Jake could only stare at him, silent while his big brother got it all out of his system.
As he waited for the hilarity of the situation to pass, he sat pulling noodles from various places, his hair, clothing. Every time he found something, he hit the power windows and dropped food particles to the parking lot ground - causing his brother to burst into even more uproarious snorting.
“Oh my god I have to stop. I can’t take - take it anymore, oh please… my stomach, oh I hurt - blow blow blow - shake it off Shawn, shake it off, you can do… take deep breaths, take deep breaths - okay stop… stop-stop-stop-stop!” He commanded himself, trying with all his might to get control, he was drunk from it.
“Yeah, ha ha ha - that’s enough already! I’ll have you know, she almost killed me! I could have died today! She broke a bottle over my head - slapped me with a plate of spaghetti - yanked my hair - bit me four or five times - I think she broke my wrist when she hit me with a rock - kicked me in the nuts…”
“Aaah - that had to hurt.” Shawn murmured slouched down in the seat, he wiped his eyes as he slowly recovered from the body workout his brother caused him. Slowly he was trying to sit right in his seat, leaning over the wheel now, struggling to return to normal, still wiping at his eyes and sniffling.
“Lemme tell’yah, that kick was felt back to our great-grandfather. If that wasn’t enough, she took my truck and tried to run me over with it. She tried to kill me!”
“Hurt you maybe, but - not kill you.” Taking a deep breath, finally - Shawn could probably drive. Shifting the gear to drive, he circled the lot to make his exit.
“Yes! Kill me! You didn’t see her!” He blasted insisting it was so.
“Okay okay, so - little brother, tell me… what did you do, that Vivian wanted to kill you?” They were on the road now.
Just then Jake remembered his ring, and shifted sideways - still in pain to fish it out of his pocket, panicking that he might have lost it. Relieved, he could feel the shape of it in the folds of his pocket. Taking it out he put it back on his finger.
Shawn was of course watching out the side of his eye the whole time and began shaking his head. “You are going to screw around, and screw up and lose the best thing you ever had.”
“Ha! You don’t know her - she’s insane man. I mean waaaay out there crazy. Like I said, you didn’t see her just a while ago. If mom only knew - all you guys see is the sweet black velvet. She’s pregnant at that! She loses my kid, I’m kicking her ass!”
“You lay a hand on her and I’ll be kicking your ass!” Shawn threatened and meant it.
“Oh I see, automatically it’s all my fault right? You don’t even know what happened.” Jake tried to defend himself.
“I don’t need to know what happened, I know you. Why was your ring off your finger?”
Jake let out a long sigh. “You know I’d never hit her.” He mumbled low, feeling compelled to clarify. It just wasn’t in him to, they weren’t that kind - to hit on, or beat a woman. Certainly not in a way that would abuse her, no way. A stinging slap on the rear, yeah - maybe, but nothing to really bring harm. As for the ring, while sitting and waiting, he’d thought of a good excuse for that, trying it out on his brother, “I’m not used to it yet, after using the men’s room, I had to wash my hands, I took it off and forgot to put it back on.”
“What? That’s the best you can come up with? You don’t have to take it off to wash your hands, better think again.”
“It’s true, this ring has a cavity inside and water gets trapped in there and gives me a raw rash on my finger.” That part was true, just not the rest of it.
“Em, might I suggest you get that cavity filled with gold and you never have to worry about that again.”
“So, uh… that’s not gonna hold up with Vivian is it?” He was back to worrying about what to say.
“Nope. Not one bit. You need a better one.”
“Help me Shawn.” Jake pleaded.
“Didn’t I just come get you? That’s all the help I’ve got for you.”
“Oh man, you know what - I’m not cut out for this. Some men are made for marriage, I’m not.”
“Tough! Time to get made. You married her for better or for worse. Get yourself together and stop playing games, you’ll be 40 in another month or so. Grow up already!”
“You got a divorce! Deidre - remember her?”
“This is not about me, it’s about you! Besides, there was too much between us.”
Jake threw a fit and then yelped hurting himself from the sudden jerking movements, “I’m not right for it Shawn and she’s out of her mind! She’s scary man, for real. Never had a woman do me like that. She’s skinny, but strong! I couldn’t see, she deliberately blinded me. I move one way and get hit, tried to grab her, she kept getting away, slippery like a eel, and bites to draw blood!” A sudden chuckle escaped him - he couldn’t believe he was laughing at himself and then barked out right, “She - kicked - my ass!”
Shawn joined him saying, “And you deserved it too, didn’t you?” Shaking his head, he went on to say, “God help you my brother - you’re gonna need it.”
“Tell me about it.” Jake groaned dropping his head back.
“You love her Jake?” Shawn was serious now.
“Of course I do, you know I do. I would’ve never married her otherwise.” He admitted.
“Then love your wife man. Her. Leave all the rest alone. They can’t match her. You willing to lose her before you realize I’m right?”
“I didn’t - do - anything!”
“Jake…” His name was said in doubt.
“I didn’t! Besides, I’m not worried. Vivian loves me, she’s not going anywhere.”
“Ah, I see, so you’re taking her for granted then, already.”
Jake was feeling picked on, “Hey! Chill okay, I take good care of her - if she wants anything, anything at all, I’ll work my ass off to get it for her. She can have anything-…”
“But your loyalty. But - you being faithful to her. I can tell you right now, if Sylvia had to choose between having loads of expensive things, name brands and all - but - she had to share me to get it -or- me alone, faithful and true, with just the minimum bare necessities - she’d choose the latter. Most right minded, right hearted real women, would choose the latter. The ones that would take all the stuff and willing to share you, don’t and won’t love you. Nor are they loyal, and they will not - have your back. In fact, the ones that want things that bad, will stab you in the back to keep it. Wake up little brother, wake up!”
Jake went silent. What could he say? He wasn’t stupid, he knew that already. After all, he was almost 40 - he’d been around and knew this world for what it was. He knew there were women like his brother described, reason it had taken him so long to marry.
Breaking into his thoughts, his brother asked, “You going home - or to my place?”
“Where’s Vivian - you heard from her?”
“She was at the house talking to Sylvia when I left to get you.”
“Take me home then.”
When they pulled into the yard, the truck was there parked where he always parked it. She was home!
“Oh no-no-no! She’s home, thought you said she was at your place?”
“She obviously decided to come home.”
Jake sat a moment looking at the house and thinking, all was dark, not a light was shining from within, “Let’s go!”
“What’a’yah mean, let’s go? No way, get out - go face your wife.”
“Yeah, look at me, you honestly think I’m wanting to face her after this?”
“You’re a grown man, she’s your wife, you can handle her.”
“Come on Shawn, I’m not ready yet-…”
“Time to get ready, get out.”
“Shawn, come on please?”
“You scared?”
“Man I’m tellin’ you I’m crappin’ my pants! There are knives in that house! Sharp knives, I know because I sharpened them! All the lights ar
e off for a reason. She’s settin’ me up - she don’t fight fair Shawn!”
“You’ll be fine.”
“Yeah yeah, and when they’re carrying me off in a body bag, it’ll be on your head.”
“You’re being paranoid now.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“I’m not taking you home, you have to face her.”
“Talk to her for me Shawn, please? Get her to promise she won’t kill me. Bring her out the house, so I can at least see where she is - I don’t see her nowhere. I’m not going in that house Shawn,” Jake sat shaking his head unwilling to budge.
“Look at you, you’re pathetic! Grow some nuts already!”
“I got nuts and they need to heal, hell with you. I’m not getting out until you call her, and make her promise not to hurt me anymore.”
Shawn sat with his mouth open in disbelief. “All right, all right - fine! Come on, ya’puff - can’t believe you.”
“You know I can’t fight her back, what am I supposed to do?”
Shaking his head, Shawn left him alone for the moment. They got out, and took a few steps from the van - Shawn, using his deepest voice for carrying to be heard, shouted out to her, “VIVIA-A-AN! It’s Shawn - will you come out on the porch, turn a light on please. Let’s talk!” he called out to her.
They stood in the yard and Jake looked up at the moon, it was full. He tapped Shawn’s shoulder and pointed at it. Shawn looked up at it as well, for his brother to plead, “Can we go please?”
“Stop acting like a sissy, she’s your wife!”
They waited, no response.
“See! I’m telling you, she’s out to get me - let’s go!” Jake cried.
“VIVIAN!” Shawn shouted again.
“I’m right here.”
Her sudden soft voice and appearance startled them both. They hadn’t seen her sitting on the bench on the porch, because it was in shadow. She’d finally responded because she was getting ready to go in the house and thought to let her husband off the hook. She stood from where she had sat after coming back from talking to Sylvia. She hadn’t even gone inside yet, reason there were no lights on in the house. Because she’d left mad, she gave no thought to turning the lights on for when they returned.
Turning, she went to the back door, opened it, and then using her key, went into the house and clicked the lights on.
“See!” Shawn addressed his brother in a stage whisper, “Now get in there and make up with your wife.”
“She’s still mad.” He whispered back.
“Because you haven’t talked to her yet, you moron. I’m gone, I have my own wife to see about.”
“Wait… come in with me.”
Shawn shook his head and got in the van, started it up and left. Leaving his brother standing in the yard.
Jake took a deep breath, and worked up his nerve and went up his back stairs and into his home. Vivian was cleaning up the kitchen. It went without saying, she’d fixed him a spaghetti dinner. A stunning salad, garlic bread and it appeared that she’d done one of the apple pies for him too. She wasn’t looking at him, wasn’t saying a word.
He turned locking up the house.
Then back to her, he spoke softly, “Mind if I - go - get in the shower?” he asked.
“It’s your house… do what you wanna do.” Her words were soft.
“What’a’ya mean? This is your home, you know it Vivian, you know it.”
“Go take your shower.” She returned softer still.
“You’re not… planning anything are you? Will I be safe?” He had to ask.
Quiet, subdued, she nodded and then, “You’ll be safe.”
Jake stood a moment, staring at her. She kept her back to him because she just didn’t want to deal with it right then. She had a lot on her mind. She felt like a fool. She thought of other stuff too, like finally, she was getting hers back for carrying on an affair with Laek Chan. No matter how much she tried to fight off that old saying, ‘Reap what you sow.’ It appeared that it was her time to reap. What better lesson would there be, than for her to get it back from the man she’d been looking for to love - all of her life.
Jake had a lump in his throat, turning away, he went up the carpeted stairs and to their bedroom and to the bathroom to get in the shower. Just to be sure and on the safe side, he stopped and locked the bathroom door. Truth to be told, he was uneasy - she was too calm, too quiet. What if she hadn’t calmed down yet? As he turned on the water, he couldn’t help but think about all the women he’d messed over through the years. Stripping down before the mirror, he found other red marks, bruising. Some how, he’d been able to manipulate them so that they just accepted him the way he was. Oh little petty arguments true - but nothing serious that he couldn’t handle. Even Doris let him off pretty easy before she realized that she’d lost him for good and took her own life.
Now, because of his competition with his brother - because of his need to match him - do what he did - but do it better, he’d chosen one heck of a prize to be his wife.
Leaning against the sink, heals of his palms pressed hard causing his strong arms to cord, his mind flashed scenes of a deed she had no clue of. No one did. He couldn’t believe that Meribel had said what she said. She didn’t know anything either. He’d been careful this time - keeping his secrets away from home. Away from family. Yet, in her crazy state, she’d opened a can of worms. His wife had been blissfully happy and ignorant until her words. This day, he hadn’t really done anything with the blond at the bar. Especially once he saw that face. Not that it mattered now - because truth was - he was guilty of doing wrong. If he’d gotten this for taking his ring off and playing a bit, what could he expect if she found out what he was truly guilty of? Jake shook his head and pushed off from the vanity and stepped into the shower. He was sore all over from her aggressive attack. He flinched from having to wash his hair, his fingers testing the lump and cut there. When his warm, wet soapy hands got to his hanging jewels, he was especially careful.
“Oh God, what am I doing? Why am I doing this? I love my wife, I do… but… I just… ugggh.” There were times when Jake didn’t understand himself, for that matter, like himself.
Finished showering, he knew he had to face her. But in truth, didn’t know what to say. Slipping on a wife beater and fleece lounging trousers, barefoot - he walked out of the bathroom looking for his wife. She wasn’t in their room yet to come to bed. He looked for her in every room upstairs, not there. He went downstairs looking for her. The kitchen was clean, everything was put away. Looking around, he found her finally in her perfect little room of antiques and French provincial furniture, her warm and cozy lady’s room - sun room. It was beautiful beyond words. Plants were everywhere, there was a stunning 150 gallon fish tank with amazing Oscars, Silver dollars and Parrot Cichlids swimming about. The only light in the room came from it, adding a wonderful illumination to the shadowy den. It had cost him seven hundred and fifty dollars to pay to have the guy come in and set it up for her. She said she’d been wanting one forever. A tank like that, with Oscars… he got that for her. Soon as they returned from their honeymoon, it was sitting there waiting for her to find it. He loved surprising her - loved seeing the look on her beautiful face. His eyes moistened up, he had - the most beautiful girl in the world. No one - nowhere, could compare to his Vivian. Of that he was certain, so he didn’t get why he was doing such stupid things to her. God knew, there was no way in the world he was willing to give her up. Worthy of her or not, she was his to stay - that is why he married her.
Back so long ago, just as he knew she would, when she walked into the room and she saw that aquarium, she burst into tears of joy. Sitting and watching her fish, became her most favorite place in the house. She did everything sitting next to them. She had a special cushiony chair with a perfect solid oak tray he’d made for her. She’d put her laptop on it, and pay their bills, and do other things on it - right from that spot. Yes, she’d sit watching them for hours. Constantly
checking the books on how to take care of them. The very next day she’d called the Aqua marina place to set up a regular maintenance check up on the tank and the fish.
He’d done that for her.
Because of what he’d done to her - even before their vows, even after their vows - even after their honeymoon.
Right now, she was sitting next to the tank, watching them swim about.
“Vivian…” His soft deep, rich and moving southern voice called out to her.
Her eyes closed. Just the sound of him gripped her innards and twisted them as no one ever could, or ever would. She realized that it was a bad idea to marry a man who had access to the depths of her soul. She thought - that she had loved Laek Chan. What she felt for Jake, made that thing, that fling with Laek nothing more than a dream one has and wakes up from to forget - unable to recall who that person was or what the fling was about. She should have stuck to her plan. She should have simply gotten pregnant by Jake and then… she should have let him go.
Now, she was scared to death - that no matter what - she would not be able to let go. Before it had gone this far, she should have given herself to him, gotten the baby, like Jackie had to get Paul.
Maybe, just maybe - now, if she bailed now, she could break away. She had to count her blessings and move on before it was really too late. She was pregnant with his child - she just needed to be strong and go.
“Vivian I-…”
“I’ll never do that to you again.” She cut him off to say. She didn’t want him to say anything, she wanted to do all the talking, “I’m so sorry - so very sorry I did that. That I acted that way. What was I thinking? I knew better. I’ve known all along.” She stopped to wipe the tear that built and fell over to stream down her face.
“What? No… let me explain what happened.” Jake tried.
“You don’t have to explain. I knew. You are who you are, what you are - I knew that from the very beginning and - well, all of this… is my fault.”
“Hey! Wait a minute here, I need to talk okay? Will you let me say something here?” He walked into the room and knelt before her, he gulped and tried to swallow the boulder size lump in his throat, because she was so docile, quiet and resolved. With tears rolling down her face. As much as she’d hurt him with her attack, he knew in the depths of his soul, that what he’d done would hurt her ten times as bad. He hated hurting Vivian - just seeing the tears made him want to offer himself to her once more to beat on, anything, but seeing her cry.
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 31