Beauty of Man and Woman – Episode 28

Written by Mercedes Keyes
Interracial drama series
Overall rating R

Chapter 83

 

That Sunday Morning in Chicago…

 

Someone was laying on her doorbell.

Vivian's eyes blinked open, hearing the intrusive sound, for a moment she couldn't help but wonder what was going on, having been in a deep sleep. She looked over at the clock on her bedside table. It was 8:30am. She sat up rubbeing her eyes, yawning, stretching, sitting. The doorbell rang again. Suddenly a thought occurred to her, JAKE! Grinning she leapt from her bed and dashed to her window to look down and see who it was. Her heart sank.

Laek Chan was at her door.

She couldn't believe it; after all she said to him, there he was – still!

She opened her window, leaned out, "What do you want?!"

He backed up and looked up at her, his eyes narrowed. "You alone?" He asked right away.

Vivian was steaming. She was slowly beginning to regret getting involved with him. He had been such a charming man. She'd met him at the bank, when she had been one of the front window clerks. He'd charmed her daily until he finally got her to accept his invitation out to dinner. When he picked her up, she'd been wearing her red dress. As their relationship progressed, so had her job as she had been promoted quickly from teller because she had been so professional in her conduct, work ethic and procedures. Everything with her had always been exact, unwilling to cheat with her breaks or lunches. At work, she was in full blown Northern Trust mode. She was always impeccably dressed. She made eye contact with her fellow employees and the clients that came into the bank and her managers. In no time at all, she was given more and more responsibility, and promoted via; pay as well as position. Now, she was the Senior Desk Analyst – providing technical phone support to their clientele. Any account problem with their services, she was called upon to discuss with them and fix. Even further, she coordinated partner and client projects, implementing plans, resources and status reports. Additionally, she did interviews for hiring and training new tellers.

While not very tall, Laek Chan was good looking, a Japanese/Chinese mix. His father; Chinese, his mother; Japanese, the reason for his name Chan. He had a carriage and confidence about him that could not be denied. Standing 5'9,  he was fit. Very sleek, tone and vivacious in manner when they were together. He had a thick head of jet black hair that was stunning. Vivian had loved it. His skin, was an unreal smooth, olive and clear. His eyes very dark and small, but strangely enough, his features worked to make him quite attractive. Another thing that could not be denied, he had been an incredible lover when she finally gave herself over to him. Shocked in disbelief that she had been a virgin still at 23. Vivian had had many opportunities to give up her virginity when she was younger. She hadn't because the few attempts with the boys, when she could get away from the protection of Sheila, or her sisters were rare and hurried and awkward. It hadn't been right and she had been disdainful of their fumbling efforts to the point where she decided to skip that all together and come back to it when she had more time. School and work took prominence in her life and she just didn't have the time to give for a relationship and wasn't about to have sex for the sake of getting rid of her virginity. Her virginity hadn't done anything to her, why get rid of it? It was a silent attribute that made her feel good about herself, so -there was no need to lose it. When finally she did accept dates, from professional men, they hadn't clicked. Leaving her to wonder why she'd accepted the date in the first place. The few professional black men she'd dated, wanted sex with her, period. Nothing else. A couple had gone so far as to be distracted when a pretty white woman crossed their path; or a light skinned sister. That did it for her, she kept her virginity and steered clear of dating again for a while.

Thus she'd met Laek Chan, who had been stunned by it all, and with reverence had taken her virginity from her as if he had been blessed by the Gods. Yet, as time went on, he slipped into making excuses for standing her up at times, not being able to do this or that. Six months into the relationship, Vivian found herself in love with him, only to find out he had a wife and two children. Discovered by seeing them out in public together shopping. She hadn't been able to believe her eyes. He hadn't seen her and for that, she'd been glad. Later on in the week she'd confronted him. He broke down and confessed it then. Vivian tried to break it off, but he hung on and hung on until she gave in finally and took him back, feeling guilty the entire time. At first she tried the method of just having him as her lover, and she would be free to live her life and do what she wanted with it. In exchange, he bought her things. Expensive things. Had in fact helped her get her home. Trying to think smart and ahead, she made sure that only her name was on the paperwork, her mama hadn't raised a complete fool. He'd also given her a card to shop with. Three years into the relationship… Vivian began feeling exactly what she was.

His paid mistress. His kept woman.

The edge grew sharp when, as her mother had put it, "You ain't nothin' but that china-man's little black nigger whore! That's all you are to him and don't you think for a moment, you anything better than that! Comin' up in my house bragging with all your fancy this and that! Thinkin' you done rose above us! You was moving up lil'girl – but you done dropped yo' ass right in the sewer! Didn't think I knew did you? That he married and you carrying on with him like it ain't nothing! You aught to be ashamed of yourself! You do all this shit to come off so much better than everyone else, yet he the best you can do!? You that selfish that you don't care about the fact he got a wife?! What about her? What about his kids? Do you give a damn about anybody other than yourself?!"

That's when things began to shift in the relationship. She couldn't sleep. She couldn't work. She could not go on with herself, because her mother's words were only echoing what she'd been saying about herself as time went by. She then went from hinting that things had to change, to giving him alternatives. Again, her mother had been angry. Saying that she shouldn't be giving him alternatives. He was married. End of the discussion, move on! But she wanted him for herself, and she did it despite it all. Had he left his wife when they were deep in the midst of their relationship, she would have married him, despite the fact that it would have cost another woman her family life and happiness. Now, here she was out on the other end. She thanked goodness she always protected herself from getting pregnant. Besides, she hadn't wanted kids at the time. As it turned out, in the end, he'd been about nothing but lies and deceit. He lost patience with her once and yelled at her, "How can you expect me to destroy my wife that way?!" He shouted shooting up from the sofa where they'd been sitting at her place. Calming a bit, he'd turned to her and said, "Things are fine this way. You lack nothing. You have everything any woman would desire in her life. Be content and happy that you are better off than most."

That was the end.

Vivian had sat staring up at him realizing that he figured he was doing her a favor, commenting, "Better off than most – what? Black women like me? I should be happy hm? Is that what you're saying, this is the best someone like me can hope for, so accept it and shut up… right? That what you saying?"

"I treat you good! Plus you are free!"

"That's the word right there! Free! Get the hell out of my house!"

"I think you're being immature and foolish."

"I think I've been immature and foolish! Now get your shit, and get out of my house! Discussion over. I'm done. You're done. We're done. This way please." Vivian had walked to the door and opened it.

"You need to calm down, and when you do, you'll see the benefit of keeping it as it is." He said so confidently, thinking in time she'd back down.

Well she hadn't backed down.

"I asked you, are you alone?!" He demanded regaining her attention.

"You're getting on my nerves. You really are." She growled down at him and backed up in her window. She walked to her bathroom, used the toilet. Washed up, picked and shaped her hair, went back into her room, he was laying on the doorbell again, probably because she was taking her time, refusing to rush. She put on casual day clothes, made up her bed and walked out of her room and down the stairs into the kitchen, started her coffee maker, the doorbell again. Then turned and slowly walked to her door, undoing the locks and chain, she opened it.

Her stance at the door said loud and clear, 'No – you cannot come in!'

"You are rude! You knew I stood out here, you could have let me in while you dressed."

"No! I'll tell you what's rude! What's rude is your refusal to accept – No! Your refusal to see that we are done! That is rude! Go home to your wife, and leave me alone!"

"Is he here? That Jake?" He asked.

"No – he is not! As I said… that was just someone doing me a favor."

"Good… let me in so we can talk."

"No! No no no! You aren't getting in here!"

"If you remember, I helped you get this place. I gave you the down payment." He reminded her.

"Yeah… maybe so, but I've been paying the house notes! Believe me, what you've gotten out of me in the last five years, has been plenty in repayment for any money you put down."

"I don't think so – I don't think so! We can either talk, or – you can start thinking about how you're going to reimburse me."

"What?! Get the heck off my door step! Or I will be calling the police!"

"You know what, I think you're bluffing… I don't believe you will."

Vivian stood a moment, sorry she ever met him. "You know what, I think I'll do one better." She informed him and turned from the door charging over to her phone where she picked it up and started pressing buttons, realizing what she meant, Laek Chan rushed through her door to snatch the phone from her hand before she could finish dialling. A tug of war and battle ensued over the phone.

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!! LET GO O'MY PHONE!!!" Vivian screamed trying to keep the phone. He knocked her on the sofa, and almost to the floor as they struggled over it. "Who are you calling – hm? Who do you think you're calling?!" He ground out angrily.

"YOUR GODDAMN WIFE – SONOFABITCH! I'M SICK O'YO ASS!!!" She screamed in his face.

Losing his temper he slapped her, the first time ever.

Stunned, Vivian sucked in, her eyes wide with shock. Anger quickly set in; she retaliated, hitting and slapping him back. She was able to get in three good slaps before he got a hold of her arm and flipped her to her stomach before she knew what had happened, suddenly it was twisted up behind her back, he twisted so hard, pushing it high that she screamed out. "OW OW OW OW – YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY ARM!!!" She cried in agony. He grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her head back.

"Drop that ph-…" He started and then suddenly, in a blink of an eye, she felt a yank at her arm and scalp, but he let go and was off of her. She turned around quickly, in time to see him flying across the room to land with a crash against the far wall. Stunned to see Jake standing between them.

"Dr. China! You 'bout t'get a size twelve cowboy boot up your ass to the knee! You wanna try that move on me?!" Jake invited standing at ready to fight.

"Who the fuck are you?!"

"Delivery man! Got a ass whippin' made to order for you! You got ten seconds to get the fuck out the door doc!"

"Jake – I presume!?"

"Seven – six – five -…"

"You'll be hearing from my lawyer! Better hope he puts you up next!" Chan spat heading for the door. Not about to get into a fight with the man before him. He slammed the door as he left. Jake took a deep breath and turned to look back at Vivian.

"You alright?" He asked right off.

She was angry, in pain and humiliated. At that moment, she was in her hate all men mode.

"What are you doing here?!" She asked brusquely, rubbing her arm.

Jake stood staring at her. It was obvious she lacked appreciation for his sudden appearance as it would seem, just in the nick of time. Now he was pissed, "Since I'm here, I thought to give Sheila a call, maybe drop by her place… remember, I'm trying to find Sylvia."

"Oh yeah! Well of course… for Shawn right?! One second and you can be on your way!" She spat sarcastically with tears filling her eyes.

"What's your fucking problem!? I just did you a goddamn favor! What's with all the hostility directed at me?! The asshole just left remember?!"

"As soon as I give you what you came for… you can follow!"

"Fine! As quick as you can get it, I'll be gone!" He snapped back.

"You got it baby… that way you can get back to finding your brother's…wife!" She muttered irritably, yanking open her address book to Sheila's name. Grabbing a tablet, she started scribbling it out for him as he commented, "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't put it that way… as I told you – it's to help him."

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!!! DO YOU HEAR… I DON'T GIVE A DAMN – HERE – TAKE IT! NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!"

"WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?! FOR HELPING YOU – THIS IS WHAT I GET?! YOU SEE I CAN SHOUT TOO!!!"

"Just get out of my house! I didn't ask for your help!" She blazed at him, breathing hard.

"But you sure as hell needed it! Otherwise you'd been sporting a broken arm right now."

"I'd rather have a broken arm… than to be owing any one – ANYTHING!!! I DON'T WANT NO BODY… DOING SHIT FOR ME!!! I'll do for my damn self! I've spent my whole life – by myself, doing for myself! And the one time… I let somebody – help me out just a little… I get that shit! Screw all you motha'fucka's! You all alike! Think I'm stupid!? You aren't any better than he is! He slithered out! You slithering in and it's all gonna turn out the same!" She was crying, erupting right before his eyes and she hated every moment but couldn't stop herself, she was feeling raw, mean and hateful. "You got what you came for… now go … and this time… don't – don't come back." She sobbed with the door open.

Jake stood a moment staring at her, choked up for reasons he couldn't explain. He suddenly didn't want to leave, but he had his pride. Besides, it wasn't his problem – here he thought he was being the kind of man his father had raised them to be, to the extent of never standing by and letting anyone batter a woman. That was a major no rule with Bart McPherson, so it had been natural for him to intervene. He dismissed that other feeling in his gut that twisted at hearing her cry out in pain, to see her being handled and hurt that way, he quickly dropped the wish he'd had that the Chinese doctor would have gone for him, because nothing would have pleased him more than smashing his face in for daring to do her that way. He folded the paper, put it in his pocket, hell with it, he had his pride.

"Nice knowing you." He said to her and stepped out the door.

Vivian slammed it behind him and locked it, fighting down a feeling that she shouldn't have done that to him. "Screw that… he's no better! I must be stupid for wanting him. He'd only be the same shit, just a different kind! I don't need it… I don't need no goddamn body! Fuck everybody goddammit! And your motha'fuckin' ass will be sorry you messed with me!" She growled, thinking of Laek Chan, picking up her phone and dialling quickly, two rings later, a soft voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Tell your husband, Dr. Laek Chan, to stay the fuck away from my house! I told his ass it was over five goddamn months ago! Now… his ass has gone too far! Tell him I'll be bringing a restraining order out on him he shows up here again! As for him getting a lawyer about this house – tell him I can get one too goddammit! He isn't the only someone who can get a lawyer! You tell him – you hear me!?!"

"Who is this!?"

"THE WOMAN YOUR SORRY EXCUSE FOR A HUSBAND HAS BEEN FUCKING FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS!!! BUT – NO GODDAMN MORE!!! TELL HIS ASS THAT!!!"

She clicked the phone off, breathing hard, a surge of uncontrollable rage hit her and she threw the phone across the room and kicked over her coffee table, turned and yanked the cushions from her sofa and launched them across the room. She rushed to the dinning room and grabbed one vase with the roses, ran to the door, opened it and launched it out to crash on the sidewalk, the other two quickly followed. Slamming the door, she was breathing hard and went to her sofa, sitting down without the cushions suddenly noticing the money strewn on the base of her sofa and on the floor. With her brows drawn puzzled, she slowly picked up each bill, by the time she gathered them all… there were two fifties and five twenties. Two hundred dollars.

Jake…

She started sobbing, thinking he left it in her sofa because he believed he was staying and perhaps sleeping with her. "I'm not a fucking whore! Damn you… I'm not a whore!" She was crying, she ran into her kitchen, grabbed the phone, ran back into her living room and picked up her address book, found McPherson, and dialled his mobile. It rang three times.

"Hello?" He answered.

"I'm not a fucking whore! You understand me!? I told you I didn't want this goddamn money! Two hundred of it! So what did you think – pay me in advance for a night to fuck me?! Is that what you thought?!"

"Lady – you're nuts! I can't believe you called me with this! I've never paid for a piece of ass in my life! I had no such intention of what you're asking in mind for last night! A night of fucking?! You see, I don't see you that way! 'Cause I can tell you now – you couldn't handle a night with me – fucking you! You couldn't handle it! My advice – take a nap – because you're definitely needing one!" He clicked off.

Vivian sat holding the phone, her spasm of craziness now spent. Tears rolled as in a matter of a few moments, she'd wreaked havoc on three lives. Laek Chan's, Jake's and her own. She sat still all for the tears. Feeling sorry for herself, angry at herself, angry at them, hating Laek Chan, but then… feeling sorry for his wife. She'd done it again, angry at her own messed up life, she'd lashed out and helped wrecked that woman's peace. Second thought, she changed her mind, if anything, she'd probably done her a favor.

 

Jake shook his head calling himself all kinds of fool. He knew it insane to even entertain such a ludicrous idea of being with a woman like that, black women were crazy! That one just proved it. "Sorry mom, you're out of your mind if you think I'm gonna be put through that kind of hell just to give you little chocolate babies! Hell – no. She is out of her mind!" He steamed, regretting even going back by there. Instantly, he regretted that thought. Had he not, there was no telling what would have happened to her. As he drove, he calmed down, thinking about everything that took place between them since Friday – the day they met. He figured she must have dual personalities, because she'd gone from being kind and concerned about him, caring for him… paying two hundred dollars to bring him into her home, and then taking the time to clean him up. It hadn't escaped his notice.

Then he'd returned last night… believing he would ease his way into her bed, simple and easy.

How wrong, how wrong. She thought, he meant to use her, abuse her. Well, he had intended a night of intimacy, but fuck her? No… that was harsh. He meant it when he said he didn't see her that way. After hearing her, seeing her, he knew for certain he could never be that way with her. His mind kept replaying over the kiss. If truth be told, it was that that brought him back. Everything about it had been soul stirring. The feel of her body in his hands, against him. He'd wanted her bad last night, so much so he'd had to take care of himself. Something he rarely ever did, but the image in his head wouldn't leave the erection to go down. Even after all that just took place, he wanted her. Because he knew why she was acting crazy. She scared him. Looking at her, was like seeing himself in so many ways. He needed to redirect his thinking, that was over, not to be messed with again.

He tried Sheila's number again for the third time, so far no answer at her home. This time, a man answered.

"Whatz up?"

Jake smiled. "Um, my name is Jake. I'm Shawn's brother, Sylvia married him-…" Jake heard laughter on the other end.

"Man you and yo' brother done gave my wife something to do for the next few weeks, how can I help you?"

"I'm in Chicago, looking for Sylvia – I need Sheila's help if possible – to find her."

Again laughter, "Yeah umm, she on her way home now. She won't be here for oooh 'bout another couple o'hours – you can come by here and wait if you want?"

"Hmmm, I don't know. I have a lot to do at home, I'm helping my brother get his house done for Sylvia." Jake returned, thinking about it.

"You had breakfast yet man?"

"Nooo, I haven't."

"Hell man, pull yo' ass on in and wait for Sheila… if you here, you might as well wait for her, all the way from Wisconsin."

Jake thought what the hell.

"All right, I think I will. I'm not far from Vivian's house, how do I get to your place?"

"Shit, you might as well be here! Where you at now?" Dennis asked.

Jake told him, "Man… you 'bout on our doorstep now… come down two more blocks to Dempsey, we 12422, I'll be looking for you."

"Alright, I'm driving a blue Chevy pickup."

"Well of course." Dennis laughed, "I see you in a minute."

He hung up.

Jake drove the couple of blocks, turned down Dempsey and looked for the house number he was given. The neighborhood was immaculately clean. He was impressed. His knowledge of most black people came from t.v. and his mother. Living in the area of Wisconsin where they lived most of his life, limited his views of them. Because of his mother, he'd never been prejudiced, but his thinking had been tainted by his white associates who painted them another way. One thing for certain, this neighborhood where the homes were clean, the lawns manicured, with bushes, flowers and groomed trees was not suppose to be of their means. He was learning something new about black people, and that something was, they weren't all the same – as too many believed – from the ghetto, getting ready to commit the next drive by shooting, hanging out on the street corner waiting on welfare checks.

He found their home and pulled up.

Sheila's husband Dennis was standing in the door with a big grin on his face. Now that was a big man, he noted right away. He stood Jake's height exactly and out weighed him easily by at least a good forty to fifty pounds. It wasn't all fat either, even though he had a bit of a gut… not a big one, just one big enough to say… life is good. He had the most appealing face, one that made you want to smile right off the bat. Jake did as he stepped from truck.

"Man don't park there! That's my wife spot… move it up some right there! She be out here blowing her horn when she get home."

Jake obediently climbed in and moved his truck where he was told, he didn't want Sheila out there blowing her horn at him about her parking spot.

Finally, he turned his engine off for the second time and walked into their house. Dennis had his hand out, "How you doing man, I'm Dennis." He introduced himself.

"Hey… I'm Jake." They shook hands.

"Yeah I know, heard a lot about you." Dennis was laughing, as Jake could imagine, he probably knew everything about what took place without him saying a word.

"Come on in the kitchen man, I'm cookin' these boys somethin' to eat, they 'bout to drive me crazy! Be glad when they mama get home. Early this morning I had to rush Jimmy lil'ass to the hospital, that's the third one – he eight… jumpin' on the goddamn bed, fell off and broke his arm – his mama gone break his ass when she get home!" Dennis explained, the smile on his face never left it as he explained.

Jake listened and followed him through their spotlessly clean home. Again, surprised – this being the third black home he'd been in, Sylvia's and Vivian's… both tastefully decorated, and clean beyond reproach – like this one.

"Have a seat." He invited.

Jake sat at the glass top table in their kitchen. The room was live with the aroma's of food, making his stomach growl. Their was bacon and sausage already cooked, grits on the stove -(Jake loved grits… however they came)- and the smell of biscuits baking in the oven. Confirming this, Dennis opened it to check them.

"Yep… time to do the eggs. TYRESE – JIMMY – I'M 'BOUT TO DO YO' EGGS! GET ON DOWN HERE!!!" He yelled through the kitchen floor expecting them to hear him. They did.

"OKAY DAD-DIEEE – JIMMY SAY HIS ARM HURT!" Tyrese, their six year old yelled back, Jake could hear him running through the house coming towards the kitchen, then slamming through the door.

"Boy what yo'mama tell you 'bout running through the house!? You want yo' arm broke too!?" Dennis asked standing at the stove preparing the pan for the eggs.

Tyrese ignored that and reported, "Jimmy say his arm hurtin'!"

"Goddamnit its broke! Its gone hurt! He be ah'ight! Tell'em get his ass down here to eat!" Dennis returned.

Tyrese stood staring at Jake.

Jake stared back. He looked just like his mother, on the plump side, smooth dewy brown skin, huge brown eyes, clean, well lined haircut, and inquisitive.

"Who is this daddy?" He asked his father, looking at Jake.

"That's Jake, don't be rude, introduce yourself." His father answered cooking.

"Hello Jake – I'm Tyrese Xavier Johnson, I'm six years old. Going into the first grade, soon as school come back… and when I grow up, I'm gone be a fireman, tight rope walker and I'mo train lions too."

Jake grinned as his father said, "Boy! I said introduce yourself, not all that! Did you ask him could you call him Jake? Otherwise you should be addressing him as Mr. McPherson." Dennis was grabbing a plate.

"How I'm suppose to know he Mr. Pherer – you ain't say that daddy."

Jake was grinning watching the two.

"McPherson boy! Say it right! Mick – fear – son! Now say it right!" He went on, setting the table.

"Mr. McPherson… that right… that's how you say yo'name?" Tyrese asked.

"Perfect… but you can call me Jake."

"See daddy… he say its alright I call him Jake!"

"Well its alright then, long as you done checked."

"How come you got a black eye, somebody beat you up Jake?"

"Yep… my brother hit me and give me a black eye." Jake returned being honest.

"You hit him back?" Tyrese asked.

"Yes I did."

"He got a black eye too?"

"Yes he does."

"Who the oldest?"

"He is."

"He beat you up all the time?"

Jake laughed, "He use to… when we were young, 'cause I would get on his nerves and he would beat me up."

"I know what you sayin', I get on Jimmy nerve… he beat me up too. But now, his arm broke, its – my – turn." Tyrese eyes got wide with the nod of his head as if he relished the idea. Jake laughed even more.

"You ain't gone be beatin' nobody up… go get Jimmy and tell him I said come and eat." Dennis walked over and nudged him on the head towards the door. Tyrese took off through it yelling back, "I'ah be back Jake! I got to ask you some more questions!"

"You ain't askin' nobody nothing, he ain't here to see you! You just do what I say and get your brother!" Dennis yelled in the open door. "How you want your eggs man?" He asked Jake coming back around after putting his sons plates on the table.

"Don't matter, whatever is easiest for you." Jake stated.

"Cool… so – you was by Vivian's hm? What's going on with her?"

Jake wasn't sure how much he should say. "She's ummm, hmmm, not happy this morning."

"Dr. Kawasaki still messin' wit'her?" He asked. Jake laughed at the obvious chosen name for the doctor.

"I'm afraid so, wasn't sure if you knew about it."

"Yeah, we know about'im. Sheila told her to lose his ass… now she finally did, he don't seem to wanna let go. He done got his ass a taste of a sho'nuff sho'nuff black woman and china man can't cut loose!" Dennis chuckled. "You wouldn't know about that though would'yah? Yo' brother know though! He got him a good one – I can tell you that now." Dennis informed him. Jake did know, if that kiss he and Vivian shared was anything to go by… it was still on his mind, where it would stay, he responded instead, "I agree… he does. Reason I'm trying to find her, I kind of blew it for them." Speaking of Sylvia and Shawn.

"So I heard… least ya'll straight now. I can't wait to meet him, Sheila say he cool – that she happy for Sylvia. Its about time to, 'cause her first husband, that son'vabitch… man I'm telling you… I don't know what possess her to marry his ass."

Jake remained quiet, he hadn't a clue into any of that.

"I don't know anything about her first husband, but my brother loves her. I've never seen him so ripped up about a woman before. I have to find her, she's pregnant you know."

"Yeah… Sheila told me. She need to just bring her ass on home, women a trip man! I swear fo'God! 'Specially black women! You white boys had it made until ya'll ass got bored and crossed over! Now ya'll see what the hell a black man be up against! If we ain't gettin' shit from the white man, we gettin' shit from our woman! 'Cause a black woman won't give you no slack! If she takin' care of her business, you better believe you gots'ta be takin' care of yours! 'Cause believe me, she'll kick yo'ass to the curb in a instant! Yo'ass wake up in the rain, all yo'shit be laying next t'ya!" Dennis laughed good naturedly, putting a plate in front of Jake. Who was all ears, trying to decide was the man speaking resentfully, or admirably.

"Tell me about it, I got a taste this morning." Jake spoke up, mumbling as he turned to eat, just as Tyrese came into the kitchen, plopping down at his chair. "I'm back Jake!"

Jake smiled at him with his fork in hand eating, Tyrese didn't have to be told to eat. He was right on it. Then Jimmy walked into the kitchen, slow and in misery.

"Daddy my arm hurt." He whined.

"When you get through eatin', you can go lay back down, I'ah give you a Tylenol. I bet yo'ass won't be jumpin' in the bed too soon again."

"Can't I have breakfast in bed?" He asked dragging himself to his chair, holding his arm with the cast on it as if he needed to protect it.

"Hell naw! You know yo'mama don't allow no eatin' in the room! Sit down, get done eatin' – back up to yo'room – you can watch t.v. and sleep." Dennis directed, sitting next to Jake as his sons ate. They knew now not to butt in.

"Sheila said you all had four sons?" Jake asked, enjoying his breakfast, the grits were perfect. He cleaned them up first, surprising Dennis. "Yeah… the oldest, Robert – away at school, and Zachary is at my moms this weekend. Man… you eat them grits up like they dessert!" Dennis grinned.

"I love grits… can I have some more."

"What?! I can't believe this! White boy eatin' grits! You better be glad I always cook too much! Hell yeah, get some more, they'll just sit on the stove and get cold and stiff."

"Thanks… I love'em hot or cold." Jake informed him, getting up to get more. "Are you gonna have some more?" He asked Dennis, who turned in his seat, a baffled look on his face. "Naaaw man… knock yo'self out!"

"Thanks!" Jake answered, bringing the pot to his plate and pouring the entire remainder on it. Sitting the small pot back, he returned to his chair and ate all those grits as well, then finished off his sausage, bacon, eggs and three biscuits last.

"Man what you know about some grits?!"

"My mom and dad from the south originally. We were raised on them, we eat greens too. Shawn loves greens."

"I can't believe this shit! Ya'll eat greens?"

"My brother can cook some really good greens… I can't cook nothin'! But I'll eat some up let me tell you, I can eat!"

"I'm seein' yo'ass! God – dai-amn!"

They laughed and ate. The boys soon finished and Dennis sent them out of the kitchen as he cleaned up from breakfast.

"That was good Dennis… I can't decide who cooks better, you or Shawn." Jake commented sucking down a tall glass of milk Dennis passed him. Dennis stood and watched him knock it back straight down, then belched and passed him the empty glass.

"That hit the spot. Since you cooked, I can wash the dishes if you want?" Jake offered.

"Naw man, sit on down and chill… I got it. Tell me what's up with Vivian? What she all worked up about this morning? You stay by there?" He asked right off.

"No… I wanted to … I can tell you that now – but she wasn't having it. She told me to get the hell out of her house!" Jake said honestly, Dennis laughed doing the dishes. "So she was trippin' on you man!? I'm surprised! Thought she was looking for her a man! Told us she ready to settle down and have a baby or two." Dennis supplied. "I figure you be right up her alley, what she lookin' for according to Sheila."

"Oh yeah… is that right?" Jake asked curiously.

"Last I heard. You might wanna avoid that if you ain't looking to marry. 'Cause I can tell you now, she is. Sheila tell me yo'mama tried to fix you two up… that true?"

"I'm afraid so. This might sound strange, but my mother initially wanted all of us, all five that is… to marry anyone other than someone white – especially black if we could manage it."

"Now what the hell is that all about!? I ain't never heard of no shit like that before! No offence… but white folks usually be scared to death they kids might bring one home… here yo'mama trying to get you to, what's going on with her?"

Jake grinned, "I know… its a long story. You and Sheila will have to take some time and come up and meet her, believe me, she'll tell you why. The rest of my family as well… my mother will love you guys… she's already crazy about Sheila. I think if there was no you, she'd be trying to get me to marry her."

"Aye man… and there is a me… don't you be forgettin' that shit!" Dennis warned, ever smiling.

Jake felt so comfortable, it was like they'd always known each other, "I know I know… but man, she can cook, your wife!"

"I know! I heard what she cooked ya'll ass last night. When she get home, she cookin' me the same goddamn thing too!"

"So what you do for a living Dennis?"

"Construction! Got a city contract too boy! Man its all sweet from here on out! Nothing but work! 'Bout time too, we been struggling for a bit… but, it'll be alright now."

"Sheila work? What does she do for a living?"

"Take care of me goddammit! That's her job! ME! Me and these kids! This house! When we first got together, she had a little job, I'on like that shit! When I get home, I want my wife here… waitin' on me! Made her quit that lil'job long time ago. Raising them boys, seeing to this house, and about me, full time! That's enough… I pay the cos'ta' be the boss 'round here! I can't have no woman like her bringin' in no money… she talk too much shit now! If she was paying the bills too… or even helpin' – my ass wouldn't have shit to say! Forget that!" Dennis grinned.

Jake shook his head listening.

"So basically… since you work… bring home the pay, you run the roost?"

"I say that? I ain't said shit like that! Don't you go sayin' I said shit like that! Get my ass in trouble! I just said, her job is here! I pay the cos'…but… well… she be the boss!"

Jake threw his head back and laughed.

"Laugh if you want! That's alright! She straight though… my lil'honey! I don't mind her being in charge… 'cause I know my shit be right when I get home. When papah walk through the door, she be all on me. That's what I like."

Jake smiled.

"So its a no go for you and Vivian then hm?" Dennis asked coming to sit across from Jake.

"I don't know. To be honest, I've never been married, not looking to marry. And umm, she already said to me, all or nothing. So, I guess its a no go."

"Hey… you know you. Some men ain't cut out for marriage. I can't be no other way. Got to have me a woman. One – woman, strong, dependable, black and beautiful… that's what I got. Ain't nothin' in the world you'll ever accomplish and do, that will top… havin' a good woman. That's what life's about man… going through it with that special somebody, made to order… just for you, by your side. Everything else you do, seem to be just that much sweeter, when you got her." Dennis thought out loud, thinking about his wife, eagerly waiting for her return. Sheila was his pride and joy – and he spoiled the hell out of her. Couldn't help himself, he loved to hear her laugh. To see her get into things he usually had to pull her out of.

Jake sat listening and watching him. He hadn't a clue of what that must be like. To be that happy. He looked at Dennis and realized that he was a totally and completely happy man. Pleased with life and all he had in it… because he had Sheila. That had been his brother as well, he had to do his part and get it back for him.

Jake thought about himself. He was 39 years old. The thought had always stopped there. Fact was, in six months, he would be 40. The number sat him back. Looking at Dennis, seeing his life, hearing the way he felt about it, gave him a new perspective of things. Jake felt weird suddenly as it hit home… that he would soon be 40. Four – zero! Crossing over into thirty had stunned him, shook him a bit, and he fought it back by living and acting younger, crazier. Dismissing the age notion from his mind. But this was different. 40… he would soon be 40!

His face suddenly flushed pale and then grew gradually red.

"Aye man… you alright?"

"Yeah uh… I think I better get going. I have a lot to do at home. I've burned up enough time, I promised my brother I'd help him with certain things on his home. I need to get started. You got a pen and paper, I'll leave my numbers for Sheila to get a hold of me." Jake said suddenly, Dennis stood, "Yeah man… sure, hang on." He went to the refrigerator grabbed up up the erasable pen to jot down his numbers on the message board there. With that done, he walked Jake to the door.

"I really appreciate the breakfast, it hit the spot."

"No problem man, hey… you ever need to run down here for anything – drop in here dude. We got room for you, you always welcome here." Dennis offered hospitably.

It stopped Jake at the bottom of their steps, making him turn back, he smiled up at Dennis, "Thanks… I just may do that."

"Ah'ight man… take it easy! I'll let Sheila know."

 

---

Chapter 84

 

 

L. A. Sunday that evening…

 

Shawn sat listening to Terra as she explained to him what was going on and her reasons for keeping Deidre under such tight security. Jeremiah had called her, letting her know that Deidre's ex had arrived. She assured Jeremiah that he could be trusted, she knew first hand that he was not liked by the Wherrington's, had never been. More precisely, not by Oscar T. of course Georgiana had been another story entirely.

"I never liked them. They never cared much for me… now, I like them even less. I cannot believe this. That you believe they're behind the shooting."

"It's not a proven fact, not yet. All I know is what Deidre felt. We won't get more pieces to the puzzle until she's awake and able to tell us what happened that night. For instance, why she would take a taxi when her car was right there. We should know by Wednesday about her car. I don't get it. There was no reason that I can see for her to be in that taxi. That car is not a year old, she trades it in every year for a new one… yet – it was parked." Terra explained.

Gert and Shanna were present listening, they'd eaten already after enjoying time in the pool and out on the patio. When Terra arrived, Shawn let her see Angela for a few moments and then sent her off to shower and get ready for bed. Following which, she would say her goodnights and was allowed to watch a little tv in her room, where she was at the moment.

"I am spinning here listening to you two. The idea that anyone would even consider such a thing, to their own flesh and blood daughter." Gert expressed her feelings.

"I agree, as I said… we could be wrong, but until I know what's going on beyond a shadow of a doubt, I'm not going to let them near her. When she wakes up, if she wants to see them, then it must be allowed… not while she's defenceless – no way."

"What I don't understand is what possible motive or reason would they have for getting rid of their one heir?" Shawn thought out loud.

"Deidre told me that her father called her into his office and asked her to sign over her interest in the family business to him. As it were, a scheme to get back at her mother."

Shawn paused in thought, staring at her, then asked, "Why would Deidre want to get back at her mother? For what reason?" He asked, while he knew what a nasty piece of work Georgiana was, it wasn't something he ever told Deidre.

Terra sat a moment thinking, wondering how much she should tell him. They were after all, no longer together.

"Um, I'm not sure how to tell you this Shawn… but… when you and Deidre went through your divorce… she was pregnant."

The expression that came to his face, spelled shock loud and clear. Shawn was certain he wasn't hearing right. "Pregnant? You mean…" He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

"Yeah… by you. She wanted to tell you, she thought if she did, it might help your marriage. However, Georgiana intervened Shawn."

"What do you mean she intervened?" He asked sharply.

"Deidre was upset over the divorce, didn't want to go through with it. She told her mother that she was pregnant and that she was going to tell you. She was so upset, that Georgiana gave her something to calm her down. Well, it knocked her out. When Deidre woke the next day… she was in a private wing of a hospital, minus the baby. They told her she'd miscarried. Deidre doesn't believe that… she believes her mother had the baby aborted while she was out from the drug she gave her."

"OH MY GOD!!! OH MY GOD!!!" Shanna blurted out loud in disbelief. "Oh my god… no way!" She shook her head, with her hand covering her mouth, looking from her brother to Terra and then at her mother who was just as stunned.

Terra looked up at Shawn's sister with an expression of sympathy.

Shawn sat with a maelstrom of emotions rushing over him. He didn't know how to react. His body was already wracked from trying to deal with Sylvia's absence, and then to hear this on top of Deidre being in critical condition.

"You know Terra… I'm sitting here thinking about how many times, I begged her… to leave this place. To please, let's just pick up all, load it up and head for Wisconsin. Over and over again… there was always an excuse not to. Always a reason why not now. There was no valid reason why! She didn't trust me… and what we had… enough to give it all up! She chose to stay here! This was her choice over me… over a family and a better way of life! Now look at her! She's laying up at deaths door, while a child of mine had to be sacrificed! And for what?!" He stood pacing across the room.

"I know how you feel Shawn-…" Terra started.

"No… you don't! You didn't just sit here and learn that your son or daughter's life was snuffed out – disposed of like accumulated trash! All because she needed to hang on to this bullshit lifestyle! A lifestyle that's gonna get her fucking KILLED – if – that is – she wakes up!"

"Shawn – there's nothing wrong with her lifestyle! My parents are well off too… and they haven't done anything close to what hers are guilty of! Its not her fault… its them! They're to blame!"

"You know what Terra… I'm gonna tell you right now, and it may sound cold and callous… but frankly speaking, I don't give a shit! Because facts are… my unborn son or daughter is dead! Fact …. she's laying under tight security fighting for her life! Fact… her father is a ruthless cold blooded viper! Fact… her mother's a high society harlot, leaping anything with two legs and a hard-on! Excuse my vulgarity mom… but I'm pissed off right now!" Shawn steamed pacing back and forth, getting worked up all over again.

"Son… you need to calm down and not take things so to heart…"

"Did you hear what she just told me?! How the hell am I not to take that to heart?! Those ruthless bastards killed my child! Who the hell do they think they are?!" He ranted.

"Shawn look… I didn't mean to upset you-…" Terra began again, to be cut off.

"She chose them… over me! Well… I got too much happening in my life right now, I can't fix this! So its a good thing she's got you! Don't get me wrong, I would have never wished this on her… but she should have separated herself from them long ago. I'm going to be here for only a couple more days… I pray she recovers so Angela can see her, and she can see Angela… but I have to get back to Wisconsin… my life is there now."

Terra sighed. "I understand Shawn. As you know, there's an investigation going on… will you please agree to being interviewed, offering whatever help you can towards us finding out the truth?"

"While I'm here… sure I will." He blew out running his hand over his face and short cropped hair. Too much going on all at once. "I'm sorry Terra. I don't mean to sound so cold. The idea that an innocent child of mine-…" Shawn cut it off, unable to shake the image from his mind. To hear that Deidre had been pregnant, with his son or daughter and to hear that it was destroyed, aborted… was working on him. He wanted to get away from there again. Away from them. Away from everything ugly about his past life in California. Only things there that meant anything to him was Jesse and his family. Mama JoJo and the others. Then there was the James' – and his work to deliver.

"Deidre didn't want that to happen Shawn… it just about destroyed her."

"Little good that does now. Regret can't bring back life can it? I really wish you hadn't told me… I wish you'd kept it to yourself." He stated standing in the kitchen doorway, he turned away and walked out of the room, leaving her with his mother. Shanna rose and followed him out.

"I guess I shouldn't have hm?" Terra said to Gert.

"What's done is done. Considering that they could be capable of something like that, I can certainly see your reasons for the security. Poor girl, what a horrible thing to have to face … having parents like them." Gert sympathized.

"She's been through so much. She still loves him you know." Terra informed her.

"Time will take care of that. He's re-married now – to a wonderful young woman. She's pregnant now as well, he has that child to look forward to, and he has Angela."

"Yes… I suppose that's true. She was finally moving on, then this happened. Anyway… I should get going, I need to be at the hospital in case she wakes up."

"Call us right away when she does, we'll be right there for her." Gert stood walking Terra to the door.

 

"You gonna be okay?" Shanna asked coming up behind him.

"I have no choice. I have to be okay. I just want her to wake up and she be okay – so I can go on about my life. I need to find Sylvia… she's my life now. Everyday spent here, is irritating me more. Making me feel as though I'm further away from her."

"She loves you Shawn… she loves you. Just as her email said, she's with you."

"That's bullshit! I don't believe in that shit! I want the physical, living, breathing, warm, pregnant body here with me. My wife! Until I have her back with me, I can't relax, I can't calm down. I can't stop my brain from imagining all these things that could be happening to her while she's not with me, to protect her. When I find her ass, I'm dragging her in to have a homing device fitted."

Shanna couldn't help herself for laughing at him. "Shawn… why are you so crazy? You've always been so over protective, before you came along, she protected herself just fine. Don't you think she'll do the same now?"

"It's different now."

"How so?" She asked.

"She belongs to me now. Its my job to protect her and because I'm aware of her existence and she's carrying my child, so perfect together – I have these moments of fear that I'm going to have to somehow pay for sins done, through her."

"That's ridiculous Shawn… what sins have you? You are no more sinful than any other man guilty of doing wrong some where in his life. I cannot imagine you more guilty than others. You are a good person Shawn. A good son, a good brother, a good father, and certainly… a good husband. What more can you do? You need to relax… stop feeling as if more is required of you. As if you somehow haven't done enough, or done it right – and so because of that… something bad is going to happen, that you're about to be punished." She spoke softly looking up at her brother. Shawn couldn't look down, his eyes were filled with tears again. He quickly wiped at them. It did feel that way. That any moment now, more punishment to him was coming.

"Everything is going to be alright Shawn… you have to believe that. You have to learn to let go sometimes… just… let it go."

"I can't… I can't let it go." He shook his head, looking out over the grounds. "I can't, just… sit back and wait for her. No… I have to find her. Tomorrow, I'll be up early, I have some people to visit while I'm here. Then I'll come back and we'll head for the hospital, afterwards… we're invited to the James' for dinner, and I can deliver part of my work as well. Once I've done that… we'll probably be heading back by Tuesday."

Shanna smiled and stroked his arm. "Okay big brother… whatever you say."

He looked down at her, put his arm around her and pulled her in for a hug and a kiss to her forehead. "Thanks…" He said following a squeeze.

"For what?" She asked.

"For… just being here… its nice… not to have to deal with things alone."

 

Chicago Sunday evening…

 

Sheila was home and happy to be. While she was gone, she knew her Dennis would take care of business, but she was hurt to hear her baby had broken his arm from jumping on the bed. She stood in his bedroom picking up around it after she'd spent a little time with her honey, hearing about all that went on in her absence. Including Jake's appearance at her home. Dennis had her laughing until her side hurt. Talking about how that white man could eat. She also noticed that her Dennis enjoyed his company. She loved nothing more than to see that look on her husband's face when he was talking about someone, or something he found to be pleasant. Sheila knew she was one of the really lucky ones. What she and Dennis had with each other, was rare and getting more and more rare. He was a solid black man that put his family first. He had always taken care of her, come what may. Had always loved her, come what may. And would not accept anyone messing with her, or his kids. While he was a man quick and ready with a joke, a smile and laughter, no one wanted to be on the receiving end when he lost his temper. It wasn't easily lost, but once it was gone… look out. To him, she was the sexiest thing on two legs, and would tell anyone that. Didn't matter what problems they had, she was there to stay. She couldn't imagine leaving her husband for any length of time. Regardless of what might be going on with her.

"Mama can I have my food in bed… since my arm broke?" Jimmy asked from bed, watching his little t.v.

"No… you know the answer to that. Laying up there wit' yo' arm broke. You knew better than t'be jumpin' on this bed! Yeah… and I'm sure you were thinkin' mama gone… I'm gone jump on the bed… have myself a good ol'time while she gone… I'mo jump so high, I'mo touch the sky!" She stood with her hand on her hip, mimicking what she thought he would have said to himself, Jimmy started grinning, because she was close.

"Gone mama, it hurt." He whined grinning.

"Em hm, that's what you said ain't it? Ya'll think mama be fussing and yelling 'cause I ain't got nothing better to do – when I say, no jumpin' on the bed – there is a reason besides not wrecking the furniture… it just may be mama can foresee this very scene right here, right now. But you see, the Lord watches over children for mama's who watch over they children. Em hm, I see it now, Lord was watching you… jump on the bed… and he said, 'Now Jimmy boy… you know yo'mama said don't be jumpin' on that bed! She was here, you'd be gettin' a slap on your ass for sure!'-… "

Grinning Jimmy corrected his mother, "Mama the Lord wouldn't say ass."

"Look boy, don't tell me what the Lord would say! The Lord can say ass if he want to! But you can't! Don't try to slip no cussing in on me again, you ain't slick! Thought you was slick, like jumpin' on that bed… but the Lord knew yo' ass needed a quick correction – I may yell, holla' and fuss, and will get my strap on your butt – but that be over in a few minutes, lesson not always learned. But the Lord stepped up to the plate on'yah this time… when mama whip ass, last only a few minutes… all is forgotten fast, but when the Lord whip yo' ass, that pain and lesson from that whippin' lingers and lingers and lingers and lingers – don't it?!"

Jimmy was laughing even though his arm hurt. "Mama don't make me laugh, it hurt."

"I know it hurt… 'cause who whip yo' ass this time?"

"The Lord…"

"That's right… and why?"

"'Cause I was jumpin' on the bed."

"An' what did mama tell you?"

"Don't be jumpin' on the bed."

"Em hm… but you did anyway, then what happen?"

"I fell and broke my arm."

"You hurtin' ain't you?"

"Yeah…"

"I'm sure you are… lesson here is, mama may not be always watching, but you better believe, the Lord is. Now, when dinner done, you be coming down to eat as usual. Mama'll give you a pain killer in another hour… so stop with the faces and trying to get our sympathy – cause you did that to yo'self… didn't you?"

"Yeah…"

"Mama love you, but when you don't listen to what she say – and things go wrong, you have to live with it. My baby… you chose the hard route, for just a moment of fun. So the next time you face a decision to have a little fun – the wrong way, you better think forward to what might be the Lords way of correcting you, cause his consequences, – a son-of-gun." She sat on his bed and rubbed his head, lovingly, gently. She bent down and hugged him close. "I love you… baby boy… you know that don't you?" She whispered in his ear. He was sniffing with tears in his eye. "Yeah, I love you too mama – I'm sorry."

"I know you are… 'cause that arm hurt." She laughed at him, he made a face laying back in bed. "You be alright, go on a watch tv." She let it go, rising from the bed, taking his dirty socks from the floor and straightening up as she went. She spent time with Tyrese, laughing at him as he talked about Jake, how his brother beat him up, and he got a black eye and what they did while she was gone. Soon Dennis took him along to the store for her; soon as they were out the door, she was on the phone, ringing Vivian.

"What's going on with you girl? Jake came by here, said you was trippin' early this morning. He stay by there again?"

"No he did not. He tried to, but I wasn't having it."

"I see… so what's going on… what was you so upset about?"

"Dr. Chan ass.." She started out and then explained to Sheila what happened, and what he threatened about her house, and how it ended.

"He did what?! Hell naaaw! See! What I tell you! I knew his lil'Japanese ass wouldn't no good! But why you throw Jake out!?"

"I was just mad! I'm so tired of men and the bullshit! Trying to get rid of Chan – and then I thought, what am I doing, he gonna end up the same – making me regret, so I just showed him the door too. So – he came by there then? He say anything about me?"

"I wasn't here, he talk to Dennis, ate breakfast – and they chit chatted."

"Well what did Dennis say he said?"

"Girl look, you know I ain't got time for no, he say, she say – shit! Besides, it don't matter, you tossed his ass out, so its doubtful he'll be back. Unless somethin' happened you ain't tellin' me?"

"We kissed." Vivian admitted.

"WHAT?! What kind of kiss?"

"A sho-nuff – sho-nuff all into it, tongue tastin', spit swappin', all up in my shit grind with him hard – as – hell – kinda kiss, oh my God Sheila… I wanted his ass!!"

Sheila was laughing, "Hell yeah! You done made my ass horny… got my shit tinglin' just hearin' about it, wait til Dennis get back here, I'mo put somethin' on his ass tonight! Girl! So what happened, ya'll go all the way?"

"No… it was a goodbye kiss. I initiated it. He wanted to stay and go to bed with me, but I said no. I'm 28 years old, I want a real relationship with a man that's wanting to give me… what you have. I told him that too… that it was all or nothing. Anyway, he threw one of those lines on me that if he left, he wouldn't be back, so I gave him a goodbye kiss."

"Girl! But he come back the next morning didn't he? 'bout to kick Jackie Chan's ass!"

"Yeah… and then I went off on him. I don't know what I'm gonna do Sheila. Everything is so messed up. I was so pissed, I uh… I called Chan's wife and told her to keep him away from me."

"You called his wife?! You talk to her?!"

"Yeah… I did."

"Ah girl! Well… she needed to know. Damn Vivian… how you get yo'self into this shit? How much money he put down on that place for you?"

"I think… about, forty-five to fifty thousand."

"Holy shit! You got that kind of money laying around?"

"NO! Of course not! I got money in the bank – but nothing near that amount. I'm not worried, what can he do… my name on the property."

"Girl don't you believe for a minute its that simple. That man ain't give up that much money and not made sure he got some insurance of his own, that's the name of the game baby! I get a feeling you on your way to the land of surprise – surprise – and it ain't gone be no happy surprise!"

"What am I gonna do Sheila? I'm not giving up my home! And I'm not giving his ass no fifty thousand dollars either! He gone have to take me to court!"

"For fifty thousand dollars… I bet his unscrupulous ass will!"

"Shit Sheila… this shit got me scared. I can't lose my home. I can't have my family laughing at me… I know they will! They wanna see me fail! Especially my sisters!"

"Now how you know that?"

"'Cause I know them! And I know what they think of me!"

"Vivian… I don't know what to tell you. All I know, is if it were me, I wouldn't want the place – I'd tell him to take it and stick it up his ass!"

"Hell with that! This is my home, I've been paying on this for close to five years now-…"

"No… by the sounds of it… you been paying rent! Let's be real – okay?! You was not married to that man! When you signed your name on the dotted line, you knew then his ass was married! That he belong to another woman! You know what lil'girl? If it were me… and he was my man, and you called me with that shit… I'd be at your door, evicting your ass to the curb! 'Cause she carrying his name! When you found out his ass was married, you should have ended that shit! Fuck love! You ain't got no business trying to love no married man! Now look at you! Pack up yo' shit… and get the hell up out of there, for they do a nasty turn on you!"

"Where the hell am I suppose to go Sheila?!" Vivian began crying again. "This shit ain't right! I worked hard for this!"

"No – you fucked hard for that! Work was overtime! You only work hard for something that is your own! Ain't no goddamn satisfaction in fighting for a house he put you up in! I'm telling you now, pack up everything and put it in storage and get the hell out of there now before he drags your ass through the gutter! You was wrong for being with his ass after you found out he was married. Take this Vivian as a lesson learned! Get out now while you still have some dignity left! Because no matter how you look at it, you just the other woman – and now that wifey knows… you just armed her with everything she needs to put you and him through some hell! You better listen – don't be hard headed! Hard head make a raw ass! That's it… that's all I got to say! You done made me tired, I still got to call Sylvia ass and tell her off! Goddammit! Yah'll stressin' me!"

She hung up.

 

"Hello, Crystal?" Sylvia asked.

"No…not Crystal… its me Sheila… and don't you hang up this goddamn phone either! You disconnect this call, I'm disconnecting this friendship – I mean it too! Its been one goddamn stressful ass weekend – I gotta tell you that right now… but first things first. You alright?"

There was silence, hesitation.

"I know you still there. No… Shawn is not with me. He does not know this number, only Crystal and I have it. Now talk to me, are you alright?"

"Yes. I'm alright."

"Where you stayin'?"

"I'm in a hotel."

"Where? I know its either Chicago or Wisconsin… which one?"

"Don't be goin' back to Shawn with this Sheila."

"I'm not goin' back to Shawn with nothin! Look… this gone get expensive. Give me the number to your room, and don't bullshit me, we need to talk." Again there was hesitation from Sylvia. Sheila softened her tone, "Girl… give me the number. I promise you, I'm the only one gonna have it."

Sylvia gave it to her, and then hung up. A moment later, her room phone rang, she picked it up.

"Yeah." She answered softly.

"So you in Chicago."

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Around Blue Island."

"Come stay with me."

"No Sheila."

"Why are you doing this? Why are you running around, done left your home, your kids and your husband. Why?"

"My kids are grown Sheila."

"True… they are. Okay… you just got married. Why'd you leave your husband?"

Sylvia was quiet again.

"Do you love him Sylvia?"

"Of course I do."

"What the hell you mean, "Of course you do?" He in one place, you in another… how does that make up a, of course you do?"

"You don't understand Sheila."

"That's why I called you… I'm trying to understand. Is there some deep dark ugly secret about him that no one knows but you? Something about him that scares you? Has he done something to you?"

"Nooo… he hasn't… its nothing like that. I don't think Shawn – would ever, physically hurt me."

"Then help me understand girlfriend why you said vows to this man one day… standing before the Lord, reverend and man, promising to love, honor and all the other bullshit and now you gone!? Why? 'Cause he and Jake fought? By the way, they made up. They have talked to each other and finally built a bridge, thanks to you… to fix what was wrong between them. They okay now. Did you know that?"

"No… I didn't. What happened?"

"You'll find that out whenever you come home, if I tell you everything you won't feel a need to. When do you plan on coming home?"

"I don't know."

"Well you need to know! How you gone have a man like that, just hanging in the balance, suffering, miserable and hurting, because he don't know where he went wrong?! You know what Sylvia… he don't deserve this! That fucking Armundo did… that's the sonofabitch you should've left… not this one! He don't deserve this Sylvia… you got him hurtin' girlfriend… and I do mean hurt-…"

"DON'T TELL ME ANYMORE… THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ANYONE!!!" Sylvia yelled, now crying. Sheila's words were wearing her down. She couldn't stand the thought of hurting Shawn, to hear it was breaking her up inside.

"Calm down… I'm sorry! Don't cry… just tell me… why you left him?"

She was quiet again, Sheila wasn't going to force it, she held the phone and waited silently for her to say something. It took a while and finally she did.

"First… I left because I was hurt. I thought he regretted me, I thought he blamed me. I couldn't stand the thought of him looking at me that way, you see… I love him Sheila as I've never known you could love someone. So to have him angry, and resenting me…"

"You know that's not true don't you? Yeah he was pissed off, and rightly so… but… he knows it wasn't your doing, but Jake's."

"Yes… so I've gathered."

"Then why haven't you tried to talk to him?"

"Because I'm not ready to come back yet."

"Why not?"

"Because once I come back… I will have to buckle down once again, to being wife and mother. I'm pregnant, I have Angela, and he wants more."

"You don't want that?"

"Before him, I didn't want that. Crystal and Mundo were grown, I was done. Happy to be done. But Shawn… Shawn is sooo, over – whelming Sheila. He is, all encompassing. He totally and completely surrounds me and my life. He's in and out of every nook and cranny of it. It happened so fast, its like I didn't have time to adjust before he made his next assault on me. I can't control him Sheila."

"Then don't… why you got to control him?"

"Oh god… this is so frustrating! Trying to get from my head, what he does to me. He shakes me up Sheila… in so many ways. He rattles my senses and has me going from ready to scream to trembling eagerly for his next touch. Its like being on a constant rollercoaster ride – one that you can't get off of."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Sometimes its a good thing… sometimes… its a bad thing."

"Sylvia – that's life! Period – girlfriend! I see now what your problem is… you figured now that Armundo is out of your life, now you can control every step and event happening in it. Was probably doing just that… then Shawn come along, you like what he make you feel, but what you don't like is that he's not stepping to your tune! Girlfriend I'm gone tell you something right now… when two people dancing, ain't but one somebody can lead! Usually its the man! Why you denying him the right to lead?"

"Because I got to dance alone for once in my life… and I like it! Now, I have to follow his lead when I want to do my own thing! And Shawn… will not stand for me going off and dancing without him – every step I make, there he is… trying to grab me back into the dance where he gets to lead!"

Sheila was laughing on the other end of the phone. "Girl you are too funny! How you gone be like that married to a man like that?! You should'ah found you some little weak ass man nodding his head going yes baby, no baby, okay baby, anything you say baby! From what I seen of Mr. McPherson so far… he ain't nothin' like that! You got yourself a goddamn lion baby, and that motha'fucka can roar – wooooo – weee! Girl you should have seen his ass going off! Don't no body scare me… but his ass had me thinking, shit… I wanna go home!" Shelia laughed.

"Was he that bad?" Sylvia asked softly.

"Girl… look… you picked his ass-…"

"He picked me!" Sylvia defended.

"Damn that! You said uh huh! You opened the door! You let him in! Now he in there big time, and you done run yo'crazy ass off and left him with every goddamn thing! He up in there with yo'kids… being a better daddy to them than they own was! He taking care of your goddamn business girl! And that – stands out to me… more than his roar! You know what Sylvia – you know – you got his ass! Don't tell me you don't know that! 'Cause if you didn't… yo' ass wouldn't be gone! You got yourself a bonafide – genuine article baby! They rare – but I know'em when I see'em. I ain't seen but two in my entire life… one my Dennis – the other your Shawn! You better learn yo' man and how to deal with him. Forget controlin' him, 'cause ain't no way in hell you can control a man like that. Its real woman time now baby… it take a real woman, to live with a real man! I know when I'm with you all, I talk me some shit! But when I come home… its all about my baby goddammit! Ain't nothin' more important to me than my man! The Lord has blessed me baby! Yo' silly ass… he done blessed you too! Do you know how many women would give up everything in they life for a man like what we got? All we got to do is let go of the bullshit and let the man take the lead. I know what I got, and I trust him enough to let him take that lead. Question here is… do you trust yours enough? 'Cause if you do, enjoy being a woman Sylvia… I do. I love bein' a woman, 'cause that's what my man makes me feel like. I don't give a shit about nothing else, fuck a career – I don't need that shit. When I wanna do something, when I wanna learn something, he backs me all the way. But my priorities are my man… my children… my home."

"But what about you Sheila? What is there for you?"

"Girl… you so lost. Armundo has messed you up! He got you thinking you missing something! You ain't missing nothing Sylvia. As for me, because I can be a woman and let my man take care of what's his thing to do, it frees me up to do the things I enjoy in my life. I still run my home, I still have my say, but… once I have it, I leave it to him. 'Cause I trust him. I don't need to control and be looking over his shoulder, watchful of what he do… he a man, he got it under control. When he need me to back him, you best believe I do… all the goddamn way! Ain't too many women can do that. 'Cause they don't have a real man, and they don't trust his ass to get the job done right – so they take over. Make up your mind Sylvia, you want a real man or not? You trust him or not? 'Cause if you want a real man and you trust him, then leave him to it. Free yourself up so you can get to the things that make you happy – I bet you he would back you all the way. But you too scared to give it all up to him, which mean you don't trust him."

"I do trust him Sheila. I know you're right… that's why I haven't gone back, and can't. There are things I must do for me first… things I wanna get out of the way. Once I do, I'll be ready to go home. And have his babies if he wants them."

"Then girlfriend you need to tell him that. Give him something to cling to, 'cause he miserable right now. You need to explain what you doing."

"Sheila…" Sylvia laughed shaking her head. "Shawn only hears one thing… what Shawn wants. And that's me, right up under him day in and day out."

"What's wrong with that?! Shit! He ain't doin' it right?! What he got a lil'wee-wee?"

"Girl you crazy! Hell yeah he do it right and then some! An' he ain't lackin' down below either – believe me sista' – he got exactly what it takes!" Sylvia bragged proudly.

"So what's yo' goddamn problem then!? You bes' climb yo' ass under him goddamnit! Shit… 'cause if you don't get your ass back in place soon… somebody gone be done climbed up under there for'yah! You can believe that shit! Don't be leaving no man like that unattended for long! I'm trying to tell you, there's a goddamn shortage! When Oprah can't even find one – what that tell'yah?!"

"She has Stedman!"

"Shi-i-it – I think his ass gay… Oprah caught his ass in the closet!" They both busted up laughing. "Shit – Oprah said, I knew yo'ass was wearing my shit! Done caught yo'ass in the act! Get yo'ass out'ah here!"

Sylvia was laying on the bed dying with laughter. "Sheila you need to be a comedian!"

"Maybe… but seriously though, whatever it is you need to do… hurry yo' ass up at it, so you can get back home to him. 'Cause I'mo tell you now my sista'… I like me some Mr. McPherson, he got my vote! All – the – way. That's all I got to say t'yah! Now… I'm fix'in'ta go in here and get on my man! 'Cause I have neglected him trying to help you with yours! Hurry up girlfriend… hurry up."

 

---

Chapter 85

 

L. A… Monday morning…

 

Shawn showered with his day on his mind. With his wife on his mind. With his dead child on his mind. Had it lived, it would be a little over two years old now. A son, another daughter? Blonde hair this time? Brown eyes, blue? Looking like him? Looking like Deidre? It was haunting him. He wish he didn't know. He couldn't stand the thought of his child being brutally murdered from within the womb. He felt his chest squeezing and leaned against the back wall of the shower, letting the spray of the water splash and flow over him. It was hard for him because he wanted children. He loved them. Everything about them. Especially babies. Nothing brought him down to earth with a sense of awe, like seeing and holding a new born baby. Watching them grow and discover. The smell of them, to hear their first laugh. He remembered Angela's first laugh… he'd spent the rest of the day making her repeat it over and over again. Naturally, all thoughts eventually lead to Sylvia, and to the child growing within her womb right now.

She'd written, "I know its a boy Shawn…"

With his imagination going crazy, he felt nervous anxiety fill him, "My son… God I beg you… don't let anything happen to my son… I beg you… please… I want my son… I want him… so bad." He swallowed the moisture in his mouth. Imagining him. He smiled, funny enough – he knew what he would look like. Right then, he knew his name.

"You my son, will be called Jesse James McPherson! Everybody will know who you are!" He declared. He shook all depressing thoughts of the one that was gone, nothing he did would bring him or her back. There was no sense in letting it get him down, no matter how horrible his or her end. He worked to force thoughts of Jesse James… grinning he wondered what Sylvia would say to such a name. He laughed as he scrubbed his underarms, soaping up. He could hear her now. "You not naming no child of mine no, Jesse James!"

Shawn laughed even more. "Oh yes I am."

He finished his shower and came out of it getting dressed. His mother, Shanna and Angela were yelling back and forth through the house making plans for him to take them to the mall and drop them off, picking them up a few hours later. He agreed, they had breakfast, and he drove them there reminding them to call him when they were ready, and where to pick them up.

With a smile on his face, Shawn headed to one of his favorite hang outs. It had been where he and Jesse spent most of their free time, at the pool hall. Shawn pulled up to the place and parked out front. Nothing going on at that time in the morning, which was just fine with him, he was there to talk and visit. It was nine-thirty and the place was empty all for one person, Shawn spotted him right away, sitting on his high perch reading the paper. The man had been that same way for as long as Shawn knew him.

"KING LOUIE!!! Wha's up m'man!" Shawn shouted reverting easily to talking street slang.

The paper lowered to reveal a super heavy weight black man, wearing a security guard uniform and glasses on his plump face. If he weighed less than four hundred pounds it was a miracle, Shawn had been calling him King Louie for years and years – because he loved to play his Louie Armstrong and his favorite movie of all time, was the Jungle Book by Walt Disney. Shawn teased him for the longest and took up calling him King Louie… wasn't long before everyone began calling him that.

"MOBY-D!?! You little motherfucker you! Where the hell you been!? Hey man!!" King Louie laughed in his jovial way, waiting for Shawn to get to him to shake his hand and offer a hug, because he wasn't standing up. Once he made it to that chair… that was it, he wasn't coming out of it. Shawn laughed and hugged his old time friend with one hand, while shaking the other.

"King Louie! When the hell you gone get yo'ass up out'ah this chair?!" Shawn started.

"Moby-D you know goddamn well – if you lookin' f'King Louie… where to find his ass! Got everything I need right here. Got my refrigerator at my left, got my phone, got my paper, got my bat, and got my nigulizer! Shit – thinkin' bout gettin a toilet installed on this mug!" He grinned slappin' Shawn's hand as he climbed up in the seat beside him. "That's why I came, I knew if no body else could be found, I'd find you." Shawn said.

"Find me hell – where yo'ass been?! I ain't seen you since las' year some goddamn time! Thought yo'ass done cooled it a bit?! What you doing thumpin' still?! You ain't young like you use to be, fightin' all the goddamn time! You better cut that shit out – too old to be fightin'! I just as soon shoot a nigga an' be done wit'it!"

"This ain' nothin' King Louie – I went back home finally to Wisconsin and my brother and I had to come to an understandin'!"

"Brother huh?"

"Yep."

"What the hell you fightin' yo' brother about?"

"'Bout old shit – 'bout new shit! But its done shit now!" Shawn gestured with a nod of his head, making his old friend laugh out at him.

"Man you ain't never gonna settle yo'ass down – is you? I thought you was straight when you got married, but I'on know… that didn't work out did it?"

"Noooo… fraid not. But guess what?"

"What?"

Shawn held up his left hand showing his wedding band.

"What the hell is that? You done did it again? You ain't learn shit from the first time did'yah!?"

Shawn laughed, "I got it right this time King Louie – look here, feast yo' eyes on this one here… tell me what you think?" Shawn dug into his wallet and pulled out a picture he had of Sylvia that she gave him. Crystal had talked her into getting pictures taken at Glamour Shots with her, and the results were stunning. Sylvia had always been attractive and photogenic, but the pictures she and her daughter took that day, blew even her away. Shawn had seen them in the basement and put one in his wallet, his favorite was a close up of her leaning forward with her hand on her knee and the loveliest smile he'd ever seen.

"WOOO MAN! Dawg done gone all the way! Moby-D – I knew this shit was gone happen sooner or later, yo' goddamn ass act too much like a nigga not to marry one!"

"AYE! Don't be callin' my wife that man! Not her… not that one… not even close." Shawn admonished reaching for the picture.

"Hang on hang on man… god-damn! Let me look at it for a minute… I ain't gone keep it! Damn… she fine! Where the fuck yo' ass find her? Shit now! Her ass – is – fine!"

"Uh… the picture please… my wife… you done looked enough… hand it over."

"Possessive motherfucker – take yo' picture! Goddamn all I ask to do was look at it!" King Louie razzed laughing.

Shawn plucked it from his fingers, looking at it himself, sighed and then put it back in his wallet, and that, into his back pocket again. "You done looked enough goddammit! That's enough… my wife! Mine… know what else?"

"What?"

"First one together due November." Shawn bragged grinning.

"Moby-D no you didn't lay it on ha'like that! Moby-D and the zebra!" Louie laughed.

"Fuck you King Louie! Just for that, I'm not bringin' him to see yo'ass! Just send you a picture! I ain't even gone send that, just mail yo'ass a negative!"

They both laughed at each other. "Man you know I'm just messin' wit' you, so where she at?"

Shawn sighed, "I'on know King Louie."

"What you mean you don't know?"

"I don't know where she at."

"Wait a minute… how long you been married?"

"Friday."

"Friday? This past Friday?"

"Yep."

"You mean to tell me you been married for three days and she gone already?!"

"Yep… she left me Saturday. Ain't seen her since." Shawn admitted with a look of acceptance, strictly for show.

King Louie looked at him a moment stunned and then busted up laughing, he laughed so hard he got up out of his chair to do it.

Shawn couldn't help it, he laughed too – that's all he could do.

"MAN! What the hell you do?! Yo'crazy ass! You ain't got sense enough to hang on to this one at least until after the honeymoon?!"

"I know, that's messed up ain't it." Shawn spoke out loud, lounged in the chair as King Louie laughed and climbed back into place.

"So you got her pregnant, you married her, and she left yo'ass."

"Yeah, that's about right."

"So its over already?"

"Nooo no no no no! Mm em, not this one. This one's for keeps. As soon as I get home, I'm straightening all of this out! I'm here for just a few days, take care of business and check on my ex… on the serious side, I need to ask you a few things King…"

"Sho… wha's up?"

"Its about that shooting that took place Friday – the woman who was caught in the center… that's my ex… Deidre Wherrington."

"Boy you kiddin' me!? That was yo'o'lady?"

"My ex… my daughter's mother. I need to know, was she caught in the midst of a gang war… or not?"

"He-e-e-ell naw! That's bullshit! They saved her ass."

"Who saved her?"

"The ones they trying to pin for doing the shit! Wasn't no gang activity of any kind happening that night. Matter o'fact – there was a couple of cars come through earlier in the week, scoping things out, white man behind the wheel both times. Taking pictures of cars and shit. He was spotted by two or three people. Friday night roll around, they hear some screaming, take off to investigate, they spot her running and screaming. This lil'girl Shorty picks her up and runs with her, and man… lemme tell you, they was on her ass like maggots on a dead cat! Shooting the hell out'ah her shit! Then mad Max got'em both… they then peppered the hell out of his shit! They was after her ass to kill her. I'm tellin' you now, somebody had a contract out on her ass! That shit was planned! But it didn't go according to plan! 'Cause three of'em, got they shit lit up too! Pulled three dead white men, plus the taxi man out of here – how the hell they gone say it was a gang war!? Bullshit! Somebody went through an awful lot though to make it look that way."

Shawn sat digesting that bit of information. He would have to share this with Jeremiah Franklin and Terra when they went to the hospital later. Having heard enough, he asked then, "How's Mama JoJo?"

King Louie started laughing again.

"Man… she trippin'! Mama JoJo be sittin' on the front porch guarding her shit with a shot gun. Threatenin' everybody about parking in that spot out front."

Shawn looked at him laughing. "I'm going there next."

"You better identify yo'self then and pray she remember … else you be at Cedar Sinai gettin' buckshots plucked from yo'butt!"

"Mama JoJo will always know me. Alright man… I'mo head out. When our wedding pictures come back, I'll send you some."

"Do that! Aye… baby pictures too! I got to see lil'Moby-D."

"I'll do one better.. I'll probably be bringin' him by for you to see him."

"You think its a boy?

"Sylvia says its a boy."

"That's yo'wife name… Sylvia?"

"Yeah… that's my wife's name. My son… Jesse James!"

"Ah man… that's alright man. You still miss'em hm?"

"You know how we were King Louie… he was my brother. And my son… will bare his name."

"He would be proud dawg… he would be proud."

 

Shawn next pulled up in front of Jesse's grandmother's house. Sure enough, he saw the silver head of braids sitting on the front porch, and as soon as he parked and turned off the engine she was yelling at him.

"NAW UH EMMM – YOU CAN'T PARK THERE!" Mama JoJo yelled coming to her feet.

Shawn saw the shot gun and started grinning from shock as he opened the door and stepped out.

"MAMA JOJO ITS ME! SHAWN… DON'T SHOOT ME NOW… I COME TO SEE YOU!" He yelled as he slowly stepped onto the far side of the side walk on the grass square and then onto the walk.

"Shawn?!" She called out to him making her way to her screen door unlatching it to open and look at him.

"Yes ma'am… Shawn… now how you gonna greet me with a shotgun? You know me mama JoJo… just been since last year."

"It sho'been – gettin' less and less! What bring you by now? You must be hungry?"

Shawn laughed, "No ma'am… not hungry… just come to check on you… see if you okay. See if you need anything?" He asked stepping up to the porch. She was squinting up at him, as she backed up carefully to let him on the porch.

"Chile you been fightin' again? What you fightin' 'bout now?" She asked, latching her screen back.

"Remember I told you last time I came, that I was moving back to Wisconsin where my family is? Well I did, I have two brothers there, I got into a fight with one of them."

"Ya'll don't like each other huh?" She asked sitting down in her rocking chair as Shawn occupied the fold out sofa next to it.

"Yes ma'am we do… just a little misunderstanding is all. How you doin' mama JoJo?"

"Oh I do alright… just watchin' my house… my street. I ain't stanin' fo' no druggin' in fron' of my house – sellin' that dope! They park there – I tellin' move on – else they gone get shot."

"Mama JoJo… that's dangerous what you doin'. People like that won't care that they should respect you, what if they have guns too?"

"Chile, mama JoJo done lived a long life. I out live my daughter, Jesse's mama – and I out live him! Me and death got'ah date baby… I ain't gone be late. When its time, I be ready for my rest."

"I got a really big place in Wisconsin now mama JoJo, gettin' ready to build on. So much room, fresh air, quiet living. Its nice… I bet you'd love it. You aught to come back with me and see it."

Mama JoJo leaned away looking at Shawn with shrewd eyes, "How I'm gone get there?"

"I'll take you. You can fly – with me."

"Up in the air – in one of them big'o airplanes?!"

"You'd like it mama JoJo… really you would."

"Baby – mama JoJo gone die right here. I told you last time you ask me to come live with you – no, and the time before that… no. This time… gone be the same."

Shawn sat a moment looking at the elderly woman whom had always welcomed him into her home, to sleep in her bed. To help him over his mourning of Jesse, he wanted her with him but she wouldn't budge. He sighed. "Mama JoJo you so stubborn! Why you always fightin' me. Don't you think I'll take good care of you?"

"Chile, mama JoJo don't need no body take care of her… I use to take care of you. When you was young, hungry, broke, sca'ed… member that?"

"Yes ma'am… I do. Now its my turn to take care of you… my mother's here… she would love to meet you."

"You can bring her on by, I ain't gone min'. As for takin' care of me… baby trust me, Lord gonna take care of me, when he good and ready, I'm just waitin' in line. Where the baby at?"

"Angela's with my mother and sister. I have another one on the way now… we think its a boy… my new wife and I, wanna see her picture?" Shawn asked eagerly, anxious to show Sylvia off to her.

"You know I like to see pictures… lemme see ha'."

Again Shawn removed the picture and showed it to mama JoJo… who looked at it and smiled, then glanced up at him grinning. "Now what make you go and do that?" She asked.

"Do what mama JoJo?"

"You know what… marry ha'."

"I love her mama JoJo… love her like I've never loved a woman ever in my life. See how pretty she is there… well on the inside, she even prettier. We got married Friday. Then something happened to Angela's mother and we had to fly right here to check on her."

"She come wit' you?"

"No … she didn't."

"Why not… ain't you newlyweds?"

"Yes we are. I ah… did and said something that hurt her. She misunderstood and left, thinking I wanted her to. I didn't. The bruises on my face, was part of it. I gotta find her and make it up to her."

Mama JoJo smiled as she watched him and listened, then shook her head. "Time sho'done changed. Use to be a day when a white man didn't marry us. I's nice to see, that things have changed where you can now. She in love with you?"

"Yes … we love each other a great deal. We're perfectly matched… while not perfect."

"Ain't no body perfect baby… no such thing. You gone visit Jesse whi'you here?"

"Yes ma'am I am."

"I ain't seen him in a while…like to before I go."

"When you wanna go mama JoJo… I'll take you now if you want?"

"Ain't ready now… can you take me tomorra?"

"What time?"

"I get up first thing in the mornin' be ready if you come get me."

"I'll be here at eight o'clock… how's that?"

"I be ready chile… I be ready."

 

Shawn left mama JoJo's and made his way to the mall, figuring he'd get himself something to eat so when they called him, he would just tell them where he was parked to meet them there. After getting there, buying himself something to eat, his ring tone went off and he picked them up. Their next stop was the hospital. Angela, Gert and Shanna went into the room as he stopped to inform Terra and the detectives who wanted to interview him what he knew. With the interview ended, he entered Deidre's room. She was awake, very weak, pale and quiet. Angela was standing next to her bed and carefully hugging her. There were lots of flowers all over her room from persons she worked with, and to his surprise, his mother pointed out, a large beautiful arrangement from Sylvia. With a card and all. He was dying to read it, simply because it was from her, but he didn't, yet he felt a strong sense of pride and love for her surge up three more notches because she had done so.

He could tell that Deidre was surprised to see them there. She fought back tears staring up at him, but said little. He took her hand and gently squeezed it, stroking her hair back from her face. "You're going to be alright. Terra and that Jeremiah Franklin have been right here through it all. Let them advise you Deidre… and go with your instincts okay? Keep your parents out of your room. You need to recover and then you need to get as far away from them as you can… okay? Will you do that… for yourself?"

Tears rolled from the side of her eyes, she nodded yes. Her lips were dry and she was starting to doze back off to sleep. They stayed for an hour more and then had to leave in order to make it to the James' for dinner and for Shawn to deliver the work he'd done for them.

At the James', he presented his work first thing, with his mother and sister present for once to see how and what he did for a living. As he strongly felt, they loved it. Every piece that he did for them. He was encouraged to keep going in the direction he was in. After putting everything away, Mercy took his mother and Shanna on a tour of their mansion while he and Lowell talked.

"You lookin' a little rough around the edges? Everything okay?"

"Yes… I'll be good as new in no time." Shawn returned in his study office, sitting comfortably.

"I hope so… because we've taken on three new authors. You going to be able to handle the work load?

"Well let me ask you something, you've seen what I've turned in so far, and I hope you trust my judgement, I'd like to introduce you to a way that I can keep up with the demands on book publishing no matter how many authors you bring on board. Can I come to your computer and show you something – something I would like to use from now on for book cover development."

"Sure, let's see it. Long as I'm getting the same quality featured work… I'll let you control how you produce it, as long as its always copyrighted to us."

"Oh it will be… always… here, take a look at this."

Shawn spent the next two hours showing Lowell James how the world of 3d graphics and art had come together. Mercy was a bit upset because the women ended up eating dinner without them, and so had to bring it into the study where they were so they could eat as neither of them seemed willing to break away from the computer. By the time Shawn was done, he was given a thumbs up as well an up on his salary since he was now having to provide for three more authors. They all came together for another hour after dinner and then departed. Back at the condo, the women went through their shopping as Shawn turned on his computer, hoping to see an email from his wife. There was one.

 

 

Shawn lay in bed later that night, thinking as usual. Missing his wife, as usual. Trying to get to sleep. Suddenly the phone rang and he quickly answered it so it would not wake the others, "Hello?" He answered softly.

A moment passed and then, softly, lovingly, "I love you so much… goodnight my husband… good night." And the phone went dead.

Shawn sat up in bed and stared at the receiver realizing it had been too quick to do anything with. He quickly clicked on the bedside light to look on the caller id panel. The number had been withheld. He sat forward with his elbows on his knees trying to gain control again. His stomach was filled with butterflies from hearing her voice.

"You lady… are gonna get it. If you think I'm going to let you get away with this… you have another think coming!"