He sighed running his hand through his hair as he stood looking into the mirror at his reflection. Having no days off really wasn't the banks fault, but his own. He didn't know how to relax, chill - take some time off - if he did, what would he do? He didn't play golf, like the other execs; wasn't really that much into sports other than the occasional basketball game - he liked it because he understood it. Football - made no sense to him at all - he found that he was bored by it, the same for Hockey. The other game he'd catch himself watching was baseball. One of these days, he'd go to a baseball game, that was his first choice, and later - perhaps a basketball game. To keep in shape, he did cardio weight lifting and in the mornings, he jogged before work, and on his time off he bicycled quite a bit - or - he worked on modeling airplanes. As for family, he had an older brother that lived in Vermont, they weren't very close - after his parents divorce long ago, his brother followed their father to Vermont and he stayed in Chicago with his mother. She'd suffered a stroke a few years back that had her immobile, paralyzed on one side of her body, speaking with very slurred speech spending the rest of her days in a wheel chair, in a nursing home, that he visited twice a week. He'd visited her yesterday - letting her know he was going out of town for the weekend attending a wedding. She had smiled as best she could, nodded and watched him leave after a kiss to her brow. Times like now, he resented his brother not coming to Chicago to at least visit his own mother, after all - he knew she'd had a stroke, yet - nothing. As for his personal life, relationships, he'd been in two serious ones. One when he'd been in college, Daphne - she'd died of a drug overdose. Following that, through the years his few associates had set him up with dates with some ending in bed; and then five years ago, another serious relationship. He'd contemplated marriage - but he'd chickened out - afraid of commitment, because simply put - forever was a very long time. His parents marriage hadn't lasted, and his father was content to settle with one son. Yes, he'd gone to visit him, and yes his father had been welcoming, however - once he'd gone - there had been no attempt to reciprocate and visit him in Chicago. It had been 3 years since visiting his father and 5 years since he and his brother had spoken. He figured he wasn't the commitment kind since coming from a family that wasn't commitment conscience. They were descendents of the English, stiff upper lip - showing little emotion. As a consequence, he'd eventually broken Carol's heart and hadn't returned. For some reason, he saw them down the road, bored of one another, nothing to do, no excitement left - and heaven forbid there be a child - no - he'd stayed away and forced himself to get over her. Time had settled him back into his routine and he hoped that it had done the same for her. Thus, he was a loner - giving into the one night stand only when he absolutely needed a body to do him back. However, he never spent the night, and he never phoned them again. Now - here he was in Wisconsin, in a hotel to attend a wedding and reception. But until the wedding tomorrow, what would he do with today?
Combing through his neat, business cut dark brunette hair - he was left once more with idle hands.
Flicking the light off in the bathroom, he walked back to his room, unpacked his clothing - laid out the suit he would wear tomorrow and when that was done, once more, he stood looking around for something to do. Picking up the remote, he turned on the TV - flipping through channels. No baseball or basketball so he ended up stopping on the news - more about the war - more about Bush. He clicked it off, there was only so much he could endure about him. As he stood thinking, he realized he hadn't eaten yet. So was undecided if he should pick up a sandwich or give Vivian a call and let her know he'd made it there. He wondered if Dean and Stephanie had arrived? He considered hanging with them, but it really wasn't appropriate for a boss to spend a weekend with those that worked beneath him. Besides, while he had to work with Dean, and didn't mind him, he could only take him in small doses, during the wedding and reception was going to be quite enough on that note, but still - he wanted to do something with himself.
He walked to the side table, picked up his Blackberry and clicked it on to check it for the information on her location, he figured, with so many coming, what would it hurt to just show up? Making up his mind, checking himself in the mirror, looking over his pants and polo shirt, he figured he looked relaxed enough for a Friday. Squaring his shoulders, checking his slender, 6 ft frame; this was it, "Go on then, go do something with yourself, act like you know how to have fun for once." Following his own advice, he left his motel room, climbed into his car and backed away from his door and off to find her home.
Having followed the directions carefully that were given, Alec found himself pulling into a long driveway leading alongside a home and grounds that made him brake just to look at it; the setting seemed to come from an old drugstore postcard - reminding him of lovely pastoral scenes of old.
"Wow... hope I'm in the right place." He murmured low, pulling further in where the road wrapped around vast gardens taking you to a massive barn. Parked before it, were various cars and a blue pickup truck, he pulled his 330i BMW sedan alongside the truck and cut his engine.
Getting out, he could hear shrieks and squeals of laughter, the sound brought an immediate smile to his face, and following his ears, he walked towards it to investigate; he came to the back corner of the house. Looking behind, there were 6 young males leading a trail away from the one screeching, a young woman in red having herself a good time with two young ones left pushing her on an old tire hanging from a tree. Alec smiled, and caught himself chuckling as he watched.
"That's enough mama! We'on feel like pushing you no more!" Cory protested.
"Boy, stop whining and push me agaaaaain!" Lacy laughed out, "Weeeeee - wooooo - this is fuuuun! Ohhh, I want a swing just like this in my backyard!" She shouted in jubilee.
Paul had gone into the house to help his father put the things away he brought from the store, and to ask if he could borrow the truck again to take the boys by his grandfathers - leaving them all outside in the backyard with Lacy. She was funny, she made him miss Jackie even more if that were possible.
Lacy hung upside down, swinging in circles, trying to make her nephew and son push her back and forth and around, "Cory! Come back here and push me!" She ordered, in a jovial mood.
"Mama! You grown, you ain't no little girl - you gone break that swing!" Cory fussed after trying to get away.
She giggled even more, "Come push me one more time..." She called out, hanging backward - filled with laughter - she hadn't a clue why - maybe it was because of where they were? Her baby sister's home, the garden, the surroundings, the flowers, the big oak tree - whatever it was, she felt elated, "Lamar! Come push your aunteee!" She called out and then squealed again after twisting the rope around and around - until it was good and tight, lifting her feet, she began swinging in circles really fast as it unraveled, she was cracking up from the dizzy sensation it gave her. "Wooooo woooo woooo!!!" Stopping, she called out towards the direction the boys had gone, "Oh come on you guys, just one more time!" She grinned.
"Mind if I push you?" A creamy rich, male voice asked from behind her.
She rotated the tire using her feet to look at the source of the voice; her eyes grew huge to see a white man standing behind her, smiling. Not knowing who he was, and being caught acting crazy, Lacy started scrambling out of the tire, "Oh no, that's not necessary, I was just playing around!" She poured her body like liquid from the center whole onto the ground and sprung to her feet before him.
"I didn't mean to startle you, spoil your fun - only they abandoned you, and I thought - well... anyway, hi - I'm Alec Ore - is this Vivian Cooke's home?" He asked with his hand out to shake hers.
Lacy stared into the most captivating green eyes and because she was staring, she missed his hand, held before her, waiting for a shake. Alec lifted his hand higher for her to see it, "And you are?"
"Me? Who me? Uh, uh, uhhhh Vivian's sister, her older sister, uuuh - Lacy." She shook his hand, "Nice to meet you."
"The feelings mutual,
her sister huh?"
Lacy smiled, her face felt overly warm, "Yes, she's getting married tomorrow, the family is all here, for that - the wedding."
"That's why I'm here - she invited me. I was her boss at the bank, in Chicago."
"You're from Chicago?" She asked.
"Yep, Chicago - you live here? Or Chicago?"
"No, Chicago - I mean, no I don't live here - but I do live in Chicago." She took a deep breath, wishing she could slap herself for acting so giddy and embarrassing herself.
Alec smiled, a bold bright smile - she was gorgeous. Wearing a cute red, tennis like - summer ensemble with the mini skirt, clingy blouse and bare, long, big shapely legs. She was a sexy weight, not as slender as he remembered Vivian being - but a healthy size 14 he would say, the size that made Marilyn Monroe such a bombshell, curvaceous and the most beautiful face - subtle Asian features, almond eyes reminding him of cognac.
"So I take it, you drove here? Come on the bus? Fly?" He asked, wanting to keep her talking. He probably should go looking for Vivian, and he would, but first, he really wanted to make her sister's acquaintance and suddenly, he realized what he was doing, and glanced down at her left hand, her ring finger. There was a wedding band and ring on it. Right away, the smile slid from his face, 'She's married! Get away from her!' Alec felt his knees soften - she was married! Married! In the blink of an eye, his entire manner changed, he was no longer smiling so brightly as just a moment ago.
Lacy looked down at her hand, her rings - he thought she was married. Her husband had passed away 5 years ago, and still - she kept the rings on - had done so, to keep men away. She'd married the love of her life, a good, strong, educated black man - who'd lost his life flying to Florida to train a group of IT techs working for their company. For the first time since his death, she felt the need, to remove the rings. Of course she dare not, that would be too obvious to him if she did, so instead, she took a deep breath, saying, "We uh, drove here - I came with my parents."
"Oh, you - and - your husband?" He asked, unable to help himself.
"No, he's a - no - just me and my son. Look, let me take you inside, so you can let Vivian know you're here."
"Thanks, 'preciate that."
"How long have you been here?" She asked, turning and leading the way to the house.
"Arrived an hour ago, still have to go and find a good restaurant - to eat."
She turned to him immediately, "No, you don't have to do that, my sister's friend, Sylvia - they've laid out food galore for family and friends. That would include you. If you don't mind, I can take you by there. Her husband's out back barbecuing up a storm, and boy does it all look good," feeling suddenly mischievous, she informed him, "It's no easy fete keeping this incredible figure you know."
Alec had never in his life heard a woman say such a thing, the last thing they wanted a man to know, is that they ate and loved it. Despite her martial state, he couldn't help but smile, and dammit, flirt a bit, he hoped it wouldn't get him into trouble, "May I be one to say, you've done well so far - everything is uh, right as it should be." He blushed because he was flirting with a married woman, the God's would surely strike him with lightening, or her husband would find out and knock his teeth out.
Lacy grinned, before Keith's death, she'd always been happy go lucky, the spunky cheerful type with not a shy bone in her body, it had taken her a long time to crawl up from the dark following his death, "You think so? Like my little outfit? Bought three of'uv'em - got me lookin' all cute, if I must say so myself!" She joked.
Alec missed a step to bark out laughter he'd never heard from himself, not a norm for him.
"Oh you laughing huh? Think I'm funny? That's okay, laugh - I love the way it shimmies when I walk."
"Oh forgive me, I'm not laughing at you, per-se' - and yes, it certainly does that, shimmy's - rather nicely when you walk, I don't mind it myself." He complimented, smiling with all of his teeth showing and blushed because he figured he looked quite the moron.
"I'm not crazy you know? No I'm not - I just feel good today - today is a good day for me. I'm high on life, on top of the world, and so - while I'm up here, why not have myself a good time? Wouldn't you agree?"
Alec scratched his head, still grinning, his face was feeling funny as he agreed, "Why certainly you should, absolutely."
"That's what I'm talking about - I haven't enjoyed myself - I mean really had a good time, in a long time. And it started with having this weekend off for this. You know, you get so caught up in life, working, doing the everyday mundane things, that you forget how to enjoy yourself, just have a little fun. And I used to be a really fun kind of gal, a laugh a minute, I miss the old me - gonna get her back." She flirted shamelessly.
"By the looks of it, I'd say you're off to a good start." He returned, hating the fact that she was married, just his luck.
Lacy smiled, glanced at him as they walked around the side of the house to the front. He had a very soft, gentle, masculine voice that was soothing and sweet. Looking at him, he had a look of Robert Kennedy about him, maybe a blend of John and Robert, but he certainly could pass for one of them with that bright smile and long white, straight teeth. She'd never kissed a white man before, and wondered what it would feel like?
"So your husband let's you take off for family events without him?" He just had to ask, why wasn't he along? The schmuck probably chose to work instead of being with his wife, what a fool!
Lacy hesitated, she'd almost confessed that her husband had long left her thanks to United Airlines, and then she looked up and saw her mother, at the front porch, coming down it, looking their way. The smile slid from her face,'Don't be stupid Lacy, keep it as a friendly encounter. Your mama would have a cow!'
"Yeah, he couldn't attend this time." For once, her face burned at the misleading statement, while true - it was not entirely.
"I've been looking for you!" Betty called to her, eyeing Alec Ore and then her daughter, "Cory talking about going with this boy here, Paul - Jake's son - to his grandparents - I told him, I don't think so!"
Paul patiently stood by waiting, quiet - he wasn't crossing this lady just to defend his honor; as many had heard here and there, she not only didn't much care for Jake, but white people period - and wasn't trying to hide the fact, not even for the sake of tact or courtesy.
Lacy sighed, they were all gathered out front, waiting for her answer. Reggie and Lamar had asked Ella and her answer had been, "Bye!" Yet, Betty had intervened spoiling it for them, "I don't think so! Ella damn, what you mean, bye?! You don't know these people! Have you lost your mind? They staying they ass right here!" And off she'd gone looking for Lacy.
"I already told Reggie and Lamar, they ain't going no where with no strangers! What about Cory?" She asked her daughter in that tone to say, 'You will be saying no as well!'
Because Paul knew he could talk to Lacy, she was not like her mother, he offered some assurance, "I'd be really careful with them, they'd be safe with me."
Lacy felt bad, but she wasn't looking forward to spending her weekend on her mother's bad side. "Nooo, it's too many of them, and they might act up out of our presence," She wasn't really worried about her son, Cory - he wouldn't - but - if his cousins couldn't go, she wouldn't let him.
Cory did a body jerk of anger and stomped to the porch and set down, hard - next to his un-happy cousins - the three sat mad at the world and especially, their grandmother - wishing she'd stayed at home.
"You ain't got to like it young man, but you sho'got to do it! Ain't he something - gone get mad! Boy you got one more time to clown like that! See that's why I don't like you all around, 'certain people' - just cause they kids can throw fits, don't think you will! No no no no no, hurry up Sunday - we can get the hell out of here!" Betty threatened, vented and fussed.
Lacy felt her face flame once more, but she could do little else with her mother along.
"Sorry guys, maybe next time." Paul sympathized with them, because Tyrese, Jimmy and Zachar
y happily followed him to the truck - looking forward to seeing a real farm, with real farm animals.
Immediately, Alec Ore knew that Betty, was the one to be wary of - to steer clear of and to take the long wayaround.
Knowing she'd have to talk to her son later, calm him and offer a replacement for the fun he'd be missing out on, she addressed the matter at hand first, "Mama, this is Alec Ore, he's Vivian's boss from the bank where she worked in Chicago, he's here for the wedding."
"And you telling me why?" Betty asked in that, do I care, fashion that made her daughter's face take to fire.
"Ah, thanks Lacy, I think I'll go in, find Vivian for myself." He nodded with a knowing smile to Lacy, and though he knew it would be wasted, offered the same to Betty. "Excuse me, Mrs Cooke."
Betty stepped aside, eyeing him up and down, droll expression on her face, nothing to say and looked away back at her daughter as he passed her by entering the house. The moment Lacy saw him through the door she turned to her mother.
"Why - do you have to be like that, mama?" She half whispered in supplicant agony.
"Lacy, I don't know these people! You don't know these people, and I ain't trying to get all ass-kissy with'em! Shit, thank goodness they live here in Wisconsin and I - shall keep my black ass in Chicago after this!" Betty stepped the rest of the way down the stairs snapping her fingers in three rapid pops at her grandsons, "Let's go - we going back to the bed and breakfast - all these people here, can't talk to Vivian no way! Fags and honkies every damn where!"
Lacy shook her head, wondering where her father was, if he was there, her mother wouldn't be so vocal and mean, she'd have to bite her tongue because he would set her straight and embarrass her, didn't matter who was around. The boys stood, looking as if they would faint, with their shoulders sagging in misery to have to do what they're grandmother said, "You coming?" Betty asked Lacy.
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