Ma'Keiba was leaning back against the cabinet, hands behind her back, looking at her mother.
"I - I do - kind'ah - well - I was liking him mama - but - you right, he just - after one thing."
Shelly sucked in, but hid it well, continuing on peeling potatoes, she nodded that she'd heard, "Help mama peel these potatoes baby." She said instead of commenting, praying to God above her daughter would keep talking. Reginald and the boys were gone to the store.
Ma'Keiba grabbed a peeler and joined her mother, "You hear what I said, mama?"
"Yep, I knew that already Ma'Keiba - he a good looking boy."
"You not mad because I said that?"
"That's like being mad because you a girl." She said, fighting to keep quiet so she would keep on talking.
Ma'Keiba peeled two potatoes and finally confided something, "Don't tell his mother mama, but - he - you know - did - you know what, with a girl two blocks over. Her name is Gerri Porter."
Still peeling, Shelly asked, "How you know?"
"Sasha told me, she heard him telling his brothers - they were teasing him about it when their parents were gone on a doctors appointment. She always ease drops on what they're doing. She says, they are just the way you said they are, mama. She says, her father tries to keep them busy, but they always sneak off and into things - well - that." She went quiet.
"Hearing that hurt your feelings?" Shelly asked, glancing at her daughter out the side of her eyes.
Ma'Keiba shrugged, then admitted, "Kind'ah - stupid boys, why are they like that - just - ugh!"
Shelly smiled, "They are what they are - it's apart of the survival of the fittest. What they are, assures a continuation of their kind - of their clan, it's the way God made them, with strong urges to procreate. One day, as they mow threw girls - they'll reach a point in life, where hopefully - one will come along, and dazzle them so - that they'll put on breaks, clean themselves up, and want something better - because of that one particular girl. Most of the time, it's that girl that shines - the one who walks proud - who's carried herself so - that she's the one, they don't mind taking home to mama. She's usually the one that's, smart, witty, funny, clean, decent and good, that everyone respects and for good reason. It's usually that kind of girl, that turns those kinds of boys, into men."
Ma'Keiba nodded, smiled, looked up at her mother, "I'm gonna be one of those kinds of girls."
"Oh yeah... you sure about that?" Shelly gave a patient smile, one of hope.
"Positive! My mama Shelly Clarke, and she ain't raising me to be no fool!" She informed her with a bit of head motion.
"Oooh baby, mama sho' hope you right - because it's still early in the game."
"You'll see mama, you'll see... I'm going for - A's all the way - in school and - in life."
* * *
Camp Daniels...
Vivian was sick as a dog and a nervous wreck.
Her family was on the way and would be there soon.
Dean, Stephanie and her boss also on the way.
One day away from her wedding - and she was still being hit with morning sickness that slammed her throughout the day. Hunger, nausea and vomiting was making her dizzy, so much so, that coming down the stairs that morning, she'd felt herself going down and had to grab the stair banister spokes to hang on, sitting on the steps, forehead pressed against the rail because everything was swimming and swaying. Next thing she knew, she was being scooped into the air and carried into their bedroom - her future husband panicking with his strong voice vibrating through every nerve ending in her body.
"Something's wrong! No no no! Something's wrong! You almost fell down the stairs!" He shouted as if she didn't know that.
"I just need to get something down, and keep it down, that's all." She was trying to explain, but Jake was completely unfamiliar with this part of being with a woman - he'd only gotten them pregnant, he'd never been around them through the pregnancy, this was the first time and he wasn't handling it well, in fact - he was freaking out.
"No no no, how long is this gonna continue on? This is not supposed to be happening, I mean - you're pregnant for fuck sake - why are you sick like that?! That's not normal - no way - you gotta go to the doctor! You're losing weight! You're supposed to be gaining weight, not losing it - I know that much about it!"
"Jake! There is nothing they can do about it! It's natural during the first-..."
"Bullshit! That's not natural! That's not natural! How the hell you gonna have a baby when you're sick?! That's crazy! That don't make sense to me, no way! Something's wrong, I'm telling you! - Lay there - don't move, I'm calling Shawn!"
"Ja-a-ake!" Vivian croaked out, her throat dry and scratchy, a bit dehydrated - laying on her back, knees up, hands over her face trying to wait out the spinning of the room.
He'd already dialled the number and was lucky, because he and Dennis had just walked in the door from him going to Chicago to bring him up; having answered the phone, Sylvia passed it to her husband.
"Jake? What's up?!"
"Something's wrong with Vivian man, something really wrong and I don't know what to do!" He was gasping, nervous, shaking - having a panic attack, trying to breathe deep, hold his breath and then he'd look at her and pace in circles trying to breathe as if she were on deaths door.
"What'a'ya'mean something's wrong with her?"
Sylvia, Sheila and Dennis looked his way then, questioning expressions on their faces.
"Something serious! She needs to go to the doctor but she won't go, she keeps saying they won't do nothing! She's fuckin' sick as a dog, they gotta do something - she's pregnant man!?! She can't be sick this way when she's pregnant, I'm telling her, that ain't normal - tell her she can't be sick and pregnant at the same time, Shawn - if she is, somethings wrong! Tell her Shawn, will you tell'er!?"
"Jake, hang on a minute, what's she doing?"
"Gagging, throwing up, falling down stairs-..."
"I did not - fall down the stairs! SHAWN - I didn't fall down no stairs!" She called out.
"You did too! I had to pick her up, bring her up the stairs! She can't sit up! She's throwing up every time I see her! She's losing weight Shawn,"
"Put Vivian on the phone, Jake." Shawn instructed looking at his wife and friends, trying not to laugh at his brother, after all, he felt bad for Vivian, but if Jake couldn't handle this, what would he be like when she went into labor?
"You tell him exactly how you feel! Tell him, don't sugar coat it either! It's not normal - there's something wrong with you."
Vivian almost snatched the phone off of him, "Shawn - there's nothing wrong with me! He up in here trippin' - I keep telling him, I'll be all right if I get some food in me-..."
Jake snatched the phone from her, "Add delirious to the list! Nothing wrong with her - is too something wrong! What'do'I'do Shawn?"
"It's a really bad case of morning sickness Jake, it happens to a lot of women when they get pregnant." He tried to explain calmly, while sympathetic.
"Bullshit! Bullshit!"
"It's not bullshit, Jake! You were here with us when Sylvia passed out."
"And you rushed her to the hospital, nobody could say shit to you, but I'm not suppose to worry about mine!" He shouted on the phone.
"SYLVIA'S HEAD WAS SPLIT OPEN - you freakin' moron!" Shawn yelled getting impatient with him.
"Oh fuck off!" Jake yelled at him and hung up the phone on him.
Vivian shook her head, "You actin' crazy-..."
"Shut up, I'm calling my mom, should've called her first! Shawn don't know shit! What does he know!? I had three to his one! What does he know?!"
"First of all, you ain't had nothing! They had them, you just planted and walked!"
"Shush, don't talk - Mom? It's Jake! Vivian needs to go in the hospital, but she won't go! She looks like she's dying! Lost a ton of weight! Throws up all day long - fell down the stairs - will you tell her it's not normal so she'll go to the hospital."
"She spottin'? Bleedin'?
"
"What?! What'a'ya'mean?"
"Like if she was having a period?"
"Oh God!" Jake fell forward exasperated, 'Not her too?' "Has it been that long mom? The period stops when they get pregnant - she wouldn't be gettin' that anymore - remember?" He explained in patient disbelief, didn't she know that? He thought.
"Land-sakes Jacob Patrick! I know that - what in hell?! I'm asking because you say she's gotta go to the hospital and I'm asking if it looks like she's miscarrying? She'd be spotting and bleeding! Is she?!"
He looked at Vivian, "You spottin' or bleeding?"
"Nooooo - Jake, give me the phone!" She took it off him again, "Mama Gert, he tripping because I'm still getting sick. I keep telling him in the beginning it's like this - but he's freakin' out about it."
"You sure you don't need to go? Better safe than sorry?" Gert asked to be sure, her son really sound panicked.
"I'm fine... really I am, I'm reading books, looking into it."
"Okay, long as you're sure. Pass the phone back to Jake."
Once back in his hands, "Yeah mom?"
"This is her first Jake, first is always hard. Her body's changing for the baby and it's making her ill. Make her stay in bed in the mornings, you bring her crackers, anything dry that won't make her salivate too much. She needs loads of water, or lemonade so she won't dehydrate. It's up to you now, you gonna have to take care of her - she's yours - your responsibility, especially with her carrying a baby. Make her stay in bed as long as possible, and get some water, protein and soup down her until her system settles, you hear me?"
"I think I should just take her into the hospital, they know what to do, I don't know what to do." He whined sitting on the side of the bed now, hand rubbing his face, over the top of his head.
"Just like I said - she's yours - it's for you to see about her, doctor will on her appointments, meanwhile - it's you who knocked her up - this is where being a husband and a daddy begins, right here. Do like I said and pamper her today, so she can get through tomorrow! Now get off this phone, stop panicking for goodness sake, you're 40 years old damn near - father of 3 or - 2 - either way - it's your turn now, all the way... that's it - bye!"
Jake clicked the phone off and looked back at his future wife. She lowered one arm to glare at him, "Calling everywhere," she accused him, "... they all probably thinking you crazy - I'll be fine."
"You're staying in bed today - all - day long!" He stood ordering.
"My family and friends on their way, I'm not staying in bed, there are people coming here to see me, my house!"
"Did you hear what I said?! You're in bed - for the day - no getting up, moving around - only to take a piss or shit! I mean it!"
"I have things to do today! I cannot do that from this bed!"
"Like what?!" He asked.
"Help Shanna get the hall ready for one!"
"I'm calling Shanna, tell her, you won't be able!" He stated.
"Yes I am able, I just need to eat!" She tried to tell him for the umpteenth time.
"VIVIAN! You're not gonna stress me, man! You stay in that bed today, or you're going to the hospital! Now I'm trying to be nice about it - but enough is enough! You're in the bed, for the day - that's my final word on it! I'm going and getting you some food, and you're gonna fuckin' eat it too! Starvin' my fuckin' kid man, what the hell!" He grouched, they both heard someone calling out to them.
"HEY? Where are you guys? Dad?" Paul was calling as he came in the house.
Pointing at her with the demand, "Stay put! Don't you move!" He rushed out of their room to meet Paul at the stairs. "Vivian fell down the stairs! She's sick as a dog man!"
"I - DID NOT - FALL DOWN - NO STAIRS!!!" She yelled from the room, the bed, tempted to get up - but she was too dizzy to attempt it.
Jake turned on the stairs, glaring back towards where her voice had come, growling with impatience, and then back at his son, "I'm going to the store, she's gotta have special food, you stay here, watch her - do not let her out of that bed!" he ordered, not stopping to say any more to Paul; who watched him rushing about like a madman. With a smile on his face, he made his way up to the stairs, tapped on the open bedroom door asking, "Is it okay if I come in?"
"Yes, of course it is." She was sitting up in bed, feeling like hell. She knew if she could just get some food to stay down, she would be okay. She was only dizzy from the rapid weight loss and hunger.
Paul came in, sitting in the chair his father used to get dressed in the morning, situated off the side of the bed. "So you fell down the stairs? Or you didn't?"
Vivian sighed long and deep, "I was going down the stairs - I was really dizzy - afraid I would fall and I sat on the step, to let the wave pass-..."
"I'M GOING NOW - I'LL BE RIGHT BACK - DON'T GET OUT OF THAT BED!!!" Was shouted up to them.
Looking droll, tired and tolerant, Vivian's eyes met Paul's - he was grinning, looking young, adorable and lovable, "He means well - he's never gone through this before. This is a whole new thing for my dad, I think it's cool." He couldn't help but smile about it.
"He is driving me crazy - he doesn't listen to a word that I say."
"You have lost weight though, even I can see that - it's got him scared, that's all."
"I guess." She shook her head, "He won't let me out the bed now."
"Know what - I'm on his side, it couldn't hurt for you to just - chill for today - you're getting married tomorrow. Tell you what - I'm your humble servant today, gonna go get you a bell-..."
"No you are not!"
"Oh yes I am - dad's orders! I'm here to spoil and pamper you - be on your side! Take advantage of it, because soon, I'll be off to school, and you'll be stuck with him, all by yourself." He grinned standing, "Now come on, just accept it. Sit forward, I'll do your pillows ..." Which he did, "...sit back now - relax, don't move. There... how's that?"
Having little choice, Vivian decided not to fight him. This was Paul after all, her favorite of the three; next Ben, then Kevin, when ever he showed his face - which wasn't often. Paul was absolutely adoring - tender - loving - as considerate as they came, a million-dollar guy that still blew her away with his consistent compassion.
"Comfortable..." She answered, "What about all the company coming today?"
"I'll see to them! Today, consider me your butler, gofer, personal assistant, receptionist, you name it, that's me - there is nothing I'd rather do."
Vivian suddenly burst into tears, "You're so wonderful! What a beautiful guy you are, Paul - I can't believe you're his son? How can you be so totally opposite to him this way? The lady that gets you, is going to be the luckiest woman on earth, I swear!" She sniffed, getting emotional.
"Thanks - I'm not perfect though."
"Damn near - they don't come any better."
"No matter, today - I'm all yours, just for you. So I'm going to have to set you up. One time my mom was really sick, and I had to pamper her like this, and set her up in bed, she was bed-bound for days. So let me see, you'll need the telephone in reach..." He went and brought that over to her, placing it on the bed next to her, "The remote to the TV..." That too he placed beside her, "...I'll be back with your laptop, a food tray, water, a couple of magazines. I'll call dad on his mobile, tell him to bring you back some puzzles, in the meantime, you phone everyone and let them know, you're in bed to stay, dad's - and - my orders! All those that arrive, will come here, I'll bring them up, set some chairs around so they can visit with you-..."
"This is not a hospital room!" Vivian pointed out.
"Today - for you - it is. It's not going to hurt them to come here to see you - we have to get you right for tomorrow - right? You do wanna be in shape to make that trip down the aisle don't you?" He asked standing in the door of her room.
Vivian nodded, admitting defeat.
"See how much easier things can be when you just let go, and let us men, take care of you. I'll be back, don't move! Oh! Let me get you your mobile, you can text me what you nee
d if I'm not in the room, so you don't have to yell or ring a bell, that's even better." He took off for the things mentioned, leaving Vivian to get on the phone and tell all where to find her for the day, starting with Sheila.
Those arriving all came together at Shawn's and Sylvia's new home. First to arrive, Sylvia's parents - they were directed where to park around back near the garages; on one side of the house, there was a three car garage; on the other side, a two car and it was above that one that Shawn had Crystal's place built - where she could park her car in the garage and head right up the stairs to her place.
Now that Dennis was there with her, Sheila and their kids headed back to Jake's and Vivian's place where they would be staying for the rest of the time there - spending the day helping Paul and Jake take care of her. As they went, Lydia and Lucas was coming, all of them stopping in front of the house, in the yard to talk about the new home.
"Where ya'll headin'?" Lydia asked.
"We going by Vivian's - your daughter'll be bringing you over there soon to see they place."
"I can't believe my eyes for this one! Lo-o-o-ord, would you look at this?!" Lydia gasped.
Sylvia stood by smiling, waiting for her parents to come inside, she felt the cool air from the air conditioner coming out against her skin and closed the door, stepping further out.
"I know, I still can't get over it mama." She spoke up, proud in a way that she could not explain, "Think this one is something, wait until you see Vivian's house that Jake did over for her - it is stunning beyond words."
"This one stunning beyond words!" Lydia went on.
"We'll see ya'll in a bit!" Dennis called, they were piling into their van - ready to drive off. The heat was just too much to be standing in.
"Okay, tell Vivian soon as her parents get here, we'll be by there." Sylvia called out to them.
Lucas stood shaking his head, speechless.
Sylvia walked over to him, put her arms around him, "What you thinkin' daddy?"
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