"Hey papa..." This from Crystal.
"You sleepin' late ain't you papah-Shawn?" This from Mundo who was cleaning up the last of his egg yoke from his plate with his bacon.
"Afternoon gran-papah-Shawn!" Isaac called out. Shawn threw him a kiss, going to the stove where there was plenty of food left for him. He sure missed having Sylvia home and cooking for them. His daughter was standing at the sink washing her plate. He went by her, grabbed the plate she'd just washed to use it, kissing her on the head, "Hey pum'kin, when'd you get back home?" He asked, going to the stove to pile on three eggs, bacon, hash-browns, three biscuits, scooped on grits and went to the table.
"Sylvia came and got me last night dad! You were out of it! How much did you drink?! We had to help you inside and dad - you peed against that tree by the garage!" Angela fussed at him.
Shawn had straddled a chair and looked up like he'd heard something shocking. Mundo cracked up laughing at the face he made.
"Its probably because I had to pee little girl!" He informed her, digging into his food.
"You could'ah killed that tree dad! Peeing on it like that - yuck! That's disgusting!"
"Yeah yeah yeah..." He mumbled with a mouth full of food, all of a sudden, he noticed that everyone was quiet. He looked up and followed the direction they were all looking in, to see his wife standing by the bar, arms crossed over her breast, one foot out and tapping, a not so happy look on her face.
Everyone scrambled to leave the room, Crystal giving Shawn a look of sympathy, she didn't know what was going on, but she could tell by the look on her mother's face, some words were on the verge. "Angela grab Isaac, come on Darren, we got stuff to do across the road." Crystal and Angela was vacating the premises, Mundo tried to rise and do the same.
"Excuse me boy! You better wash that plate and your spot before you exit here." Sylvia stopped him in his tracks.
"Ma!"
"Don't mess wit' me boy, I just got home don't get me started."
"MA HOME!" He shouted to the room at large, being funny and sarcastic. Shawn bit back a laugh trying to loosen up for the big one. Sylvia had her eyes narrowed on her son as he grabbed his plate, clearing his spot and heading for the sink to wash it. Her eyes burning into his back, Mundo could feel'em, shifting about, ever the clown. He turned about, "Can I leave now?" He asked drying his hands on the kitchen towel.
"Bye!"
He cut and run.
Sylvia's eyes went to her husband.
"Poor me a cup of coffee please." He asked enjoying the last of his breakfast.
Taking a deep breath, Sylvia walked to the counter and poured him a cup of coffee from the pot. Walking it to him, he took it black.
She stood by him as he sipped and asked, "Care to tell me when you decided to build a house, instead of adding onto the one we already have, like we planned?"
"After you took off and started spending money for what you felt was important to you. Building a new home is important to me." He answered leaning back, putting his feet up on the opposite chair.
"Wait a minute, are you building this house for you ... or for me?"
"I'm building this house for our family. For my family. I want it, I'm building it, that's that."
"That's that!? Oh no no no, that ain't that yet! We cannot afford a brand new home Shawn ... credit cards and check book please." She held her hand out to him as if she was going to get it.
Shawn took a sip of his coffee, eying her hand held there from a sideways glance.
"Sorry, I'm not going to be coming to you every time I need to make a purchase or payment while getting it done. Once the house is up and finished, you can have the credit cards and check book, until then, I'm building a house."
"NO SHAWN!" She shouted pissed off.
Shawn stood from the table so fast facing her, Sylvia took a step back.
"First of all, let me remind you of something, I'm the man in this relationship ... want me to show you? You open your pants and I'll open mine, the one who whips out the dick is the one who calls the shots! Okay... you ready? You show me yours, I'll show you mine. Fact is, the only dick that you have, is my dick! You may get to borrow it from time to time, but you don't get to keep it! When its time to put it away, it goes into my pants, not yours ... do we understand each other? The balls stay with me! My balls, I get to keep'em... got it?"
Sylvia stood so angry she actually wanted to hit him. He could see it, and with a lifted brow, a gesture to say, 'try it.' of course she didn't. He went on to express his feeling on the matter.
"Now before you took off on your little adventure, I agreed to do things your way, okay? However, I've had a change of heart. I've got land across that road, I have plans for a home that I'm going to build on it and I have a wife, and a family to see about. Wife ... my job is to bring in the necessary income to make it work. Your job is to take that income and stretch it as far as it will go around the plans for that new home and our needs. Comprehend?" He stood his ground, unwilling to budge.
"Fine ... Mr Money bucks! I see now I'm gonna to have to get a job and put back all the money I spent, otherwise we're going to be in the poor house at the rate you're spending it!" She fussed back.
"Oh no you're not getting a job! You have a job - me! I'm your job! This bed and breakfast, and that new home when it's up, that's your job! My son you're carrying, that's your job! Angela needs you, that's your job! Now handle them, and let me take care of the rest!"
Sylvia was so mad she had to turn away from him and started cleaning up the kitchen. Slamming dishes, cabinets and silverware. Briskly wiping up the table, and sweeping bits of food into her palm as her husband stood where she left him, staring at her as she went on with one of her, 'jobs'.
"Come on Sylvia, let's not start out like this, can't you just back me?"
"I DON'T WANNA SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY SHAWN! Once its gone ... its gone! I need security! Security is only found with money - in - the bank! I don't give a shit about no brand new house, Shawn! I know and accept that I spent money while I was gone that I shouldn't have... okay... guilty! But it will never add up to the amount of what a new home will cost that you're talking about! I've been poor, I've been hungry and I've been homeless! I didn't like it then, and will hate it even more, if it happens again!"
"You make it sound like we have no money at all to work with Sylvia? I do have a job remember?"
"And whether you like it or not, if you keep spending the way you do, I'm going to end up needing one."
"Don't exaggerate, I make good money doing what I do. I also have other ideas of bringing in more money. I'm asking you to trust me on this."
"You know what... I'm beginning to think that's your favorite line... trust me on this ... trust me on that... trust me trust me trust me! How about you trust me on the fact that I'm not just some stupid ass woman trying to wear your goddamn pants! I've been in that world where I've struggled my ass off to feed and cloth my children ... I'm not going back there again! You understand me?! We have a baby coming! We have Angela to see about! All the other people you're worried about, are grown! Yes I'm talking about my own goddamn kids too!-..."
"Stop right there. I'm not going back on my word. They're going to school, and when they've completed their education and gotten their degrees, then they can stand on their own feet. Until then, they're my responsibility - I made them that promise! And not even you, and your fears will make me break it, no way." He sighed deep, ran his hand over his head, "Come on Sylvia ... honey ... I know I say it a lot. But - I'm asking you to trust me on this... we're gonna be okay." He softened his manner, trying to reassure her. He understood her fear. He could see it in her eyes. "Look, I just wanna make things perfect for you."
"Shawn its impossible for you to make things perfect for me... this isn't a perfect world! Things happen all the time! They happen to everyone! The unforeseen, that's the one that gets you, what you don't see coming! That bastard hits me before I take my next breath, it's the way of my l
ife." She argued, angrily swiping at an errant tear roused by her frustration to be heard and taken seriously. She couldn't believe she'd done this to herself. To her life. Just a mere year ago, she had been in complete control of everything. Now, she had control of nothing. Shawn walked up to her, she looked away from him. He leaned down to look into her face, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks.
She slanted away, pushing his hand away. "Stop it Shawn, leave me alone."
"I can't. You know I can't stand you being mad at me. Come on Sylvia, let me build this home for us."
"Why Shawn? Its just a structure. You know what, you think you're still in California living the high life! Well you need to start living in the real world! I need to be able to feed our family, and keep a roof over our heads! I'm not going to face being on the fuckin' streets again Shawn! Not for some stupid ass pipe dream house!" She shouted and walked around him up the stairs and into her office room slamming the door.
Shawn stood in the basement taking several deep breaths, running his hand over his face and over the top of his head.
"Jesus Christ."
The two spent the day walking around each other only giving polite mumbles. Sylvia didn't know what to do. After a few hours left alone to her own devices, she'd calmed down, but ever present was the fact that he hadn't retracted his plans. Within a few hours, he had her office completed. Everything was in place and all she had to do was move in. He came into the old office leaning against her door as she placed everything in boxes to transfer them. She looked up to see him standing there. "I'll be done in a moment to start dinner."
"Just pack the boxes babe, the kids and I will move it all, I don't want you carrying anything heavy." He stated softly. "Sylvie, baby I love you ... let's not do this. I'm not Armundo. I'm not going to fuck off our money and leave you all stranded to fend for yourselves. You mean the world to me. Our children, mean the world to me, I would never jeopardize our welfare."
"No maybe not on purpose. Look, I don't wanna talk about it anymore. You do what you wanna do, like you said, you're the man - I'm just ah-..."
"Please stop." He came in the room and closed the door behind him, walking to her to take her in his arms. "Please let's stop this. I know what I'm doing. Everything I do, I do for us. For you and I, our babies ... this is my dream Sylvia. To have a beautiful home, on land I can call my own. To see the faces of those that are mine, laughing and happy, looking to me and knowing, I'm right here. Papah taking care of business. I've got all that I need to make that dream a reality now that I have you. You my wife, were the one missing ingredient. Don't be afraid." He brought her face up with his hand at her chin, "Please... don't be afraid ... we're gonna be okay. Know this, I'll never let anything, or anyone ruin what we have. I'll work my ass off day and night if a need be I do so." He leaned down and kissed her lips. "I love you, don't you know that by now? How much I love you?" He asked gently, kissing her lips as he spoke. "Put your arms around me." He urged softly. Sylvia obeyed. "Hug me tight." He further ordered. She complied. "Say you love me." He gently tugged at her lips with his teeth.
"I love you."
"You mean it?"
Sylvia nodded her head, "I mean it."
"Then smile for me. I need to see you smile, I need to know that you believe in me. I need you to say, the hell with it, come hell or high water, I'm by your side and I believe in you. Can you do that for me?"
"What if something happens Sha-..."
He covered her lips with his fingers, "Smile for me and tell me you believe in me."
Sylvia stared up into his eyes. Beautiful beautiful eyes, searching hers and needing her to forget everything from her past of what she knew about life and just - trust him. Yet no matter how the hero he looked to be, she knew, he was just a man, beatable like so many others. She'd already given her word before God above that she would love, honor and yep - obey him.
"Sylvie? Have I ever let you down? I'm trying with everything in me to make things right for both of us, for all of us. Don't you believe that?"
"Yes Shawn, I believe that." She smiled at him. "I trust you. Okay... so... what about this home?"
"Oh baby." He picked her up and hugged her to him, holding onto her with her arms around his neck, resting on his shoulders as he squeezed her to him. "It's gonna be fantastic!" He almost cheered. "Come on let me show you what I have planned." He took her by the hand leading her outside. Walking down the road a bit to the length of where his land began, and on toward the back field. Wearing only sandals, Sylvia didn't really want to head back there, afraid of ticks.
"Climb on my back then." Shawn invited.
"No Shawn, you're only wearing sandals too, they'll get on you."
"Come on woman, climb on." He bent over to give her easy access, Sylvia started laughing. "I am not getting on your back Shawn, don't be silly!"
"I can hold you, come on."
Laughing Sylvia threw her leg over, as he shifted her to the center of his back and straightened up, making her squeal out and grab his neck. "Hang on!" He coached.
"You are so crazy Shawn, I swear you are, I can't believe you walking around with me on your back." She pulled up a bit higher, as he gripped her legs until she was comfortably in place. Her arms around him as he headed towards the back of his property, talking about his plans for their home.
"It's going to come all the way back to here. And you see all that land heading towards the woods there?"
Smiling Sylvia nodded, "Yes I do."
"I'm going to have all that cleared and we'll plant crops there. Grow enough different types of vegetation to be almost self-sufficient as far as vegetables are concerned. We'll join the farmers market every harvest, and set up a table to sell our produce. You think you'd like doing that?"
"Oh Shawn, I'd love doing that!"
"We also have to have a money crop. You know, growing something that will bring in a good yield to sell commercially as well. I'm still investigating that. Everything else, we'll just leave it be. Shanna is on that side of us, and who knows, I might put up a few out buildings and do some side work if I find there's room to." He shifted her up some more as he walked. "So what do you think wife? You think you can handle running a bed and breakfast? Being the wife of an artist / photographer / farmer / repairmen - hell, I hear there's even need for volunteer firemen."
"A firemen! Woooo, I can dig on the firemen thing! Yum!" She purred in his ear and took a nip.
Shawn chuckled. "Oh yeah, definitely volunteering for that one now... for sure!"
Chapter 141
Victor couldn't explain why last night seemed to drag on at work. From the moment he punched in and made his way to the back of the factory, where he and the other maintenance men could be found, the night ticked by with agonizing slowness. Four of the fellas' he worked with noticed his mood and commented on it, trying to draw him out. He wasn't in the mood for sharing his personal business. For one thing, they were all white - married to white women. They all knew that his wife was black, and guarded what racial comments they might say. Considering their track record had been fine up to this point, he wasn't about to share his marital problems with them. In that frame of mind, he kept to himself, while making electrical harnesses and breakers. Staying in the back where they were called from to the baking area or packing to repair or install something.
Crystal was on his mind heavy.
Something in her manner, when they were last together bothered him. In the past when they argued, or after a fight, she had always been the one eagerly trying to patch things up. Spoiling him for a few days, until the normal pattern of life set back in. This time, when they came together in her mother's basement, it had been different. He'd wanted to stay with her, but she insisted that he go. After that mind blowing round on the sofa, she stood, and showed him the door. Something wasn't right. Then, around his break time, he'd gotten a phone call at work.
Jeanine
Not sure who it could be, a bit hopeful that it was his wife,
Victor took the phone call and was surprised - if not a bit irritated.
"Hi. We haven't spoken since the other night. I was going to call you earlier at home, but I knew you'd be resting for work. Everything okay?" She had asked.
"Yeah - its fine." He returned, unable to fake a mood for her sake.
"What's wrong? It is, your lunch isn't it?"
"It's two in the morning. Why are you up?" He asked.
"Couldn't sleep. I dozed off for a bit, and woke to see that it was close to your lunch, so I thought I'd call you. Hope you don't mind?"
Victor had sighed; he didn't have the heart to put her off, so he spoke with her for 20 minutes of his lunch, until she realized he more than likely needed to eat and so let him off of the phone. She was talking about doing something on his next days off. Subtle in her hints for him to get his boys, and the four of them do something together again. His comment before getting off the phone with her had been, "We'll see."
He was home now, removing his shirt in his room, about to lay down, when a knock at his door made him pause with it before him, to on his forearms.
"Yeah?" He called out.
"Before you lie down, your father and I would like to have a word with you. Please come to the dining room. We won't keep you long." His mother commanded, in her firm, but patient voice. Victor sucked in deep and exhaled, staring at the door. Now he understood why his father's car was still outside when he pulled in. He pulled his shirt back over his head, and shot up from the bed. Not in the mood, but having little choice; he made his way out, meeting Tegan, his 13 year-old little brother, in the hallway, coming out of the bathroom, he had a glum look on his face; no doubt having to do with the fact that they were to have left the day before for a trip to Six Flags. The one he and Crystal was to take them on, but breaking up had ruined that plan. To make up for it, his parents promised to take his younger brother and sisters. It had been planned for the day before, and Victor had a feeling they stayed another day specifically to speak with him, if he knew his mother right.
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