Gert gasped, "That's a good sign!"
"What did you tell him?"
"Only that you were moving and considering hiring movers, I just planted a bit of a seed is all."
"Oh..."
"You okay honey? You sound disappointed?"
"I'm... you have to excuse me. I'm acting really crazy right now. I mean... I've only known him for a week right? I mean... we just met. And... well... I - its so bizarre... the way I feel, I mean..."
"You mean... you in love with my Jake... that's what you mean."
"Its too soon."
"Bullshit! Ain't too soon! You're in love with him, say it!"
"I am... oh my god... all I did was hear his voice, my stomach feels like it's turned inside out."
"Oooh sweetheart, that makes me so happy to hear. You gonna be just fine. Tell me what he said, don't miss anything out."
"He called about my moving. Saying that when I was ready, he would come and help."
"That's all?"
"Well... no... there were other things said. Its like, he's fighting it... or... its all in my imagination, wishful thinking."
"You are the one! You understand me! Don't you doubt me... I knew it the moment I set my eyes on you! I said to my Bart... look at that red dress! Girl you was somethin' in that dress!" Hearing Gert brought a smile to Vivian and a laugh. "You can laugh, but the fact that you're in love with him, and you know what... he's got it for you too! That fact tells mama Gert, I was right on the money honey! So you cheer yourself up - all that's needed is a little time and careful planning."
"No now... none of that."
"Girl look! You can forget it now... that I know for certain how you feel... hell we might as well start planning the wedding!"
Vivian laughed shaking her head. "I'm glad I called you mama Gert, what you say and what we want, may never come to be, but for the moment... I feel a lot better."
"Chile with a package wrapped like yours, filled with nothing but good for the right man, ain't no reason for you to doubt what I'm saying. I'm a damn good judge of people, I'm usually right on when I call'em as I see'em - and what I see when I look at you, is a pretty sweet girl worth her weight in gold! I'm no different from any other mother out there who loves her children, we all want what's best for our sons and daughters. I got one son left... the other two are taken care of... but that last one - well he's gone take some doing. If you hang in there girl... we gonna have our wedding day!"
Vivian was smiling.
"You sure do good things for my self-esteem mama Gert. No one has ever said such things about me."
"Don't know why... every word I say is the honest to God truth. I got my Meribel, got my Sylvia... she just left here earlier today, and now... for my youngest boy, the lord has saved the best for last."
Vivian started crying, barely able to get out the, "Thank you." she whispered.
"Darlin'... don't cry. Why you crying? I know your mama and daddy probably brag about you all the time?"
"No ma'am... it don't work that way where I come from."
"Well then I don't think I care for where you come from! Don't matter... you my gal now! Dry your eyes and finish packing. Whenever you feel you need to talk to me, you just call me, you hear!? I don't care what time it is, or how you feel... you call me. If I was there I'd give you a tight hug. We gonna have to figure out a way for you to get here now and then, so you can visit with us. Me and Bart would love to have you here."
"I know you mean well mama Gert, but I really don't want to be showing up there unless Jake invites me to come. It means too much to me to jeopardize a chance of us being together. I don't want him feeling pressured by me, or by you. So please, we can talk any time... but no more dropping seeds and hints - lets just... if it happens, let it happen, okay?"
Gert laughed shaking her head, "Chile you just don't know your mama Gert, but I'll leave off for a while. Only for a while. You call me you hear... anytime."
"I will... thank you mama Gert."
* * *
Shawn was stranded at home. Jake had his truck. Mundo had the SUV. Shawn had given him strict orders on how long to be gone, and that of course he must pick Angela up from school again and on the way home, grab something for them to have for dinner, he would be working on the house, and then on the book covers for the James' and the new novels they emailed him information on. He was in the back yard building one of the wall frames for the addition that would be Sylvia's office on the back of the garage when a delivery van pulled up in the yard. He stood and walked to meet the driver heading towards the front door, it was a woman with a vase filled with red roses, two dozens of them.
"Hi, you Mr. McPherson? Shawn McPherson?" She asked, following him to the porch in the front, noticing the work he was doing on the side of the house.
He looked at her strange, and then at the flowers.
"Yes, I am."
"These are for you. There's a card as well." She smiled passing the heavy vase to him. Shawn sat them on the porch and took the card.
"Sign here please." She asked.
He took the pen she offered, and signed by the X on the sheet, fastened to the clip board.
"You're a lucky man, not often I deliver flowers to men, its usually to women. Have a nice day!"
"Thanks." He offered and turned looking at the huge bouquet of roses protected in the cellophane wrap from the florist. He went and sat on the porch and opened the card, on the front it read, 'Happy Anniversary.' On the inside, written by the creator of the card...
When I think of our Love...
The special times we have shared
Our dreams, our plans, our memories...
I think how wonderful it is,
how lucky I am,
that what you offer is... forever.
The reason we're together...
for I - am longing for forever - with you.
This first Anniversary,
is the start of many more to come!
Shawn sighed and then read what Sylvia had written,
One week we've been married today, I'm more in love with you, even though I'm away. Our last words spoken were harsh - perhaps my fault. Please, I promise - it won't be much longer now before I'm back home and in your arms.
P. S. I have grown to love the name, Jesse James ... If that is your wish my husband, then Jesse James, our first child together will be.
Your wife, Mrs. Sylvia McPherson
He looked from the card back to the flowers. Then back to the card again. "So you know of my name for our son do you? Hmmm, which tells me, you have been talking to someone, my mother or Shanna, or Mundo maybe?" He thought about it, unsure. Standing he picked up the vase and entered the house. "No worries my wife, no need you to hurry home to me, you see, because I am going to find you... you better believe I am."
He walked into the kitchen and took a knife cutting the cellophane wrap away and smiled. No one had ever sent him flowers. While he would tell no one it was true, it touched him that she had. That this day did not escape her notice. If nothing else, she demonstrated a desire for them to remain as husband and wife. He touched one of the rose buds, leaning down to take a whiff, the phone rang. He looked up and wondered if she was possibly calling him. He rushed and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Your wife - has run off - with my wife!"
"What? Who is this?"
"Derrick! I came home to find it in chaos! My wife is gone!"
"Do you mean - as in left you?" Shawn asked trying to keep his mirth to himself, hearing this was starting to make him feel a bit better.
"I sure as hell hope not! Shawn2 said she needed a break and has taken off for the weekend with his Tia Sylvia, who called her and talked her into dropping everything going on here, and taking off to - to do whatever the hell it is they plan to do!"
"Aaah... well my brother, my heart just bleeds for you, you poor thing... and what exactly would you like me to do?"
"Well seeing as it was your wife - who i
nstigated all of this... I think you need to share the responsibility of my predicament!" Derrick insisted.
"Oh you do, do you! And I think you should get yourself a booking on Saturday night live, because my brother... you are one fucking great comedian!!"
"Oh come on Shawn, if the tables were turned, I sure as hell would help you."
"Excuse me? Do my ears deceive me? What did you just say? Did I hear you say, if the tables were turned? Naaaw, surely I did not hear correctly!?"
"Come on Shawn... don't do me like this. Now you know, that whole scenario with you and Sylvia... well, that's different."
"Hang on here... if my memory serves me correctly, I asked you to at least let me talk to my wife. At least give me a small clue as to where I could find her. Do you remember that dear brother of mine? If I remember right, you kept it from me as if you were doing me a favor? Remember that? Oooh it was all nice and sweet, you helping my lil'honey hide from me. You were so on your high horse about not wanting to break a confidence, now look at you my brother - your saddles slipped, on you're on your ass!"
"Come on Shawn, if I'd have let you know where Sylvia was, she would have disappeared altogether and no one would know where to find her - or - if she were safe."
"Well lets face it, no one knows where to find her... or your wife - or else, you wouldn't be calling me! You'd be on the phone with her!"
"I tried her phone! I tried Sylvia's phone, both are switched off! Now, I'm getting pissed off!"
"Well - welcome to Pissedoffville U.S.A where I've been residing for quite sometime - how does it feel?!" Shawn taunted.
"Shawn... don't bullshit me now. I need your help! I have football practice tonight. Shawn2 is suppose to be on punishment. Sasha is going on and on about a goddamn slumber party, and Joseph is whining and crying, asking for his mother."
"That's one helluva predicament you're in. Sounds like to me, wifey is out to make a statement, like there's a lesson to be learned here somewhere."
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?"
"Hey... I know why my wife left me... the question now is... why did yours leave you?"
"My wife didn't leave me!"
"Well what the hell have you been going on about the last five minutes?!"
"She just... just took off - for the weekend!"
"So what's the problem? No big deal... how long is a weekend? What... two days? When is she coming back? Saturday - Sunday? Surely you can take care of the house and kids for the weekend while she enjoys herself out? Surely you can - dear brother of mine."
"The kids are hungry!"
"Derrick... feed them."
"Shawn you know I don't cook!"
"McDonald's? Famous Dave's? Chinese take out? KFC's? What's your problem?"
"I don't have time for this Shawn! Have you been listening? I have football practice! I had to hurry home because Marcus and Shawn2 were carrying on like the world had come to an end!"
"Well it hasn't. Your wife just took the weekend off. Deal with it."
"Come on Shawn, take my three young ones till she gets back."
"Fuck you man! You're their father... take care of'em! What the hell do I look like - rent a nanny? I have my own family to take care of, do you see me flipping out and calling you to take any off of my hands?"
"Oh yeah! All you have is Angela! One girl! One!"
"Marcus is 17, Luis is 15... put them in charge! Hell I took care of you guys from the time I was 13!"
"I don't make my sons do stuff like that Shawn. Taking care of these kids is Meribel's job!"
"You're fuckin' kidding me?! Shit - no wonders she's gone!"
"HEY! I take good care of my wife! She's in a beautiful home! She gets anything she wants. All she has to do is take care of the kids and the house! She doesn't have to go off to work! Just stay here and see to things like a good wife should!"
"Obviously - its not all good for her, or else... we wouldn't be having this discussion! Seems to me, you've got a slight dent, or is it a crack in your marriage, brother dear!"
"Oh... that's mean! After all I've done for you! I've stuck by you through thick and thin-..."
"AAAAH HERE WE GO!!! So now I owe you something? Is that what you're saying?!"
"I'm saying your problems with your wife, is causing me problems with my wife!"
"Bullshit! Whatever there is between Sylvia and I - has nothing to do with what's wrong with you and your wife!"
"THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME AND MY WIFE!!!"
"Where is she?"
"OFF - WITH - YOUR WIFE!!!"
"Seems like to me my brother... for this weekend, you're a full time daddy... enjoy! Because the end of it is, if you'd have helped me get my wife back, yours would still be with you now... maybe. I'll see you at the grave side brother, even though at the moment, you're the one in the hole."
"You bastard!" Derrick slammed the phone down.
Chapter 101
"Thank you so much for getting me out of there. Did you see the look on their faces?" Meribel laughed.
"Your husband is gonna kill me for calling you and getting you out of the house. I feel kind'ah bad now, after all the nice talks he and I've had, I go and do something like this." Sylvia was thinking about it and could only sigh in response, because Meribel wasn't struggling with any guilt.
"And chica, when I get back... I'm gon' blame it all on you mami!" Meribel laughed, "I'll say, popie she sounded so pitiful, I had to go with her."
Sylvia was laughing now, "That's mean! Thanks... just put everything on me! As if I don't have enough to deal with from Shawn. He's pissed off at me, he hung up the phone on me the last time I called him and sent me a reply email that was a bit threatening. He's not happy!"
"And now, his brother is pissed with you. That's okay mami... you cool wit' me though." Meribel winked sitting back enjoying the ride. "Girl look at this here! You trippin'! When did you get this?"
"A few days ago. I've always wanted one. Could never afford it."
"An what you gone do when your bellie is sticking out a mile in front of you?" Meribel asked.
"I won't get that big, all my babies were small."
"Shi-i-it!" Meribel was all chuckles, "That's cause you ain't had one of their babies! But you 'bout to!"
"Why you say that?"
"'Cause, all them babies I had was big! My smallest was 8lbs. 2 - smallest! Biggest, 11lbs. 6!"
"WHAT?! Nooo way! You got any stretch marks?"
"Girl my goddamn gut looks like a freakin' road map, my bikini days are over!"
"Oh man. Do you know that I don't have one stretch mark... not one. Don't want any either."
"Too late now. I'm telling you, they were all big babies and I'm calling it, that one you carrying now - gone stretch yo'ass from here to Chicago baby!"
"You think its gonna be big?"
"Put it this way, all of Jake's boys, were over 9lbs. not one of them was under 9lbs. I told you what mine weighed. So I'm placing my bets now, lemme think - this your first one by Shawn? Hmmm? Yeah... I bet he gonna be a 9 pounder."
"Shet up girl! Hell no... 9 pounds!?"
"If not its gonna be close! So you can kiss your days of stretch mark free skin,goodbye!"
"I'm not even gonna think about it. Besides, I'm not even sure if its the man that dictates how big the babies will be. Both of mine were a little over 6lbs. - this one will more than likely be the same."
"Em hm, okay chica... you hang on to that wish, it may come true... but I don't think sooo!" Meribel sang out giddy with excitement. "So tell me mami - what you been doin'?"
"Just trying to get myself ready for the next um-teen years with this man I married and with the idea of starting over - all over again. Doin' the whole baby thing again, up through the nights, no more rest - forget sleep-..."
"Shitty diapers - colic - clinic appointments-..." Meribel cut her off adding.
"Car seats - strollers - pukin' up-..." Sylvia picked up and added.
"Potty tra
ining - naps - no end ever again to doing laundry - baby pictures-..."
"Shawn's a photographer remember? That's one I won't have to worry about, that's covered."
"True... but I feel for you. The way I get sometimes, if I'm not careful he'll have my ass knocked up again."
"You need to get your tubes tied!" Sylvia blasted.
"He won't let me! Every time I mention it, just to test him, he gets upset. We on our way to a record behind Joseph - besides, we always said there might be more."
"Em, so in the meantime, what are you using?"
"You name it... I'm using it. I can't take the pill because I have migraines. So I use a diaphragm, the calendar method, foam and he uses a rubber-..."
"HA! Don't get me started on them! Shawn was using rubbers! But here I am pregnant."
"How did you dodge it with Armundo?"
"I was on the pill."
"And you stopped taking it?"
"Hellooo... he was dead... was no reason to continue. Then with Shawn, I hadn't really expected things to go so far so fast. I was a slacker about going to the doctor and getting back on the pill, and he was supposed to be using a condom."
"Girl - you can't rely on rubbers alone with their big ass dicks!" Meribel laughed.
"AI-I-IH!!!" Sylvia shouted out shocked. "You crazy Meribel! How you know how big they are?"
"'Cause I know they are! Shit I got the shock of my life the first time I felt Derrick's hard-on - I couldn't believe that shit! I said, hol'up hol'up hol'up - what is this! Girl his shit blew me away - then I got all happy!" Meribel snorted with glee, "I couldn't wait to get his clothes off! I thought he was gonna have one of them little willy worms!"
They both busted up laughing.
"I KNOW! Oh my goodness - I swear girl, I was believing that same thing about white men having a small - you know..."
"A - little - penis!" Meribel cracked up putting it out there, slapping her thigh.
"Yeah... so how you know about the other two? Miss happy!"
Meribel cut Sylvia a certain look, head tilted down, eyes glancing up at her. "How do you think - I know - about Shawn? Hm, take a guess? Or rather, do you know?"
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