BOMAW 10-12

by Mercedes Keyes

  "Not at all. Lot going on around here, what's that going up behind here?"

  "Our new home."

  "By the looks of things, it's going to be quite impressive."

  "Wasn't going to be that big in the beginning, but - various circumstances have come to be, and well - there you have it. Come on in."

  "Thank you, so what's going on here?"

  "This is my photography studio, I'll be doing, high school, family or specialized photography here, such as in portfolio's for modeling, anything really that requires my services. Hmmm, maybe I should trim that a bit, anything legal, moral, in good standing." He grinned.

  "I know what you meant. Sounds good. I might have to bring my family in once you're up and going."

  "You married huh?"

  "Still a newlywed, not quite two years, and a baby on the way, like you."

  "Wow, congratulations. Ah, so you remembered from the first meeting?"

  "Absolutely, I can't help you if I don't know you. If you tell me things to know you, I have to remember it, part of the process."

  Shawn only nodded, "Wanna go in my office, or, we can sit out here?"

  "Actually, I noticed you have a nice bit of woods across the way, that on your property?"

  "Yes, it is."

  "Let's go for a walk and talk, shall we? I'm always cooped up in an office somewhere, I like the woods."

  "Oh, okay - sure, let me lock up here."

  "I'll wait outside." Chad stepped out giving him the time he needed to lock up the studio. When Shawn stepped out to join him, he asked, "Where's your family?"

  "The kids are all gone with the older ones, I have two older sons here, eighteen and twenty-two, they've taken the younger ones out for the day."

  "That must be nice."

  "Yes, it is."

  "And your daughter, Crystal?"

  "She's home, back with her husband."

  "I see, they've gotten back together then?"

  "Yeah, but I'm not expecting it to last, he's not right for her."

  "Maybe as she progresses in counselling, things might change for them."

  "The problem is not my daughter, but him. Anyway, no sense in us getting into that one. Shall we walk?" Shawn invited.

  "Please, let's. And your wife, where's she?"

  Shawn was quiet a moment, as they headed down the road at a slow pace towards the woods from Sylvia's location. At his hesitancy to speak, Chad asked, "She the reason you called me today?"

  "Yeah, she is."

  "You're not separated are you?"

  "No, she'll be home, tonight - at least I hope so." He chuckled, but felt the complete opposite.

  "Something happen today?"

  Shawn nodded, but felt stuck, "You know, now that you're here, I'm not sure what to do, what to say. There are things going on in my life that I just - well I can't share it."

  "Anything you wish to share with me Shawn, and I stress strongly, anything - is completely confidential. That covers, anything humanly possible." He stressed as they stepped up on the curb onto the field right before the woods. Shawn still couldn't open his mouth to speak, realizing that, Chad thought he had better get the ball rolling.

  "Tell me something, that you absolutely love, about yourself, Shawn?"

  "Huh? Love about myself? Wow, hmmm..." He went off into thought, it took him a while, but finally said, "I love that I can pretty much see people for what they are, at least, I think I can. I've never been partial or prejudice, over one race or another. I love to look at beautiful women, photograph them, paint them..." He paused a bit, thinking, and finally, "... I so love, that I've found the woman I know, I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love, that I'm sure beyond any sureties ever in my life - about her. And I feel, pretty damn good, that - because of my life, I have something to offer the two she had, Crystal and Mundo. I love, that there's something in me, that needs them, and something in me, that they need. And the best for last, I love, that I'm responsible for bringing into this world, my incredibly beautiful daughter - she is breath-taking, and - yeah - those are the things I love about me."

  "Yeah, that's something to be proud of. Now tell me, what do you hate, about you?"

  Once more, Shawn thought the question over as they entered the woods, slow, enjoying the day even though, there were clouds above threatening rain. It took him a while to search his soul, and then looked Chad in the eyes saying, "I hate, that because of my stupidity, I caused the death, of the best friend I've ever had. He was my brother for all intents and purposes, we were family. He looked after me, he taught me, he educated me, and yeah..." Shawn smiled, "...he also lead me into some shit, I wish I'd never done, but - it's done, I can't go back. Even so, losing him due to my actions, is what I hate - because I can't go back and make it not so."

  Chad nodded, "Tell me Shawn, what is it about this day, and the things that took place in it, that made you feel you needed someone to talk to?"

  "I'm gettin' to my wife."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I'm driving her away."

  "How so?"

  "My manner - my aggressions - the way I take care of things, it's stressing to her."

  "What specifically are you taking care of in an aggressive manner that stresses her?"

  "How I deal with, those that trespass here - those that intend to do harm here. I won't have it!..." As he spoke, Chad could see the rise in his manner, his passion, his aggression, "... I will not leave the welfare of my family in the hands of a law that says, they must die first, be beaten to death first, be raped first, be victimized first, before it can step in and deal with the individual who will have done it. How can that possibly serve to protect anyone? How? No! Any man that is capable of harming my family, those that I love, is my enemy and I will deal with them - before, harm to my family is done! Not after - how can I possibly fix, what is already done? No! It's too late by then, too late - I will never wait, until it's too late." Shawn asserted, and Chad could see that he meant every word. He reflected back so many weeks to the first meeting - where he discovered that Shawn's father, whom taught him to fight, served in Vietnam.

  "Are you saying, that you don't trust the law of the land to protect your family?"

  "No I don't. They won't. A deed has to be done first - how am I to live with that? No, with my family, it's up to me to protect them, before a threat to them is successful, not after the damage is done."

  "Where has that type of thinking come from Shawn? Life's experience? Or your - father perhaps?"

  Shawn paused only a moment, "Both."

  "Okay, has anything taken place Shawn, that has caused your wife stress?"

  "Yes."

  "Care to share it?"

  "No, I don't."

  "Okay, has someone in your family been threatened?"

  "Yes."

  "Someone close to you?"

  "Yes."

  "Your wife?"

  "No, not lately, there is history of a past event with my wife, but nothing current."

  "One of your children?"

  "No, my sister, she lives across the way there, in the new mobile home you passed coming in. She's divorced now from her first husband, and while I lived in California - she lived in Ohio, where he made it a regular event to beat her, badly. She miscarried twice by him, you tell me, what kind of man balls of up fist and slams it into the delicate face of a woman? What kind of man, on top of that, hits the woman carrying his child? So much to the point that he kills his own flesh and blood? What kind of man does that? None that I know of, no real man, would even consider such a thing! That is the act of a dangerous animal, and it should be dealt with accordingly, before it causes further suffering to those it might attack."

  Chad nodded, thinking about his words, "How is your sister now? She okay?"

  "Yes, now that she's back here with me, now that I'm back here with her."

  "And her ex-husband, is he still bothering her?"

  "No."

  "He's not? Well th
at's good - few women in domestically violent homes ever escape it."

  "That is my opinion also."

  "Does he know where she is?"

  Shawn didn't answer, he only glanced at Chad. But it was enough for Chad, "Yes or no?" He asked.

  "He discovered her location, yes."

  "Has he bothered her since?"

  "No, he hasn't. The police came here today, questioning me, my son, Mundo, my wife about him. They say, he's missing."

  "Her ex-husband is missing?"

  "That's what they say."

  "I see - and the police today, their coming here and questioning your wife, that is what upset her?"

  "Yes."

  "Why would that upset her Shawn? Why would she be upset and stressed with you, and your - aggression?"

  "It's ah, possible, that she thinks, I've had something to do - with his - being missing."

  "I see. Is her fear founded on anything, substantial?"

  Shawn stopped, they were in the center most part of the woods, he turned to look at Chad. "You have to understand, that it is my job, to take care of my family. To see to their safety, it's my job. It is exactly, as my father stated - my family, is my responsibility - their home - their haven, their sanctuary should be just that. All of that exists in my domain. It's like baseball, if they're out - running in the field, dodging and trying to make it back home, once they do, make it home, they're safe - they - are - safe! Know why?"

  "Why Shawn?"

  "Because - I am - the sentry at the gate. I am the soldier, the guard - once they get in the gate past me, that's it. Anyone chasing, has to come in past me. Many have found, that's not a good idea."

  Chad could actually feel the air around them crackle with his chilled coolness that emanated from him. Knowing what he did already from just a few meetings, and the bit of talk now; Chad got it, he understood.

  "Is that the case with your sister, Shanna? And her ex-husband? Did he try to run in past you at the gate?"

  "That's what my wife thinks."

  "Is she right?"

  Shawn looked away. Chad watched him for long moments, a man standing in the shades of many trees, the sun shinning through them over their heads. He wouldn't rush the answer out of him. In fact, he didn't expect to get one. What he got instead, was Shawn turning to look back at him, his eyes were pink from him fighting back emotions that no doubt ran deep, he said, "The thought, the idea - alone, of any one of my family members being hurt - just the thought, is like - someone stabbing me with a dull knife. I can't just stand still, and endure such pain. All I want, all I ask, is to be left alone, to live as many others wish to live, as it is my right, and those I love; their right, not to be harassed, picked on, abused. It is not my desire to cause anyone pain, but by the same token, I cannot, nor will not stand still, to be stabbed by a dull knife - I will not. That is a flaw in me - one that my wife sees as a flaw, and I don't know what to do about it. I don't want to lose my wife, nor all the things I've worked so hard to gain. I don't know what to do. In truth, I don't think you can help me either."

  "How about this, we - you and I - take it one step at a time, how about that?"

  "Okay, sure."

  "I think that's enough for today, what about you? Anything else you wanna tell me?"

  "No, you're right, that's enough."

  Chad turned back towards the way they'd come in, "What about our next meeting? I think it's a good idea that we meet again, this wasn't so bad, was it?"

  "No, not bad at all. And, I have your word, it is all in confidence?"

  Chad stopped and turned back to Shawn, "The moment you picked up that phone, and asked for my help, and I agreed to give it, an agreement was contracted. What you say to me, will only spill out to others, if you - tell them, because I never will - otherwise, how can I ever possibly help you?"

  "Has there ever been a scenario where you broke confidence and told the authorities on a client?"

  "Yes, there are two such scenarios where what was disclosed to me, I could not live with, and told the authorities. And it was to do with child molestation. Your scenario, Shawn McPherson, I can sleep with at night." Chad smiled. "One day at a time."

  "Thanks - I'd like another meeting then, if we could."

  * * *

  Vivian's and Shanna's day had begun pretty early. They'd wanted Sylvia to come along, but found that she'd already headed out that morning before they'd had a chance to invite her to their wedding gown shopping venture. Shanna had been up, listening to the radio to hear an announcement about a bridal gown shop having up to sixty percent off sales. And of course, she'd gone knocking on Vivian's door, excitedly telling her about it. Once Vivian got herself to moving, shaking off the heavy sleep that was gripping her tightly of late, worse and worse it would seem, with each day, they ate and headed off to Madison.

  Their first stop, was to visit Meribel in the hospital. The good news was, that if all went well, she would be released by that Sunday to finally go home. Granted, with half of her body in a cast, she would need the help of her husband around the clock, but he was not going anywhere - Derrick was beyond willing to be her nursemaid. After an hour of telling them why they were there, they took off to hit the bridal shops. Keeping the one with the sale going on for last, just to see what was out there and at what price. Vivian made a note of the ones she liked, the style of them, with a plan to go to the sales shop to see if something similar was there to purchase at sale prices.

  That had been the plan, Vivian and Shanna walked into the bridal shop with the sales with good intentions, however, all went out of the window when Vivian walked in to see a gown sitting in back from the window display. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever laid eyes on. She went from gazing at it, to Shanna. "Oh Shanna."

  "I know, it is beautiful, and look, it's one of the ones at sixty percent off."

  "I see, but from what price? I'm scared to look."

  "Want me to look?" Shanna volunteered.

  "Not yet, let's guess, what do you think the tag will say?"

  Shanna walked around the glorious full gown, noticing all the detail to it, it even had a fur shawl wrap to it, with other amazing accessories, the fabric was a rich silky brocade that they both knew would only come at top dollar. Shanna rejoined Vivian, sighing she guessed, "I'm gonna say, anywhere from $12,000.00 and up."

  "No, it's more than that, easily. I know clothes okay? I know the real deal when I see it, even if that's more by only a few more thousand, it's higher than that."

  "We gonna look at the tag?"

  Vivian sighed, finally shaking her head, "No, my limit is $2,000.00 - we know that gown ain't no where close to that. Let's just, see what else they have."

  And so, they continued to look around, with one of the ladies in the shop soon joining them. One thing was certain, the shop had top of the line styles for wedding gowns and brides maid's gowns. On display by many gowns were pages from the Bridal magazine to show they carried many sought after arrangements. However, no matter how many gowns Vivian looked at, her eyes kept straying back to the one that caught her eyes when she walked in. The sales lady smiled, commenting, "That one gets a lot of attention, you want to try it on?" She asked.

  "How much to try it on?" Vivian asked.

  "Fifty-five dollars." The woman answered.

  Vivian stood towards the back of the store staring at it across the way.

  "Vivian, you're only going to get married, this big, once." Shanna spoke up, because she could see how much Vivian wanted it.

  "It's what I've always dreamed of." Vivian spoke up. Because she knew she'd be trying on gowns, she'd given herself two French-braids down the side, and wore a beautiful silk scarf matching her summer outfit, a semi-short dress she only had to step out of and cute matching sandals.

  "At least try it on." The saleswoman encouraged.

  Vivian nibbled on her lip, staring at it. "No, I can't - I can't..."

  "Vivian come on, let's just see you in it." Shanna pushed.


  She couldn't fight the urge, "Okay." She opened her purse, and paid the fifty-five dollars just to put it on.

  With the assistance of salespersons, they brought another gown, it's exact duplicate from the back, there were only two in the shop. Vivian stepped into the fitting room, stepped out of her dress, now wearing only her bra and panties, "Oh my god! Would you look at her figure! What I would give to be shaped up like you." One of the women exclaimed. She was pretty herself, brunette, blue eyes, well made up and in her early thirties.

  "I know! And it's my brother that she's marrying!" Shanna spoke up bragging.

  The other two women, both white, gasped and then smiled, almost clapping in excitement; the older of the two also joined in bragging, "My daughter's husband is a black man! Handsome as can be! They have two children, I've got to show you their pictures, boy and a girl, beautiful beyond words! Remind me when you're done trying on the gown!" She chirped with a beaming smile.

  Vivian smiled, nodded and with the help of the ladies, stepped into the gown for them to pull it up and fit it on her. It was a tad bit roomy, especially around the waist, but holding the bodice up she looked at herself in all of the mirrors that surrounded her.

  "Oh my goodness, that gown was made for you! Honey, personally, I think you're done looking." The shop owner praised and urged. The two gowns had been there for a while, because of the price tag on them, they weren't moving too fast.

  Vivian made eye contact with Shanna, "What do you think?"

  "No, the question is, what do you think?"

  "I think I should have never stepped into it."

  "You love it?" Shanna asked.

  "Yes - oh Shanna, yes."

  "Well, I'm with her, she's right - it is absolutely stunning on you. When Jake sees you coming down the aisle wearing that, it's going to take his breath away."

  Vivian stood staring at herself, then took a really long deep breath, looked down for the tag, took it in hand, took another deep breath, and flipped it up. "I knew it." She murmured softly.

  "Honey, that gown is sixty percent off that price." The shop owner pointed out.

  "Which makes it, let's see..." Vivian calculated in her head, "...after the deduction, a little over $8,000.00 dollars."