One Hundred Twenty-One

“Allegra, put the napkins down,” Dorothea ordered after watching her fold them and refold them at least three times.  “You’ve got to get a grip, woman.”

Blue eyes narrowed in a look that Dot was all too familiar with.  “Do you have the same selective amnesia that Richie does about the last dinner?”

Why are they both so freaking calm about this?

“This is my home,” she informed Allegra unconcernedly.  “They will NOT act like that here, or I will kick their asses out.  Why do you think I volunteered to host?  It puts me in control.”

With a complement of slightly more than two dozen family and ‘family’ members, this had the potential to mutate into some type of deranged circus, and Allegra was more than a little nervous.  The brightest star to wish upon was that her mother wouldn’t get too vocal in front of so many new faces.  Ava DEFINITELY didn’t need that kind of introduction to Allegra’s parents. 

When Richie had arrived with his daughter from the airport a few hours ago, he had assured Allegra that Ava had taken the news pretty well.  That belief had been confirmed by Allegra’s timid hug and greeting.  “Congratulations, Allegra.”

The girl’s sentiment hit an instant soft spot in Allegra.  Ava was the first to express congratulations over the baby.  It went to reinforce that this should be a happy time, and made her stomach flutter.

But that was hours ago, and it was only minutes until the masses would converge upon the Bongiovi dining room with the expectation of a congenial family gathering.  Richie had told everyone they just wanted to spend a little time with family since they had hit a fairly significant break in the tour.  He was leaving the ‘announcement’ as a surprise.

“You’re really going to kick your husband’s family’s asses out?”  Allegra scoffed.  “And he won’t throw a fit?”

“Nope.  I set rules early on, and Jon’s family knows how to play nice in my house.  Anyway, it won’t be their asses I’m kicking out.  It will more likely be YOUR family.  Make no mistake that I WILL do it.  I’m tired of all this crap.  You’re having a baby and they damn well better be happy about it.”

Dorothea’s face resembled that of a fierce mama bear protecting her cubs, and it made Allegra laugh.  Pulling her cousin’s wife into a tight hug, she asked, “Have I told you lately how much you rock, Dot?  I continue to stand amazed by you and what you do.  If it ever gets that far, I hope I can be half as good for Richie as you are for Jon.”

“You’ll be fine,” Dot assured her.  “Richie’s needed a grounded Jersey girl all along.”

Allegra felt her face flush at the Jersey girl reference, and hurriedly changed the subject, ticking off what she felt were the most crucial details of the evening.  “Okay, so Dave, Tico, Tony, Jon, Richie and you all know not to bring up the incident in Detroit.  We just have to catch Matt when he gets here and make sure he’s on board.  Ava has been sworn to secrecy about the baby until Richie makes the announcement.”

“A case of wine is open and breathing,” Jon added, arriving in the midst of her litany.

“A CASE?  You think we really need that much wine?”  Allegra asked with interest.  Would pickling her mother beforehand be helpful?  She wasn’t opposed to the idea.

He gave her an ‘are you kidding me?’ look and harrumphed loudly.  “I’m just hoping to get through the salad before we start on the second case.”

His wife paused in her inspection of the place settings to slide him a condemning glance.  “Behave yourself.”

“Hey, you’re talking to the wrong fuckin’ cowboy about behaving.  It’s not me you have to worry about.”

Allegra’s fists immediately propped on her hips and she quirked her left eyebrow skeptically.  “Oh really?  Do I have to quote you from the last time?  ‘That maiden voyage has sailed’.  Sound familiar?”

Richie slipped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle.  “You’re stressing again, aren’t you?”

“Maybe a little,” she admitted guiltily, dropping her fists and tipping her head back for a kiss.

“Munchkin doesn’t like it when you stress.  Take a deep breath and think about something fun.”  He brought his lips in direct contact with her ear, whispering suggestively.  “Like peekaboo.”

She couldn’t help herself.  Sometime during the next seven or eight months it was sure to get old, but for the time being the simple childhood game reference still made her giggle.  He knew it and was exploiting the fact shamelessly.

“That’s better,” he approved with a swift kiss.  “Dave and Lex are here, and I think John and Carol just came in.  Why don’t we go say hello?”

Placing her hand in his, she gave herself one more mental pep talk and smiled congenially.  “Sure.  It’s been ages since I last saw Lexi.”

The instant they stepped into the living room David had her wrapped up in a big hug.   “Hello there, gorgeous.”  He stepped back to peruse her dark jeans, silky red blouse and chunky heels.  “You’re looking positively MAH-velous this evening.  There’s color in your cheeks and a sparkle in those dazzling baby blues.”

Her lips brushed his cheek with a laugh.  “I told you I’ve never been happier.  It’s not my fault you didn’t believe me.”

Richie was busy greeting Lexi and the senior Bongiovis, allowing David the opportunity to conspiratorially whisper, “Don’t worry Legs.  I’ll have him on bended knee in no time.  I know EXACTLY how to annoy the hell out of him so that he conforms to my will.”

All laughter left her face and she gripped his arm, blue eyes going from dazzling to deadly serious.  “No.  Don’t you say a word.  Number one, he’s doing what he thinks is best and I kind of agree with him.  Number two, what girl wants a man who’s been bullied into proposing?  We’re happy, so just let it alone.  And please tell Tico – and anyone else, for that matter – the same thing.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, sweetheart.  You deserve to be more than his baby mama,” he protested with a frown, unwilling to accept what she was trying to tell him.  What was it going to take to get through that thick mop of curls? 

“More than happiness?  More than a man who loves me and wants to be with me?  More than a man who’s so excited about this…”  she looked around before whispering, “…baby that he can’t stand it?”  Allegra gave a rueful shake of her head.  “No David.  Anybody would be lucky to have what I do – and I know it.”

Allegra believed what she was saying, despite the tiny piece of her heart calling her a liar.  The romantic in her – who had known THAT existed? – wanted him to sweep her off her feet and make her the new Mrs. Sambora.  But the realistic side of her knew that Richie was right.  SHE had been the one vetoing marriage because of pregnancy six weeks ago.  What made her think she was any more ready for IT than she was this baby? 

No, she was trusting Richie on this one.

“Well, then I’ll find another reason to annoy the hell out of him.  It’s what I do.”  David was still skeptical, but at least he was letting it go for now.

“And you’ll tell Tico?”

“Tell Tico what?”  A deep voice rumbled next to her ear as the man in question bussed her cheek and rested a heavy hand in the small of her back.  “How are you feeling, bella?  You look rested.”

She assured him that she was doing well, and was interrupted by David before she could answer the first question.

“We’re supposed to quietly accept that Sambora isn’t marrying her and be happy about it,” he said with a ‘whatever’ look.

“Keep your voice down!” Allegra hissed, spying Michael and Therese at the entrance to the room.  “My parents just walked in.  I’ll introduce you if you can be good.”

In the time it took Allegra to finish exchanging warm hellos with the men’s female counterparts, Michael and Therese had arrived at their little group, and Richie was instantly at her elbow.  His hand jutted out for a firm- handshake from Michael and he dropped a perfunctory kiss on Therese’s cheek.

Therese smiled tolerantly, and Allegra could see that she was still trying to reconcile Richie’s presence at her daughter’s side.  She wasn’t yet comfortable with the notion that he was part of Allegra’s life.

That’s about to be the least of your worries, Mama.

“Mama.”  She brushed her lips across the finely lined skin on her mother’s cheek.  “I’d like you to meet some very good friends of mine.”  She introduced David, Tico, Lexi and Alejandra to her parents, all of whom nodded and murmured politely – except, of course, for David.

“Mrs. Castanelli!”  He wound her into a bear hug befitting a long lost relative.  “It’s SO good to finally meet the woman responsible for Legs.  Has anybody ever told you how incredible your daughter is?”

Allegra’s hand slipped up to cover burning cheeks, only mildly mollified when Lexi elbowed David hard enough to elicit a grunt from him.  WHO had thought it would be a good idea to have David here?

Therese looked as though she’d been cornered by the homeless man on the street – the one you were never quite sure whether he was dangerously psychotic or just lonely.  “Why yes, I believe Richie has mentioned… um, Legs is it?  He’s mentioned that a couple of times.”

“Please excuse him, Mrs. Castanelli,” Richie interrupted, pulling David from the poor woman.  “We’re trying to mainstream him, but he gets very excited around new people.”

Allegra snorted before she could stop herself.  It would only serve to encourage their behavior, but when David and Richie got together she thought they were hilarious. 

“Mama,” she said, placing a comforting hand on her mother’s arm.  “The guys spend so much time together that they tend to get a little silly.  If you ignore them, they quit after a while.”

“And if they don’t,” Tico piped in, “A good thwack to the head usually takes care of it.  I’m the only one that has any sense.”

“Yes, well,” Therese looked around the small circle of men, all of whom had dressed nicely for the occasion in slacks and button-down shirts.   Even trying to be polite, she couldn’t quite contain her surprise at the conservative appearance of the ‘rock gods’.   “I appreciate that.  It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

Everyone else filtered in a few at a time, for the most part renewing acquaintances and enjoying a glass of wine supplied by Jon, who was hiding out behind the bar.  Sipping her sparkling grape juice, Allegra was trying to blend in when he caught her attention, holding up four fingers and pointing to the open wine bottle.

Maybe one case won’t be enough.

“Richie, where’s Ava?” Joan asked, tugging on his sleeve.  After cordially greeting the Castanellis, she had given them a wide berth.  “I haven’t gotten to see her yet.  She’s here isn’t she?”

“Yeah, Ma.  She’s with Jon and David’s kids out by the pool.  They’re gonna have a cookout while we eat in here.  I’ll text her to come say hello, though.”

“She should probably meet my parents too,” Allegra advised quietly.

He smiled sweetly and dropped a kiss on her forehead.  “Yep, she should.”

It was about then that the girl entered the room with a wide smile and hug for her grandmother.  “What uppp, Nana?”

“What up yourself, young lady.  You can’t come see an old woman without an engraved electronic invitation?” The warmth of her tone belied the bite the words carried.

“I’m sorry.  Gabby, Steph and I were painting our nails.  See?”  With a pleased smirk, she wiggled neon green toes in her flip flops.

“Baby girl,” Richie interrupted, drawing her against his side.  “Why don’t you step over here and meet Allegra’s parents?  They don’t know yet,” he reminded with a soft whisper.

She nodded, walking in time with her father and giving the Castanellis a pleasant, but close-lipped smile, presumably to keep her braces hidden. 

“Mama, Daddy…  this is Richie’s daughter Ava,” Allegra handled the formalities.

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Castanelli,” the teen murmured politely.  “It’s very nice to meet you.”  Her head swiveled up to meet her father’s eyes.  “Dad, Gabby and Steph are waiting for me.”

“Go,” he ordered with another quick hug.  “You all be nice to the boys.  You girls may be smarter than them, but they don’t have enough sense to be afraid of doing something stupid to retaliate.  Somebody could get hurt.”

“Yes, Daddy,” she chirped obediently.  “But Colton’s going down.  He threw cotton balls on Gabby’s toes while they were still wet.  She’s still picking fuzz off them.”

Richie shrugged and held up his hands in a ‘what are you gonna do’ gesture, proclaiming, “Well, then that settles it.  The boy must die!  No permanent damage though, okay?”

“Love you, Daddy.”  Blowing a kiss over her shoulder, she flip-flopped hastily back out toward the pool, speaking to the other adults in the room along the way, but only stopping long enough to give Joan a kiss before breezing out the French doors.

The girl held Therese’s rapt fascination as she wound her way through the room.  “Your daughter is lovely,” she complimented begrudgingly.  “So well mannered.”

Richie didn’t get a chance to reply before Dorothea announced, “Dinner service is beginning.  Matt and Desiree are on their way, but Bella was late getting up from her nap, so they’ll join us as soon as they can.” 

Bella was their sweet little three year old girl.  Allegra had only seen her a few times and thought she seemed like a pleasant enough child, but she was cursing her at the moment. 

Crap.  How are we going to catch Matt before he gets to the dinner table?  He absolutely can NOT mention what happened in Detroit.

Allegra didn’t think there was any reason to be concerned, since it had been a hush-hush topic all along, but the way things had been going lately… who knew?