BOMAW 12-14

by Mercedes Keyes

  He shook his head at first, then, "I'm thinking, how you was a lil'gul - sayin' this the kin'na home you want when you grow up; now look at'cha."

  "I didn't do it daddy, my husband did."

  "Who get the husband? You - damn good one this time too, you done real good gul, real good."

  "It's hot out here, come on inside, let me show you around. We have a room just right for you." She was proud to tell them, but before taking them to it, she showed them around the house, to all 26 rooms, which included bathrooms. Saving their room, for last.

  "This one is yours, for whenever you all want to come and visit and just sit and chill a bit." Sylvia informed them.

  Shawn was in his den, on the phone with Mama Jojo when they'd arrived and still was. By the time Sylvia walked away to let her parents settle in, Vivian's family pulled out front. Two cars filled. Milton, Betty, Lacy and her son in their car. Ella, her husband and sons in theirs. Angela saw them pull up and knew what had to be done.

  "Hi!" She called out to them, walking out the gates of her home to them, they hadn't been sure where they were to park.

  Her bodyguard, ever present, stood not far watching, giving her freedom to do as she usually would. At the present, she was leaning into the window of the first car, talking to the lady on the passenger side.

  "You guys are gonna be staying there, across the road in our bed and breakfast, so go ahead and pull in there, we'll bring the keys across to you." She informed them like a little director.

  "Okay, and who are you?" Betty asked.

  "I'm Angela McPherson, Shawn is my dad, Jake is his brother, my uncle - your daughter Vivian, is marrying him tomorrow."

  "Oh, okay, I see... we'll park then." Betty smiled, then sat back closing her window - the air was on.

  Angela backed up on their driveway returning to inside the gate when Sylvia came out the door, "Someone else here, Angela?" She called asking.

  "Yep, Vivian's family, they're here; I told them to park in the drive over there."

  "Good girl, I'll go get the keys!" Sylvia turned back into the house, rushing through it, excited to let them in. She'd spent quite a bit of time, her and Shanna, fixing the place up extra nice. Shawn and Mundo had painted, she and Shanna wall papered - they placed air fresheners in every room, flower arrangements, new dishes, sheets, towels, comforters, and furniture. It was ready for patrons and they were the first to use it, free of course, but it felt as if she were already in business.

  By the time she made it back across the road, Angela was there, talking a mile a minute, being the perfect little hostess, explaining the sleeping arrangement she'd heard them planning, so knew exactly where everyone was going.

  "Hey Mrs Cooke, Mr. Cooke - Lacy, Ella - long time no see, it's been years!" Sylvia greeted with a smile. Lacy remembered her, Betty remembered her, but everyone else, just smiled and went along with it.

  "Hey to you, look at you, how far along are you?" Betty asked first.

  "I'll be seven months in another week or so." She informed her.

  "Girl, you look fantastic!" Lacy cooed right away.

  "Thank you and so do you, haven't changed a bit!" Sylvia complimented her.

  "Which house your house?" Ella interrupted, looking from one to the other, "This one or that one? What you doing over there?" she asked right away.

  "This is our bed and breakfast, and across the road is our home."

  "Both of'em yours?"

  "Yep, both."

  "In that case, I wanna stay over there! Why we got to stay here? That's a real nice, big house!" Ella spoke up saying. Husband laughed to himself, shaking his head.

  "Ella! You ain't gone embarrass me! You hear? Don't make no sense!" Mr. Cooke started, "I swear fo'God - how you gone come tell somebody where you wanna stay and you ain't paid for shit?!"

  "I'm just sayin' daddy, why you always got to be jumpin' on me, soon as I open my mouth!"

  "Don' open yo'mouth then, won't be jumpin' on you! Betty thought you talk to her 'fore we come? Get me up here in front of these white folks, embarrassin' me, I'll leave ya'll asses up here, better ac'right, I ain't playin'! I ain't for no foolishness now."

  "Calm down Milton, damn! We just got here, don't start already."

  "Ummm, why don't we, get you inside, get the air on, so everyone can get comfortable." Sylvia glanced at Angela, whose eyes were wide, willing her to over look them. She knew her manners, and remained quiet, following Sylvia's lead.

  "So where Vivian live?" Milton asked first.

  "She's a nice little walk from here, I'll take you by there with my folks, they're here too. She has a stunning home - Jake and his sons worked long and hard on that house, and to be honest, I love it as much as my own, if not a bit more."

  "And just why couldn't Ms Thang be here to greet us, she knew we was coming?" Betty asked, feeling a bit of ire already.

  "She's not feeling well, or she would have been."

  "Not feeling well? What, she pregnant or something?" Betty asked.

  Sylvia scratched her head, obviously Vivian hadn't told them, "As a matter of fact, yeah - she is."

  "Ohhh! Fantastic! My baby sister having a baby, oooh I bet it's gonna be beautiful!" Lacy cheered happy to hear it.

  "I knew it! What I say, didn't I say it? Otherwise what's the rush?" Betty got started.

  "So what, Betty - damn - so what? You wasn't no virgin either - shit! It's hot out here, can we go in already?" Milton grumped.

  "Her house big as yours?" Ella asked - discarding everything else said around her.

  Answering Milton first, "Yep, it is, let's get inside," and to Ella, "Her house is not quite as big, but almost, not far from it. It's the perfect home for Vivian, you all know her tastes, it matches that exactly." Sylvia went on, showing them inside and to Lacy - "This room is yours, and next door, your son."

  They smiled and went in, putting down their bags, going out to get more to bring in from the car as she led Milton and Betty to the master bedroom she and Shawn had shared at one time. It of course was the biggest room of them all, plenty of space, "This is your room, and over there, is your bathroom."

  They went in also laying their things down.

  "Please make yourselves at home. Down in the basement, there's a big screen TV - pool table, Xbox and Sony Playstation with games," the boys cheered out hearing that, "... another bedroom and a kitchenette as well for you if you wish to fix yourself anything. We've stocked you with plenty of breakfast and lunch foods. As for today, we've made lots of foods, salads galore for everyone to eat at the house." and then to Ella and her family, "Follow me, this is where you all will be staying." She led them out of the kitchen door, to the back deck, into the door behind the garage and up the stairs to the apartment up top. It was comfortable and spacious, with two bedrooms, a livingroom - kitchenette, and a nice size bathroom. Once more, they'd decorated it to the highest standard, everything was shiny and new - with a large flatscreen TV, DVD player - stereo, and air conditioned, with large, cushiony furniture with deep seats, big pillows all the way around. Before leaving them, Sylvia turned on their air for them. "When you all get settled in, just come across the road, so we can all head to Vivian's at the same time."

  She and Angela departed, Sylvia's arm over her shoulder, "This is going to be one interesting weekend." Sylvia simpered low for her ears only.

  "Ohhh yeah it's gonna be." Angela could only agree.

  They'd gone back into the house, looking for Shawn - he was in the family room sitting at the breakfast bar, talking to her father; her mother had just come out of their room to join them.

  Yet, for some reason, Sylvia had the distinct feeling, they'd gone quiet, her father and Shawn as if her presence made them change the subject they'd been on. She played it off, reporting, "They're all settling in across the way - soon as they come over, we can eat, or go straight over to Vivian's, I'll leave that up to everyone once they arrive."

  "Who else all coming?" Lydia asked.

 
"Vivian's friends from work - one of them is her ex-boss."

  "Oh that's nice, she got friends from Chicago coming for it."

  Sylvia remembered that Dean was gay and giggled out loud, looking at Shawn.

  "What? What you gigglin' about?" He smiled back, curious.

  "Ohhh, nothing, you'll see soon enough." She chuckled again, unable to help herself.

  Shawn made a face, it was not like Sylvia to get into a fit of giggles, and she was certainly enjoying some little hidden secret.

  Angela's bodyguard, Ivory stepped up to the family, "More company." He announced and stepped back after leading Dean and Stephanie inside - they'd gone in on renting a car from the Madison airport - had phoned ahead speaking with Vivian for directions of where they would be going, and staying. They arrived safe, in a good mood, geared up and ready for the wedding, it showed on Dean - who was on cloud nine.

  "Hellooo everyone! We're he-e-ere! I'm Dean - and this is Stephanie! And we're here for Vivian's wedding! Weeee, I'm sooo excited, we can't wait to see her! Woooo!" He cheered and clapped, and then got serious, wide eyed, "And can I just say, I love your house! Wow - oooh pleeease, a tour - a tour! I can't believe we're actually going to be staying here! Thank you so much - I mean, we could have gotten a room... right Stephanie?" He turned to her nodding eagerly for confirmation.

  "Em hm, we could'ah got a room - but Vivian said, you said, you had plenty of room, so we could stay here! And now that we see this place!"

  "Okay?!" Dean did an air snap left and right, cocked his hip, rolled his head, "And you sure do have space - but'ah, first of all, introductions, I wanna know everybody's name, we gone have such a good time!"

  Sylvia struggled not to laugh, not at Dean, but at the look she knew was on her husband's face, not to mention her mother and father. When she turned to give intro's, she bit into her tongue with all her might - the look on her husband's face, was priceless.

  "Dean, this is my husband, Shawn Everett McPherson, and he used to live in California." She pointed out with a big smile.

  Dean started clapping again, "Oh California! I can't wait to hear all about California!"

  Lucas had his mouth dropped open, and turned to look at Lydia, who was fighting laughter of her own.

  Sylvia was ever eager to accommodate him, "Well that's good, when all the men head for my husband's men's only room, - oh, you don't mind being around nothing but men do you?"

  "Honey please, bring them on, the more - the better! Let me at'em!"

  Smiling brightly, Sylvia turned back to Shawn, threw him an air kiss and winked, revenge was sweet.

  But the look he gave her, promised serious consequences for this one later, she'd never seen him so red.

  She wasn't bothered, she licked her index finger and marked her imaginary score board, happy with life, once again.

  Chapter 303

  Jake pushed the shopping cart through the aisles of the IGA grocery store with purpose. First on the list, crackers - he strode around in a hurry, thinking she had to eat and right now! He was feeling panicked and scared. He hadn't a clue of what went on with a woman when she was pregnant. He thought, you get them pregnant, they get morning sickness, the baby kicks, it's born - easy as 1, 2, 3.

  "Not!" He fumed from his thoughts, "...this is crazy! Why didn't anybody tell me this shit!" He accused everyone else, as if they were keeping from him all the important secrets of life. He was grumpy, mumbling to himself, it was certainly nothing like he'd pictured it. He found the crackers; there were so many, Saltines, Grahams, Ritz, Triscuits, Cheese crackers, Goldfish, special herb and spice flavored crackers, "Which fuckin' one?" He puzzled in the aisle, "Hell with this..." The low grumbles rolled from him as he faced this dilemma and just started grabbing two of each - figuring you couldn't go wrong with two of everything. Pushing his cart out of that aisle, he rushed into another and started looking at delicate little foods, things to put on the crackers, and grabbed handfuls after handfuls of Vienna sausages, Chicken of the sea sardines, tuna, potted meat. Out of that aisle and into another, he looked for Jell-O, remembering when they were growing up, got sick with the flu a few times, his mother made them eat Jell-O - besides, he liked Jell-O. In the cart went loads of every flavor of Jell-O. Next the soup aisles, loads of chicken soup, rice, broth and cream of chicken. And then the beverage aisle - he vaguely heard his name being called so focused on getting Vivian food. Her parents were due there any moment - her mother didn't like him as if was, "Dammit! She's gonna think I'm fuckin' starvin' her! Fuck! You're gonna eat, and you're gonna keep all this shit down too, that's that - I'm puttn' my foot down, no more blasted throwing up, gettin' dizzy, falling down stairs - no no no..."

  "Jake... Ja-a-a-ake!"

  Feeling irritable because of his concerns, frustrated, he turned, "What?! What?" To see Abigail Cox standing next to him in the aisle and groaned in despair at the sight of her.

  "Hey you! Where've you been? Don't see you around much, no more," She looked into his shopping cart, "What's all that?"

  "Stuff, just stuff."

  "For who?"

  "What do you want?" He almost snapped.

  "Oooh, whose in a bad mood?"

  "I'm in hurry - do you mind?"

  "Damn you Jake, you're always in a hurry lately, or not around. You still seeing that chick you were?"

  "Yes - I am, this stuff is for her, she's - well, she's pregnant, sick as hell!"

  "Whoa! You're having another kid? You still getting married?"

  "Tomorrow in fact." He answered turning away from her, back to look over all the teas stacked before him, grabbing all the ones he thought women would like to drink, those with fancy boxes and pretty labels, saying things like cranberries, chamomile, lady grey, earl grey, green tea, herbal teas; if they were expensive, he figured they had to be good for you, so grabbed them.

  Abby watched him fill his cart, "Tomorrow? You're actually going through with it? The whole ceremony? I dos and all?"

  "Yep..." He answered, looking at the prices of some of them, "Shits expensive..."

  "Damn! She must be some kind'ah woman."

  "That she is, now if you will excuse me."

  "So she's sick huh? I can help you know, I got two myself."

  Jake looked back at her, "Two what?"

  "Kids!"

  "You do? Didn't know that."

  "That's just the kind of guy you are Jake, thinking of nobody but yourself." She informed him, and then, "Get her peppermint candy to suck on, lemon drops - lifesavers, ginger ale - and real ginger. Health food store in town sells a natural ginger candy that's easy to get down, works like a charm, it did for me. I was so ill with my first I couldn't see straight, dizzy all the time-..."

  "Yeah, that's how she is - real sick!"

  "Yeah well, get her the ginger stuff - this is all good too, but the ginger will help keep it down."

  Jake was immediately relieved, "Uh, thanks Abby, 'preciate this."

  "Em, yeah - well - seein' as how she's so sick, you're probably needin' some attention, huh?" She suggested, looking at his lips, then down his body to his crotch.

  "Aye, don't fuck around Abby, okay? That's in the past - I'm getting married, this is serious - I'm serious about her."

  She laughed, "You? Ha! Bullshit - you'll be out sniffing around for something new in no time."

  "Well that excludes you, doesn't it? Nothing new there."

  She gasped, "Why do you have to be nasty? After I helped you out with good advice and everything."

  "Advice accepted and appreciated, but as for the rest - I mean it, that's all over - okay?"

  Abby smiled up at him, "What's so damn special about her, anyway? Couldn't be that good, I was giving you a blow job right after a date, if I remember correctly. Wonder what Ms Special-lady would think about that?" The suggestion, the look in her eyes was clear - she had something on him, and wanted him to know it.

  Jake stood a moment staring at her; he suddenly ducked low to look dead into her
eyes, a few inches separating them, "There is a side of me, you don't want any part of - Abby..." His tone was so menacing, she gulped. "... don't you ever, say a fuckin' word to her - about anything to do with that night. Not - one - fuckin' - word. Don't do it - you won't like the outcome if you do."

  She'd never seen his eyes look so flint hard and cold - not ever.

  He rose to his full height, his eyes still cutting into hers, "Again, I thank you for the advice. Even so, your life is yours - nothing to do with me. My life, my future wife - nothing to do with you. Trust me when I advise you, not to cross me, God knows, I will fuck you over in ways you've never known - don't think I won't - Abby - don't think I won't." He threatened low and intimate, just between the two of them, his manner and tone was mean with intent.

  She swallowed, speechless.

  Jake tipped his hat to her and strode off to get the other things she mentioned and then he would head for the health food store.

  Abby finally exhaled, her heart pounding - he'd hurt her feelings and scared her a bit; after all, she had gone to school with him, she did know when it came to fighting, he'd fought viciously, hurting his opponent so badly, they never wanted to fight with him again. That she remembered about him, she remembered it about his older brother as well - they were like that, mean as hell when you crossed them. With her face flaming red, she turned and got on with her own shopping - feelings of humiliation washing over her.

  Still at the IGA, he picked up other things that he'd planned to get, from the deli counter fresh sliced chicken, beef, pastrami, corn beef and turkey - steering clear of the bologna and ham; last to go in the cart, several bottles of ginger ale and next the check out. He caught Abby in his peripheral - not bothering to look her way even though she was staring at him. His heart was beating like mad. He'd come too far - had too far to go - and no one - no one was going to ruin things for him, or stand in his way of getting where he saw himself - especially not the local whore. He was going to make it, and that meant, with Vivian by his side. He needed Vivian - she drove him - inspired him - made him want to be that person he'd only dreamed of; she'd given him something to fight for, a reason to fight, to stand. Besides - Vivian belonged not only to him - but to his family, to his mother, and yes, even to his father. They had taken her on, had taken her into the McPherson clan; put into place connected to him - as his - just as his mother had said, she was his responsibility to take care of; thus nothing hit home harder than that which was passionately desired by his mother. Vivian was her black velvet - that meant a great deal to him - he loved his mother and he loved the things that brought her pleasure.