BOMAW 10-12

by Mercedes Keyes

  Tears were rolling now, to hear his voice, to hear his gruff demeanor, to hear his protectiveness about her. She wished that he could just jump on the highway and be there now. Right then, once more, she realized why she needed to give up her job, Chicago, Sheila. Her life was now different, altered. Changed and altered to her very core. She needed him, and because she refused to go with him, they were miles apart; when she needed him to be there more than ever and there was no one to blame for the distance but herself.

  "I'm waiting and you're starting to fuckin' scare me."

  "I'm sorry. I'm just in a mood babe, you know, my period and everything. You know how weepy women can be at that time of the month. I was sitting here, talking to Sheila, telling her how much I would miss her when I go there. It's just made me feel a bit down. Now that you're on the phone, hearing your voice, makes me realize ... how badly, I wanna be with you."

  Jake sighed, softened. "Ah sweetheart, that's why I tried to get you to come back with me." He drawled low, sounding like his father, concerned.

  "I know, I know. I've put in my notice at work, so, two weeks will be over in no time."

  "Yes it will. Besides, Paul, Kevin and I will be up there this weekend. We have a roof to repair."

  "A roof?" She asked, smiling. "Whose roof?"

  "There's an old man that lives near the last place you left, he got a raw deal on a roofing and gutter job, scammed basically. Paul's out to save the world you see. So we're coming down there to fix that. I think when we come back, I'll be bringing more of your things with me, so we're not bogged down with a lot for the final weekend."

  "That's a good idea."

  "I love you Vivian Cooke, you know that? I really love you. And uh, I wasn't going to tell you about it yet, but I can't help it, I have to. We uh, have a home now."

  "What? A home? We have a home?" She sat up alert.

  Jake was laughing so excited about it, "Yes! We, you and I, have a home. Get this, it is also, on eight and a half acres of land."

  "We have land? Eight and a half acres of it? Where?" She was starting to get excited now.

  "Walking distance from Sylvia & Shawn, from my sister. And, using the back roads, thirty minutes drive from my parents!"

  "But how? When? Can we afford it?"

  "It's already ours! Full, clear, no monthly payments, just taxes! Just home owners insurance when we're done with it."

  "Oh my goodness! I don't understand, I mean, you just left here, it doesn't work that fast!"

  "Hey baby, it does when you're a McPherson. My parents really want you and I, to have a nice start. When I came back yesterday, Royce told me about some property that became available because the old man that owned it passed away. He took me and the boys by there, to look it over."

  "Okay, and what's it like?"

  "Big!"

  "Big? Wooooo! I like big! I can do big! Big as in like what for instance? How big? Whose place would you compare it to?"

  "Well, its bigger than Sheila and Dennis' place, bigger than Sylvia & Shawn's-..."

  "Oh my god!" She squealed excitedly.

  "Yep, get this, it's an old Victorian home, your things, your furnishings, your style, made for this place."

  "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! I love it already and I haven't even seen it!" She was just about dancing with joy.

  "And listen at this, in the backyard, there's this massive ass, big ass gigantean oak tree, must be well over three hundred years old, its huge man!"

  "Oh I wanna see it, I wanna see it! Oh Jake! I don't see how we got it for nothing?"

  "Here's the best part of it all, my dad and mom, they bought it out right for us for a wedding gift."

  "What?! You're kidding me? How could they afford to do that?"

  "My parents have money, believe me, they're not filthy rich, but by no means, poor. So yep, they did. I was shocked as hell. To be honest, if there had been no you, there's no way in hell my father would have ever done this, not for me anyway. For Shawn, Derrick or one of the girls, yeah ... but not for me. So, I know it's because of you. They want you so bad for me, that they've done this. But hey, no biggie, I wanted it, the moment I laid eyes on it, I wanted it. I wanted it for us."

  Vivian grew quiet, thinking about what he said, about his father and mother. "Jake, your dad does love you, he does."

  "Doesn't matter, let's not kill the joy of the moment okay? Point is, we have a home. Last thing I need you to know about it is this, it's uh, it's a fixer upper."

  "Ah - fixer - upper? What does that mean?"

  He sighed with a deep and long exhaling. "Put it this way, if you saw it right now, at this very moment, chances are, you wouldn't like it."

  "Why is that? What's wrong with it?"

  "Ohhh, let me think, how can I say this, you wanna know what's wrong with it huh? Hmmm, okay, how about, everything's wrong with it."

  "Everything is wrong with it as in how? Are you talkin' - like - its a derelict?"

  "Emmm, worse. A derelict is just abandoned, trust me, this one is not abandoned, there are many things living in there." He grinned.

  "WHAT?! Many things as in what? I don't like the sound of that Jake!"

  He was laughing, "Baby, trust me. By the time I get done with it-..."

  "Well what's wrong with it Jake, tell me what's wrong with it?"

  "It's old Vivian. It hasn't been maintained. The old man that owned it, let the land and the home basically go. The house hasn't seen a lick of paint in God knows when. There's shit everywhere."

  "Shit? What kind of shit? Cow shit? Horse shit? Goat shit? What kind of shit?"

  He was laughing again, "No no no, trash, junk, heaps and piles of it. But ... by the time you see it, there will be a great improvement, I promise. Look, don't let what I'm telling you, scare you. I know a good find when I see one. This property just needs some serious TLC. Tender loving care and I'm just the man for the job. As you well know, don't you?"

  Vivian blushed, smiling, "Oh yeah, how well I do know. I still can't wait to see it. I mean, our very own home, our first home!"

  "Yep, and we have the place there, for a year anyway. Thing is, I'll be busy all week with it. I'll be putting in overtime at work and by the way ... when I returned to work, you should have seen the place, my boss. Needless to say, he was happy to see me back. So happy in fact, that I talked him into giving me a raise."

  "Get out of here!? You did!? Whoa, you go bwoy! Wooooo!"

  "Not only that, he won a bid as supplier to a few DIY warehouses, guess who'll be doing the deliveries?"

  "You?"

  "Me baby, and that's extra money. So see, I told you; let me take care of things. I mean, I still may not make as much as you do at the bank, but I don't think we'll be hungry and we sure as hell won't be homeless."

  "But my bills-..."

  "Hey, I know, okay? I know. Let me worry about that. All right?"

  "Yes, okay."

  "Good girl. Now get your ass home before it gets too late! I don't want you out late at night."

  "I will."

  "I'll be calling again tomorrow, I'll call you on Ms Martin's phone. Then Wednesday, our phone will be hooked up. You'll have to call me with the number, because I've already forgotten it, it's there at our place somewhere on the kitchen counter. Also, I forgot to get a hold of insurance today, I'll have to do it from work tomorrow. So be careful driving."

  "I am, I'm always careful. I love you baby and I do miss you."

  "I miss you too. Just think, two weeks from now, you'll be coming here."

  "Will we be, staying in that house?"

  "Depends on how much I can get done. If I tackle the really important stuff first, get it all done, don't see why we can't. If its not quite ready, you can stay by my folks until its done, okay?"

  Vivian sighed, but gave in, she liked Bart and Gert, "Okay."

  "Thank you. I'll be starting work at 5 in the morning instead of 8. Getting off at 5. I'll then go by the house, put in about 3 hours there, a
nd then home and to bed, call you ... half an hour of talkin' dirty, bein' nasty-..."

  Vivian threw her head back laughing deep from the gut, "'Cause you a nasty ol'man! Dirty dawg." She grinned.

  "And you love this dirty ol'dog! Don't you?"

  "Damn right I do, I love you with all my heart."

  "That's what I'm talking about. Start sorting the things you won't mind me bringing back with me this weekend, because the next time I come there, it'll be to bring you back here with me. Maybe even, to our own home."

  "I can't wait."

  * * *

  L. A.

  "Jer'miah, you're home ... I mean ... you're here." Deidre corrected herself with a blush and a slight, I'm sorry smile.

  Grinning, Jeremiah strode into the grand entrance, looking around at the stunning foyer with a wide sweeping staircase, playing it off about her little slip.

  Deidre hadn't seen or heard from him all day. Which was unusual, since they'd been together almost daily from the shooting. Now, her day wasn't right if she didn't hear from him or see his face at least once a day. She had interior decorators and movers in and out getting everything in order. She was desperate to have all as it should be for when Angela came to visit. She wanted to invite everyone, the whole family, Shawn included, over for dinner, so everything had to be extra special to assure, that they all had a good time.

  "Home huh?" He couldn't resist the urge to tease her.

  "Stop it. I meant, here, my home." She tried to explain.

  He only chuckled, looking around. "This is, one amazing place." He complimented.

  "The staircase, the foyer, the quaint fire place, the atrium and huge windows for plants. How does this look, the piano there?" She asked, eager to see his reaction, she wanted to please him; that had suddenly, become a highlight in her life.

  "First class style and definitely a show of rich taste and elegance. I love it there. Can you play? I remember once my mother mentioning something referring to you and piano lessons. They had you starting at 4, how far did you go?" He asked.

  She smiled, walked over to the Baldwin grand piano, ebony and gleaming. Sat nice and proper, straight back, hands poised above the keys. She glanced up at him demurely as he came to stand beside the piano and then she began to play.

  Jeremiah rocked back, roaring in laughter as she, with mischievous eyes, went into, "Mary had a little Lamb." His head shook as she continued on, posed as she was, looking for all the world as if she played a major symphony instead of the tune that he laughed at. But then, just as smooth as a breeze blowing one way can suddenly change direction, she changed on him and began playing Je Suis Lindor, smooth, seamless, clean and elegant, not missing a note. The humor left him, to be replaced by that of pure rapture, magic. He was entranced watching her. In no time at all, others stopped in the foyer to watch and hear her play. A couple of the movers, her interior designer and two assistants, and soon, Charlie and Samuel. The foyer was the perfect place for the piano. It had been tuned to perfection, and the keys she played filled each person standing, listening. Even Charlie, who did not care much for classical music, was enthralled by the sounds bouncing from the walls surrounding them. Deidre hadn't played in so long, she got carried away and was totally into it. She happened to glance up at Jeremiah to see that she had a small audience. She abruptly came to a stop, self conscious and smiling.

  "Sorry for getting carried away, I forgot myself." She apologized.

  Everyone started at once calling out, "Keep playing!"

  "That was beautiful."

  "Dee-dee, you go girl! Didn't know you had that in'yah! You know you one bonafide, pure-dee, rich, lil'o'white girl! Can play the piano and shit, like that!" She winked, laughing.

  Jeremiah turned to look back at Charlie laughing at her, as well Deidre who had long given up correcting her on calling her Dee-dee.

  She stood from the piano, "Glad you enjoyed that Charlie, if you behave, I may play again for you, later."

  "Aaaw Dee-dee! A concert for me?" She grinned and then turned to Samuel, "Bet you ain't never got nobody to play the pee-anny for you?" She teased in her best, Beverly Hillbilly voice. Turning back with Samuel shaking his head at her, she looked at the others standing there, "Back to work everybody! Get this shit done! Ya'll ain't got all night; listening to her play; later for that, I'm 'bout to lock up house on you. That ain't no lie! You do not have all night! I'll be damn if I'm gone be following ya'll asses around all evening. You got 30 minutes!"

  "Charlie!" Deidre half shouted, half cried her name. "They need to get this done... tonight!" Deidre informed her, once more frustrated.

  "That's fine if they can get it done in 30 minutes! 30 minutes more is all I'm giving. I can tell you now, I don't care for all these goddamn people in and out of here, shit like this make me nervous. They make me feel like they might be up to something!"

  "Charlie, they're up to decorating my new home! That's what they're up to!" Deidre argued.

  Jeremiah, stood grinning and looking at Samuel as the two women locked horns. He stepped over to Samuel asking, "Does this go on all day?"

  Samuel nodded, "A-a-all day long. All day. I'm beginning to wonder who's in charge here, Charlie or Deidre."

  Who heard him and said, "I AM! I'm in charge! Have you forgotten that one fact... Cha-a-r-rle-e-ene!?" Deidre got back at her, using a name that she knew the other woman hated, putting her hands on her hips as if to say, 'How do you like that?'

  "What? What you say? What you call me? Don't be callin' me no Charlene, you know I'on like that! Charlene! I'on look like no damn Charlene!" She turned to Samuel, "That right there, the reason you ain't never, not ever never, gone get no ... you know... don't make me say it! That's what blew it for you. Charlene." She nodded her head in warning to him and turned back to those standing and waiting for the verdict.

  "I don't know what you all standing there for. Better get this shit shifted and some goddamn paintings on the wall, 'cause 30 minutes be over in no time!" She carried on as if Deidre had not just spoken.

  Deidre looked at Jeremiah, exasperated. He shrugged grinning.

  "Charlie! I wish you wouldn't do that. Someone is going to get offended and walk off the job."

  "Do I look like I give a shit? For what you paying them, I'll hang the goddamn pictures on the wall! They need to hurry up!"

  "Charlie, I want it all done - today!" Deidre stomped her foot, stating for the second time. "My daughter's coming and I need it done right."

  "Hang on here goddammit - wait a minute! You want me to lay it out for you all at once? Or you wanna hear it in parts? Part one & Part two? I'm gone do you a favor and give you the shit in parts, here's part one! All of this shit you doing - all this shit they doing, ain't gone mean a damn thing to Angela Rae McPherson! Okay? I ain't even met the chile and I know that! You should know, as well as I do know, that she don't give a shit about what you trying to get done here! If she did, she would be here and not have chosen her po'ass daddy to live with! Okay, let's get real! She would not have chosen - another woman - to be her mama over you! All of this shit - is not - going to fix - the problem - okay? Stop wasting your money - on worthless - insignificant shit - like this - like paying them - when you and I, hell, we can get this shit done ourself! Doing it yourself see, that's what makes your house, your HOME. Because you put the shit together based on what you prefer. That way you can spend your money on a way to fix the real important shit - like with your daughter - so she wanna live - here - withYOU!" Charlie shot, breathing hard staring at Deidre, "You hear what I'm saying to you? This is all bullshit, okay?-..."

  "Oh my god! Oh my goodness, oh no! This is totally unacceptable! Fire her! Mrs. Wherrington - this is pure disrespectful insubordination! You of all people, should not be subjected to this - to this low life bit of riff raff!" The designer asserted.

  "Who the hell you calling a bit of low life riff raff?" Charlie asked.

  He ignored Charlie, "Mrs. Wherrington, please - do not accept such
an affront from someone-..."

  "Jon'pa -(pronounced, shawn-pa), I need you to carry on with the decorating and mind your own affairs." Deidre informed him.

  He snapped his mouth shut, glared with hostility at Charlie, who reminded him, "You down to 27 minutes; Dee-dee gone be writin' out yo' check in a minute!"

  He, in a huff, stomped off, with his heels clicking along with each step that he took.

  When Charlie turned back to Deidre, she was on her way up the wide curving staircase, heavy of heart, hurt.

  "There are times when you go, just a bit, too far." Jeremiah murmured staring at Charlie.

  She rolled her head around to him, eying him up and down disdainfully, "Well you know what, there are times, when you don't go, far enough. Don't mess with me, don't make me give you yours, 'cause I will and you know I will and it damn sho' won't be in parts, pour that truth on you, all at once. Now if you wanna hear it, let me know. My suggestion to you is this, that you head up them stairs and watch Dee-dee for me, while I get rid of these goddamn good for shit leeches charging her too much money, for nothing!" She turned from him and made her way down the hall to continue watching the activities of the decorators.

  Sighing and knowing her as he did, Jeremiah turned and headed up the stairs to see about Deidre.

  Samuel walked off behind Charlie, stopping beside her on top of the broad bricked porch, lined with columns and potted ferns.

  "Why do you do that Charlie? You hurt her."

  "NO! Her family has hurt her! All these sorry ass good for shit people, hurt her! Let's get something straight right now, which she is fully aware of, I'm not a goddamn, yes man! Or for that matter, a goddamn yes woman! She don't need a yes man, or more people who agree with everything she does! People who ignore what she really needs so they can stay in her employ and suck the life out of her through her goddamn wallet or bank account. Same shit happened to Elvis, baby, sorry, worthless ass, yes -men! That's why his ass died, bloated, lonely, unhappy and lost at 40 some odd years old! 'Cause no one truly gave a damn about him; because he didn't have nobody like me around him to tell his ass off and not give a damn if he liked it or not! He needed somebody to tell his ass, NO - goddammit! Fight with his ass! Shit, that's just my own take on the fucked up situation." She looked away from him shaking her head. "Just like him, same thing here, these goddamn people don't give a shit about her! Her own goddamn family don't give a shit about her!" She fired off glaring him in the eyes once more, "You see, I - know her! I know what its like to live in a world where your own flesh and blood family, don't give a shit about you! Only difference between Deidre and me, is that her family could pay other people; nannies, tutors, institutions, boarding goddamn schools, to take her off their hands! Mine, they couldn't afford that, so the state got me! Court systems, fosters homes, shit like that! And while you going through the shit, all you can think about is, 'well, damn, what's wrong with me?' because end of it is, all you want, is to belong, somewhere. Belong to somebody, somebody to love - you! But they just - don't!" Charlie looked away from him, she couldn't look at him for what poured out of her next. "She loved her first husband and that sonofabitch didn't love her enough to even try, to understand her. He broke her fuckin' heart! Shit. Hell with that, Dee-dee, like me - we don't need the bullshit! Soft hands, sugar coatin', smiling assassins. Hmph."