"Yes?" She answered, knowing who it was because his name showed up on her phone.
"Goodnight." Was all he said and clicked off.
Vivian stared at the phone, and slowly ... a smile spread across her face. Was that a victory she wondered? No ... not a big one ... but a promising one. That is, at least she sure hoped so. Sylvia and Sheila said that he was quiet, a million miles away. Sheila had said that, when Sylvia corrected her saying, "Well, at least a block away." That had been promising. They'd sat and sipped wine and enjoyed their food together, laughing and talking. Being girlfriends and accepting the way things were for the time being. While all was not perfect ... it was good.
Vivian smiled wondering was he staying at the basement apartment? She wished she'd gotten to meet his sons, surprised that he'd used them to find her, so Sheila and Sylvia had also explained. Vivian just needed to maintain her determination and as Gert said, go on with her life ... until he came around. She laid down in her bed with a new resolve to do just that. She was about to lay her phone on the bedside table when it rang again. Excitement shot through her. She answered it right away not looking at the name. "Forget something?" She asked smiling.
"Where are you?"
Vivian's smile slid.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"I want to know where you are? I miss you."
"You've got to be kidding me? You have some nerve calling me after what you did to me."
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I lost my temper. Couples fight, I shouldn't have handled you that way, please forgive me."
"Tell it to your wife."
"She's divorcing me ... as you know. You signed over the house to her, smart move. I'm not angry - I'm just glad its over. You've got what you want now, we're divorcing - can I see you?"
"No... divorce or not - its over for you and I."
"Why do you keep saying that when you know how much I love you."
"I keep saying it because at some point you're bound to accept that it's so."
"Never."
"That's a mighty long time. My advice to you, is to get on with your life ... let me get on with mine."
"With Jake?"
"With whomever I choose."
"Please choose me again ... I beg you. I am so sorry ... so sorry for everything. Please tell me you haven't slept with him. You are mine, you've always been mine, you will always be mine."
"I don't have time for this. We were never married, I was never really yours ... leave me alone. I mean it. Don't call me again."
"Can you at least meet me-..."
She never heard the end of what he was saying because she clicked the phone off on him, and then turned it off. Laid it on the table and plugged in the charger to it. She reached over and turned out her light. Laid down, closed her eyes and drifted off with dreams of Jake.
Chapter 138
"Man - our turn next time - ain't that right baby?" Shawn slurred a bit. He was well fixed from the evening of imbibing more than he usually drank. It was late, and he was on his last legs standing before Sheila and Dennis at the door about to exit. The couple had enjoyed their visit, both of them smiling at the look of him exaggerating his height, as if he were bracing himself to stand straight, obviously the alcohol was telling him he needed to. Sheila couldn't hide the humor from her face, casting Sylvia a glance, who grinned back at her trying not to laugh at him herself. Sylvia was under his arm, holding him up as it were, smiling at him. He wasn't exactly swaying, but it wouldn't have been hard to knock him over right then.
"Anything you say dear." She backed him, agreeing to anything as long as they could get going, this while tolerating his roaming hand, his silly grin and winking eye.
"Well you know ya'll welcome here anytime. We most certainly gonna have to make it up there. Dennis, you gone love it where they live." Sheila commented standing at the door seeing them out.
"Listen to her man, she right. Only I'll be cooking next time and I can throw down! Can't I baby? Tell 'bout yo' white man!" Shawn edged her on. Making Dennis and Sheila crack up as Sylvia shook her head. "We going home! 'Cause you talkin' crazy." Sylvia laughed.
Shawn made a face at Dennis winking, "See - see, she in a hurry to get me out'ah here ... now baby you know I'm gone take care'o'yah, you ain't got to rush it." He grinned devilishly. "'When it come to that kind'ah cookin' I don't need no stove ... ain't that right?" He added and kissed Sylvia's temple before she could answer, squeezing her to his side.
"See how he get!? We got to go! Act right Shawn!"
"You ain't tell'em I could cook yet." Shawn almost whined.
"YES! He can cook. Now we better get going here, we'll be getting home late enough as it is." Sylvia urged, afraid of what her husband might say or do next. She'd had her fill of Chicago, so they wouldn't be staying. Sylvia was ready to go home, driving back late didn't bother her one bit.
"Aaah, let's just get a room and head home in the morning." Shawn tried to persuade her.
"Nope, tired of hotels. I'm going home. Don't worry, I'm not tired, we'll be fine. Let's get moving here." She insisted.
"She who must be obeyed - has spoken!" Shawn joked.
Dennis grinned and stood watching as they made their way down the stairs, laughing at Shawn as his hands became even more exploring with Sylvia trying to keep them at bay, they could hear her squealing, "Shawn cut it out! When you get in that car, take your butt to sleep - you gettin' on my nerves! Ain't gone be messing with me all the way home - QUIT Shawn!"
Sheila and Dennis both laughed at him as he made to chase Sylvia, but swayed on his feet, obviously realizing his limitations, he put on brakes, not realizing he shifted back oddly, making Dennis and Sheila roll as they observed his behavior from an evening of drinking. After a few warnings to him, Sylvia was able to move to the door and unlock it so he could get in, it took him a few minutes to work out moving the seat back and finding his seat belt, but he finally got himself fastened in and closed the door. Sylvia jumped in on the drivers side, started it up, both smiled and waved goodbye and the red mustang pulled off.
Shawn was slumped down in his seat trying to get comfortable, once again complaining about the size of the car. "We're trading this son'vabitch in. Don't know why - in hell - you buy this car. Shit, I'd rather you'd been in a mood for a Cadillac ... nope - in the mood for a - a ga'damn bubble car..." He mumbled, pushing the seat back as far as it would go and started singing the bubble car song, "Beep beep - beep beep - his horn went beep beep beep..."
Sylvia started laughing, shaking her head at him, and that silly song. "Shawn you know you need to go't'sleep, singing that stupid ditty! And be still, you moving the car." She chided, he looked over at her, ever winking, mannish and playful he pleaded, "Let's go to a hotel baby, I wanna cuddle." He murmured, his hand reaching over to touch her thigh.
"Shawn don't do that while I'm driving, you can cuddle when we get home. I swear to God, you know you a contradiction ...wanna cuddle."
"What's wrong with a man wantin' to cuddle up with his wife? I ain't 'shame to say it." He returned in soft tones, letting out a beer laced belch that was followed by a hiccup.
"Well, I'd just as soon we get home. No more hotels for a while. You enjoy yourself today? Drinking all that beer!"
"I behaved myself didn't I? I don't get crazy from a little beer." He went on, fumbling for the handle that would recline the back of the seat so he could relax, holding his breath after three hiccups, trying to make them go away.
"Thank goodness, I couldn't deal with it otherwise if you did."
"Baby ... not every man who drinks becomes -(hiccup)- an asshole. Besides, I'ain' have that much."
"A twelve pack! All to yourself! What's up with them hiccups? I can see now, you gone be sportin' a beer gut you keep that up."
"You sayin' you won't love me with a beer gut?" He asked on a yawn, and then sucked in real deep and held it, making Sylvia shake her head at him. "Of course I would. I'll love you no matter what." She confessed
honestly, giving him a sideways glance and soft smile. Seeing it made Shawn's heart swell, he exhaled saying "God I love you... you know that? I could eat you up, right now."
"Behave Shawn... don't start."
"Behave? How is sayin' I love you, not behavin'? Hm?"
"That's that beer talkin'." Sylvia teased.
"Bullshit! Need no ga'damn beer speak for me! I love you ga'damnit! That's comin' straight from my -(hiccup)- ga'damn heart! You know it too damnit! That's why you treat me like you do! Love me one day, to hell wit' me the next. -(hiccup)- Yesterday - you was all over me, couldn't touch me enough, today - fuck'im!"
"Shawn! You need to quit! See how that drinking get you?! Now you know I love you. You just never satisfied."
"Can't get satisfied... not with you, want you all the time ... all the ga'damn time. I want you right now, we should pull over somewhere."
"No we not. We going home."
"See, you on' give a shit when you have me."
"That's not true Shawn, its just that - I am satisfied. Because you always satisfy me. And I know, when the next time comes, I'll be just as satisfied then, as I was the last time. You feeling like that from that beer, thank goodness you don't do it often."
Shawn was smiling with a silly grin up at her and realized what she said. In his own defense he replied, "I only drink now and then ... not everyday." Finally his hiccups were gone.
"True, you don't. Don't worry about me, I'll adjust - as long as you don't start. You enjoy yourself?" She asked her original question again.
"Emmm, sure did. It was nice. I like Dennis and Sheila, a lot. We definitely having them come up for a weekend." Shawn returned growing a bit sleepy, crossing his arms over his chest, now with the back of the seat leaning back all the way he was trying to get comfortable with the seatbelt on.
"So ... um, what did you and Benjamin talk about?" Sylvia finally got around to asking.
"Hm? Me and Benjamin?"
"Yeah, you and Benjamin - you two were huddled together quite a bit this evening, I noticed."
Shawn smiled, "Let's see, what were we talking about? Oooh, school - his schooling - what he's going for. Stuff like that." He answered slow because he was growing tired.
"What is that?" She asked.
"What? What is what?"
"School... what is he going for?"
Shawn took a long deep breath, yawned and was trying to think and finally it came back to him, answering, "He's ah - get this - wishes to do advertising, commercial arts ... photography - he ah - draws too, how about that?"
"Emmm, yeah... how about that." Sylvia could not disguise the mild sarcasm in her tone.
"Stop it..."
"You spent all that time talking to that boy, looking in his face and nothing crossed your mind even once?" She grumbled, heading for the interstate.
"Aaah hone-e-ey, don't start." Shawn whined.
"How old are you Shawn?"
"Sylvieee..."
"How old?"
"You know how old."
"Em hm, and how old is Benjamin?" She pressed.
"I don't know." Shawn mumbled.
"Em hm, I'm thinking in his early twenties - I forgot to ask your mom that."
"What?!" That woke him up. "You asked my mother about Benjamin?"
Sylvia was quiet a moment and then, "I should have asked her his birthday." She went on, not at all concerned about his sudden alertness. "I wonder when is it?" She thought out loud.
"Would you please - stop that ... he is not my son."
"How do you know that?" She challenged.
"Because - I know."
"How?"
"Syl - vi - ah! Lord God - this woman!"
"Yeah, never mind the lord! How do you know he's not yours? Did you or did you not have sex with his mother? If you say no you never did - then definitely, that makes him not yours. However... if you did - when?"
Shawn whimpered trying to think of a way out of the cross examination, then snapped, "I guess Shawn2 is mine too then!?"
"I know Shawn2 not yours! He is not the product of someone you and Derrick dated. However, Benjamin is the product of someone you and Jake both dated ... now, back to my question, you have sex with his mother?"
"I refuse to answer that question - on the grounds - that it may - incriminate my white ass!" He mumbled closing his eyes, tightening his arms around himself and refused to say another word.
"Yeah! That's what I thought! Guilty!" She drove on going quiet, her mind working.
Shawn inhaled deep and then let out a yawn smacking his mouth, was starting to drift off to sleep when she muttered low, "Boy look just like you. That ain't no lie. I ain't stupid. I ain't blind. You gone lay there and mean to tell me it ain't crossed your mind even once? Not once?" She mumbled on as if speaking to herself in low tones, but loud enough for him to hear. "Oh well ... if you don't care, I don't care. Don't make me no never mind."
"Then why - you keep goin' on about it?" He made the mistake of asking.
"I knew you wasn't sleep yet. So you tellin' me it don't matter if that boy is yours or not?"
"Sylvia! Benjamin McPherson is the son of Jacob Patrick McPherson, my brother. Just as Shawn Everett the second is the son of my brother, Derrick. It's just a genetic resemblance." Shawn defended.
"Oh its genetic alright. That ain't no lie. But - let's say - what if - by some chance, he were? Then what?"
"Shush! I'm going to sleep."
Sylvia back handed him on the thigh, "Don't shush me! Gone'on to sleep then." She grumbled, did a sideways glance at him and let out a deep sigh. She reached forward and opened her ashtray where all the change lay, getting it ready to pay the tolls out of the city. Followed by turning on the radio to let music play softly, leaning back she relaxed a bit. She preferred night driving, something about the dark, the atmosphere and the lights, less traffic to deal with and a dependable vehicle on the highway eased her into deep contemplations. A few of her favorite songs came on and she sang along enjoying that time with her husband there sleeping. From time to time she glanced at him smiling gently. Her hand went to her lower belly that was gradually gaining a pudge. "Jesse ... look at your daddy. He knocked out over there. You sleepin' too? Hm?" She asked as if she would get an answer, "You know, I think I'm going to get your big sister as well, I miss her. Yep... I think I will swing by there and pick her up." She decided, waiting until she went through all tolls before pulling over to ring Meribel to let her know she was coming to get Angela.
After the fourth and final toll, Sylvia pulled to the side of the highway and rang Meribel, who answered, groggy with sleep, whispering gently. "Hello?"
"I'm sorry to wake you, I know its really late, but Shawn and I are on our way through. I wanna get Angela." Sylvia explained softly, not wanting to wake Shawn.
"What time is it?" Meribel asked, then looked at her bedside clock, "Holy cow... girl it's almost one in the morning."
"I know, but I wanna get her. I'll be there in another hour or so. Can you please set your clock alarm for about 45 minutes from now, please?"
"Yes Sylvia... I'll be looking for you, don't ring the door bell."
"Thank you." Sylvia clicked off. Checked her husband again, who was out cold, then the lanes and mirrors getting ready to merge again and was back on the highway flying for Madison. She made record time getting there. Pulling into Derrick and Meribel's driveway in front of the garage, she flashed her lights on the house, cutting the engine and stepped out of the car locking Shawn inside as he slept. She had to use the bathroom, feeling she would burst. Meribel was waiting for her.
Once she was in, "Where's your bathroom?"
Smiling Meribel showed her the way. When done, she came out to see Meribel sitting at the kitchen table leaning on her hand dozing, waiting for her. "How's everything since you've been home?" Sylvia asked quietly.
Meribel yawned answering, "It's okay. Emmm, better."
"Is Derrick helping with the kids?"
"We've
only been back two days, time will tell. How are you?"
"Fine... ready to be home and get my family and business in order."
"Good... come on, I didn't wake her just in case you changed your mind."
Meribel lead Sylvia to her daughter's bedroom, where the decor screamed, only daughter & the princess! All the furnishings were white, with twin white cottage beds, white dresser and mirror, white end tables, pink floral lamps, matching curtains and bed spreads, with mauve carpet on the floor. It was pure girl from the ceiling to the floor. Leaving the light off, Meribel stood at the door, as Sylvia let the hallway light shine the way to the bed where Angela slept on her side. She sat beside her and stroked her hair back from her face, whispering down close to her ear, "Angela ... Angela ... sweety, wake up. Time to go home." Sylvia roused her gently.
"Hmmm..." Angela moaned from sleep.
"It's Sylvia baby. Come to take you home. Wake up." She stroked her hair softly, caressing the soft skin of her cheek. All the maternal feelings in her flooding for this child even though she had not given birth to her. She loved her just the same, and missed her. "Angela ... wake up sweety."
"Sylvia?" Angela murmured, eyes still closed.
"Yep... its me. I come to take you home with me. You ready to go home?" Sylvia asked, hoping she was, she really didn't want to leave her. She was completely in the frame of mind to gather her children together, this one was part of that gathering, under her wing.
Angela wiggled about, the sleep shivers gripping her. She was trying to open her eyes, and ended up squinting up at Sylvia, she must have focused on her a bit, because she smiled and nodded her head, "I'm ready to go home." She whispered.
"Oooh I missed you so much!" Sylvia gushed squeezing her in a hug as she pulled her up into a sitting position. She held her a moment as if she were a baby, and then drew away and kissed her brow. "Come on, you don't need to dress. Just put your house coat on. Your dads in the car sleeping. Here, put your arm in." Sylvia sat and dressed her practically, then went to the floor and found her slippers. "Put these on, that's a good girl."
"Here, her stuff is here in this bag mami." Meribel held the overnight bag for Sylvia to take as she herded Angela out under her arm. Angela was like sleep walking with her arms around Sylvia's waist, eyes barely open as they made their way through the house and out the door to the car. Letting her go for a moment, Sylvia opened the car door to hear her husband snoring away. Pulling her seat forward, she guided Angela in, "Your dads got that side just about taken up, you can lean this way and go back to sleep. That enough room?" Sylvia asked.
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