"I remember. I'll never forget it." Sylvia murmured still feeling the hurt and anger of that day.
"I wish you would. You said... we was gone start over. What about that?"
Sylvia looked away from him. She didn't want to think about it. She just wanted to go home.
"Come on, we was doing so good. Let's not go back." Lucas pleaded. He really wanted this, he wasn't getting any younger.
Sylvia turned back, and let a slight smile break in.
"You always did have the prettiest, sweet smile I ever did see."
The compliment made it bigger.
"That's my Lil'Lucy ... I'm sorry - God knows it - that I'm sorry. Done lost - lost lot o'sleep - 'bout leavin' ya'll. But - but I paid every chance I got, I sent money every time I could. Yah' mama tell you that?"
"Yes... she did."
"She give ya'll ya' money from me?"
"She made us save it all until Christmas, then we got it to buy whatever we wanted. I could never find what I wanted to buy - so I always got a barbie doll or a baby doll."
"What you wanted?"
"You. I always wanted... you." Sylvia burst into tears. "I wanted you so bad. I would have given anything to be with you."
Lucas pulled over and stopped, and grabbed his daughter. "I know - know I can't make it up - up for all that. But - if you let me - I be here for you now. If you let me."
"I want that. I want that so bad, I want you to be there when this child is born. Please tell me you will be."
"Unless the lord got other plans for me... I be there. I swear fo'God I will."
She sniffed and pulled slowly away from him and asked, "Will you - take me to my husband? I - I want you to meet him. Please?"
Lucas reached into his side pocket of his dungarees and passed her the phone. "Find out where he at."
* * *
Shawn paced back and forth through Sheila and Dennis' home. He could hear them in the kitchen, laughing and talking. Sheila was cooking a huge dinner for everyone, Vivian was still over and helping. The boys were home from school and Shawn was still eyeing the little man standing down beside him, looking up at him. Tyrese Xavier Johnson, "She here yet?"
"Nope, not yet." Shawn answered for the third time.
"Well when she gonna get here?" Tyrese asked.
"They should be here ohhh, let's see - I would guess in the next five to ten more minutes."
"So you gotta wait some more?" Tyrese asked with his head dropped back to stare up at Shawn.
"I sure do."
"I hate to wait. You like to wait?"
"Nope, I hate to wait too." Shawn patiently answered.
"You should have gone and gotten her. That's what I would'ah done, so I wouldn't have to wait." Tyrese explained.
"You right, I should have." Shawn answered.
"You could still go get her if you wanted to. Just call her and tell her to stay there and you'll go get her."
"It won't be long now."
"Do you like broccoli? I hate broccoli! My mom always makes me eat it."
"I like broccoli - it's good for you."
Tyrese' tongue slipped to the side of his mouth, thinking, planning, and shared his idea, whispering. "You like broccoli, you can have mine. Sit next to me when we eat okay? I'll give you my broccoli."
Shawn chuckled and indulged him by accepting the offer. Tyrese hadn't expected him to give in so easily, and so decided to do a bit of renegotiating, still whispering Tyrese added, "Uuuh - seein' as how, I'm giving you my broccoli, you can give me your dessert."
Shawn realizing he was being hustled, decided to drive a hard bargain. "Hmmm, I don't wanna give up all my dessert." Tyrese started to panic, desperate to get something out of the deal, gestured to Shawn, "Come here, come here, come down here."
Shawn bent over, Tyrese put his mouth close to Shawn's ear and spoke low saying, "Okay okay, I'll take half, that's fair." Shawn gestured for him to turn his ear to him, and says, "Okay it's a deal - and since you're being so fair, I'm gonna be fair with you. You get to keep half of your broccoli."
Shawn stood chuckling to himself, leaning in the door with his arms crossed. Tyrese made a face and then took off for the basement, he could hear his father coming out of the bathroom, he didn't wanna get yelled at for asking too many questions. Dennis stepped up behind him. "Wanna step out on the porch man and wait?"
"Yeah - I would. They should be here any minute."
"Man you look anxious as hell. You excited?"
Shawn grinned, showing pearly white teeth. "I must be insane, I mean... I was with her last night, so you wouldn't think I'd be feeling this way."
"Well you bound to be a little nervous, you gettin' ready to meet her ol'man for the first time. I'd be nervous."
"Thing is, I'm not as nervous about meeting him, as I am about seeing her again."
"Aye... look what just turned onto the block." Dennis gestured with his head towards up the street.
Shawn turned around to see an old, white tow truck heading down the street, from there he could see his wife sitting up front. She was smiling and pointing at him. Shawn felt a thrill surge through him as he controlled himself not to run down the porch, but he couldn't just stand there.
"That's my husband that's my husband that's my husband! Oh my god! Look at him, isn't he adorable?! Oh stop so I can get out, then you can park." Sylvia could think of nothing right then but running to him and hugging him tight. Her father slowed the truck down. She jumped out, ran between two parked cars and right into her husband's arms.
"I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry..." She had him by the head, kissing his face all over as he held her to him, Shawn laughed, stunned that she was so animated and happy to see him. Her eyes were bright, her smile huge, and she was all over him. "I never want to leave you again! Not ever again. I love you so much Shawn, I love you so much." She threw her arms around him and squeezed as he lifted her. Shawn couldn't believe it. She'd never been that way before, not ever. Not like this, to have her holding him so tightly, apologizing as if she'd committed a huge sin of some sort threw him.
"Oh sweety, I love you too. I missed you. You better be glad you came back when you did, I was about to come for you."
"I never want us to be apart again Shawn, I just wanna be home. Right here, with your arms around me, this is home for me." Sylvia declared as he lowered her to the ground. Sylvia reached up and gave his mouth a quick kiss, and resisted temptation to do it again. Her father had parked the truck and was getting out. Shawn had her pulled into his side as he waited for the old man to step up on the curb, walk across the small patch of grass and then onto the sidewalk coming towards them. Shawn reversed the thought that he really wasn't that nervous about meeting her father, he was very nervous all of a sudden.
"Shawn Everett McPherson - meet, my father - Lucas Henry Martin." Sylvia was all smiles, her eyes were wet because she finally found her father, they'd made amends and she had the most wonderful man in the world next to her, extending his hand to him.
Dennis had called into the house that they were there, Sheila and Vivian came out on the door stoop to see Sylvia's father for the first time.
"Mr. Martin, what a pleasure it is to meet you sir, one helluva pleasure." Shawn gripped his hand tight and pumped it firm.
"Considerin' how this day start out, it ain't ended so bad. Been hearing nothin' but good from my daughter about you."
"Is that right?" Shawn asked, then looked down at his beaming wife. "So there's something good about me after all hm?" He teased her.
"Shawn stop it. I've never made you out to be anything but the best."
"SYLVIA! SHAWN - MR. MARTIN - COME ON IN THE HOUSE!!!" Dennis called with the nudging of Sheila. The three turned and headed for the steps, the two men allowing Sylvia to go first, Shawn extended his hand for Mr. Martin to go next and then he brought up the rear. In the house, every one was talking, introducing and laughing all at once. Dennis and Sheila were proud and very happy for Sylvia. Neithe
r of them had ever seen her so joyful. One thing that stood out with them they couldn't help but notice, she stuck to Shawn's side like glue. Every word from her mouth started out, "Baby you want something to drink?" - "Baby you want some more of that?", if she wasn't doing that, she was touching him. Rubbing his shoulders, running her hand over the back of his head, kissing his brow, smoothing his brows.
Shawn sat sucking it up. Loving every minute of it. Admittedly, the attention was making him blush, never had she acted so lovingly, so adoringly towards him. After dinner, the women stayed in the kitchen cleaning up, the men went into the basement. They could be heard through the floor, laughing and talking about everything from Dennis' business, to cars, parts and restorations and Shawn's drawing, painting and photography. Sylvia loved the sound. Her cheeks ached from smiling and grinning so much.
"I guess you happy now? Ready to go home?" Sheila asked.
"Yes indeed! I'm so tired of the road. I just wanna get home, get back to my life, and back to taking care of my man. I don't care about nothing else, but having his babies."
"Listen at you! What happened?" Vivian asked, putting away the dishes as Sylvia dried, Sheila washing.
"I don't know. I was with my father, and then he told me, Shawn had contacted him. That means he knew where he was, which means he looked for him. And - while I was sitting there, trying to understand how could my father really love me and leave me - I realized what Shawn was saying... how could I really have loved him, but could leave him? Even though I had every intention of coming back, that didn't matter. When you love someone, really really love someone, you don't leave. You don't walk away. You stay, whether it's through hell or high water... you stay. My father didn't stay. I - didn't stay. Shawn, has been right there all the time, every step of the way, sometimes, two steps ahead of me." Sylvia shook her head passing Vivian a bowl, she didn't want to cry again, but the idea of how she'd hurt him finally sunk in deep. "When it finally hit me - when the light came on - I just wanted to come home."
Vivian was quiet, so happy for Sylvia and Shawn, so scared for herself. She'd moved out of the house, and now it belonged to the Chan's. Jake had no idea where she was, and everyone swore not to tell him after Shawn told her, that she should not make things easy for Jake. If he wanted to know where she was, she should let him find her. That was all easy for him to say, he and Sylvia were back as one.
"Anyway, enough about me. How'd that meeting go today?" Sylvia asked.
"Oh, almost perfect, she took the house."
"She did! Oh Vivian! That's fantastic! You're free!"
"Yep... so I am. And I can tell you now, it's not all its cracked up to be."
Sheila and Sylvia sighed ... both unsure about this thing with her and Jake. Time would tell, that was certain.
Chapter 132
The moment Jake made it into Wisconsin, he headed for his parents place first while talking to his mom on his mobile.
"How much do you need?!" Gert blurted taken by surprise. Jake never asked for money from her and certainly not that amount.
"Five thousand - do I have any left of the money you put away for me?" He asked.
"Yes you do." She returned.
"How much?"
"More than that - what you needin' it for?"
"Ah mom, come on - why do I have to tell you all that?"
"Because that money has been building with interest for a long time, what was left of it after Kevin and Benjamin, and Paul's cut out of it. I don't want you digging into what's left unless it's for a really good reason. I'm saving it for you for something important down the road - who knows what you might need it for."
"Sooo, come on -..." Jake started chuckling on the line, "...- give up the info mother-banker, what's your baby boy got to spend?"
"Baby boy my ass!" Gert laughed back, "Without good reason, you ain't gettin' it. Now what's it for?"
Jake hesitated, then thought, what the hell. "I'm paying a years rent on a place I'll be staying in on the weekends."
"Where?"
Jake hesitated again.
"Come on, spit it out - where?!"
"Chicago."
There was silence on the phone for a moment and then, "WOOO HOOO!! YES!!! How much you need again honey?"
Jake shook his head laughing at her. "Just calm down, stop jumping the gun! It's not what you think."
"Well what other reason you got for renting a place in Chicago? Other than my Vivian?"
"She's not your Vivian! Not yet she's not!"
"Then why the place?"
"I beginning to like Chicago, at least for the weekends. I met Sheila's husband Dennis, we get along pretty well. I thought I'd get the place to get out of Shawn's and Sylvia's hair for the weekends. They don't need me around all the time."
"He must be some kind of man friend to want t'rent a place over." Gert returned, knowing better. She wasn't going to push it, but she wasn't stupid. Fight it all he wish, he wanted that place to be closer to Vivian, and to Gert - that was reason plenty enough.
"Well he is. I don't have many male friends, as you know. I'll be 40 years old in a few months, I figure it's time I spent some time male bonding and leave off the female company a spell."
"Emm hmm." Gert mumbled on the line.
"It's true mom! Don't you think I should have at least one male friend that I can call a good friend?"
"Sure you should son, absolutely."
"Well all right then, can I get that money? I'll need it for tomorrow morning, I'm heading back to Chicago first thing with the boys. Um, I'm helping Vivian move out of that house."
"Good for you, if nothing else - you be nice to that young lady! She's as sweet as rock candy - you hear me?"
'Oh yeah... she's sweet alright, from what I've tasted already - yes indeed sweet.' Right on the tail of that thought, contrary to it Jake asked, "What do you know about her that makes you think she's so sweet?"
"You know me - I've always been able to read people, and that one - my black Velvet -..."
"Your black velvet." Jake cut in murmuring cynically.
"That's right! She is! Like I said, I know people - I'm a damn good judge of character ... and my black velvet is all gold!"
"Yeah yeah yeah - anyway, will you have the money for me? I promised to pay Ms Martin for the place Saturday morning when I got there."
"Ms Martin? Who is that?"
"Sylvia's mother! She owns a two flat. She just finished fixing up the basement apartment there, I asked her to rent it to me because she was willing to let me stay in it for free to try it out. I can't do that. So I told her I'd pay her for it, a years rent up front."
"When'd you meet her?"
"Shawn invited me to see Sylvia sing at a jazz club there where he found her. He went there and was staying with her mom, so I went there as well to meet up with him and I ended up staying the night. I'll tell you about it later. Anyway, she's a really nice lady. You'd like her mom, you should get to know her."
"Well I will, you got her number? Taking care of paying your rent will give me just the excuse I need to talk to her, get to know her."
"Aaaah hell! I ain't gonna have no privacy! You're not gonna be calling her all the time asking what I'm doing are you?"
"Hell yes I am! You bought look up one day and I'll be there! You know your momma! Now give me that number - I'll take care of your rent."
Giving up, Jake gave her the information she needed, Lydia's number and where she lived as well, the following of which, she asked, "So your brother found Sylvia you say?"
"Yep... although, he lost her again." Jake shook his head laughing at him. "Whether he found her again or not, you'll have to call him to find out."
"I sure will! Gotta go - got things to take care of. Love you son."
"I love you too momma."
Now that his mother was going to take care of that for him, he could re-direct to Shawn's and get more done on the house just in case Shawn did bring Sylvia home that weekend. They'd left off w
ith her office, complete all for hooking up the wiring to the electrical boxes and sockets, and then the top plates. He would get that done, and start on the building in the smaller kitchen and bar she would use to prepare meals for the guest; he was already forming in his mind where he would begin. It was 11:30, he'd pick something up from KFC to last him through the day and work until it was time to baby sit for Crystal. In route, he decided to call his boys and confirm tomorrow morning, he'd be picking them up and taking them with him.
"Benjamin, is everything on for tomorrow?" He asked his oldest, the only one he could get a hold of after trying Kevin and Paul's cell phone numbers.
"I reminded Kevin, he's somewhere with Paul. Don't forget that Paul's graduation is coming up. He mailed you off invites, I told him to send you two, just in case."
"Two? Why do I need two? It's just me."
Benjamin was grinning over the line, Jake could hear it.
"What the hell is so funny?"
"Nothin' nothin', just thought you might not wish to show alone. It's up to you dad ... you can toss the extra ticket if you wish."
"Hell with it, I'll invite Shanna along."
"Auntee Shanna, hm? Okay... sure, that's fine."
Jake could hear that wasn't what his son had figured he'd do with it.
"Well who else did you think I'd invite?"
"I don't know ... what's her name again we'll be moving tomorrow?"
Jake cleared his throat, "Echm echm, uh... Vivian."
"Vivian... yes, just thought maybe - you'd like to bring her along."
"Don't start!" Jake warned.
"What dad?! Start what?"
"Nothing! Just be ready in the morning, tell Kevin and Paul the same."
"Will do, see you in the morning." Benjamin chuckled hanging up.
"Now you're absolutely sure you wanna do this?" Crystal asked again for the second time. The boys had their baths, she'd told them she was going out and that their uncle Jake was going to be keeping them. Neither seemed all that excited at the time, Isaac got it, but Darren had only played on not realizing what mama was saying to him. She brought their favorite Walt Disney movies and a tape full of cartoons. They would be sleeping in the basement with Jake because she would be home late.
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