Tears rushed to Sylvia's eyes, so choked up, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight.
"Oh, Shawn... if I'd - if you'd - I would - I would've had your - babies... God knows I would have. I love you so much. You are -..." She went from sniffling to laughing, "You are such a trip, Shawn! I'on know what I'm gonna do with you! You are such a trip. Lord have mercy and God knows, I might be crazy for it, but - I love you - somuch."
He squeezed her to him, feeling a shiver race through him. Wondering if loving her, would one day truly make him crazy. He realized he was too much of a pessimist. Too aware of the real world they lived in. Too watchful, braced and ready for something, or someone to dare come in and bother his things. His carefully laid out home, family, his wife. He held her knowing, that he loved her too much. Needed hertoo badly. And was capable of anything, to hang on tightly to her and make her his - to stay his.
"You're not mad at me? For what I've just confessed?" He asked, holding onto her.
"What good would it do, for me to be mad at you? Hm? A bit too late now, don't you think? Ain't gonna change anything. I'm yours, and you're mine. You've got me, Shawn Everett McPherson, and good!" She reached up to caress his cheek, smiled and admitted, "I do think you're a bit of an eccentric." She commented, loving him, touching his lips, looking from them to his eyes. "I guess I'll never understand, why - the Lord placed you at my door and I let you in."
"You could always lock me out." He suggested gently.
Sylvia chuckled, "So you're crazy butt can kick the door down?"
"I'm not that bad. If I knew in my heart, that you really, really didn't want me, I'd have to walk away. But, there was always something in your eyes, that pulled me in. I'd marry you again - would you marry me again?"
Sylvia started grinning, "Again? A second time?"
Shawn hugged her and laid his head on her breast, squeezing her to him. "Yeah, you would, ya'hellion. You would marry me again, and again, and again. 'Cause you love me, and you know it! You were put on this earth, to be mine... all mine." He declared squeezing her, rubbing his face between breast, and over her rib cage, holding on. Sylvia sighed, holding him. Accepting the fact that it was possibly true.
"You know I'll be watching you like a hawk, now."
"Ohhh, Shawn, don't start."
"Nope... you've done it to yourself. I try to leave you alone, but from now on, consider me your shadow."
"Shawn - I know I have to eat! I will! Don't you start getting on my nerves!"
Shawn leaned up to look down at her, "You think I was bad before? Wait 'till they release you from this hospital. And - no more sex for you! That'll a teach you! You don't wanna eat, you don't get no desert!"
Sylvia laughed and then winced, the action making her head throb, "You the one gonna suffer with that one, not me!"
"We'll see! See, I happen to know, no matter how you complain about me pestering you, you like it. Nobody who carries on like you do when I hit that spot, can go too long."
"Ha! I went almost two whole years before you, Mr. Goodbar! And I was just fine! You the one who gone struggle with that one."
"Nope, sorry - it's a mind thing. Only reason you made it for that time period, because you had your mind set, and I wasn't around, I've blown that to bits. Now I've got a mind set. That's making sure you and this little one you're carrying are safe and healthy. No more sex for you, not until I'm convinced you're in fit form."
Sylvia laughed, "Yeah - right! You won't last out the week."
Shawn leaned down and kissed her nose, then taunted, "More than likely, you - won't."
Sylvia smirked.
* * *
Jake wasted no time getting back to Shanna's. Crystal was there getting the boys from her, she'd kept them while everyone made their way to the hospital to see about Sylvia. Their parents and Vivian would be coming by to pick her up and the four would be going to the hospital. Upon their arrival, Shanna showed Vivian her new home. Bart was seeing it for the first time as well, going to the yard to see what his son was setting up. He had Mundo out there helping him. Jake found that he liked having Mundo help, because while he was inexperienced, he was eager to learn and quick to follow directions, and worked to do it right. Jake wanted to complete the deck, and then they would lay the bricks.
When the women walked around to where they were working, Jake couldn't help himself, he had to look. His intent was to only snatch a glance, listening as Mundo spoke.
"Aye, Vivian! What's up? What you doing here?" He asked.
Vivian smiled, "Just visiting for the weekend." She answered, her eyes going from Mundo to Jake, who was right then, standing with a leveller in one hand and a hammer in the other, a pencil jammed in over his ear. Seeing the hammer in his hand made Vivian remember the little song written on the page tacked on the wall, she couldn't help but laugh at the image. His brow creased with suspicion.
"What are you laughing at?" He asked, walking towards her.
Vivian's eyes grew huge to have him approaching her so boldly, with so many present. Her face burned as she braced herself to face him. He was dressed in a cream tank top with no sleeves, camouflage khakis pants, and steel toe combat boots. Just from the Spring sun, he'd already begun to tan, his blonde hair lightening, and it wasn't even the high heat of the summer yet, but you could tell he'd been out in it.
He stopped before her, looking down at her. She was wearing a summer ensemble, a Capri set. Lime green Capri pants, white and lime green striped top, with a matching lime green sweater. Her purse matched, as well her sandals. Jake looked her over and couldn't help the grin, as his eyes came back up to hers. "What are you grinning at?" She asked, not answering his earlier question to her.
"You. Look at you, straight out of a fashion magazine." He leaned in for her ears only, "Lookin' like a deliciously wrapped dark chocolate treat. And you know me..." He leaned back finishing, his eyes saying what he dare not with everyone around, he winked and reached into the large pocket of his khakis, while Vivian, who did indeed know him, blushed as her imagination took flight on what would have otherwise followed with him saying she looked like a dark chocolate treat.
He pulled out his new mobile phone and handed it to Vivian. "Fill it with your info please; home, work, and mobile." Giving those instructions, he walked away.
Gert was standing not far from her and of course chuckled, "Ain't my Jake cute as he can be?!" Vivian glanced down at Gert and sighed, Gert stroked her arm, "He's just a big'o harmless, tom cat." She winked. Vivian had a sneaking suspicion he was like his mother. Bart was not so shocking and unpredictable as Gert and Gert's "tom cat". Vivian turned back to watching the men, if they only knew. She busied herself at his phone keypad doing as she was told, and at the same time, watching him. She couldn't explain why, but found herself fascinated by him in motion, in work mode. He was explaining to Bart what he and Mundo were doing.
"As you can see, I've already marked out where the posts will be. Mundo and I will be digging the post holes and setting them with the concrete blocks. She's lucky, this lot is pretty level, easy to work with. It's going to look fantastic when we're done. Once the posts are anchored and secure, and the cement dries, we can start with the frame work and the joist hangers..." He went on to explain, his hands and arms gesturing broadly to give an indication of how broad it would be. Vivian watched his every move, as he walked with his father showing him the length the deck would extend, the levels they were adding to it, and ideas he had for adding little extras. She could see that he really enjoyed doing this type of work. It most certainly meant a great deal to him for his father to see what they had planned. All the men that Vivian had met, were professionals. None so down to earth as Jake. He was a down and willing to get dirty, tanning in the sun and wind as he worked, kind of man. No tanning spas or weekends at the lake front or beach for him. Vivian stood absorbing this natural gift to build, construct and design, and found another reason why she preferred him, over a doctor, lawyer, or banker..
. whose hands, were as soft as her own. No, his wallet was not as full, nor had he gold and platinum credit cards to flash, no Diners Club to lay out at some fancy restaurant. He was the total opposite and she would have him no other way.
She was still reeling from the fact that he'd come to his parents' last night, claiming that he would now be courting her. Vivian sighed.
"Look at you... you're really in love with him, aren't you?" Shanna asked beside her, after standing and watching the play of expressions and wonder that crossed her face. Vivian blushed again feeling caught out, she smiled turning to look down at Shanna, she stood a few inches over her. "I was just admiring the work, I can see what they have planned is going to be really nice, I bet you're excited!" Vivian attempted to shift the focus from her. Shanna only laughed. "Good try! But you weren't thinkin' 'bout no deck right then!" She laughed, shaking her head. "Don't be embarrassed, believe me - you're not the first to fall for Jake! His charm, when he turns it on, have felled many."
"Hmph, yes... so I've read. I slept in his room last night, and the things written in his yearbook..." Vivian mentioned, letting that trail off.
Shanna's eyes got big, she suddenly burst with laughter, "You read the hammer song?" She asked, giggling.
"Yes! Dawg!" Vivian griped, making Shanna laugh even more as the men approached.
"What's so funny here?" Jake asked, looking from his little sister to Vivian.
"Oh, we were just saying how, if you had a hammer, you'd hammer in the mornin' - you'd be hammerin' in the evenin' - al-l-l over this la-and." Vivian sang the latter part out, keeping her eyes on him, her hand dropped forward towards him with his mobile phone, all of her data entered. It was time for Jake's eyes to get big, he turned red and then looked from his father to his mother, "You guys been in my room?!" He asked right away, his ears on fire, taking his mobile and slipping it back into his pocket.
"Of course we have, I put Vivian up in there - it's where she sleeps." Gert informed him, grinning.
"It was all your mother's idea." Bart held his hands up to say, he had nothing to do with that.
"MOTHER! Mom! In - my room?" Jake bit out through clenched teeth. Shanna was laughing even more.
"Yes I did, and why not? What you got in that room you don't want her to see?" Gert asked, she loved these moments in her life - eagerly when such opportunities arrived - she took full advantage of them, making her kids squirm, especially her boys.
"Plen -ty - believe me - plenty!" Vivian answered for him, looking from his mom to him. "And from what I've read on the walls, I don't need to search any deeper." Vivian was still eying him. A sheepish grin burst out on his face, his white teeth gleaming, while various shades of red heightened and deepened within a few moments of standing there.
"Man, what's on yo' walls?! I got to go read them walls! Got you blushin' like that! M'man, Jake, blushin'? What's going on?" Mundo joked.
Bart shook his head, he was another one who didn't want to know. He could just imagine, he'd never gone in and read his son's walls, it was his room and he had always allowed his boys their domain and privacy. Now... with the way the young women were carrying on, he was happy not to know.
"Mom... put her in another room, please?" Jake pleaded with his mother, as his father walked towards the front of the mobile home.
"Why? She's comfortable! Aren't you comfortable, Vivian?!"
Vivian grinned, "Yes, ma'am - comfortable as can be. If I can't get to sleep, I just do a little reading, boredom takes over and off to sleep I go."
Shanna sucked in because she got the pun, so did Jake. His eyes narrowed and a devilish smile took the place of his earlier embarrassment, "Bored, hm?"
Vivian gulped at the look in his eyes and turned away, unable to resist saying as she went to catch up with Bart, "Papa Bart, can we stop at a store on the way back to the house, I need to get myself a good book to read, something interesting." She simpered. She didn't need to look back at Jake to know that he got it.
Gert and Shanna were still beside him, watching him and the look of calculation that was coming to him.
"Jacob Patrick! You mind yourself! I see that look in your eyes, and I don't like it! You be nothing but respectable to my black Velvet - understand?!" Gert cautioned him.
"As if I would be any other way! Your black velvet - aren't you something." Jake shook his head at her, "And momma, you know me." The devil was clear in his eyes. Gert started laughing up at him, reaching up, she gave his cheek three loving, motherly slaps. "And because I do, you mind me. Besides, in that one, I do believe you've met your match." She stated confidently, heading to the front to climb into the car, Bart and Vivian were inside waiting for her and Shanna.
"Get that deck done, boy!" Shanna pointed at her brother, teasing.
"Eh! Mind your manners, lil' lady - respect your elders, you hear!" He teased back. Watching them all climb in the Lincoln, and back out to leave, Jake stood gazing at the car to catch sight of Vivian. Once he saw her, he exhaled, and turned to see Mundo looking up at him.
"What?"
"So, uh, you and Vivian kickin' it now? Wha's up wit' that?!" Mundo grinned. Jake smiled and winked, "There's been some women tryin' to reel me in, lemme' tell ya - but that one there, I'm just hangin' on to the hook, lay back - and let her reel me on in."
"WHAT!!? Aaah, man! Last of the great bachelors! You jumpin' in the boat, man?!" He asked Jake.
"I'm jumpin' in the boat, man. Leavin' the waters of women upon women behind."
"Aaah, man, I can hear 'em now! Women gone be passing out, everywhere!Noooo, noooo, not Jake! Lord, nooo, not Jake!" Mundo teased, screaming high-pitched like a woman, acting out the drama, like some heart-broken female, making Jake bend over cracking up. "Not to worry, not to worry! As hard as it is to sacrifice myself, a man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do! Therefore, I am left with no other recourse, other than to step into your shoes, m'man, and take up where you left off! We can't have women jumpin' out of windows and shit! It's okay ladies, not to worry, it's okay... Mundo - yes, I, Mundo - am here to save the day!"
Jake laughed until tears were in his eyes. "Well, come on, Sir Mundo, let's get these holes dug."
"Eh! Jake, m'man... come on man, give me some pointers!"
"Pointers? What you need with pointers? You a good-lookin' kid - smart as hell, and making money! What pointers you need from an ol' white man like me?"
"Yeah, right! You gotta rep, man! Shit! I know you got some skills, bu-oy! Come on, man... share some shit! Like uh, what's up with that wall, man? Why was Vivian singing the hammer song? Yo'ass was blushin'! When yo' ass blush, that mean some shit! Come on now, white man! Share some shit! That's what's wrong wit' ya'll! Ya'll don't never wanna share wit'a brotha'!"
Jake was trying to get his mind on the work, but couldn't, for laughing at Mundo. "Excuse me, but is it not the "brotha's" who tease and say, once they go black, they never go back? What's up with that?!"
"That's true! What can I say! You sho' right about that!..." Mundo laughed, watching Jake wipe his eyes from laughter, "...but what I'm talkin' is enhancement! A brotha' need to enhance his shit a lil' bit."
"Look - only thing you need to get in hand, is that post digger! Let's get to work!" Jake grabbed his.
"Ain't this some shit! Days of slavery ain't ended yet, goddammit..." Mundo muttered, picking up his post digger, "...Ya'll ass ain't slick, you just done got smart - tha's all..." He went on, hitting the packed earth where it was marked to dig "... we'ah put yer' asses to work yet, nigger - I'ah just marry yer' mama!" He went on, in a white hillbilly voice. Jake fell on the ground laughing so hard he couldn't get control of himself. "That shit's real! Uh-huh - like I said, ya'll ain't slick! I ain't fooled!" Mundo went on, digging his hole and joking. He loved getting to Jake and Shawn like this, they could never stand up to him once he got going, they always ended up like Jake was now, laughing and crying out so loud, weak and holding his stomach, pleading for him to stop.
"You gone tell me
some stories? You gone share ya shit?"
"YES! Anything - just - please - no more!" Jake gasped, trying to get up from the ground, wiping his eyes.
"Ah'ight! Come on, then - I wanna know all the little secrets and shit!" Mundo grinned.
Chapter 157
"You sure you okay? And your daddy know you here?" Lydia asked, opening the door for Benjamin and giving him her extra keys for the basement apartment.
"Yes ma'am, I'll have him call you to verify it." Benjamin stated.
"This sho'be his boy Ms Lydia. I seen't'em the other day, in and out, buying stuff... this one o'his boys alright." Ms. Earthaleen spoke up for him, "They the ones brought me them flowers, and plants I showed you."
"Yes, I remember, Earthaleen." Lydia smiled patiently.
"Ya'll some nice young men. You sho'is... yo'mama and daddy did well, raise you right." She went on to compliment him as he stood in the vestibule of the building.
"Thank you ma'am." Benjamin returned. His eyes were on fire, he was barely standing, and he'd almost wrecked his car from driving at night. It showed, because both women stared at him concerned. "You hungry chile?" Lydia asked.
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