Chapter 6

All too soon, the fairytale honeymoon in Mauritius was over, and it was time to return to good old England, and reality.  Being a typical English summer, it was raining, and it brought them both back down to earth with a bump!

"I suppose it'll be strange for you, not living with Mike" said Donna, as she opened the door to their new home.

"Not as strange as living WITH him!" said Jon, putting their cases down.

"Aren't you going to carry me over the threshold?" she said, putting her arms around his neck.  "It's tradition, isn't it?"

"I thought you would let me off!"

"No chance!" she said  "Come on, put those manly muscles to good use, and carry your new wife over the threshold!"

He picked up the cases, and put them in the hall, then turned back to Donna. He swung her up into his arms, as she laughed delightedly. She stopped, as he suddenly dropped her.

"Ow!!  Bloody hell!!"  He was bent double, his face contorted with pain.

"What is it?" she said, beginning to look worried.

"My back!  Oh my God!"

"Let me help!" she said, taking hold of his arm.  "Come and sit down here! What happened?"

He sat there for a moment, his eyes closed, trying to get his breath back, the pain beginning to make him feel rather sick.  Even speaking was an effort.

"I don't know what happened!" he said, his eyes still closed.  "It just went, I must have picked you up awkwardly - I think I've probably twisted my back.  Oh, Jesus, it hurts!"

"Do you want me to rub it for you?" she said, reaching over to him.  "Maybe that would help?"

"No, don't!"  He realised he had spoken rather sharply, when he saw the look on her face  "I'm sorry, but it hurts when I touch it - maybe you could just get me a painkiller, or something.  Have we got any?"

"We've got some paracetamol, I think" she said, disappearing into the bathroom.  When she came back, she saw that he was close to tears.

"I didn't realise it hurt that much!" she said, taking his hand in hers.  "Here, have one of these!"

"It's not that!"  He felt rather foolish, when he explained the reason for his sudden lapse of self control.  "It's just that, we're only just married, and I can't do anything...."

"Oh, love!" she said, leaning her head on his shoulder, and gently rubbing his arm.  "It doesn't matter about that!  It wasn't your fault! Anyway, we've got plenty of time for that - a whole lifetime!"

"Our married life has been quite eventful, so far!" he said, trying to find a comfortable position in the bed.  "First someone nearly drowns in front of me, then I do my back in trying to lift you up!  What's going to happen next?!"

"Well" she said, leaning her head on his chest  "I know one thing, life with you will never be dull, will it?"

He smiled at her - that smile that always warmed her heart and made her feel she could conquer the world - and pulled her closer to him, then, eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, they gradually settled into the routine of married life.  Only theirs was not your average marriage - Jon was getting ready to go on tour.  He knew Donna would not be able to be with him all the time, but they had managed to work it so she could be there for a least a few of the dates, so they would not miss each other too much.

As he stood there on the stage, drinking in the applause and the cheers, and the shouts for more, it was still difficult to comprehend that it was actually happening!  It didn't seem that long since he first started out, and here he was - appearing in prestigious venues like the Royal Albert Hall.  After each show, he chatted with the fans, signed autographs and posed for photos, even though, on some nights, he was so tired he could hardly remember his own name. On one particular night, Jon had come to the conclusion that it would have been a wise decision to stay in bed - everything that could go wrong had!  His microphone did not work, he had nearly castrated himself doing up his trousers, and fallen off the stage - luckily only bruising his pride!  He did not think anything else could possibly go wrong.  One thought kept him going - Donna was out there, one look at her and he knew he could deal with anything.

As he stood there in the foyer of the theatre, chatting happily to fans, and signing tour programmes, Donna stood there in the background, watching, she did not need to queue - she would have him all to herself later on - something she knew a lot of the women here would kill for!  Most of the fans were quite happy with a chat, a hug and maybe a photo, but there was always one or two who would try to push their luck.  Donna watched as one rather excitable lady's hand slowly wandered towards his backside.  As she furtively ran her hand across it, he gently pushed it away, politely asking her not to do that, as he was a married man, and his wife was there.  Most people would have taken the hint, but not her - she was obviously a woman on a mission - and, he observed, maybe a little drunk.  He tried to ignore her, hoping she would soon get fed up and go away, but when her hand began to move somewhere only recently seen by Donna and the inside of the shower curtain, he knew he had to take action.  He caught hold of her hand, holding it gently but firmly.

"I don't think so!" he said, his eyes darkening.  "I've told you, keep your hands to yourself! My wife is over there - so please, pack it in, or I'll have to get someone to throw you out!"

"Well!" she said, drawing her hand back.  "Well, screw you!!"

With that, she gave him an almighty slap, nearly sending him backwards, and marched out of the room.  He stood there holding his face, unable to believe what she had just done. Before Donna could reach him, another lady came over to him and said:

"Are you all right, dear?  She's a flaming madwoman!"

"I think so" he said, still completely stunned.  "I think she took offence at something!  I only told her to keep her hands to herself!"

"I should think so, too! With your lovely wife here, that sort of thing is bang out of order! Don't worry, we're not all like her!"

"Pleased to hear it!" he said, rubbing his face. "Otherwise I'll have to hide in the dressing room!"

As Donna took his arm, he hurried her away, saying:

"I think we'd better go, before I get my face slapped again!!"

"I think we'd better!" she said.  "I've got some good news for you when we get home!"

"I could do with something good happening today!"

"Okay!" he said, as they sat together on the sofa.  "What's your good news?"

"Well, I think it's good news" she said, not looking at him.  " I don't know whether you're ready for it yet!"

"Ready for what?  For goodness sake, Donna, put me out of my misery!"

"Well!"  She smiled at him, a knowing smile.  "How do you feel about painting the spare room on your next day off?"

"What!  You mean, you're...."

"Yes" she said, touching her stomach "About eight weeks, I think!"

His reaction completely took her aback.  She knew that he had a tendency to be emotional, but she did not think she had ever seen him cry like this.  He was completely incapable of speech.

"Jon!" she said, taking him in her arms.  "This wasn't meant to happen!  You weren't supposed to cry! It wasn't part of the plan!"

"In answer to your question..." he said, finally regaining his power of speech.  "I am ready!  Everything I've ever wished for in my life has come true - I don't think life can possibly get any sweeter!"

He put his hand on her stomach, thinking of the precious new life they had created together,and he hoped and prayed that it would last.