"Thank you for being so considerate of that. But I'm not going so far away that I can't drive back here to visit when I need to. After all, we're only a three and a half, to four hour drive from here; look how often your dad was up and down that road to come and see me."
Suddenly, Paul smiled, a big fat, beaming, light has turned on smile, that lit his face up like a beacon, "Yes, that's true, you're right. We are just a few hours drive away, what was I thinking?"
Vivian knew then, what she just saw, had nothing to do with her, and spending time with Sheila, nothing at all. 'Oh shit!' her mind blasted, 'Now what?' Once more, she was plagued with should she -or- should she not inform Jake of what Sheila suspected, and now she as well? What was the age that a parent should back off and leave their son to live his life and not try to interfere, eighteen? Or twenty-one? Even his mother had turned him loose to get on with his life, however, not completely, in a sense, she had turned him over to his father, so could that be construed as completely letting him go? Her mind was spinning with all the what if's now, and to think, she was the one who talked Jake into letting him stay. 'Damn!'
"So ah, you're wantin' to just stay at home tonight and, chill, huh?" He broke into her thoughts asking.
"Yeah, I could fix something light for us to eat, because you're bound to get hungry later at some point, maybe play some video games or something, whatever you wanna do."
"Oh, okay, whatever - I wanna do, hmmm?"
"Is there, something else - you'd rather be doing? Have you any other plans?" She asked.
Paul chewed his lip, a nervous gesture, it took him a moment to decide, and then answered, "No, I guess we could just chill at home tonight, got nothing particular going on."
"Good! That's what we'll do then." Vivian was relieved to accept that decision, thinking her and Sheila could very well be over-reacting.
Soon as they walked into the door, with Vivian taking her shoes off, the phone rang, Paul went straight for it.
"Hello?"
"Have you gone and gotten Vivian?" Jake asked right away.
"Yep, we just got in the door, your timings perfect dad. She's in the room changing out of her work clothes."
"You gettin' done what you set out to do?"
"I sure am, everything is moving along smoothly."
"And there hasn't been any problems?"
"None, not a one - you worried for nothing, dad."
"How's my truck?"
"Just as you left it with us, not a scratch - well, can't really say that, I haven't given it a complete once over, but for the most part, it's good to go."
"Hmmm, I'll see when we get there this weekend."
"Yep, you'll see. You gettin' much done on the house?"
"I'm here now, your grandma got them out here already to turn the phone on. All the crap is cleared out of the house and off of the land. I'm working on the main bathroom right now, getting it done. Stripping it back to the beams, scraped out all the shit in the walls, insulating them and the floors; putting in new piping, plumbing, wires and sockets, then fresh new, insulation - walls and new wood flooring. Kevin is on his way to help me. I'm determined to have this bathroom done before I get there to bring her back - I'll leave the decorating of it to her."
"Wow dad, talk about motivated! Sounds good."
"Yeah, so when you get back here, I'm expecting you to help me as well."
"I know dad, I will."
"Get Vivian."
Paul shook his head smiling, "Vivian!" he called out to her, "Dads on the phone."
"Okay, I got it." She called out, picking it up in their room. Paul waited to hear the clicking of her on the line and then hung it up once they started talking. He walked into the kitchen, going to the refrigerator, looking for something to eat, suddenly he washungry. He thought back to Jackie's offer of dinner, which he'd turned down. He figured he hadn't handled her sudden rejection of him very well. He'd remained focus on getting as much work done as he could and basically left her alone. When she returned with her kids, Ronnie had come looking for him. He wanted to help him. Keeping things cool and in order he'd asked her if that was all right. The look she'd given him as much said, his sudden manner with her was unnecessary. Shaking her head she gave her permission and so, Ronnie had been his little apprentice until it had been time for him to leave. He'd asked him as he was cleaning up to go, "You gonna come back tonight again?" Paul could see by the look on his face, that he really wanted him to. Sadly, he didn't think it was a good idea. "Not tonight, but I'll be back again tomorrow." He promised.
Ronnie physically deflated from disappointment, but accepting, nodded, okay.
Paul didn't know how long he stared into the refrigerator with the door open, seeing nothing, before he realized what he was doing and closed it. He would wait on Vivian to fix something. Heading back to the living-room, he fell back on the sofa and turned the TV on. Remote in hand, he began channel surfing. The last thing on his mind, what was on TV.
* * *
La Jolla Cove
They'd all had a fantastic time at the beach party. Sylvia had cautioned everyone from eating there, saying they'd eat when they got back to the beach house. Shawn, Ben, Mundo - all three of them had been drinking, Crystal, controlled herself deciding that she didn't need anything to drink with her boys in her charge. Basically, the women were all sober, the men were un-inhibited. Especially Shawn. He'd danced just about the entire time they were at the party, with her, with Crystal, with Angela and the boys. Sylvia couldn't remember ever having so much fun. They'd walked into the house, and he was still dancing, his hands all over her.
"Shawn! Behave yourself! You need something to eat. Gonna make us a great big seafood salad, because all of you tripping." She laughed.
It was Mundo who had turned the stereo on, getting the jams going in the house. They were all laughing because Mundo was trying to teach Shawn a few new moves, some of which he got, but others he simply made a complete fool of himself doing, and Sylvia thought, on purpose, because he was feeling so free spirited and at ease. Isaac and Darren were out like a light, having burned up loads of energy. Soon as they got into the house, Crystal had fixed them sandwiches, with carrot, celery sticks and cucumber chips. Which they inhaled, Darren dropping off as he ate, his head rolling forward and back so that, Ben, caught him as he was leaning off to the side of the chair. He gathered him up in his arms and headed off to bed with him, Crystal behind him with Isaac. Sylvia had groaned at the sight of it, only to turn and find her husband watching her, warning in his eyes. She'd tossed her nose up and went back to prepping their salad, that is when the dancing had begun, once more, in the house. With Crystal and Angela joining in now that the boys were down for the night.
With the food done, Sylvia decided that a bit of change to the music was due and left them to go in her room, in her case of CD's. One in particular that she played a lot, maybe - too much, due to the fact that it had a tendency to put her in a certain attitude or mood. She had played the music back in the days of being with Armundo; all had been on cassettes. He had hated hearing it, had even taken it out of the stereo on one occasion and broke the cassette because all the songs were about freedom, leaving, the thrill being gone, having enough. Since then, during the time that she'd been alone, she'd re-created that music, this time on discs. She'd played it to death when she'd taken off on Shawn after their wedding and now that they were back together, every now and then still. Here she was, once more, when she played it, husband number two, didn't particular care for it. Shawn always gave her a certain look, his brows drawn as if questioning why she would play that kind of music. It simply had to do with her mood, and - she liked it.
Tonight, she brought out her disc and announced to the Joyful bunch, "Time to eat! Crystal, set the table, enough of this music, giving me a headache." Turning it off, she put her CD in and forwarded it to a certain group of songs, the first one to start was by Denise Williams, "Free". The moment the tinkling chimes began, Shawn look
ed up at her, as well Crystal, because she knew the song. Sylvia looked at her daughter, straight into her eyes, and started bobbing and moving, singing along with Denise, and making sure her daughter got it. To make sure she walked right by her, singing it to her, emphasizing the word, "Fre-e-e!" hitting those notes in the song just as Denise did, because she could. Crystal's mouth dropped open, she knew her mother, and knew the message within, it could not be mistaken.
Mundo also got it, and started laughing, rolling his fist in the air, so cracked up he had to take it outside, especially when he saw the look on Ben's face as it dawned on him what was happening, the significance of the song.
Sylvia picked up the salad, still singing along, paused to tell Angela, "Get the garlic bread out for me sweety." And walked to the table with the large bowl of salad, avoiding making eye contact with her husband. She didn't need to look at him to know what his eyes would be saying to her right then. Without a word, letting the song do it for her, she basically let him know; let Ben know; let Crystal know; that right now, it was best for her to be free. She sat the bowl on the table, stood straight, placing her hand on her hip as if bracing to look at her husband and sure enough, when eye contact was made, he was sizzling, his eyes were on fire. Sylvia threw him a kiss and continued on listening to the next song, "Rose is still a rose." by Aretha Franklin and Lauryn Hill, taking her daughter's hand and bopping with her to it until she laughed, shaking her head. "Mama, you something else!"
Speaking intimately to her, Sylvia returned with, "No, my baby girl, you - something else; something special ... give yourself the time you need, to figure that out, and then; make up your mind what you wanna do. But my rose, before you do anything - give yourself time." Sylvia spoke low to her; pulling her close, palming the back of her head, she gently kissed her forehead. "Mama will never tell you wrong; I just want you to be happy - but, be the kind of happy, that will last you forever, and not the kind that's just a memory, okay?"
"Yes, mama." Crystal smiled, blushed; because she could feel Ben's stunned eyes on them, as well Shawn's.
Sylvia, acting as if nothing untoward had taken place turned to everyone, "Well? Sit down you all, eat."
With narrowed eyes, Shawn's pierced his wife's, promising a discussion about this later; walking to the stereo, he switched from the CD player to the radio, an easy listening station. While at the table having dinner, Sylvia decided to break up the awkward silence by asking Ben, "Where'd you learn to dance like that? I must admit, I was impressed."
Wishing to get beyond that moment that caught them off guard, he went into talking about his love for Latin music and the first times he attempted dancing that way, how he made Kevin dance with him. It wasn't long before everyone around the table was laughing and sharing stories that matched the topic. Shawn's phone rang while they were eating, it was Deidre letting him know they were on almost there to collect Angela. She had just enough time to finish eating before her mother arrived. Starting to rush, she kissed her father, Mundo, Ben and Crystal on the way to the door with Sylvia, who greeted them; Charlie was with her at the door when Sylvia invited them inside.
"Not tonight I'm afraid, but thank you. I made plans to take Angela to a play and if we get going right away, we just might make it."
"Oh that sounds like fun, okay, see you Angela, have fun." Sylvia bent, giving her a hug and kiss, seeing her off. When Sylvia came back into the kitchen, Crystal had cleaned off the table and was the first one to get in the shower to end the night. Mundo and Shawn were outside on the deck, with Ben inside doing the dishes. The moment Sylvia saw him there, she instinctively knew he was there waiting for her. "Look at you; I thank you, but I don't mind doing the dishes."
"Me either, I'm fine." He responded, rinsing a plate.
"Okay, how about I help then." She commented reaching for the dish towel. "So tell me, you here to do the dishes, or - are they the device you needed to talk to me?" She saw no reason not to get right into it.
He blushed at being caught out, because of course it was true and passed her a plate, looking her in the eyes saying, "I'm that transparent?"
"Not necessarily, but I am a mother, I have raised a daughter and son, so, noteverything gets by me."
Nodding as if agreeing, he took a breath and decided to get right to it, "I'm not out to hurt her. She's not a game that I'm playing. I've said as much to Shawn, but I've neglected to talk to you, make you aware of my intentions, I suppose now is as good a time as any."
"Oookay, let me say first of all, that I'm happy to hear that. It's nice of you to share your intentions with me."
"That song you put on - was about me, right?"
"Wrong, that song I put on, was about her. That song was also, about me - being her mother and looking out for her best interest. As you may well know, Crystal left home after school, from my care - went into college, where she met Victor and bam - found herself in a predicament. Because of it, she married him. Now, things are as they are - with her getting a divorce. I don't want her going from him - now - to you. I don't want her to start up a cycle of behavior that will lead her into one relationship after another, triggering weaknesses and emotions that make her believe she absolutely must have a man in her life, at the sacrifice of everything she needs for herself; which should come first. It should have come first back then, before him, before her children. And now, there exist her children, two little boys, that now, must come first and then herself. I don't want her, getting involved with someone else until she has a firm hold of herself, her life, their lives. It has nothing, what-so-ever, to do with you. So, as hard as it may be for you to do - you need to separate what I say, what I do, what I feel, when it comes to being her, mother. No matter who comes and goes in this family, she is still my daughter. And as for you, you are still welcome here. That man out there is still your father, you are his son, you belong here. Yet, my priority is still to her, first. Because right now, her situation, is the most pressing, the most urgent, okay? Do we understand each other?"
Ben inhaled deep, and blew it out, nodding, he answered, "Yes, ma'am."
"Good, I just want you to understand where I'm coming from."
"I do, but - is it okay if I say just one last thing?"
"You sure can." She consented, finishing up drying and putting away the last of the dishes.
Ben's thoughts caused a pause of silence, trying to put his words right when he shared them. Finally, when Sylvia stood leaning back against the counter waiting for him; her eyes on him, feeling shivers over her skin, because he looked so much like Shawn, even his gestures, expressions, and voice, were his father's. "Um..." He started, "... you may not believe me, I know you think what I'm saying bears no weight, or - validity, even so, I want you to know, that - I love your daughter. What you've done, is made this incredible, dynamic exciting person, that - makes it impossible for me, not to want, what I see, in her. She was meant to be with me. The way that I think, you were meant to be with Shawn. There are things in me, that my life, experiences, environment and insight, has molded my make-up and who I am, to fit just right, into what she is and what she's about, strengths and weaknesses. He, Victor, will never love her, the way that I love her, and those boys for that matter, the way that I love them. You know, first hand, that just because a man father's a child, doesn't mean, he's going to love her, them, the way they need to be loved. You know that, first hand. Like you, she is, my priority too. And I'm going to fight to win her, to the very end. I just wanted you to know that, so that between us, there are no, mysteries - no guessing games. Right?"
'Shit!' Was the first response within her mind, at that point, what else could she say? "Right, no mysteries, between us. And as for the rest, time will tell."
* * *
Madison - earlier that evening
Derrick's family sat in a circle on a picnic blanket as he shared the decision that he and Meribel had come to.
"The whole summer!? Ah come on, not the whole summer! That's too long!" Shawn2 fl
apped, complaining, with Sasha following on his heels.
"What are we gonna do for the whole summer there?" She whined.
"Miho - Miha, I can't believe you two are carrying on like this! You sound like a couple of brats! You'll have plenty to do there." Meribel corrected them.
"I don't wanna be there the whole summer, that's not fair!" Shawn2 maintained his position, crossing his arms across his chest, face drawn in displeasure.
"Is it because of that stupid lady that keeps calling the house!? That dumb woman? Somebody needs to kick her ass!" Sasha fumed.
"SASHA!" Derrick barked, shocked by his daughter's mouth and behavior. "Don't you let me hear you talking that way again, understand?!"
Lip poked out a mile, she nodded, looking like Shawn2, arms crossed over her flat chest, back slouched, legs stretched out before her so, they expected her to start kicking any second. However, the look from her mother, discouraged any thought of that.
Derrick turned his attention to her older brother, "All right Shawn, what's the real problem here, huh? Don't give me that, there's nothing to do there; there is plenty to do. You've spent the summer with your grandparents before and there was never any problem, so what's going on?"
Luis leaned over teasing his younger brother, "He don't wanna be away from Ma'Keiba - can't sneak out to get hugs and kisses all the way from grandpa's!"
Shocked, Shawn2's eyes grew round like saucers as he turned on his brother, punching him in the arm, "I have not been!" He denied.
Luis punched him back, even harder, "Liar!"
"HEY! You two, cut it out! What's this I'm hearing Shawn2?" Derrick demanded.
"He's lying!"
"Dad, he's been sneaking out of the house at night to talk to her, and whatever other things she might let him."
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