Love Notes & Family Ties
Ari blinked against the soft wash of morning light, her body still steeped in the slow, golden afterglow of last night’s ridiculous, slightly raunchy bet. The air still carried a whisper of heat from their laughter and tangled limbs—but the bed told a different story now.
It was too quiet.
Too cold.
Too empty.
She rolled over with a low groan, instinctively reaching for the familiar sprawl of Jon beside her—the heavy warmth of his arm, the raspy edge of his snore that hovered between irritating and oddly comforting. But her hand met only smooth, cool sheets.
No Jon.
No Lily in her pack-n-play.
Even Meatball, their ever-present four-legged shadow, had vanished without a trace.
In Jon’s place lay an empty pillow adorned in a dramatic cascade of roses—two dozen deep crimson blooms, unapologetically lush and fragrant. They spilled across the white linen like a secret, carefully planted surprise. Tucked in the center was a card, her name scrawled across the front in Jon’s unmistakable hand—half musician, half hopeless romantic.
She sat up slowly, suspicion and a smirk curving her lips in equal measure. Jon didn’t vanish without a plan. She reached for the envelope, brushing the petals with her fingertips, her heart already dancing ahead of her eyes.
She opened it.
My Crash,
Last night was fun. I would absolutely lose to you again.
Figured you might need a breather today, so I called in reinforcements. Steph flew in a few days early to help with Lily (surprise number one).
You’ve got a quick visit with Dr. Cummings at 10, and after that, a massage waiting at the hotel spa.
No arguments. Just go.
Love you more than tequila,
—J
P.S. Check the bag by the roses. It’s not diamonds… but it might sparkle a little.
Her smile bloomed before she even finished reading.
She glanced toward the black gift bag nestled beside the roses. Curiosity stirred in her chest—soft, warm, impossible to resist. She reached inside, fingers wrapping around a small, elegantly wrapped box. Silver paper. Black ribbon. She paused.
Sparkly things weren’t usually her thing. But the thoughtfulness behind it—that was the part that always unraveled her.
With a slow, steady breath, she untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside, nestled in a velvet bed, lay a silver bracelet. Delicate. Understated. A quiet kind of beautiful. Two tiny charms hung from the chain, shaped like heartbeats—elegant waves of silver etched with care.
Her chest tightened as she picked it up, thumb brushing over the miniature details. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t loud. But it was perfect. It was Jon, speaking in his quietest language—intention.
It reminded her of the necklace he wore under his shirt, the one with a charm for each of his children. Five now. Soon to be six.
The realization made her heart catch. She slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, letting it settle against her skin. It felt like it had always been there. Like it belonged.
She lingered a moment longer, her fingertips drifting over the charms, her smile slow and full, before tossing the covers aside and sliding out of bed. The morning unfolded around her in a haze of sleepiness and sentiment. She tugged on her favorite soft leggings and her worn, vintage Stones shirt—because even spa days deserved a little comfort.
The living room greeted her with the smell of warm oatmeal and buttery eggs, and the sound of sweet baby babble spilling through the space like morning music.
Steph was at the table, her hair pulled into a neat bun, dodging Lily’s flailing hands with practiced ease as she guided a spoon toward her sister’s mouth. Meatball sat loyally at Lily’s feet, tail thumping with every dropped morsel, his eyes shining with love and opportunism.
“Well, good morning, sleepyhead,” Steph teased, glancing up with a knowing grin. “You missed round one of breakfast negotiations, but I think I’m winning.”
Ari smiled, already feeling lighter. “Barely awake, but functional.”
“We’ve been up for a while. Took the little Miss and Meatball for a walk around the grounds. Burned off some energy. At least one of them peed outside,” she added with a wink. “Figured we’d hit the pool next. She’d love it.”
“She loves the water,” Ari said warmly, grateful. “Thanks for jumping in.”
Stephanie waved it off like she’d been born to it. After all, she’d grown up wrangling three younger brothers. “Don’t worry. Uncle Matt sent Gunnar with Dad, so he’ll be with us when we go.”
She paused, then shrugged. “Dad had early meetings with some radio station. Said if it runs long, he’ll head straight to soundcheck at the arena.”
Ari snorted and reached for the coffee pot. “He hates doing those. I swear he’d rather play a four-hour set with the flu. Fingers crossed he’s in a good mood by showtime.”
“You can say that again,” Steph laughed, grabbing a napkin to wipe Lily’s chin. “Oh—and Cliff stopped by, too. Said to text him when you’re heading to the spa.”
Ari took a sip of her coffee and leaned in to kiss Lily’s head. “Be good for your sister, Lily Bug.”
Lily squealed, oatmeal smeared across her cheeks and fists like she wore it with pride. Ari pulled Stephanie into a hug.
“Seriously. Thank you. I owe you.”
Stephanie smiled, soft and sincere. “Nah, you don’t. I’m just glad to be here.”
Ari grabbed her phone and wallet, pausing at the door. “Alright, I’m heading to Dr. Cummings first. I’ll text Cliff on the way.”
“Go. Enjoy your massage,” Steph called after her. “We’ve got this.”
“I’m going. Love you both.”
“Love you too.”
And with that, Ari stepped into the hallway—her heart a little lighter, her steps a little steadier, the silver bracelet at her wrist catching the light like a quiet promise.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Ari returned from her appointments feeling lighter—looser somehow, as if a few of the invisible weights she’d been carrying had finally been set down. The tension that had rooted itself deep in her shoulders had finally begun to unravel, thanks to Dr. Cummings’ calm counsel and the slow, kneading magic of the massage. Even her stomach had cooperated for once—she’d managed to keep down both breakfast and a light lunch. Small wins, but hard-won.
She kicked off her Chucks by the door and padded into the living room, drawn by the hush of mid-afternoon. Lily lay fast asleep on a soft blanket spread across the floor, one pudgy arm flung overhead in total surrender to her nap. Stephanie lounged on the couch nearby, phone in hand, her long legs curled beneath her.
“That went way better than I expected,” Ari said, sinking into the couch beside her with a satisfied sigh. “I even kept down breakfast and lunch.”
Stephanie looked up with a smile. “That is good news. And the massage? You look ten times more awake than when you left.”
“Oh, it was heavenly. I might have to start making spa visits part of the regular tour rotation.”
“You definitely should,” Stephanie said with mock seriousness. “Put it in the rider.”
Ari chuckled. “How was your day? Was Lily good? Did she like the pool?”
“She loved it. Wore herself out completely.” They both looked down at the tiny, snoozing girl. “She’s been out cold since we got back.”
“Awesome,” Ari said dryly. “She’ll be wide awake for the whole show now.”
Stephanie grinned. “Don’t worry, I’m coming tonight too. You go do your roadie stuff—me and Lily will hold down the fort in Daddy’s dressing room.”
They laughed together, the sound light and easy.
“How long before he starts demanding a kid-zone backstage?” Ari mused.
“I’m surprised he hasn’t already,” Stephanie replied, eyes twinkling.
The laughter faded into a soft, companionable silence. But then Ari caught the subtle shift in Stephanie’s posture—the way her fingers stilled on her phone, the quiet seriousness that flickered across her face.
“Can I ask you something?” Stephanie’s voice was gentle now, uncertain. “You don’t have to answer if it’s too much.”
Ari sat up a little straighter, instinctively attuned to the change. Her brow knit, but her voice stayed open.
“Of course. What’s on your mind?”
Stephanie hesitated, eyes flicking briefly to her sleeping sister before returning to Ari’s. She took a breath.
“I know how your mom died. But what about your dad?”
Ari’s smile faltered just slightly, a faint ripple in an otherwise calm surface.
“He passed away fifteen years ago. Heart attack.” Her voice was quiet, but steady. “He fought for a little while, but… it happened fast. One day he was there, and then… he wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry, Ari. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“No, it’s okay, sweetie.” She offered a small smile, touched with tenderness. “Yeah, it was hard. He was my rock. My whole world, really.”
Stephanie looked down for a moment, her voice nearly a whisper. “I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like—losing your mom the way you did, and then your dad.”
Ari’s gaze drifted to Lily, her fingers absently brushing the bracelet on her wrist. “It’s something I struggled with for a long time. There’s no preparing for that kind of loss. It just… carves something out of you. Growing up without a mother—it’s like there’s this part of you that never learns how to feel whole.”
Stephanie nodded, her expression soft and full of quiet empathy.
“And it’s not just the grief,” Ari continued. “It’s the silence that follows. The birthdays, the milestones, the moments when you realize the person who should be there just… isn’t. You adapt. But you never forget that something’s missing.”
Her fingers tightened slightly around the charm bracelet, grounding her.
“But it also made me stronger. I had Sal, and my grandparents. And in a lot of ways, Lili—my grandmother—was the mother I needed.”
She paused, eyes distant for a beat, then softened as she added, “My mom died giving birth to me. And that’s always been this… shadow I carry. It’s part of the reason I put off having a baby for so long. I was terrified of history repeating itself. I didn’t want my child to grow up like I did, wondering who I was and why I wasn’t there.”
Her voice dipped, rich with feeling.
“That’s why I’m so determined to make sure Lily feels it—love, safety, security. I don’t ever want her to question it. Not for a second.”
Stephanie reached out, placing a hand over Ari’s. “You do, Ari. You make all of us feel that way. Not just Lily—me, Jesse, Jake, even Romeo. You’re kind of the glue, you know?”
The room settled into a thoughtful stillness, the quiet no longer heavy, but shared—something safe and unspoken passing between them.
Then, with perfect timing, Stephanie broke the moment with a shift in tone.
“Okay, now tell me something lighter,” she said, her smile returning. “How did your parents meet? Was it love at first sight? Was your mom a roadie too?”
Ari blinked, caught off guard by the pivot, then laughed. “It was definitely not love at first sight. At least, not for my mother—according to Sal, anyway.”
She smiled, her mind already flipping through old memories and the well-worn stories her father had told her, back when she was still too young to understand what love looked like but old enough to recognize it in his eyes.
But before she could continue, a soft whine interrupted her thoughts. Lily stirred on the blanket, rubbing her eyes with her tiny fists, stretching like a sleepy starfish.
Ari leaned forward with a chuckle, reaching down to scoop her daughter into her arms.
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