BOMAW 4-6

by Mercedes Keyes

  "Why?"

  "Come on man its important. Did you know that mom has asked Sylvia to attend that funeral tomorrow?"

  "Well I hadn't exactly heard so."

  "Well let me ask you this... is your wife going?"

  "She agreed to." Derrick returned.

  "And you're going to just let her go?!" Shawn asked sharply.

  "Well seeing as how she's gone with your wife, I don't have a whole lot of control over her right now do I?" He fired back.

  "Well I'm telling you now, Sylvia's not going, and if you would do just a bit of forward thinking, you'd realize that Meribel doesn't need to be there either! We don't know what the hell they're going to pull with Jake showing up there tomorrow. And I don't mind saying, that I'm pissed off at mom for taking it upon herself to just include my wife in it. She's pregnant with my goddamn son, there's no way in hell I would even begin to consider putting them in the midst of that!"

  Derrick sighed, he didn't want to agree... but he had to. "You're right, the men showing up with him is plenty enough. I doubt if you're going to have any luck reaching them, I tried all last night to call her, she's kept the phone turned off." He informed his older brother.

  "Have you tried this morning?"

  "No... I haven't had time."

  "Give me the number."

  "Shawn..."

  "Give me the number." Shawn repeated.

  Derrick gave it to him. "If you reach her, tell her I said to get home... today! Enough of this already."

  "Yeah... I'll give her the message if I get through to her." He said after writing it down.

  "Thanks." Derrick returned, hating the fact that they'd been arguing almost none stop since he married.

  "No problem." Shawn returned clicking the phone off and then dialled the number. It rang twice and Meribel answered.

  "Well... what made you turn your phone back on?" Shawn asked right away.

  "Who is this? Shawn?" Meribel asked. Sylvia was sitting across from her at a restaurant where they were eating lunch, looking over an ad Meribel saw in the paper, she'd picked up her cell phone to dial the number given only to have it ring. Sylvia looked up with wide eyes.

  "You got it. Are you still in the presence of my wife?"

  Meribel eyes bucked wide looking at Sylvia, who was suddenly, nervously nibbling on her thumb nail.

  "Ah... sudden silence usually means yes and I've taken you two by surprise. Pass her the phone, now!" He ordered.

  Meribel shot her arm out across the table towards Sylvia, passing her the phone, Sylvia reluctantly took it, nervous and giddy, she answered. "Hello?"

  "Emmm, so you two are together. Well let me get right to the point... wife! Jake tells me that my mother has persuaded you into coming to that funeral tomorrow, is that true?"

  Sylvia's eyes were wide, her husband's tone of voice was very no nonsense, and so she answered, "Yes, she did. I promised her that I would be there."

  "Oh - no - you're not! Do you hear me?! I don't want you anywhere in the area tomorrow - you understand?!"

  "Wh - why not Shawn? She wants me there to stand as a support to-..."

  "You wanna support a McPherson? Bring your ass home! That's how you can give your support! Otherwise... enjoy your little adventure while you can! As for that funeral, only God knows how its going to turn out, I will not have you there in the midst of it should violence erupt... understand? I mean it... you're not married to my mother, you're married to me, you're my wife... not hers! Do I make myself clear?!"

  "Yes Shawn. But why are you upset with me? I thought you might want to see me tomorrow?"

  "What - a token appearance!? Is that what you thought to give me? A little scrap from your table?! Yeah... that aught to make him happy...here doggy doggy, take your scrap, be happy... now go lay down! Feeling good about that thought weren't you... well keep your tokens... because when I'm ready for your ass to be home, you will be! When I'm done with you, I'll be calling my mother to let her know the change of plans. That you will not be showing up there tomorrow. Now pass the phone back to Meribel, I've said all I have to say."

  Sylvia sat with her mouth open, unable to say anything in return to that. She hated to hear him like this. She'd wanted to speak with him so badly earlier and now that she was speaking to him, he didn't want to talk to her, other than to tell her what she was not going to do. Not a fool to push him, she would not be there tomorrow. She wouldn't admit it now, but she had actually been looking forward to showing up there. Not to offer him a token, but because she wanted so badly to see him.

  "That's... all you have to say?" She asked softly.

  He heard the vulnerability in her voice, he knew what she wanted to hear, but dammit for once, he wasn't going to be the one offering up his jugular.

  "What more is there for me to say? Nothing I've ever said to you in the past meant a damn... what difference will it make now?" He asked.

  Sylvia sighed, "Shawn that's not true. God Shawn... what does it take for you to understand?" She started crying, she couldn't help herself.

  "It's going to take my wife - here at home with me, explaining it to me! Any other means you take to go about this thing you feel you have to do, I don't understand. I won't understand it! Dammit and I'm not going to even try!" He grinded his teeth, hearing her sniffles and swallowing, the sucking in and sighs of her crying. He braced himself not to cave in... but God almighty, he couldn't stand the thought of her crying.

  "Well... okay then... I love you." She wiped at her nose and passed the phone to Meribel, stood and left the table, heading for the ladies room.

  "Hello?" Meribel greeted, not at all happy with the way Sylvia just left the table.

  "Pass the phone back to my wife please." He asked, he couldn't do it... he just could not bring himself to leave it that way.

  "I can't, she left the table, left the room. Its just you and I now." She returned.

  "Dammit! Why'd she leave the room?! Can't you follow her?!"

  "Yes I could, but I'm not going to. Why'd you have to make her cry?"

  "Why'd I have to make her cry?! Why the hell has she made me cry?! You ask her that?!"

  "Not in those exact words I haven't... but something similar to that. I'll leave it to her to tell you. Are you done now?"

  "No... I have a message from your husband for you?"

  "That is?"

  "One... do not show up at that funeral tomorrow... it could be dangerous. Only the guys are going."

  "I see."

  "So don't come!"

  "Gladly, I didn't care to go anyway. Anything else?"

  "Yeah... he said, he loves you, and have a good time. Stay away as long as you need, Shanna is there helping him take care of the kids. He understands that you need this. That's all he said."

  "Oh... okay... wow... thanks. What brought that on? That doesn't sound like Derrick."

  "I guess it has occurred to him all that you do for the family and that you're overdue for a long and much needed rest. So enjoy yourself."

  Meribel smiled. "Aaah... I'll have to call him and thank him."

  "I wouldn't if I were you. Once the kids get a hold of you, you'll be back home in no time. I'll pass him the message, don't worry about it. He's out at the game I think anyway."

  "Yeah... he would be. Okay Shawn... talk to you later. Thanks, now I feel bad, you want me to find Sylvia and give the phone back to her?"

  "No... just turn it back off... but turn it back on at 9:30 tonight for me, I'll call her back then."

  Chapter 106

  "-...Mom... mom..."

  "Shawn I think you're overreacting - as if I would invite her into anything that would be dangerous."

  "Mom... you're not a fortune teller! You have no possible way of knowing what's going to happen tomorrow! You shouldn't even be going!"

  "Look... if you don't want your wife to come... fine! But I will be there, that's that! Just so you know it young man, I've made all aware to the police as a precautionary extra meas
ure, so you see, she would have been perfectly safe."

  "The presence of the police does not guarantee safety. You and dad stay at home." Shawn tried to order.

  "Son... stick with your wife. See you tomorrow."

  * * *

  "Well... you still doing it?" Meribel asked Sylvia, they were in their room again, the time was rushing up on them.

  "Yes, I'm still doing it. I haven't come this far to stop now. I guess I better get ready hm?"

  "Yep, I can't wait to see you up on that stage... I'm telling you now, if your voice is half as good as it was in high school... you'll win in tonight's competition." Meribel encouraged. In the paper, they'd been looking for something to do that night when Meribel found the advertisement of the new Jazz club that opened up, ~Fitzgerald's~The ad was huge, calling out to all talent and lovers of jazz and blues, to come in and put forward their very best in the competition as they were looking for singing and performing artists who would compete against others live. They'd gotten in just in the nick of time with only one slot left, the last when Meribel rang them after speaking with Shawn.

  Once they knew they had a spot to appear, they went shopping and Sylvia bought herself a shimmering, burgundy, sequence jump suit. It fit her curves perfectly with Meribel giving her the nod of approval. She'd been really upset after speaking with Shawn, she was steadily growing towards needing to go home. One of the things she'd learned while being away from him, that would no doubt mean more than anything else, is the fact that she loved him so much. Unsure how she would do tonight, her plan was to visit her mother now that she would not be going to the funeral. Her conscience wouldn't allow her to go back home without spending a couple of days with her. Then she would focus on getting to her father.

  Both women took special care with their appearance that night. Meribel wore a black jumper with a gold, satin, gossamer jacket. They did their make-up and soon was making their way towards the club. When they arrived, there was a long line, they'd been instructed to call out, "Act Eight!" Upon doing so, the door attendants ushered them in immediately.

  As they followed one of the men, he asked, "Which one of you is performing?"

  "I am." Sylvia answered.

  "Okay... follow me. Your friend can pick either one of the front tables... choice is yours."

  Meribel nodded with a smile and squeezed Sylvia's arm for encouragement as she was lead away to the back of the stage.

  "Which is it going to be? Dance? Playing an instrument? Comedy? Singing?"

  "I'll be singing." Sylvia answered walking behind the black male as he lead her one through a narrow corridor.

  "What song?"

  "The one by Whitney Houston... All the man that I need."

  He stopped and looked back at her, unsure if she could handle such a song, but then decided, it was a contest after all. He turned back, took two more steps and stopped at a door, opening it for her, explaining, "Until we find an act to stay, all singers will perform to Karaoke cuts... is that okay?"

  "That's fine... no problem."

  "Okay... well... there's one right there, its loaded and has that song, take the time to practice, the singing acts will be on last."

  "Okay... thank you." Sylvia responded smiling nervously. The man nodded and closed the door. She stood so many feet within the small dressing room looking around. It was cleanly decorated while keeping it simple. There were speakers up near the ceiling where she imagined she would be able to hear the show and when it was her time. Her hand went to her stomach.

  "Phew... mama's nervous Jesse, real nervous. But... this is gonna be a good test... of whether I've got it, or not." She spoke to her self walking towards the lit make-up mirror. She sat at the bench and stared at herself. She could feel tears welling up again. "I wish your dad was here. So he could hear me sing this song. But then, if I don't do a good job, maybe its best that he's not here... I wouldn't want to embarrass him." She took several deep breaths, rubbing her sweaty palms together, and turned looking at the Karaoke player. She stood walking to it, trying to figure out how to turn it on. Fifteen minutes later, she had it figured out, and went through the menu until she found her song. She practiced, listening to where she would come in, it cued up with the first three words then let the music continue on, which she followed. After a half an hour, a knock sounded at her door.

  She stood staring at it unsure of who it could be.

  "Yes? Um... come in?"

  The door opened and a white male stuck his head in, smiled and then walked in introducing himself with his hand out towards her.

  "Hello, I'm the owner of Fitzgerald, just call me Bruce and you are?"

  "Sylvia... Sylvia McPherson."

  "Nice to meet you Sylvia - you nervous?" He smiled really white perfect teeth at her, with a flirtatious grin.

  "Well of course, this will have been my first time doing something like this."

  "Well relax, it'll be your turn in no time - once you're on the stage, you'll either wow them or not."

  Sylvia smiled, "Its the - not - that has me worried."

  "Don't let it. Just go out there and do the best you can. There are three contest before you, the first is the comedy showdown. The second is dance, we only want tappers. The third is for those who play an instrument, and last... singers. That would be you. The show will be starting in 30 more minutes, so take that time to do more rehearsing if you feel you need it. I have more acts to visit, good luck Sylvia."

  She smiled and nodded.

  "Thank you."

  "Break a leg lady."

  Just like that he was gone. Sylvia turned pacing, struggling with her nerves. She went back to the karaoke machine and started her song again. What seemed to take forever, that 30 minutes finally passed and the first act went out, the first guy out was absolutely hilarious. Sylvia laughed hard and was glad that he was so funny, she needed the laughter to calm her nerves. The second in competition was a bit funny, but never came close to the first act. Immediately the judging took place, and the first act was welcomed back the following weekend. The same took place with the dance, and then the instrumental. Sylvia was a nervous wreck, because she wasn't sure - IF - she won, she'd be back the following weekend. She wasn't going to think about that, the woman she was competing against was singing, Billie Holiday's, 'The Man I love.' and doing a good job of it. Sylvia grew even more nervous, serious competition. She wasn't sure how she would come out on this one. But then figured, if she didn't win, there would be no issue of what to do about coming back again.

  The performance came to a end and the audience clapped loud with appreciation.

  "Oh my god...its my turn. Oh God! Oh God! Calm down... I can do this... I can do this-..."

  {{ Knock Knock Knock }} "You're up!"

  "Okay..." She answered as she heard her turn being announced.

  No time to waste, she walked out to the edge of the stage and prayed not to faint or trip over her own feet.

  "Now let's give a warm welcome for our final act tonight, Ms Sylvia McPherson singing, 'All The Man That I Need.'" Bruce introduced her and turned with his arm out to her, inviting her on stage. Taking her last steadying breath, Sylvia smiled and walked out to him.

  "Knock'em dead gorgeous!" He said and with a parting squeeze to her arm, he left her there to face the staring audience. Sylvia felt herself go light headed, she looked for Meribel and saw her waving excitedly at her to let her know where she was.

  "Tell us when you're ready." Someone called from the left side of the stage. Sylvia took a deep breath to steady herself and then conjured Shawn up in her mind, then nodded that she was ready.

  The music began, Sylvia kept Shawn on her mind, because this song was more about him, than her - deciding to ease into it calmly, softly but with passion, she began the intro giving the vocal opening and then started, keeping him every present on her mind,

  I used to cry myself to sleep at ni-i-ight

  But that was all before he came

  I thought love
had to hurt to turn out ri-i-ight

  But now he's here

  It's not the same, it's not the sa-a-a-a-a-ame

  He fills me up

  He gives me lo-o-o-ove

  More love than I've ever se-e-en

  He's all I've got,

  He's all I've got in this world

  But he's all the man that I n-e-e-e-e-e-e-ed

  By the time she executed the last note with the excellence of Whitney Houston herself, tears were streaming down her cheeks, because she knew she had the real man, and she was in love. How much she was in love showed in her performance of that song, adding to it her powerfully controlled voice. Every ear present was tickled sweetly as the roar of the clapping with all standing, including Meribel who put two fingers in her mouth and whistled long and loud as if she was back on the block.

  Bruce charged out on stage amazed and overwhelmed.

  "WOW!!! WOW!! I GUESS WE ALL KNOW WHO THE WINNER IS WITH THIS ONE!!!" He yelled over the still ringing applause.

  Sylvia was wiping at her eyes. Now she really wished Shawn had been there as she wiped at her tears, smiling at Bruce who was holding her hand high with his left hand, while presenting her to the audience with his right.

  "Lady... that is one helluva voice - one helluva voice! You and I... we gotta talk. That is for certain."

  Paul stood at the back of the room clapping as the rest did, even his wife Diane could not sit through that one. He stepped back from his seat and went out of the main hall, the loud clapping interfering with the phone call he was about to make. He stepped out into the lobby, near the exit. Letting it ring until finally he heard someone answer.

  "McPherson's!" Shawn answered.

  "Shawn... it's Paul... I want you to listen to something." Paul walked back to the crowded main hall as the clapping was just beginning to die down, but it was still loud enough to carry through his phone. Considering that 30 seconds was enough for him to hear, he walked back to the exit, placing the phone back to his ear.

  "Do you know what that was?"

  "Not sure... whatever it was, it was loud." Shawn responded.