"My girlfriend dropped me off." She explained.
"It's summer, a nice day, see'yah."
"You're gonna make me walk?"
"I didn't bring you here did I? How did you get in by the way?"
She stood staring at him saying nothing at first.
"I asked you, how did you get in?"
"I have a key."
"From where?"
"I found an extra one in your top drawer, tested it, took it, had a copy made."
"Fuckin' give it up, now!" He held his hand out.
"Look, I'll tell you what - why don't we just wait, to see what happens with her? Let's just see, if you can get her back or not. If you can't, I'm here."
"There's no if's about it, we're still married, she'll be home as soon as we talk." He pumped his fingers palm up for the key.
She grabbed her bag, her jacket, walking to him, "I fixed you something to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"It's there if you get hungry." She returned, taking her keys out of her purse, turning it to work it off the key ring, when done, she walked up to him and the door, placing it in his palm.
"Is this the only copy you made?"
"Yes."
"You lying to me?"
"It's the only copy!"
"Go!"
"You're not very smart are you Victor?"
"Looks who's talking, do me just one favor, get a life and stay out of mine."
She stood a moment more, staring at him, she sighed and made her exit. She didn't care how things looked, she wanted him. She loved him and if she didn't give up, one day, he would be hers, she just had to be tenacious.
The door slammed behind her.
* * *
Madison...
Because it was Sunday night, Crystal sat wondering if she should remind Shawn that her court date for her divorce was tomorrow morning at ten o'clock? Now that it was so close, she wanted it over with. They stayed at the hospital visiting, being there for the family until late. At nine thirty, all had to leave, only Derrick was allowed to say. Back at the hotel, Crystal shared her room with Angela and the boys again. She went to her mother's and Shawn's room, knocking on the door.
Entering with her mother holding the door, she stood inside asking, "Who's going to take me back in the morning for my court date? Remember, I have to be there at ten."
Shawn and Sylvia looked at each other. "You stay here, I'll take her, we'll go first thing in the morning, and then come back, okay?" Sylvia stated.
"Okay, be careful, once it's over... right back."
Monday morning...
Ten-forty-five - court was over, the divorce was finalized. Crystal sat in the SUV, in her mother's arms, bawling her eyes out. She'd wanted it to be over, but up until the last second, she wasn't one hundred percent sure of what she was doing. Up until the last moment, she'd still hung on to a faint hope that Victor would walk into court, look at her and say, 'I've changed my mind, I don't want this.'
No such thing took place and while she was the one that initiated it - it didn't take away the pain of having it done and over with. Sniffing, she blew her nose, backed out of her mother's arms to get herself together.
Sylvia caressed her hairline, her brow, murmuring softly, "You're gonna be okay, really you will. I know it hurts now, but - tomorrow is another day. You have me; Shawn; Mundo; Angela; your beautiful boys. You have school to go to, and a home to return to; to refresh, relax and take the time you need, to get it all together. No pressure, no hurry, no worries."
Crystal nodded, wiped her nose, looked up at her mother, smiling, "Yes, I know you're right. And, it really is for the best, he was my first love. I thought he was the one, you know mama? And, I wanted to be married to one man, for the rest of my life. My boys father. Oh mama, I thought - he was the most beautiful man, I'd ever seen. Which is crazy, because he's not really. But, there was just something about him. The way he walked, talked, commanded himself. The way that so many girls wanted him, and - had him. I mean, he could just look their way and, wham - he had'em, you know. I - I wanted to be the one, that got him, and held him, like they couldn't."
Sylvia grabbed her daughter's hands, holding them between hers, caressing, them, "You think maybe, the greatest draw to him, was - if you got him, held him, it would make you, feel better about yourself? You think maybe, your wanting Victor was more of a status symbol kind of thing, to bring you up? Maybe?"
Crystal sighed, then nodded, after all, she'd admitted as much to herself. "Yeah - having him, made me walk, with my head high. Having him, come after me, pick me up, take me around, made me square my shoulders and gloat a bit, because, unlike he was with the others girls, we were a couple and - he asked me, to marry him. Granted, because I was pregnant I know, but still - I got him, when no one else could. Sex - yeah, they got him. Me, I carried his last name. But, in truth mama - if I'm going to be absolutely and completely honest - I wasn't happy. He and I, we married, for all of the wrong reasons." She admitted, resolved.
"Well - it's over now - all for you two coming together, and working out time for him to spend with his boys. I'm going to ask Shawn, when we get back, if we can go home tonight instead of staying here another night. Get you all back home, get settled in, and then, he and I can drive back and forth visiting. But you need to get home, and get that resolved with him, after all, it's been two weeks since he's seen his boys."
"Yeah ... you're right. Thanks mama, I want you to know, that - I love you so much and - I promise you, I'm gonna be all right."
"Gurl please, I already knew that! Who you tellin'?" Sylvia grinned, winking at her daughter as she turned in her seat, starting the SUV, "Let's get back, you know Shawn, he'll be fretting until we show up." Just then her mobile started ringing. She laughed, "Wonder who this is?" Opening her purse, she brought out her mobile, "Hello?"
"Is it done, she okay?" Shawn asked.
"It's done, she's okay, we're leaving now, just paused to answer my phone."
"Be careful babe."
"I know, I will, oh and can we come home tonight? The kids need to settle in back at home. Crystal needs to get a hold of Victor to work out visitation time, and I thought, you and I could drive down to visit and check on Meribel."
"You must have been reading my mind. Yeah, we'll do that. We'll stay today, but we'll drive home tonight. See you in a bit."
Sylvia hung up her mobile, "Done. He agreed, in fact, said he was thinking the same."
They drove back to Madison, spent the day at the hospital. Meribel was still out. It was eight-thirty, they were getting ready to go, when she made her first move, groaning out loud. Derrick held her hand, sitting forward in his chair, caressing her slightly swollen cheek.
"Meri? Honey, I'm here, I'm here." He spoke gently to her.
She groaned again, wanting to move, and cried out from the pain that shot through her, the pain killers had worn off as well.
Gert was out the door, alerting the nurses.
They called the doctor to make him aware and soon two nurses and a doctor was in the room, speaking with her.
"Mrs McPherson, my name is Dr. Stott, you're at the University Hospital, following a really bad accident, do you remember?" He asked her gently, speaking close to her face.
While she was in pain, she could hear loud and clear. When she was brought in, although slipping in and out of consciousness, she knew what had happened to her, what had happened to her daughter.
"Where's my - my Sasha, my daughter? She - she okay?"
"Your daughter is okay Mrs McPherson, she's just fine. But, we need to check you now, see how you're doing. You came in pretty banged up."
"I know ... my husband here?"
Derrick, not thinking, knocked the doctor out of the way, "I'm here honey, I'm here."
"Derrick!" She cried, unable to grab him the way she wanted to. "I was so scared, I thought, that was it - I thought - I'm never gonna see - see you again." She sobbed.
He laid down across
her once more, his face tucked into her neck, fighting back tears, "Please forgive me Meri - I should have believed you, because of me -..."
"Don't papi - listen to me - you listening?"
Derrick nodded his head, moving back some to look into her eyes.
"I know you papi - I know your heart - if you do not want me to hurt any more, you will not - not - carry the blame for this - in your heart, you hear me? I will come back, from this - but you papi - do not carry this - over you, you hear me? Promise me, I could not stand it - if anything hurt you to your heart, I could not stand it."
Derrick started sobbing.
All those that had been standing, had to leave, tears filling their eyes as well.
The doctor, so used to emotional meetings, realized they needed a moment and headed for the door, gesturing for his nurses to also give them a moment alone.
With her one good arm, she lifted it to wipe her husband's face, "Don't cry papi - she can't hurt us now. The courts will have to convict her-..."
"She's not going to court Meri, she's uh - she's dead."
"What? How?"
"Well - put it this way, Carmine - unfortunately is going to court-..."
"He killed her?"
"I'm afraid so."
She was quiet a moment, when he said, "It should have been me, I should have-..."
"What did I just say to you, huh papi? Don't you listen? I will not stand for you, carrying this. It's ... it's over. Over and done with."
"But now, your brother is going to jail."
"My brother, will go back, to where he is most happy. He cannot function outside of prison, Derrick - that world, that system - is his home I'm afraid, it's too late for him." She gripped his hand as a spasm of pain swept over her. "I'm hurting, oh - I'm hurting."
Derrick lifted away from her and went to the door, calling the doctor back in.
He stood by as they checked her over and then last, the doctor went to her feet and stroked his finger lightly up the most sensitive part, she flinched and wiggled her toes. The sigh that went around the room was as if all held their breath. The doctor walked up to the head of the bed, smiling down at her, "You've got quite the road a head, but you'll spend it, walking it."
Chapter 274
Wisconsin,
He'd meant it.
He'd meant every word that he said.
Twice a day, everyday that he could, until he couldn't. Which meant, up until she got her next period, he would be at her.
Sunday, they'd gotten a room, for just that reason. This was an entirely new world, life, and function for her, with this man she found herself with; this adjustment period, was blowing her away. Vivian wasn't sure how a woman dealt with a man who spoke of sex, making love, as if he'd just said good morning. He treated the idea and the act just that easily. It was clear to Vivian, Jake was used to the world of sex, having so much of it, it was like breathing to him. With little choice, she couldn't help but compare him to Laek Chan. He'd hardly ever spoken to her about sex, or what he would do to her. No dirty gestures, no coping a feel, reaching over and groping at her private areas, no licking his lips and staring between her legs; and certainly he never displayed his erection to her the way that Jake would; granted, between the two, Jake could do little to hide his if he had one, but still, she couldn't imagine Laek doing such a thing even if he could. No, nothing like that had he done. If he was interested, he would wine her, dine her, present expensive gifts, and then while kissing, if he didn't stop, she knew that he'd wanted to take her to bed. That's how it had been done. That's what she was used to. And now, here she was with a man who was the absolute opposite, of what she was used to. He was blunt, crude, over sexed, and too well endowed. With Laek Chan, in bed, she'd had no complaints, the only pain she'd suffered with him had been losing her virginity to him. Once she came through that, all was fine, including the fact that they only made love, once a week, sometimes once a month. Now, with Jake full time, she was hit with the realization of how much she would have to endure sharing her life with him.
When they were leaving the hospital, basically, he'd told Paul, "You and Shawn2 head on back up stairs, we have something to take care of. Tell everyone we'll be back later."
"Okay, see you when you get back." Paul replied, he and Shawn2 turned and went on their way. While she, Vivian, knew that they were leaving to get a room, and, not to sleep in it.
"Ja-a-ake, don't you think we can wait for this, I mean-..."
"Look, I'm not waiting, you're ready now. And I'm getting in there, now." He muttered leading her towards the elevator.
"How can you treat this like - like - going to pick up a loaf of bread?"
"Lil'girl, you need to take this up with the Man upstairs, He's the One that said, 'Go forth and multiply!' far as I know, He made that possible only one way; who am I to argue?" He winked, grinning that grin.
At the hotel, the Holiday Inn right down from the hospital, he walked in, her hand in his, straight to the front desk, "My fiancée and I need a room for the afternoon."
Vivian thought she would burst into flames on the spot, where as the clerk never bat an eye, and set them up.
Walking into their room, he wasted no time stripping off his shirt, removing his shoes, his socks, turned the TV on, and headed into bathroom yelling out to her, "Am I gonna have to strip you down when I come out?"
"No!" She'd grumbled back, sighed deep and started stripping down as well, wondering if this were real or a dream? She was down to her dainty, lacy underwear by the time he came out, "Need to use the bathroom?" He asked.
"Yeah." She pouted, moped past him on the way in.
Chuckling Jake commented, "You do wonders for a man's ego lil'girl!"
What saved her, was that once more, he was considerate of her struggle, restraining himself from pummelling her body. Instead, he took it slow, in fact, by the way he came, it was starting to look and sound as if he was enjoying it that way. It was that, that helped her endure it.
Sunday evening they returned to the hospital, feeling closer for it some how. As unromantic as it had started out; them leaving to make love, the act & afterwards gave Vivian the feeling of being closer to him, because of it. What was so strange, is that her body throbbed and tingled everywhere - putting her in a more uplifted mood, where she actually felt like smiling. Her eyes seemed brighter, twinkling when they glanced his way; and every time he caught her gazing at him, he winked, throwing her an air kiss. She couldn't explain it to anyone if they asked, because she couldn't figure it out for herself. Maybe it was because she knew he was to be her husband soon; or that he was being extra careful; or that he was trying with his all, to get her pregnant to bear his child, by choice; or perhaps it was the way his glorious body moved over hers, the way his hands touched her, the sound of his voice as he lead her to that amazing place - refusing to leave her unsatisfied; she wasn't sure what it was, but it felt good - she felt good - all over her body, inside and out, she was experiencing that wonderful kind of good feeling that comes, from having such a man; that any woman wants, and loves. In heightened bliss, once more they found themselves in the midst of family, Vivian realized that no one was aware of them, what they'd been doing, or how she felt. The focus was on Derrick, Meribel, their children - for that she was thankful. They joined in on the discussion to hear that all of the kids, including Sasha would still be going to their grandparents for the summer, to leave their parents alone to heal.
Because Jake had to work really early the next morning, they made their last rounds to all, and paid their final visit to Meribel and Derrick - until later when they could return again.
Out in the parking lot, they were surprised to encounter Ben, who was also leaving to head home, he was parked next to their truck. It took Jake by surprise to see him as they'd been holding hands, strolling his way to leave, both men looked at each other, making eye contact. Vivian took the keys from Jake's hand and gave him a nudge towards his son. Inhaling deep and long, Jake slowly
approached him.
"Where you headin'?" He asked right away, lack of anything other to say.
"Home; it's time. I need to give some people, space, room to breathe." Ben answered easily enough.
"Emm, Shawn? or... Crystal?"
Ben smiled, "You noticed huh?"
"Yeah, I noticed. And uh, you and Gail?"
Ben shook his head, "Considering current circumstances, I let her go. I'll be going by to talk to her tomorrow."
"You have to do, what you have to do. And uh, by the way, I have your money, you know for the vanity - for Vivian."
"Dad I told you that was a father's day gift, I don't expect that back."
"Something for me, is a father's day gift-..."
"Dad, Vivian is something special for you - and so you could get that, which meant a lot that day to you, was for you. It's all about what makes you happy, I love you - I want you to be-..."
Ben instantly found himself in a tight embrace, his father holding on and squeezing with the power of his love. No words needed to be said, no, 'I'm sorry, or, forgive me.' were muttered from Jake's lips, but all the meaning in the world was in that hug; which was returned tenfold as they stood in the dark, hospital parking lot among hundreds of vehicles. It took a moment before Jake could let him go, and backed up a space from him. "You are ... my good son - I just, need you to know that. My eldest, regardless of everything else."
Ben smiled, nodded, "You needin' help, on that house?"
"I need all the help I can get. Gotta a woman that's waiting to move in."
"Well, you can count me in. I'm staying at grandma's for now, once I talk to Gail, I'll be free after that. Maybe tomorrow evening, I'll come by - where you stayin'?"
"Shanna's - come by there after I get off work. Paul is supposed to be returning with Shanna - Tuesday I'm thinking."
"Okay dad, it's a date, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow." Jake waved striding the few steps to the truck, he climbed in, closed the door, exhaled and looked at Vivian. "God, I needed that."
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