Deidre started crying, she couldn't help herself, her stomach hurt, nausea was gripping her so tightly, she could barely keep from rocking, "She's going to hate me!" She cried, "She's always wanted her father over me, always - I don't blame her ... I don't blame her." She sobbed.
Charlie slapped the bread down on the counter, not sure what to do to sooth her. It bothered her deep to see Deidre so torn up. She'd made the mistake of getting too close to her client. That was foolhardy, getting emotionally attached to someone, as she was to Deidre. Charlie wasn't the crying kind. Even when she had her heart broken by Samuel, she hadn't really cried - she moaned, mourned and hurt - but not a cry as most women did. After all the rest, she'd gotten angry.
"Deidre dammit! Listen here, you fuckin' have to do what you have to do! You are who you are! Your life is what it is! Your curse is that, you are worth billions of goddamn dollars, that other people - want! No one gets to choose where they are born and the shit they're born under! Not you, not anyone! I hate fucked up shit like this! Stand up goddammit, dry your eyes and get ready to fight with his ass for the things you cannot change! You did not make this world fucked up as it is, had shit to do with you! You have to do, what you have to do! This is about her! Keeping her safe at the cost that only you can pay! Only you have within your means what will be necessary to make sure your daughter does not become a victim! When the time comes and he's going off, the way you fear he will, dammit, you go off too! This shit ain't no more easy for you, than it will be for him to give her up! But he gonna have to give her up! It's as simple as that! She needs to be here, with you, where she will be safe and let's face it, even then, nothing is one hundred percent! But the odds are a lot better for her here, than there with him, and you know it! So stop this battle that's tearing you apart and accept your lot in life and sadly, yes - her lot as well! Because no matter what you do, how you wish you could walk away from your inheritance, it's hanging over you always like a big ass guillotine - you are locked in baby, there is no escape, once they set their eyes on you! Now stop that goddamn crying, right now goddammit! Shit! We are in this shit up to the fuckin' fight - a life or death fight - and ain't shit you can do, to make it go away. So brace up dammit, prepare yourself for battle!"
* * *
La Jolla Cove
"Oh Crystal, I love that dress on you! You're so pretty!" Angela gushed watching Crystal spritz on the finishing touch to her summer look, her favorite perfume. Her hair was loose and free, twirls and curls around her face and to her shoulders. She wore a short, summer halter top dress, of satiny challis with a white background and tropical flowers of red, orange, purple and pink, and tiny matching, purple panty shorts beneath. The skirt of the dress would flare out from her body should she spin, and flounced as she walked. She felt feminine, delicate and womanly in it. She'd only worn it once before, and now, this day she would again. There was a beach party taking place not far from the beach house they were in, they would all walk down to it, enjoy it a bit before Deidre showed up to get Angela.
She was as excited as Angela, Mundo and Ben about it. Her boys were jumping up and down calling for her to hurry up from the bottom of the stairs. Accompanied every so many minutes by her mother, who was threatening to leave her.
"I'm coming - I'm coming!" She called out laughing as she and Angela trotted down the stairs, Angela ever in her shadow, worshiping her older sister, filled with nothing but love and admiration for her. They finally sped through the house to the sun deck.
"Girl, the party'll be over by the time you ready!" Sylvia fussed, looking her daughter over. She was simply stunning. Her incredible, unusual looks came from her father's side of the family. His father, Armundo senior's father that is, although black, had been red. Freckles all over his body, coppery rust colored hair, similar colored eyes, and reddish skin-tone. Crystal was so close to that, freckles across her nose, and a few on her body should she stay in the sun too long. Derrick Jr, Meribel's eldest son, was the same way, absent the freckles. They looked more like brother and sister, than Mundo and Crystal. She also had her Puerto Rican grandmother's hair. Wavy, curly, silky. It grew very fast and down her back. Of them all, Crystal eye's were the most gingery in tint along with her hair. Her skin had that same gingery hue; as a little girl, she had always been slender, skinny in fact; like her mother had been. She'd never gone through a chubby phase when she was pre-puberty; her figure had always been kind of boyish until she filled out some. Small boobs, and a gentle bubble butt, but her legs were another contribution from her Puerto Rican grandmother, she had very shapely, big legs, long legs. Getting pregnant and having her two boys had helped shape her up a bit more, giving her figure a hand. Her hips were a bit broader, her rear a bit bigger, but her boobs, were the same, small.
Right now, her eyes were sparkling, her skin was all aglow, her full head of hair was bouncing and free. The outfit she wore, was made for her it seemed, showing off her incredible legs and slender body and nice hips and rear. Sylvia noticed something in her demeanor as well - there was a marked difference. She had more pep in her step, she actually gave off an aura of happiness. Standing as a witness to this transformation in her daughter, both gladdened Sylvia and worried her. Because she was worried that despite her daughter's pledge of determination not to - which Sylvia was afraid was too late - she just might have, fallen for Ben. What she saw now, had not even existed when she'd been with Victor - she'd been closed with him, private, secretive, careful, and cautious. There was none of that with her now. Regardless of what Shawn wanted, Sylvia did not want her getting involved with Ben this close to her break up with Victor. She needed to be free to live a little, fly a little, grow a little. As her mother, that's what she wanted. Romance and love, well - that was all good, but later ... much later.
Sylvia turned in the midst of her very vocal, excited family - all eager to reach the party. Shawn was doing the father thing, laying out rules to everyone. She had to smile, the only babies present were Angela, Isaac and Darren. But in her husband's eyes, they were as little children. She wasn't sure what was making her so reflective of late, but she watched him and wondered how she could have possibly ended up with this man? The more she thought about it, him, maybe God hadn't gifted her with him so much, as he had her children. It simply and truly blew her away that he had it within him, to love her children so completely as he did. She slipped up the night before and made a remark about him not really being their blood father, which he wasn't. But his reaction to that was just short of what his reaction would have been if she had been announcing that she was contemplating aborting Jesse James. He actually got mad at her. Had fussed at her a bit because she'd pissed him right off. As she quietly lay and let him vent, she thought about what Mundo claimed a while back, that he was a bit crazy. Sylvia agreed. Crazy in a good way if there was such a thing. Something in his mind, in his logic, in his heart and soul, or someone - be he God or the devil, told him that her children were in fact, his! That something or someone told him they were a gift to him. And her husband, took that to heart and pulled it into the very core of him. Because her saying what she had the night before, put him on her, setting her straight so much so that she dare not make that error again.
Now, the last one out of the house, and locking it up, she turned on the deck making her way to the stairs, watching the older ones take off towards the party. They could hear the heavy bass beat of the music being played from where they were. Mundo had Isaac by one hand, while Angela had his other hand. Ben was in the lead, Crystal, laughing, yelling something out to him, followed. As for Darren, for the last two nights, for some reason, he'd been clinging to Shawn. Shawn had him now sitting on his shoulders as they waited for her at the bottom of the steps that led onto the beach.
"Come on here woman! Kids have taken off and left us behind!" He grinned up at her, watching her progress down. "You okay?" He asked, always watchful of her, concerned.
"Yeah, I'm okay." she smiled, taking his hand that was out for
her to hand her down beside him.
"You moving a bit slow, you sure you're okay?"
"My back is hurting a bit, nothing serious." She returned.
Shawn slowed his pace with her steps now that they were walking down the beach from the house. He went silent into thought, "Think we should turn back? You put your feet up?"
"No, it's just little twinges, I'm okay, really I am."
"I don't like the idea of your back hurting. It's not the kind of hurt like your period is coming on or something is it?" He worried.
"Shawn, I know my body, okay? I've been pregnant before, if it was something to worry about, I'd be worrying, and I'd tell you so."
"Maybe you're doing too much? I mean, it has been years since you were last pregnant, your body is changing, it's not the same as it was then, I think we should go back and you put your feet up." He stopped in his tracks. Sylvia let go of his hand and kept walking in the direction they'd been heading. "Sylvia!" He called to her.
"If you wanna go home, you can ... I'm going to check out this beach party." She turned around to face him, walking backwards, grinning as she informed him of her plans and then turned back. Shawn sighed, with his hand over his head to Darren's back, he trotted to catch up to her, making Darren laugh out from the bouncing jar of his trot. Catching up to her, he fussed, "You are so stubborn sometimes, I swear!"
"And you're not?! Huh, you're the king of stubborn Mr. McPherson."
"Yeah yeah yeah, so I've been told, but if you're still feeling those twinges tonight, tell me okay? I don't think it would hurt to take you into Sinai for a check up, just in case. You will tell me if it continues, won't you?"
"Yes Shawn, if it continues, I will tell you. But I'm fine, so stop being a worry wart!"
Looking down at her smiling face, he gave it up, and gathered her in close under his arm. He was soon smiling as well from the little fingers combing through his hair - scratching his scalp - no doubt Darren was up there making a fine mess of his hair while giggling about him.
"Did Deidre say what time she was coming for Angela?" Sylvia asked.
"No, but I have my phone on me. Once she sets off, she'll no doubt give me a call." He responded.
"As much as I've enjoyed it here, I admit that I can't wait to get back home."
"You are, getting tired aren't you?"
"Just a little, even so, I'm still having a good time. I'm so glad that we came, that you brought us. You have any work left to do for the James', while you're here?"
"Thursday I have a final photo shoot. Once that's done, if you want, we can go home right after that."
"Emmm, that means flying again, huh?" She simpered.
Shawn laughed, "I'm afraid so my darlin', that, or we drive back. We do, you're talking days on the road. When I left here to relocate, I made that drive bringing my truck, SUV and bikes, trust me - that's one drive, I don't think you'd like very much."
"You drove all that way by yourself?"
"Paul traveled with me. He was making the move to join Diane because she had already moved to Minnesota, and he had only a few weeks left with his job. I basically waited for him and together, we made the journey. He drove the truck, I drove the SUV pulling the bikes on a trailer."
"He's a really good friend to you isn't he? How'd you two meet?"
"Merriam Styles, she was his aunt."
"Ah, I see."
"Yep, needless to say, after that drive, he and I both decided, that was the last time we'd ever do anything like that. So when it comes to cross country travel, flying is it I'm afraid."
"I think I'm going to have to agree with you on that one. I suppose I'll get used to it after a while." She commented.
"Maybe, to be honest baby, I still get tense when it comes to landing, so I feel'ya, believe me I do." Turning it to her, he asked, "So who helped you make the move from Chicago to Wisconsin?"
"Thankfully, it's a nothing drive. I hired movers, followed behind them. By the time we got to the house, Crystal, Mundo and Victor were there to help me get things in order. It was pretty easy for me, all but the packing up."
Shawn smiled gazing down at her, thinking about it, "So my timing was perfect for once it seems. Look at us now, married with children and a baby on the way."
"And your brother is marrying one of my best friends."
"Emmm, that aught to be interesting."
"Yeah, tell me about it. And Derrick's married to Meribel, Armundo's ex-girlfriend from Chicago, life - is far stranger than fiction."
"So they say, so they say." Shawn agreed as they came in sight of the beach party.
There were loads of scantily clad people around. Bikini's galore, thongs amount them worn by men and women. Some dressed like beach bums, with ragged shorts and shirts. Some in more dressy beach wear. The crowd was more white, then Spanish and a few black. The performers were Spanish and black, along with a DJ, situated on a out cropping deck that had been built against a rock mass back further on the beach a nice distance from the wash of the waves. There was a bar set up, and two mobile catering stalls preparing seafood dishes, hot dogs, burgers, tacos and many other types of foods. There were donkey rides for the kids, a helium balloon stand with all kinds and shapes of them, as well other local party novelty items to purchase advertising La Colla Cove. There was a stand for cotton candy, flavored snow cones, you name it. Sylvia was impressed at how these things could be set up just about anywhere to make that money. There were lifeguard stands, because many persons were in the water with their kids, running in and out of it.
The music playing was loud, but fantastic. A great mix of music to guarantee those listening would be moved to get up and dance.
Shawn felt a soft pat pat on his head from the passenger above.
"G'down." Darren ordered.
Shawn made a face looking at all the people, at the children, at the dancing, at the water and wasn't comfortable with the idea of putting him down, but he lowered him to his arms. In position there, Darren tried again, "G'down."
"Ohhh, I don't think so. You stick with gran'pa - there's just a little too much activity out here for me."
"No! G'down!"
"No, you staying with me." He ordered right back.
Darren's lip rolled out and then he hauled off and slapped Shawn on the face.
"Hey! That's bad, naughty! You shouldn't be hitting your gran'papa-Shawn." Shawn scolded and made at face at him.
Sylvia, coming from the old school of black parents who would not tolerate that even from one as young as he, got right on him for it, "Oh no you did not! That was bad! You do not hit your gran'papa-Shawn! Do that again, and gran'ma gone tan your hyde and good! Now say you're sorry!" Her tone and expression made Darren turn red, bow his head, which didn't faze Sylvia one bit, "I'm not gonna tell you again." She warned.
"So'wee."
"Now that's better! And you are staying right where you are, or, you can come to me."
He shook his head, deciding that he was better off with his grandpapa-Shawn. Who at the moment, was looking down at Sylvia with disapproval in his eyes, "He's just a baby, don't you think that was a touch rough?"
"He is a baby with a brain and plenty of common sense! Do not make the mistake so many parents do, that because they're a baby, they don't know any better. They learn very early on, what you teach them very early on, what's right and what's wrong, and the moment they do wrong, it should be handled right off the bat. That way, there is no confusion. He knows, I know he knows, and he knows that I know he knows, okay?"
Shawn shook his head, "I sure hope you're not going to be like that with my Jesse."
"We've already had this discussion if I remember correctly. I didn't take it from mine, I'm not taking it from these, and I won't be taking it from yours, which most certainly includes your Jesse James."
Shawn groaned again, dreading that road they would have to travel. He'd never spanked Angela, not once, he didn't believe in it. "So you saying you spanked Mundo and Crystal?" He as
ked.
"If they needed it Shawn. I didn't beat them, but I didn't play either. When I said something, I meant what I said. That's how my mother was with me. We didn't stomp, talk back, have fits and tantrums, slamming doors and carrying on like we had lost our minds, no no no no no. When mama spoke, that was it, end of discussion - wasn't none of that mess, wait until your daddy gets home! Shoot, the way she was sometimes, we couldn't wait until daddy got home, when that is, he was coming home. We didn't turn out too bad and neither have they. I will not tolerate disrespect - that needs to be learned right off the bat - he, that little man in your arms, knows that about grandma already," Darren looked back at her, knowing that he was the center of discussion, "Yeah, you know don't you?" She responded to his look at her, he chose not to comment, only turned his little nose up and looked the other way, Sylvia grinned, "See, baby, my end! He ain't crazy, he knows and, so will your son."
Hearing that, the look on Shawn's face was similar to Darren's. Sylvia only laughed, knowing now - that when Jesse James was born and grew to the age of Darren, they were going to be into it all the time, she could see it coming.
"I see now, I'm gonna have to keep my son by my side at all times, good thing I'll be working near the house, so you'll know where to find him." He grumbled.
"Hey, you the boss, we'll set you up a playpen or crib - put you a changing table off in one of the other rooms, you more than welcome!"
"Well I can't breastfeed him can I? So you will have to show up from time to time." He returned, still in grumble mode.
"Hm, I'm not sure I'm gonna breastfeed him yet, in which case, bottles and formula."
"Ha! Not my son! He hookin' up right there dammit!" His head inclined toward her breasts.
BOMAW 10-12 Page 80
