She’d died young - in her fifties after Edwin’s death - it had been the last bruising to her broken soul. Jojo, with children - no longer married, along with her younger brother - Jacob Edward - sold their home. They’d also received a large sum of money out of nowhere - once word had spread about the nightmare death of Edwin. They’d buried their mother, Virginia Piercey right in the cemetery of the little town she’d inspired and help built - named after her. At the closing of her funeral - they’d packed up and left.
Never meeting with or thanking the one who’d gifted them with more money than they’d imagined to relocate. Even so, Jacob Edward knew who’d given them the money. He instinctively knew that the man across town, the Reverend, was his father. His mother had never said so. No one for that matter had ever muttered a word. But they were of the same exact height - build - eye color and features. Their only difference was that Jacob Edward had taken on his mother’s coloring - he looked more black - color wise that is - his hair was dark, wavy with curly ends - but as for his features.
They were like Rev. McPherson’s.
They’d passed each other on the street one day, and their eyes had met. Father’s and son’s. The silent and accepted recognition was mutual - but never verified. Something had passed between them - each had felt it.
Yes, Jacob Edward had known and kept what he knew to himself. After all, in the South, it happened all the time - white father’s passing their mulatto children, sons or daughters on the street without a word. It was a part of everyday life.
“Mom, you okay? You’re up early.” Shawn asked coming into the family room to see his mother standing quiet.
She didn’t know what to say and so said, “I’m fine - got a lot on my mind.”
“Mama Jojo still sleeping?” He asked.
“Yes - let her sleep. She’s had an exhausting night.”
“Why, what happened? She say anything about dad? Why’d she react that way?”
Gert could only exhale. Her eyes went up to her handsome son, who now stood next to her. She stared at him a moment, he was shorter than his brothers. Different from them… but, not different. Right then and there as she stared up at him, she knew - in her heart of hearts, that he - was not Bart’s son. She believed that if he were tested, the test would come back proving that she’d gotten her wish after all.
She’d given birth to Edwin Piercey’s son. He had a grandfather back in California - Jacob Edward Piercey-McPherson. Now she faced the nightmare of what must be done to be fair to that man in California. He’d lost his son. Yet, standing beside her, was Edwin’s son… how could she keep that a secret simply to save herself. It would be impossible to keep. After all, once Mama Jojo woke, all the pieces would fall into place for her as well. She too would wake and see that Shawn… might possibly be her grand-nephew.
Gert felt weak, as if she could crumble to the floor right then and there. Her heart hurt. All this time, she’d wanted him to be Edwin’s - but now, because she knew that he was - it would devastate Shawn. All his life - Bartholomew had been his father. Gert knew, that in truth, a father who had abused him because he felt that he was another man’s child. Low and behold, not just any man’s - but his own nephew’s son. Shawn was Bart’s father’s great-grandson. Gert felt her head buzzing. ‘Lord God, the pain this is going to cause when it comes out.’ Gert wasn’t sure she could handle it. It appeared that her transgression as a wild young girl kept returning, again and again. She felt so much regret - and yet, it didn’t matter how sorry she was - the whole ugly sorted mess was there to get her once more - and this time, it would be worse than ever. Suddenly Ruthie’s words to her all those years ago when she was trying to get her under control, came to her, “You so hard-headed, I’m tellin’ you young chil’ - the Lord don’t play, you will reap what you sow - one day. One day - God help you when your harvest come - it’s gone be one ugly field. Mark my words… mark’em. I pray I’m not aroun’ t’see it - cuz ain’t gone be nothin’ I can do t’help it.”
Gert felt nauseated, closing her eyes she found herself praying, ‘Please God, I don’t want to reap this harvest! Please don’t make me.’ She agonized.
Shawn stood watching his mother and a myriad of painful expressions crossed her features. She went pale, washed right out right before his eyes. She opened her eyes to gaze up at him and looked….. scared? Frightened?
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
Nausea increased, a lump floated to choke her, “I - I gotta get home - I need some sleep - jus’ tired. Don’t wake Mama Jojo, you hear? Leave’er.”
Shawn nodded, “I’ll take you by Jake’s.” He offered.
Shaking her head, rubbing her stomach she threw up a hand, “No! I need to walk - leave me to walk.”
“You don’t look good mom, I’d rather take you.”
Impatient, she snapped at him, “For goodness sake Shawn! For once in your life - leave it alone! I’m your mother - not your child, I’ll walk!” She finished irritated. Wasting no time she found her things and left his home in haste. Walking to Jake’s and Vivian’s - she tried to come up with any scenario possible to explain herself once the time came to look her son in the eyes and tell him what she’d done. No matter how many different ways she tried to come up with to narrate it - the ending would be the same.
He would be devastated.
Then there was Bart. He now presently believed that Shawn is his son. That too must be revisited. Not only that - he will learn that his father, the man that held him accountable for everything he did wrong under the sun - had had a son by a black woman across the very town he grew up in. He must also learn that the young man he never liked because of her - was his own flesh and blood nephew. Gert was almost stumbling, burdened so with her bundles of sins that were about to blow everyone around her to emotional smithereens. She didn’t even have the reverend to turn to - to share the burden with, he’d past ten years ago. So now, it was all hers and hers alone.
The state of her when she entered her Jake’s home - made them snap to attention asking her question after question. She waved them off, refusing to say a word. She had Paul load her things into the Lincoln and without any explanation, or answers to anything, she lit out of there like the hounds of hell were nipping at her tires.
Paul, Jake and Vivian were stunned, speechless for the moment as they stood on the porch seeing nothing but Gert’s dust kicked up from her departure.
Paul turned to them, “Well, so much for telling grandma goodbye - I’m leaving for school today.”
Vivian nor Jake knew what to say concerning Gert, “We’ll say goodbye for you.” Vivian offered as they turned to go back in the house, hearing a disturbance in the basement - the kids were fighting over whose turn it was to play next. Their uncle’s voice bellowed out on the way down, “HEY! I don’t wanna hear it! Sort it out or get off!” He disappeared downstairs to referee.
Vivian went back to preparing food for Paul to take with him, as well the groceries she bought for him so he would start off well stocked. She, Jake and Jackie had already gone down to the university he would be attending, had visited his dorm room. Jackie had taken care of his sheets, blankets, towels, dishes, pots and pans. The same day they’d purchased him a microwave, a two eye cooker, mini dorm-room refrigerator, mop, bucket, broom and other room supplies. The day that he was to leave, which was that day - she and Jake went all out on food for him. He was loaded with more than enough for one person. He groaned when he saw all of the food they bought.
“How is all of that going to fit in the bug, along with my clothes, stereo, TV, other stuff?”
“Hey, we did our part, you figure it out.” Jake scoffed.
Vivian rolled her eyes at her husband’s comment, “Trust me, I’ll get it all in there. You just have to get it all out when you get there,” She laughed.
Sure enough, she got it all packed in. The bug was on the verge of busting.
“Oh my shock absorbers!” Paul laughed groaning, “I’m scare
d to get in,” He joked.
Everyone was standing outside to say goodbye, his cousins as well. His dad was looking in the car, scratching his head and looking back at Vivian, shaking his head of course, and with a chuckle he grinned to his son, “Good luck getting there.”
“He’ll be just fine - that car has been restored to better than it was.” She bragged, knowing it was so, after all - she’d paid for many of the parts. She’d copied the guarantees, keeping a copy for herself that she’d filed. The other copies went with Paul, in a folder - in order and neatly arranged. He’d grinned when she’d presented it to him with his insurance, warranties and all. “Can take the lady out of the bank, but not the banker out of the lady,” He laughed teasing.
“You just keep up with it all, and if you can’t find something and need it, I have it.”
Jake was shaking his head, “You do know that not everything has to be perfect - there is such a thing as disorder, not everything needs to be compartmentalized.” He ribbed her. Her need to control and have everything in its precise place, in such extreme order bordered on OCD - talk about a neat and orderly freak! Heaven forbid anything should not be as she placed it, filed it, folded it, cleaned it, dusted it or hung it. He was practically tip-toeing around his own home. He’d made the mistake of farting on her living room sofa and NOT on his own downstairs in the basement - man cave area leather furniture, but on her delicate, antique - costly brocaded French provincial sofa. He still can’t remember whatever possessed him to go in that room and sit down anyway - last he heard, he wasn’t allowed in there anymore. In any case, the look he received was tantamount to dropping what would soon be their newborn baby. It wasn’t that he was afraid of his wife, not at all - but after that look, he didn’t waste any time getting up and quick stepping from the room. Promptly going to his hole in the ground and remained there until dinner when he was called. Even then, she still had that “look” on her face.
Amid the commotion of his departure, Meribel and Shanna showed up to shout their goodbyes as well.
Once he was off, the kids begged their mother could they go back down and finish their game - as they noticed, the van was there - absent their father. That was not a good sign. For the moment, she waved them away so she could think.
There wouldn’t be long for that, because as soon as they all reentered Jake and Vivian’s home, the house phone rang. Vivian answered - it was Marcus looking to speak with his mother.
“Yeah mijo?”
“You talk to dad yet this morning?”
“No, why?”
“He came back here last night - had me follow him to bring you the van, came back, packed and left. Dad’s gone.”
Meribel didn’t know what to say, nor what to feel. She knew what she should feel, but it wasn’t happening, so asked instead, “He say where he was goin’, or stayin’?”
Marcus sighed, disgusted at the lack of emotion or concern from his mother’s voice. They were definitely in trouble if she didn’t care that he was gone.
“Not really,” he answered, “He just said he wouldn’t be far.”
“Em, well there you go mijo, he’s not really gone then is he? Nothing I can do - he’s a grown man, he can go wherever he wants to go. Long as he’s all right - I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Are you serious? You wouldn’t worry about it?” He repeated incensed, “You don’t care do you? Our father has left and you don’t care!”
“Mijo what do you expect me to do? Huh? What?!” She was trying to keep from raising her voice with him.
“How about you start by giving a d-…”
“Don’t’chu dare!” She cut him off, her accent coming in thick and sure, “I am still yer mother, like it or not!”
“Yeah, know what mom - if you don’t care - then neither should we! I gotta go, I only called because I thought we had a real family, one that meant something to you. Seems I was wrong, we’re just like everybody else, coming apart at the seams - bye!” He hung up.
Meribel stood holding the phone a moment working her jaw from side to side, trying to find her, “Do-I-care?”, nope - wasn’t there. Taking a breath with the shake of her head, she hung the phone up on the wall base and turned to see Vivian, Shanna and Jake staring at her.
Shanna realized she had to be the bold one, “Was that about Derrick?”
Meribel really didn’t feel like answering questions about what was going on between her and Derrick. She wished that Marcus hadn’t called her there with it. Sighing once more and quirking a brow, she figured she’d best go on and answer, they were waiting after all, “Yeah, if you mus’know - he packed his things and left last night. Obviously after he brought me the van. That was nice of him, hm?” She finished sarcastically.
The three could only gape in disbelief. Jake especially could not believe what he was seeing and hearing. This was not their Meri. From the very moment he’d met her - she’d been head over heels in love with his brother - the type of love he’d never seen before. Because she’d lived in their home for a while, she became truly a sister to him - not someone he would go after. Besides, he’d never been interested in Derrick’s women, because for one, he never had any aside from Meri - and two - his competition in life hadn’t been with Derrick. Derrick had lucked out with his first love, they were true blue - soul-mates it had seemed. So this, was strange. The woman before him now was cool and calm about hearing that his brother had moved out of their home, this was not the Meribel he remembered. He couldn’t help it, he had to ask, “Meri, have you been taking your medicine?”
His question caught her off guard and then promptly pissed her off, “Excuse me? What business is that of yours?”
Vivian felt she needed to explain, “Meribel, he’s just concerned - no need to get upset.”
“Yeah whatever, because I’m not up his brother’s rear end, that means something is wrong with me? Heaven forbid I should do anything to offend one of you precious, perfect McPhersons. After all, you’re god’s gift to women, so the problem is the Puerto Rican right?!” She went off growing hotter by the second.
“Meribel!!!” All three exclaimed simultaneously.
“Yeah! What? What? What am I supposed t’do? Don’t any of you start on me, I don’t wanna hear it! He wants to go, bye bye baby - see you later! I’m done kissin’ his azz! No more, you guys don’t like it, fine - I’ll go!” She charged to the basement door, snatching it open, “KIDS - vamonos - le’s go - right now, if I come n’get’chu - you’re gonna be sorry, there will be pain! Move it, now!”
“Meri - what are you doing? Who said you had to go?” Jake tried to reason with her.
“I say I have to go! Me - I tell me what I have to do! Had I listen to me last time, I wouldn’t be going through this now. I am the only one I can rely on to take care of me! No more nobody tells me what to do! I’m a grown woman - your brother is a grown man! If he can go, bye is all I got to say, to hell with him - to hell with all you McPhersons thinking you all gods of Wisconsin.”
“Wha-a-at?!?” All three shouted unable to believe what was coming out of her, that she was going off on them for no apparent reason.
“What are you all stupido? You can’t hear?!” She turned to the stairs about to call her kids again, they were all there - looking at her with dread. “You better be here, I was just about to call you again.”
“Hang on here, Meri - would you just stop? Kids, go back downstairs… nobody is going anywhere.” Jake cut in to redirect them.
“Oh now you’re trying to take over and tell me what to do now? If memory serves me correctly, I married Derrick, not you! So back off, leave me alone and let me get my kids and get the heck out of this house and away from you people - never see this Puerto Rican again!” She went from bad to worse, burning with heat and anger - her mind all over the place.
“You need to calm down and look at what you’re doing! Meri this is crazy, you’re acting crazy!”
“Don’t you know, that’s because I am puta
!” and turned to the kids, “In the van now!”
Jake’s mouth dropped open, ‘She just called me a bitch.’ He didn’t know Spanish that well, but he knew curse words, like everyone else.
“Meri - stop this please!” Shanna called to her, red and hurt over what she was seeing.
“No-no-no-no-no-no-no,” she rolled out rapidly, her accent at its highest, “Never again, okay? Those are my kids, this is my life and if you all don’t like how I am, screw you all! Don’t worry about me, I’ll be just fine - took better care of me than that brother of yours ever did, see what trusting him got me?” She turned to the kids, “Ge’out there nooow!”
“I don’t know you anymore Meri, why’re you doing this? We’re talking about your family, your marriage!” Jake tried one more time, feeling sorry for the kids as they sped up getting out the door, their mother behind them.
She turned back to him, now on their porch, Vivian and Shanna behind him, and said as nasty and mean as she could muster, “You know what Mr. All-mighty-McPherson, worry about your own marriage! What you’re doing to your own wife - we all know what they say about cheetah’s!” She blasted him and then looked around him right into Vivian’s eyes mouthing, “They can never change their spots.”
“Know what, get the hell out’ah here - GO!” Jake was done now, furious. His face was on fire, down his neck and over his chest turned completely red by her words. He couldn’t even bring himself to turn around and look at his wife, but he felt her eyes on him because he knew her.
Meribel laughed skipping down the stairs, heading for the van, she gave them all one last wave - approached the wide open door of her vehicle, never even looking at her kids and slid the wide panel door home. Soon she was in the van, starting it up and was out of there. Jake stood on the porch watching her go, unable to turn around, unable to show himself to his wife or his sister.
Shanna stood feeling sorry for her nephews and niece, “She needs help, bad - before things get worse, this was not a good time for Derrick to decide to leave. What is happening to this family?”
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 26