BOMAW 12-14

by Mercedes Keyes

  "No, I'm gonna visit with Vivian for a bit."

  "Em hm..." Betty droned.

  "What mama?" Lacy had to mind herself not to snap the words.

  "You sure you hanging around here just for Vivian?"

  "Yes mama, after all - that's why we came here."

  Betty stepped closer to her, finger up and in her face, "Don't start nothing, you gone have to cut short, okay? Stay away from him - I ain't blind, one in the damn family is plenty enough - I ain't accepting no more."

  "Oh my God mama, I don't even know that man! He's here for Vivian's wedding." Lacy pointed out.

  "Yeah, uh huh, and Vivian came here for Sylvia's wedding - look how that shit turned out. Do what I say, keep your distance - I ain't blind, don't be grinning all up in his face. And when we get back home to Chicago, you need to start looking for you a man again, a black man - like you had before. I think you over your mourning period - look like you startin' to get an itch." Betty's eyes pierced her thoroughly before she turned from her snapping at the boys again directing them towards the car. She wasn't about to wait for Milton, no telling where he was - if nobody brought him back, he could walk, wasn't that far - not that she cared. He was trying to impress them because he wanted something out of it, being all nice so Jake would come back and do their home, 'Hmph! I wouldn't give a damn if the roof was fallin' in and he was the only one could fix it - still wouldn't be kissin' his ass!' She flamed in her thinking.

  Lacy stood shaking her head, up until this weekend, she and her mother had gotten along really well. Oh yeah, they'd had heavy discussions where she didn't agree with her mother on certain things, but she'd pretty much stayed on her good side and had never challenged her on anything, because there were no personal matters that sprung up from her.

  Unlike her mother and Vivian.

  Vivian was her mother's antagonist.

  Candace was her mother's curse.

  Ella was her mother's simple child.

  And she was her mother's pride.

  And suddenly, she wished she had more of what Vivian had - freedom. But the price for it, was higher than she could bring herself to pay.

  Inside, Alec encountered a very friendly Sheila, preparing a tray of salad bits and foods for Vivian. There was also Jake, with a look on his face that he'd just had to endure treatment by the lady who'd just departed, Vivian's mother, Mrs. Cooke. They looked up at him as he tapped on the door and entered, introducing himself.

  "Hellooo, am I in the right place for Vivian Cooke? Soon to be marrying a Jake McPherson?"

  She smiled at him; greeting him, "Hi! You sure are." She didn't know who he was, but figured he was family or friend.

  Jake unsure of his presence, agreed with Sheila repeating, "In the right place, I'm Jake McPherson, and you are?"

  Alec smiled, noting a bit of possessiveness in his body language, "Nice to meet you," He held his hand out to him for a shake, "I'm Alec Ore, Vivian's boss from the bank where you whisked her away." He was grinning as he said it.

  Having endured enough rudeness for one day, Jake wasn't going to spread it on, and smiled, shaking Alec's hand, "Nice to meet you - sorry about taking her away, but there are some things in life you run across you just gotta have, and uh, she was one of them." He joked smiling.

  "I can't say as I blame you. And where can I find her, to let her know I made it?"

  "She's in bed where she has to stay for this day; we're having a baby and she's not doing too well with it."

  That sat Alec back, thinking, that was fast, "Congratulations, and sorry to hear the latter. But if I know Vivian, she's a strong girl and a fighter."

  "Yeah, I know you're right about that, but it gets pretty scary, I hear it's normal - I think it's because she's so damn skinny!" Jake started up, leading him through the house towards the stairs and up them to run into Ella coming down. "Where we supposed to go to eat? I'm gettin' hungry." She asked stopping them on the stairs.

  Ever patient with her, Jake answered, "That would be my brother's house - right across from where you're staying. I'm pretty sure the food should be laid out and waiting." he was answering as Lydia and Sylvia were coming down behind her, after having spent some time up stairs with Vivian.

  "We're going that way!" Sylvia announced, "Ella just stick with us." She furthered as the men pressed their backs to the wall to let the women get by. "What he cooking? Hope something good? He know how to cook? White folks don't know how to season no food." She went on to say.

  Jake looked at Alec and grinned, shaking his head.

  Sylvia rolled her eyes because Ella was behind her, "I think you'll be okay Ella, Shawn's a really good cook, besides, I seasoned everything and he's barbecuing it."

  "They don't do that well either - they'on know how to cook so it be done - hope I don't get sick. Raw pork'll give you worms - bet not get sick."

  They were down the stairs, around the banister heading for the kitchen when Sylvia turned to her saying, "Maybe you should go and get you some KFC's - it's only 20 minutes away, that way you know what you're getting."

  "KFC white folks chicken, ain't no Church's Chicken or Popeye's?"

  Sylvia turned back, her mother had gone ahead, trying to keep her laughter in from being exposed to Ella, missing Sylvia's answer to that, "Sorry Ella - it's KFC's or Shawn's barbecue."

  "I guess I'll take my chances with that barbecue, I ain't come here to spend up no money - just hope I don't get sick."

  Jake laughed on the way up leading Alec down the hall, "Just how long will you have to endure this?" Alec asked, feeling for him.

  "I'm hoping they'll be gone by Sunday, one can only hope."

  "I think you should pray on it."

  Jake laughed, "Hmmm, you may be right." They were at the door, which was partially open, "Look whose here for you, lil'girl."

  Vivian, looked up from laughing at something Stephanie said, as she and Dean looked around towards the door, and before she could get a word out, "Aleeeec, you made it!" Dean did his mini clap, grinning and happy, having a good time.

  "Hey Mr. Ore," Stephanie didn't care that they weren't at work, she kept it formal.

  "Hey you two, see you made it safe and sound, that's good." He greeted them kindly, and turned his eyes on Vivian, "You young lady - why are you laying up in bed?"

  "It's his fault," She pointed at Jake, "He won't let me up."

  "More than likely for good reason, you've lost weight." Alec pointed out.

  Vivian sighed, "Please don't say that, that's why he won't let me up now." She whined, "I ate earlier Jake, I feel a lot better, honest I do."

  "You're not getting up! In bed for the day, it's gonna be a long day tomorrow, you can get up then." He returned.

  "Excuse me, coming through," Sheila called to the men so they would let her enter the room, they came further into it; there was lots of space and places to sit. "I'm with Jake, it ain't gonna hurt you to stay in bed today, and look at all this I made for you? Your man got you all kinds of stuff to eat, let's make a dent in it."

  "Thank you Sheila, she'll listen to you. Nibble on that ginger there, it's from the health food store, it's supposed to curb nausea - help you keep that food down, I want it all gone!" Jake added, feeling proud of his home, despite her mother. All could see that he was trying to take good care of her, so it was nice to have so many on his side.

  "I can't eat all of that! Sheila!" She called her name accusingly.

  Sheila set the tray next to her, "We don't wanna hear that, get busy - you got some eating to do!"

  While Vivian was looking the tray of healthy salads, meats, crackers and finger foods over, nibbling on the ginger - Lacy entered the room, "Sis, I see you in good hands, so if you don't mind, I'm gonna head by Sylvia's, get something to eat."

  "Okay, you coming back later?" Vivian looked hopeful, a bit sad to be left out of the loop, after all, it was her wedding day coming up in a few hours.

  "I sure am coming back later, but I better see about mama." />
  The whole room audibly groaned, and realizing they all did it to be heard, everyone started laughing at once, Vivian and Lacy included.

  "Don't worry you all, we can all get through this - if we just stick together." Vivian offered sympathetically.

  "She don't like nobody, do she?" Dean spoke up.

  Vivian sighed, murmuring low, "Not even me sometimes,"

  Lacy sighed walking to the bed, around Dean who seemed unwilling to give up his spot at Vivian's hip, she leaned over and kissed her brow, "You do as Jake tells you - we'll come to you. Get your rest, get strong; you walkin' down the aisle tomorrow. I still wanna see that gown."

  Vivian laughed, "Nobody sees the gown until I'm walking down the aisle in it!" She called out to all, Shanna, Crystal and Sheila would be helping her get ready.

  "No fair! Why can't we see it?!" Dean threw his hands on his hips, head rotating.

  "I saw it already." Jake bragged, and everyone gasped all but Alec - who stood quiet, grinning, unable to take his eyes off of Lacy, who stood with her hands to her wide hips, "You saw it? You the groom, you not supposed to see it!" She scolded in fun.

  "Hell, I paid for it, and a lot - I damn sure wanted to see why those digits added up the way they did! Damn woman has the taste of Jackie-O!"

  "Aaaah, but she's worth it, right?" Lacy asked, caressing her sister's shoulders lovingly.

  "Damn right she is..." Jake was looking into Vivian's eyes when he said it. Unashamed to show his feelings for her before her friends and family, and of course it choked her up.

  "Ohhhh," Dean pat his chest getting emotional, standing - "I gotta get some food down me, my sugar getting low, I'm starting to get emotional."

  "Dean you crazy! But I'm hungry too!"

  "To my brother's house, he's loaded up all kinds of food to eat, and believe me, he's a good cook, he and Sylvia - so go eat up!" Jake encouraged the group.

  "On our way." This from Stephanie, the first out the door, followed by Dean, and next Lacy, who stopped by Alec, asking, "You might as well come with us, to get something to eat."

  He smiled, "Yeah, I think I will," He agreed and back to Vivian, "I'll be around, especially for that major event."

  "Thank you so much for coming, Alec."

  "My pleasure," He turned to Jake, "Nice meeting you, and ah, guess I'll see you later."

  "Yep, stay by my brother's, we're all coming together later in the men's room."

  Sheila laughed out loud, "Oh, here we go again!"

  Out by the barn at the vehicles, Lacy faced a dilemma. Her mother leaving, meant - so went her means to get back to the bed and breakfast other than to walk. As a consequence, she stood with a decision - go with Dean and Stephanie in their vehicle, which they'd invited her to do. OR - go with Alec in his - yes, he'd offered her a ride as well. It would be rude to turn him down when he was there alone - and so, with a prayer that her mother wouldn't see her getting out of his car at the other end, she climbed in.

  "Relax, I won't bite you - promise." He smiled, starting the luxury vehicle.

  "I'm fine."

  "You're nervous as can be," He pointed out accurately, "Afraid mother won't be pleased?" He braved, after all - it didn't take a rocket scientist to see what was going on with her. She was a different person after mother.

  "It's not that..." Lacy denied, blushing.

  "Yeah it is - but it's okay, I understand." He calmed her, backing the car around to pull off behind Dean and Stephanie up ahead.

  "For the life of me, I don't know why she's like that. My mother has current generation white in her, so her behavior sometimes, boggles the mind." She relaxed in admitting.

  "Really, her mother, father?"

  "It's complicated, I only get vague bits and pieces of it, because she doesn't like to talk about it, and you have to be careful in bringing it up - if she's not in the right mood, she'll snap your head off about it."

  Alec demonstrated a shiver of fear, "I can just imagine."

  "It's a shame that you can, I wish she would at least try being polite for the sake of peace and the event we're all gathered here. Nope, no chance. However, my father is not so bad. He's just blunt - but I'm afraid he lacks tact as well." She gave a nervous laugh.

  "Uh oh, should I brace myself again?"

  Lacy sighed audibly, "With him, you just never know how he'll react to things, he's pretty gruff - but he'll be on his best for the weekend, however if they start fighting and arguing - and they very well could - regardless of who is around, just - do what we all do, whistle and twiddle your thumbs until it's over." She grinned.

  Alec shook his head cutting loose a slight chuckle, "I see - well this aught to be an interesting weekend."

  "Oh it will be, no doubt about it."

  "So tell me what to do, and I'll do it - want me to drop you off before we get in sight of their place?"

  Lacy looked at him, stunned that he got it fully. As tempted as she was to say yes, please - she didn't, "No, this was nothing, no sense in us acting like this is a big deal. This is nothing more than you being a gentlemen - point, blank, period."

  Alec gave a slight nod, reluctant for some reason to agree, that this was nothing. He'd wanted her in his car, sitting next to him, taking her for a ride, even if it was just a short one down the road, around the bend, and up it to their destination, which is where they were.

  "Pull into that little lot right there to park, that's Sylvia's husband's photography studio."

  "Nice place." Alec commented.

  "Yes it is, I'm gonna give him my business, have him photograph my son and I."

  Alec's brow furrowed, "Family portrait? Your husband as well right?"

  She'd forgotten just that quickly, "Oh - uh, we'll see." She answered instead, it was getting harder to mention him, lie about the fact that he no longer lived.

  He parked, turned off the car, turned to say something to her, but bit off his words; standing right off from where he was parked, was her mother, who'd obviously crossed the road to go into the gates down from them. She'd noticed them, and recognizing her daughter in the car, stopped and was now glaring their way.

  "Uh oh, you're in trouble now." He said - his eyes on her mother.

  Lacy turned to look out of her window to see her mother's glare.

  "Oh boy, here we go."

  "What do you want me to do?" He asked.

  "Just - act normal, as I said - there's nothing going on here." She opened her door getting out.

  "I thought you were staying by Vivian's?!" Betty asked before she could even close the door.

  This was embarrassing, Lacy couldn't believe what was happening to her wonderful weekend for having a good time, before she could answer her as they walked towards Sylvia's home, Alec stated, "I wasn't sure where this place was, she was hungry and rode back with me so I could find it." He explained.

  "Yeah, em hm, don't see how you could miss it." With that said, she dismissed Alec and turned to Lacy, "The boys at the bed and breakfast waiting on me to bring food back to them, you can help!"

  "Mama, why not just let them come here and eat?"

  Betty gave her a dirty look as if to say, 'Do what I said!' - since Lacy had grown with the same mother all of her life, words were not needed to understand what the look meant.

  Alec walked ahead, fighting back an urge to say something more to Betty Cooke. He wouldn't dare of course, after all, this was just a short weekend thing; he was there to attend a wedding - Vivian's wedding and then that would be that. It wouldn't make sense to get involved with someone he'd probably never see again. Yet - something in his guts - told him that might not be so - as with every step he took, something akin to an out of body experience, as if flying out in the universe like a free eagle that seemed to be hovering over his head and swooping down to possess his body, opening his minds eye, so he could see Lacy behind him; struggling to deal with her overbearing mother. He wanted to turn, hold his hand out to her, and beckon her to take it, to trust him, to take
his hand, because it would be all right. He shook his head thinking himself crazy - after all - she had a husband, he should be there and then realized, if he were, perhaps none of the events thus far would have even been taking place. He made his way to the back of the mansion-like-home, trying to ignore the urge to turn back to Lacy.

  * * *

  They were hiding away in the large, walk in pantry off the kitchen, pretty much the size of her kitchen across the road; Sylvia was laughing so hard, tears were rolling down her face, "Stop 'fore you make me pee myself, ohmigod!" She held her side, trying to get control of herself.

  "Oh I'm glad you're having a good time! The minute they got back here, 'Shaaaawn - I'm baaa-ack! You miss me'?!" Shawn mimicked, giving a royal gay performance for Sylvia to really lose it, jogging in place from laughter.

  "Hey! Stop doing that, before you shake Jesse James loose!" Shawn grumbled, scared to leave the pantry.

  "Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod - I can't laugh no more, oh my side hurts," She sniffed, leaning against the freezer, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  "This is gonna be one helluva weekend I can tell you that for damn sure! He - is - after me, Sylvia! Do you care?! Why are you still laughing?"

  "I'm sorry baby, I am - but - you gotta be nice to him Shawn, he can't help the way he is."

  "Bullshit! I don't care about the way he is, just don't mess with me! You did this on purpose because I won't let you in my men's room! Vengeance is mine says the lord, not Sylvia McPherson's."

  "Aaah, I can't laugh no more - please stop!" She was drunk from watching him ditch and dodge Dean, she gazed at him through blurry eyes, still grinning, "That's what you get for being so cute, wit'yo'fine self." She flirted, Shawn didn't wear bill caps and such, but he was wearing one today, completely at ease, and she loved this side of him, he seemed like a normal, everyday guy - it was turning her on, "Sure I don't have anything to worry about?" She controlled her laughter enough to ask.

  "Woman, you know damn well, what I like! I don't play that shit! Or play in shit! Ugggh!" He gagged with just the thought of it.

  "I don't know - I'm thinkin' you like the extra attention." She went on teasing, pushing his homophobic buttons.