BOMAW 10-12

by Mercedes Keyes

  "Hands off," She slapped his hand from her naked butt, where he was stroking as she rose from the bed to get away from him.

  "I thought you liked it? Didn't I do it right?" He asked, sitting up in the middle of her bed, naked, covers just over his lap, hiding that part of him, she'd had plenty enough of, thank you.

  "Ain't nothing wrong with what you doing, or how you doing it, it's what you doing it with! And I've had my fill for the day."

  Paul smiled, "Is that good, or is that bad?" He asked in a way, with a grin, that was pure McPherson - his father all the way.

  Jackie turned to answer him, but before she could, his mobile started ringing, which was in the pocket of his jeans, that were laying on the floor by the bed. He quickly leaned over grabbing them, snatching it out of the pocket, flipping it open, "Hello?" He answered, a bit out of breath.

  "I'm on my way with your lunch and to check on you, be there in a minute." Sheila hung up.

  "Sheila's coming!" He blasted in a panic. "Hurry! I gotta get my clothes on, that mama don't play!" He rushed out of the bed, searching for his underwear. Jackie hurried to help him find them while grabbing her own. Rushing, knowing they only had few moments to spare because that call could have come from Sheila in her van. There was no way of knowing.

  "Shit shit shit shit shit! I'm too old for this shit! My ass knew better! Hurry up boy, get them legs in them jeans! Get that shirt on, no no no, the other way, turn it around! Let me get my ass in the bathroom, my hair all over my head!" Jackie panicked as they rushed and then Paul had the nerve to look at her and grin.

  "Boy you better quit grinning and get moving!" She shot rushing with her arms loaded, still naked, rushing to her bathroom. Paul had his clothes on, snatched on his socks and then his shoes, trying to tie them. With his feet in them, he rushed out of her bedroom looking for his tool belt to put back on, wanting to make it onto the porch by the time she got there. He found his tool belt, strapped it on, and rushed through her kitchen, small dining room attached to her living room and passed the mirror and raked his fingers through his short hair, thanking goodness he kept it close cut. He saw a van pass the window and knew that it was Sheila. He took a calming breath and went out the door to meet her on the porch, hoping that Jackie got dressed and presentable just in case Sheila wanted to see her or talk to her.

  Paul was all smiles by the time Sheila parked her van, stepped out of it, bringing him food to eat. Closing the door, she saw him sitting and waiting with a smile on his face, and thought, 'Aaaah, look at that baby - he so sweet.' "Yo'mama brought you a hot lunch today sweety; know how hard you been workin'." She smiled at him, walking up to the porch with the heavy glass corning-ware dish, "Heated you up leftovers from dinner last night, better the next day than the day before sugga', here you go. Jackie here?"

  "Yeah, she's somewhere in there, I came straight up from the basement." He was blushing, beet red, he could feel his face on fire as he took the heated meal from her, uncovering it to find, tender pot roast, gravy, mushrooms and onions, over a large baked potato, greens and cornbread.

  "That's gone be enough?" She asked, wondering what had him blushing so deep now.

  Paul's eyes grew big, nodding, "Plenty enough."

  Sheila smiled wondering how could Vivian let the chile leave the house with his shirt and pants all creased with wrinkles. Looked like they'd been balled up on the floor and picked up and put on as is.

  "Oh, there you are!" Jackie called from inside her screen door, looking out of it at them. "I was just looking for you to see if you wanted lunch."

  Sheila looked up, "Hey! I brought him something from the house to eat, wanted to check on him, make sure he all right." She explained.

  Paul had turned from where he sat, showing his lunch, "Thank you, but this is gonna be plenty." He stated, and winked at her, knowing that Sheila couldn't see that from where she stood on the walk just before the steps of Jackie's porch.

  "Oh, okay. How you doing today?" She asked Sheila, guarding her expression from his wink and grin.

  "I'm all right, just trying to keep my boys busy, when school is out, all day long it's, 'I'm bored mama, got nothin' to do!'" She answered, shaking her head.

  "That's one of the reasons I put mine in summer school for half the day." Jackie returned.

  Paul stood up, "Mind if I take this in and eat?"

  "No..." An un-usual and un-mistakable scent hit her nostrils right then, standing down wind as she was. "...go on in, I know you must be hungry." Sheila finished.

  Sex! She smelled sex on him. She knew the scent, having being married as long as she had been, you couldn't miss it. She watched him pass Jackie in the door, and noticed that her eyes grew a bit wide as well, as if she too smelled him. But with Sheila standing and watching, there was little she could do or say to him. Sheila watched her adjust herself and turn from him stepping out of the door, engaging in more conversation to play it off. "It's beautiful out here today isn't it?"

  "Mmm hmm, so it is. Beautiful day, fresh air - shame he's inside working so hard. So how much does he have to do?"

  "Well, he's done a lot for me since he's been here..." She went on to explain as Sheila's ever calculating mind started letting her imagination go where it would. "...he's fixed my lawnmower and did my back lawn. He worked on my car and gave it a oil change, with a mini tune up. He's fixing the floor that runs along this side of the house..." She pointed to the right of her, "...so far, I think he's done with my daughter's room, and is working on the bathroom and then my son's. He is something else, I tell you - that boy is a godsend. I'll never be able to repay him for all that he's done."

  "Mmmm, well - long as he's okay, getting things done, I best get back to my own boys. Left them in the house alone, since this was gone be a quick run. I'll talk to you later!" Sheila turned, waving back at her as she made her way to her van.

  "Yep, bye! Don't worry about dinner for him, I'll feed him before he has to leave." She informed Sheila.

  "Em hm, I'm sure you will!" She mumbled low to herself and then, turned back smiling one last time as she hopped into her van, started it and drove off shaking her head. "I know sex when I smell it! Boy I just know you ain't got yo'end off in there doing no Mrs Robinson on her ass! I bet you are! Lord lord lord, that's how shit get started! Well - long as he safe, I'm stayin' out of it. But wait 'til I get home."

  As soon as she got home, she was on the phone to Vivian, calling her on the job.

  "Has something happened!?" Vivian answered right away, panicking, thinking the worse, her heart going from the rush of adrenaline, thinking about Jake right away.

  "I do believe! If you ask me, something done happened!"

  Vivian could tell by Sheila's tone that there was no major emergency. She could also tell by her tone, that whatever it was she called for, it wasn't anything that she felt could wait. "What's happened?" Vivian asked, a bit of dread in her tone.

  "Took that boy lunch just now, and guess what?"

  "Oh Sheila, just tell me."

  "I - smelled - sex! Sex coming off his ass smellin' strong as goddamn microwave popcorn that's burning!"

  "You lying!? No way!" Vivian couldn't believe what she was hearing.

  "May the Lord above strike my black ass down as I stand here on the phone! His ass done got him a piece!"

  "Paul - is - a virgin, Sheila! He's not like that! He too shy! That baby wouldn't know what to do with a piece if it was wrapped in a soft taco shell for him! Em um, you wrong!"

  "Who you talkin' too!? Girl! What? Don't play! I know my shit! Can't no shit like that get by me! He may have been, a goddamn virgin, but he ass sho'ain't one now! I'm tellin' you the truth! His lil'ass done got up in there fixin' shit - she ain't got no money, so she layin' it out on the table for'em tellin'em, gone baby, here you go, get in that!"

  "Sheila stop!"

  "I should just show up on they ass, catch'em at it! 'Cause I know that shit going down! You know me, I'll find some shit out! You want me to
find out? Want me to sneak up on'em!? 'Cause I will! And another reason I know it's going down is this, she takes her kids into summer school in the morning, ain't nobody there but them two? Oh hell yeah! Lil'ass boy-toy at your service! His lil'young virgin ass 'bout like one of them lil'puppies that just found out they gotta pee pee, humpin' everything in sight!"

  "Sheila stop! Not Paul! Paul is sweet, innocent, responsible, a real gentlemen!"

  "Paul is a goddamn McPherson! You hear me! He is his daddy's son, okay? You better wake up and recognize what's going on! I must have caught they ass off guard and he ain't have time to wash his shit off! 'Cause he smell like he been in some nookie to me! Sweaty sex! And - and, tell me, when he dressed this morning, how was his clothes?" She asked.

  "Why?!"

  "Look, I ask the goddamn questions here, you know the drill - was he all wrinkled, rough and ready?"

  "Of course not, like I would even let him go out like that! Besides, he's always clean and neat."

  "Ha! His shit was wrinkle big time! Oh yeah lil'sista! Sooky sooky naw! She ridin' that young stallion, baby!"

  "No way Sheila, I don't believe it. He wouldn't."

  "Why wouldn't he? Shit! He human, it was bound to happen sooner or later! And even you noticed last night he couldn't wait to drop yo'end off over here so he could get back. They gettin' it on! So what we gone do?"

  "Oh man! I don't know. What can I do? He is eighteen years old! He's not a little boy. And I'm not gonna be running and telling his daddy on him like he is a little boy. I'm gonna stay out of it, and you know what, so are you!"

  "You sure?"

  "Yes - I'm sure! So don't be sneaking around there Sheila - I know you. He's not stupid, he's really smart - and besides, I helped talk Jake into leaving him here, so - it'll be fine. Besides, there's only a few more days left in this week for him to-..."

  "Be screwing his lil'ass off over there! Was a virgin too? Yeah, he ain't got but one thing on his mind and that's fixin' her floors!" Sheila broke into a deep raunchy laugh that said it all.

  "I sure hope that boy is using a condom." Vivian worried.

  "You want me to just go over there and say, look - I know ya'll having sex - here boy, just in case, here's some raincoats! You want me to? 'Cause you know I will, I don't mind, drugstore right down the road."

  "Oh man! I hope he's got condoms - but no! Stay out of it Sheila! You got me at work worried and he probably not even doing nothing, I gotta go!"

  "No - no more! That's it - we shouldn't have even done that!" Jackie pushed Paul away, who was amorously wanting more.

  "Why?"

  "First of all, we got carried away. I got carried away, I didn't think it would happen so quickly - I thought I was gone have to tease you bit, lead you there, shaking in your boots! Ha! You done taught my ass something! Anyway, since it's happened, it can't happen again like that. We didn't even use a condom, not once! No way, no more. Only reason I did, because I know you're clean, a virgin. But - you - shouldn't have gone with me, you don't know how I am."

  "Yes I do, I can tell." He was moving in close to her again.

  Jackie was backing up trying to keep the space between them.

  "Well, I'm not going to again, this is ridiculous! I draw the line right here, no more today for sure."

  "What about tomorrow? Can we, tomorrow?"

  "Look at you, and you need to get in the shower! You smell like we've had sex."

  He smiled, "We have."

  "Yes and you need to get cleaned up, go! Get in there."

  He turned to do as she said, but stopped at her bathroom, "What about tomorrow, one more time, please?"

  "You don't have condoms and neither do I! The Lord gone get me for this, I just know it!" She mumbled the last part, shaking her head in disbelief at her own carelessness.

  "What if I get some? I mean, I have some, just not on me, because - well - didn't really think I'd be needing them."

  "Get - in - the shower!" She pointed towards it, "Now! Get!"

  He smiled, "Yes ma'am!" He saluted her, happy and went into her bathroom, stripped down and took a shower. She came in, got his clothes saying, "I'm gonna wash these, I'll bring you a t-shirt, trainers and underwear."

  "Okay!" he called over the shower spray.

  A few moments later, he came out of her bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. She'd stripped her bed, remade it with fresh, clean sheets. Laying there for him, was a nice t-shirt, black training pants with a white stripe and underwear. He stood looking at the clothes, holding the towel to his waste as she straightened up, picking up the sheets she'd taken off the bed. "Whose things are those?" he asked, standing still staring at them.

  "They were my husband's clothes."

  "Your husband? Well... where is he now?" He asked, just then wondering about it.

  "Gone!" She answered, "Get dressed, Sheila could pop up again."

  "Well those won't help cover up, I wasn't wearing them earlier." He called behind her, she was on the move once more. Sighing, he dropped the towel and dressed in the things she provided for him. Everything fit him, her husband had obviously been about his size. When he came out of the room, she passed him and gave him a pair of socks, "Put those on, better get back to work, you have so much to get done."

  Paul watched her flit about her home, she was nervous.

  "What's wrong?" He asked her.

  She wouldn't answer, just shook her head.

  "I'm clean you know, I don't have anything. I'm healthy, strong - clean bill of health."

  "Good for you." She answered passing him once more, looking at the clock on the wall. Thankful at least that his clothes would be clean and dry before she left to get her kids.

  "You mad at me now? Don't be mad at me." Paul asked softly, done putting on his socks.

  She stopped and looked at him, taking a deep breath, she shook her head. "I'm not mad at you, not at all."

  "Having regrets? That we did this?"

  "If you must know, yes! I don't know what came over me. You just, there's something about you, I can't explain it. But - after this, when you're done - well - that's it, you know that right? This cannot be continued, it should have never started."

  "I'm glad it started, you're incredible. It all felt so natural, so right, don't go regretting it, please."

  She stood, staring at him, sitting there in her kitchen chair, at her table, wearing her husband's clothing. He was such an attractive young man, the kind it was hard to resist because of his incredible sweetness, gentleness, loving heart. It was in his eyes, she gazed into them sighing and gripped within. He was a star and didn't even know it, a precious gem, gold, no, she decided, he was platinum, with a bright future before him, knowing all the things that he did, he would go far and the last thing she wanted to do, was stumble him, trip him up. "Let's not get too deep into anything, or too serious okay? You're a wonderful human being-..."

  "So are you."

  "Well-..."

  "You are!"

  "My life, and the things in it, are set - in place. You have come along and have done me a tremendous favor, and I will remember you always. But after this week is over, so will everything else - be - over ... understand? Okay? Don't get too caught up into this, into me... I'm just a stop along the way in your life, all right?" She counseled him gently, sincerely.

  Paul sat a moment gazing up at her with those eyes, he gave a light smile and then nodded. "Yeah, okay. I better get back to work, I want everything done for you, before I go." He stood, taller before her it seemed, staring down at her, "Because when I leave, there will be things that I've done here, that will always remind you, of me. So I better get back to it." Saying nothing more, he left the room, found his tool belt, strapped it on and returned to work. They were silent for the rest of the day. Before she left for her kids, she handed him his clothes, neatly folded, wrinkle free. There were no need for words. He knew what to do.

  She left the house, climbed in her car and drove off to get her chi
ldren.

  * * *

  L. A.

  Deidre sat at her kitchen centered cook bar, nibbling on her thumb nail, trying unsuccessfully to quail her nerves. She was on the verge of shaking now that it was so close to the time to pick up Angela. She kept going over it in her mind, not sure which direction to take. It didn't matter which way she figured it, in the end, Shawn was going to hate her for this. The extent of his anger when he had to face what they were forced to do, for Angela's safety was going to send him into madness. It hurt her to her heart, that while she still loved him, would do anything for him, he on the other hand, resented her. She was over the hope of them ever being together again, over being in love with him as the man of her dreams, but - she would always, love him, it was impossible for her not to love him. After all this time they were apart, he still could shake her up inside, making her quake.

  "Hey, what's wrong Dee-Dee?" Charlie had been fixing them a sandwich and was unable to miss the worry coursing through her.

  "I don't wanna do this. He's going to hate me for this Charlie, he's going to hate me."

  "Wait a minute here, she's your daughter too! You have a right to protect your daughter. He cannot protect her against the threat that's out there, no way! I don't give a shit how bad he is."

  "I know, but - I gave her up to him, because he's a much better father to her, than I am a mother. He was always the better parent."

  "Yeah, well that's all well and good, but that shit won't keep her alive will it?"

  Deidre's forehead rolled into the palm of her hand, where she gripped her hair, shaking it, "No ... it won't."

  "Well I don't wanna hear no more about him being the better parent! Shit ain't nobody perfect! You need to stop worrying about what he thinks and worry about your daughter! I understand he might be fiercely protective, but this ain't about protecting her from your everyday ass hole! This is about money! Lots of goddamn money! That alone takes this shit to a whole 'nother level! He ain't but one man, not Superman, just a man! If he was Superman - I'd be the first to tell you, leave her with him! But he not - soon as you face that, soon as he faces that, we can get on with making sure your daughter is safe and sound."