Chapter five

Shortly before 3 pm a cab stopped in front of the Bongiovi house. Kris' eyes wide in shock when she got out of the car and saw that huge building. Oh, shit…I’ll need a map to find my way around in that.

“Here kid, take your bag and guitar, I’ll take the box.” Miss Johnson gave her the small travelling bag. Kris frowned. Kid! This woman really started getting on her nerves. Why did she expect her to be different from the one in Germany?

While walking towards the door, it was opened by a man. Well, that’s him. He looks like on the pictures in the magazine, I read. Her hand cramped around her guitar bag. All of a sudden she was nervous.

Jon watched her walking towards the door. She wasn’t tall, maybe 5’2’’, slim figure, her long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail and even at the distance he could see her deep blue eyes.

He could tell she was nervous, her hands clenched around her guitar bag when she saw him standing in the door. He smiled. Well, it seems we have something in common.

“Hi, I’m Jon.” He said when Kris and Miss Johnson reached the door and offered his hand. “I’m glad you are here.” She put her bag and guitar carefully on the ground.

“I’m Kris.” She said nearly soundless. When she shook his hand, Jon pulled her in a small hug, he could feel her tense. Shit, way too fast Jon. He let her go again.

Dot showed up next to him. “Hi Kris, I’m Dorothea ...you can call me Dot.”

“Hi, nice to meet you,…Dot.” Kris said with a small smile. Well, it seems that his wife is not angry that I’m here. That’s something she was really afraid of.

“Why don’t you go inside? I’m with you in a minute.” Jon suggested. He really wanted to get rid of Miss Johnson. She was already annoying him with this slight smile on her face. Kris picked up her bag and guitar again, Dot took the box and they went inside.

“Where can I pick up the rest of her stuff?” Jon asked Miss Johnson.

“That’s all her stuff, Mr. Bongiovi…” Jon was surprised.

That bag was smaller than his when he was going away for a couple days. “…I need you to sign here…” Miss Johnson handed him a pen “…and these are all her documents: Certificate of birth, her new passport, her report cards from school in original and translated.” Jon signed the papers and took the documents.

“Thank you for everything Miss Johnson.” He shook her hand. She smiled. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Bongiovi.” She turned around and left in the cab.

Jon closed the door and took a short glance at Kris’ report cards, which were on top of the file. Wow! She was really good at school. He shook his head with a smile, were they really sure she’s his daughter?

When Jon entered the living room, he saw Dot coming inside with Steph and Jesse. While Steph walked right over to Kris, Jesse ran into the other room.

“Jesse, come back.” Dot said, while helping Steph get out of her jacket.

“I need to get the picture.” Jesse shouted and rushed back in the living room in the next second.

Jon smiled. They were both so excited to meet Kris. Dot and him talked with them yesterday evening and were glad that they didn’t react jealous. Jon was a bit worried that especially his babygirl wouldn’t like the idea of another girl in the house, but Steph and Jesse thought it was really cool to have an older sister and surprised Jon with their questions.

“Why doesn’t she already live here, when she’s your daughter, daddy? I’m your daughter too and I live here?” Steph wanted to know.

“Uhm, well babygirl….I didn’t know that she was born. Her mom didn’t tell me that she was pregnant.” Jon tried to explain.

Steph looked at her mother in confusion

“Why didn’t you tell him that you were pregnant? And how could you not see that?” She directed to her father. “Mom was huge when she was pregnant with Jesse!”

Dot couldn’t hide the laughter. Jon’s face was great.

“Steph, I wasn’t pregnant with Kris, she is NOT my daughter, but only the daughter of daddy. Her mother is a woman dad met over 16 years ago, when he didn’t know me.” Dot added. Everything else would be too complicated for Steph and Jesse. Jon smiled thankfully at his wife.

“Oh!” Steph said. “And then you met mommy and now you love her, right?”

“Yes, babygirl.” Jon said relieved. Steph nodded satisfied with the answer.

But Jesse was frowning; Jon could see that he was thinking about something. “What’s wrong, Jesse?” he asked his 4-year old son. Maybe this was too complicated for him.

“Her mommy is in heaven now?” he asked with an unsure voice. Jon swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

“Yes, she is.” He answered.

“Then Kris must be very sad she can’t see her anymore.” Jesse moved anxious on Dot’s lap.

“I would be very sad if I couldn’t see mommy anymore.” He added, looking up at his mother. Dot smiled and kissed his cheek.

“Yeah, you probably right, Jesse.” Jon said smiling.

“I will draw a picture for her tomorrow.” Jesse ended his thoughts.

“That’s a good idea, Jesse.” Dot said and put him down to bed.

Well, and with this picture he came running back in the room right now. Dot stopped him to get him out of the jacket.

“Hi, I’m Steph.” Kris knelt down to be on her level.

“Hi Steph, I’m Kris….how are you?” She said with a smile.

“I’m fine…Great you are here.” And with those words Steph launched herself in Kris’ arms. Surprised by this action she lost her balance and ended up on the floor.

“Steph, watch out.” Jon said.

Kris raised her free hand. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

“Let her go Steph, I want to say hi too.” Jesse demanded and pulled on Steph’s ponytail.

“Ouch, stop that you stupid idiot.” Steph hustled Jesse away and he landed on his rear end. Looking stunned the first second, he started to cry in the next one.

“Stephanie! You know you should not hustle each other or call each other names.” Jon said angry. Steph frowned while Dot picked Jesse up.

“Hm, didn’t really hurt, right baby?” Jesse shook his head.

“Good. Come on stop crying…” she wiped the tears off his cheeks “…why don’t you give Kris the picture?” Jesse nodded and Dot put him back on the floor, giving her daughter a stern look. Steph sighed.

“I’m sorry, Jesse.” Steph directed at her still sniffing brother.

He put his head to one side, thinking about it for a second. “Ok!” he said and walked over to Kris, who was still sitting on the floor, not sure what to think about all that. Well, it will never be boring here, she thought.

“ ‘his is for you.” Jesse said a bit shy and gave her the picture.

“Thank you, Jesse.” she looked at the picture “that’s a great car…” Please let it be one! “… I like the colour.” Jesse beamed.

“See, I told you blue is ok.” he said to Steph.

”She wanted me to make it piiink!” he told Kris making a face.

She laughed. “Well, I really like the blue…I’m not so much into pink, you know.” She whispered conspiratorial to Jesse.

Steph frowned. Oh, oh…

“But you are a girl, girls like pink.” Steph said pouting.

“Well, I’m a girl…you are right Steph, but pink is not my colour….you on the other hand look great in that pink sweater.” Kris replied. Steph beamed as well.

Dot and Jon exchanged a glance. The three will get along, that’ll be no problem.