Chapter Twenty One

It was a little after eight when Richie arrived with my bag, letting him in we hugged as brothers do.

"so, how it go today?, any closer to sorting this crap out?"
"kinda,"
"What the fuck that mean?, kinda?, you gotta have some legal rights?"
"Yeah I have but not much cause she ain't really done anything to hurt me, a restraining order is all's they can do right now"
"serious, man, that won't stop her,"
I nodded, "I know, but most Michael can do, and have her arrested when she does, I've gotta make notes too"
"for real?, that's all? What about the photos, breaking through backstage, video? "
"it's all circumstantial bro"
"that sucks"
Again I nodded, "tell me something I don't know"
"I will, " Rich walked over to the mini bar and got two drinks, walking back over he sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to him for me to join him. He held a smug smile on his lips.

"Why you looking so smug?"

"sit, all will be revealed."

I sat next to him and eyed him suspicious, the last time Rich had behaved like this I had been doused in water after a gig.

"ok, I'm sitting what gives, and I warn you Sambora no pranks."

He laughed, "You are so suspicious, no pranks."

"So what then?"

"Matt,"

"What bout him?"

"he knows bout the girl that has said your the pop to her kid."

"yeah he knew before,"

"yeah, but bet ya didn't know that I have spoke to him and told him to go get a paternity test."

"Hang on, you have told Matt the kids his not mine?."

"I have, he was pretty pissed, tried denying he had slept with her, even said the kid looked like you not him."

"whoa, Rich, what have you done?"

"What, I've helped you clear your name for fucks sake."

"no all you have done is shift the blame from me to Matty, he has a wife too, for fuck sake Rich, do you ever engage your brain."  I got up and started to pace.

"Right, so telling Dot for you was ok, but telling your fucking ass of a brother who was happy for you to take the blame for his own indiscretions is not? I'm fucking confused. no one can do right for fucking wrong with you Jon"

Rich joined me and was on his feet pacing the room the room too. his face set in a frown and his temper rising by the second.

I knew what Rich had done was thinking in my interests, but I wanted to be the one to sit down with Matt and talk to him about his indiscretion, not Richie. Matt was my brother after all.

I took a deep breath and walked over to Rich, facing him direct I spoke calmer.

"look Rich, as much as you want to help, there are times you need to run things past me first. I wanted to talk to Matt myself, I understand him, you think telling him to go get a paternity test was the best way to tell him he's a pop?"

Rich tilted his head on one side as he answered, I guess not.  but I wanted to help, I just did it the wrong way.. I just didn't think I guess, I'm sorry"

"It's ok," patting rich on the arm " I'll sort it," my mind then clicked with what Rich said, "Hey, you said you told dot?"

"Yeah, she rang me before I came over with your stuff."

"Sorry man, I wanted to tell you that I had mentioned bout Matt to Dot, but time ran away, ya know.."

"Hey, it's fine, both of us fucked up eh"

we laughed, that's how it was between us, we were both passionate people and as quick as we could flare up, things were calm again. I had to know what Dot had said, so asked him while fixing us too  more whisky's.

"Can you tell me what she asked?"

Rich sat back down on the sofa, I followed and handed him his drink, he explained.

"sure, she rang late afternoon, she went straight for it, no pleasantries."

dot was always direct.

"What she say?"

"She just jumped straight in, "Richie, Jon said you know something about the girl that say's Jon is the pop of her baby, tell me?"

I chuckled, "that's my Dot..."

"Yeah, I said, nice to hear from you too Dot, she didn't bite on that, just pushed me to answer, so I told her about the times Matt and this girl had been back stage with all the flirting and that they had gone off together and obviously had slept together, and that I could swear on a stack of bibles and my daughters life you had not been unfaithful with this women, that was accusing you."

"thanks man."

"that's not all, and shoot me again if ya want, but I told her that Antonia was not your lover either, I told her everything about that too."

my eye's were wide with shock.

"I'm guessing she did not believe that right?"

"She was hesitant until I told her that Clive on security could confirm too about the package and stuff."

"and..."

"nothing she just said thanks Rich and hung up. so you gonna shoot me then"

"no, not this time bro.."

instead I grabbed him making him jump and hugged him tight and thumped him on the back thanking him.

letting go he relaxed back into the sofa, and with a wry smile he spoke "your welcome bro, I think," lifting his drink to his lips he downed it in one go and stood.

"well, I'm outta here, I meeting Teek and Dave in town for something to eat and hitting a bar with them after  too, you wanna join us?" "nah, I'm beat, I'm gonna catch up on my sleep, have a good time though yeah, and have a few for me."  laughing he continued, " ya can count on it ol man...We have a life ya know.."

I got up to show him to the door, "thanks again man, seriously, you are the best.."

another hug as he opened the door to leave, then a female voice was heard, "Jon"

rich pulled back the door so it was wide open, there stood before Rich and me was Dot.