They made it to the house and before it, surrounding the gate, already - paparazzi. Two vans, a few cars, men with cameras for pictures, news reporters with set ups ready to try and interview one of them. Dave shook his head, “Get ready, it all goes downhill from here.” He warned. He’d heard the words of Crystal, and happened to agree. He did feel sorry for Ms. Wherrington’s daughter, but it was her words, her deeds that layered the coating of slime that was harder to clean off. He felt it was even worse than the story of the little girl who’d died surrounding the porn. It was worse, because this was his own flesh and blood little girl - and due to the nature of most people - they would choose to believe he’d done it - which in their eyes made him lower than pond scum.
Approaching the gate, they all saw him coming, and like vultures, they couldn’t even wait for him to get there, they rushed and surrounded the Hummer looking into the windows like desperate piglets needing to suck off of their sow. The cameras started snapping and flashing right away, as they called out,
“The daughter is in there!”
“There she is!”
“Angela - is your father still touching you?!”
“Angela - does your mother know?”
“Is he black-mailing the family?”
Dave tried to get them into the gate, but not fast enough. Crystal let down her window, yanked in one of the reporters and held him while she put the window back up trapping him by the head and neck and then began punching, and beating him upside the head while he was being dragged alongside the Hummer. He ran and shouted and was helpless to get loose.
Ivory, Jake, and Mundo were the first out the back. Pulling on the man, strangling him further as Crystal purged her system on him. Mundo grabbed Angela out of the Hummer, and his nephews while shouting at him sister. “CRYSTAL! Quit whippin’ upside his head! Let’em go! You hear me? Crystal!”
She had no choice but to let him go because Ivory opened the door from the outside swinging it wide and hitting the button that rolled it back down for Jake to pull the reporter free, while shaking his head at his nieces handy work.
Clearly injured, bloody nose, busted lip, swelling eye, twisted ankle, bruised jaw and neck, he screamed out, “I’m suing! Call the police!” They tried to sooth him, calm him but then he shouted out at Crystal, “Crazy bitch!” Jake couldn’t help it - he jabbed him with that hammer and knocked him out cold. “What the hell, we’re as deep in it as we can get anyway.” He grinned while explaining to Ivory - who tossed the man in the back seat of the Hummer that was now vacant, ordering Dave, “Take’em in.” He meant to the hospital.
In the commotion, Angela ran into the house, passed all of the family that had come in support of her father. She was too ashamed to face anyone. Perhaps they would all look at her as Crystal did, because to Angela, it all felt like her fault. It felt as though everything was happening because of her. She made it to her room and shut her door.
The moment Jake protectively hustled Crystal into the family room - all could see that she’d been crying. She spotted her mother and immediately, burst into tears once more, “Have you heard what they’ve been saying? What’s happening? Why is all of this happening?” She cried out, unable to focus on anyone else in the room. Sylvia went straight to her, “Shhh, we’re trying to keep Shawn calm, come with me, and I’ll explain everything.” She practically dragged her from the room into the living-room that was smaller, more intimate than the family room where everyone was at the moment except for Shawn and Derrick. They were in the basement.
All of Shawn’s family, those who knew the truth about him, rushed to be with him. The first ones to show up were Jake and Vivian, followed by Derrick. Dennis and Sheila had been on the phone with him and with Sylvia - hearing the truth of it all. Because they were so close to them, Shawn gave Sylvia permission to tell Sheila all the details of the truth. After all, it was all out all over the place now - he could see no sense in not explaining the facts to those whom he trusted. Because Crystal had come in upset, Sylvia passed the phone to Vivian to talk to Sheila while she did so with her daughter. To everyone’s surprise, even Kathy-Ann was on the phone. She needed bail money to get out of jail. While watching the news report, some moron, as she referred to the man, was drunkenly spouting out his nasty disgusting opinion about Shawn. While she could have pretended ignorance - he struck a nerve and she put him down for a nap. As it took place inside a public bar, she was hauled away for assault and battery, disturbing the peace. Thus far, she was number two in the family arrested for defending Shawn.
Number three was coming up, as the police were at the door to arrest Crystal for the same.
Ivory, Jake and Mundo just about surrounded the entry to Ofc. Royce Collier, who stood sighing - hating this constant situation with them, he was dressed for duty, responding to the call, and right away, Jake was on him, “You’re gonna arrest Crystal for giving that man what he deserved!?” He fired out immediately. He gave no thought to the traces of bruises from his own battle with his wife. “You weren’t here to see how they covered that Hummer, like flies on a corpse snapping pictures and yelling out questions to a minor - my niece, surrounding crap that isn’t even true! And you’re here to arrest her?”
“Let’s not do this? You know I have no choice.” Royce returned mildly.
“Well you know what, at this particular moment, it sucks to be you.” Jake ground out.
“No, at this moment, I would say it sucks to be your brother.” Officer Collier returned unsure now if he should be fully on this family’s side as he had been.
Ivory jumped before Jake immediately, as he stood growling behind him, “Can’t you charge her, but leave her here under the circumstances?”
“No, an arrest is just that - under no circumstances can I leave her here, but she can be bailed out.” Officer Collier returned.
That’s when Derrick and Shawn came back up the stairs from the basement. Shawn saw Royce and asked, “What’s going on now?” He was trying to maintain his cool, but it was getting harder and harder. It helped to have his family around him, but they couldn’t shield him from what was happening. He hadn’t looked his wife in the eyes since he brought her and Mama Jojo from across the way. Those that loved him began arriving, and it helped him to avoid her. To avoid what she was feeling and thinking of all of this. Because his family knew him so well, not one of them asked him if any of it was true. They only awaited word from him as to why he never told them so they would be better equipped to defend him. His siblings knew about his porn days - but not about his record, his arrests or the little girl’s death - and certainly not about this thing with Angela. They figured they would learn it all once the dust settled and he was in the clear. For the moment, McPherson’s banded together - especially where Shawn was concerned, because he had always been there for them before he took off to California. The problem now was that Shawn had been in the basement with Derrick who’d been trying to find out what was happening and get his brother to calm down so they could work out a solution. So - he hadn’t seen the way the Hummer came in, covered practically in reporters with Crystal working over the head of one of them.
Officer Collier sighed behind Shawn’s question, he knew Shawn now, “I’m here - to arrest Crystal for attacking a reporter.”
Shawn stared at him a moment, turning red on the spot. The look he next gave his brothers and Mundo said it all. He needed help. He literally locked himself down. Jake quickly jumped in, “Shawn, I’ll follow them in, and bring her right back home. Let it go, your plate is full let it go.”
Shawn still couldn’t move, he could hear, but things were coming undone around him - because of him - his children, his sister - getting arrested because of him. Everything was coming apart at the seams and he knew he needed to maintain some type of control in the face of the fact, that he was losing all control of everything.
“Shawn?” Derrick called his name next. Looking into his eyes, “Shawn, you hear him? Jake is going to take care of it
, of Crystal, okay?”
Still he stood unable to move. His ears were ringing. Right then and there, he felt trapped and stuck, not having a clue of what to do.
Derrick’s eyes went to Jake, he mouthed softly, “Go get Crystal.”
Jake looked at Royce and softly stated, “I’ll take her out the front, meet me out there.”
Royce could see now was not the time to be particular about it. He nodded his head, turned and went back out the sliding glass doors. Jake felt a lump in his throat and walked pass his brothers going to the living room to get Crystal.
In the living room, Jake came in as Sylvia was relating all to Crystal - they stopped and looked up at him.
Sighing Jake gave it straight, “Officer Collier is here for you Crystal, you know why right?”
She did and nodded, her mother didn’t know that yet, “Ma, I gotta go. Can I leave the boys here with you?”
Sylvia looked from Jake to Crystal confused, “Sure you can leave the boys, where you going?” She looked back at Jake, “What’s this got to do with Royce? What’s going on now?”
Crystal’s hand went to her mother’s, “I’ll explain when I get back mama, promise.” She stood to follow Jake who was leading her towards the front door, with Sylvia following wanting to know what was happening. “Why can’t you tell me now?” She asked. They went into the foyer, towards the double doors where Jake opened them to Royce standing and waiting. She looked at Royce, “You’re here to take her where, for what?”
“Hi Sylvia… well, she attacked a reporter, he’s pressing charges.”
Sylvia exhaled, looked up at Jake, “Where you going?”
“To bail her out.”
“Thank you…” She turned to her daughter, “Thank you…” And hugged her, “Mama loves you, sometimes - you have to do, what you have to do. See you when you get back, we’ll take care of the rest of it, as it happens.”
“I don’t need to handcuff you do I Crystal?”
“No,” She answered gently.
“Thank you, just put your hands behind your back and pretend that I have, just in case any of them catch sight of us going to my cruiser.”
Sylvia backed up into the door closing and locking it. Turning she made her way to the bathroom, waddling and trying to add some speed, her bladder was going to explode any moment now and causing her back to hurt.
When Bart reached Shawn’s and Sylvia’s mansion - the sight of the press only made him angrier, if that were possible. By the time he came on the scene, there were more news vans. The street was a bottle neck cluster of men and women journalist out for a blood story. Bart was in his truck, which they immediately surrounded when he turned to go in the drive. They were shouting so many questions at him he couldn’t make out what half of them were saying. It didn’t matter because he blocked them out, ignored them and rang the buzzer on the intercom. He treated them no better than pesky insects despite their boldness getting so close that they were almost in his window, flashing and snapping shots of him.
Because Vivian was closest and could see who it was, she buzzed him in without a thought - he was family, Shawn’s father.
Bart put his window back up when the gates opened for him. He drove around to the back, pulling his truck up into a slot to park and then backed it up and pointed it back towards the gate. Stepping out he left his keys in the ignition because he wouldn’t be staying long.
He could see in the house, who was there - he didn’t care.
When he slid the door open and stepped within, his eyes went straight to his two sons. Well, one of them was, of that he was certain, but the other one…
“Dad…” Derrick muttered with a tight stomach. He’d wondered how long it would be before his brother had to face their father, no more wondering, he was there. He’d been in the middle of trying to reach Shawn - it was as if he was shutting down - too much was happening around him all at once, he was only a man after all. Now, there stood their father.
Series 14 - Episode 106 - Chapter 318
His father stepping into the room snapped Shawn out of his momentary trance. To see the man he dreaded most of all in the face of all that he’d done, all that he’d been accused of doing, made him feel weak and small. He wanted to cry. He wanted to drop to his knees and beg his father please - to forgive him. His stomach hurt because he knew he must now face it all.
The room went quiet around him, everyone was looking at Bart.
Bart’s eyes met Shawn’s as he slowly made his way towards him.
Shawn felt his throat lock with fear. He knew his father. Knew that look on his face. To see it made his guts twist even more. All of a sudden he was a little boy again, wondering what had he done that was so bad to bring his father’s ire down on him. This time, he knew. He hated getting a whipping, he hated the sting and burn of the strap - he hated the harsh words spewed at him, when all he’d ever wanted was to please him. Make his father proud of him. That’s all he’d ever wanted. Sometimes, he had felt as if his father had hated him.
Now, this day - he knew that he did - and for good reason.
Shawn would have rather been doused with gasoline and set on fire to slowly burn than face his father with the sins from his youth. He’d heard a many times over the years, there was no pain like regret. The acts of today, never go away - make them good acts, make them good - they’ll be back one day. The good will bring gladness, a smile to your face - the bad will make you weep in shame and disgrace.
Shawn’s eyes filled with tears.
He opened his mouth to speak, knowing that he needed to explain himself, “Dad…” but the words got lodged in his throat, he almost couldn’t breathe, and his eyes welled up, the pool overflowed as a tear dropped from his lid.
Bart’s lip curled in disgust, he turned to those present, “Leave - the room.” He bit out the order.
Vivian’s eyes rounded, her heart swelled and filled her chest to see the way Shawn had suddenly become.
Derrick turned red.
Mundo felt his face burn. He didn’t want to leave Shawn. The look on Bart’s face made him want to stand before Shawn and protect him, the way his brother was doing. Seeing it, seeing him go through it reminded him of how he felt when facing his own sire, Armundo. He couldn’t get himself to move, he wasn’t trying to disobey, but - the look on Shawn’s face made him want to stand beside him, not desert him. But Crystal’s boys he took into Mama Jojo’s room and she was ready for them and closed her door.
Ivory, Angela’s bodyguard knew he needed to leave the family in privacy - he was there for Angela after all. As he was about to hit the stairs, he found her at the bottom of them, peering around the wall there, as if afraid to go in, and afraid to leave the spot. She must have seen her grandfather’s arrival. It was clear with the look on her face - she was concerned about her father. Ivory knelt beside her, “Would you like to go up, maybe play a game?” He inquired gently.
She only shook her head - her eyes in the room where her father stood.
Derrick was partially in front of Shawn, he didn’t want anyone touching his brother - that included his father, knowing of the things he’d done to him in the past. “Dad, please don’t do this right now - I-…”
“I said - leave the room.” Bart repeated growling this time.
Derrick gulped. He hardly ever defied his father, always and only when it came to Shawn, protecting Shawn from him. He loved his big brother, they were closest. Many times, unable to bear hearing the things his father did to him, he stepped in to take the heat off of him because even as a young man, he knew that what his father was doing, was wrong.
Facing the fact that no one was leaving, Bart’s fury went up another notch, “You gone defy me boy?” He blazed at Derrick.
“Bart, please leave it for now.” Vivian tried, she too felt a bond, a closeness to Shawn that was protective, she didn’t want anyone making this worse on him either, knowing the little bits and pieces that she did.
“You keep out’
ah this - you hear? Got nothin’ to do with you.” He corrected her immediately. Turning back to Shawn, looking him in the eyes, he grew angry at Derrick’s blocking. “You move out my way boy, or I’ah move you.” He warned.
Shawn shoved Derrick hard from between them, “Go!” He barked at his brother.
Derrick stood aside, his eyes on Shawn, flashing back to the days when they were boys, facing the beast alone. This wasn’t the only time Shawn had shoved him aside. His big brother would take ten whippings to keep him from getting just one. Derrick’s eyes welled up, “Please dad… leave him.”
Bart ignored him, the rest as he stepped into Shawn’s face, military style, like he was a Sergeant in the army facing a sorry excuse for a private, “I’m looking at you boy, and I don’t know who you are. You know the shame you brought me - this family, our name? You the worse kind’ah liar - a fake! All this time, all those stories! Lies, false tales, the devils very own - you disgust me!” Bart spat the words with a curled lip. Snapping his eyes to Derrick, “You knew didn’t you? ‘Bout what he’s been doin’? Hm? Off in California doing vile, obscene and disgusting things to women! I raise either of you to be so low?” He barked.
“He was young dad - he was just out of school - it all happened a long time ago.”
“Not all! You always did run to his rescue,” He returned and turning back to Shawn, “No not all of it - the fact that any of it could be said is too much. I have never been so disgusted, humiliated and embarrassed by my sons, in all my life. Hell, not even Jake as low as you.”
“Dad, please let me explain…” Shawn tried.
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 37
