Jake started laughing, "Fuck you Shawn!" Shawn joined him laughing, "By the way, half were yours!" Jake reminded him.
"My point exactly, so... you won't get serious with anyone you can take off someone else, and those that you dated that weren't from someone else were - only too grateful for your attention, let's put it that way. Little brother, my point is this, she's not your type because she's beautiful! You don't like competition. You want a woman who is always kissing your ass to keep you and you know... that one... doesn't have to. That's why she's not your type!"
"Come on Shawn... no man in his right mind would marry her! Look at her! I won't be walking around with my guts tied in a knot over her. I'd have to pack a loaded gun! Every time I'd turn around, there'd be someone else in her face, trying to come on to her. You don't know about this, but I met her earlier at Kwik Trip. Shawn, every man in the store and out on the pumps had their jaws locked open and their necks twisted like a cork screw! And that fucking dress of hers! That goddamn red dress! That sonofabitch would have to be torched! No way in hell she and I would be together with that red dress in her possession. For that matter, any other fucking thing in that closet of hers that fits her ass that way! Also, let's face it, she's black! I've seen a few white guys with a black woman, and they're not all that easy to handle!" Jake went from getting mad about the dress to considering what he'd be up against.
Shawn was fighting back a grin. "You chicken shit! *Buk buk buk burkaaah burkaaah!*" He teased making chicken sounds.
"Chicken shit my ass! She's black!..." He laid out one finger, "...she's beautiful!..." He laid out the second finger. "...she's young!" He laid out the third finger.
"And she'll tell you to kiss her ass!" Shawn provided the fourth.
"Exactly... I can't deal with no woman like that!"
"Trust me my brother, when a woman like that says, 'Kiss my ass!' that's exactly what you do. I guarantee you, she won't throw that one at you too much."
Jake laughed. "Now you got me thinking."
"Hey... it's your life, you do what the hell you want with it." Shawn laughed.
"Nooo no no no... I'd have to keep her ass pregnant! Get her ass fat - then... maybe I could relax with her. Naw! Forget that! No way... besides, you should see her house. She's got fancy taste that one! Expensive taste! Believe me, she'll cost a bit to keep up. Right now, women give me money... with her, I'd be broke all the time!"
"But happy."
"I don't know about that... I don't know her do I? How do I know I can even trust her? Who's to say who can make who happy? I'm happy right now."
"If you say so... if you say so."
"You bet I say so... I mean, look at you. Miserable as hell... crazy in love, and wife's gone."
"Because of your ass!"
"True... but... it's not good for the heart to love someone the way you two love each other. Too stressful."
"Maybe so my brother... but - I wouldn't pass up the opportunity of my Sylvia for anything in the world. I'll take it, stress and all... because - I can't..." Shawn looked down, feeling himself on the verge of tears again. He couldn't talk, his jaw was clenched, he had his face covered looking into his lap. He couldn't stop them, they welled up and dropped onto his cheeks.
Jake looked away, quiet, hurting for him.
"I swear to you Shawn... we'll find her. I won't rest until we do."
"And we're leaving first thing in the morning. I believe I heard mother saying she was able to book a flight for first thing, so I have to be up early. Shanna is packing Angela some clothes up... hey... you know what... Deidre was supposed to have sent her things here... they never arrived... Sylvia called and they said it could take up to 4 weeks. I guess I'll have Mundo and Crystal look out for it. But - while I'm gone... the house will be empty - can you please... start on it? I'll show you the plans. I'd much rather you do that, than look for Sylvia - I'll handle that."
"You got it, come on... show me, let's get this started." They both rose and left the room, walked out to hear the women around the corner in Angela's room or Sylvia's office room. They went to the basement, Jake looking around complimenting the homes layout. Shawn went into his temporary studio and pulled out the plans for the bed and breakfast, going over them with Jake. He explained his idea on how the kitchen was to be changed over while showing the draft of it he'd drawn... and the extension that would be built off the back of the garage for Sylvia's office connecting to the kitchen door. They went up stairs with the building plans, Shawn showing what he meant, they then went out the kitchen door, and into the garage where all of the lumber, wiring, switch boxes, plumbing, new doors, windows, their frames and bricks sat waiting.
An hour later, Jake left with a key to the door to get in. He was hyped, he wouldn't work on this after work... he had time coming to him, he was taking it now. His boss might not like it, but he had eight weeks racked up, he was taking six of them. Running through his head was all the things that needed to get done. He would see it done in no time. He would get a hold of Eddie... with him owing him one and needing the experience for his business they would have the house done over for the bed and breakfast before Shawn returned. Then all that would be left would be the decorating of it by Shanna. That way when Shawn returned, they could begin on the house. That... he was determined to help him get done before he went back to work. Yep... he was doing this. His mind immediately went to Sylvia, "I don't know where you are... but when we're done, you'll be home - I hope so, because my brother has suffered enough... enough now Sylvia... enough." He thought as he drove home. His cell phone rang.
"Hello?" He decided he better answer it since he made too much a habit of ignoring it.
"Finally - where've you been? I've been trying to reach you to let you know that I was back." Doris started.
"Oh... I've been really busy. Hey... I'm going to be taking off work a few weeks. Can I get two hundred dollars off you?" Jake asked without blinking.
"For what Jake?"
"It'll be a gift to Shawn and Sylvia. I'm going to be helping them get their bed and breakfast done, I want to add a few touches while he's gone. It's a long story. You gonna give it to me or not?"
"Well... you coming by?" She asked.
"Yeah... I'll come by. You gonna have the money?"
"Yeah... sure... I missed you. You miss me?" She waited, didn't hear anything. Finally she realized he'd clicked off without even saying goodbye. She clicked the button off, at least he was coming over.
Jake finally clicked the phone off, not willing to get into that. How could he say he missed her when he hadn't even thought about her until he heard her voice. He smiled, thinking about Vivian. Now, he could give her the eighty back that came out of her pocket for him, and get his own one twenty back as well. "Hell... life is good... why mess up a good thing?" He grinned as he drove on to Doris', anxious to get the money, which would be his excuse for driving back to Chicago to pay Vivian back. On top of picking her brain for the possible whereabouts of Sylvia. He wasn't about to read anything into the sensation he was feeling at the prospect of seeing her again. It was just to pay her back and get her help, that was all.
Twenty minutes later, he pulled into Doris' driveway, and was at her door. She clicked on her porch light and saw his face.
"Oh my goodness! You've been fighting!"
"Trust me... I know." He answered coming inside.
"What happened?!"
"Shawn and I had a big fight over Sylvia."
"What?! You've got some nerve Jacob Patrick McPherson! Asking me for money while you've been fighting over your brother's wife! They did get married didn't they?!"
"Of course they did. We only fought over a misunderstanding... Shawn and I are fine now. I'm going to be helping him do some things to his house and the other home, that's why I'm taking off work to help get things done. There's nothing between Sylvia and I - never has been... never will be. You said you missed me, and this is the way you show it?" He poured on the charm, he had to
play his role to get that money.
"You heard me! You rotten asshole!" She accused.
"Only as I was clicking the phone off." He lied. "Besides, I was on my way. Now... I'm here - you really wanna argue? Or... something else, like... showing how much you missed me?" He asked. All was forgotten and Doris was only too eager to show him. An hour later, a bit passed nine, Jake sat up to head for the bathroom. "I hate to fuck and go, but - can I get that money?" He asked going to jump in her shower.
"JAKE! The way you talk to me sometimes! You got no respect!"
"Aye you know me... just tellin' you like it is... I'm in a hurry - get that money."
"You need it now?" She yawned.
"Yeah... won't be staying over tonight - gotta make another run out of town."
"Why? Where? You just got back from one."
"Can't be helped." He stated stepping in under the water spray. Eager to get on the road for Chicago, he liked the idea of showing up late... she'd be forced to let him stay the night, after the long drive to bring her money back to her. Besides, he was curious to see what went on in the evenings there with her, to see if there was anyone over, he wasn't going to worry about if someone was there, if they were... he'd have to observe what exactly was going on. Only for future reference of course, not because he was going to get anything started with her, he just wanted to know where she was as far as relationships were concerned.
Doris was in the bathroom washing up at the sink. "I was so looking forward to you staying with me tonight." She whined.
"I always stay with you. I can't this time... maybe next time."
"I was thinking... maybe - we could just move in together, maybe get a house Jake and you could stop going back and forth." She suggested hopefully.
"Don't start that Doris. You know I have my own place and will keep it. If you need me, I always come... be happy for that. Besides, what we have is fine just the way it is."
"As long as we've been seeing each other, I thought we could at least move in and live together. Its not like I'm asking you to marry me." She said honestly.
Jake stepped from the shower, grabbing a towel to dry off, still sore as could be, especially his back. He turned to look at it in her large bath mirror. Across his shoulder blades the skid burns were scabbing up and tender.
"Oh my goodness... that looks bad Jake." Doris stood looking at it in the mirror as well.
"Hurts like hell. It'll heal... anyway, get that money out, I have to run." He pushed drying off in a hurry now to get on the road.
"What about what I said?" She asked going to her purse as he dressed.
"We'll have to talk about it some other time. I can't tonight, I have a bit of a drive ahead of me."
"Where you going?"
"Chicago... gotta make a delivery there." He bit into his lip to keep from grinning, his mind on the surprised look that would be on Vivian's face when he showed up.
"How long you gonna be gone?"
"Not long... I have to get back here and get started on Shawn and Sylvia's bed and breakfast... so I'll be back sometime tomorrow evening I imagine."
She handed him the money. "That all you need?"
"Yeah... that's fine. Hey... your uncle still own that car lot in Madison?"
"Yeah - why?"
"Just wondering... I get sick of driving that truck around all the time. I'm giving some thought to getting a car. Something nice... I don't know. Maybe a Buick, something new like a Park Avenue or LaSabre... those are really nice. Just thinking about it... that's all. I remember you saying that he can get company cars with low mileage on them for pretty cheap." He mentioned tying his boots.
"How much you talking?" She asked as he stood.
He came up to her, dressed and ready to go. "How much can you afford?" He clicked his tongue and winked at her, kissed her forehead and headed out the door.
"If you think you're going to get a car out of me Jake, you've got another think coming!" She yelled out the door at him as he climbed into his truck. He was still smiling at her, threw her a kiss and backed out of her drive. He went by his place, changed into something nice, packed a little overnight bag with a pair of jeans, a nice knit sweater, his toothbrush and other needed toiletries. He was back in his truck and pointing it towards the interstate and heading for Chicago again. Reaching for his tapes, his popped his music mix tape, and waited for the song to come around.'Brother Louie by Stories... "She was black, as the night; Louie was whiter than white..." Jake jumped on the I90-94 and put the peddle to the metal.
Chapter 81
Shawn's mom and Shanna left shortly after Jake. They needed to get packed and ready to go first thing. They'd already called Derrick for him, letting Meribel know what was going on and that they would be there around eight-twenty to get Angela, because their flight was at nine-thirty-seven. The kids had come from across the road talking to Sheila, and Mundo searched out Shawn in the basement, asking him could he use his truck for a set he could do.
"You know I'll be gone for a few days to LA to check on Angela's mother, so... don't go nuts and wreck the truck. I'm going to have to see about getting you something to drive when I get back here."
"I promise papah-Shawn - I ain't gone be messin' aroun' man. I'll just use it for that, then back here. I uh... used it last night." He admitted.
"Yes... I know." Shawn looked at him with the eyes of a father, chastising his son without words.
"I was careful."
"You didn't ask."
Mundo looked down at the floor, Shawn almost expected him to use his toe to pick at an invisible gum glob. "My friends showed up at the reception talkin' 'bout slammin' some jams at this party, make a little money."
"Did you?"
"Sho'nuff - left up out'ah there wit' a hun'ned'fi'ty - and - tips. It was live."
"I see. Well, be careful. Right now, I have insurance coverage for whomever drives the truck. We will be looking into some wheels for you, can you carry a car note?"
"I can swing up to two a mont'." He agreed.
"Don't forget insurance, at the very least, liability."
"I can swing it."
"Okay... well, when I return, we'll look for one." Shawn was quiet a moment and then looked at Mundo, "You all would tell me... if your mother called wouldn't you? You wouldn't keep that from me would you?" Shawn asked softly.
Mundo shifted uncomfortable... then went over and closed Shawn's office door, he turned back to look at Shawn, because of the look on his face, Shawn knew what to expect.
"She called two hours ago." Mundo whispered softly. Shawn's eyes got big. "What?" He blasted him. Mundo put his finger to his lips, signalling that he keep it low.
"She only spoke for a quick minute to Crystal and me. To say she was alright, and ask if we were alright here. I didn't wanna tell you because she wouldn't say where she was. She told us not to say anything. But man... I can't have you here worried like this. She alright - right now."
"What did she say? Did she say when she was coming home? Anything?" Shawn asked with his heart pounding.
"I told her you were going crazy worried about her. That all you wanted was for her to come home so you could talk. I told her."
"What'd she say?"
"She just got quiet... I could tell she was crying. I said to her, mama just come home... everything gonna be alright, Shawn don't blame you for nothing... just come home. She hung up."
Shawn was sitting at the desk, trying to get his work together for book one and two for the James' - all he had to work on was book three... but he wanted to deliver what was done there so they could get the first book launched and then later on the second, he was certain they'd be pleased. So far, he was a head of schedule. He burned all of the necessary graphics to disk, and the layered novel cover images for Photoshop that would be used for book one and two. The original paintings for it would be added to their other collections on the wall at the publishing house - property belonging to them. They were already enclosed in the car
rier he used to transport them. Hearing this from Mundo was working on him. He couldn't help but wonder if she ever planned on coming home? He prayed that she wasn't contemplating giving up on their marriage before it had even begun.
"You alright?" Mundo asked.
"Yeah... I love your mother Mundo... I love her. Why won't she just come home?"
"My mother trips too hard on righteousness man. Everything with her got to be just so! She don't like to be cast in the light of reproach or shame - because she get high on being right... know what I'm sayin'? Doin' everything... properly - so she can walk with her head high. Its like, big sins cannot be found with her. Won't steal, won't deal in anything crooked or illegal, don't like to cuss... but will if you get her ass mad enough..." They both started laughing.
"I know that's true." Shawn vouched for that one.
"...she just... she think too hard. Examines shit and tries to do everything right, know what I'm sayin'? She can't take it if she fails and causes something like what happened between you and Jake. I know my mama man, ain't no way she would'ah done anything with him... no way."
Shawn sat for a moment stroking his beard, rubbing his eyes and trying to once again get a grip of himself. "I have to find her... I have to. You don't think... she'll... try to divorce me do you?"
"No!"
"How can you say that? She left."
"Trust me on this... that's the last thing she gone do. My mama love you man... I know she do. She proud to be your wife - that's why she taking all this shit so hard. Its like, she's punishing herself - know what I mean?"
Shawn sat back in his chair. "But she's killing me in the process. I can't stand her not being here. I can't stand it."
"I know we not our mother, but we here for you papah-Shawn... you not alone."
Shawn smiled and stood up and hugged Mundo... a really hard hug.
"I thank God for that... believe me I do."
They walked back up the stairs, Crystal was about to come down, and met them coming up.
"You alright papah-Shawn?" She asked. He pulled her to him for a hug right away. "Yeah, I'm okay. Hey..." He pulled away from her, "You cut hair don't you?" He asked. She nodded, "You have your clippers across the road?" He asked again. "Yeah, why... you want a haircut?"
BOMAW 4-6 Page 7
