BOMAW 4-6

by Mercedes Keyes

  Chapter 96

  "Good morning, McPherson Residence." Gert greeted answering the phone as she stood in her kitchen, refusing to give her argument with her husband another thought. Bart could be mulish, dispassionate and downright cold sometimes when his moral stands came into question. As Jake had known, sure enough - his father had gone on and on for sometime the night before when Gert broke the news about Doris. He had been furious. Saying things that she was glad her son hadn't come home with her to hear. He felt down enough, the last thing he needed to hear was his own father blaming him for that entire outcome.

  Bart had never approved of the way Jake lived or the way he conducted his life. Because Gert had laid an element of guilt on Bart for neglecting Jake, that and that alone kept Bart off of his back sometimes. But this was a big one. It had taken Gert an hour to calm Bart down, talking him out of going to Shawn's to give Jake a piece of his mind. Her headache had just subsided now from the night previous, having to wrestle with him to keep him from hurting their son more. In an angry fury, Bart had finally given up his plan of going and confronting Jake. Needing to cool down, his parting comment to Gert had been.

  "You and your sons... I swear were it not for Derrick - and now finally Shawn... there'd be nothing but a waste in'em all! I can tell you now, that youngest show his face here - he'll get what he's been needin' all his life! My pointed boot up his ass!" With that he'd stormed out of the house and into his favorite place, the vehicle barn.

  Back to now, Gert held the phone to her ear surprised to hear who was calling.

  "Hi - Mrs. McPherson... I don't know if you remember me or not? I was at Sylvia's and Shawn's wedding? My name is Vivian... I wore um, a red dress. I came with Sheila? Jake took me home after the reception that night."

  "Sweetheart, I most certainly do remember you! How are you?!"

  "I'm okay... I uh - heard - a bit about what happened with Jake. It's so tragic... horrible."

  "Sweetheart I'm telling you now, it's got my family turned all upside down! My poor son is a wreck over it!"

  "I guess they - well - really loved each other hm?"

  "Love?! Oh no! Love had nothing to do with that ugly scene! That was all about selfishness and hurting my boy! He tried to break things off with her, woman damn near old enough to be his mother mind you. Don't get me wrong, I begrudge no one the right to be with whom they want... to each his own. But that relationship was wrong from the very beginnings. Fact is, she held onto him tight as could be for as long as she could. However, there comes a time when its time to let go if it ain't meant to be! My son Jake and Doris...not meant to be! She couldn't take it - he wanted to break it off - instead of handling it like a woman and opening the door to let him out, she blew her brains out! Right there in front of my son!"

  "Oh my god. That's horrible! How is he?" Vivian couldn't help but ask.

  "He's torn up with guilt about it. Blaming himself for it. Just as she'd hope he would be! Deliberately - she deliberately set out to ruin any chance of him going on with his life! Well dammit, my boy's a McPherson... he'll bounce back! I plan to make sure of it. Funny how you should call just now. I've been rolling thoughts about my head since we got back from out of town. For instance, why now... at this moment - did Jake decide to break it off? You got any idea why?" Gert fished.

  Vivian's eyes got big, unsure of what to say.

  "Cat got your tongue gal?!"

  "No ma'am... I just... I'm not sure what to say."

  "Say what's on your mind? There must have been some reason you called?"

  "Yes, there is... I have something of Jakes, that I need to get back to him. I was phoning for his address to mail it to him."

  "I see. Well, mail it to Shawn and Sylvia's home - he's staying there for the time being. Now that that Doris' family burned down his home and destroyed his truck! Left him with nothing!"

  "Oh no! You're kidding me! How awful! What is he gonna do?!"

  "That son of mine! I tell you the truth - don't know what he's going to do! I know he didn't have no home owners insurance - and that truck of his only had liability! I kept on him and kept on him about insurance on that home of his and full coverage for that truck. Sometimes he's just too lax with life. Too come what may! His home was only a single mobile home, but it was a nice one - my boys are all clean and take good care of what they have, he'd put a deck on it, had redone the inside, new kitchen and bath, did up the livingroom and everything, it was worth more after he had it than when he first bought it. So what if they were a few years old. His home and truck were in perfect condition because he took such good care of it all."

  "I never saw his home, but I know the truck drove wonderfully that night he brought me home."

  "Well...its gone now! They broke out all the windows and burned it, my sons told me. Pisses me off it does! Now he has to start over because she didn't have the good sense and strength to accept it was over!"

  "If its okay with you, I'd just as soon not speak ill of the dead. She's not here to defend herself is she? She's paid the ultimate price - lets leave her to rest in peace."

  Gert smiled, she liked hearing that. The girl had heart. "You say you got something of his hm?" She decided to get to the topic she was most interested in, THEM! "Something you need to return? That the only reason you calling for my Jake's address?"

  Vivian sighed. "Mrs. McPherson-..."

  "You and Sheila and your friends were calling me mama Gert that night, that's just fine with me."

  Vivian smiled, sighed and started again, "Mama Gert... look, under the circumstances, with what's taken place, I just want to get what I have to him. Sounds like he needs it. My life's not in much better shape than his to be honest with you. Right now I'm in the middle of looking for a place to live as well. Getting ready to move, and then... take some time to get my life in order."

  "Sounds like to me the two of you got a lot in common." Gert pointed out. "So you say you're moving hm?"

  "Yeah."

  "Got a lot of stuff?"

  Vivian was grinning, shaking her head. "Yes, so happens that I do."

  "Got any muscle standing by to move it?"

  "I was contemplating hiring a moving service."

  "Contemplatin'? Is it something you can afford to do?"

  "Well... that's life isn't it? You may not always be able to afford it, but - you have to do what you have to do."

  "Yes... well - why don't you leave that with me?!"

  "Leave what with you, mama Gert?"

  "Help for moving."

  "Mama Gert, I don't need any help. Please don't give him the idea that I'm after him. Or else he'll be turned off."

  "Turned off?" Gert asked grinning. "You afraid of that hm? Turned off? Hmmm, now lets see, in order for him to be turned off - that mean at some point, he been turned on? That right? Would you say that adds up about fair?"

  "Mama Gert - now just hang on a minute-..."

  "No no... got no time for hanging around and hanging on... you want my Jake! Say it - that true? You want him?"

  "Mama Gert - will you just slow down. As we both know, he's been through a great deal. Something traumatic! He needs time to recover from that. I'm not about to be suddenly popping up everywhere, giving him the idea that I'm after him."

  "But you are... admit it! Tell me that much at least!" Gert prodded anxiously.

  Vivian groaned over the line, which Gert heard loud and clear, feeling hyped by what she was learning. "You know, I never did hear what happened after he took you home. We had to leave right away for California, Shawn's ex-wife was in a shooting over there."

  Vivian jumped right on it, "Really? What happened?"

  Gert wasn't stupid. "Never you mind that... I wanna know what happened after the reception and he took you back to Chicago? I missed all of that... anything happen?"

  "Mama Gert - we'd just met!"

  "Listen here girl! Why all you young people think life just began with you!? Lemme' tell you something darlin' - when the ch
emistry is there - we know! Women always know when they're with a man that makes their blood rush thru their system like a locomotive at full steam! I want to know are there any sparks at all between you two? Don't pussy foot with me black Velvet - tell me like it is! Is there something there or not? Have you tested the water? If so, is it hot? Any fires simmering at low ebb? In other words - have you two locked lips yet?"

  "You know what? You somethin' else mama Gert! That is no lie! I'on know where you come from! You are a trip - callin' me black velvet!"

  "Darlin' I ain't tryin' to offend you. Have I? If so, let me apologize now. Don't mean to, its a compliment to you sweety - I ain't never seen nothin' like you - I can't help myself, I want you for my Jake! Just give me some time - you'll get use to me. Especially if you end up with my boy. Now - stop hedgin' 'round the main point I'm trying to get to - have you kissed?"

  Vivian chuckled in disbelief, shaking her head, she finally admitted it, "Yes, we have."

  Gert got excited, "Was it a good kiss? I mean that kind that makes you wiggle your toes?"

  Vivian was laughing out loud now, "Mama Gert, I can't believe you!"

  "Chile answer me... was it a goodin'?"

  "Yes, it was."

  "And my boy, how was he? Was he all over you?"

  "MAMA GERT!!!"

  "Come on now gal - we grown women, let's hear it! Was he ready to get it on?"

  "You too much! Oh my goodness!"

  "Well... laugh all you want, just answer my question. I need to know what's going on with him. Was he wantin' you bad?"

  "Yes... yes he was."

  "How far did you go?"

  "Not as far as he wanted - I stopped it. Made him leave."

  "Wooooo hoooo!!! Good girl! Now - we have to plan our next move, because that so and so Doris-..."

  "Mama Gert-..."

  "...not now chile I'm plottin' and plannin'-..."

  "... well you can just stop! Because my plan - is to do nothing. I'm going to leave him alone. If he wants me, if there-..."

  "...what you mean leave him alone? You can't! You got to make your next move gal! Get him while the gettin's good-..."

  "...no mama Gert... I'm gonna leave him alone."

  "... well I don't want you leavin' him alone!-..."

  "...too bad - because I am. He needs time mama Gert, time to-..."

  "...time hell! You got to act now for someone else moves in on him! He at his lowest right now! He's vulnerable! He's feeling like crap! Some brazen hussy - barracuda's gonna jump at the chance to have him next! You can't let that happen! I want you dammit! You hear?-..."

  "Mama Gert - listen to me. I'm flattered, really I am. But I'd rather wait for him to come to me. If we're meant to be, if he's ready and I've gotten myself together, it may happen. But I'm not gonna plot, plan and manipulate... I've done enough of that in my life... time to turn over a new leaf."

  "Dammit! Good time for that!"

  Vivian was laughing softly, feeling a nice tingle in her heart towards the older woman. She'd never met anyone like Gert, it felt good to be recognized as a worthy prize. Especially when it was a mother on the hunt for a son... that said a lot.

  "I have to go now mama Gert, I'll get Shawn and Sylvia's address from Sheila, thank you - for the way you feel, its a welcomed compliment."

  "Yeah yeah yeah! You'll be hearing from me black Velvet - know that! I want what I want!"

  "Be good mama Gert... don't go to messing with him, give him some time okay?"

  "Be good? What's the fun in that? You just steer clear of any interested men! You hear me?! Tell them you're taken! Ignore'em all understand? You my Jake's - I'm claiming you for'im - cause he too fuzzy headed to do it for himself! Men never know what they need - until its too late to get it! Not about to let that happen! Gotta go girl - got things to do! Bye!"

  She hung up leaving Vivian holding the phone and staring at it incredulously. Inhaling deep, she clicked her phone off.

  In Chicago...

  Vivian turned back to her early morning duties she had begun with packing. Thanks to Sheila, she saw 6 different apartments. It was a tie between two of them. She'd put in her credit application to them and now only waited for them to call her. One was not far from where she lived at the moment. A townhouse with 2 bedrooms, nice size living room, dinning room and spacious kitchen. Surprisingly, bigger than the kitchen she had in the town house at the present. That was the place that she wanted, more than anything what made it ideal, was that it was on the next block from Sheila. They could literally walk in a couple of minutes to each others home. She said a little prayer and crossed her fingers for it. The other apartment was further east, not far from her job and the lake front. To rent it was a lot more expensive than the place by Sheila, it was new, clean and contemporary. Sheila felt like it would clash with her Victorian style furnishings and pictures, where as the one near her was more adaptable... and ... closer to Sheila.

  Either way, Vivian knew that her credit would clear, so it was a matter of which one called her first. In the meantime, she began packing. She took off of work, told them she had an emergency situation that required she take immediate vacation. They hadn't given her a hard time about it. Good thing she was taking the steps to move on. Because now she was being harassed by Laek Chan. Despite her telling his wife, he was still demanding she talk to him. She ignored him all the way around. Refusing to let him know that she was moving out of the house. When she was out, she'd mail him the keys with a note to go screw himself. In the meantime, she packed and cleaned. Sheila said she would be over to help her with some of the packing as soon as she got Dennis and the kids out of the house.

  Packing up the spare bedroom and clearing the closet there, Vivian kept glancing back at the bed behind her. Remembering Jake there. She hadn't seen him since Sunday, hadn't heard from him since Monday, when she'd called him. A conversation that ended in argument. She stood a moment in a daze, thinking about him. Seeing him as he'd come into her life. At the Kwik Trip the first time they'd set eyes on each other. At the reception, seeing him cleaned up, smelling good, with an engaging and flirtatious grin. Driving all that way with him lying next to her. The sheer size of him crammed into the space next to her as he lay slumped down in the seat, snoring away. She smiled thinking about him laying on the street, and the struggle they, her neighbors and her endured getting him into her house and up the stairs.

  Shaking off the memories, Vivian reached for more things on the top shelf of the closet. Heat rushed over her as her mind produced the kiss in her mind. Her body remembered it. Remembered well, what it felt like to have him pressed up close to her, his solid warm body strong and unyielding, his large hand pressing her closer. His tongue had filled her mouth. Vivian felt her nether region throb and swell in response.

  "Oh god... I can't get him out of my head. I just can't. Yet... I know, no matter how bad I want him, hmph - no matter how much his mother wants it - its all about him, and what he wants. I should have never kissed him. I should have just let him leave. Yet... he was trying to break it off with - Doris. Was it about me Jake? Were your actions inspired by what cannot be denied between us? Oooh how bad I wish it were so. And if it was, what now? Now that she's done this to herself...and to you? What now?"

  Her doorbell rang. She knew it was Sheila and ran down the stairs and opened the door.

  "I'm here! You got me for a couple of hours. Where we startin'?"

  "Follow me... the second bedroom might as well get packed up. Guess who I talk to this morning?"

  "You call mama Gert?" Sheila asked following Vivian up the stairs.

  "Yes - and Sheila... she a trip! I swear fo'god - I don't know nobody like her!"

  "She tell you what happen with that lady Doris Jake was seeing?"

  "Girl, she blew her brains out right in front of Jake!"

  "That's messed up!"

  "Tell me about it."

  "She say why she did it?"

  "He was trying to break it up - she co
uldn't take it."

  "Oh my goodness - ain't no way in the hell - I don't give a damn who it is! Dennis ass included - am I gone end my own goddamn life cause a man wanna walk! I be tellin' him to walk his ass on! I ain't gone lie to you, I may cry - boo-hoo like a mug... but I ain't puttin' no goddamn gun to my head! Forget that shit! I might shoot his ass - but I ain't shootin' mine!"

  "You know tha's right! Mama Gert feel pretty much the same. She angry about it."

  "I don't blame her! I would be too! Because ultimately - that shit just gonna hurt who left alive to mourn you! That shits gotta sit on Jake's mind now!"

  "Girl that ain't all! Her family, burned up all his shit!"

  "What shit?!"

  "His house and his goddamn truck! Gone! Burnt! And he didn't have no insurance on it either!"

  "Aaah hell naw! That's messed up. So what he doin' now?"

  "Mama Gert say he living at Shawn's and Sylvia's house."

  "Oooh shit - that ain't gone work! Sylvia don't like his ass... not even a little bit!"

  "Well under the circumstances, there ain't much he can do is there? She just gone have to tolerate him! She ain't there no way!"

  "Girl look at you! Jumpin' all on his side! You know she justified... look what he pulled at her wedding reception... come on now - be fair!" She said in the bedroom with her now, helping her pull stuff out and sort through it.

  "I am trying to be fair! Sylvia ain't lost nothing! She still got exactly what she had, before he did what he did! She still got a home, a husband and everything else! He on the other hand is left with nothing - but the memory of that woman killing herself."

  "Girl you know yo'ass in love!"

  That stopped Vivian who sank against the wall slapping her hand to the top of her head. "I just met him Sheila... girl I don't know what to do with myself. I can't get that man off of my mind! Every single day - day in and out - I'm thinking about him! Pisses me off - because I know his mind everywhere but - on me!"

  "I don't know about that now - there must have been some reason he broke it off with that Doris. I think it was you."