BOMAW 4-6

by Mercedes Keyes

  "I've tried to make it up to him, haven't I? Ignoring the things he's done! The way he's treated women! Sometimes ignoring his own sons!"

  "The way you ignored him! For him to know how to be a father, he needed to start off with one of his own!"

  "DON'T YOU STAND THERE AND TELL ME I WASN'T A FATHER TO HIM!!! I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALL MY CHILDREN! EVEN WHEN I THOUGHT SHAWN..." He stopped himself. Gert stared up at him, letting his words sink in. She stared and finally asked, "Even when you thought - Shawn ... what?"

  Bart's jaw muscle worked, clenching and tightening, making the pulse there throb for her to see.

  "Finish what you were about to say." Gert pushed.

  He looked down at her, "I don't think you want me to."

  Gert glared up at him, tears came to her eyes. "Fine... I'm not a coward! Never been one - ain't gonna start now! So I'll say it for you - even when you thought Shawn wasn't yours?! Was that what you were about to say?" She asked staring up at him.

  "Yes... that's what I was about to say."

  Gert stood breathing hard... her tears pooled and ran over.

  "You telling me... you beat my son, abused him-..."

  "I never abused him!"

  "YOU ABUSED HIM!!! YOU BEAT HIM NEEDLESSLY!!!"

  They both stood staring and breathing hard.

  "You put my son through that, because you thought he belong to another man?! You stand and preach and act like you're so righteous before the Lord! Yet, had he in fact been the product of another man... you took what would have been an innocent child, and made him pay for my sins?! For something I did! No sense in hidin' it! Skirtin' around it - its obvious you know! You call yourself a man of the Lord... yet you found just reason to do that?! TO A CHILD!!! HE WAS JUST A BOY!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE IT OUT ON ME!?! WHY DIDN'T YOU HURT ME!?!"

  "Because I was madly and foolishly in love with you. Knowing how sinful and whorish you-..."

  She reached up and slapped him. For the first time ever. Once again they stood breathing hard. Gert didn't back up, nor had Bart raised a hand to block or hold her. He'd never struck, hurt, abused a woman, sexually or otherwise. Never would he disrespect them. His father had always held women in high esteem. Proclaiming them as the blessed ones, who were granted the privilege of awesome powers similar to God... to reproduce. To bring forth man. They were to be coddled, protected, cherished and held on high. Expecting that they would indeed sin, but it was up to them to forgive them their sins. From their minor sins, to possible greater sins. In doing so, they might save them before the Lord. Bart had held them, her - in that same esteem. Had taught his sons to do no less. Yet, Jake... had tossed that belief in his face. As if to mock him with it.

  "I apologize for that Bart. I guess that is your right, after what I did back then. But my son... he was innocent. Knowing that you made him suffer on my account, breaks my heart. I could accept you doing him as you did because of your struggle in the war. Coming back from Vietnam... I thought that the reason. Did all I could to block him from you, trying to be here for you... and him. But now... had I known that was your reason... I would have left you long time ago."

  "I've done all I can to make up for that! For being hard on Shawn! You know I have!" Bart ground out finally taking hold of Gert's arms. Hearing her mention leaving him, set his heart to pounding. All these years later. After everything... he was still madly in love with her. Sinful back then or not. She was his wife! She was more beautiful, more fiery and exciting than she'd ever been. He knew he could not live without her.

  "You owe Jake as well! You owe him! I swear by the God you pray to - if you don't lead your family... if you don't stand by your sons! By Jake... I'll walk away from you and everything you've built! Don't matter what things have gone on within this family. What's been done to who! To that world out there, we're the McPherson's! If they mess with one! They have to mess with us all! You set that notion into them boys! You made them what they are... - now by GOD - you will stand by them... one and all! Or I will cease to stand by you!"

  Bart stood staring down at her.

  She pulled her arms out of his hands, keeping her eyes on his.

  "I'm going in that house now. Calling every McPherson I can get a hold of. They will stand behind my Jake... and you will stand before them all. Now that... is that."

  Gert was on the phone for the rest of the day. Her girls had come to the house, telling her what she already knew. She sent Kathy Ann home, telling her to get her husband to show up for Jake... by whatever means it took to get him there. Kathy Ann left to do just that. Gert told Shanna that Sylvia was upstairs in Shawn's old room sleeping. Making her promise to keep it hush hush... Gert was not about to do anything to make Sylvia feel that she couldn't come to them if she needed to. As long as she was there, she knew she was safe.

  Then she got on the phone to Jake's sons, calling Christine and speaking with her first.

  "Hey Miss Gert... what's going on?"

  "You hear what's happened with Doris?"

  "Oh... uh...yes ma'am... I did." Christine answered.

  "Jake's boys there? I need to talk to them."

  "Yes ma'am... they are... what's it about?"

  "Jake's wanting to go to Doris' funeral. And we're all going with him, I need to talk to Benjamin and Kevin. I want them there to back their daddy."

  Christine was quiet a moment too long for Gert's liking. "You got a problem with that Christine?"

  "Um, if Jake goes to that funeral... there may be trouble... don't want my boys in the middle of it."

  "They both grown men! I think that's up to them to decide... now please give them a phone so I can talk to them."

  Christine sighed, then set the phone down and went and called her sons, telling them that their grandma wanted to speak to them. They each picked up a phone as she wanted them to. "Hello? Grandma? What do you need?" Benjamin, the oldest started out.

  "This call is not so much of what I need. But - what your father needs. Not the man your mother married. The man who gave you your lives! This call is about him."

  "I see... okay... what does he need?" Benjamin asked as Kevin stood quietly listening.

  "He needs his family to stand behind him at a very hard time in his life. Part of that family is the two of you. Now... before either of you answer, think of this. Has he ever, ever denied either of you?"

  "No... no ma'am." They both answered.

  "When the McPherson's got together for whatever reasons... were you two not always included?"

  "Yes ma'am." Kevin lead answering this time.

  "Your birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and all... you always got... did you not?"

  "Yes ma'am." They answered.

  "Well... I'm gonna say this to you boys. You men now. You've had a good life. Your mama married a good man who helped raise you right. True?"

  "Yes ma'am... that's true."

  "Well I'm telling you now... I know my son... wasn't the best father to you two that he could have been. Should have been. But he never... not once, turned his back on you! He may have not always been there for the important accomplishments in your lives... but we were always there... weren't we? Your grandpa and me? Were we not?"

  "Yes grandma... you were."

  "Well then... if for no other reason than that... I'm asking you two... to come... and stand by your father. If you never give him anything ever... give him this! Show yourselves by his side. You're McPherson's... and this is one of those McPherson moments... where I expect you to attend. Just as I've always included you as a part of us before - I'm asking this of you now."

  "Say no more... we'll be there grandma. We'll be there... you have our word."

  Gert sighed in relief.

  "Thank you... I'll call you both and let you know how we're going to do this as soon as I get the funeral arrangements."

  "Okay grandma... we'll be waiting to hear from you." Kevin said.

  Gert hung up and called Jackie next, Paul's mother.

  Half an hour lat
er... he too agreed to come.

  It was close to four in the evening by the time Sylvia finally woke. She stretched in her husband's old bed and was very reluctant to leave it. Unable to sleep a moment more, she rose and went to the bathroom. Washed her face, using the toothbrush she carried in her purse, she brushed her teeth and then went carefully looking through the house for Gert or Bart. She found Shanna and Gert in the kitchen, Gert was cooking.

  Sylvia's eyes got big seeing Shanna... she'd forgotten about her.

  "Well look'ah here! How'd you sleep sweety?" Gert asked.

  "Like a rock. I was exhausted. Thank you." She turned to Shanna. "Please don't tell your brother I came here."

  "Don't worry... I've been sworn to secrecy."

  "Sit down honey... I got something I need to talk to you about." Gert started, and Sylvia sat at the table and listened as Gert filled her in on the events taken place over the last 24 hours with Jake, and then she dropped a bomb in her lap.

  "You're a McPherson... I want you there by your husband's side. To stand with him, as he stands behind Jake."

  "Nooo... I can't Gert! I'm not ready to come home yet! Shawn will never let me go if I show up there."

  "I understand that! If I work it out, where you can get out of there... will you be there?! I need you to stand with us! Dammit you're a McPherson Sylvia! I want you there." Gert pushed.

  Sylvia covered her face, shaking her head in disbelief at what she now faced. She was regretting coming there. Now she wished she'd gotten a room.

  "He'll never let me go Gert. Once he gets his hands on me."

  "This is important Sylvia! I promise you! You come stand with your husband on that day... you will be able to leave. I promise you that. But this is an important event with us, for us all! Mainly... for Jake. I know how you feel... but I need... I mean I need you to stand there with us. I've already found out the funeral arrangements, they're burying her Sunday. I've also called the police and told them the history and warned that they'll need to be present. I expect you to be there as well."

  "He's not gonna let me go again... I just know it."

  "You let me take care of that. You just be there!"

  Chapter 98

  Thursday Evening...

  The day had been a busy one for Shawn. He'd taken care of getting Mundo set up for school and afterwards they went by Menards, a DIY store where he purchased more fixtures for the bathrooms, modern and current with today's standards and tastes. He also purchased more lumber, this time in kits for adding a small apartment above the garage, and everything needed to get started on Shanna's foundation, setting up a time for it all to be delivered. He rang her to let her know the cost of what he'd gotten so far, if she paid him back fine, if she couldn't right off, he let her know it was no big deal. She assured him she had it and would reimburse him. He and Mundo stopped at the store, stocked up on deli foods and salads, all quick eats - and headed back to the house. The three worked together, Shawn and Jake both taking the time to explain and teach Mundo what they'd been taught from the time they could hold a brick and not drop it. Mundo was enjoying himself learning what they taught, and getting hands on experience with it. It was close to Angela's time to get out of school, Shawn sent him to pick her up as he and Jake carried on. They were pouring the cement, filling the frame when in the house the phone rang. Shawn raced within answering it, "Hi son, Jake there?" Gert asked.

  "Yep... hold on. JAKE! MOM ON THE PHONE!!!" He called out to him and passed him the phone, jumping down from the kitchen door to the ground now that the steps were gone. Jake took it and walked to the front of the house sitting on the porch. "Yeah mom?"

  "Just callin' to let you know I've talked to your brother. He said you were going to the funeral."

  "I am. Well... the burial. I'll leave her family in peace for the funeral."

  "I think that's a good idea - if - if you feel that you have to go? You sure you can't wait until after they leave?"

  "I'm not going for their sake, I'm going for hers. I will not let her be buried and not show up there. You know as well as I do mom what they'd be saying. That I didn't care enough to even show at her funeral. I will not give them that. I have to go."

  "Okay... just checking. You know that you won't be going alone don't you? Your family will be attending with you."

  "That's not necessary mom... there's no since in you all being subjected to them."

  "Son... I'm not trying to talk you out of going to the funeral... so don't you try and talk us out of standing by your side. I'm respecting your wishes, now you respect ours. You're not going there alone."

  Jake wiped his hand over his face, then gripped his hair, holding his head as he held to phone to his ear. Sitting on the stairs with his elbows resting on his knees. He let out a sigh, "Okay... thank you I guess - and dad... what has he said?"

  "He's going as well."

  "How may I ask, did you manage that?"

  "Wasn't easy... but he'll be there."

  "What has he been saying?"

  "You know your father. You don't need me to fill you in on his word by word displeasure over the whole matter. So I'm not going to. You my son, need to settle yourself into rethinking where your life's going. There's a better way Jake. There's still a future, and wonderful - beautiful things for you - if you would just realize it and go for it."

  "Such as? What beautiful things are there for me that I won't screw up?"

  "Jake... you know as well as I do, your screw ups were always deliberate. Just as you had control over what you did in the past, you have control over what's to come. Besides, I think you're finally beyond all of that now."

  "Hmph, we'll see. Look, don't be expecting too much from me. I don't know what tomorrow will bring. I'm just going to stay busy today, and leave tomorrow for when it gets here."

  "That's up to you son. By the way, where would you have Vivian send this package of yours she called me about? She said she had something that belongs to you and she wanted to get it to you." Gert put in. She knew that had already been resolved between her and Vivian but she used it anyway to bring her up.

  "Vivian? She - called you?" Jake's throat clogged up on him as his mouth watered at the mention of her name, immediately his mind conjured an image of her.

  "Yes she did, we talked for a good while. I hope you don't mind, but... I told her what was going on. She's just beside herself with worry over you. Wanted me to tell you that she understands what you're going through. She's going through some things herself. She's in the middle of moving you know?"

  "No... I didn't... when... is she moving?"

  "Well she's looking for a place right now. She's talking about hiring a moving service once she's done packing and gets the new place, then I suspect she'll be ready to move in. Its a shame a young woman like that has to resort to moving herself - think there'd be somebody to help her with that."

  "HA! She's too damn stubborn and pig headed to ask for help! Angry at the world - well all the men in it at least."

  "Well why is that son?"

  Jake stopped and thought about it. He knew why. He knew exactly why. He had been... was... the very kind of man that Vivian had been hurt by. All except for hitting a woman. He'd never done such a thing, and certainly would never hit her.

  "Let's just say, I know a bit of what's happening with her. And - she knows my number. There's no reason for her to have to hire anyone. All she has to do is call!"

  "Would this be the same number of the place you once lived? How you expect her to reach you there? And I tried your mobile, and you don't answer that!"

  "Oh hell... I forgot. I have a new one, I broke the other one."

  "Ah... and she can reach you hm?"

  "While you're on the phone, jot down the new one." He asked Gert. Who immediately grabbed a pen and paper doing so. "Now I have it, what about her?"

  "You'll have to give it to her, she probably won't even talk to me so I can give it to her."

  "Why is that?"

/>   "I told you - she's a man hater! Damn her!"

  "Why are you gettin' so riled?"

  "'Cause she riles me! I've never seen anyone, take the littlest things the wrong way, and start an argument over it. And - just so you know... I've tried to be nice to her! But she won't stop looking for hidden strings - weren't for that, we might get along!"

  "Well now Jake... come on - surely there's valid reason on her part for looking for strings? First of all, look at her. Its a miracle the woman's even free - which is totally beyond my understanding. Guarantee you this... something like her... won't be free for long. Some smart man with all his senses on will realize what she is and snatch her right up, I don't doubt that for a moment."

  Jake felt his jaw clench because he knew what his mother was doing. Giving him a subtle nudge. In any other situation, he would just laugh it off. He couldn't this time. Something about finding out that she was suddenly, "snatched up!" rubbed him wrong.

  "Mom... I - I don't know how to deal with someone like her."

  "What do you mean - someone like her?"

  "She's... she's... different... difficult - unpredictable."

  "How so?"

  "I'm not sure how to read her! With her, I think I've done something right, only to find out I've done something wrong. She has no tact! She cussed me out by the way..."

  Gert couldn't help it, she chuckled listening to her son. She couldn't recall any woman ever doing any such a thing as that to him, she smiled as he went on,

  "... there's no... pretence... no... she's too forthright, and... and angry and confrontational... and - uh - oh hell I don't know how to describe her. She doesn't act quite the way I'm use to women acting. An-n-nd she's - ugggh - mom... God! Its too soon for this! I can't think about it now."

  "You know what I think?"

  Jake groaned, "I will in a minute."

  "Now now... listen to me. She's you Jake! She's you. She shocks, just as you've shocked women. Only difference is, she's using it differently than you, because she's a woman. I know I'm right about the two of you. To be as opposite in looks and coloring as you are, you two people are the most beautiful I've ever had the blessing of meeting. The both of you are arrogant in your beauty, while still holding within you a heart of gold. Because where you both have been blessed in looks, you're not blessed in love. Mainly because, what you both are has isolated you. Now here you are, the two of you... alone. I'm telling you son... listen to your mother. Because I feel it in my bones, what you aren't... she is! You hear me... she is. The two of you together... will balance. You will find in her, what you need son. She will find in you... what she needs. Believe this old lady son... believe me that I know what I'm talking about. I raised you... no body knows you better than your momma. The minute I set eyes on that glorious black princess ... I knew. Admit it son, have you ever seen a woman so regal and elegant in your life? She's a good girl, I know she is. You know it too! Don't be afraid... don't let Doris win this-..."