“You no good bitch!” Dana yelled and slapped her across the face. He drew his arm back to strike her again, but Larry appeared. “I’m gonna fuck you up.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Larry warned, and Dana whirled around to face him. He was caught completely off guard. The two men faced off.
Shae took the opportunity to bring her knee up into Dana’s groin. He moaned in pain and dropped his gun. It skittered across the floor and she grabbed it. She wanted to blow him away right then and there, but Larry took over.
“No, Shae. I won’t let you go to jail for this motherfucker! Your brothers need you. Give me the gun,” he urged.
“But if I don’t do something, he’s going to kill me,” she sobbed.
“Trust me, Shae. Didn’t I tell you that I wouldn’t let that happen? I promised you that I wouldn’t let nobody hurt you ever again. Give me the gun. Please.”
Dana pulled himself together, but he still held his privates as he swore.
Shae looked directly into Larry’s eyes. “Give it to me,” he coaxed. With reluctance, she handed it over. He took the gun and placed it on the coffee table. Then, he took his own revolver and pointed at Dana.
Dana’s eyes opened wide in disbelief. “No man! Please! Don’t do it!” he begged. “I ain’t never did nothin’ to you!”
“You hurt my lady! Raped my lady, bitch! You think that’s nothing?” Maybe he wouldn’t kill him. He could just shoot him in the kneecap. It took a cold-hearted person to take someone’s life. He didn’t know if he could be that type of person.
Dana saw the doubt in Larry’s eyes and it gave him courage. He was dealing with another softy. “That bitch needed me to fuck her,” he said, suddenly bold. “Ya bitch ass wasn’t hitting it right. You ‘bout a punk ass motherfucker! You aiming that gun, but you too chickenhearted to pull the trigger, fuckass nigga!” He laughed and pulled himself up off the floor. “Tell me something. What did it taste like?” he asked.
“What?” Larry’s hand shook as he aimed.
“My jism, nigga? What did it taste like? I skeeted all up in ya bitch the last time I fucked her! It’s like my dick slid down ya throat and my nuts rested on ya chin while I nutted in ya mouth.”
“What the fu-!” A red haze suddenly clouded his vision. He felt the trigger on the gun move. Larry fired one shot that hit Dana right between the eyes. Blood splattered everywhere as the back of his head exploded. Dana toppled over and hit the floor with a heavy thud. He shook, took a deep, gulping breath then died. His evil eyes stared at them.
“See, didn’t I tell you to trust me?” Larry asked Shae. “He’ll never hurt you again.” They both stared at Dana’s lifeless body.
“You killed him.” Shae stated the obvious.
“We’ll say it was in self-defense,” he said in a calm voice. Shae was amazed at how calm Larry was. “He tried to break in and we thought it was the burglar who was here earlier.”
The phone rang and Shae automatically answered it. Toby was calling to check on them and to let her know that he was fine. The police had apprehended the two guys chasing him. He’d been grazed in the leg but only suffered a flesh wound. He was getting patched up at the ER as he talked.
“Dana’s dead,” she said into the receiver. She could hear him breathe a great sigh of relief. “I know you’re tired of running,” she stated. “It’s all over now. We can finally live in peace.”
The police pounded on the door just as Shae hung up the phone. Larry went to answer. She would leave it up to him to take care of things. She gazed over at Dana and felt no remorse or guilt. Was it wrong for her to feel relieved? Dana had brought it upon himself. Bad karma always comes back around. We reap what we sow. And as Ma Violet used to say, God don’t like ugly.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Larry’s version of the events leading to Dana’s death was accepted as the truth. No one cared about what had really happened to Dana except maybe his relatives. The two men involved, Sly and Willie, pleaded guilty to attempted murder. They’d be behind bars for a long time. Toby’s wounds healed and he went back to school. Everyone had adjusted and moved forward with their lives except for Shae.
She kept having nightmares. She’d wake up screaming in the middle of the night. She couldn’t sleep alone, so Larry moved in with them. She started crying for no reason and couldn’t explain why. She had turned into an emotional wreck. She feared that maybe she was going insane like her mother.
Larry didn’t know what to do. He tried to be supportive and understanding. His own nerves were shot. He finally made a suggestion.
“Shae, you got to pull it together,” he told her one morning after he found her crying into her plate of food. “You are stronger than this. Don’t let it break you. If you fall apart, all of it- everything would have been for nothing. Dana’s death would be for nothing.” She continued to cry, not able to stop. “Please. I hate seeing you like this.” He licked his lips nervously. “Maybe you should talk to someone. Maybe that would help.”
“If that’s what you want,” she managed to say between sobs. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she said, wiping at her tears.
“Will you do it? Will you go talk to someone about how you feel? I don’t know what to do. I’m not a professional.”
“I’m willing to do anything. Anything. I just want to be like I used to be. Just don’t leave me, Larry. I need you.”
“I’m not going no where, baby. I’m in it for the long haul.” After everything we’ve been through, please know that.”
She nodded and whispered, “I know.”
“I just want you back.”
Shae found the card that Vivian gave her months ago. She called the number and set up an appointment with a counselor. She felt better just by doing that. She’d taken the first step.
The first time she talked to the counselor, they focused on her unhappy childhood. She vented her frustration about being deserted by her father, having to care for her younger siblings, and being constantly belittled and both physically and mentally abused by her mother. She got to let out the anger she felt, the resentment, and the hatred. She voiced her fears about thinking she’d become like her mother.
The counselor was very attentive and non-judgmental. They ended the session by dealing with self-esteem issues and anger management. Shae discovered that it was okay to be angry. It was okay to feel confused. She had a renewed hope and left feeling that things would only get better.
After a few more sessions with her counselor, she could talk openly about her mother and how she felt. She found that she wanted her mother’s approval, even her love. She would forgive her for the abuse, but she couldn’t forget about her poisoning the twins or killing Ma Violet. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to forgive any of it. Only God could forgive certain sins.
* * *
“Shae, I thought you said that counseling was helping you?” Toby questioned.
“It is. Why?” She turned to look at him.
“You don’t look so good,” he told her. “Hell, you look tore up from the floor up!”
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically. “I just feel nauseous. Sick to my stomach.”
“Oh, maybe it’s the flu. Ma Violet used to always fix lemon tea with honey. It worked.” He looked in the refrigerator and rummaged around. “We don’t have lemons, but I’ll go to the store and get some.”
“Thanks, Toby. I guess I’ll go lie down for a while.”
“I’ll be back with the lemons,” he told her getting the keys off the dresser. Shae had applied for an automobile loan from the bank and had been approved. She now owned a new Toyota Corolla.
She headed to her bedroom but had to take a detour to the bathroom. She felt the bile rush up to her throat. She leaned over the toilet for fifteen minutes and vomited. When she finished, she felt weak and tired.
“Shae, I’m back!” She heard Toby call out. Seconds later, he peered into the bathroom because she’d left the door open. “It’s
probably a stomach virus,” he stated. “I think you should see a doctor.”
“Can you call Vivian? I’m too weak to go anywhere. Help me to my room,” she said.
Toby called Vivian, and she came right away. When she took one look at Shae, she called her family physician, Dr. McNeil, who made home visits. Since he couldn’t make it until the following day, Vivian stayed over to look after her.
Both Vivian and Toby watched over her like two mother hens. They forced her to eat chicken soup and drink hot, lemon tea. Toby wanted to call Larry at work but Shae wouldn’t hear of it.
“I’m fine. I don’t want him to stop working because he’s worried about me.” Larry often worked late at the studio. On occasion, he could get creative and paint well into the night. His creations were beautiful, and he couldn’t paint fast enough to keep up with the demand for his work.
When he got home and found her in the bed, he took over.
“They should have called me,” he said worriedly. “Are you alright? How you feel, baby?” he asked, touching her forehead.
“Okay,” she mumbled. “I’m feeling much better now that you’re here.”
He grinned from the compliment. “You feel like eating something?”
“Oh no. Viv and Toby stuffed me with chicken soup. I can’t eat another bite.”
“Dr. McNeil will be here in a little while,” Vivian informed. “One of his patients cancelled, so he can come after all.”
“I’m going to let you get some rest. Okay? Get better, baby.” He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
“Larry, if I have the flu, you’re going to catch it,” she warned.
“What a better way!” He laughed then grew serious. “I love you. Hurry up and get well. I have something important to ask you.”
Dr. McNeil, a short, robust man with a smiling, jovial face came. His hearty laugh was infectious. He entered the room carrying his black, doctor’s bag.
“Well, Miss Lady, let’s see what we have here.” It didn’t take long for him to look her over. “When was your last cycle?” he asked. Shae couldn’t remember.
“I don’t know. I guess it’s regular. But, well-” Now that it had been brought to her attention, she hadn’t had a menstrual cycle in over a month and a half. “It’s late,” she admitted.
“Well, in that case, don’t seem to be anything wrong with you that nine months won’t cure,” he said, and smiled. It took a while for his statement to register in her brain.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, young lady. I can be almost certain that you’re expecting.”
“Expecting what? A baby?” It hadn’t dawned on her that pregnancy could be a possibility. “I guess I’m glad it’s not the flu.”
“That young man you got will be mighty proud. He should be,” Dr. McNeil added. “If you need me at any time, just call, you hear?”
“Thank you Dr. McNeil.” Shae watched him leave.
Larry, Vivian, and Toby rushed into the room.
“Well, what’s wrong?” Vivian asked. “Is it the flu?” she wanted to know.
“It’s a stomach virus. Right?” Toby questioned. Larry said nothing just stared at her with concern.
“There’s nothing wrong. I’m just going to have a baby,” she told them.
“So, in other words, that means you’re okay?” Toby said. “Wait a minute! Did you say you having a baby?”
“Shae, this is wonderful!” Vivian went to her sister’s side. “I’m pregnant again too!” They hugged in excitement. Larry appeared to be in a daze.
“So- I’m gonna be a father? Right?” he finally managed to get out. They all laughed. “I’m gonna be a daddy! Whooooo Weeeeee!” He jumped up in the air. “I wanted to ask you something as soon as you were well, but I guess you ain’t really sick. Anyway, I can’t hold it in no more.” He approached the bed and took her hand in his. “I love you and I would be honored if you’d marry me.” He gazed into her eyes then got down on one knee. “Shae Byrts, will you be my wife?” Tears filled her eyes.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I don’t have an engagement ring right now. It’s still on lay-a-way at K-Mart.” He stared at her in mock seriousness then burst out laughing. “That was a joke. It’s like, y’all can laugh now.” No one did.
“Larry, you an okay kinda guy,” Toby told him. “But, don’t quit ya day job!” They all laughed. Happiness surrounded the room and embraced everyone in it.
Over the next few weeks, both Larry and Shae were excited about the pregnancy. Shae and Vivian had already gone shopping several times for baby clothes. Babies could never get enough pampers, baby wipes and toiletries.
Shae had just returned from the mall when Larry came home.
“What are you doing home so early?”
“I’m on a mission,” he said mysteriously. “I have something to show you. Come on.” He grabbed her hand.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Just come on,” he said, excitedly. Shae felt like a kid a Christmas time as she let him lead her to the car.
Minutes later they pulled up in front of a magnificent two-story, brick home. It resembled a real-life dollhouse. They got out and She stared in awe.
“Who lives here?” she asked.
Larry, smiling, took her hand. “We do.” Shae couldn’t contain herself, and started to jump up and down in her excitement. “Hey, hey!” Larry cautioned. “Don’t shake up the baby. Calm down.” He fondly rubbed her slightly protruding stomach.
“Larry, for real? Is this really our house?”
“Yes. Well, it will be as soon as we sign the paperwork. I just wanted to make sure that you liked it first,” he told her.
“I love it.”
“But you haven’t even seen the inside.”
“I still love it.”
“There are four bedrooms. So Toby can have his own room. Charles and Chris can share a room, one can be a nursery and of course, we get the master bedroom.”
“Oh Larry. You mean it? You don’t mind that my brothers will be living with us? You know Aunt Bea will let them live with-”
“Shh!” He put his finger up to her lips to silence her. “I won’t hear of it.” Larry gave her a firm look. “Shae, after the life you and your brothers went through, what kind of a person would it make me if I didn’t do all I could to keep y’all together? Those are your brothers- your family. Family is the most important thing in the world to me. And a family belongs together.” He took her hands in his and stared deeply into her eyes. “I love you,” he said thickly. “That means I love your brothers just like they’re my brothers. As your future husband, I’m just as responsible for them as you are.” He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Now, come on. I want you to see inside of our new home.”
“Larry, you are something else,” she said quietly as they walked up the driveway.
“I’m glad you think so. I remember when we first met. You called me stupid.” Shae gave him a puzzled look then after a moment she burst into laughter.
“Even then, you were something else.” She smiled. “You gave me a Band Aid for my scraped knee. That was so sweet.”
“Even back then, I knew how to woo the ladies. I was just enduring you to me forever,” he joked.
“Well, it worked.”
Larry opened the door and held it for Shae. When she stepped inside, she gasped in surprise. A trail of rose petals led to the dining room. There on the table set a romantic dinner for two. The sparkling candles couldn’t outshine the sparkle in Shae’s gaze.
“Oh Larry,” she exclaimed. “This is beautiful!”
“You’re beautiful. Now, I know I already asked you to marry me, but I didn’t have the ring.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a jewelry box. “Now that I have the engagement ring, I’d like to pose the question all over again. Shae, will you marry me?”
He opened the ring box and a two-carat diamond glistened and flashed at her.
; “Wow! It’s so beautiful.”
Larry cleared his throat. “Is that a yes or a no?”
“Stop teasing! Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. “I like the look of that.” He nodded proudly.
“It’s perfect.” She took in the wonderful candlelit dinner. “You did all this for me?” She hugged him around the waist. They stood in each other’s embrace.
“I just got an idea,” Larry said. “When we move in, we’ll have to christen all the rooms. We could get a head start on that right now.” The sound of their laughter echoed throughout all the rooms.
Shae became Mrs. Lawrence Bethune Walker a month later. The wedding took place at the Holy Ghost Church of Jesus Christ Purchased by His Blood. Vivian insisted upon paying for everything since she had missed six years of her younger sister’s life. Vivian and Richard had spared no expense. The church was decorated so beautifully that it was breathtaking.
Shae wore a flowing, white gown with a long train trailing behind. She looked radiant as she walked down the aisle to join Larry. Toby, standing tall and proud, gave his sister away. Vivian stood in as the matron of honor. Both sets of twins took part in the ceremony. Charles and Chris held the ring between them. Rasheda and Rameyra tossed rose petals out of a pail. They looked so cute in their identical dresses with frills. James even got the chance to attend the ceremony. He stood next to Larry as the best man. He looked handsome and mature decked out in his Army uniform.
That day was the happiest day of Shae’s life. The time that she’d been a project queen was easily forgotten. She now was a true queen, Larry’s queen, and that was all that mattered.
EPILOGUE
He had followed the case on Court TV. Today, he watched anxiously as the jury filed back into the courtroom to make a decision. When they ruled in favor of sentencing Bertha to a mental facility for fifteen years, his heart sank. Tears formed in his eyes.
Project Queen Page 20