Chapter 18

Jon was sitting at the large French antique desk in his office reviewing the google alerts when the buzz of the intercom alerted him to his visitor's presence. He grabbed his cigarettes from the desk and had one in his mouth even before he had risen from his chair. As he opened the white framed French doors and stepped out onto the driveway, he pulled a silver lighter from his pocket and lit up, inhaling deeply of the calming drug that was nicotine. He then admonished himself for doing so. He knew he had the discipline and conviction to give up the habit, but the fact was he didn't need to smoke…he just enjoyed it. On days like today though…well on days like today, it was also a welcome relief to the stress.

Sitting in the back seat of the town car, a stonily silent Frankie by her side, Beth took in the expanse of meticulously manicured gardens that surrounded Jon's French Provincial style mansion. It was all very tastefully presented, not overdone or gaudy as many homes of the rich and famous were. This was elegant, yet simplistic. The estate was set over a number of acres, the large mansion taking pride of place in the middle overlooking the mighty Navesink River. The late morning sun glittered of its surface, creating dazzling points of light. As they progressed up the cobblestone driveway, she noted a number of outbuildings on the fringes of the property. He had told her a little of this place, so she knew that one served as a recording studio, and another had been decked out in the fashion of an old English pub "The Shoe Inn" he had called it. A tribute to the time he had spent in London while filming The Leading Man, and recording his second solo album Destination Anywhere. Beyond that she knew very little.

As the car pulled to a stop before the front door Beth noticed a figure leaning against the wall beside a set of French doors off to the right. He stood feet crossed at the ankle, arms crossed across a broad expanse of chest, shying away from the late October chill, wearing only a pair of faded jeans and a fitted light weight brown cable knit sweater. He had a cigarette dangling from his lower lip. It was the first time Beth had seen him smoking. As the driver came around to open the car door, Jon moved off the wall and came towards them. An old dog trotted over to see what the commotion was, and Jon bent down to give him an affectionate scratch on the ears. "Hey Copper. How you doing boy?" she heard him say. Frankie hadn't waited for the driver to open her door. She was already standing on the other side of the car as Beth straightened up. She watched as her daughter walked stiffly around the car to join her.

Jon was before them now. "Hi," he said a little too formally. "Welcome to High Point. I just wish your first time here could have been under better circumstances."

Beth sensed Jon's discomfort if front of their daughter and leaned forward to give him a brief kiss on the cheek, as was their usual greeting. Frankie, as was expected, made no such gesture. Her only greeting for her father was an icy stare. She did, however, greet Copper with affection, squatting down before him to give him a good rub around the neck and ears.

"Hey boy" she cooed softly.

"His name is Copper," Jon offered.

"I know. I heard." She snapped in response.

Jon was a little taken aback by the viciousness in her tone, "Umm…how about we head in and see if we can't work this mess out." he suggested, discarding his cigarette but by flicking it off into the grass. The women followed him promptly. There was a chill rolling off the river that hadn't been quite so evident in the city, and both were unconsciously rubbing their arms as they stepped over the threshold and into the shelter of Jon's home.

He led them through the house to the hub of all activity – the kitchen - where he indicated they should sit down at a granite topped island. "Coffee?" he asked as he moved over to the pot on the counter.

"Thank you" and "No" came the simultaneous response from Beth and Frankie respectively.

"Actually Jon would you mind if I had a tea?" Beth asked.

"Sure. No problem." He answered amenably.

"Can we just get on with this?" Frankie said shortly. "I have places I'd rather be."

"Frances," Beth admonished.

"What? You know I don't want to be here. You made me come? I told you it wasn't a good idea, but you insisted." Her posture took on a conceited air, she turned to Jon. "I guess at least now that I'm here I can say I told you so. I wasn't the only one to see what was going on last night. Now look what you've done…all because you couldn't keep your hands off her. I bet your wife is really pleased about this one." She watched Jon flinch and grinned with sadistic pleasure. "Thought so."

"Frances…ENOUGH!" Beth yelled, startling both Frankie and Jon. It was so rare that she ever raised her voice. Even at her most annoyed, Beth's voice was usually calm and controlled, her words measured.

Oh shit…almost forgot about her. Frankie thought. Damn!

Beth glowered at her daughter. "I have had more than enough of that smart mouth of yours of late young lady." She added sternly.

Shaking her head, Beth rose from the kitchen counter and crossed to stand before one of the French doors facing out over the river. She stood stoically, her left arm crossing her torso. She ran her shaky right hand through her hair and then bought it to rest loosely fisted against her mouth, her right elbow supported on her left palm. She closed her eyes and shook her head minutely. Jon had risen and moved to her side. He raised his arm to place a comforting hand on her, then thought better of it and let it drop idly to his side.

Beth opened her eyes slowly and shot him a side long glance, before returning her gaze to the safer sight of the river. She expelled a deep sigh before she spoke. "Jon, how did this all go so damned wrong?...It was supposed to be about honoring Branson and its turned into this...this circus."

"Beth I'm so sorry. I didn't…" Jon began

Beth held up her hand to silence him. "I don't want your apologies Jon. Just tell me how you're going to fix it."

Out of the corner of his eye Jon could see Frankie sitting by, a smug self satisfied smile now curling the corners of her mouth. It was obvious that she could not have been happier about this current turn of events. That was until Jon spoke.

"I want to have my publicist issue a statement to the press." His simple statement wiping the grin right off his daughters face.

"And tell them what?" Frankie asked in alarm.

"The truth…of course."

"No…no way." Frankie rose from the table and headed for the door. "I've heard enough. I'll be in the car when you're ready. And in case you didn't get what I just said…I do not give you permission to bring my name into this."

"Frances get back here," Beth ordered. "You are not helping matters."

Frankie came to a stop at the door to the kitchen and turned around, but made no effort to re-enter the room.

"Frankie please… be reasonable…" He tried to reason.

"No! I don't want to hear it. I don't care how you fix this, but I do not want any part of it. You got yourself into this mess. You can get yourself out of it." She looked toward her mother, "I'm sorry you got caught up in this Mom, really I am. But I tried to warn you. Maybe if you stay away from him now it will all blow over. And just for the record that suits me just fine."

Jon placed his palms flat on cold stone surface of the kitchen island in a conscious effort not to strike out at something. Frankie watched the play of the muscles in his jaw as he fought to control his emotions.

He measured his words very carefully before he spoke. "Have you stopped to consider Frankie that how I handle this will affect more than just yourself and your mother? I have a family to consider. A pissed off wife, and more importantly four very confused kids, who unfortunately, will bear the brunt of the media backlash from their friends when they return to school. Now, I know you are insistent on seeing things in my relationship with your mother that aren't there, but I also know that if you are honest with yourself, you understand that the allegations in that tabloid article are more about you than they are about your mother and me."

"If you were smart enough to read between the lines of that article," he continued, "and I believe you are, then you know they are alluding to me having another child. They're baiting me Frankie. Someone at that party heard something they shouldn't have. The paper won't come out and report what they heard for fear of being sued, on the off chance they got it wrong, so they are trying to get me to react on the basis of my relationship with Beth. But let me assure you of one thing Frankie, they will not stop until one of two things happen…a)" he pointed of the options on his fingers, "I release a statement and tell them what they want to know…or b) they harass both you and your mother, and everyone else you know until they reveal the truth themselves. I hope you can see how the former is to your advantage."

"I can't see how any of this is to my advantage, least of all me being your daughter. And now you want me to stand by and be supportive while you announce it to the world," she shook her head, "I don't think so."

"Jesus Frankie…can you please help me out here. If you're not concerned about me or even your mother, can you think about your brothers and sister?" He asked exasperated.

"I'm sure they've heard worse. You're certainly no angel Jon…never were according to Gina."

"What?"He looked at her in surprise. "What are you…" then the realization swept over him, "oh…the diaries." It shouldn't have come as a shock to him that she would be tempted by their contents eventually. He had just hoped they would be in a better place when she was so he could rationalize anything she had written.

Beth's head shot up at the word. "You're reading Gina's diaries Frankie?" She had been doing her best to remain neutral in Frankie and Jon's argument. It seemed to her, that her involvement never really helped matters and she figured it was time to let them sort through this for themselves. She would have her say when they were done. But this was news… even to her.

Frankie shot a brief bashful glance at her mother. This was after all something they would have normally shared. "Not all…just bits here and there. I was trying to understand what she saw in him. See if there was some redeeming quality that would make me want to know him." She looked to Jon then. "From what Gina wrote you were quite the Casanova back then, even when you were with Dot…doesn't look like much has changed to me."

"Christ Frankie, can we please get past this?" his voice was raised he trembled with anger, "I am not interested in your mother like that. Why the hell would I be? One woman breaking my balls is one too many. I sure as hell don't want, or need another." As the words left his mouth he shot a look in Beth's direction. He could have sworn he saw her flinch. "And besides," he sighed, his tone now flat and calm…resigned, the pain was visible in the depths of his crystal eyes, "why would I do something that would make you hate me more than you already do?"

It was Frankie's turn to flinch. "I…I don't… hate you. I don't really know you…and I don't like what you did to Gina…in fact, that I do hate…but I don't hate you."

"You could have fooled me kid." He turned away from her to hide the pain that clouded his eyes.

"Can I interrupt?" Beth spoke quietly. Things were getting off track, and at that moment all she wanted to do was resolve the matter at hand. "What's it going to take to make this go away?"

"I don't know that it will 'go away'," Jon indicated quote marks with his fingers, "Beth. I'm sorry. But the quickest way to resolve it will be a statement to the press."

"Will that be enough?"

"Honestly," he moved back to her side, "I don't know. I mean, it will give them the story they need, but I think the paps will be out in force until they get the shot they want."

"If you read the statement at a press conference with us by your side…would that do it?"

"Mom!" Frankie cried in shock.

"Shush now Frankie," Beth silenced her, "We have to do what's right for everyone here. Not just us. Jon is right. He has a family to consider as well. This is no easier on him than it is on us. I think it's time you grew up a little and realized that not everything can revolve around you. Besides, I think we all know how dangerous the paparazzi can be when they are desperate. I don't want you exposed to them as you try to make your way around the city…it wouldn't be safe."

"I think you know Frankie that Jon has always done right by his family where the press is concerned. There is very little exposure of them out there. This is something we had touched on in our conversations because I feared this day would come. I know he will shield us from it as much as possible," she watched Jon nod in agreement and continued, "Honey…if he says we need to do this…we need to do this."

"But Mom I…"

"Frankie…please!" Beth turned to look at Jon who's gaze was fixed on Frankie. "Jon, you didn't answer my question. Would that do it?"

"If you're asking me if it will make it all go away…Beth, I'm sorry the answer is no. If you're asking me if it will prevent a horde of reporters from camping on your front step…then the answer is most likely yes…but Beth…I'm really not comfortable with exposing both of you like that. I've always done everything I can to keep my family out of the spotlight. To do this would be to go against everything I have tried to achieve." He said apprehensively.

"I don't see how we have a choice Jon. I mean really…give me a better idea and we'll go with it."

"I can't."

"Well it's settled then."

At that point Frankie, who had still been in the doorway returned to her seat at the island. She said nothing but her sullen demeanor, indicated very clearly what she thought of the plan.

"Well if that's the decision I have some phone calls to make, one of which I am seriously dreading." Jon suddenly looked very tired. Beth could see the toll the mornings events had taken on him and she knew that it wasn't going to get better in the near future.

"And which one is that?" Frankie's curiosity got the better of her.

Jon's mother hadn't been clued in on the situation yet. She could be a difficult woman, and Jon hadn't wanted to inflict that on Frankie. His relationship with her was still too fragile. But now with this, he could no longer avoid telling her that she had another grandchild. He was dreading the conversation.

"I have to tell Mom." His words were simple, but his expression spoke volumes.

"Hey Jon…have to tell your mom what?" Jon, Frankie and Beth all turned to face the man who had entered the room.

"Beth, Frankie…this is Paul Korzilus…he's on my management staff," he turned to face Paul, "Paul I'd like you to meet my daughter Frankie and her mother Beth."

"You're what?" Paul asked his jaw slack with surprise.

"Long story man…the short of it is this…Do you remember Gina?" Paul nodded mutely…Jon continued, "Frankie is Gina's daughter. Gina is…"he still found himself stumbling over the words, "Gina died giving birth to her. Beth and her husband Branson adopted her as an infant. Branson passed away just under a year ago - that was the benefit I played last night." Again Paul nodded. "And I only discovered Frankie's existence a few weeks ago. There that's in a nutshell. Oh," he added as an afterthought, "Dot and the kids know, have for weeks. So does Rich. The other boys…no not yet. And…" he sighed deeply, "I am about to go ring Mom to tell her. Wish me luck." He said as he headed for the door.

Jon stopped and turned back to Beth, "I really am sorry you got dragged into this Bethie." His expression was sincere, and she though just a little bit tortured.

"I know Jon…I know. Go make your call. Paul here can keep us entertained."

"Make yourselves at home. Paul can show you where everything is. This may take a little while." And then he was gone, his parting look that of one who was being sent in to face the lions.

It was a little over an hour later that he finally returned. Paul had taken Beth and Frankie on a mini tour of the estate, and they were now settled back in the kitchen making small talk over coffee. Beth seemed a little more relaxed now that the decision had been made. Frankie however sat stiffly at the counter and refused to make eye contact. He suddenly remembered the text message he had shot off to Paul before bed the night before.

"Hey Paul."

"Yeah Boss."

"Did you get that text I sent last night?" Jon asked.

"You mean the one for the …"

Jon cut him off with a meaningful glance at Frankie, "Yeah that one."

"All taken care of. Should be in my hands this afternoon."

"Thanks man…I knew you'd come through for me." At least something was going right. The thought bought a little smile to his lips. "Um ladies…there is something you should know. I have asked my wi…" he choked over the word "I've asked Dorothea to be present at the press conference…you know unified front and all that. I was an uphill battle convincing her but she has agreed to do it for the kids' sake."

"When is this gonna happen? I do have a life you know." Frankie asked sourly.

"As soon as Paul here can set it up. Hopefully this afternoon. Can you get on that?" he asked Paul.

Paul nodded and left the room, leaving the three alone.

"That soon," Beth asked alarmed.

"The sooner we do this the sooner we get the press of your backs."

"I um...I need to go home and prepare…change…something." Beth said flustered.

Jon moved to stand before her, taking her fidgeting hands in his to still them. "Beth…look at me. You look fine...beautiful in fact."

"Oh Christ, someone fetch me a bucket." Frankie muttered.

Both Jon and Beth ignored her. In fact, with Jon being so close Beth was having trouble focusing on anything but him.

"There is nothing to be done. Just relax and when it's time, it will be a simple stroll out into the front yard for a few pictures. There is nothing to be worried about."

"Hmph…easy for you to say. This is your life Jon…your career. It's what you do. I hate being in front of the camera." Beth said pulling away from him so she could concentrate. "What about Dorothea?"

"Dot will be here as soon as she can arrange a sitter for the kids. I actually called her first. I can't imagine that she will be too far away now."

"No she isn't." A cool female voice echoed from beyond the kitchen before its owner made her appearance.

Frankie eyed the woman critically. She had only had that one very short interaction with her the night she had met Jon. She was an attractive woman. Not as attractive as her own mother but still - long dark silky hair, expressive brown eyes. Frankie remembered that she had had a pretty smile, but at the moment her mouth was set in a grim line.

"Nice to see you again Frankie," she held out a hand to the younger woman, her step daughter in effect.

"You too Mrs Bongiovi," Frankie replied formerly. She was nothing if not polite…usually.

"Oh I think we can dispense with the formalities Frankie. We are all family. Dorothea is fine." Dot then turned to face Beth. "And you must be the women that is trying to steal my husband."

"Excuse me?" Beth said, "Dot!" Jon exclaimed in unison.

Dot gave a flippant little giggle and offered a hand to the other woman, "Just playing with you. Hello Beth. It's nice to finally meet you. Don't worry about the paper. If I believed even half of what was written Jon would have been a single man a long time ago." She said. Her tone was light, but there was an underlying tension as she spoke. "I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you to you Beth."

"Whatever for?" Beth asked.

"For taking such good care of Jon's daughter of course." She shot a contrived smile in Frankie's direction. "Now if you'll please excuse me I have a few things to take care of while I'm here." She turned to Jon her tone once again icy, "I'll be upstairs when you need me."

When Dots back was turned, Beth and Frankie exchanged a meaningful glance. Frankie shrugged her shoulders, Beth raised one eyebrow.

"Sorry about that," Jon said as soon as Dot was out of earshot.

"There's nothing to be sorry about Jon. I think I over reacted earlier. I know you didn't want this anymore than I did." Beth said softly.

"No..you're right I didn't. I have thought of a hundred ways I wanted this to go down and this was never one of them.

Paul walked back into the room, "Conference is set for three this afternoon out the front. They were surprised we called. I think they all expected us to ignore it like we usually do. You know what this means though right?"

"Yep… I know?"

"Well I don't" Frankie who had been sitting morosely at the counter injected.

"It means Frankie," Jon explained, "that there will most likely be a very large turnout. The fact that I am holding a press conference in its self is unusual. The fact that I am doing it in response to a gossip column is unheard of. They will most likely be falling over themselves to get here."

"Well let's hope that most don't get back up." Frankie responded dryly.

Jon couldn't help but chuckle at that. It was going to be an interesting afternoon.

Chapter 17

"Care to explain this asshole?" Jon woke with a start as the morning paper was flung into his face.

"Dorothea…What the FUCK?" He exclaimed, jolting upright and scrabbling to grab the paper before it hit the guest room floor.

"Page six Jon."

"Awe c'mon Dot...you woke me for a fucking gossip column. Aren't we done with this yet? You know it's all BS." Jon said dismissively flinging the paper aside and scratching at the fur on his bare chest.

"Read it!"

Jon rolled his eyes, but retrieved the paper, flicking through until he came to the offending article. Fuck, he thought, this isn't good. And he hadn't even begun to read yet. Several photos of the benefit were splashed across the page, the most prominent two showing him kissing Beth in greeting and then kissing her forehead later in the evening. The photographer had caught the intimacy of the moment perfectly, for a moment Jon's thoughts drifted as he wondered if it would be possible to get a copy.

"Well?" Dorothea asked impatiently…the scowl she wore was now a permanent fixture on her once calm face.

"Geez Dot...gimme a break you just startled me awake," he said and mentally added, not to mention dragged me from another very pleasant dream, "give me a chance to get my bearings will you?"

"Just read it!"

Jon scanned the headline…nothing so unusual there…

Jersey Rock Royalty Givin' Love A Bad Name??

That was par for the course, it was one extreme to the other. He was either the poster boy for a rock n roll marriage, or he was jumping into bed with his latest co-star. He read further on…

Looks like the King of Happily Married Rock Stars may be getting a bit tired of his same-old, same-old. Insiders tell us none other than Jon Bon Jovi, who will be celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary next spring, was spotted on the town in In Why See with a lovely widow. Friends say they're just acquaintances, but our photogs snapped some pics that tell quite a different story. Bon Jovi was partying until the wee hours of the ayem at a benefit honoring the late Branson McKenzie, former husband of the fresh-faced lovely who spent quite a bit of time in the arms of our favorite Jersey boy.

JBJ has kept up his family man persona for several years now and he and wife Dorothea Hurley are the proud parents of four. Some in the know think there may be a fifth child on the horizon for the star, but since the current Mrs. Bon Jovi isn't sporting a bump, we're assuming this may be a child from another liaison. Never mind that sultry little deet, Bon Jovi's sexy blue eyes, not to mention his hands, never seemed to leave Miss Mystery, who was cloaked in an elegant Versace ball gown that showed off her teensy taut bod. Perhaps the merry widow could shed some light on what is sure to develop into a fascinating story...

"Fuck," he cursed loudly.

"Yes it would seem you did," Dot spat sarcastically. "She's pregnant Jon? How could you?"

"What are you talking about woman? No one is pregnant. Hell I would have had to sleep with her for that to happen. I already told you there is nothing between us."

Dot snatched the paper from his grasp. "That…," she pointed to the incriminating photos, "that does not look like nothing to me."

Jon ran his hand through his hair and let out an exasperated sigh. He threw the sheets back and stalked through to the bathroom. When he returned to the bedroom a couple minutes later – dressed in jeans and a T and a lot calmer – Dot was standing staring at the rumpled sheets on the bed. Jon flushed a little when he saw what had caught her attention…the laundry hadn't been done yet he realized.

Dot raised an eyebrow as she looked at him but said nothing.

He spoke in an effort to distract her attention. "I will say this again Dot…there is nothing between Beth and I but friendship." As the words left his mouth, Jon prayed that the paparazzi that had snagged the photos at the benefit hadn't tailed him to Beth's. If he had… there would be much worse to come.

"The kid?" Dot persisted.

"I would assume that was referring to Frankie." He explained. "I'm guessing someone heard something they shouldn't have. Let's say that Frankie was a little resistant to my presence."

"This ungrateful child has caused you nothing but grief Jon…why are you persisting with this? It's quite obvious she doesn't want you in her life." She pointed out.

"Would you have me give up so easy if it was one of our kids that were behaving the same way?" He asked. "Stephy doesn't want her old man around half the time now…should I give up on her too?" His tone was icy.

"I didn't mean… That's different Jon. You know Stephy loves you. With her it's just typical growing pains."

"Yeah well hopefully with a little time and patience Frankie will grow to love me too…she hasn't had the pleasure of my wit and charming personality for the last nineteen years." He grinned.

"I'm not seeing anything here worth smiling over Jon."

"You'd rather I cry?"

"I'd rather not deal with this at all." Dot dropped into the wing chair in the corner of the room, her shoulders slumped. "Look at what this is doing to us Jon. We don't even talk anymore…everything is an argument now. All since this girl came into your life. And my god Jon the kids…what are they gonna say about this?"

At that moment Jon's cell phone rang out from the side table. He crossed the room in a couple of strides and picked it up, he recognized the number immediately.

"Don't you dare answer that Jon" Dots tone was steely.

He shot her a defiant look and flipped the phone open. "Hey," there was a pause as the person on the other end of the line spoke, "Yeah I saw it," another pause, "I know…don't worry we'll deal with her together…I'll be there soon. I just have to deal with the fallout here first."

Jon crossed the room and retrieved his wallet from the small bureau, Dot's intense gaze following his every move. "No, it's fine…I'm dealing with it," he responded to a question, "I don't know…we haven't discussed that yet. I don't think so though. Look I'm gonna go. The sooner I get through here the sooner I can get there and we can handle this. Warn Tom I'm coming so he can let me straight through…I'm guessing there'll be a press ambush downstairs." There was one last pause. "Ok…see you soon."

"I assume that was her?" Dot asked venomously.

"It was Beth…yes." He replied calmly, "She wants to get to Frankie before she sees the paper. Where are the kids? Have they seen this?"

"We are not telling them about this." Her voice was firm.

"Be reasonable Dot…They are going to find out. Better they hear it from me now. It's not like they don't know about Frankie anyway." Jon implored.

"No. I will not have them exposed to your indiscretions. It's always been our agreement Jon…do what you like but be discrete…and you royally screwed that condition this time."

"They need to hear this from me before it gets out of hand. I'm going to speak to them Dot. I'm sorry but you don't have the power of veto in this instance." He said his mouth set in a grim unyielding line. "You know you should take a lesson in manners from her. Beth was concerned about you and the kids and how you're handling it, yet you don't give a shit about Beth and Frankie and what this is doing to them."

"Stealing another woman's husband counts as good manners does it?" Dot spat. Anger flashed dangerously in Jon's eyes. He opened his mouth to protest, but Dot didn't give him the chance. "Awe hell Jon…this is just so fucking like you! Could you for one minute try to look at this from my point of view? I'm trying to protect my family here. Maybe Frankie is part of your family, and in your typical fucked up twisted way you think her mother is now too, but they are not part of my family."

Dot assessed his mood. Watched the clenching of his jaw and took in the resolution in his stance…the set of his shoulders and the way his feet were planted firmly on the floor. She realized there would be no backing down for him in this. She couldn't win when he was like this…she would just have to deal. She moved to stand before him. "So are you gonna stick around for the fallout? Or are you going to leave that to me as usual?"

"I'll be here to answer the kids questions if that's what you mean…but I have another child to think of here too. This is going to be a lot harder on her and her mother than it will be on any of you." Jon made no attempt to move past her. It would be better for the kids if they could provide a unified front.

Dot crossed her arms over her chest, "Hmph… how do you figure that?"

"You and the kids have always been exposed to this side of my job. Frankie and Beth have not. Can you please be reasonable here Dottie?" he asked trying to appeal to her better nature. She really was a very good person at heart and he recognized how hard on her all of this had been. "I know this is hard on you…but please…think back to the first time something like this happened to you."

"I don't have to think too far back Jon," Dot said quietly, "This is the first time there has been any foundation to the gossip. The rumors and lies I can handle…but this…"

"Dot, could you consider just giving them a chance? I mean, I know you probably wouldn't ever come to see Frankie as your daughter, or your step-daughter even, but I think if you just got to know her you'd really like her. She's a lot like you in fact…" Dot stood silently before him looking sullen. He continued, "… and Beth is just...well put yourself in her place. She just lost her husband, now her child's birth father has come on the scene and it's me. I don't want her to feel insecure, like I'm trying to take Frankie, or that I want to take Branson's spot in her life. Can't you see why I would feel like I need to befriend her? Because honestly Dot, if she doesn't like me, and is against me and Frankie forming a relationship with each other, then I am royally fucked, because just like how our kids are with you, they are very, very protective of each other. Trust me, Frankie's already chewed me out about my friendship with Beth, even though she realizes it's mainly just to get closer to her."

Dot couldn't meet her husband's eyes when next she spoke, she didn't want to see the lie in his response. "Maybe that's what it started out as, Jon, but pictures don't lie. I know the look in your eyes in those photos."

"Dottie, c'mon now. You've been around this forever. It was a lucky angle, good lighting, whatever you want to call it. Whatever you think you're seeing there is just not there. Do I like Beth? Yes, as a friend, and as a woman I respect and admire because she has done a damn good job raising my kid." He let out a deep sigh, "Look Dottie, I'm sorry… really sorry. I never intended for it to come out like this. But I will fix it. I don't know how yet. But I will."

***

Two hours later, Jon was racing across town to Beth's apartment. He had spoken to the kids about the newspaper article, and Dorothea had grudgingly been on hand to appear supportive. He was glad, in light of current events, that over the course of the last few weeks he had sat the younger boys down and explained that they had a half sister and answered all their questions. Of course, they didn't realize the ramifications quite as much as Steph and Jesse, but they had taken the news well and were looking forward to meeting Frankie, hopefully soon.

All four kids took the gossip column in their stride. The older two in particular had been exposed many rumors throughout their young lives…to them this was no different. Jake and Romeo shrugged it off and headed to their rooms to play. The fact that there was some truth to it this time – the child that was eluded to…Frankie - did have Steph and Jesse asking if he intended to handle things differently this time. He was truthful in his answer. He didn't know. But it was what he was - no doubt - about to find out. He felt he owed it to Beth, that she be involved in any decision he made…the article was, after all, as detrimental to her as it was to him.

As Jon approached Beth building a buzzing throng of paparazzi came into view. He muttered a silent curse under his breath, his brow furrowed and his jaw tightened. He had expected repercussions, he had halfway expected…well…this…but despite his expectations it had been his most fervent hope that they wouldn't track her down this quickly.

"Fuck" he cursed again as he drove past her building without slowing. He snagged his cell from the passenger seat where he had thrown it when he got in the car. He dialed Beth's number and waited for her to answer. It went straight to her machine. After the tone he began to speak, "Hey it's me. Call me as…"

"Jon?" her voice was hesitant.

"Oh thank God Beth. Are you ok?" She could hear the relief flood his voice even before she answered.

"Yes we're fine. I had to start screening calls. The damn phone has been running off the hook with press."

"We're…you mean Frankie is with you?" Now she could hear apprehension.

"Yep..she turned up here an hour ago. She's um…she's pretty upset Jon. She had to fight her way through that mob scene at the front door. Did you see it? Thank God they were too interested in us to plaster her face across the paper. She managed to get in safe at least." Beth's voice was strong but Jon sensed a certain fragility behind her words.

"That's why I'm calling Beth. I don't think it's such a great idea for me to come up there. I think we'll just be adding fuel to the fire if they photograph me entering your building."

"Oh...ok..." there was a short pause as Beth considered Jon's words, "So I…I guess we're on our own then. I mean I guess it will settle down…"

"Jesus Beth no…" Jon interrupted, "There is no way I would do that to you. We have to get through this together…I just don't think your apartment is the place to do it. I think we should head somewhere with a little more privacy. How would you feel about coming out to Red Bank?"

"I don't think now is the time for us to meet your family Jon." Beth said.

"The family is in the city. It would just be the three of us…oh and maybe Paul. It might be time to get an outsiders perspective on this." Jon explained.

"Who's Paul?"

"He's on my management staff. Don't worry Bethie…I've known him for almost twenty-five years. He's trustworthy." He assured her.

"I still don't know. I think we'd be better meeting in a hotel or something." Beth said warily.

"You are kidding right? What kind of rumors are you trying to start here Beth? A hotel?" There was a current of amusement underlying his incredulous tone.

Beth let out a deep sigh. Jon imagined a roll of her eyes as she did. "You're right. So how do I get there?"

Jon smiled despite himself and eased the car into the right lane to turn, heading towards home. "I'll send a car. Do you have a basement garage?"

"No. But there is an entrance through the alley in the rear. What do you have in mind?" she asked.

"I think it would be best if you were picked up there…in back I mean. There may still be some press lurking, but it shouldn't be as bad. I'll get on the phone and arrange a car. Tell Tom to be ready to help you out the back. The car should be there within the hour. I'll see you soon." Despite the dire circumstances Jon couldn't help a little bit of excitement creeping into his voice. He would finally be able to share a piece of his life with his new family. So far all of the meetings and dinners had been on their terms…on their turf, it would be nice to share even this small part of himself with them. Jersey was in his blood…and he was heading home.

After hanging up from Beth, Jon immediately dialed another number. "Hey man…I need a favor…" He began. Jon explained the delicacy of the situation to Mike, who took care of his security. He needed a car arranged but did not want it linked back to him. A car service was fine as long as the utmost discretion could be guaranteed. Blacked out windows were essential.

When that was organized he called Paul and asked him to meet them at the house later that day. If what he was considering was to come to fruition, he would need Paul to handle the logistics. He didn't go into detail but did suggest that perhaps a member of the PR department be made aware of the article. The next few days and how he handled them…how they all handled them…had the potential to break him. He had fought far too hard to get to this position just to let it all crumble around him now. But beyond that, he was astonished to realize, his biggest concern wasn't so much protecting his image or the fortune he had amassed. It wasn't even protecting Dot and the kids, as they had been through it all before. His biggest concern was for Frankie and Beth. These two women he had met only weeks before but who were now an integral part of his life. The same two women who had lived in relative obscurity for their wholes lives, and who were now about to have those private lives made very, very public.

Chapter 16

Jon placed a tentative hand on his daughter's lower back to guide her out to the car. She didn't flinch away initially but the second they were out of her mother's line of site she shrugged away from him.

"Look," she turned on him, "I agreed to let you drive me home for Mom's sake…it doesn't mean I have to like it. And I certainly don't need you to pretend being all fatherly with me either, especially when it's just to win her over."

Jon clenched his teeth, took a deep cleansing breath and waited several seconds, calming down before he responded, leading Frankie to believe she had gotten the best of him. By the time he spoke they were seated in his car, and his voice was cool and controlled – quite an effort given that his sometimes volatile temper had already been tested.

"Frankie…I'm not pretending anything. I am a father, and have been actively so, for the last fifteen years. And beyond that…I am your father…and fortunately that is something you can't dispute."

"You seriously see something fortunate in that fact?" Frankie replied contemptuously.

"Of course I do. How could I not see the gift of a child as being fortunate?" He glanced over at her briefly as he pulled out into the traffic, "All of my children are blessings Frankie…all of you. I was so proud of you tonight…getting up there to honor your Dad the way you did. It showed a level of maturity that quite frankly I thought was beyond you…and then you go and pull that little stunt at the end…"

"I didn't pull…"

Jon held up a finger and spoke over his daughter effectively cutting her off. "Let me finish please…now while it wasn't the most mature way to broach the issue I do appreciate the fact that you are so protective of your mother."

Frankie sat beside him dumfounded. He grinned as he spoke again…he liked the fact that he'd been able to throw her of balance like that. "Seriously Frankie, I'd like to think that if my wife and daughter were ever in a similar situation, that Stephy would be looking out for her Mom just as you did tonight. Having said that though…don't take it as an admission that there was a need for you to look out for Beth where I am concerned. My relationship…no my friendship,'" he corrected, "with your mother, while pleasurable, is just a means to an end for me. That end being you. You are so God damn resistant to me Frankie…I have to do something to get to know you…I have already missed so much…too much of your life…"

"Well," Frankie said as she gazed out the window, unwilling to meet her father's eyes, "I promised Mama so I won't comment on that any further...I've already made my thoughts clear."

"Honestly sweetie…I can't even think about your mother in that way," as the words left his mouth Jon felt a flush rise to his cheeks, and was thankful for the cover of darkness and the cool night air blowing in the slightly open window, as the recurring dream came to mind.

It had been like this for weeks. At the start the dreams surprised him…sometimes Gina was the subject, sometimes Beth. But as the days and weeks passed they became essentially the same…always him and Beth alone and naked, reveling in the pleasures of each other's bodies…only the positions and the locations would change. Last night's dream had been particularly vivid and extremely erotic.

Beth had come to him in the middle of the night. He had woken in his bed in the guest room and she was standing beside the bed looking over him. She wore nothing but La Perla lingerie; a black balconnette lace bra and a Chantilly lace garterbelt-thong, both of which left very little to the imagination. He had opened his mouth to speak, but she had shushed him with a finger on his lips. He reached up and held her hand where it was, tenderly kissing her fingertips, before taking each one into his mouth to suck on it. While his mouth was occupied, he reached for her with his other hand, running it up the back of her silk clad thigh from her knee, until he felt the pleasure of her skin and the tight supple curve of her ass, where he gave a gentle squeeze to a handful of flesh.

Jon threw back the covers exposing his naked form and raging arousal to her hungry gaze, and pulled her down to lay beside him. She engaged him in a deep passionate, breathtaking kiss before immediately going to work on him, her gentle hands flittered over his flesh…tantalizing, teasing; her skilful mouth nibbled on his neck and suckled on his earlobe as she whispered in his ear, "I'm so wet for you, Jon…only you…I can't wait to feel you deep inside me."

His cock surged in response to her words, and his pulse quickened in anticipation of what was to come. Beth left his ear and laid a trail with her tongue down to his fur camouflaged nipples. She grazed over one, then the other with gentle teeth and then sucked in deeply to flick at the tight little bud with her tongue. When her work was done and both nipples were tight and straining she followed the path of hair down the centre dip of his abdomen and let her tongue flitter into his navel. Jon felt the nerves pull at his very core and jumped slightly at the sensation. He felt Beth's satisfied smile against his flesh and couldn't help grinning himself.

All he wanted to do was lay back and enjoy the sensations she was evoking, but as she kissed her way down further, he could not resist the urge to watch. Adjusting the pillows so that he was now semi reclined, he could not tear his eyes away as she wrapped that deliciously dirty mouth around his rock hard cock. Her scarlet lips circled the top of his cock, and he marveled at the light fluttery sensation her tongue provoked on the tip and over his slit. She looked up and held eye contact as she slipped down his silky length, tracing her tongue down the large vein on the underside.

"Fuck me… Beth…" he strangled out.

Beth increased suction drew up his length until she came off the top with an audible 'pop', "Oh don't worry…I intend to… until your begging for mercy," she had said and went right back to work, this time taking him so deep he could feel her throat contract around him as she swallowed. She teased him like this for what seemed like an eternity, alternately deep-throating, then concentrating only on his head, taking him to the brink over and over again until he was thrashing wildly, his hands desperately trying to gain purchase on anything they could, one coming to rest tangled in her hair, the other in the sheets.

Just when he thought he could take it no more, Beth took him deep in her throat once more and with a perfectly timed groan, that vibrated down the length of his cock and into his balls, Jon came harder than he ever remembered cumming in his life, pumping thick streams down her welcoming throat. Beth didn't waste a drop of his essence, licking and sucking him clean as his body calmed and the contractions eased. As soon as he was able, Jon gathered her into his arms, holding her close so that her head rested on his chest, until he was ready for the next round.

"Are you listening to me?" Frankie's aggravated tone interrupted his memory.

He had never seen the second round in the dream either. He had woken to find himself alone in the guestroom, but instead of Beth the only other thing in his bed was a wet patch. It was the first wet dream he had had since he was a teenager.

"Jon?" Frankie took in his bemused expression, and wondered what had him confused.

"Sorry...I guess I spaced out for a minute. Listen Frankie, please just let me try to reassure you, that while your mother is a very beautiful woman, we are just friends. Friends with many common interests, and one of them just happens to be you, so you have nothing to worry about from me, I don't have any designs on your Mom. Now if you hear of anyone else who does…you just let me know and I'll take care of it…I know some guys in jersey," he chuckled at his lame joke and watched as Frankie merely rolled her eyes.

"Oh I love this song..."she said reaching to turn up the radio, that had been providing some quiet background music. The gravelly voice of the lead singer of Frankie's favorite band infiltrated the car. "I love the band actually… they're are HOT. More importantly that lead singer is to die for!"

As Jon watched his daughter bob away to the music in the seat next to him a plan began to formulate in his mind. He wondered just how much of a fan she was. "They're very talented…great bunch of guys too," Jon shouted over the din and waited for her to bite.

"You know them?" She asked excitedly, and then realizing what she had done, took it down a notch, "Well of course you know them."

"Yeah…when you've been around as long as we have you tend to 'know'" he made quotation marks with one hand keeping the other on the wheel, "a lot of people. But these guys supported us on the last tour for a few shows, so I actually got to know them pretty well."

"Wow!"

There…the seed was planted. Now he just had to wait to see what it would grow into. He hoped she would ask him for a favor…ask him for tickets. He wasn't gullible enough to think that that was likely, however he would sure as hell have them waiting for her if she did.

Jon gave an amused little laugh, "Hmph!"

"What's so funny?" Frankie asked confused, as she reached to lower the volume just enough for them to conduct a conversation.

"You are!"

"Why?" she asked, brow furrowed.

"You're not impressed that your old man has had international success in the music industry, platinum albums, sell out tours, millions of fans, has met and performed with the best this industry has to offer." He chucked, shaking his head. "No… you…you're impressed that I got to know some Jonny-come-lately band that supported us on tour."

"They're a good band!" Frankie defended.

"Granted…they are," he confirmed, "I just find it amusing that you're so unimpressed by me and my 'Rock n Roll' lifestyle and yet you practically worship them for the same thing. I mean…don't get me wrong...I know how it is... our fans have been lusting after us for near on twenty-five years …I don't know I just find it a little…hypocritical… maybe." He said.

Frankie opened her mouth to defend herself, but promptly realized that he was right. She was being hypocritical, holding him to a different standard. "Yeah, but he isn't my father," she finally spat.

Jon worked hard to conceal the grin that threatened to dominate his features, she had just referred to him as her father…there was hope for them yet.

"Oh and Jon?"

"Yes Frankie?"

"I really don't need images of fans lusting after you in my head if you don't mind. It's something I'd rather not have to think about."

Yep…there was definitely hope.

The song came to an end and Frankie turned the radio down further, "I tried to get tickets for their show. I was sooo bummed when I missed out." Frankie hinted.

Again Jon suppressed a grin and silence descended in the car for the rest of the short ride home. Jon knew that she wanted the tickets and that he could get them for her. Frankie knew that Jon knew she wanted the tickets. Both waited for the other to make the first move. Neither did.

A few minutes later Jon pulled up to the curb in front of Frankie's apartment. There was an awkward silence as they each waited for the other to speak.

Finally Jon broke it, "Well I have to get back and get your Mom. I don't want her any madder at me than she is now."

"No, you don't want that," Frankie agreed, "I wouldn't necessarily mind it though." A small smile softened her words.

Was she actually teasing him, Jon wondered? Another moment of silence, "Well…"

"Oh sorry." Frankie said as she reached for the door, "Thank you for the ride. I'll see you at Mom's through the week no doubt."

As Frankie got out of the car, Jon sat shaking his head, marveling at the difference that one small piece of information had made to her demeanor. She wanted those tickets bad…real bad, but he knew there wasn't a hope in hell she'd ask for them.

"Frankie?"

"Yeah?" she replied, excitement tinged the tone.

Jon grinned. For the first time he had her right where he wanted her, "You know…if you want tickets all you have to do is ask."

Frankie offered him a tight smile, "Goodnight Jon!," she said before closing the car door hard in exasperation.

Jon couldn't help chuckling as he watched her stalk into her building. It appeared his little girl was finally recognizing the doors he could open for her. Now she just had to relinquish that stubborn streak of hers to take advantage of it. Jon knew that that wasn't something that would happen easily. Perhaps a little more temptation would be necessary.

***

The smile on Jon's face and the pleasure of the small victory he had had with his daughter disappeared the second he pulled up to the hotel and found Beth waiting for him with the valet. Her posture, the stiff set of her shoulders, immediately told Jon that nothing had happened to change her mood. She clearly still had her mad on…and it wasn't going to be pretty. As she approached the he wracked his brain for reasons to excuse his behavior. Under the intensity of her stern stare, anything he came up with suddenly seemed very feeble and childish. He decided pulling out the charm was his best option…it had always worked before.

He plastered his million watt smile on his face as she slipped into the passenger seat beside him, "Hey Bethie."

Beth did not look at him, or respond in any way to the affectionate nickname. Instead she turned to the valet, "Thank you." She said simply as he secured the door closed, then nodded.

The silence was deafening. Jon could stand it no longer, "Beth look I'm sorry about.."

"Oh no you don't," She interrupted, "You sir are not allowed to speak first. How dare you Jon? I am so very thankful I didn't hear the full context of that conversation. But I have to say, I am incredibly disappointed in you tonight."

"In me? What was I supposed to do?" Jon was more than a little surprised at the vehemence in her voice.

"You were supposed to recognize that this was a very difficult night for both me and for Frankie, and you should have kept your mouth shut. I don't care if she accused you of being an axe murderer, you should have just nodded your head and indulged her." Even as Beth spoke the words she realized that what she was expecting of him was unreasonable, but she was just so mad she couldn't think straight.

"So I'm not allowed to defend myself?" he asked incredulous.

"Jon, how do you expect to ever win her over," she softened slightly, "Did it even cross your mind how hard this evening was for her? Did you consider the possibility that she's seeing these things that obviously aren't there because she misses her father so badly?"

"So you think I should have stood there and agreed with her when she was telling me I had designs on you?"

Beth paused to consider her answer for a moment before responding, "No… but… I do think you could have disagreed with her in a manner which wouldn't have gotten her temper stirred up like that."

"Beth...you know Frankie," Jon took his eyes off the road momentarily to look at her. Damn…even angry she was beautiful. "Is there any way you can disagree with that child without getting her temper up?" he asked defeated.

Beth let out a slow sigh, "Perhaps it is a learned skill, but yes…there is. And I'm sure you will acquire it with time," she replied, "but the thing is Jon, it makes me very sad that on this night, of all nights…"

Her voice trailed off and in his peripheral vision he caught her wiping a tear from her eye. "You could have stepped away Jon."

"Awe God Beth...please don't cry!" he implored.

She gave a weak little laugh as the tears continued to fall and she struggled to remain composed. She stiffened her shoulders and continued, "You know to a certain extent I think Frankie is right. You are just as stubborn as she is and you are absolutely relentless in going after what you want and I'm sure to an extent I'm just a stepping stone along the path."

"You agree with her? You think I have designs on you?" Jon asked, amazed at this turn in the conversation.

"Absolutely not!" Beth shook her head fervently, to reinforce her position. Why would someone like him be interested in her? "But, I do think you are being solicitous because I have been willing to defend you with Frankie."

Jon ran his hand through his short hair, would he ever get used to it being this length, "Beth I just want a relationship with her so badly…"

"I know you do, Jon," Beth replied sympathetically, "and I am so very, very thankful for that and for the fact that you are a decent and honorable man. But Jon, arguments like that will only push her further away."

"I know," Jon pulled to the curb in front of Beth's building and slumped in his seat, "It's just...it's just that she's so damned infuriating...she know just what buttons to push."

"I'm starting to think it might be something genetic," Beth smiled teasingly

"Hmmm, perhaps" he considered, "though you don't push my buttons." Not those ones anyway.

"Why would I?" Beth asked confused.

Jon considered for a moment what he just said, and his stomach lurched. He had been thinking of Beth as Frankie's mother…Frankie's biological mother. Where did that leave Gina? How could he forget her importance in this? He couldn't think about that now. His feelings were confused enough.

"Oh..sorry my mistake you just said it's something genetic. I…oh never mind…" he fumbled. And Beth suddenly realized where his train of thought had taken him, and a flush of pleasure spread through her. It was very flattering that he thought of her that way.

Jon jumped out of the car in an effort to hide his embarrassment and ran around to get her door. He helped Beth out of the car and walked her to the foyer. "Mind if I come up for a coffee?" He asked not quite ready for the night to end.

Beth however had other ideas. "I really don't think that's a good idea Jon."

A brief flicker of hurt crossed Jon's face before he managed to smooth his features, but Beth caught it. "It's been a wonderful evening, but a sad one in many ways for me, and I'd just like some time alone. Another time, ok?"

Beth watched as Jon obviously struggled with something he wanted to say. "What is it Jon? What's bothering you?"

"You don't hold any store in what Frankie said do you? I mean that's not why you don't want me to come up is it? Because honestly Beth I never…" He couldn't meet her eyes as he spoke and was glad when she interrupted and prevented him from completing the lie.

"Oh Jon." She chuckled, "please, I know you have women throwing themselves at your feet all the time. I certainly would never think that..." her words trailed off as she looked into his eyes.

"Never like you Bethie...never like you"

The intensity of his gaze and the fervor of his words had her rambling nervously, "besides we are entirely wrong for each other, we're complete opposites in some ways and…"

Without thinking Jon stepped forward, laced his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck and cut off her words with a tender kiss on her lips. His tongue flicked out briefly to taste her before he pulled back. The pair stood face to face, only inches apart for a long moment, both stunned by what had just occurred.

Jon recovered first, "Beth I'm sorry…I shouldn't…"

"No no…It's fine." She interrupted, "I'm sure you meant to kiss me on the check and just …missed…or something…"

Jon studied Beth's face and wondered if his face wore an identical expression of bewilderment and awe. The atmosphere around them was electric. Had she seen fireworks too?

Beth most certainly had, and it had made her decidedly uncomfortable. Tonight was supposed to be about honoring her dead husband. How could she be feeling like this about another man?

"Good night Jon," she whispered and was gone.

He stood dumfounded and watched her until she entered the elevator and then turned to go, exhaling deeply as he considered what had just transpired. He was sure she had felt it too. What did this mean for them? Was Frankie right?

Chapter 15

Jon knew the exact second when Frankie realized he was comforting her. He felt her frame stiffen beneath his fingers just seconds before she flinched away from him. He reluctantly dropped his hand to his side. He knew exactly where he stood with her but the rejection still stung. She was his family, and by extension so was Beth, but they were also a family unit of their own. He wondered if he would ever be accepted into it. Rejection was not something he was accustomed to, and truth be told he really didn't know how he should deal with it.

"I'm proud of you honey. You did a great job out there…you did your Daddy proud." He said softly.

She turned to face him, and he waited for the tirade…it didn't come.

"Thanks, and thank you for what you said about daddy out there too, I appreciate it." She tried for a smile but he could tell she was fighting off another wave of tears. He supposed his presence wasn't helping…he would forever be a reminder of the father she had lost.

Frankie turned towards Beth who was looking upon her with an approving smile, "I think I might go for a walk."

"I'll come with you," Jon offered.

"NO," Frankie said…it came out a little more abruptly than she intended, "Sorry …I just need a little fresh air. I'll be fine in a few."

Beth pulled her daughter in for a brief hug whispering in her ear as she did. "Thank you."

Frankie smiled weakly at her mother, nodded towards Jon and walked away.

"I should follow..." Jon's eyes followed his daughter.

He had taken no more than a step in her direction when he felt Beth's hand on his sleeve.

"Jon, I know our daughter better than you do, she needs this time alone and if you interrupt her now it will only make her angry."

Jon let out a frustrated huff, "How am I ever going to get her to accept me?"

"It's only been a few weeks, you always knew that this wasn't something that was going to happen overnight." she reminded him gently. She took in his defeated expression, "I can see you need some distracting…and this is one of my favorite songs. Would you please dance with me? It's been a long time since I've been this dressed up and I'd love to have a proper dance with you."

Jon's face broke into a breathtaking smile, how could it not with the thought of her in his arms, despite the discord he felt in regards to Frankie. "It would be my pleasure."

Beth linked her arm through the one that he offered and followed him out to the dance floor. Only a few couples swayed in time as the orchestra played a long introduction to the Etta James classic 'At Last'. Jon led her to the centre of the floor and spun her out with a flourish before pulling her back into the warmth of his embrace, his right arm circling her waist, holding her at a close yet respectable distance. His thumb traced small circles in the flesh of her back, where the fabric of her gown draped artfully low to her waist. Chills ran through her at his touch, and he felt goose flesh rise under his fingertips.

As the music flowed from the speakers and the gentle tempo soothed them, they melted slowly into each other, her delicate right hand entwined in his left and held loosely against his heart. He hoped she could not feel the thudding of his heart that her proximity had caused. She leaned into him then and rested her head on her shoulder as they swayed, the other couples circling the floor around them. And then he began to sing, for only her to hear, his voice a whisper in her ear, his breath a warm caress on her skin.

In Jon's arms Beth forgot the pressures of her life. For the first time in she didn't know how long, she could just be. It had been so long since she had been able to let her guard down and relax, to get back to the person she was before… But she couldn't even think about that now…it seemed like a lifetime ago, now that she was here wrapped securely in this beautiful mans protective, nurturing arms.

Jon inhaled deeply, her scent infiltrated his senses, as he sang to her softly. He was sure she could hear his heart pounding now – even as he sang – with her ear pressed to his chest. This delicate flower in his arms was such a contradiction, so fragile… yet strong and as fierce as a lioness when it came to their daughter. As they danced he had an epiphany – he wanted to spend the rest of his life holding her just like this…protecting her. But that was not the half of it. The true epiphany was in that he realized that he would have wanted to do this even if she not been his daughter's mother. It was becoming fast apparent, much to his surprise, that this unusual captivating creature was fast capturing his heart.

As they danced, both lost in their own thoughts and each other, Jon and Beth failed to recognize the attention they had unconsciously garnered. Nearby a photographer snapped off a rapid fire round of photos. If he could just get the right shot he would be set for life. The money shot came for him as the music faded. He couldn't believe his luck, when in a moment so tender…so personal, the rock star pressed his lips to the woman's forehead, and left them there just a second longer that propriety allowed for a married man and a grieving widow. That photo, coupled with the information he had overheard earlier, should guarantee him that staff position he had been vying for.

Not so close, but potentially more dangerous was another spectator. Frankie watched in horror as her mother succumbed to the letch's charms, as she seemed to meld herself to him until they were practically one being. She couldn't believe her mother was that gullible, so susceptible to his charms? She had always thought her to be an intelligent woman…surely she could see his intent.

Above the dismay she felt in regards to her mother's situation, was the annoyance she felt at herself. For a little while earlier in the evening, when he had spoken of her father so respectfully, she had actually begun to…well not like him exactly…but she had begun to empathize with his situation. That empathy had dissipated the second he had taken her mother in his manipulating arms. She would show him that the way to her heart was not through her mother's bed.

"Thank you for the dance Jon," Beth smiled at him warmly as she drew back from his embrace, nervously fixing her hair. The kiss he had just placed on her forehead had left her tingling in places that had no right to tingle. "It was nice to let go for a while."

Despite her best efforts, Jon sensed Beth's sudden discomfort at the lack of distance between them, and took a step back. "It was my pleasure Bethie. It's been a long time since I enjoyed something so much."

"Thank you. That's kind of you to say," he certainly is a charmer, she thought. "Now if you'll excuse me I see a few of the guests are leaving, and I have to say my goodbyes and thank yous. I guess I should make you my first though. No need for you to hang around now that work is over with. So thank you for your support and your kind words about Branson, it meant a great deal to me, and I'll see you next week for our usual dinner." She pressed a brief kiss to his cheek and was gone before he even had an opportunity to respond.

Jon moved off to the side of the room, but did not leave. He watched as Beth worked the room, saying her goodbyes and courting the big donors. He was hoping to get the opportunity to talk to her again before leaving, perhaps even drive her home.

While Jon watched Beth, Frankie watched him. She was astounded at the audacity of this man who would come to her father's memorial only to flirt with her mother. In only a few long strides she was at his side. He was so enthralled in watching her mother he didn't notice her presence until she spoke.

Frankie's words were barely above a whisper. "I know what you're up to."

Jon chose to ignore his daughter's veiled accusation. He turned towards her,"Frankie, you were really amazing tonight. I am so proud of you sweetheart, that couldn't have been easy for you."

"Did you hear what I said?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"Uh, what am I up to?"

"I see how you look at mom."

Jon did not speak but a single brow inched high on his forehead.

"You're not going to get away with it you know."

"Be careful that you don't say something here that you will eventually regret Frankie," he cautioned her. "Besides, I really have no idea what you're talking about."

"I am talking about…" Frankie surveyed the room and lowered her voice, "I am talking about you taking advantage of my mother."

Jon's eyes widened in shock, a grin spread across his face and he burst into laughter.

She crossed her arms defensively and her brow furrowed, "Don't laugh at me," she said, with so much petulance he almost expected her to stamp her foot.

Jon suppressed a chuckle to speak. "How exactly do you think I'm taking advantage of your mom?"

"You are using her venerability to manipulate her into helping you get what you want."

"And what is it that I want?" he asked still smirking, he couldn't help it…she was quite cute when she was like this.

"Me for one thing!" She stated matter-of-factly. "As for what else you want from her…well those motives aren't quite clear yet but may I remind you that you are a married man."

"You know something Frankie? I find it amazing that you've turned into such an egocentric princess given how grounded your mother is," he chided, "You should be ashamed of yourself. Just because I'm a married man doesn't mean I can't have female friends, besides…did it ever occur to you that your mother and I may share some interests other than YOU?"

"That makes it even worse," she sulked.

"What makes it even worse? Does your mother not deserve to have a life now that your father is gone?" Jon rationalized, his amusement of the situation rapidly waning.

"Well you haven't been looking at her like a friend tonight…" she was right about this. She knew she was.

"Frankie honey, why don't you get a little life experience before you start saying shit like this? I'm not going to have some nineteen year old kid tell me how I'm looking at a woman. My relationship with your mother started because I wanted to learn more about you and you're such a stubborn little brat I figured it would be easier to go through her. Now we have forged a friendship and to be honest I really don't care what you think about that." He wondered why he was rationalizing this to her, could it be because he was trying to justify his behavior to himself.

"I'm old enough to know what that look means Jon...I'm not some innocent little kid."

"Oh c'mon Frankie…give me a fucking break. Are you telling me I'm not allowed to look at her now?" He asked exasperated.

"Not like that you're not!"

"Like what Frankie? Please enlighten me because as far as I'm concerned we were just sharing a lovely evening honoring your late father. Jesus kid…give me credit for having a little decency would you?" He could see this conversation deteriorating fast.

"Maybe when you show me a reason why I should…" She trailed off.

Jon let out a sigh of exasperation "Seriously Frankie…please tell me when I was supposedly giving her this 'look'. Describe it for me?"

"Oh I'm sure you don't really need me to do that for you, but since you asked, it's the look that says you want to slam her up against a wall with her legs around your waist...believe me I know that look well…I get it all the time."

Fuck but she enjoyed pushing his buttons. "Ok, seriously, Frankie that is so uncalled for. First of all, I really don't care to hear about you receiving those looks because like it or not I am your father, at least by birth, and the thought of anyone giving you looks like that really makes me want to rip someone's head off."

That elicited a smirk from her.

"Secondly," he continued, "and this is the one that really pisses me off young lady… what you just said is not only disrespectful to me, it is disrespectful to your mother, and I don't allow any of my children to be disrespectful of their mother. I can assure you that the last thing in the world I was thinking of tonight was…"he paused momentarily, "well…that. Do you want to know what I was thinking when I looked at your mom?"

"I'd rather not"

He spoke over her, "I was thinking what an amazing woman she is to organize all of this in your father's name. And you will listen to what I have to say because it's time somebody started telling you the shit that you don't want to hear. You are a fucking spoiled brat who doesn't have her head screwed on straight and I'm just thankful you have a mom as strong as Beth is to deal with you because lord knows if I was having to, I wouldn't be quite as patient as she is."

Frankie flinched at his harsh assessment of her, and then retaliated the only way she knew how. "Yeah well I'm sorry Mr. Bon Jovi but despite what you say, tonight your eyes and body were telling another story."

"My body??" He shook his head incredulous. "What the fuck were you looking at?"

"You wrapped around her on the dance floor...could you have gotten any fucking closer??" she spat.

"Frankie!!!!" Beth approached from the direction of the exit. She had said goodnight to the last of her major donors, now only a few stragglers remained. Both Frankie and Jon tuned towards the sound of her voice. "Francesca Gina Carol McKenzie…"

"It's ok Beth…I have this" Jon stood erect, his shoulders squared.

Beth glared at up at him, "No you most certainly do not have this, but I'll deal with you in a moment." She spun on Frankie so fast the girl didn't see what was coming. She was too busy being amused by her mother's treatment of him. "Frankie, what on earth were you just saying to him?"

"Nothing!" Oh fuck!

"Don't give me that attitude young lady." Here it comes.

"It was nothing. Don't worry about it."

"You're damned right I'm going to worry about it. Now tell me what you just said because I want to make sure I heard it clearly."

"But I didn't say anything wrong Mama," Frankie replied sweetly.

Beth flashed a glance at Jon, who was standing by with a stern paternal look on his face.

"Don't think you can play that Mama card with me right now, Francesca. Tell me what you said…Now young lady."

"I don't like that he's manipulating you to get to me." Frankie blurted quickly.

There was a sharp intake of breath from Beth. Jon just stood by silently and shook his head, he was enjoying watching Frankie wedge her foot further into her mouth.

"Ok…but I know that's not what you were saying when I walked up…and I want to know how exactly you think he is manipulating me?"

"By being all adoring and flirty."

"I am ashamed of you Frankie," Beth said, with an apologetic glance in Jon's direction.

"Why? What did I do wrong? He started this."

"First of all, did it ever occur to you that Jon and I might be friends? That perhaps I enjoy his company. And I would hardly classify the way he behaves around me as adoring and flirty and even if it were, don't you think I have enough sense to know the difference?"

"Really Mom…I don't think you do at the moment. Look at what just happened on the dance floor." Frankie reasoned.

"We were dancing Frankie. I asked him to dance. It's what friends do in settings like this where there is music." Beth explained indulgently, as if she was speaking to a small child.

"But Mom you're still grieving for daddy." As the words were spoken aloud, Frankie realized they now held little truth. Of course her mother loved her father, and missed him dearly but she was no longer actively grieving him, not like she did in the beginning. She was finally getting back to living…to being happy. She wondered how much of that could be attributed to Jon. Beth had started coming back to herself when he had come into their lives. A moment of doubt gripped her. Maybe he was good for her. No! I can't think like that…I'm right about this, she thought.

"You leave your father out of this conversation right now. I can't believe I'm even having this discussion on this night when we are supposed to be honoring him."

"Tell me about it. You might have been dancing Mama but he," Frankie thumbed in Jon's direction, "was wishing it was more."

Off to the side Jon shifted uncomfortably, the movement was infinitesimal, but it was there.

Beth stared down her daughter incredulously, "You are being ridiculous Frankie. I appreciate the fact that you feel you have to be protective of me but really I'm a big gi…"

"Beth I…" Jon interrupted, but stopped the second Beth turned to him, glaring sternly.

"You," she pointed in his direction, "You need to be quiet for a moment please."

Jon took a step backwards, making a quick sweep of the room to see how much attention the altercation had attracted. Thankfully, from what he could see, those remaining were all engaged in their own conversations.

Beth shot another quick glance at Jon, who was looking more than a little uncomfortable now as he scanned the room, before turning her attention back to her daughter. "Frankie I'm assuming I'm not going to need you to take care of me for at least another fifty years or so. In the meantime, I would appreciate it if you could give me the respect that is due your mother. I have always tried to treat you like an adult except when you act like a child and right now you're acting like a six year old."

"Mama...you know I respect you." Frankie replied abashed, she hated that she made her mother feel disrespected. "I just don't trust him," she defended.

"You don't trust him because of your own personal feelings about his relationship with your birth mother, but that has nothing to do with me." Beth rationalized. "I am a forty two year old woman, Frankie, I can assure you that I know how to judge whether someone is trustworthy or not. Jon has been nothing but a good friend to me. Aren't I allowed to have good friends in my life again? Was I supposed to stop living as well when your father died Frankie?"

"Mama I didn't mean..."

Beth put a hand up to stop her daughter "I am sure you didn't. But as far as I'm concerned this conversation is closed and if you ever bring it up again…and most importantly, if I ever hear you being rude to my friend Jon again, I will take you straight to the bathroom and wash your mouth out with soap just like I did when you were six."

"I'm sorry Mama." Guess I just have to make sure you don't hear me then, she thought to herself as she dropped her eyes to the floor, shooting a sideways scowl in Jon's direction.

Beth turned her attention back to Jon, "You and I need to have a private conversation Jon." How could he have been so thoughtless as to engage their daughter in that conversation…and here of all places?

"Beth I'm sorry I was just..." This time the hand was directed at him, and he had the exact same reaction as his daughter…he paused mid sentence.

"Stop, right now, this instant," Beth said firmly. "I am too angry to think clearly and I still have more guests to thank. I would appreciate it if you would stay put until I finish that because there is something I need to say to you."

Despite the threat of confrontation in her words, Jon couldn't help the little thrill that ran through him at the thought of getting to spend more time with her.

"Frankie, it has been a long night and you need to get home."

"Yes Mama," she said quietly.

Once again Beth turned to Jon, "would you please call a car for her?"

"It's ok Beth...I'll take her myself." Jon immediately offered. He wasn't looking forward to driving with the sullen teen, but he had to do something to get back into her mother's good graces.

"I can get myself home," Frankie protested, but one piercing glare from her mother stopped her dead. "Fine!" she glowered.

Jon continued as if Frankie hadn't spoken, "By the time I get her home you should be done. I'll come straight back for you. We can talk then."

"Thank you Jon that will be fine." She offered him what had the promise of a smile before turning to her daughter for the last time that evening. "Frankie, I will consider excusing you for your rudeness this evening if you can manage to show him the young lady I raised you to be on your trip home."

"Yes Mama"

Beth reached for Frankie and pulled her into a warm hug, taking the opportunity to whisper in her ear. "Honey I know you're just trying to look out for me, and really, I appreciate the fact that you want to protect me, but you're all wrong about this. So please, don't be rude to Jon any more, ok? At least not on my behalf, what happens between you and him is between you and him but I will not tolerate rudeness from you."

"Yes Mama...but I am right...there is something there…at least there is for him."

"Stop! You're being ridiculous. Jon is a married man with a family. We are just friends. Stop reading things into the situation that aren't there." Beth replied. The strength of her conviction surprised her. Especially given that she had caught a glimpse of what her daughter was so vehemently promoting.

"If you say so Mom."

"Now go, and be nice!" Beth said.

"Of course Mama," Frankie pulled away and kissed her mother on the cheek.

Beth smiled a small tight smile at Jon, and nodded as she turned back to her guests.

Jon stared after Beth with a bemused expression. Without looking at his daughter he addressed her, "I didn't realize your mother had such a temper."

"That was nothing. You just wait. We had an audience for my dressing down, you won't be so lucky." Frankie replied smugly.

"Great!" was all he could muster. "Did you bring a coat or a wrap or anything?"

"It's in the cloak room."

"Give me the ticket and wait here."

Frankie handed him the ticket begrudgingly, but she thought it was best to play nice. She watched him walk away and followed.

Jon heard the click of her heals behind him, but the time he turned she was at his shoulder. "Didn't I tell you wait? Don't you ever do as you're told?"

"Not often...and certainly not by you," she grinned sardonically.

Jon let out an exasperated sigh, "Let's get you home. I don't want to be late in getting back for your Mom."

Chapter 14

 

Jon stood at the bar of the Mandarin Oriental's Ballroom, amused by the eclectic group gathered to pay tribute to the late Branson McKenzie. It was coming up on a year since Branson had passed in just a few short weeks, and Beth had thought it fitting to organize a Gala in his honor. Her hope was to raise funds for a new scholarship program in Branson's name, to help aspiring young artists from underprivileged backgrounds. Of course, when asked, Jon had agreed to perform at the event – anything to help get his daughter on side.

He and Frankie were making progress but it was slow and hard going. She was civil to him now, and they even managed the occasional conversation but not much more could be said beyond that. He made a point to see her at least once a week besides their weekly dinners, if only for a few minutes at Beth's house, where he seemed to be spending more and more time. After Beth's car accident and Jon's subsequent dismissal from her house – at least that was how he had seen it – she had called to apologize and explained it was only because she had felt guilty for monopolizing the time he should have been spending with his kids. Of course he told her there was nothing to forgive, and their budding friendship was restored.

The 'family' dinners were going very well. Jon was enjoying immensely the opportunity to get to know his daughter from the woman who raised her – all the little quirks and tidbits of information that Frankie herself would not consider important but yet were so vital to the person she had become.

Frankie herself had joined them for every dinner thus far, and Jon wondered if it was because she wanted to get to know him as she claimed, or to chaperone him and Beth. He often caught her looking between them, a bemused expression on her face.

Beyond the knowledge of his daughter that he was gaining, and the time spent with her, Jon enjoyed the dinners simply for Beth's company. They had fallen into an easy rapport, both of them having Frankie's best interests at heart. Their dinners were very comfortable now. Conversation flowed as easily as the wine they drank, often to Frankie's annoyance. She did not comprehend her mother's compulsion to help this stranger, to grant him access to their lives, and she made no secret of it. She still had no knowledge of Beth's accident, and so didn't understand the bond that had formed between the two of them so quickly.

While all was going well in his relationship with Beth and Frankie – as well as could be expected with the later – his home life had fallen into a steep decline. His relationship with the children was fine, great in fact – they were curious about Frankie, and the older two often came to see him after his dinner with her for a full briefing. They had, only the day before, asked when it would be possible for them to meet her. He had explained that he didn't think Frankie was quite ready for that yet.

It was his relationship with his wife that was posing the problem. Despite her best efforts to conceal it, her resentment of the time he spent with Frankie was obvious and her snide remarks about his relationship with Beth had become intolerable. It was becoming harder for him to be around her. Even when she was trying to be nice, there was a falseness about it that he could no longer stomach. He found himself avoiding her now as much as possible, arranging his schedule so that he would have time with the kids when she was otherwise occupied.

Jon found it was difficult to resolve his feelings where his wife was concerned. He still loved her. How could he not? She had given him four beautiful children, had supported him throughout his career and all of his indiscretions. But that support was no longer there, and it seemed the more time he spent with Beth, the more he remembered what a relationship should be like…what a partnership should be like. Reliving with her memories of her life with Branson and Frankie, he could see what a family could be…should be.

And that was where the difficulty lie, because in seeing that, he recognized that a lot of the problems in his marriage were his fault. He wasn't there like Branson had been. Sure he provided his family with a nice life…hell, a great life…but what was that life if he wasn't there with them. He could see now how Dot had evolved into the person she had become. Looking back, sharing his own memories with his new family, he recognized it as the slow gradual change that it was, a change that could possibly have been prevented with just a little more care and attention from him. He also recognized, with sadness, that now it was too far past the point where it could be rectified.

He focused his attention on the present. The black tie event had attracted a strange mix of people; quite different from the Gala's he was used to. He nodded politely and tried to suppress a grin, as a rather robust woman with bright blue spiky hair paraded in front of him and winked salaciously in his direction.

On closer inspection, for the most part the crowd really was rather ordinary but for the few brave standouts - such as his new found friend – that made him feel as though he was in an alien world. He scanned the room for any sign of his daughter but came up short. Then on the other side of the room he spotted her, she was far from being his daughter. She was however, by far the most beautiful woman in the room. Elegant and graceful and swathed in a deep blue Satin sheath that clung enticingly in all the right places and flowed fluidly in all the rest. Sleeveless with a plunging neckline that enhanced enticingly the gentle curve of her breasts, the dress perfectly complimented her ivory skin and dark curls.

The woman turned to smile at him, and in his mind the crowd all but disappeared as she floated across the room. There was no other way to describe the way she moved, so fluid and smooth. It wasn't until she was right in front of him that Jon was able to reconcile exactly what he was seeing. This stunning ethereal creature was Beth – his Bethie. He was so used to seeing her in casual day clothes that it was hard for him to believe it was the same woman.

"Good evening Jon," she greeted him formally but leant forward to place a soft familiar kiss on his cheek.

Neither of them was aware of the camera that flashed bright as her ruby lips made contact with his skin.    

Jon silently breathed out the word whoa. "Beth…you look…well stunning just doesn't seem to cover it really…exquisite perhaps. Yet I don't think even that does you justice tonight. I am a wordsmith lost for words."

Beth blushed under his intense gaze and flattery but accepted it gracefully. "Thank you very much Jon. I must say this is quite the departure from your usual jeans and T-shirts." She said grasping his lapel between her thumb and forefinger and running them down its length. "You look very dashing. Oh my, do people even say that anymore?" She giggled…how was it exactly that he was managing to make her this nervous, she felt tipsy but hadn't had so much as a sip of wine.

Jon grinned at her lopsidedly, "Bethie honey, looking like that, I am most positive you could get away with saying anything you wanted, to anyone and most definitely to me." Shit…shit, shit…maybe that was a bit too full on. Tone it down you idiot. You're still married and this is her husband's memorial for fucks sake.

Oh my God…is he actually flirting with me? Beth wondered. She was very out of practice with the whole singles scene… her and Branson had been high school sweethearts who had married straight out of college. Thoughts of her husband triggered feelings of guilt within her. It seemed she had been feeling that way a lot lately. What was it about this man that had her emotions so bamboozled all the time?

The silence stretched on as both of them were lost in their own thoughts. It was Jon that finally spoke first to break it, sticking to a safer topic.

"Is Frankie here? I haven't seen her." He asked as he once again scanned the room for his daughter.

Beth let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. "She is, yes. She ducked out the back when she saw you come in. Sorry." Beth tilted her head slightly and gave a little shrug of her shoulders in resignation.

Jon shook his head, "Do you think she'll ever really come around?"

Beth placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly, marveling at the hard muscle beneath her fingers. "Give her time Jon…she's your daughter, she will come around eventually. I just think that it is particularly hard for her today because she wishes things could have been different …that Branson was here to see all this."

"And that I wasn't….right?" Jon said sadly.

"I'm not going to lie to you Jon and say she isn't having…" Beth paused to find the right word, issues… no, that wasn't right, "…difficulty accepting you being here. In some small way she is still holding you responsible…" At Jon's look of distress she explained, "Oh Jon, please don't take that the wrong way. She knows it's irrational…that it isn't really your fault. She just needs someone to blame, and at the moment, you're a convenient target."

"Well, I wish someone would take the bull's-eye off my back so we can get past it and she can allow me to be a father to her. I'm not trying to take Branson's place Beth, God knows I never could even if I wanted to, but I think I've been a pretty good father to the rest of my kids…I just want the chance to be that for her now. I've already missed so much…" There was an edge to his voice…a hint of desperation.

Beth knew he was sincere in his sentiments but her daughter's decisions were her own to make. If Frankie chose not to see Jon, she… and Jon would just have to respect that. After the year her daughter had suffered, Beth had no intention of forcing her into a relationship she quite simply wasn't ready for.

"I know Jon…just keep the faith…okay? It will all come in good time." Beth was surprised to see a grin playing at the corner of those gorgeous lips of his.

"You trying to make a funny Beth?" He asked amused.

"Huh?"

"Keep the Faith…" He replied pointedly.

"Ohh…yeah. That was one of yours wasn't it? Sorry, it really wasn't intentional." Beth's smile took his breath away. "So what are you singing for us tonight?"

"Hmmm I really hadn't decided…any requests?" He asked.

"Sorry… I'm not all that familiar with your work. " Beth replied, seemingly abashed.

He smiled gently, "You know, I can sing other songs…"

"Ummm… do you know 'Lean on Me'? It was one of Branson's favorites."

Thank God she picked one he knew, he thought. "Sure thing…anything else?"

"He was a huge Beatles fan," she offered.

"Good…good. I have the perfect song for that."

"Oh and…" she paused.

"Yes?"

"Well…I do like that new one of yours that been playing on the radio…what's it called?"

"Make a Memory?" He suggested. He was pleased to know she'd been paying attention.

In reality she had come to know a lot more of his music. Over the last couple of months she had gathered a rather extensive Bon Jovi catalogue and his CD's were a constant in her player of late but she didn't want him to know that.

"Yes that's it...perfect." She beamed up at him. She was positively glowing. His heart skipped a beat.

"Um… I think I have time for a couple more…Do you want me to pick them?"

"Sure…I trust you completely." As she spoke the words, she realized she meant the in more than just the context of the present conversation.

Over the last weeks he had earned her trust, she no longer had any reservations at all where Jon was concerned. She knew that he only had Frankie's best interests at heart, so she resolved herself to helping him in any way possible to forge a relationship with their daughter – now that was still an uncomfortable thought…their daughter.

"Alright then…when do you want me up there?" He was anxious to get the show on the road now.

Beth looked at her watch. "I guess in about an hour or so. I have to make a speech, and then Frankie's up before you."

"Frankie's speaking as well? I didn't know that." He looked towards the small stage in surprise.

"No Jon. Frankie is singing…I guess she didn't tell you after all…" Beth frowned.

"I…I didn't know she sang. I mean I knew she could, you told me about the lessons and I heard her at the…that one time I told you about," he still couldn't bring himself to say the cemetery, "but I didn't know she actually sang…in public, I mean."

"To be honest…she doesn't usually. She doesn't like drawing unnecessary attention to herself, but she wanted to do this for her Dad. It's her goodbye I guess...and she is determined to get through it." Beth watched Jon's face very carefully for any signs of discomfort but they just weren't there. His features were smooth…calm, if anything they only showed concern.

"I can understand that but it won't be easy for her. Richie and I did a concert in memory of his father earlier this year and Beth…it was tough. I mean it's hard to talk when you're emotional, right?" She nodded in response. "Well it's damn near impossible to sing. I had that lump in my throat all damn night and was on the verge of tears several times. Hell, I did cry a couple of them. And it was worse for Richie of course."

"Do you think I should stop her?"

Jon shook his head. "No. Not if it's what she feels she needs to do. If she is even a little like me…well that hard headed determination will get her through it. Just be there to support her when she comes off."

"Yes" Beth agreed. "I'd better get back to mingling. I'll see you backstage…just come back when I finish my speech so you're ready as soon as Frankie is done."

"No problem." Jon lifted a hand in goodbye and watched Beth's hips sway seductively as she crossed the room. He didn't think she was even aware of the sexual energy she exuded. It just came naturally to her. It wasn't the contrived sexuality that he was so often exposed to. This was subtle, but oh so intense.

***

Just shy of an hour later Jon made his way to the side of the stage. Frankie stood silently watching her Mom at the podium, a beat up old acoustic guitar case sat at her feet. Jon walked over to stand beside her.

"Hey baby." He whispered close to her ear.

Frankie's jaw clenched, "I. Am. Not. Your. Baby!"

"Sorry. She's doing well," he said indicating the stage with a slight nod.

"Shhhh" Frankie scowled at him and pointed at her mother who was just finishing up her speech.

"Sorry...of course." Jon clasped his hands loosely before him and waited for Beth to finish.

Her voice had remained calm and steady throughout the speech but broke slightly as she began to introduce Frankie. "All of you know what a wonderful man Branson was. He was my heart, my soul, my reason for living sometimes. But many of you may not know our daughter, Frankie. She was the light of Branson's life, and I know she misses him very much, as much as I do. She has a special song she'd like to dedicate to her 'Daddy'."

As her mother spoke Frankie retrieved a beautiful old Tamaki from its case and walked slowly out on to the stage. She took a seat on the high stool that had been placed in a spotlight just to the left of the podium, braced her right leg on the rung at the bottom and propped her guitar on her knee.

She took a deep breath and spoke clearly into the microphone, "I miss you Daddy, this one's for you."

Another deep breath and she began to sing…

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all

Her voice rang out clear and strong, Jon was impressed by its intensity. His eyes flicked between Frankie on stage, and Beth who stood beside him. He could see in the set her jaw that she was concerned for their daughter. He bridged the gap between them to offer her his hand, her fingers entwined in his grateful for the support and she offered him a small smile.

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all

 

Only a professional would have detected the strain in Frankie's voice, to Jon's practiced ear it was obvious. Beth also sensed Frankie's difficulty, and gripped Jon's hand just that little bit tighter.

 

I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

Tears began to stream down Frankie's cheeks as she sang. Her voice broke and Jon took a step forward, but Beth restrained him whispering in his ear. "She needs to do this Jon. If you go out there now she will never forgive you."

Her voice was weak but Frankie managed to pull it together and carry on.

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

When the song was finished Frankie remained on the stool her head bowed. The room erupted in applause but she did not move. This time when Jon made to walk forward Beth allowed it. She smiled at him gently through her tears and nodded.

Jon walked over to Frankie and switched her mic off before he spoke, "Are you okay honey? Do you want me to help you off?"

She shook her head weakly indicating 'No'. He pulled the mic from the stand and turned it back on.

"Let's have another hand for Frankie McKenzie everyone." The applause was thunderous. Jon waited for it to die down before he spoke again and watched Frankie leave the stage and find the comfort of her mother's arms. A lump formed in his throat. "What an amazing daughter Branson had, I'm beginning to realize just how special and unique she is. It takes an exceptional individual to nurture a child – I know just how hard it is, I have four of my own – Branson and Beth have done a wonderful job with their daughter. Her courage and devotion, speak to the kind of man he was. I had the pleasure of meeting him on a few occasions, through various charities and business dealings. He was a family man, a man of great conviction, a community leader whose generosity of not only money, but time will be sorely missed. We gather here today to pay tribute to this great man and to honor him and his life by digging deep in our pockets to give to this worthy cause. To encourage you to do so, I am here to entertain you this evening. Now, I don't know that I can do the stage justice after Frankie's very moving performance, but I will do my best. Beth shared with me earlier a few of Branson's favorite songs. I'd like to begin with one of them now. Ladies and Gentlemen… 'Lean on Me'"

Frankie clung to Beth in the wings of the stage, obviously distressed, as Jon performed his set. It was short, only five songs. Even still on more than one occasion he considered leaving the stage. If Frankie could do it he could too. He drew from her strength and managed to complete the set comprising of 'Lean on Me', followed by the Beatles classic 'A Little Help From My Friends' and Jon's own 'Make a Memory' and 'Thank You For Loving Me'. He rounded out the set with Paul Simons' 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'.

He bowed graciously at the crowd's applause and promptly left the stage, it was the longest five songs of his life, knowing that his daughter was at the side of the stage in pain. He placed a gentle comforting hand on Frankie's back, and for once she did not shrink away from him, she was too caught up in emotion and the comfort of her mother to even notice he was there.