BOMAW 10-12

by Mercedes Keyes

  Back at Mama JoJo's the driver helped them bring in the shopping, letting Sylvia and Mama JoJo bring in only the light-weight items. After all was in, he went back into the limo to read his book and wait for Sylvia to return home. That was his job and he was being paid well by Deidre Wherrington to do it.

  In the kitchen, Sylvia un-bagged the groceries helping put them away, "Baby, where that Milk'o'Magnesia at? I been out o'it and lord can I tell, got my stomach all upset."

  Smiling, Sylvia grabbed it from the table in the middle of all the food goods she was unpacking, "Here you go Mama JoJo."

  "I'mo take me some now, then I'm goin' in that bathroom, try an' part wit' my troubles." She grinned winking at Sylvia.

  Laughing, Sylvia nodded, "You go right ahead Mama JoJo, while I put this stuff away for you."

  "Thank you sugga' - Mama JoJo sho' 'preciate it, ya'll be takin' such good care o'me." She murmured heading from the kitchen to the bathroom.

  Sylvia carried on as if she were at home, bringing old to the front, putting the new to the back, wiping up, straightening things out, and trying to make room for the excess. In the midst of doing it, Corliss once again showed up on the scene, knocking at the back door this time. Sylvia walked to it, opening it to see her standing there. She unlatched the screen to let her in.

  "Hello Corliss." She greeted amicably.

  "Hey, I see ya'll here again, where Mama JoJo?" She asked coming in the door walking into the kitchen to see all the food everywhere. There was so much of it her eyes got big at the sight of it. "Dai-yum! Look at all this food! Where Shawn at?" She asked right away.

  "Mama JoJo is in the bathroom and my husband is at home." Sylvia informed her.

  Corliss looked at her with barely hidden disdain, "Your husband at home? You mean to tell me he let you out of his sight."

  "On rare occasions, he's been known to. Is there something I can help you with?" Sylvia asked, continuing on with sorting the food to put away.

  Corliss stood a moment watching her, looking at her stomach. "How far are you?" She asked Sylvia, discarding her question for the moment.

  "Five months." She answered.

  "Emph! So when you meet Shawn? Where you meet him?"

  "He moved across the road from my home, we were neighbors."

  "Emph! I could'ah had him if I wanted him, I ain't wan'im though, 'cause his white ass crazy. You wouldn't know nothin' about that 'cause you don't know him long as I know him. But I could'ah had him though, 'cause he wanted me, I just didn't want him, he like to fight too much. You like to look up one day he be up on a roof somewhere, shootin' people, 'cause he crazy like that!"

  "Yeah, well thanks for the warning, is there anything I can do for you?"

  "Don't be askin' me what you can do for me, I ain' come here to see you, this my grandmama house! I come to see her."

  "Fair enough, don't mind me then, I'll just carry on."

  "Who buy all these groceries? Shawn buy all these, or you?"

  Sylvia came really close to telling her none of her business, but she bit her tongue, "Well as you may know, since you know him so well, when it comes to Mama JoJo, Shawn takes care of her." was her reply to that.

  "Can you ask him to loan me some money?" She asked Sylvia low, "I know he got some, you probably got some, ridin' around in that limo. Can you loan me some?"

  Sylvia stood with her mouth dropped open at her audacity, she couldn't believe the nerve of her. "Corliss, I don't make it a habit of just - loaning money out to people, chances are, they won't be able to pay it back."

  "When you think about it, if someone needs some money, and you have it, you shouldn't be expectin' to get it back, you should just give it out the kindness of your heart, that's what you supposed to do. You should just give me some, help a sista' out."

  "What about a job Corliss? Think a job might help?"

  "Doin' what?! I'on want no minimum wage ass job! Can't pay no bills with that, shit! That ain't no money!"

  "So you don't work?"

  "Hell yeah I work, I pick up a job here and there. But I can't hol' down no full time job, 'cause I'm clinically depressed. You gone give me some money or not? Shawn ain't gone mind, he give me money the other night, when we come outside; so I could put my stuff in storage and I did do it too, you can tell him that. He probably wondering if I did, now that he done seen me, he probably gone be thinking 'bout me all the time. It's too late now, he married to you. You gone give me some money? I know you got some, look at all this food."

  "Corliss if I thought for a moment the money wouldn't be wasted, I would give you some money," 'Just to shut you up.' - she thought the last part, "But I can't see how anything I would give you, would help your circumstances, whatever they are."

  "Why? How much can you give me?"

  "I didn't say I would give you anything."

  "You said if I don't waste it you would, I ain't gone waste it! How much you gone give me, can you give me five hundred dollars?"

  "I did not say I was going to give you anything, what I said was-..."

  "Give me three hundred dollars then! You got it, I know you got it! You can ride 'round in that limo, you can give me three hundred dollars, shit!"

  Sylvia looked at her like she was crazy, in fact, thought just that, that she was. "You should probably go in the other room and wait for Mama JoJo while I put her things away."

  "What about the money you say you gone give me?! You ain't got three hundred dollars on you, how much you got?"

  "You know what Corliss, I think you're a bit beyond clinically depressed."

  "What's that supposed to mean? What you trying to say? Tryin' to back out now huh? Tryin'ta back out?" She returned, becoming threatening, shifting into a more aggressive stance, walking up to Sylvia. "What, you think you betta' than me? You think you some hot shit 'cause you ridin' around in that limo? Got yo' lil'rang on and shit! Just cause you married to him, you think that makes you better than me? Hate bitches like you! You wasn't in my grandmama's house, I would put my foot up yo'ass! See - we could've been friends, but you done fucked it up now! All you had to do was give me-..."

  "Wait wait wait wait wait..." Mama JoJo called out calmly from the kitchen door coming into the room, having heard much of it from her bathroom, but she couldn't get up at the time, but now she was in the room, "...'cause you done lost your mind comin' up in here threatenin' somebody! Hmph, you threatenin' huh? 'Cause I got somethin' fa'ya! I know what you need, hol'on one goddamn minute..." Mama JoJo bit out through pressed lips, walking to the side of her refrigerator pulling out a drawer, grabbing the handle of a black, tough, rubber weapon, that encased a solid, seven inch length of led on the end of it, which flexed and moved for optimum impact, perfect for the welder of it, to bring serious injury to the target.

  "See this here Sylvia? This here m'nigga beata! Ain't made for nothin' but puttin' a hurten on somebody!"

  "Grandmama how you gone be?! You'on even know what happen! You just come in the room!" Corliss cried out, backing towards the back door.

  "Damn right I jus'come in, come in t'put my foot up yo'ass and this here 'cross yo' goddamn skull! Yo'on come in my house threatenin' nobody! I was gone he'p'yah! Now I'm jus' gone he'p yo'ass out! Oh no sista' you done went too far now! I mean get yo'ass gone!"

  "I wasn't threatenin' ha grandmama! Was I threatenin' you?!" She turned to Sylvia, standing near the back door, "Tell ha'! We was just talkin' wasn't we?!"

  "Unless you wan' the ass whippin' you been needin' all yo' life, you bes' make tracks sista'!"

  "See grandmama, you wrong! I ain' even do nothin'! Fine I'll go! Can I come back later?"

  "Did you heah' what I say?! Head off now!"

  Corliss slammed out of the back door, leaving as she was told. Her plan to come back with her kids, all that food, at least they would eat good tonight. She would call Mama JoJo later, ask her if she wanted her to cook them something to eat, then see if she would let them move in tonight.

  Mama JoJo t
urned to Sylvia who was sitting at her kitchen table, trying to calm down. Her heart was going like mad in her chest because she thought for a moment, she was going to have to scrap with her. The prospect wouldn't have been so frightening if she wasn't pregnant. However, had she been forced to fight, it would have been a serious one because she wasn't about to let anyone hurt her unborn baby.

  "You okay suggah? Mama JoJo so sorry, I swear I ain't think that fool gone come here startin' no mess wit' you!"

  "Yeah I'm okay. But now, I'm worrying about you. You can't stay here with her coming here like that, what if she ever turned on you?" Sylvia asked concerned.

  "Baby don' worry 'bout Mama JoJo, 'cause you bes' believe, I got just what sheneed! Got me a 32 and bullets! I ain't wurr'd 'bout no body messin' wit'me!"

  "Mama JoJo, you got a gun?!" Sylvia asked surprised.

  "Chile, sho'do! Got me a shotgun too and can shoot'em! I'll load somebody ass up inna'minute! Sho'will! Chile me here by'myself - devil take the fool thankin' I'm the one! No no, sista' - Mama JoJo don't play!"

  Sylvia started laughing shaking her head, "We are definitely going to have to get you with us, just as soon as the house is finished." Sylvia took a deep breath, stood and the two of them made quick and efficient work of finding a place for everything. As they did, they talked and made plans concerning Mama JoJo's eventual joining them.

  Chapter 249

  Later that evening...

  Angela was happily back home. Sylvia was home. And together, they and Crystal fixed dinner while all the guys played pool, keeping up with Darren and Isaac as well. Even though everyone was happily getting along - enjoying being a family, it escaped no ones notice that there was tension between Ben and Crystal. Everyone picked up on his eyes following her around the room when ever she entered where he was; they also picked up on the fact that she never, not once, looked at him, and did everything in her power not to speak to him. Shawn was determined to stay out of it, because of their talk earlier. Sylvia was too tired to get into a long drawn out discussion tonight, her daughter was grown and she was leaving her alone. She just wanted to get dinner done, because Shawn promised to sit down and watch a movie with her. That was the plan, a quiet cozy night, curled up in front of the TV. She'd been hearing about the movie, "Strange Days" with Angela Bassett and Ralph Fiennes, she'd been hearing about it forever but never took the time to sit down and watch it. Tonight she would because Mundo and Ben went by the video store earlier and rented movies and video games for everyone, she'd called out that if they had that one, would they bring it because she wanted to watch it. Her and Shawn's evening was planned before the TV in the living room, which gave the kids the one in the family room, where they could play video games all they wanted.

  After grilling, everyone a *porter house steak, vegetables and potatoes, preparing pan roasted shallots and making creamed corn bread, Sylvia was happy with the turn out of their dinner. All ate as if they'd been served the best food ever, especially her husband, Ben and Mundo, they assured her by how they consumed it all, that there would be no leftovers, for that, she was happy. The girls pitched in and helped her clean up the kitchen and she was done for the day. It was cozy up and chill time. Which is exactly what she and Shawn did. They chose the most comfortable spot in front of the TV, he popped the movie in and they curled up together letting all of the inhabitants know that the living room was now off limits.

  With Angela's willing assistance, Crystal got her boys in the tub, so that soon they could be tucked away in bed.

  Ben went through the motions, biting his tongue, biding his time. The longer the day progressed towards the end and she ignored him, the more determined he was to challenge this new determination she had to ignore him. All he needed was a small window of opportunity where they could be alone - and he would take it. If she would at least talk to him, tell him why she was now treating him this way, he could respect her wishes. But to just drop him like a hot rock and not look back, no way. Another thing that was pissing him off, is that she was deliberately keeping the boys away from him. Three times today, Darren had called to him, wanted to come to him, and she deliberately distracted him and took him in the opposite direction. The same for Isaac, every time he called out to him, she would answer him, saying, "What do you want Isaac? I'm right here, you don't have to keep bugging Ben."

  Isaac even grew frustrated with her, because he had wanted him....period, but she blocked him. It had pissed Ben off and for once, he almost started an argument with her, but bit his tongue, ground his teeth and let her get away with it, for that moment, but not for long. Punish him for whatever, sure - but the boys did not deserve to be cut off from him. Besides that, he enjoyed them and she was being mean for no reason that he could see. Well he wasn't having it, no way!

  In fact, he decided that he was going to get this issue moving along right now. Now that Angela showed up in the room to play videos with Mundo, "Where's Crystal and the boys?" He asked her.

  "She's putting them to bed, staying in there with them to read'em a bedtime story."

  He nodded his head, and then suddenly passed her his control, "Here you go, play for me."

  Mundo looked up at him, by the look on his face, he chuckled and shook his head. "Glutton for punishment." he muttered going on with the game. Angela gladly took Ben's controls and her and Mundo went head to head.

  Ben left out of the room, quietly heading up the stairs. He got to their bedroom door, listened in and could hear Crystal softly reading to them. He took a deep breath and tried to think of a good reason to go in, the light of ideas came on and in he went.

  She was on his bed reading them a story. At his entrance, both of the boys popped up calling his name, "Ben! Ben! Ben!" Isaac was up on his knees and Darren got out of Crystal's lap and rushed to the end of his bed holding his arms up to him before she could grab him, calling his name, "Darren, come back here!"

  "No! Ben!" He told her in a tone as if to tell her off. Ben of course, scooped him up into his arms, hugging him. "Hey my little man!" He kissed his neck and Isaac quickly made his way to him as well, and Ben scooped him up along with Darren.

  Crystal was fit to be tied!

  "You did that on purpose! I was reading them a story, trying to put them to sleep!" She stated the obvious.

  "Oh, were you? I came in looking for my book I was reading."

  "You ain't been reading no book!" She so much as called him a liar.

  "Excuse me, I most certainly was too reading a book!" he defended back at her.

  "What's the name of it? Who is the author?" She snapped out quickly.

  "Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry." He returned just as quickly, having prepared that title outside of the door. He'd read it years ago, it was one of his favorites, so it wasn't hard to come up with.

  "Em hmmm, I haven't seen you with no book! Not once the whole time we've been here!" She fussed.

  "I have you know, I read it - in my bed - where you are, at night to get to sleep, if you must know!"

  "Where is it then? Hm? I don't see no book anywhere around here!"

  "You must have done something with it then!" he turned to the boys then, "You guys seen my book? It was right over there by my bed, help me look for it."

  "I help you Ben!" Isaac got down to start looking.

  Crystal's mouth dropped open, "Excuse me, but I was putting them to sleep, reading them a story!"

  "What were you reading them?"

  "Don't worry about it! About face please and out of here so I can finish!"

  "I beg your pardon, sista - this is my room, you in my bed!" He then proceeded to set Darren down and climb in it beside her, stretching his long frame out with his hands out to Darren, who ran back into them.

  Crystal turned to look down at him, laying next to her, "Oh no you did not!"

  "Ben! Is we gone look fo' yo' book?" Isaac asked throwing his hands up exasperated.

  "I'll find it later, better get back in bed so your mama can finish readin
g you a story, come on up here in bed." He pat the space between him and Crystal. Isaac dived on the bed, moved in between them, laying on his side next to Ben, who was on his side, with Darren straddling it. "Come here man, lay on my chest instead." Ben invited turning to his back so that Darren could.

  All the while, Crystal sat there, leaning against his head board, glaring down at him steaming.

  "Okay, we're ready, go ahead, finish." He stated, placing one hand up behind his head, Isaac scooted higher, putting his head on Ben's strong arm, using it as a pillow. While Darren waved at her ordering, "Fini' mama!" from his chest.

  "Well?" Ben prompted her.

  If she was going to get them to sleep, she needed to carry on, but when they were asleep and she got him outside, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. Ben read the message in her narrowed eyes, and narrowed his own at her as if to say,'You're on.'

  For the moment, she had little choice but to go on and read to them. Oddly enough, with Ben present, they settled really well and in no time they were sleeping. Ben carefully passed Crystal Darren so she could put him in his crib, while he got up to carefully put Isaac in his bed. When he stood straight and turned, it was to face her, glaring at him in the middle of the room.

  "Outside, now!" She whispered the order.

  "My pleasure! You don't scare me!" He whispered back.

  Both of them made their way through the house and to the the back door of the family room, and out of it to the far end of the back garden, with Crystal in the lead to the very far corner - hopefully out of ear shot, because she was going to give him a piece of her mind and when she was done, he would never mess when her again, as soon as they reached the dark corner of the gate, before she could spin of her own, she felt her arm caught, pulled and she was snatched around, yanked hard against his strong body and before she could react, she was caught, tangled and trapped into a kiss. His arms were like a band of steel around her back, pressing her tightly against him, with one of his hands palming the back of her head while he ravaged her mouth, traumatizing her heart, and sent her clamoring body out into orbit. For a moment, Crystal couldn't think, she could only feel! Feel his magnificent body pressed up against hers, feel his strong arms squeezing, hugging, holding her, feel the heat of him permeating her body, feel the mastery of his kiss as he did to her mouth what every woman alive should experience at least once in their life.