By a quarter to 7, he had what he needed. Now, he would contact his friend Paul. He had the knowledge, skill, training, ins and outs of computer networking, ip tracking and other techniques for tracking as well the business side of it all to find out anything! One of those men who knew all the little important secrets - all the little things in life where while one person paid full price and always seemed to struggle financially - he knew the short cuts, had the privileged information that made it possible for him to pay little or nothing for anything - he was an important friend to have, because all those that were truly his friends, called him to get cheap deals for first class services. When it came to financing, banking, loans, flights, real estate, loop holes, and the connections of who to call... first ring Paul... after that, the rest would be taken care of. Shawn rang him to catch him before he left home for work.
"Shawn! Hey - how's everything? Haven't heard from you since your wedding... is uh... everything okay?"
"Jake and I are fine now. However, my wife... the errant little hellion - needs a wake up call. She's been gone since Saturday morning. I need to find her, and I need your help." Shawn was so matter of fact, that Paul knew 'this' Shawn.
"You got anything for me to work with?" Paul asked.
"I got everything for you to work with! I wanna know where she took her last shit - goddammit!"
Paul chuckled over the phone. "Sorry my friend, I'm not that good, but I can narrow the field for you, that's for sure. I can just about pinpoint what area she's in. Have you any idea of her location?"
"She's in Chicago. Just the other day, she purchased a brand new Ford Mustang! Red..."
"Hell... I could probably find her on just that." Paul bragged, because he was that good.
"Up for a challenge?" Shawn offered.
"Email me the details. At the moment, I have a bit on my plate, but give me oooh, a few days. If my time wasn't so pressed, I could have it by this weekend, but the quickest I'll find the time to get on her trail is next week - if she's not back by then."
"She's got a fucking - to do list - one that obviously doesn't include me! She won't be back by then. So that's fine. I have things I must get in order anyway here at home. I'll email you what you need."
"Okay... cool - funny thing is, I'll be in Chicago this weekend and next - my brother Bruce, just opened up a Jazz club a few weeks back. The place is awesome, really retro - back to the days of real jazz. Live performances going on there - he's looking for that special act, so he has different groups and singers there almost every weekend. When you all get yourselves back on track, we'll have to make a night of it and check it out on a double date." Paul suggested.
Shawn was quiet a moment - plunged into thought by his disclosure.
"Yeah... we will. So you're gonna be there this weekend and the next hmm? At this jazz club of his?"
"Yeah... by the sounds of it, its a really classy place... gotta give it a try... in the family you understand."
"Do me a favor... keep an eye out."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm just thinking that's all. I suddenly have a hunch. Remember the list? Its comprised of things she's always wanted to do. And um, Paul... she has an incredible voice. I mean... strong, sweet - an amazing voice. The kind of voice that gives you goose bumps to hear it. I could be wrong, but something like that - just may be... on her list. I just have this feeling. Is his club advertised in the paper?"
"Can't miss it! I get the Chicago Sun-times and Tribune - you can get copies at any news stand in Wisconsin, they always get the weekend Chicago papers... you might want to pick one up. Better yet, give them a call, the delivery will come straight to you."
"Good idea! I will, right after 9. In the meantime, while you're there... keep an eye out for her."
"I'll do that. I'll be there this weekend and the next, like I said. If she shows up, I'll see her there."
"I could be grasping at straws, but I need to broaden my thinking here a bit. Anyway, keep her in mind."
"You got it... gotta run man! Email me!"
"Yep... I will." Shawn clicked the phone off deep in thought, back to the night in Angela's room when Sylvia treated them both to her rendition of 'Summertime.'
"Hmm, would that be something on your list baby? Would it? That's the key isn't it? I gotta start thinking like you. Time to pick brains. Sheila - Crystal - Mundo and your mother. I think I'll get everything I need out of them." He decided, folding all of the information he gathered, taking it to the basement beside his own computer for safe keeping. When he hit the bottom step and turned into the spacious family room, Jake was sitting up, and looked over at him.
"Morning..." He called out groggily.
Shawn smiled, feeling excited and hyped. "Morning lil'brother! We're going to have a busy day ahead of us. You in the mood for full throttle?" Shawn asked walking into his office and putting the information away. Jake had stood and stretched, walking towards Shawn's studio on the way to the bathroom.
"You're in a good mood this morning? So playing the blues all night works huh?"
"Sorry about that, thought you were sleeping."
"I was... only caught bits and pieces of it, and you yelling at Sylvia."
Shawn grinned.
That intrigued Jake enough to make him ask, "What's up?"
"Oooh, I'm getting geared up for a bit of a hunt! 'Bout to catch me a fox!"
"Wife?"
"Oh yeah... she don't know me... not yet she don't - but she will - she will. First things first, I want this bed and breakfast - done! Done before I drag her ass home!"
Jake winced at the word, 'drag' "Maybe... just maybe, you aught to let her come home Shawn - on her own." Jake advised.
"Nope... I gonna find her. I almost talked myself into just letting her work it out - but then she sent me this fucking email! She challenged me! She so much as said, that I have to sit here and wait for her to come home! Not I! I don't have to do shit! She's my goddamn wife! I'm the man in this goddamn family - she's the goddamn woman! She's not gonna be telling me - what she's gonna do! Trying to sugar coat it like I'm some kind of ga'damn nimrod! Like I can't see the psychological tricks she's using - to buy more time! It's like she's daring me - daring me to find her! Dammit, no body dares me... especially not my wife."
Jake shook his head. "You two are insane! Just be careful with her Shawn. She does love you, women are just... they're different. Just when you think you know them, you find that you don't. And - she's special... you're lucky... don't go blowing it."
"Jake, I would never hurt her, but she has to learn, that those vows we said, were written in blood and set into lead. No way in hell I'll ever let her go - nor ruin what we have. Don't worry, its okay... I've got everything under control. You in the mood to work with me here?"
"Yeah... let's get it done. When is Shanna's home to be delivered?"
"Next week, we have to get that ready as well... the foundation laid for it."
"Good... I need to stay busy, or else I'll go mad. I need to also find out about Doris' funeral arrangements."
"You're not going to go are you?"
"Yeah... I am. I have to."
"Jake? Come on man - her family will eat you alive - visit her grave when its all over if you have to." Shawn advised gently.
"I'm going - to the funeral - at the very least, her burial. I'll give them the funeral alone, but before they lay her in the ground - I will be there. I owe her that. Me not showing up would be the ultimate slap in the face, a sure humiliation for her."
"She's dead Jake... she's not going to know."
"I'll know Shawn! I'm going... I'm going." He turned and made his way to the bathroom.
Shawn stood a moment in the doorway, watching him disappear around the corner. He was feeling so upbeat and in charge just a moment ago, but now, in a matter of a few seconds he was down again. This was his brother. There was no way they would just leave him alone to come to her burial, there would be some mess, he just knew it. Di
dn't matter that she'd killed herself, they held him responsible. He turned and went up stairs, first waking Angela.
"Pum'kin..." He tapped on her door with his knuckle, "Pum'kin? Gotta get up sweety, I have to get you back in school after being absent... come on, don't want you late."
"Hmmm? Okay - aaaaaaah!" He heard her yawning and squealing as she stretched.
He turned from her door and went to the phone, dialling across the road. Crystal answered. "Yeah?"
"Mornin' lil'Mo!"
Crystal chuckled, giggling and happy to hear a more cheerful side of him, "Mornin' Big'Mo - you sound interesting? A bit happy... why?"
"Oooh, I figure this way, we're married - I love her, and I believe... despite it all - she loves me. Plus, I have a plan - enough of the pity pot - time to get busy. She'll be home soon, real soon!"
"Uh oh... do I detect that you have something under your sleeves?"
"Lil'Mo... papah-Shawn's always got somethin' under his sleeves... you better believe it! Your brother up?"
"No! Shiftless nigga still in bed!"
"CRYSTAL!!! What have I told you about that word! I don't wanna hear that word around this house! Said in front of the boys! I'm tellin' you-..."
"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! Okay... dag! I'on know what else to call the fool!"
"How about by his name... Mundo? Think that'll work?"
Crystal sighed, smiling, "Okay papah - I hear you... loud and clear. Promise I'll work on that."
"Good girl - now go wake your brother - tell him get up and get moving, bring his paper work over so we can get him registered in school."
"Okay papah... will do-..."
Shawn was glowing as for the second time, she referred to him as just, 'papah' instead of papah-Shawn as he heard Isaac cut her off asking, "Is that papah-Shawn on the phone?"
"That's grandpa to you... yes it is..." Crystal corrected, smiling at her son, who was yawning and stretching, waiting for her to dress him for day care. "Can I talk to him?"
"Boy we don't have time, he got-..."
"Put my grandson on the phone and go wake your brother." Shawn corrected her.
Crystal gasped, grinning - "Here boy - talk to your grandpa." She passed him the phone.
As soon as Isaac got the phone, he started right off, "You my grandpa papah-Shawn?"
"I sure am, is that okay?"
"Yeah! I'm glad you m'grandpa! 'Cause you got a motorcycle!"
Shawn threw his head back and barked with laughter and spoke with his grandson for five more minutes until his mother came and took the phone from him. They had to get ready to go, and he had things to do as well. Hanging up, the smile was back on his face. Shawn felt full to bursting with joy... he had a family. A full and real family... where he was the head, the Lion of his pride. However, his lioness was out roaming about... that would have to be remedied.
* * *
Victor worked third shift, 4-10 hour nights, with 3 nights off at the La Cross Sara Lee plant in the maintenance department. His primary function was to keep the machines going. He'd taken the job at first as part time from college. However, it soon proved that part time wouldn't be enough with a new wife and baby on the way. He'd given up school and gone to work full time, taking the third shift because it offered more money. Thanks to his father being a full time qualified electrician and engineer, he'd picked up skills from him that landed him a nice paying position early on. It helped that he'd also been going to school for heating and air conditioning, electrical and anything to do with maintaining machinery and compression units. Halfway through the job, he'd quit school. He and Crystal had agreed, she would finish school first, and upon completion, it would be his turn to get back and finish. So she had, but he was unwilling to give up his job just when he was making pretty decent money and was on the verge of another pay raise. Besides that, he was learning a great deal from the senior maintenance crew and thought he could take classes part time. That however never happened because he'd been too tired to get up and go to register, let alone maintain study and classes. So it wasn't long before Crystal finished school, earned her certification as a cosmetologist, got a part time job, was making decent money as well and decided that she would go back to school again for nursing this time.
Since he wasn't of a mind set to do it, he agreed that she could if that's what she wanted. Thus, he was still at Sarah Lee's, working third shift, 9:00 to 07:00 - which placed him at getting off work at the moment, to wave and say his goodbyes to fellow workers, only to look towards his mother's vehicle that he used to get back and forth to work, to see parked next to it a red Mustang. Leaning against the front fender of it, with her arms crossed over her breasts... his mother-in-law... Sylvia.
'Oh hell.' Was the first thought that crossed his mind. The look on her face was a serious one. Taking a deep breath and striding towards her, he smiled, hoping to coax one out of her, she wasn't biting... no smile in return to meet him.
"Uh - Sylvia, hi... what - what's going on?" He asked stopping before her.
"Good question, it's the very reason I'm here this morning... so why don't you tell me?"
"I don't understand?" He asked, swallowing and feeling his heart skip a beat.
"That makes two of us - or rather, I should be saying three of us."
"I see... did Crystal send you here to talk to me?"
"You know Crystal - what do you think? Think that she would?"
Victor sighed deep, swallowed, "No."
"So you do know her then. Also, while we're at it, let me first say - because you may not be aware of it, that I don't approve of what she's done to you. Her attacks on you. Were you aware of my feelings concerning that?"
"We haven't really talked have we... so... I wasn't sure one way or the other."
"Well let it be known, here and now - that I was very upset with her about it. I didn't know that it had been going on, and now that I do - I find that totally unacceptable - I guarantee you... she's well aware of that. However, I need to ask you this - does her actions some how now justify you doing what you're doing?" Sylvia asked getting to the point of her visit with him first thing that morning. After speaking with Shawn last night, and emailing him, she'd gone to bed with so much on her mind that she could barely rest. She'd dozed off to sleep and woke in the middle of the night. She'd laid there trying to get back to sleep, but close to 3, she was wide awake. Not giving her actions another thought, she'd gotten up and dressed, grabbed her purse and keys and left Chicago heading back to Wisconsin again. She'd made it in record time, afraid she'd miss him getting off of work. She wasn't about to go to his parents house, she would not take her opinion and displeasure to their doorstep... so she prayed that she caught him getting off work. She'd been elated when she recognized his mother's Audi; parking next to it, she would not be missed.
Victor stood taken by surprise. Her visit and the confrontation caught him ill prepared to voice why he was doing, what she thought he was. Obviously Crystal had shared with her mother her suspicions on Jeanine. He should have been more careful. He knew how Isaac was, what his eyes saw, his mouth reported.
"You're quiet. Feel like it's none of my business? Because if you do - say it. Look me in the eyes and say to me - "Sylvia - with all due respect, it's none of your business." Say it."
Victor stood quiet with his ears ringing and his temples throbbing. He had nothing but the utmost respect for Crystal's mother. She had always been kind, fair and understanding. Helpful whenever they needed it, and loving to the boys. Nothing in him could make him be so disrespectful to her. Granted, saying that - that it was none of her business, if put correctly, could not be construed as disrespectful. The problem was... his conscience was bothering him enough to know, that he was in the wrong. He felt caught and a bit ashamed before her, as his quiet stand and red face attested to.
Sylvia sighed as well standing before him as he made no effort to deny - nor defend.
"All right, on the basis - that you may be feeling that
way - that this is none of my business. That I have no right coming here and confronting you about your marriage to my daughter - I ask that you tell me this - by the same token, what place does your parents have in your marriage? Hm? What right have they - to manipulate decisions you must make that involves my daughter - your two sons by her? Can you tell me that? My point is this, if you're giving them that right - to get into your business - I'm here to have my say!" Sylvia stood staring at him waiting for him to respond. He didn't. He couldn't. All he could find in him to do was sigh, running his fingers through his blonde hair.
"Look at me Victor." She commanded of him.
He did.
"Her hitting you past or present is wrong. No right in that to be found whatsoever. You even contemplating another woman - white or not - while married to my daughter, is wrong! Period! No right, rhyme or reason in it justifiable. Whether it pleases... mummy and daddy - or not. You're wrong and you know it. Any spare time you have, should be focused on yourself, or your sons - or if you have a mind to - assisting your wife to help build and save your marriage. Seems to me - that is no longer on your agenda. I get an ugly feeling, I've been totally wrong about you. But you're a grown man... or at least... you claim to be - simply put, what you do from this day forward, proves how true that is - depending on what you do and how you carry on from here, what you truly are. If you think, the decisions of today... won't effect your eventual tomorrows... you are so wrong in that belief. I have nothing else to say other than this... don't play games! Whether you decide to stay... or to go for good... know this... that she will go on without you. Possibly... better off - with all her imperfections that exist - she's never been disloyal to you. I don't mind saying - I'm well beyond pissed that you could dare mess over her this way."
Sylvia stood and walked to her car door and opened it.
"You can go now... this is my first and last time confronting you - I've had my say - the rest is up to you... whatever that may be." She sat inside, started it, gave him not another look and pulled out of the lot, leaving him standing there as quiet as before. Finally he walked to his mother's car and climbed in, starting it and muttered low, "Shit..."
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