Gift of Love

Chapter 3 

It took 2 elevator trips to get everyone downstairs to the lobby before finally meeting up by the huge fireplace in the corner. Each mom took a minute to speak with their kids, making sure they were ready. When the kids confirmed for the millionth time that "Yes", they were indeed ready, Bobby led the large group through the lobby of the hotel out to the 2 black Escalades waiting by the curb.

Settling herself by a seat next to the window, Joanne smiled as Isabel climbed into the seat next to her. Turning sideways so she could see the kids better, Joanne took in the sight in front of her. All 5 kids were dressed in jeans with each one wearing a different concert shirt from the many tours their dad had done. Leaning her head back against the glass, Joanne closed her eyes as she thought back to how they had come to be here today. Two names came to mind instantly, Bobby and Michael. When the boys had approached her months ago with the idea of surprising their dad for Fathers Day in London, Joanne was speechless. She knew they were missing their dad being around, but until that moment she didn’t realize just how much. The fact that they wanted to surprise him just blew her away. She knew Jon would be just as shocked as she was at that moment. Her heart had swelled with pride and love as she looked at the boys. The boys insisted on doing all the planning for the trip, which she had agreed to with one stipulation; she would make the flight arrangements, everything else was all them. After they had agreed to her condition, she gave them the green light. Soon their siblings wanted in on the surprise as well. It only took 1 day before the cousins were begging to be a part of the plan as well. It had become a family mission with everyone having a part. Now after months of careful planning, they were about to give their dads a Fathers Day they would not soon forget.

Isabel sat facing Joanne as she rested her head against the glass. She could tell just from the serene look on her face that Joanne was lost in her own thoughts, so Isabel decided to leave her be. Her attention was drawn to her little monkey, her 8 year old daughter, Savannah, who was sitting next to Leigh Anne. Savannah would not sit still.

"Why in heaven’s name are you squirming around, Savannah?" Isabel asked her daughter with a hint of laughter in her voice.

With a light shrug of her shoulders, Savannah looked at her mom "I don’t know." With that comment said, Savannah went back to her squirming. Gazing across the seat to the 2 girls sitting on the other side of Leigh Anne, Isabel watched her 2 older daughters, Ava, 14, and Katie, 11, as they had their headphones on listening to music. Biologically, Ava was not her daughter, but it didn’t mean she treated her any differently or loved her any less. Richie had been married for a brief time to actress Heather Locklear, Ava’s biological mom.

When Ava was just 6 months old, Richie had come home one evening to find his little girl all alone. Heather was nowhere to be found, not even a sitter was around. The little girl was hungry, her diaper needed changing, and she was in desperate need of a bath. Richie filed for divorce that night, seeking full and sole custody of his little girl. He was granted both within the year.

Lost in her memories, Isabel wasn’t aware Joseph had fallen asleep while laying his head on her shoulder.

Ava watched as her little brother gradually slipped away in his mother’s arms with his cheek resting on their mom’s shoulder. She knew her mom had been watching her while she sat there with her headphones on. It might bother other kids to have their mom staring at them, but not Ava; she loved the attention her mom lavished on her. Turning the volume down on her iPod, Ava gestured to her brother.

"Mom, Joseph fell asleep." Looking down at her son laying on her shoulder, she shook her head.

 "Now you fall asleep! Great, now he will be running full steam later on," Isabel groaned to her daughter.

With a jerk of her shoulder, Ava quipped, "Guess we have our work cut out for us tonight, huh, mama." Closing her eyes, Isabel just nodded her head in agreement.

Leigh Anne had been watching her mom from the minute they got in the car. She thought something was wrong, her mommy looked almost sad. Twisting around in her seat, she turned to Sabrina who was sitting behind her with her 2 older brothers. "Bri, I think something is wrong with mommy," she whispered. Tearing her eyes away from the book in her hands, Sabrina looked over Leigh’s shoulder to her mom. Hmmm, wonder what is going on, Sabrina thought to herself. Sitting forward in her seat, Sabrina rested her arms on the back on Leigh’s seat "Something wrong, Mom?"

Raising her head from the window, Joanne nodded her head gently back and forth. "No. nothing’s wrong. Guess I am just a little tired."

Sabrina wasn’t fooled by her mom’s answer, she may have been only 15 years old, but she wasn’t blind. From the look on her mom’s face, Sabrina guessed her mom was missing their dad just as much as they were, maybe even a little more. Deciding a little one on one with her dad was in order, Sabrina settled back in her seat while her mind was going a million miles a minute. Hopefully Daddy will know how to put a smile back on her mama’s face, thought Sabrina.

 A short time later, the Escalade was passing through the parking lot of the arena, heading for the back entrance. Shaking her head, Joanne thought of all they had gone through to get here. It had been no easy task to get 5 wives, 16 kids ranging from 5 - 20 years old to London without any of the husbands knowing, but somehow they had done it. Pulling up to the entrance that led to the backstage of the Arena, they waited for the signal that it was safe to leave the vehicle. They didn’t want to be spotted now when they were so close. Around 5 minutes later Larry, 2nd in command for Bon Jovi security, opened the door to of the back passenger side. Popping his head inside the car door, Larry looked at everyone inside then gave a big smile. "Hi guys! Are you all ready to go?”