. (Alcohol gives you courage right?) She took another long sip of her drink, mustering up the courage to say something to the perfect specimen of a male sitting beside her. She licked her lips and turned to face him completely. "Hi"
"Well hello there."
(He’s American, but damn is he ever sexy. Why did I wait till my last night to come here?) Her hand unconsciously slid over to sit on top of his.
(Well I'd say that was an invitation. Quick review: she comes in here barely dressed, licks her lips, smiles at me, says hello and is now resting her hand on mine. I'd be out of my mind not to see where this leads. Shut up stupid you are married.) He leaned forward to speak but it was as if his lips were being magnetically pulled to hers. "My Name is Jon yours is?"
(What did he just say his name was? Oh who cares his lips are coming this way and Oh what a kiss.) "J.." She attempted to mumble before his tongue slid into her mouth to deepen the kiss.
The kiss took on a life of it's own and Jon knew if he didn't move fast he'd be making love to a total stranger in a bar. "Sorry I’ve got to go." he whispered huskily and took off like a shot.
She pouted and ordered another drink. Several hours later a handsome brunette with deep blue eyes entered and sat down beside her. They started talking and before he knew it he was kissing the enchanting British girl. They rose as one, still locked in a searing kiss. Sam tossed some money on the bar and led her out the door. The quickest route back to his hotel room was from the back of the bar so he steered them in that direction. The kiss intensified dangerously and he pinned her up against the side of the building. Her hands ran through his hair keeping them engaged in the kiss that had robbed her of any logical thought.
His hands slid down her back until they were on the back of her bare thighs. She moaned as he slid his hands under the dress to caress her firm buttocks. Jeannette pressed her body against his, grinding her pelvis against him. Sam moved to look in her eyes and felt her unzipping his shorts, releasing him from prison. He picked her up, pushing her back against the wall, while she wrapped her legs around him and whimpered as he entered her and began making love to her. Theirs was a frantic union of uncontrollable lust and desire unlike anything either of them had ever experienced nor would ever experience again after that night. When the last explosion of pleasure wracked her body she slid down him to the deck. He caught her in his strong arms and placed a sweet kiss on her throat. He took hold of her hand and started to lead her back to his room. They had just made it onto the Resort property when he looked into her eyes and recognized the burning desire that was mirrored in his own eyes. The front porch of his Villa was in sight as his hand slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulder and let the dress hit the sand. He lowered them both down to soft sand and made love to her once more.
Jeannette woke up and felt the cool sensation of 400 count Egyptian sheets wrapped loosely over her body. She couldn't remember how they made it into his room, she remembered the back of the bar, the sand, the chair on the porch but she couldn't remember exactly how they managed to keep their hands off each other long enough to get inside. She looked at the clock on the bed side table and panicked. Her plane was leaving in four hours and she didn't even know where she was. She slid out of the bed and wandered around looking for her dress. She couldn't find it anywhere but something told her to open the door; looking out she saw her dress sitting on the sand about 70 feet out where it had landed once he relieved her of it. Propping the door open with her sandal she ventured out a bit further from the door. Jeannette didn't see anyone in sight so she dashed out to retrieve her dress, slipping it quickly over her head before returning to the room. She noticed a notepad on the table and scrawled a fast note on it before stealing one last glance at the gorgeous stranger who had given her a night of passion she'd never forget and walked out the door with no idea where she was. Jeannette wandered along the beach until she recognized a path that lead her to the front of her beach house. Lily was waiting inside frantic over Jeannette's disappearance.
Jeannette calmed Lily down telling her that she simply fell asleep on the beach and went to pack up the few remaining articles she had left for the last minute. She thanked Lily for taking care of her for the last two months, promised to send her a letter when she got back home and left. She asked the driver if he knew what resort she had been in the night before but her vague description couldn't help the driver at all and he told her she could have been at any one of the resorts that line the beach. She sighed and decided maybe it was best that she knew nothing about the tall handsome young man she'd spent the night with.
Sam woke up expecting to feel the silky smoothness of her skin beside him; instead he found an empty bed. He sat up straight in bed to call out to her when he realized he had no idea what her name was. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what she had said in the bar but all he could remember was how soft her lips were. He thought maybe she was out on the porch and wrapped the sheet around him to check. On his way to the door he noticed the note on the table and stopped to look at it.
Thank you for a night to remember. I'll never forget my last night on this island.
Sam went back to the bar and noticed a guy sitting at the bar who looked familiar. He sat down beside him and asked the bar tender if he knew who the British girl was.
"Blonde hair, pale green eyes, sheer dress?" Jon asked with a grin overhearing the guy.
"Yes. Do you know her?"
"Only that she’d be the end of my marriage if I did what my body was telling me too. One kiss made me forgot about my wife and kids for a few seconds. Never forget that face or body though"
"Me either, dude me either."
June 29, 2008
London England
"Jeannette, I really think you should postpone this little vacation of yours. Need I remind you what happened last time you decided to run away from the theatre."
"Rhonda, you know darn well I could never forget what happened last time. I swear I'm only going for a week this time not a year. I just need to get away and think on my own for a bit. I'm at the cross roads of my career and I simply can not make up my mind in this city. I was thinking of leaving right after the curtain closes tonight."
"You can't leave tonight! You have to be at the Palace for ten."
"I'm missing dinner I don't see why I even have to be there."
"Young Lady you were invited by his Serene Highness and you accepted two months ago."
"Two months ago, I had no idea I'd be leaving in the morning."
"You are going and that's final, now finish getting dressed intermission is almost over."
"I'm so bloody tired of singing that song."
"Well you won't have to sing it again after tonight just keep thinking of that."
"Two lost souls on the highway of life, we ain't even got ....." Jeannette sang showing her contempt for the song.
"Jeannette, watch it you did win the Tony for playing Lola."
"I know Rhonda, I just hate this song so much. I like What Ever Lola Wants."
"Of course you do, you get to be the vamp. Now finish your tea and get out there."
Jeannette was called back on stage for three encores and was presented with a dozen white roses from the company of Damn Yankees. She thanked the company and the audience and stepped off the stage. No one, not even Rhonda, knew it might be her last performance ever. She slipped into a black lace dress worthy of Lola and a pair of strappy high heels. The limousine Rhonda had ordered was waiting for her in the alley and Jeannette was on her way to Buckingham Palace.
Jeannette managed to sneak into the Grand Ballroom without notice and accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. She noticed the perpetually cheerful designer that grated on her nerves and went in the opposite direction. She noticed a famous musician and smiled while looking for a quite place to hide.
Jon was left alone, he scanned the room for a face he recognized and his eyes made contact with the bubbly designer he had sat beside during dinner. When she started to move in his general direction, Jon made a bee line across the ball room to escape from her before she bored him to death. (Sambora where the hell are you) He ended up standing behind Prince Charles and a man who looked vaguely familiar
"Tim, it's such a shame Jeannette is leaving the production. Edward was trying to talk her into doing a show for his production company but she regretfully declined saying she had already made commitments. I assumed you roped her into another role."
"No we wanted her on Broadway for our revival of Grease but she turned us down too. Word is she's taking another one of her breaks."
"Well, she certainly works hard enough to deserve a break."
"Charles, didn't Edward tell you what happened last time she went away?"
"No do tell, Oh wait.......... Jeannette dear, come over here."
(I've been summoned no escaping now.) "Your Highness so wonderful to see you again. Hello Tim and I'm afraid I don't know the gentleman standing behind you."
"Sorry chap, didn't know you were waiting to talk to us." Tim said.
Jon had his back to them and turned around to answer the man he finally realized was Tim Rice.
"That's OK I was.............." His sentence dropped when he realized whom the men had been talking to.
Jeannette looked up at that moment and all the blood drained from her head. The gentleman was the man she almost spent one unforgettable night with in Fiji.
"Oh my God." They both said in unison before Jeannette fainted. Jon grabbed her before she hit the floor.
"Tim, call Rhonda and let her know what happened. Jon do you know Jeannette?" The Prince asked.
(So that's her name.) "Sort of, we go way back."
"Well, if you'd like to pick her up we can get her into one of the sitting rooms."
Jeannette came to ten minutes later and assured the Prince she was merely exhausted and hadn't eaten all day. The Prince left her alone with Jon for a moment despite her efforts to leave.
"Well hello there, we meet again."
"Yeah" Jeannette replied weakly realizing that her killer Fiji kiss was with Jon Bon Jovi.
"There was a guy looking for you the next day."
"I had left, did you know him?"
"No, we just both agreed that we’d never forget your lips or face."
"Ah."
The door burst open and Rhonda came rushing in with a little blonde girl in her arms.
"Mommy are you OK?"
(Tonight could not get any more embarrassing) "Yes Sweetie I'm fine, I just fainted."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine, Rhonda why don't you both go to the car and I'll say good bye to the Prince and join you." (Will this day ever end? My brain is about to explode)
Jon took a step closer to look at the little girl and froze in his place. (Holy crap, if I didn’t know better.) He looked more intently (Her mother's hair, azure blue eyes, dimples, her mother's nose, whoa this is scary.)
"Hi Sweetie, my aren't you pretty. How old are you?"
"I'm five"
(Jon all you did was kiss the girl, this can’t be your daughter no matter how much she looks like she could be.) "Five is a great age, you look pretty in your sun dress."
"Thank you."
Jon noticed motion at the door and Richie walked in. He noticed Jon, then the pretty blonde who had smiled at him earlier and finally the little girl who was smiling warmly at Jon. He did a double take when the girl made a duck face at Jon. (Holy fuck, she’s Jon’s)
"Bro, what is going on here?" Richie asked looking wildly at his best friend.
Jon knew exactly what Rich was thinking but he couldn’t very well blurt out she’d not mine dude. "Jeannette fainted and I happened to be there and saved her from hitting the floor."
"Thank you once again Mr. Bon Jovi but I’m feeling much better now."
Rhonda kept looking from the rock star, to Chantal, to Jeannette and back again. The scandalous headlines began flashing across her eyes and she wanted to murder her oldest client. Jeannette caught the look Rhonda was giving her and knew there was no way she’d believe her, let alone give her a second to say anything.
"Rhonda please take Chantal home, she needs her rest since we are going to the country house in the morning. I have to apologize to the Prince and eat something."
"I’ll be waiting up young lady. We have soooooooooooo much to talk about." Rhonda replied her
voice dripping with venom.
"See you in the morning darling, give me a kiss."
Chantal went over to her mom and gave her a big hug and a kiss. She went over to Jon and presented her hand for a shake.
Jon lifted her small hand and gave it a kiss. "It was a pleasure meeting you Chantal."
"You too Mister."
Rhonda glared at Jeannette and the two rock stars and left. Jeannette dropped her head to her knees and covered them with her hands.
"Jon, when were you going to tell me you have another daughter?"
"I admit the resemblance is uncanny but that adorable little girl is not mine."
"She would have been, if you didn’t leave me that night." Jeannette sighed.
"So that guy..."
"Yup he kissed me and didn’t run away. We ended up making love several times and nine months later Chantal was born. Not that Rhonda will believe a word I say. Oh God, I don’t want to face her tonight."
"Why don’t you come back to my hotel with me and I’ll order you room service. You can crash and I’ll take the couch."
"Jon, do you really want to have a photographer taking your picture going in to a hotel?" Richie hissed. (The press won’t care when the paternity test comes up false, they will have made their money.)
Jon ignored his sensible friend, he didn’t want to let Jeannette out of his sights. She still had the same intoxicating effect on him and this time he was a divorced father of four, not a married father of three.
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