Amused by him, Rochelle supplied him with the time.
Before he departed he’d alerted her, “Don’t get anything to eat - I will.”
“Excuse me? I may have plans.” She mentioned with a hand to her hip, flirting as it were.
“Do you? Don’t lie either, tell the truth - do you?”
He was so cute, she couldn’t help but laugh - and being honest, “No - I don’t.” She admitted, “But - you should ask and not assume - taking my time and evening for granted.”
He only grinned, winked and was off.
When she pulled up at her place, he was there waiting for her. The apartments where she rented had a parking section for the tenants. He was the first out of his car, holding up a large bag filled with steaming hot and fragrant Chinese entrees. Rochelle was hungry. She wasn’t about to turn him away, not while holding that bag. Besides, she was floating in between paydays and would have been forced to eat what she had in. There was nothing in her cupboards or refrigerator making her mouth water, like that Chinese was.
For that reason, he thought he was in… and then daddy had called.
“Ma-a-an! I can’t believe it! Bet they’ve been arguing again - that’s the only way he would be back tonight! Freakin’ heck!”
“Aaaah, well - if it makes you feel any better, I’m full. That Chinese was wonderful and uh, there’s leftovers, mind if I put it away?”
Marcus sulked, “Yeah, I bought it for you, for us.” Thinking and hoping, he gazed up at her, puppy dog eyes and all, “If I can get away, can I come back?”
“I need to get to bed early, I have two classes and then to work tomorrow.”
“Aaah please, see - I brought you Chinese food. Come on, can I come back.”
She stood grinning up at him as he’d stood as well, “Maybe next time.” She leaned up his statuesque height as he bent down so she could give him a quick peck on the lips, his long fingers and strong hands had her by the waist, pulling her in close against his body, he was aroused, no doubt about it, “Aaaah girl, what you do to’me.”
Trying to push away, Rochelle reminded him, “Ah ah ah, better hurry - don’t wanna piss daddy off.”
“He’s pissing me off!” Marcus bravely muttered, turning her loose to step away. He knew full well all that attitude would be gone by the time he got home and was facing his father. Thinking of him, was an instant kill to his erection. Resigned, he grabbed his shoes, yanking them on, leaning against the wall by the door, he kept glancing at her with adorable, pitiful pleading eyes. “Can I come back if?”
Rochelle laughed, shaking her head, “Nooo.”
“Please?”
“Boy! See, give you some one time, now you back for more.”
“Ain’t my fault - I can’t stop thinkin’bout it. Can’t stop thinkin’bout you. Come on mami - please. Didn’t you like it? I mean, like how I was in bed? Not like it’s not big enough.” He crowed, bragging the last part confidently.
“I ain’t your mami, miho. And my saying no is not a complaint.”
That made him smile a bit, he nodded going back to a serious look in his eyes, “Uh, an’ you are my mami. Only you.”
“Ugggh! Look Marcus, I’m free! I like it that way. I don’t want any entanglements right now. Between school, working and bills - I’m full.”
“Please?”
“Marcus - besides, you may get to your dad and can’t come back.”
“If I can, I’ll call you, tell you I’m on my way back, okay?” He begged.
“Dang!” She stood crossing her arms beneath her breasts glaring at him.
Marcus didn’t care if his father was waiting, this was important. He gave her more of the smoldering, sad, want you so bad, I don’t know what to do look.
“Okay! I’m telling you now, do not - get used to this!”
“Too late for that - mami you all that’s on my mind. I can’t even see straight, got my nose wide open and I don’t care who knows it.”
Shaking her head, sighing and fighting a bit of a grin, Rochelle opened her door pushing him out, “Go, just go - I’on know what I’mo do with you.”
Grinning, taking off for the stairs, he yelled up, “I’ll be back - I’ll call first!”
“Yeah, yeah yeah.” Closing her door, she locked it and went to her window looking down at him as he got in his car, started it with the lights turning on and off he went.
Rochelle turned back to all the food that was left - because he bought plenty, she gladly put it away in her refrigerator. Giving things some thought, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have him around. Who knows, maybe he would help her to make, “ends meet” in more ways than one. His only lacking was age. She hadn’t figured herself as the type for dating younger guys. True, there wasn’t a great gap in their ages, but she liked older, not younger. However, having said that - otherwise, he fit the bill. So far, he was respectful, considerate, and good in bed as well as his healthy endowment. Time would tell, but she just might grow to like this arrangement, she shrugged. After tidying up, leaving her kitchen lit up, but everything put away, she grabbed her mobile and hit the sack.
When Marcus pulled up to the curb in front of his home, the van was sitting at the end of the driveway - no other family members present, just his father, who had been sitting on the front porch waiting for him. He expected him to walk up to the car and chew him out, but he didn’t. He stood just as Marcus was getting out of his car.
“You have gas in that car?” He asked on the way to the van.
“Huh? Uh, half-a-tank, why?”
“Follow me so I can take the van to your mother.” He instructed.
Marcus nodded and watched him say nothing more as he reached the van and climbed in. Marcus sat back in his car, started it up once more and headed off behind his father. As he followed, he added up what time it was to how long it would take them to get to Camp Daniel’s from there, and then what? He wasn’t even sure what all he was expected to do that night. He let out a deep sigh. He and Rochelle for the night, out of the question, no way. It was almost two hours to where his mother was, and then depending on what was needed, two hours back. If his father had him following him there, that meant he wanted a ride back to Madison. All in all, four or more hours he could kiss goodbye.
“This sucks!” He grumbled. With his phone back in hand, doing something he knew he shouldn’t do, but did anyway, he text Rochelle while driving. His thumb working like mad speed as his eyes went rapidly to the road and back to let her know,
G’nite mami, sleep tight, no Marcus 4 U insight xx - Making a face clearly irritated, he sent it.
Aaah, call me tomorrow xx - She replied.
Marcus smiled, that was a good sign. - will do! Xx
Camp Daniels…
Paul had taken the kids and left for home at his father’s and Vivian’s house.
Bart left with Shanna to check on Meribel before he went home alone to Hillsboro.
Gert had only come out to bring their dishes to be cleaned, saying that she would be staying the night in Mama Jojo’s room. No other explanation to Shawn or Sylvia, and of course they could only nod with an, “Okay… see you in the morning.”
With all done, Sylvia went up to bed. Due to being unable to locate her daughter and grandkids, there was no way to kiss them goodnight and she assumed they’d left. If they were still around, they would come up and tell her goodnight. She was tired, her ankles were swelling and her lower back ached a bit. She wanted to strip down and get in her comfortable bed.
At the stairs, her husband had kissed her forehead saying, “I’ll be up in a bit…”
Used to his night customs, she went to their room and straight to their bathroom. There, she ran water in her large corner bath. It was big enough for three people to sit comfortably in - made with sauna jets to work one’s back and muscles. She filled it adding her favorite bath moisturizers and oils - got in with a deep sigh of pleasure. It was true that she was in love with her new bathroom and especially t
his tub that was Shawn’s doing. To think, she’d fought with him about the expense of everything, and yet, there she was, in appreciative heaven.
Downstairs, like a centurion guard after watching her until she was out of sight, Shawn went off to do what he usually did in his home. Not that he really needed to, after all, the house was solid secure, and Angela had a bodyguard that drifted about their home where she was concerned. They were all accustomed to him now, he was like a welcomed fixture of the family. He had access to anything he wanted to eat, or drink. Ivory was a professional, and was paid more than well-enough to protect Angela Rae McPherson. He did his best to be like a ghost presence in the McPherson’s home. While he would smile, socialize, he was never distracted. He had the option of sleeping in the house with them, or returning to the mobile home provided for him and Angela’s driver.
Shawn knew they were well protected, but he would never turn his home completely over to another to check, as the father, husband, head of that house - he would always do it. Making a stop in the basement Shawn tapped on Mundo’s door - who opened it immediately, smiling after clicking his phone off. His mobile had become an extension of him now.
“What up?” He simpered.
“Your sister go home?”
“Oh, nah - she say she gone sleep here t’night - she upstairs in her crib.”
Shawn stood leaning in Mundo’s doorway, his brows lifted in interest, “Hmmm, is that good news, or she just tired?”
“Dad, think safe - she tired. I wouldn’t read nothing else into it.”
Shawn nodded for the good advice, and then shifted to other events that evening, “You know what happened with Derrick and Meri?”
“Ma-a-an - he came down here hot earlier! Wanted to go. Not sure what stirred it, Tia came down - tried to calm him down, didn’t work, he stomped off. We ain’t seen’im since.”
Shawn sucked in a deep breath shaking his head, “What a mess.” He stood a moment, wondering where his brother was? “You get to bed, I’ll go check on Crystal and the boys.”
“G’night dad.” He called out just as his mobile ring tone went off.
“Uh, let’s turn that off for the night, school tomorrow, right?”
Mundo grinned, nodded and did what he was told. Turned it off and showed Shawn that he had. Winking at him, Shawn turned away and made his way out the back of the house towards Crystal’s garage apartment. Trotting up the steps, he could see the lights were on and could hear the T.V. on as well. At the door, he tapped softly. A moment later, Crystal was at the door, opening it. She knew it would be family tapping, no one else had access within the gates that time of night.
When she looked up at Shawn, she smiled tiredly, “Hey Papa Shawn.”
His hand lifted using his thumb to caress her chin and jawline, “You look tired sweetheart, just checking in.”
“Hope you don’t mind, I didn’t feel like driving back home.”
Shawn’s hand dropped from her to lean against the open door frame, with narrow eyes and a pinched brow he shook his head, “Get to bed, your exhaustion has you talking crazy.”
Crystal smiled, “Love you too dad.” Was her answer, backing in to close the door when she thought to add, “By the way, I love it - I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Shawn looked back, “I would - I would change that you’re here, to stay.” Without another word, he headed down the stairs.
Crystal sighed, closed and locked the door.
She checked to see if the kids were still sleeping, they were worn out. The boys looked so content and so at home. They were happy here, both of them were - the only let down was that Ben was not here for them anymore. Pulling the door to, she went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of chamomile tea. Opening the cabinets, she had to smile - testing what she saw she went to the next, and the next - to find loads of dried foods. Non-perishables with distant expiration dates. Cereals, pasta noodles, rice and beans. Can goods - concentrated milk, veggies, fruits, Chef-Boyardee quick meals. In the freezer of the double door refrigerator, Ice cream, frozen hash browns, (her favorite), steaks, banquet TV dinners, frozen nuggets, whatever foods could stand a while. She shook her head smiling. Shawn and her mother really wanted her there. Back at the counter, she dipped the tea bag over and over in the steaming cup of water, her mind on Ben.
She hated that she couldn’t stop thinking of him. No matter how many times - how much she was supposed to be focusing on making her relationship with Victor work - her mind would not let go of Ben.
She wasn’t trying hard enough and knew it, so this was all her fault.
To edge her on, she’d been reading articles on saving ones marriage - so desperate to get things right and back on track in their troubled home. The advice made sense, with discussions on how to fall back in love with the father of one’s children, or the mother. She did not want to be part of a statistic. She did not want to just give up and walk away like it had never meant anything. She did not want to be like some who walked away when the going got tough. After all, there was a reason for the line in the marriage vows for better, or for worse. People used to be married for 30, 40 and 50 years, it had not been easy sailing the entire time. Even though they were divorced, Victor wanted to remarry, she was the hold up. Thus, she’d turned to reading articles in hopes of finding something to make her stop thinking of Ben, and focus on Victor. The couples commenting in the articles discussed what they’d been up against and how they maintained their marriages. One thing all of them said, and that was at various points in their marriage, feelings towards the other weren’t always the same. They said, at one point, the wife loved more. At another point along the way, not so much anymore for whatever reasons, due to changes in her or struggles. This was the same with the husband where he at times loved more or less. They all claimed the key was to stay loyal, and ride out the ill feelings until things got better, until they finally loved in sync. It was by sticking to each other, through thick and thin, that they each grew closer in the end. The keys were - maintain loyalty, always be respectful of the other, be faithful and keep the trust.
Crystal felt she was battling and climbing a mountain too high to get up.
So much had been done to them, between them, starting with Victor’s neglect of not standing up for her, and not putting her first and then, Natalie’s lies and interference. Maybe, if she gave herself time, gave them time and rode out these feelings, maybe they would both find themselves back in love again, at the same time and perhaps this time around, it would be better. Most of the articles stated - that many times where she was right now, was 70% of the reason why normal marriages ended in divorce during the two to five year time span. Normal as in, no domestic violence or infidelity. Because of her, there had been domestic violence, she would not deny it, regardless of what led to it. Then, her mind flashed to Ben and the evening she lay beneath him, writhing in passion. Once more, she was guilty. Flames went up her neck, setting her face on fire with shame. This is why she had to fight to make things right. She had gone to Ben, pleaded with him to stay even to the extent that they might carry on having an affair. More shame washed over her. If she didn’t turn this around, her father would be right about her. Right about everything he said, that she was nothing but a cheap piece, a slut, stupid for any man needing a whore. His tirades were especially brutal when he was drunk. Talking low to her so her mother couldn’t hear the things he would say when she lay sleeping in the other room after working long hour shifts.
A tear rolled down her face, fighting back a rage surrounding how much she hated her father. His presence gripped her, his ghost held her locked in constant turmoil, battling fears of being all that he claimed. Crystal shook off her thoughts, turned with her cup of tea in hand, walking from the kitchen clicking lights off. In her bedroom, she went to take her clothes off and walked over to the dresser opening a drawer. With a few tears still wet on her cheeks she laughed out loud. In the drawer, plastic packages of pajamas and sleeping gowns. She picked a
gown, tore open the plastic and put it on. Sniffing and wiping the moisture from her face she spoke aloud, “I’m gonna make this work, if it kills me.”
Before lying down, she checked her mobile in her purse. She’d missed a call. About to check from who, her ring tone went off. It was Victor. Drawing in a long deep breath, she answered it.
“Hey.” She answered low.
“Uh, what time are you coming home? It’s after eleven already.”
“I know I - uh - wasn’t feeling good, got really tired so - I’m gonna - stay the night.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“I’ll be home in the morning.” She informed him.
“Home in the morning? Man you gotta be kidding me…”
“It’s not a big deal, would you rather I drove home feeling like I do, and maybe have an accident with the boys?”
“Whatever Crystal, whatever. You know, if you’d have gone with me-…”
“I’m still tired and not feeling good, can we talk about this tomorrow. I don’t feel like arguing.” She cut him off to ask. She could hear Victor breathing hard on the other end of the phone, like he wanted to say something more but fought with himself to keep quiet. “Did you - have a good time?” She asked him hesitantly, trying to lighten things up.
“It was okay, I wanted my family there with me.”
Crystal bit her lips to keep from retorting in sarcasm with things from the past. It was past - she coached herself that she needed to keep to the present - not bring up yesterday’s gone by. “I’m sure there’ll be more events for us to go to together.”
“Em hm.” He mumbled.
“Well, I’m gonna get some sleep, see you in the morning.”
“Yeah…” He returned.
Victor sat holding his mobile, steaming, angry. “Fine, two can play this game.” He muttered going through numbers on his phone and choosing one in particular, he gave her a call.
Series 13 - Episode 103 - Chapter 311
Shawn entered their spacious bedroom after having checked on Angela last, giving her a kiss goodnight. His wife was dropping a maternity t-shirt over her head. The mid-section of her body swollen and round. She pulled it down to cover herself and noticed him watching. “Everything okay?” She asked, heading for her side of the bed, climbing in.
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 8
