BOMAW 1-3

by Mercedes Keyes

  Shawn went down and grabbed her, hugging her tightly to his chest as he felt her arms go around him. Her fingers combing through his hair as he squeezed her, his eyes tightly shut as he held onto her. They didn't kiss. There was no erection. The hug was not sexual. They were both impacted by fear and need and felt compelled to hold onto each other and hold on tight. They hung on. Playing through each mind, all the things in their lives that made this moment, that day... one that needed to take place. The hug said... I am for you, you are for me ... do not forsake me. They were both scared.

  This day would be and as was promised just the day before... no matter what... they were determined that there would be no divorce for them.

  Chapter 71

  That morning, every one of the McPherson households were abuzz with activity for the wedding. Meribel had been up first thing getting her children in order. Orders of who was taking which car, which of the boys were riding with whom was being discussed in disorderly fashion as she rushed around the house making sure everyone was wearing what she took out for them to wear. Derrick Jr. was there as well to attend his uncles wedding, also tops on his list, he was going to finally meet his father's other two children. His half sister Crystal and her brother - his half brother Armundo Jr. he was really excited about that; even better, a friend from school came down with his girlfriend so he was expecting to have a good time.

  Sasha was all excitement because Angela was coming back with them that night from the reception and staying for the weekend. Shanna and her grandma Gert would be getting her Sunday night to be back for school Monday. That way her uncle Shawn and his new wife Sylvia would at least have a week together in Michigan.

  Marcus and Luis would be riding down with Derrick in his car, which had Shawn2 (they called him) pissed off as they were all hearing about it.

  "Dad its not fair! Why can't I go with them!? I don't wanna ride with the babies!" He complained.

  "Excuse me! I am not a baby!" Sasha defended. "I am ten years old, soon to be eleven!" She announced, her head shifting side to side, filled with attitude. Their dad was in the mirror shaving thinking, 'More like ten going on thirty.'

  "Was I talking to you?! Are you my dad? Did you hear me address you as dad?! Go away little girl!" Shawn2 ordered, looking every bit like his uncle. Derrick glanced out the side of his eyes at him and couldn't control the shiver from looking at him. If his brother hadn't been thousands of miles away, he'd have serious doubts about his sons parentage. Yet, it was fact, he was his son through and through. He wondered why Shawn wanted more kids when he could easily have this one... he was just like him, he could easily pass him off with no problems.

  "Well? Can I go with them?!" Shawn2 asked.

  "No... so stop asking!" Derrick answered, shifting his cheek as he shaved.

  "MAN! No fair! I don't wanna go then! I'm staying here!" He stomped off for his room just as Meribel rounded the top of the stairs, "You better not be slammin' no doors Shawn2! Get your butt in gear - because you are going! Miho I'm tellin' you now - I got too much to do to be pissin' wit' you!"

  "Why can't I go with them!?" He argued from his bedroom door.

  "What did your father say?! Hmm, what did he say?! You want me to say it in Spanish?! Would you understand then?! Fine - I'll say it in Spanish - No! Now get your ass ready!"

  "Meri don't cuss at your son." Derrick said from the open bathroom door as he trimmed his nose hairs.

  "Well you better get him then, because I swear, I will strangle his ass! BOY - YOU BETTER BE GETTING READY!!" She yelled picking up clothes strewn down the upstairs hallway. "Who dropped all these clothes down this hallway?! I just did laundry! You guys think I wash yo' clothes cause I got nothing better to do!?"

  "I dropped'em mama... I was putting them away." Joseph, their five year old came from his room with the clothes basket to say.

  Meribel whimpered, "Miho, you dropped them all down the hallway, they have to be folded first." She said heading for his room, folding them as she walked by Shawn2's room. "You gettin' dressed in there?!" She asked him through the door.

  "I'm staying here!" He answered.

  She looked at Derrick across the hall, over the stairs banister from Joseph's room. "That one is yours! If I deal with him, its gonna be to knock him out, dress him and drag his butt to the wedding."

  "Shawn2! If you're not getting dressed, that's it - you're gonna get it!" Derrick yelled.

  Meribel put her hands on her hips and glared across the open floor at her husband. "What is he gonna get?"

  Derrick grinned and shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know... it sounded good though."

  "Oh my god! You are a high school coach! Can't you do better than that with your own kids! Make him get dressed!"

  Derrick stood staring at his wife. He pretty much left the kids to her to raise because he just didn't have it in him to discipline them. He would put his foot down with them, and reason with them, and with Derrick, Marcus and Luis... that had worked just fine. He could talk to them and make them ashamed of themselves. This wasn't the case with Shawn2 - the boy was a nutter.

  "Well?!" Meribel asked. "You know what... I might as well be raising them all by myself! Why do I always have to be the disciplinarian?! And then, when I do dispense discipline... you tell me no, don't spank the kids!"

  "Ugggh! Shawn2! That's it! You're gonna make me lose my temper with you. You better be getting dressed in there... do you hear me?" Derrick asked at his bedroom door.

  "Can I go with DJ, Marcus and Luis?"

  "You're going to ride with your mother and I." He stated firmly.

  "That's not fair! I always get left out of everything! They never want to take me with them! It's not right!" He complained from the other side of the door.

  Derrick stood leaning against the door frame listening to his son, and hearing him took him back. Back to his own youth, back to the days when Jake felt the same way. He stood a moment more, turned and walked downstairs where his sons were gathered with Derrick and his friends.

  "Hey... you guys are taking Shawn2 with you."

  "WHAT?! Why?" Marcus blasted.

  "Because I said so! And I mean it... no more leaving him out! I want you all to start including him!"

  "Ah dad come on... he's a little obnoxious jerk!" Luis added, backing his brother.

  "So were you sometimes!" DJ laughed, nudging his brother. "No problem dad... he can ride with us."

  "Thank you son."

  "YES!" They heard him cheer from the stairs.

  "AND YOU BETTER ACT LIKE YOU GOT SOME SENSE! OR IT'LL BE THE LAST TIME!!!" Marcus took upon himself to shout at him.

  "I WILL!!!" Shawn2 shouted back happily.

  * * *

  In Chicago...

  "I'm gone toot the horn one goddamn time! Show yo' ass at the dough - or you will be left behin'! You know me... don't pull no shit today! Excuses not allowed, you'll just be hearin' about it when I get back. 'Cause you know I'll drive off and leave yo' ass in a blink!" Sheila went down her list, lining them up for the pick up.

  "Look! You just have yo' ass here! Don't start no shit Sheila - I done contributed my gas fare... you just blow and wait goddammit! I get out there when I get out there." Edwina fussed back.

  "Yeah yo' ass gone get left, I can tell now. I ain't gone be late, like I said... I'll be blowing, you bes' be showing - bye!" Sheila hung up and dialled the next number.

  "Hello?" Ellen answered.

  "You ready?!"

  "I'm gettin' ready!"

  "You got yo' gas money? I done collected and yours ain't in the pot... you wanna ride you got to pay!"

  "Hell yeah I got my money... you just be here - don't leave me... cause I know you... yo' ass get in a hurry-..."

  "Damn skippy! Toot toot... that's all you get - bye!" Sheila dialled the next number.

  "Yes Sheila - dai-am! I'm ready! Bring your ass on! Come get me first! 'Cause I'm ready!" Vivian started right off.

  "That's what I like to hear!"
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  "Hold on girlfriend! When we coming back? I told you, I traded with somebody to get this day off... don't get your ass there, start drinking and can't drive back!"

  "Gurl - just call yo'ass in!"

  "No! Hell no! I don't call in! My ass be at work... first thing - on time - I don't play! Hell with that! You said you was driving right back!"

  "Gurl have you checked the goddamn distance!? We talkin' bout a three to four hour drive! Late as hell at that!"

  "Ah shit... here we go! Changing! Can't depend on a negro no where to stick to the plan! I have to get my ass back here tonight! I'm going to work in the morning! Now you need to tell me if you bringing me back or not!?"

  "Yeah I'mo bring yo' black ass back! Damn! You gone get back! Now quit wasting my time... I could be on my way. You know we got to include lost time! So be yo' young ass ready!"

  Vivian listened as Sheila clicked the phone off on her.

  She took a deep breath and went to her closet wearing her white lace, Victoria Secret panty and bra. That's all she wore, she indulged herself that way... because as the L'Oreal commercial stated... she was worth it. At twenty eight years old, her life had all been laid out. She'd followed the formula to the letter, despite all that her family said about her. Despite her reputation for being the black sheep of the family. Everyone had expected her to fail and make nothing of herself, she'd risen above and made more money than them all. She lived in an expensive townhouse with the income to do so. Spending it on supporting herself and her style of life. All was just as she wanted it save for one thing.

  No man!

  She'd wasted five years of her life on a worthless piece of crap Japanese doctor that she let lead her down a road of promises never fulfilled. He was supposed to leave his wife for her. Lying little jap didn't. She was pissed every time she thought of him. Yeah he'd given her plenty, whatever she wanted to keep her, but she wasn't going out like that. Forever as some rich man's mistress... screw that! She was knocking at the door of thirty... and it was time to get busy and settle with a more stable relationship. She needed an unattached man. A man that was ready to marry. A man who wanted maybe a kid or two. She'd been crazy most of her young life. Wreaking hell on her sisters lives. Now... she'd settled down a bit... well, a bit. She didn't mess with them as much anymore. She no longer suffered the effects of being Milton and Betty Cooke's blackest child of four girls. She'd given all three of her sisters absolute hell growing up. Especially her second sister Ella. Because Ella was light skinned with, "good hair" she took after their mother who was light skinned. Lacy was the oldest, a nice brown, and Candace the third daughter was a bit between Lacy and Ella in complexion... and then she'd come along; black as black could be, like her father. Thick, jet black, not so good hair... however, she had perfect afro hair... and she wore it proudly; now that is. When she was growing up, it had been one hell of an adjustment to stand in the shadow of her sisters. Hearing everyone refer to them as the pretty Cooke girls and the black one, as if she hadn't been apart of the Cooke sisters. Oh the wicked little games she played with them. If there was something she could do to ruin anything they most enjoyed, bets down... she'd mess it up for them. Then took her butt whooping - because she knew if it was found out, she was definitely getting one. Her mother had always shook her head saying to her father, "That one there ain't gone do nothing with herself. When its all said and done, we'll be supporting her."

  Ha! Not!

  Vivian had heard... and she proved them all wrong. Fact was, her parents were always having to help Candace, and had at times helped, Lacy and Ella too! Not once, had they to give her anything and she hadn't needed anything from them. Even more so, she had loaned two of her sisters money and helped bail them out of money cramps. As for her father, he never really put her down, but he never encouraged her much either. As if he were afraid to back her because she was black like him. So he'd stood silently by and let everyone pick on her and prejudge her. Well, she'd shown them all! Because not only had she grown up and gotten good grades in school, she had a good job making nice money. If that weren't sweet enough, when puberty hit... she'd been transformed into an ebony goddess. A body and figure that made everyone whom she passed stop and take a look. She had small shoulders, just the right size breasts, and the smallest waist of all she knew, and then... her hips rounded out and her ass swelled behind just so. A - to die for perfectly shaped ass - an exact upside down heart shape, one to be proud of... and she was. The Lord still wasn't done because he blessed her with slender shapely legs and sensually curved calves. Vivian smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, turning to look at the rear view. Her sisters hated that she got it all. All they could get her on was that she was so black.

  That too, Vivian had grown into accepting.

  No thanks to black men. Few had paid her any mind. Oh she got the whistles, the wolf calls, all the lame lines they used trying to get her attention, but it had all been just a game they played. Because when it came to being serious, they turned away from her for a light skinned girl with long hair.

  Well she wasn't light skinned, and she didn't have long hair. She was coal black with an afro and she learned to strut her stuff and be what she was. She didn't invest in weave, no skin lighteners, no blue or green contact lenses. She was all natural black... take her or leave her.

  When she walked down the street, it was usually the attention of Spanish men that went nuts over her. She didn't want no Spanish nothing... they were crazy as hell! After all, look what Sylvia went through with that half Puerto Rican. Granted, Armundo's father had been black, his mother had been the Puerto Rican, but still - no thanks, especially seeing what Ellen was going through with that whacked out Mexican she was dating.

  Even though Vivian stood five foot eight, she preferred Asian men. Most all were shorter than her, but she didn't care... she always went for the doctors or professional men anyway, which coming full circle, had only led her to wasting all those years with that lying little Japanese whom turned out to be married and unwilling to divorce for her. Never again. That left her where she was now, willing to take the next step in the interracial pool. What the heck... she was gonna give some white man a go. He had to meet a certain criteria of course, and this time - she would try her best not to get in bed with him. She would try. She would try really hard... but it had been a while now. She'd been without a man for six, long, lonely months. It had taken her a time to get over 'Laek Chan' - but she'd finally moved on and finalized the - No! - with him. He still called her now and then trying to get her to take him back. Forget that... that whole ordeal was history.

  She was all packed and ready now. She always carried a change of clothes just in case. Wearing the dress she had on, another one should something happen - a spill - a rip whatever, and a little Capri outfit.

  She took one more look at herself - and smiled.

  The red dress - if this didn't capture someone's attention... nothing would.

  Walking through her clean home, she checked that everything was as it should be. One day, she would buy herself a car, she hadn't so far because having one just wasn't worth giving up her precious money every month when there were buses and trains running. Forget that. Car notes and insurance! Nope. Her money went on her home, furniture - antiques from the Victorian era was her style, clothes, jewellery, perfume and make up... and anything else she could use to spoil herself - was where her money went. Maybe if she played her cards right, got the right man - he would buy her a car... as Sheila tooted the horn, she figured that into the plan.

  Locking up, she was out the door.

  "Let's go!" Sheila called seeing her in the front door.

  "I'm coming! Hold your ass still for a minute... damn!" She called locking up removing the key and dropping it into her bag.

  In L. A....

  "It's Friday! What do you have going on today?" Terra asked Deidre, calling her before she was out the door for work.

  Deidre laughed holding the phone to her ea
r, packing her briefcase, turning off her computer. "I'm going to work until twelve. Have lunch at your restaurant as I always do... and then back to work." She answered shifting a box out of her way, she was determined to get all of her things completely unpacked this weekend, she couldn't believe she still had boxes sitting and waiting to be opened for the contents to be put away.

  "Then after work?!" Terra asked excitedly.

  Again Deidre laughed, "Oooh, I'll be attending the Jared Bailey Foundation Awards for Culinary Arts - featuring award winning restaurants and chef's - you see I have a good friend who is in fact tonight... a candidate for such an prestigious award. I, proud friend that I am... intend to be there and watch as she accepts it!"

  "YES! Oh... you think I will... that I'll be called? Oh I do hope so! I'm telling you now Deidre, I am a nervous wreck! All of my family will be there! You - have to be there!"

  "And I will be there...promise."

  "You bringing anyone?" Terra asked.

  "Just myself."

  "Emmm, so that... what's his name again?..."

  "Jeremiah Franklin."

  "Yes... ummm, busy tonight is he?"

  "I'm coming alone Terra... all by myself!"

  "I thought you enjoyed yourself with him... you sounded as if you did."

  "I did... but it was just dinner... nothing more."

  "Emmm, well... if you say so. Anyway... you have your directions on how to get there?"

  "Yes... I have my directions... I'm all set. I'll get off work, I'll come home and change... then I'll set off for the ceremony."

  "OH! This is so exciting... I can't wait!" Terra explained.

  Deidre smiled, "Neither can I... see you at lunch."

  * * *

  "Did you get that?"

  "I got it."

  "Good make sure every one of them is in place. Depending on which she calls, they must be ready to respond."