TEN

Jon’s face split into a wide grin as he knocked on the heavy door.  He ignored the wide-eyed stares and excited giggles of the growing number of young people in the hallway.  He would be friendly and charming to them soon enough.  He had more important matters to attend to first.

Cate smiled at Jon’s obvious excitement.  He had been a bundle of energy the entire drive from the City, so anxious to see his daughter that he had insisted they come straight to her dorm rather than stopping first at their rented cabin.  Now he couldn’t even stand still; he bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited for Stephanie to answer her door.

“Are you sure she’s even here, Jon?  We’re almost an hour early.”

Jon’s eyes narrowed at her practical question.  Cate stifled a snort of laughter at his reaction.  From Jon’s expression one would think he had just been told to buzz off.

“I don’t know where else she would be.  She knows we’re coming.”  Jon shook his head, dismissing the thought.  He raised his hand to knock again.

“Class, maybe?  The library?  The laundry room?  The coffee shop?”  Cate’s eyes shone with a hint of mischief as she reeled off the list of possibilities.  “Steph’s a busy girl, you know.  I doubt she sits around her room, counting the minutes until Daddy Dearest’s arrival.”  Her sarcastic tease was softened by her smile.

“She doesn’t have Friday classes,” Jon answered curtly, rapping his knuckles against the wood a second time.

Cate heard quiet giggles and murmurs behind her.  She had noticed a trio of young women were camped outside an open door just down the hall. Obviously they were eavesdropping on her conversation with Jon.  

Cate nonchalantly turned to lean against the wall and shot a covert glance in the girls' direction.  A petite brunette was typing rapidly on the keyboard of her smartphone while the other two girls looked over her shoulder.

Chuckling softly to herself, Cate returned her gaze to Jon.  His eager grin hadn’t faded as he waited impatiently for Stephanie to answer.  He stared intently at the dorm room door, as if his laser-gaze could force it to swing open of its own accord.  

Cate wasn't sure Jon's knock would be answered.  Between the activity of the girls in the hall and the muffled ringtone and curse she had heard through the exterior wall of Stephanie's room, Cate had a feeling their early arrival was a surprise.  One that Jon's daughter may not welcome.

“Babe, we’re early.  Why don’t we go grab a cup of coffee and you can shoot her a text, let her know we’re here.  She’s probably on her way back to her room from wherever.”  Cate stepped away from the wall and put a gentle hand on Jon’s arm.  “We can wait for her in the lobby.”

Jon’s grin faded as he realized the sensibility of his wife’s proposition.  “Yeah, alright,” he relented, reluctantly taking a step back.  “You’re probably right.”

Cate gave him a sweet smile and slipped her hand into Jon’s as he started to turn away from Stephanie’s dorm room door.  She froze and inwardly cringed as she heard the loud metallic click of a lock and the turn of the knob.

“Daddy!  Cate!  You’re… Early!”  

Stephanie’s greeting was a bit too enthusiastic.  Cate bit her tongue to control her urge to give her stepdaughter a knowing smirk.  She had a pretty good idea what had caused Stephanie’s delay in answering the door, but her efforts to help the teen’s cause had been thwarted.

“Stephie!”  Jon’s face lit up at the sound of his daughter’s voice.  He turned his beaming grin to his first-born, dropping Cate’s hand and holding his arms out wide. “There you are!”

“Hi Daddy.”  Stephanie stepped into the hallway and into Jon’s hug.  Cate chuckled softly as she noted the girl was careful to pull her door almost-shut behind her, blocking their view into her room.  “Hi Cate,” Stephanie added, turning her head to smile at her stepmother as Jon loosened his embrace.

Cate grinned back, noting Stephanie’s flushed cheeks and tousled blonde hair.  “Hello, Steph.”  She opened her arms to accept a brief hug from her stepdaughter.

“Cate said you weren’t here, that we were too early.” Jon announced smugly, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets and giving his daughter an adoring grin.

“Yeah… uh, I’m here.  Obviously.” Stephanie giggled nervously and stepped back, leaning against the doorframe and subtly blocking Jon’s entry into her room.  The door drifted open a bit as her behind bumped against it.  “Sorry to make you wait.”

“S’Okay.  Figured you had your iPod on or something.”  Jon rocked on the balls of his feet.  “So, you and Morgan ready for us to take you to dinner?  I’ve been craving a slice of that pizza from that joint we went to last time.” 

“Daddy,” Stephanie rolled her eyes and giggled again.  “It’s only three in the afternoon.  And Morgan’s parents are coming later, so she’ll probably go out to eat with them.”  She crossed her arms over her middle, still not budging from her spot in front of her door.

Jon nodded.  “Okay, so it’s just us then.” He turned his smile to Cate, then back to Stephanie.  “So, grab your coat and come with us to check out the cabin.  We haven’t been up there yet.”

“You haven’t?  Uh…”

Cate smoothly interrupted, seeing Stephanie’s surprise at Jon’s invitation.  “Your father was so excited to see you that he wanted to come straight here.”  Her eyes met Stephanie’s and she gave the girl a little wink.  “I tried to tell him you might be busy, but he insisted.”  

Cate smiled when she saw the surprise, then the comprehension, then the relief in her stepdaughter’s blue-eyed gaze.  “But if you have stuff to do, we can go get settled at the cabin and come back and pick you up.”

“Um… yeah.  That might be a good idea…” Stephanie nodded at Cate’s suggestion, then gave her father an apologetic smile.  “I do have a couple things I need to…”

Her excuse was interrupted by a loud sneeze from the other side of her door.  Stephanie cringed, then smiled sheepishly.

Jon’s brow furrowed, though his smile remained.  “Is that Morgan?”  He titled his head in an attempt to look around the partially-opened door into Stephanie’s dorm room.  “Why don’t you let us say hello, and invite her and her parents to come to dinner with us?”  Without waiting for his daughter’s reply Jon stepped forward and pushed lightly at the door.  It swung open, giving him and Cate a view into the room.

Cate shot Stephanie a sympathetic smile as the girl grimaced in anticipation of her father’s reaction.  Then she raised a hand to give her husband’s arm a squeeze, subtly reminding him to keep his cool.

“Uhh… Hi, Mr. Bongiovi.  Mrs. Bongiovi.”  The young man’s voice was a nervous croak.  He sat up straight on the edge of Stephanie’s bed, squaring his shoulders and trying not to wilt under her father’s surprised stare.

“Daddy…”  Stephanie put her hand on Jon’s other arm, the gentle pressure silently begging him not to make a scene.

“Brendan.”  Jon’s voice was cool, but Cate detected a hint of amusement in his tone.  She swallowed a chuckle as she looked at Jon’s profile and saw the upward curl of the corner of his mouth.  Though he was clearly surprised by Brendan’s presence, Cate could see that Jon wasn’t angry.  He was just going to fuck with the kid a little bit.

“Stephanie didn’t tell me you would be here this weekend.”

“It was a surprise, Daddy,” Stephanie answered hastily.  “I didn’t know until Brendan got here, this afternoon.”

“Ah.  Drove in from the City, did you, Brendan?” Jon arched a brow and gave the young man a pointed look.  “You should have told me your plans.  You could have ridden up with us.”

“Actually, Sir… I took the train.”  Brendan cleared his throat nervously, but met Jon’s stare.  He had been dating Stephanie for over a year now, and he knew her father didn’t really dislike him.  But then again, Jon had never found Brendan in his only daughter’s room before, sitting on her freshly-rumpled bed. 

“Uh huh.” Jon nodded slowly, drawing out the syllables.  He glanced at Cate and saw her smirk.  Her amused expression clearly said “Let him off the hook.”

Jon pushed the door further open and sauntered into Stephanie’s dorm room.    “So, when did you get here?”  He pulled the chair away from the desk next to the bed and swiveled it around, then lowered himself onto it.  Jon leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees as he stared intently at his daughter’s suitor.

“Um, just about a half-hour ago.”  The young man swallowed hard and tried to conceal his discomfort at Jon’s not-so-subtle interrogation.

Jon arched a brow and turned to give his daughter a smirk.  “And how long has it been since you two saw each other?”  His voice was laden with gleeful tease.  “Did we… interrupt… something?  A little reunion, perhaps?”

Stephanie rolled her eyes, now confident her father was just play-acting.  “Oh, for God’s sake, Daddy… stop picking on him.”  She crossed the room and sat beside Brendan on the bed, slipping her hand into his. 

“Jon,” Cate warned gently, unable to keep from smiling.  “She’s right.  Leave him alone.”

“What? I’m not picking on anybody!” Jon exaggerated his protest, then grinned widely.  “Brendan doesn’t think I’m picking on him.  Do ya, Brendan?”

The young man grinned sheepishly.  “No, Sir.”  He shook his head though his answer was contrary to his perception of the situation.  He was positive he was being razzed by Stephanie’s father.

“See?”  Jon turned his mischievous smirk to Cate.  His heart warmed as he saw the genuine smile on her lips and the little twinkle in her blue eyes.  For the first time today she looked truly happy.

Jon gave Cate a little wink before turning his attention back to his daughter.  “Well, seeing as how you have company…” He exaggerated the word to tease the young couple a bit more.  “Cate and I will go unload our shit at the cabin, then come back by to pick you up.  Brendan, I assume you will be joining us for dinner?”

Brendan shrugged, then looked at Stephanie.  “I don’t want to intrude on family time… I can grab a bite somewhere, then meet up with you later.”

Jon snorted.  “Nonsense.  You’re coming to dinner with us.”  He gave Brendan a warmer, more friendly grin.  “Hell, you’re practically family as it is.  I think you’re the first guy to survive dating my daughter for more than a month or two.”

“Uh… thank you, Sir.”  Brendan didn’t quite know how to take Jon’s backhanded compliment.  “For the invitation…”

“Alright, Jon.” Cate interrupted, letting Stephanie’s boyfriend off the hook.  “Let’s go, leave them alone.  You have all weekend to get reacquainted with Brendan.”  She couldn’t resist her own little jab at the affable young man.

Jon nodded, then stood.  “Starting with dinner.  We’ll be back in an hour or so to pick you up, Princess.”  He leaned over to wrap an arm around Stephanie’s shoulder, pulling her into a one-armed hug and pressing a kiss against her forehead.  “You too, Brendan.”  Jon disengaged from his embrace and stuck out a hand.

“Okay.  Thanks.”  Brendan shook Jon’s hand, relieved to see the older man’s little wink of truce.  He was beginning to think maybe Stephanie’s father really wasn’t pleased to see him.

Cate chuckled softly as she watched the exchange, then gave Jon a warm smile as he stepped over to her and took her hand.  “What time is the Pep Rally?”  She directed her question to Stephanie as she and Jon stepped over to the door. 

“It starts at nine.  The bonfire’s supposed to be going by 8:30, though.”

“So we should probably bring our coats and blankets and stuff when we come back over, right?”

Stephanie nodded.  “Yeah.  By the time we eat dinner and walk through town to see the Spirit Windows and stuff, it will be time to head for the field.  You probably won’t have time to go back to the cabin.”

“There gonna be cheerleaders at this bonfire?”  Jon gave his daughter a goofy lecherous grin.

“Yes, Daddy.” Stephanie sighed dramatically at his corny playfulness.  “But they’ll be young enough to be your daughter.  Literally.”

“Yeah, thanks for reminding me.” Jon pulled a face, then stepped for the door.  “Alright, we’re outta here.  Be back in an hour.”  Jon paused and arched a brow at the young couple.  “Or maybe earlier.”

Cate laughed and pushed Jon through the door.  “Alright, already.”  She gave Stephanie and Brendan an apologetic smile.  “Bye, you two.  See you in at least an hour.”

Stephanie giggled and moved over to the door as her stepmother followed Jon through it into the hallway.  “Bye, Cate.  Bye Daddy.”  

When her parents headed for the elevator Stephanie closed and locked the door, then leaned against it with a heavy sigh before giving Brendan an apologetic smile.  “Sorry.”

Brendan chuckled as he wandered over to where Stephanie stood.  “S’Okay.”  He rested his hands on her waist and smiled down at her.  “I know your Dad secretly likes me.  And I figured he’d be here this weekend.”

“Yeah…” Steph sighed again, then smiled up at her handsome boyfriend.  “I just hope we get some time together, alone.  I have a feeling Daddy’s gonna be stuck like glue to me all weekend.”

“We’ll figure something out.  Just may have to be creative.”  Brendan’s warm breath against Stephanie’s lips gave her goosebumps.  She giggled her agreement and wrapped her arms around his neck, melting into the kiss.

In the dormitory common room, Jon whistled cheerfully as he punched the elevator call button.  He gave Cate a sideways glance and a mischievous grin as he shoved his hands into his pockets and bounced on the balls of his feet, waiting for the doors to open.

Cate chortled quietly.  “You’re just bad.”  She shook her head at her husband’s smugness.  “Poor kids.”

Jon smirked at the elevator.  “My work here is done.”  

A soft ding punctuated his proclamation, then the metal doors slid open to reveal two female students toting backpacks.  The girls gaped in surprise as Jon gave them a dazzling grin before stepping aside so they could exit the elevator.  “Ladies.”

Blushing and giggling, the young women quickly scooted past Jon and Cate and disappeared down the hallway.  Cate rolled her eyes as she followed Jon’s gesture to precede him into the elevator.  She couldn’t help but smile as they both leaned against the back wall of the car while the doors slid shut.

“Oh, I see. Your work here is done.”  Cate couldn’t resist taunting her smug husband.  “You do realize we just left your daughter and her boyfriend alone for an hour… in her bedroom?”  She continued to face the elevator door, watching Jon from the corner of her eye as she smirked wickedly. 

Cate saw Jon’s grin wilt.  His muttered response was falsely cheerful.

“Shut Up.”

*****

Fifteen minutes later the gray SUV crept through the trees, following the gravel road.  Ahead a dark, slate-roofed structure stood at the edge of a small clearing.

“Well, this looks promising,” Jon observed as he guided the vehicle to a stop in front of what was obviously a detached garage.

Cate nodded her agreement as she pushed open her door and climbed out the passenger side.  “Yeah, you could say that.”  Her eyes widened as she evaluated the enormous residence.  “Sure doesn’t look like the lake cabin I visited as a kid.”  She slowly rounded the front of the vehicle to where Jon stood waiting.

Jon chuckled quietly.  “Well, apparently being a Donor to the College has its perqs.”

Cate arched a surprised brow.  “You mean this place belongs to the school?”

“No.  It’s privately-owned.  But apparently it’s available to the College for ‘certain benefactors.’ ” Jon made air quotes to emphasize the phrase.

Cate chortled.  “Ah.  Gotta keep the Deep Pockets happy, huh?”  She slipped her hand into Jon’s.  “They’re probably just buttering you up for a future Benefit Concert.”

Jon snorted.  “Cynic.  But yeah, you’re probably right.”  He gave Cate’s hand a little squeeze.  “I don’t mind a little buttering now and again. Do you?”

“Not this kind.”  Cate grinned, again turning her gaze to the cabin.  It looked like something out of a fairytale, built in the arts-and-crafts style and featuring peaks and dormers and a wide wrap-around porch.  Cate counted three chimneys jutting from the slate roof, and she was certain the lake-facing side of the house would be walled with huge windows.  “It looks almost like a ski lodge.”

“Yeah, it does.” Jon agreed, taking a step toward the flagstone-paved walk leading to the front steps.  “C’mon.”

Together Jon and Cate traversed the walk and climbed the steps onto the porch.  Jon dropped Cate’s hand as he sorted the key from his key ring before trying it in the lock.  A quiet click and a turn of the knob granted them entrance.

Jon and Cate stepped onto the tiled raised foyer and took in their surroundings.  Cate gasped softly as her eyes swept over the great room.  As beautiful as the cabin was from the outside, from the inside it was stunning. 

The room was sunken, its dark hardwood floor a full two steps lower than the foyer.  Its dominating feature was a massive fireplace in the room’s center, splitting the family room from a dining space.  Cate could see through the firebox to the far side of the room, an ornate cast-iron fire screen the only thing minimally impeding her view.  A rustic pillar of fieldstone rose from the fireplace to the roof nearly three stories above.

The far wall was, as Cate suspected, a wall of windows.  The browns and golds and rusts of autumn foliage made the forest behind the house seem almost an extension of the cabin, decorated to match.  In front of the windows, a long oak table sat surrounded by 10 flat-black ladderback chairs.  Off the dining area Cate could see through a wide arched doorway into a large kitchen appointed with dark wood cabinets and black granite countertops.

On the near side of the fireplace two golden-brown leather sofas and four matching armchairs were arranged around a rustic slate-topped square coffee table.  Under the furniture lay a gorgeous Native American-patterned woven rug, and pillows and throws in matching hues of orange, brown, green, and blue scattered the sofas and chairs.  

A pile of giant floor cushions sat stacked in a corner, next to a basket of board games.  Above the table, suspended from one of the curving oak beams that spanned ceiling, hung a huge chandelier made of scrolled ironwork and deer antlers.  Warm tan walls were adorned with prints of game birds and hunting dogs, completing the lodge theme.

Jon let out a low whistle as he strolled forward.  He descended the two steps into the family room and turned, gazing up at the balcony that overhung the great room.  “Wow.” He gestured up at the iron-scrolled balcony railing.  “Guess that’s where the bedrooms are.” 

Cate followed his point and saw that the open part of the loft was rather narrow, filled with two pairs of chairs and a few small tables and floor lamps.   Behind the sitting area were four wooden doors, spaced along the wall.  At the far end of the great room a partially-concealed switchback staircase provided access to the second floor. 

She nodded her agreement.  “The boys will love sleeping up there,” she observed.  “Wonder if there’s enough space for each of them to have their own rooms?”

Jon grinned.  “I’m betting there’s at least one room up there with bunk beds.  You know the Chuckleheads will be all over that.”

Cate did a mental count of the doors, then of their family.  She frowned slightly as she realized there may be just enough rooms for them; one for the younger boys, one for Jesse, one for her and Jon, and one for Dorothea.  She tried to ignore the little stab of annoyance she felt as she realized she and Jon would probably have even less privacy than they anticipated.

“Wonder which one’s the Master,” Cate mused, following Jon down the steps into the living room.  She stopped, facing him.

Jon gave her a little smirk and raised a hand to point past her, to the wall opposite the loft.  “Betcha a dollar it’s over there.”

Cate turned to see a small recess in the wall, like an entryway to a suite.  In the center of the dusky alcove was a massive oak double door.  She felt a little smile curve her lips.  The doors did indeed look like the entry to a grand bedroom.

“Check it out,” Jon urged.  He nodded when Cate gave him a questioning look, then he followed her over to the door.  He smiled smugly when she pulled open the heavy doors to reveal a large, airy room decorated in the same style and palette as the great room.  Centered on the far wall was a huge king-sized bed, opposite a smaller version of the great room’s stone fireplace.

“Now, this is our room.”  Jon grinned.

“Wow,” Cate breathed.  She drifted over to the massive picture window that took up almost half the exterior wall.  Her blue eyes wide, she stared through the portal at the stunning view of the forested hillside and the placid lake below.

Jon watched her for a moment, his heart swelling with affection.  He never got tired of seeing her reaction to the finer things their life together brought them.  The luxuries he often took for granted were still a wonder to his wife.   

Jon stepped up behind Cate, his arms sliding around her middle.  His smile matched hers as he dipped his head to rest his chin on her shoulder.  They were quiet for a moment, gazing together out the window at the peaceful scene. 

When Jon finally spoke his voice was calm, with just a hint of caution.  “You feeling better, Baby?”

He didn’t have to elaborate; Cate knew what he meant.  It had been a difficult morning, one that overwhelmed her.  Jon had understood, allowing her the space she needed to come to grips with their disappointing news.  By the time they drove away from the city Cate had managed to compartmentalize her feelings, to stuff them away until she could later analyze and deal with them. 

Though she had promised Dr. Seuss that she and Jon would find time to talk this weekend, Cate just couldn’t do it now.  Jon was so excited to spend time with Stephanie and the Boys; she couldn’t bear to drag him down.  And once the rest of the family arrived they certainly wouldn’t have any time alone.

Sometimes promises had to be broken.

Cate nodded slowly.  “Yeah.  I’m okay.  I just… I was just a little freaked out this morning.”

“I know.  You had me worried.”

Cate tipped her head, rubbing her cheek gently against Jon’s.  “Sorry, Baby.”  She smiled gratefully.  “But I’m okay.  Really.  I don’t want to think about it right now.  I just want to relax and have fun this weekend.”

“Me too, Baby.  But if you want to talk… I’m here.”  The concern in his voice made Cate melt.

“I know, Jon.”

Cate turned her gaze back to the window, the gentle smile lingering on her lips.  She nodded at the tableau before her; the view of the shimmering lake framed by the autumn foliage.   “It’s gorgeous.  Too bad we won’t have much time to enjoy it.”

“Yeah,” Jon agreed softly.  “Between our plans with Steph tonight and Dorothea and the boys coming tomorrow for the parade and the game and everything, we're gonna be busy.  Dammit.”

Cate sighed and leaned back against Jon, her arms settling over his around her middle.  “But good-busy,” she commented.  “Family time.”  She hoped Jon couldn’t hear in her voice the little twinge she felt in her heart.

“Maybe we can come back another time.  Just the two of us.”  Jon turned to nuzzle Cate’s cheek, his voice soft in her ear.  “We could use a getaway.  Some time to breathe, to relax… to talk.”

“I’d like that,” Cate replied softly.  “But I don’t know when we can possibly do it.  There’s just so much going on.  It never stops.”

“Then maybe we’ll have to find a way to make it stop.”  Jon echoed her soft sigh.

Cate nodded again and smiled.  “C’mon.  We better get our stuff hauled in from the car.  You told your daughter you’d be back in an hour.”

Jon chuckled quietly and loosened his embrace, then urged Cate to face him.  She turned in his arms and gazed up into his handsome face, her sapphire eyes shining. 

“Yeah… well.  She probably won’t mind if we’re a few minutes late.”  Jon lowered his face to Cate’s, his lips brushing over hers in a gentle caress.  He murmured softly against her mouth. “Think I’d rather stay here and kiss my wife.”

Cate sighed softly and smiled.  Then she slipped her arms around Jon’s waist and let him do just that.

For that moment, time stood still.