Chapter 34

Life settled into an easy rhythm as the next few days passed them by. The mornings were taken up by lessons for Jon and the afternoons were spent listening to the more musically inclined create magic. Adam, being a more solitary soul would wander off to who knows where, although Amelia had her suspicions he had found a substitute for Joe’s Bar someplace close. She knew that although he wouldn’t admit too it he missed the jazzman and the “blasted Boy Scout.” It was time to plan a house warming and invite everyone in that mattered. With a slight grin she went to discuss the particulars with Helene so she could prepare the rooms and the foods to make the party a success.

With Jon off with Adam training she had the perfect moment to corner Richie for phone numbers and help. Within a few moments she had found him on the patio strumming his guitar and humming along to a song she had never heard before. “Pretty Rich, real pretty,” she said with a smile as she walked over to him and sat next to him.

“Yeah it’s gonna be on the next album I think, if I can work the kinks out that is.” He tilted his head a grin lighting his face. “So what’s the plan Red? You have a devious look to your face.”

“Aww Richie, I’m not that obvious am I?” Amelia laughed softly, “Remind me to work on my poker face around Jon. I need your help though, I want to give us a house warming party and invite all the important people, but bless my soul I don’t know how to get up with Tico, Dave or any of the guys. And I’d really like for the kids to be here, he didn’t get much time to say goodbye, and I know he misses them, but I don’t think Dot would go for me calling on that one. Can you handle that for me Rich?”

Richie had his phone out and was dialing before she finished talking. “Red, if it’s something to make Kidd happy, you know I’m there.”

“When you get done with that Sambo, we are drafted to stock the bar as Helene has more than enough on her plate with prepping food and getting the rooms ready, besides you know what they all like.”

“But Red, the bar’s stocked. Get anything more and it will overflow babe.” Rich grinned, “Although that might not be a totally bad idea.”

“Oh Sambo, I don’t mean THAT bar, I’ve been working on a surprise for you guys. Come on and I’ll show you.” She stood and he quickly followed, “You remember that small storage building off to the left? The one that Jon and Adam said wouldn’t be good for anything?” Richie nodded as she continued. “well I remembered you saying that Jon liked playing bartender, so I’ve been busy having that building refurbished, and trust me, sneaking in a couple of workers and getting that place ready has been hard with him underfoot at all times, but we managed it. I have all the equipment there, all that I need to do is stock it, and I need a strong back to help me.”

She opened the door then and Richie walked in amazed at what she had accomplished. Hell it couldn’t have been a better place for Jon had he himself fixed it.




“It’s perfect Red, Kidd’s gonna love it.”

Amelia smiled. “I figured this would be a good way to start the party off, while the food grills out on the patio. With all the musicians around and the little stage there, I don’t think we’ll lack for music either. Oh by the way, let me borrow your cell? I want to invite Joe and Duncan so a few of Adam’s friends are here too.”

Richie handed her the phone with a curious look, “what no friends of your own to call?”

Amelia grinned. “I have all I need in this house between you, Jon and Adam and all we know betwixt and between us. I don’t lack for friends,” she smiled as she flipped open his phone and started dialing. Within moments she had gotten Joe and Duncan both to agree to fly out to New Jersey for the housewarming with the promise of a car waiting for them to drive them out to the house. With a soft goodbye she flipped the phone closed and handed it back to Rich. “Ready to play shop til ya drop Sambo?”

He laughed and gave her an over exaggerated courtly bow. “Our carriage awaits Red, let us depart this place.”

~~~~~~~

Dark eyes watched as the small silver coupe pulled from the driveway. Yet again he was with her a stupid grin on his face as she laughed. “What does he see in those types?” swirled through a brain that held a tenuous grip on reality. Fingers whitened by tension held tight to a steering wheel as the dark sedan pulled out in traffic a couple of cars behind the intended target. “One day soon I’ll make sure she’s not there to keep you from what you should be doing.”


As they shopped, Amelia would stop from time to time to look back over her shoulder. Had she not known better, she would have sworn there was an immortal nearby. She felt no immortal hum at the base of her neck so she knew that wasn’t it. “What’s up Red? You’re acting like there’s a ghost nearby.”

She shook her head, “I’m not sure Rich, feel just like someone is watching me, but I don’t see anyone. It’s not an immortal thing; I’d be able to tell that. It’s just this odd feeling.”

Richie laughed softly, “Honey I bet the whole town is eyeballing us. You’ve loaded enough hard stuff into that car to have the entire town thinking we are competing to be the new town lushes.”

She laughed softly. “Yeah, I guess your right Rich. Maybe I’m just nervous about the party.” She shook her head, freeing the cobwebs that had started to gather. “Just a case of nerves, that’s all it is.”

From the shadows a white hand shakily pulled the hoodie closer around a face taunt with nerves. “That was too close. I almost got caught that time. So they are having a party, might have to see if I can attend.” A slow insane smile lit up an otherwise wan face.

~~~~

Richie and Amelia arrived home just in time to see Jon stagger from the direction of the training area to the side door, a just as droopy Adam following right along beside him. “Have a good time boys,” her voice sing-songed their way. She walked over to Jon and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You look plumb tuckered out sweetie. Go take a shower and a nap.”

Jon grabbed her and pulled her close, his lips taking full possession of hers. “I’ll show you who’s tuckered out.”

She let herself be pulled into the kiss for a few minutes before breaking away. “Go on get a shower; we’ll discuss your state of tuckeredness later darling.”

With a wink and a grin Jon entered the house as Amelia turned to Adam and began to speak. “I need you to keep him busy today Adam ok? Come up with some excuse I don’t care what, just keep him busy. Teach him a new kata or show him a new sword, I don’t care. Just keep him busy.”

“What has the little love struck wench got up her sleeve?” Adam grinned as she blushed.

“Nothing major Adam, just a little house warming party and I want it to be a surprise for him.”

Adam grumbled a bit but agreed to find a way to keep Jon busy for the rest of the afternoon. He went upstairs quickly showered and came downstairs to find Jon. He located him in the living room sprawled on the couch a sheaf of papers in his hand. “Time to play business man is it Rock Star?” Adam queried as he entered the room.

“Just reading some updated reports sent to me by the football team I own. I do need to keep up with all that.” Jon smiled a hint of pride in his eyes. “It’s not easy to go from being the rocker with the hair to an entrepreneur but I managed to do it.”

“Well talking about that, you’ve got a lot of knowledge on the recording business and I’m thinking of putting some of my things into recordings, could you possibly show me around your studio and help me decide what equipment I might need?”

“Sure thing man, your teaching me to survive, the least I can do is teach you about recording.” Jon stood and walked with Adam to the studio where they spent the next few hours oblivious to the goings on at the house.

It was some time later that garbled noise finally filtered in to the men in the studio alerting them that something was happening. The two men quickly cut off all the lights and made their way to the house. As they walked up to the door they saw lights blazing from each window and music blasting.

With an arch of his brow Jon walked into the house to be greeted by a chorus of friendly and welcome voices. “HAPPY HOUSE WARMING,” was yelled as he was swarmed by all of his friends and the four much missed hugs of his children. Blue eyes welled with tears as he looked over at Amelia and Richie, both who were sporting silly grins, and mouthed a heart felt thank you. As Jon hugged and talked to his children and caught up on all their lives, Adam was catching up with Joe and Duncan.

Jon grinned as each of his children chattered on about life in Rumson and how it was going. As Jacob, Jesse and Romeo ran off to play he continued to chat with his daughter a bit, finding out that Dot was dating again and seemed to be adjusting to single life pretty well. She got quiet a moment and he gave her a questioning look, “what is it honey? You know you can ask me anything.”

“Well, Dad,” Stephanie paused a moment, “Are you really doing ok Dad? I mean, I know mom said you had moved on too, that you loved Amelia, but are you really happy? Because, if she’s not making you happy, Dad I’ll just have to see about that.”

Jon grinned at his daughter, as his worries over them adjusting were laid to rest. “I’m very happy honey. I was more worried about how you and the boys would take to Amelia. It’s not easy accepting another person into one of your parent’s lives.”

“Aw, Dad, she’s ok. She decorated a room just for each of us. The boys think she’s just cool cuz she knows all about the games and stuff and well she’s got all the right things in my room. So don’t worry, if she makes you happy, then we’ll be happy with her too.”

Jon pulled his daughter into a tight hug. “Thank you honey. Now scoot, go talk to your uncles and their friends, don’t let old dad keep boring you.”

Stephanie kissed her dad on the cheek. “That’s cool dad, you have us all weekend. We’ll talk some more,” she smiled as she walked over to the grill to get a bit of the special grilling going on.

Jon wandered to stand behind Amelia and wrapped his arms around her. Leaning forward, his breath warm as it caressed her ears, he whispered; “I didn’t think it was possible to love you more, but in this instant you’ve shown me I can love even deeper.”

Amelia tilted her head back and gave him a breathtaking smile. “You haven’t seen anything yet.” Turning her head she saw that the nanny had entered and started corralling the kids up for bedtime. Taking this as the prime moment she announced, “If everyone would please follow me? I haven’t given Jon his housewarming present yet.”

David, Richie and Tico yelled from the side of the room, “You’re gonna let us watch THAT?”

Amelia blushed deep red as Jon roared with laughter before speaking, “You guys won’t get that lucky!”

Within a few moments she had led the entire group out to the small building she had worked on so hard. “I knew you’d miss your place in Rumson Jon, so with a little help from friends, who packed up things and sent them in, and Richie who helped with the rest, Jon’s Bar is back in business.”
She smiled, “I get the first drink bartender.”

Jon walked in almost dumbstruck with just how thoughtful his woman could be. Moving behind the bar he started mixing drinks and asking for each person’s order. It didn’t take long before the jam session started. Richie urged Joe up on stage along with the rest and the music was echoing to the sky mixed with song and laughter. Amelia winked at Jon to let him know she’d be right back, and then walked swiftly to the kitchen. Helene had worked hard tonight and it was her turn to join in the fun.

It took some talking but Amelia finally persuaded Helene to attend the rest of the party. Helene’s only real argument was the lack of something nice to wear. With a wicked grin Amelia pulled out a few bags from the hall closet, “I already planned for that Helene. As you’ve become a good friend of mine I thought a gift for tonight would be in order. Besides you know you wanna blow the socks off of Richie.”

Helene mumbled, “He never wears socks ya know,” then she blushed beet red as she realized she had just admitted to her interest in the dark headed guitarist.

“Well good, then you’ll just blow his mind. Now go, change those clothes and let’s go have some fun.” Amelia leaned back on the counter to wait as Helene rushed off to change into her new party duds.

As Helene walked back into the kitchen Amelia let out a low whistle. “I was right; Burgundy is a good color on you.” She smiled as Helene did a quick pirouette. She had released her hair from its regular tight bun and it cascaded down her shoulders like a silken ebony river and had freshened her makeup in such a way that it made her azure eyes gleam. When she wasn’t in her bulky sweaters she had a curvaceous body that any man would take a third or fourth look at.

“Well Helene, come on girl, let’s so have some fun.”

The two women walked out of the kitchen and down the small pathway to the bar chatting about the success of the day. Amelia ushered Helene on ahead so she could take a few moments to appreciate the night skies. She stopped a moment and lifted her face to the sky, smiling at the beauty around her and thanking the Heaven’s above for her good fortune.

It was the last thought she had as her world went dark.