Chapter Ten

The room fell silent, me sat on the bed, and Richie stood in front by the dresser, finally Richie spoke, "So what ya gonna do?"

 

"that's just it Rich, I have no fucking idea, this is all unchartered territory for me, man, in all the years Bon Jovi have been together I've have never had a situation like this, and now not having control over my life any more?, it's fucking scary bro, we have a hundred date tour to do.... and right now all I can think about is my family and Dot, what the fuck am I to do? Tell me?" I got up and started to pace like a caged animal.

 

"Jon, calm down, getting worked up like this aint doing you any good,"

I listened to Rich but I felt as if my world was spinning like a hyper speed mini go round and I could not get off or make it stop. Richie placed his hand on my shoulder, 

"C'mon, take it easy eh?"

my mind was so fogged with the crap, I asked Rich again, "So what shall I do?"

"Bud, you know my thoughts, I can't tell you what to do man, that has to be your decision, but my advice would be, just do what's in your heart."

 

I stopped pacing while Rich spoke, I still could not shake the feeling I needed to go home and see Dot, to me that felt the right thing to do.

 

"I wanna do just that Rich, but you know what's killin me, this is a lose; lose situation, the only option I have is how can I limit the damage this fucking bitch is gonna cause."

 

" so call dot, talk on the phone, let her know what's happened, play it down, like it's all in hand."

 

"I can't do that, not on the phone, this is something she needs to hear in person, sides I'm no good at hiding shit, she will know right from the get go something is wrong"

"want me to call her?"

"hell no, looks like I am even more guilty, she would chew you up and spit ya out, sides what's it say when her own husband can't speak to her?, no man, I know you don't agree, but I have to get home and see Dot and talk to her in person. Really that's my only hope."

 

"look, man if that's what you gotta do, then you go do it. I'm here if you need me, Ok?"

"Ok"

"well no time like now, I best go call front desk and order a cab, you staying here?"

"Yeah man, I'm beat, I need some sleep, but you call me if you need, ok?"

"Ok, I will, now get your ass outta my room"

 

He laughed and as he walked out of the door, and headed off down the hallway, he called back, "take care of you, see you at the airport tomorrow "

"Yeah I will" Reaching his room door he opened it and with a final salute he went inside. I moved back into my room, and closing the door went to search out my nap sack.

I found it in the closet under my jeans, moving back to the sitting area I collected the pictures off the coffee table and put them in the bag, then moved to the player and removed the tape and put that in too.
I stood, by the phone with the cradle in my hands and the dialling tone sounding from the receiver, not yet ready to make the call for a cab, I thought about what I was about to do. Fact, if Dot found out through the press me being innocent would hold no grounds, she would argue why had I never told her before, no, it was a shit task but one I had to do, I pressed zero and rang down and spoke to the night receptionist to book me a cab.

Minutes later the phone rang, It was front desk telling me the cab had arrived.

Walking out my door to the elevator I ran through in my head how I was going to tell Dot about the blackmail.  I continue to play out the conversation in my mind the whole way home, it was only as we pulled up to the house, which was in complete darkness it hit home the enormity of what I was doing.

Paying the cab fare I got out and headed round to the back door, hand on ledge I found the key, and let myself in.

Dawn was breaking, and the birds had begun to sing, and I was about to commit marital suicide as I walked through the house and headed up the stairs to our bedroom.

Reaching the door I stood outside, taking a deep breath I opened the door and walked across to the bed and gently sat and watched Dot sleep.

Gently I traced her features with my fingers, as she woke she sat up and blinking her eye's she asked, "Jon?, is that you?"
"Yeah honey it's me?"
she edged back in the bed and sat with her back resting against the bed rest, "what's wrong?" she glanced at the night table and the clock, "it's four am, what is going on?"

Taking a deep breath I began, taking her hand in mine I ran through what had happened back stage only forty eight hours ago.
dot clicked on the night side light, and remained quiet the whole time I was talking. Her expression showing concentration.

When I had finished I brought out the fake photographs and took the tape over to the player and played it.

Dot sat in silence. and did not speak for ages,
"So where is she now?"
"I have no idea, Rich and me handed her to security at the hotel, I guess she has gone back home." it was sinking in that Dot did not believe me,
"Dot, you do believe me?"
"I want to Jon, but you arrive in the early hours of breaking dawn and tell me this tale, I don't honestly know."
"Dot, we have been married for years, of course you know me, I would never do anything to hurt you."
"We'll nothing intentional anyway eh Jon?"
"ouch, where did that come from, have I done something in the past that has now made you doubt me?"
"one or two things, but they are nothing compared to this?"
"What?, Dot did you listen to anything I said?"
"Yeah I've listened to it all, and I don't know what to think or believe"
"So you doubt me?"
"well the evidence is pretty strong"
"they are fake photo's babe, they aint real."
"Well they look real enough to me, and from what I have seen, it looks like you have been having an affair with this women for a long time and now your mistress is gonna deal the dirt on your affair your hear trying to get me to believe your sorry shit about being blackmailed...."
"But Dot it's the truth, ask Rich, for fucks sake, he can vouch for me, and my head of security, even Diane, c'mon babe, please."
"I'll think about it Jon, now please go and leave me."