BOMAW 4-6

by Mercedes Keyes

  "What kind of trouble? With who?"

  "I was ummm... trying to get some sleep earlier... and uh, I got a phone call. It was your friend, Edwina."

  Sylvia's brows pinched suspiciously, "Yeah... and?"

  "She umm, must know about my past... you know... what I did a long time ago."

  Sylvia quietly waited, listening, she could hear that he was struggling with it.

  "Sylvia?!"

  "I'm still here, waiting on you."

  "Her car broke down on the interstate. She called here for help, I went and picked her up, her car wouldn't start. I brought her back here. I tried to make her feel welcome, and I left her the freedom of the house...." He stopped.

  "You took her back to the house?"

  "Well... yeah."

  "My house?"

  "Yes, this is the one I'm at all the time."

  "I see, so what happened?"

  "She came onto me. She uh... she got in bed with me, and ... I was sleeping, and ... she... took liberties... with me."

  "She took liberties with you? Such as?"

  "Touching me... uh - there as well... I was sleeping mind you... she um, God Sylvia... I was asleep..."

  "What did she do to you?"

  "She um... Jesus Christ - she uh - went down on me... and - I thought I was dreaming, I though it was you."

  "How you thought it was me?! You tryin' to be funny? 'Cause I said, I thought Jake was you? This some kind of revenge?!" She accused getting hot already.

  "No! No, of course not - I was dreaming Sylvia! I thought I was dreaming I mean."

  "Okay... I see, and then what?"

  "I suddenly realized it was no dream, I woke up and stopped her right away! I swear I did! I told her to get the hell out, she refused, so I called Crystal over here."

  "You called my daughter into the middle of that?!"

  "I didn't know what else to do Sylvia... I just wanted to get rid of her! She threw the fact that she knew about my past life in my face!"

  "Why'd you even bring her back to the house Shawn? You knew there was no one else there! Where was Angela in the midst of all of this?"

  "She was across the road, sleeping with Crystal. What else was I suppose to do, I wasn't thinking clearly."

  "Well that was really convenient wasn't it? Her being across the road? Where's Jake?"

  "He's uh... he stayed at our parents-..."

  "So you were there alone? And you brought her back there?"

  "Hey! What's up with you? I'm trying to tell you what happened!"

  "Are you aware, or are you not that there is a Super 8 Shawn! Open all night! You could have dropped her off there!"

  "She was your friend Sylvia... I didn't want to be rude!"

  "Where is she now?"

  "Walking down the road I guess. Maybe the police picked her up, I don't know."

  "Who called the police?"

  "I did... she was going off in front of the house after I tossed her out, she scratched the hell out of me." He complained, feeling his stinging scars again.

  "Em hm! You sure you didn't do this Shawn, to get back at me? For keeping what Jake did, from you?"

  "NO! HELL NO!!"

  "Em hm! So... how far did she go... before you - woke up?!"

  "I resent that question! I resent your tone!"

  "I resent you bringing her up into my house when you knew - I was not there! Did you tell her I was not there?"

  "Yes I did!"

  "Yet she still felt compelled to have your help, no one else would do I guess, like why didn't she call a taxi? Or the police!?"

  "I can't believe this!? Why are you tripping?!"

  "Why am I tripping? Answer my original question first... how far did she go?"

  "This is bullshit Sylvia! At least I told you! I didn't try to keep it from you!"

  "Like I kept Jake from you... right?" She snapped angrily.

  "Would you stop saying that! That has nothing to do with this! I can't believe this shit! I can't believe this shit!"

  "I'm gonna tell you something right now Mr. McPherson! You not gonna be pulling this shit with me! There will be no repeats of the same ol'shit I got from Armundo! When I'm not there, the only goddamn women that should be coming into my house, is our family! If it's not family... no woman should be in my house alone with you! I mean it! I'm not gonna have it! Ain't this some shit - you were sleeping!! You 'bout to get your ass knocked out - then yo'ass be sleepin'!"

  "I WAS!! DAMMIT I WAS!! I can't believe you!" Shawn argued in disbelief, "Fucking hell - I can't win can I?"

  "Sounds like you won tonight! And I repeat - how far - did it go?!"

  "Why do you keep asking me that? I told you what happened!"

  "Wait till I see her ass!"

  "Oh no you don't! I don't want you confronting her!"

  "Why!? You afraid she gone to tell me something you don't want me to know!?" Sylvia asked nastily. "Like how far she went?!"

  "SYLVIA, THIS IS BULLSHIT! Get your goddamn ass home, and you won't have to worry about women coming into this house!"

  "Oh so you admit it! You did it to get back at me!"

  "YOU KNOW WHAT!?-..." He blasted, standing from the sofa, trying to get a hold of his temper, pacing he ran his hand over the top of his head. "This is it... you get your goddamn ass home - NOW - FUCKING NOW! I'M SICK OF THIS SHIT!!!"

  "Who are you yelling at?! I'm not the one, who let some stank ho, suck my dick!"

  "YOU DON'T HAVE A DICK DAMMIT!! AND I DIDN'T LET HER SUCK MINE!! And you know what else... you're not gonna turn this one on me! If you'd had your ass here at home, this would have never happened!"

  "And if you didn't have your dick spread out all over the U.S of A for all to see, there wouldn't be women banging down our door to get a piece of it!"

  "AI-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-IH!!! JESUS CHRIST - THIS WOMAN IS GOING TO DRIVE ME FUCKING NUTS!!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, and then "Get your ass home Sylvia!" He bit out through tightly clamped teeth.

  "I'll be home... when I get home - Mr. McPherson!"

  Shawn started laughing, "Oh I can't wait... darlin'... I can't wait to get a hold o'you! Because when I do... your ass is mine!"

  Sylvia laughed at him, "You got to find my ass... to get my ass! Oh... but you don't know where my ass is - now do you?!" She laughed even more before turning her phone off on him.

  Shawn held the phone smiling. "That's where you're wrong lady... I know exactly where you are. And I will not be late!" He growled steaming in anger.

  Chapter 111

  Jake was in a pretty good mood considering the fact that his father was not speaking to him, had been ignoring him and avoiding him since their confrontation that ended with him getting laid out. Despite it, he'd stayed there and had a wonderful evening with his sons. Borrowing his mother's car, he'd been the one to take them home, with all three present in the car with him, he decided to test them with a hypothetical scenario.

  "Let me ask you guys something, and I want you to be honest with me and tell me what you think."

  "Sure..." They all commented listening.

  "What if... and I'm saying - if - I mean... nothing may ever come of it. I just thought to toss it out there among you, see what you think."

  Benjamin and Kevin were laughing at him, "You're beating around the bush dad... it must be about a woman." Kevin commented.

  "How do you know that?"

  "Excuse me - I am 20 years old - and certainly no virgin - you sound like you're building up to an announcement about a woman."

  "I see... Jesus... you're 20?"

  His sons laughed at him again.

  "Dad... it was bound to happen, believe it or not, its gonna happen to Paul as well."

  "Jesus, where has time gone... you guys know that I'll be... well... November-..."

  "You'll be 40!" All three said at the same time.

  "Jesus Christ! Not all at once please, I don't need to hear it in surround sound!" He joked.

  "Stop trying to change th
e subject dad... you were going to tell us about a woman." Paul spoke up this time.

  "Now, I never said it was about a woman!" He corrected him.

  "Okay... what's it about?" Benjamin asked.

  Jake was quiet driving the Towne car, he didn't want to admit it.

  "You need some help with it dad?" Kevin asked.

  "I think he does... is it about a lady named Vivian?" Benjamin asked.

  "How? Hey - wait a minute... who said something about her?" Jake asked stunned.

  "Is it true? Is that what you were about to ask us? About her?" Paul pressed.

  "Is it dad? The lady in the red dress from the wedding? We were all talking about that dress for the rest of the night. That dress on your mind ol'man?" Benjamin teased.

  "HEY! Watch that ol'man business - let's get back to the red dress! Who told you?"

  "So it is about her!" Kevin laughed.

  "Who told you?!" Jake asked again.

  "GRANDMA!!!" All three replied loud and clear.

  "Dammit to hell and back! What did she say?"

  "She tossed us a hypothetical - asked us what if you two were to get together, what would we think." Benjamin replied.

  "Your grandma, I tell you what... she's determined to get her way! I don't even see that there was a need for her to bring that before you three."

  "So... you're saying that what you were going to ask, wasn't about her then?" Paul interjected.

  Jake was fighting it again. The more he talked about Vivian, the more persons he discussed her with, the tighter was this strange hold she had over him.

  "Well, for the sake of the fact, that we're already discussing her, let's just say - I were to um, well... maybe... not for certain, maybe... pursue her. Stop laughing at me Kevin! Its disrespectful to laugh at your father!"

  "Okay, I'm sorry... go ahead."

  "I just wanna know, what you guys think?"

  "We think she's hot! Smokin' hot!" Benjamin rolled out sounding like Wolfman Jack.

  "And black!" Jake pointed out.

  "And beautiful." Benjamin added.

  "Oh... you think so, hm?" Jake asked smiling.

  "Just because she's black, that doesn't make us blind dad."

  "So it doesn't bother you then?" He asked them.

  "Hellooo! Who is our grandmother!? You must be joking?!" Paul almost knocked on his father's head to see if anything was in there.

  "Dad you don't need approval from us about whom you might - that is - might -consider - possibly - that's only a possibility - nothing for sure - maybe - may be giving thought to - ohhh one day - ma - ma - marrying!" Benjamin teased him. Paul and Kevin cracked up laughing, Jake shook his head.

  "Dropping you two off first - damn you - I'm not that bad!"

  "Dad you are! Its okay you know... we all must fall at some point." Kevin explained sympathetically.

  "Who said anything about falling? I haven't fallen anywhere!"

  "Uh... there was that one time yesterday... you did go down pretty hard dad." Paul pointed out hesitantly.

  Benjamin shivered, "Grandpa's got big ham bones man... dad I was worried you might not wake up."

  "I apologize for that you guys. I shouldn't have put you through it."

  "That's okay... at least... now we understand... don't we?" Benjamin stated, all kidding aside.

  Jake felt choked up, unable to respond to that comment as he took them home. Last thing that was said, was brought up by Kevin before he dropped them off. "Grandma also said you might need our help with her, something about she's moving? Is that true?"

  "Yeah... she is. I just said I'd give her a hand - no big deal."

  All three smiled. "Just let us know when, hopefully all will be clear for that day. If nothing with school or work is going on, I'll be there." Benjamin volunteered.

  "I'll be there for sure dad." Paul stated. Who was the last to be dropped off. He and Jake were alone in the car, and Paul watched his father struggle with words to say in an attempt to let him know, he regretted not doing more. That he knew how it felt not to have your father care enough to give you the attention you so badly wanted. He promised to be there for him more now.

  "Thanks dad. I'll make sure you get an invitation to my graduation. I'd be proud to have you there."

  "That makes two of us." Jake had commented.

  Now, here it was Monday early, Shanna and his mother had dropped him off at the Subway/Gas station off the I-90 highway in Camp Daniels. He needed to pick up some cigarettes, buy himself some coffee, and pick up the paper, telling them to just leave him, he could easily walk to the house from there. Shanna and his mother were on their way to look at decorating swatches for the bed and breakfast. Shanna already knew what Sylvia had in mind, the colors she wanted to use, so they were off to get them and pick out office furniture and other things for her. Shawn wanted to get as much of the house done for the bed and breakfast as he could. The only thing they would have left to do, is build the apartment above the garage. But the house would be completed for sure when she returned, unless she showed up tomorrow.

  Jake was standing at the Subway sandwich counter, waiting as the woman behind him arranged several sandwiches to take to Shawn's. He'd been giving her flirtatious glances, finding it funny how she became nervous and giddy. She was cute, on the overweight side, but Jake had never been bothered by that. He'd had more than a few hefty women in his past and would be the first to say, when it came to getting pleasure from a woman, fat or skinny - there was something a little extra nice about a woman with extra.

  He'd been leaning on the counter eyeing her when he heard someone trying to get his attention.

  "Excuse me ummm, but... isn't your name Jake?"

  Jake looked to his right, and standing there was an attractive, cafe au lait toned black woman. Dark eyes, cute dark freckles across her nose, and nice lips.

  "You may not remember me, but... I was at Sylvia's wedding. I came with her other friends, Sheila, Ellen-..."

  "Oh...yeah... hi - how you doin'?" Jake straightened up instantly to an upright position, standing before her.

  Edwina looked up at him and couldn't believe who she was seeing. She'd just gotten up after spending the night in the Super 8 hotel. Where the police had taken her after pulling up alongside her last night. Asking her where she was going and why she was out walking at that time in the morning. While she was still pissed off about her failed attempt with Shawn, she was also scared enough not to cause a ruckus with the police. She had been after all, alone. She'd burst into tears, played Miss innocent explaining that she got into a fight with some friends and they'd thrown her out.

  The police had questioned her, asking which friends, she didn't want to answer, instead pleaded with them to take her to Super 8 - which they did. Now this morning, she still had to get back to her car.

  "Horrible! I've been through pure hell over the last few hours. My car broke down on the highway last night as I was going to Rainbow Casino to meet up with some friends. Could you please give me a lift to my car, so I can pick it up?" She asked staring up at him.

  She felt that familiar stirring in her loins. This one was really hot! How well she remembered him being Shawn's brother as they'd been fighting over Sylvia the night of the reception. Every time Edwina thought of her, she grew pissed off. In her mind, Sylvia thought she was better than her. Of course there had never been anything that she'd done to her personally to make her have those feelings. However, just the fact that she'd relocated herself there, living in that fantastic house, and then marrying a white man, a fine one with what she knew he had, all said to Edwina, that she thought she was better than them. As far as Edwina was concerned, Sylvia deserved whatever unhappiness she got. She didn't get it. How he could have her right there in his bed, naked and willing and then reject her. Edwina was not happy. After all, it wasn't like she was ugly or anything. 'Not like I'm fat like Sheila's big ass! Shit I look good!' Yet, he forcefully rejected her, to the extent of calling Sylvia's daughter on
her. In the light of day, the humiliation of it all was up around her. She needed something to restore her back to balance.

  "Please?" She added with soft eyes up at him.

  "I really wish I could help you, but I no longer have a vehicle. My truck was destroyed you see last week, I'm afraid I'm on foot for the time being."

  "Oh man, what am I gonna do?" She appealed, seeming lost and helpless - the exact thing that could always trip Jake's trigger and get his attention. While he was a womanizer, he could also be a gentleman.

  "Look, it just so happens, you're not far from my brother's and Sylvia's house, if you don't mind walking with me there, I can borrow his truck and-..."

  "I'm afraid that's not going to work, you see, we don't get along - me and your brother."

  That took Jake by surprise. The girl let him know that his sandwiches were done and the cost, "Hang on a minute, let me pay for these and we can then talk." Jake stated, turning to the counter, removing his wallet to pay for his order.

  Edwina's mind was racing with a way to deal with him. Now that she had his attention, she wasn't dumb enough to trip up and lose it. She turned from him and walked out of the station/sandwich shop pretending to worry. In fact she was worrying, she didn't know if her brother's car was still sitting on the side of the highway or not. She couldn't think about that now, her mind was on the man that was walking out of the shop, coming up behind her now.

  "Now tell me, what is this about you and Shawn not getting along?"

  She made a show of taking a deep dramatic breath and turned to him, confessing. "Last night I called their house. Sylvia's house, not realizing that she was still gone. I didn't know what else to do. I was too desperate and it was so late, so I asked your brother would he come and get me. He did. Well, he must have been tired or something, because when we got back to the house, he just started tripping!"

  "Shawn? Tripping? What do you mean?" Jake asked in disbelief.

  "Just like I said, he started going off! He took my intentions the wrong way I think."

  "Your intentions... such as?" Jake lifted a cynical brow.

  "I was just trying to comfort him, he was all broken up over what Sylvia's been doing to him. Not coming home, and he went off on me as if I was to blame. Needless to say, I left there because I'm not that desperate for help."