Chapter 3

Tico and David arrived at the Graceland Wedding Chapel later in the day and walked in to see if anyone was there to answer any questions they had. They looked around and thought it was a cute little chapel with pews on either side and fresh flowers that looked like they had arrived not too long ago. There was an organ in the corner up on the little alter they had and in the back wall were pictures with some of the couples they had married.

Still walking around Tico decided to shout out “Hello? Is there anyone here?” As David went over to check out the organ.

“Hey Tic you think Jon would let me bring something like this out on tour with us. You know give us a funky kind of sound?” he asked him laughing.

“Do you really want to give him a stroke? He been thru enough right now.” He said chucking as this small man came out dressed in jeans and a polo shirt.

“Can I help the two of you?” he asked them as he looked them over.

“I hope so we have some friends that want to have a quick ceremony you know before we leave here and my friend and I told them that we would look at a few chapels for him.” Tico told him as Dave walked up behind him.

“Oh well ok I think we can work something out. My wife usually handles all that if you could just wait a moment I’ll go get her.” The man said to him as he left.

David tapped Tico on his shoulder and asked him, “What the hell T who are we going to get to marry?” as he was a little confused by his questioned.

Tico looked at him and wanted to whack him across the head. “David play along will you! We need to get a look at that guest book.” He told him irritated.

“Oh I get it now. But what if they don’t show us the guess book?” he asked him.

“Look they may put it out as were going over the details. I don’t know act like you have a cramp or something and you need to go for a walk. Then you can look for it and see if the guy’s names are in it. You can do that right?” Tico asked him sarcastically.

“I’ll try.” He shot back.

Just then the little man came back with his wife. “Well I’d like to introduce my wife Mildred Sims and I’m Tim Sims.” He told them as David had to hold his tongue as Tico had to give him the eye.

“So boys what can we do for the two of you?” she asked them.

“Well Mrs. Sims one of our buddies is getting married and he asked us to look for some chapels that are reasonable and available for he and his fiance to get married and we would like to know what your offer here at The Graceland Wedding Chapel. You already have one of his favorite as you can arrange for them to be married by an Elvis impersonator is correct?” Tico asked them.

“Well why don’t you come into our office so we can discuss the details then.” She told them. She showed them the way and they followed her down the hall into her office. They sat down across from her in the available chairs as she got her book out of her drawer.

“Now let me see when were you looking for a date?” she asked them.

“Well as soon as possible. We had some friends come here not too long ago. Do you have a guess book that we could look at?” Tico asked her.

“Why yes we do have a guess book but why do you want to look at it” she asked them curiously.

“Well they were rather drunk and can’t really remember what chapel they were at but they were treated with all the kindness and they even got them a cab so they wouldn’t drive home. That meant a lot to all of us. So that’s why we’re looking for that particular chapel. Anyone who would go to all that trouble to make sure our friends were safe well we want to give them the business. So if we could check your guess book and see if their names are in there then we would like to book their wedding here.” Tico explained to her seeing that they weren’t going to let David leave seeing that Tim was in the room with them and sitting by the door.  

Mildred looked over to her husband and got up. “Could you two please excuse us for a moment?” Walking over to him with the book in her hand, she opened the door and they stepped out into the hall.

Tico looked over to Dave said, “Well somethings up with them.”

“Yeah I think you’re right.” David gave him a look back.

Out in the hall, the husband and wife were talking in whispers discussing the fact that they didn’t like the idea that they wanted to look over their guest book seeing that they were paid off to have the names put in their book and a license made up. Tim told her to stall and that he would be right back.  Mildred went back in the room and sat back down with the book in her hand.

“Well Tim went to check on a few things but in the meantime what were you looking for in a dollar amount? Because we have different packages here.” she explained them.

Dave asked her, “Well we wanted an Elvis theme remember?” he told her again.

“Oh that’s right forgive me my memory isn’t what it used to be. Here let me start to write things down. Ok now what else just that or would there be anything else?” she asked them.

“No but for us to book it here we still need to see your guest book.” Tico reminder her again.

But before she could answer her husband walked in. “Yes that would be fine. Mildred go ahead show these men the guest book.” He told her with a little nod. She looked at him and let out a breath and nodded back and handed Tico the book.  Both Tico and Dave just looked at them and then each other. Putting their chairs together they started thru the pages as they went up and down the pages carefully. When then got to the second page there in their own handwriting were Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Sarah Mathers.

“Oh crap Jon’s going to have a fit.” David said.

“I’m sorry but is there a problem?” Tim asked.

“Do you keep marriage certificates on file here or do we need to go to City Hall?” Tico asked them.

Quickly Tim answered him, “No we do keep a copy on file here. Why?”

“Well we would like to show our other friends a copy of Mr. Bongiovi’s certificate to show them so we can talk to them in coming here would that be a problem?” Tico asked them.

“No if you like to wait I can get that for right now.” Tim told them. Well David was about to jump out of his chair as Tico tried to calm him as he put his hand on his leg and a stare that could kill. Both of them were getting antsy in their chairs but finally after about seven minutes Tim came back with the marriage license.

Yep there it was in plain black and white. Jon and Sarah’s name on it. Tico thanked them and he and Dave headed back to the hotel. He had no idea how the hell he was going to show Jon this.

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Jon and Richie were sitting in their room after sound check trying to figure out what their next move was going to be. They each had their guitars in hand and were just strumming away when something hit Richie as Jon looked at him as he started to sing as he followed him also in the melody. Quickly they started to write things down and were going strong when there was a knock on the door.

“Fuck who the hell could that be?” Jon asked.

“Maybe your wife?” Richie snickered.

“Oh shit that’s right. I forgot all about her for a while. Rich maybe we should hire a private eye what do you think?” Jon asked him as he reached for the door knob. But before Richie could answer Tico and Dave walked in.

“Hey guys do we have news for you.” David said.

“Did you guys find out anything?” Jon asked them getting a little excited now.

Tico looking at Jon and Richie took the envelope out of his back pocket. “Well you could say that. Jon just don’t freak out ok? But we did find some things out. Dave and I did go to the Graceland Wedding Chapel this afternoon and we met the people who run it.” Tico told them.

“You did that’s great. Well did you guys find anything out?” Jon wanted to know enthusiastically.

“Oh boy did we.” Dave said as Tico shot him a look.

Jon didn’t know what to say to that as Richie asked, “So what did you guys find out and how the hell did you get them to tell you anything?”

“Well I just told them that we had some friends tie the knot here a while ago and that we have some others that wanted to get married but they wanted to make sure that this was the right chapel so we asked them if we could look at their guess book.” Tico told them.

“You’re kidding me and they let you just like that?” Jon asked as he sat back down as he couldn’t believe that the guys got that far. “So did they let you look at it?” he asked hoping.

“Yeah they did but the funny thing was as we were sitting in their office the old guy had to go make a phone and when he came back that’s when he gave the signal for his wife to give us the book. You know like he had to get permission to let us look at it. But there in black and white were your signatures Jon. Yours, Richie’s and Sarah’s and this.” Tico told him as he handed Jon the envelope with the certificate in it.

“What’s this?” Jon asked him bewildered.

“Just open it Jon.” Tico told him.

Looking at everyone curiously he opened the envelope and pulled out the piece of paper. He unfolded it and as he saw what it was they all saw the color drain out of his face. In a whisper all you could hear him say was “Fuck”

“Jon what is it?” Richie asked him concerned. Not saying anything he handed Richie the piece of paper. Richie took it and looked at it and then he had to sit down. “Well now we know it’s true. I guess we have to tell Sarah now. Do you want me to do it or do you want to?” Richie asked him.

Jon was still a little shell shocked. He was really hoping that nothing was going to come of this and that maybe one of the other music groups just set it up as a joke. “Ah no I should do it. Plus I have some apologizing to do. I’ve been really shitty to her you know. Oh crap we’re going to have to tell Doc to aren’t we?” he said as his stomach turned.

“I guess before this really gets out. The funny thing is it’s been two days now and the media hasn’t picked up on it thou. I wonder why?” Richie asked.

“Yeah don’t they pick up on things like this once everything gets registered?” Dave asked.

“Usually they do. Maybe we’re not big enough yet?” Tico asked.

“No Slippery been number one for over a month now and we’ve had the pap’s following us like forever. There’s something more to this. I think your right we need more help. Tic call Derek Phelps and tell him what’s going on and show him this marriage certificate and see what he can come up with. I’m going to go over to Sarah’s room and tell her what’s happen so far.” Jon told them as he got up and left.

Jon went to Sarah’s room and knocked on the door. He waited a few minutes before she answered the door. “Oh Jon Hi come on in.”

Jon entered the room and looked around and just saw that there was a coffee cup and some dishes on a table and a book. “So what can I do for you Jon?” Sarah asked him.

Smiling Jon nervously shuffled back and forth as he finally cleared his throat. “Um hum Sarah could we sit down.” he asked her as he motioned towards the couch. “The guys went to the Graceland Chapel this afternoon and got some information and well to make a long story short we are married.” He told her out right.

“Oh ok well what makes them say that?” she asked him not that she wasn’t believing him.

“Well after they got to see the guess book and saw mine and Richie’s signature’s in it not to mention your’s they produce a marriage license with our name’s on it. So it proves that we got married that night. I have Tico who is going to take the license to a Private investigator that is on staff and he’s going to look in to it more for us. There is just something bothering us a little more so we’re going to have him check that out but in the meantime I’m going to have my lawyer start annulment proceedings if that’s ok with you?” he asked her.

“Well I guess so. I mean I wasn’t coming here to marry you Jon. I thought I was going to marry Kyle but well he just used me. Why I don’t know.” She said trying not to cry again in front of him.

“Sarah I wish I knew why he did this to you but I don’t. I wish I knew why someone did this to me. But everything is just a blackout. It sucks I know. Hopefully we’ll get some answers soon.” He told her with as much confidence as he could muster.

“Thank you Jon so do you still want me to stay here?” she asked him hoping that she could go home.

“If you don’t mind? Look it can’t be that staying here could it? I mean it’s a decent room with room service and if you need anything I’ll get you anything you need ok? Sarah everything is on me think of it as a vacation ok?” Jon told her giving her one of his winning smiles.

Thinking she looked at him smiling and said, “Jon you have a heart of gold but I can’t let you do that. You don’t know me from Adam. Look I appreciate everything you’re doing for me but I really can’t impose on you like this.” she told him from the bottom of her heart.

Jon couldn’t believe what he was hearing because most of the girls he has been meeting wanted a piece of him. Even Dotty as she was constantly racking up his credit cards and when he tried to talk to her about it she freaked out and they were constantly fighting about it which finally led them to break up. “Look Sarah you’re not imposing at all. For all I know I could have asked you to marry me we don’t know so until we do please stay and let us take care of everything. (bending his head down to hers and trying to get her to smile) Hey come on when are you ever going to get a deal like this again?” he asked her as he took her chin and drew it up so she was now looking at him. “That’s better. You’re a very beautiful young lady Sarah and Kyle was definitely a dumbass.” Jon told her.

“Oh well thank you Jon and I do have a confession for you, I did know who you guys were. I was trying to play it cool.” She told him then pursed her lips together as she tried to look around the room.

“Yeah I had a feeling.” he said smiling that megawatt smile.

 “You did not!” she smiled and almost laughing.

“Well yeah because we’re playing here and you’re here and we have billboards all over the place how could you not know who we were?” Jon said confidently and a little bit smugly. “Wait a minute that’s right and Kyle knew we were here. Did he mention us by any chance?” Jon asked her.

Sarah thought for a moment but couldn’t remember if he had. “I’m sorry Jon we weren’t here that long maybe a day I think it’s all scrambled now but I don’t remember us talking about you guys. The only the thing was he did want to see the Legends show. Then we were going to stay a week for our honeymoon.” She explained to him.

“Yeah you definitely need to stay here for a while. We can’t take any chances with him out there right now because if you get hurt I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.” Jon told her.

“Well Jon that’s very nice of you but you really don’t have to worry about me. I’m just going to be here watching tv and using the pool and Richie told me if I want to go shopping to let either you or him know and you’ll get someone to go with me.” She explained to him.

“Really now? Well good and he’s right but still I’m going to worry about you so get used to it. We’re going to hire a private detective to check out some leads we have so hopefully it won’t be too long then I’ll call my lawyer and we can get this annulled how’s that?” Jon asked her.

Sarah smiled softly at him. “That would be fine Jon and again thank you for everything you’re doing.”

No problem I’m just sorry that you were dragged into this whole thing.” He told her as he got up. Looking at her he bent down and kissed her on the check. “I’ll let myself out. If you need anything just give anyone of us a ring.” he said as he left.