Chapter 95: Meeting Mama G

David rang the bell, and they waited. He had left his bags by the front door, and the sight of them made Hath sad. She stared at them, sightlessly until the front door opened and Jon appeared, a smile on his face. "Jeeves!" he said affectionately, then noticed Hath's mom narrowing her eyes at him. "I mean 'Hath', er, 'Jenilee'," he backpedaled.

David laughed as he came into the house. "And you were worried about Momma G being able to handle Sam." He slapped Jon on the back. "She hasn't even opened her mouth yet, and you're trying to appease her." He motioned to Hath's parents. "Jon, this is Pauline and John Gengras. Mom and Dad, this is Jon Bongiovi."

John was looking around the entryway. "Nice place you have here," he said to Jon, shaking the younger man's hand.

Jon chuckled. "Thanks; I like it," he said. He turned to Pauline, extending his hand to her, and smiling widely, making his eyes twinkle. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Gengras."

Pauline ignored the proffered hand, and hugged Jon, kissing his cheeks. "Please. Call me Pauline or," she leveled a gaze at David, "apparently 'Momma G'."

"Pauline," Jon said. "Thank you so much for dropping everything to take care of my girls." He smiled at the thought of his wife and unborn daughter. Despite what David had said about this woman's handling of him at the door, he knew that Sam would be a lot harder for her to manage. He hoped she was up to it.

Pauline just flapped a hand at him. "You're part of Hath's family," she said. "Where I grew up, family takes care of its own." Jon just smiled.

He led them into the living room, and invited them to get comfortable. "Let me tell you a little bit about Sam," he said. He talked about her work, how they met, the car accident, their wedding, and about the pregnancy. He finished by telling them about her personality. "She's an incredibly smart, opinionated, stubborn, independent woman. She is not going to be easy to keep in bed, but she has to rest."

Pauline smiled. "She sounds an awful lot like my daughter," she said. "What kind of bed rest is she on? Does she absolutely have to stay in bed?"

Jon shook his head. "No, she can shower and use the bathroom, and doesn't have to lie down all the time, but she absolutely cannot be up and about, walking around or doing anything. She has to be in bed or on the couch as much as possible. No cleaning or cooking…"

Pauline cut him off. "Don't worry about that. Hath already told me about taking care of the house as well as your wife. That's no problem. I'm more worried about her, and keeping her resting."

Jon nodded. "She knows she has to do what's right for the baby, but she's also used to doing things for herself. You can't let her bully you."

Pauline burst out laughing. A loud, full, belly laugh that was contagious. Hath looked at a puzzled Jon. "Boss, my mother has never let anyone bully her. Ever. She sure as shit isn't going to start with Sam."

"Language, Jenilee," Pauline said sharply.

"Sorry, Mom."

Jon smiled slightly. If 'Momma G' had a problem with Hath's language, she was going to have a field day with Sam's. His adorable wife swore like a sailor, and somehow, he knew that 'Momma G' was going to have Sam in rare form in no time.

"Lord have mercy, is that a horse?" Pauline exclaimed.

Jon looked up and saw that Diva had entered the room. "Uh, no Pauline, that would be Diva. My wife's dog."

"That's a really big dog," Hath's dad chimed in.

"Yeah," Jon sort of felt the need to defend the dog, "but she's really well behaved. At least for Sam. Diva, come," he commanded. The dog just stared at him from the doorway. Great. She had to show off for company. Jon rolled his eyes, then looked at Pauline. "Sorry about the language," he apologized in advance. Before the woman could ask what he meant, he used his 'daddy voice' and ordered, "Diva, bring your ass!" The dog started forward and everyone laughed. Jon quickly explained to them that the phrase he'd used was what Sam used to get the dog to come to her. He scratched the dog's ears as he talked. "She's really a good dog," he told Pauline. "She doesn't have accidents in the floor, but she won't go outside in the rain. I've seen this dog hold it for days before Sam finally shoved her out the door with the order to 'go pee'. You don't have to feed her, Sam's got an automatic dog feeder in the laundry room. Just make sure you leave the door open so she can get to it. You can put water down for her, but she probably won't drink it. She likes the goldfish flavored water of the pond better."

Pauline smiled at him. "She's really a beautiful dog. Come here, girl."

Jon rolled his eyes again when Diva walked over to the older woman. He hoped Pauline had as easy a time taming his wife. He watched as Pauline scratched Diva's ears then gave her a pat on the head. "I'm sure we'll get along just fine," Hath's mom announced to the room.

Jon went back upstairs to Sam. Hath went to sit next to her mom. “Well, what do you think so far?”

“He’s cute,” Pauline answered, and her husband rolled his eyes. “What? I’m 67 years old, not dead. I know cute when I see it.”

David burst out laughing. “Uh, Mom, Jon has a bit of a problem with the word ‘cute’.”

Pauline looked at him quizzically. “What does he prefer?”

David looked at Hath. “Don’t look at me sweetheart,” she said. “I agree with Mom, he is cute.”

David was saved by Jon coming downstairs, carrying Sam. He brought her into the living room, and settled her on the couch. Sam's eyes widened when she saw Hath and David, and two people who looked strangely familiar, though she was certain she'd never met them.

"Hath, David, what are you doing here?" Sam waited for them to come over and kiss her, bristling that she couldn't even get off the damned couch.

David answered, "We brought your new roommate," he said, indicating the older woman. "Pauline Gengras, this is Samantha Sinclair-Bongiovi. That over there is Hath's dad, John."

"Call me Pauline," Hath's mom said, sitting next to Sam and hugging her. "And don't worry about him," she said of her husband. "It's nice to meet you." She put her hand on Sam's bump. "How far along are you?"

Sam smiled. She loved talking about her daughter, and oddly didn't mind this woman touching her. "Lyndsay is about five months along," she said.

"Is she moving around yet?" Pauline asked.

"Some," Sam said. "Look, I don't know what Jon told you…"

Pauline waved her off. "He told me you need to rest, and I'm going to make sure you do. You tell me what you want to eat, and what you need to get done, and I'll take care of it. Right now, your job is to rest and take care of yourself and your daughter." She smiled sweetly. "Your husband says you are exceptional at your job," she added.

Sam blinked owlishly at Pauline. How do you argue with that?

Jon checked his watch, and looked at David. "Baby, we have to get ready to leave," he said.

David picked up Pauline's bags. "Where should these go?" he asked.

Jon looked at Sam, and said, "Across the hall from our suite, thanks." Pauline, John, and Hath followed David from the room, giving Sam and Jon a few minutes alone. They took a walking tour of the ground floor of the house, then went upstairs to put Pauline’s bags in her room.

“How do you think she’s gonna take it?” Hath asked David. “She didn’t look too thrilled at all.”

David put Pauline’s bags into her room, and enveloped Hath in a hug. “Sam would be upset at anyone coming in and taking over. Hell if it were you or Stephanie or Lucy or Ang, she’d be the same way.” David smiled. “I bet she’s just peeved because she’s not sure she can run roughshod over her mother like she would over you girls.”

“I suppose,” Hath said, unconvinced.

“Don’t worry, Hath,” Pauline said. “She and I will get along fine.”

They noisily made their way back downstairs, and saw Sam safely ensconced on Jon’s lap.

"Everything okay?" Jon asked.

Hath answered for her family. "We found the kitchen and laundry, Mom's got her stuff settled upstairs, and she's ready when you are." Hath looped an arm around her mom's waist. "Dad's just about ready to drop, so we'll leave when you guys do, unless Sam, you want us to stay a while?"

Sam looked at Hath. "Hell no, you go take care of your daddy. Your mama and I will be fine."

Hath shooed her dad toward the couch, then went to Sam and gave her a hug. "Call me if you need me, or if she gets to be too much," she said softly.

Sam laughed. "It'll be fine." She was sure could handle Hath's mom. She'd send her back to Boston in no time. Of course, since it was Hath's mom and not some stranger, she wouldn't send the woman home in tears like she had originally planned.

David looked out the window. "Looks like our ride is here," he said.

Hath went to David and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed him deeply, then broke the kiss to look at him. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I'm so gonna miss you, sweet Papa."

David wiped a tear from Hath's cheek, and rubbed it on his lips. "I'll miss you more, sexy Momma." He knelt down in front of Hath, and kissed her stomach. "Bye babies," he said softly. "Be good to your mommy." He stood and pressed another quick kiss to Hath's lips. "I'll call you when we hit the hotel," he said.

"You'd better," Hath said, smiling through her tears.

"I love you, baby," David said to her, taking her in his arms again.

"I love you more," Hath answered. "Have fun."

David pressed one last kiss to his woman's lips, and left. Hath saw him swipe at his eyes as he strode for the car. She went to go sit with her parents, and waited while Jon took Sam upstairs.

“You okay, honey?” John asked her.

Hath nodded. “Yeah, Daddy, I’m okay. It’s just hard, that’s all.”

“You knew this was his job though, right?”

Pauline slugged him in the shoulder. “Of course she knew that, you idiot.” She rolled her eyes at him, making Hath laugh.

Jon came downstairs, and came into the living room. “Well, I’m off.” He hugged Hath and gave her a peck on the cheek, then shook hands with her father. “Nice to meet you,” he said.

“Likewise,” John answered.

Jon gave Hath’s mom a hug. “Thank you Mrs. Gen—Pauline for dropping everything to come and take care of my girls. I really can’t even tell you how much this soothes my brain.”

“Anything for family,” Pauline answered. “Now go, before you’re late.”

Jon laughed, looked at Hath, then left.

“What was that all about?” Pauline asked her daughter.

“Mom, it’s his plane. It isn’t leaving without him.”

“Huh. Well, take your father home. He looks like death warmed over.”

“I just want to say goodnight to Sam first,” Hath said, and went upstairs. "I'm taking Daddy home now," she said when she got to Sam’s door. "You gonna be okay?"

Sam smiled sadly. "When it's May, and they're home again, I'll be okay."

Hath thought a minute. "We're going to Arizona and Vegas in a few weeks," she said. "Maybe if your blood pressure gets back to normal, you can come, too."

Sam shook her head. "I think that probably won't happen," she said. "But we'll see. Go take your daddy home. He looks exhausted."

"He is. Okay, we're leaving. I'll call you tomorrow," Hath said; and with a quick hug for Sam, left.

* * * * *

Sam heard Hath's mom coming. Sighing, she squared her shoulders and waited. She didn't have to wait long. Pauline came into the room with a glass of water, a cup of hot tea, and a walkie-talkie. Sam frowned at the cup of tea. She didn't like hot tea. She preferred her tea sweetened and over ice. God, she hoped this woman could make good Southern sweet tea. But, she doubted it.

"I thought you might like some tea or water," she said, as she put the tray down on the nightstand. Picking up the walkie-talkie, she handed it to Sam. "This is in case you need anything. Anything at all. I don't sleep much, so don't worry if it's the middle of the night. Call me for anything."

Sam looked at the device, and tossed it onto the bed. "Okay, sure," she said, then picked up the laptop.

"Just a little while, then you need to rest," Pauline said.

That's it, Sam thought. Time to lay down some ground rules.

"Look, Pauline," she said, "I appreciate you coming here to take care of me and the house, but really, I can take care of myself."

"I have no doubt about that," Pauline said, "but I promised my daughter I'd look after you. You know, there's no more sacred bond than that between a mother and her daughter."

"I do know that, but I'm not an invalid," she said, getting testy. Sam wasn't used to dealing with a mother figure; she'd lost her mother when she was just a teenager. Did mothers give up and go back home if they weren't your mother?

"I know that," Pauline said. "But you are under orders to rest, and that means I do as much for you as I can."

"Fine, but I know when I'm tired and need rest," Sam said.

"Yes you do, so you must know that you've got dark smudges under your eyes."

Sam was taken aback. "I do?"

Pauline clicked her tongue. "Poor thing, yes, you do." She came over and sat next to Sam. "Twenty minutes on the computer, then off to bed. You can play with your friends tomorrow." Hath's mom looked at Sam, who gave a defiant glare back. Pauline just straightened the covers on the bed like she hadn't seen Sam's glare.

It was going to be a long month.