Chapter 67
Richie had been distracted for the rest of the show worrying about Jesse. As soon as the final curtain call was finished, he made his way to the dressing room. Unfortunately, his mother was waiting for him wanting to talk and slowing him down.
“The show was wonderful, son,” praised Mrs. Sambora.
“Thanks, Mama.”
“Where’s Jessica?”
“In my dressing room…that’s where I’m headed now.”
Seeing the worry in his eyes, Mrs. Sambora asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Walk with me.” With his arm around his mother as they walked, he explained, “Jesse has mono…”
“She told me.”
“Well, she’s supposed to be resting but she hasn’t done much of it since she’s been back with me. Tonight, when she came off the stage, she waited for me and that’s when I realized she was running a fever.”
From behind him, Jon said, “She was in pain too.”
Richie and his mother stopped and turned to Jon. “What do you mean she was in pain?”
“She was holding her left side and she almost passed out.”
“Richard, did you actually talk to the doctor?”
“No ma’am. I wasn’t allowed back since we were only dating.”
“What do you know about mono?”
“Just that it makes you really tired.”
“You need to find out why she was in pain then,” advised Mrs. Sambora.
“I think your mom is right, Rich. Maybe you should take her to an ER tonight,” said Jon.
Richie let out a sigh. “Give me some time alone with her. She’s an ER nurse so she knows more than she’s telling me.”
“We’ll wait out here,” said Jon.
Pushing the door open, he spotted Jesse asleep on the couch, one of his coats wrapped around her. He held the door as it closed then moved to her and sat on the edge of the couch beside her. Gently, he reached out to feel her forehead…no fever. Leaning over, he placed a kiss on her lips.
“Wake up, ‘Sleeping Beauty’,” he coaxed.
Jesse’s eyes fluttered and when they were open, she focused on him, smiling sleepily. “Hey you,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“How do you feel?”
“Better. I take it the show is over.”
Her voice was gravely and Richie couldn’t tell if it was sleep or if it was because it was soar. “Want something to drink?”
“Hot tea would be good,” she answered as she sat up.
Richie looked at her. “Your throat is soar, isn’t it?”
“Some.”
Richie got up and went to get her a cup of hot tea. He took a few minutes fixing it but when he came back, he said, “I fixed it the way I fix mine when my throat is bothering me…a little honey and lemon with a little bourbon.”
“Thanks,” she whispered as she sipped the hot liquid.
Richie watched her, giving her time to wake up and get some hot tea in her to soothe her throat. Finally, he asked, “What’s the worst that could happen with you having mono…and do NOT hold back. I want to know everything.”
Jesse looked over the cup of tea as he sat with her. “The worst? I could end up with hepatitis and in the hospital or if I get hit in my spleen, it could rupture.”
“Damnit, Jesse! Jon said you were in pain earlier.”
“One of the ways a doctor diagnoses mono is by checking to see if the spleen is enlarged. Mine was….is…and that’s what hurts.”
“How long is it going to take you to get over this?”
“Completely over it?”
“Yes.”
“About four months.”
Richie breathed in deeply, held it, and then let it out. “Jesse, this is NOT good. Are you going to be well enough to get married?”
“I guess so.”
“I’m taking you back to the hotel and you’re going to slow down, Jessica.”
“You said if I felt better after a nap, we’d go to the party.”
“But you DON’T feel better. Your throat is soar.”
“But if I drink hot tea or bourbon, it’ll feel better and I’ll be able to sleep.”
Richie looked at her knowing she had a valid point.
“An hour, please?” she pleaded as she took his hands in hers. She traced the tiny star tattoo on his right hand. “Richie, I’m already taking you off the market….I’m NOT going to be the one to keep you from the fans ALL the time.”
“Jesse, you’re sick and….” He stopped when she pouted. “You don’t play fair doing that. Fine, we’ll go for a little while but when I say we’re leaving, NO arguments.”
“None!”
“You need to clear out so we can get ready.”
“Before I do, what are you going to do about Amy? She’s here in town…staying at the Hampton Inn.”
“Not going to acknowledge her. If she does any more, I’ll let my attorney know.”
“Is there any chance she could really be pregnant?”
“Always
a chance but if it’s mine, she’d be showing. It’s been almost seven months
since we had sex.”
“What if she goes to the press?”
“I’ll let my attorney handle it, baby. Stop worrying about it.”
“What if I get pregnant? We aren’t exactly having safe sex.”
“We’re getting married. I’m not worried about you getting pregnant.”
“I’ll wait outside for you.”
“Jess….I love you and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’ll be okay, Richie…I promise to slow down.”
“Good because if you don’t, I’m going to send you home.”
“Not in this life-time.” Richie helped her up and they walked to the door together. Before she went out, she stopped and put her hands on his sides. On her toes, she gave him a kiss.
“Jess, you said you weren’t contagious when we were at the doctor’s office. How’s that when you’ve been running a fever?”
“Well, I should have clarified that. I’m not contagious to you. See, mono is more common in teens and young adults. By the time adults get to your age, they’ve already been exposed and developed antibodies to it. Plus, I was most contagious in the first fourteen days of having mono and when we met, I’d already had it for about a month.”
“Another benefit to being older.”
Jesse smiled, “I love the fact that you’re older. We can skip all the crap guys my age go through…all the insecurities and window shopping.”
Richie laughed, “I guess.”
When Richie opened the door, all of the guys were waiting and they bombarded her with questions. She reassured them that she was fine and escaped to join Mrs. Sambora while the guys got ready for the party.
