"Is it that white guy, Jake?"
"Laek - I'm going to tell you this for the last time, and if you persist, I'll be getting a restraining order-..."
"A restraining order?! Because I love you!? Because you said you love me?!"
"Because you won't leave it alone! Now, you're coming to my job with it!"
"Tell me where you live!"
"I will not! Leave - me - alone!"
"I can't live without you!"
"You'll have to."
"I can't!"
"Leave...now." Vivian commanded.
He stood breathing hard, staring down at her.
"I mean it, don't make me call security."
"Did you ever love me?" He asked, broken-hearted.
"Foolishly, yes."
"He'll never make you happy."
"Neither did you."
Laek Chan stood trying to think of what to say to make this right. "Meet me for lunch?"
"You haven't taken in a word I said. Not one word. I'm done. Leave - or - I'm calling security."
He stood a few more seconds staring at her, then turned and walked out of the office, out of the bank.
Vivian sat for a moment, trying to rid herself of the encounter. She leaned her elbows on the desk with her hands shielding her face, gripping her hairline. Right then, she wanted Jake. She wish she had the nerve to call him and ask him to come there. Memorial Day weekend was coming up, thankfully, she would see him then. If he wanted to see her, that is. She was about to stand when the phone in her office rang, "Hello?" She answered. It was Jenna, "You have a call on line 3." She informed her.
"Okay, thanks..." She pressed line 3, "Hello?"
"What time you take lunch?"
"Candace?"
"Yeah. We ain't have time to talk Sunday 'cause o' mama. Then, I had to go."
"Who was that daddy was mad at you about bringing to the house?" Vivian asked.
"Just some friends, you know daddy and mama be trippin'. What time you take lunch. I'ah meet you downtown, so you can loan me some money."
"I haven't agreed to loan you any money, Candace. How do you know I even have any money?"
"'Cause I know you do. You know you do, too."
"If I remember correctly, I already loaned you money once."
"You said that's okay on that, remember?"
"Because of that, you gone come back for more, then? Aren't you working?"
"Naaah, I hurt my back'n'thang's - I be off for a bit. That's why I need a loan, fo' I don't get back on my bills."
"Well, if I'm not mistaken, you need to work this week, to get paid next week. And on, and on, and on... so how you gone pay the next bills that come in?"
Candace exhaled on the other end. Vivian could hear someone in the background asking her, "What she saying?" Obviously, she thought her hand over the mouthpiece was blocking the conversation, unfortunately it wasn't, Vivian could hear all. "Askin' me a bunch'a'goddamn questions! Her stingy ass! Just hol'up a minute, I got to talk to her first." Vivian shook her head and hung up the phone. "Forget that! I don't have time for it, don't need it." She stood and left the office, heading back to the elevator. As she clicked the button waiting for it to come down, she was paged overhead. Pissed, Vivian turned from the elevator, using her key she went behind the lobby counters to a phone and picked up the line she was paged for.
"Hello?"
"Vivian? What the fuck you hang up for...wasted my goddamn quarter and shit!" Candace blasted.
"Look Candy, I'm at work. Don't call me at work with this mess!"
"Well, give me yo' home phone number, then!"
"To be honest with you, I don't wanna give you that one. I don't know what's going on with you, but I don't want nothing to do with it. You a grown woman, no kids - you perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. Borrow money from those friends you were talking to. Don't call back... because I won't be picking up again!"
Back up in the offices on the 7th floor, Vivian resumed her activities before being interrupted by Laek and Candace. She was starting to feel emotional, pressured and a bit worried. She knew it was that time of the month and dealing with being premenstrual. Even though she had Sheila and Dennis, her family too, she felt alone. She felt like crying. For once, she wanted to be able to just go home, close out the world, and have someone take care of her. As independent as she was, she didn't want to be. She wanted to be in a position to just let go for once. Sometimes she wondered if her expensive lifestyle was worth it. Sometimes, she felt she would gladly give it up to have a good man and a family. Once upon a time, she thought to be content in life, she had to earn a certain amount of money and the man she was with, had to earn twice that amount.
Now... she was beginning to feel that it just wasn't worth it.
All of her wonderful things, her beautiful home, her quiet life. Lonely.
Now, she wanted laughter.
Not Gucci.
Companionship, not Tommy Hilfiger.
A real man, not Christian Dior.
Family portraits, not Matisse or Picasso.
The smell of peach cobbler baking, not Lobster Thermadore.
She'd gladly shop Walmart and forgo, Carson Pirie Scott.
Right now, she'd give anything to ride in a Ford Truck, never giving a Jaguar the time of day again.
A man with a six-figure salary, to a man with a five figure... gladly.
She wanted to get on a train, ride it to Wisconsin, call Jake, ask him to come and get her. Then, take her wherever he wanted to and make love to her until he wore himself and her out. She wanted him to leave her with just enough energy to breath and sleep. She wanted to collapse from it, knowing she'd been loved at least once by him. That's what she wanted. She wanted it so bad, tears gathered and rolled down her face. She went into one of the ladies room stalls and quietly cried until the feeling passed. It would have to pass, because there was no way she would give in to that need. She wanted Jacob Patrick, of all things - to love her.
Lonely and longing - she would remain.
* * *
"You two are the talk of the town, I hope you know?" Officer Collier commented as he stood next to Shawn, watching as Shanna's double-wide mobile home was carefully maneuvered into place. "How one minute, she wouldn't give a body the time of day, now here you are... married and a baby on the way. Opening a bed and breakfast, about to build a new home. Yep, talk of the town."
Shawn chuckled, "Don't tell my wife that, I'll never hear the end of it."
"So, who is this place for?" Royce asked.
"My youngest sister, Shanna. She's moved back here from Ohio."
"Ohio, hm? So, what she look like?"
As Shawn was about to answer, he spotted her Jeep turning down their road and coming that way. "I'd say in just a few seconds, you'll get a live look and see. Here she and Sylvia come now." He gestured in the direction they were coming from. Collier turned to see the 3 year old gold-tan Cherokee Jeep pull up. A very excited strawberry blonde, slender, close to petite beauty barely parked before she jumped out, clapping in joy.
"YES! It's here, it's here, it's here! Yes! Finally! Oh, I am so happy!!! Oh my God! I am sooo excited!" Shanna jumped up and down running to Shawn, throwing her arms around him. There was yard noise sounding all around, from Mundo driving the riding lawn mower getting all of the yard done. Jake was at the rear, directing them with lining up the mobile home to lower it. As Shawn stepped away to speak with officer Collier when he followed the double wide trailer down the road.
Sylvia was smiling as she walked next to her husband, now that Shanna had turned him loose to check out how they were getting it into place. Shawn put his arms around her, pulling her into his side. "Good afternoon, Officer Collier."
"Ms. Pay - uh - oh ... um, Mrs. McPherson. Sorry about that." He grinned, looking from them back to Shanna, nothing but appreciation shining in his eyes.
"No problem, even I have to work at getting use to it." Sylvia confessed.
"Hey
, what is that suppose to mean?" Shawn asked with pinched brows.
"Just when I sign things, I always accidentally start out using Payne, and then I remember and have to correct it." She answered. They both noticed Royce had moved closer to where Shanna stood viewing the busy activities of getting her new home in place.
"Hmmm?" Sylvia mouthed, watching him and then turning to look up at her husband. "Is he married?"
"Don't think so. But she still is, she better be careful."
"Her divorce has a date." Sylvia returned, gleeful at the prospect of Shanna meeting someone nice. They'd been getting to know each other really well over the last few days. Considering the kind of man John Sykes was, a cop for Shanna might be a good thing.
"Yeah well, let's not jump the gun little miss matchmaker. You find what you guys went looking for?"
"Sure did! We have paint for all three bathrooms and tiles that I want you to put up. Wallpaper, borders, floor tile for the kitchen, and new carpet for the bedrooms. The one in the master bedroom is fine. Also, you or Jake have to go and get the bed we found and purchased. And I have brochures on the kitchen appliances as well. I'm pretty sure on which ones I want." She informed him. "Annnd, I thought you could help me design brochures and a menu."
"Oooh no I'm not. This is your baby, totally and completely, dear wife! You're on your own with that!"
"Shawn! Please?!"
"No way! I have enough on my plate. You will design your own brochures, and do your own menu. You're completely capable and equipped to do so yourself."
"Shawn... you're an artist! You can-..."
"No!"
"UGGGH! Fine - I'll do it myself!" She fussed with her lip rolled out.
Shawn leaned over and sucked on it, making her laugh out and step back from him, embarrassed. "Behave yourself!" She commanded.
"You get in the house and phone Dennis, Sheila, your mom and dad... I want it done. Now get!"
"Okay, but you have to unload Shanna's jeep... it's full with the rear door open."
"Can do - now get over there and on the phone. Oh and by the way... all of Angela's stuff came while you were gone. I stacked it all down the hallway. Sixteen boxes! That'll be fun to unpack!"
Sylvia stopped and drooped by the curb, imagining sixteen boxes. She turned, to see her son with headphones on sitting on the riding lawnmower, and leaning as he did so. She shook her head and carried on into the house. She went to the bathroom and came out looking over the boxes and counting them when the phone rang. Feeling light-hearted, she went to answer it. "McPherson residence?"
"Hi... so I've got the right number."
"Hm? Who is this?"
"Bruce Pewsey, Fitzgerald's... forgotten me already?"
Sylvia was stunned, holding the phone to her ear. She walked over to the big picture window to see where Shawn was; he was still outside talking to Shanna and Royce. "How did you find our number?"
"Wasn't hard you know. It's Memorial Day weekend. You wouldn't be interested in doing a show this weekend, would you?"
"No... I wouldn't be. That whole thing with the singing is over."
"Nothing I can say to convince you otherwise?"
"Nothing."
"I can't believe you're ignoring a perfect opportunity to build an incredibly successful singing career."
"Believe it... its true! I have a lot going on right now, so I'll have to let you go."
"Okay... but uh, just so you know. If anything down the road for you should change, and you need somewhere to go. Need to make some cash, this is where you need to come. Just wanted you to know that... in case you didn't."
"Thank you for options, but every thing is just fine."
"Okay... just thought I'd ask, I was thinking about you."
"Thanks but, I have to go. Bye!" Sylvia hung up. She looked up and Shawn was backing Shanna's Jeep up to the driveway and back further to unload all they'd purchased. She looked at all the boxes stacked. She was tired already. Discarding the phone call, she turned to help carry in some of their purchases.
* * *
Chicago...
Vivian was happy to be at the end of her day. She left her job straight away, looking around the busy street as she made her way towards the usual route she took. One thing was paramount in her mind, getting home. It was a busy time, as most were pouring out of work, so the busy streets were crowded with people, and the constant noise of traffic, blowing horns and shouting and screaming from road-raging. She had four blocks to walk to the L tracks, where she would board a train out of bustling downtown. Her brain was on burnt out. She was getting tired of city life. Something about it was rubbing on her nerves now, even though it was all she knew for all of her life. One thing for certain, she knew why Sylvia left it.
At some point in one's life, you just needed space to breathe. That was the problem, today... she felt as if she couldn't breathe.
She sat on the train glancing from one person to the next. Everyone looked the way she felt. Burned out. Nothing exciting or worthy to look forward to in their future. She turned away and gazed out the window at the passing Chicago scenery. Too much poverty, derelict buildings and wasted areas. Too many kids on the streets, with nowhere to go. Now that the headphones and walkman's existed, no one had reason to speak to anyone else. Just turn on the tunes and block everyone, and everything out.
She made her exit from the last bus and was walking towards home, when she felt someone walking behind her. She wanted to stop and look, but hated feeling so paranoid. Thinking it her overactive imagination, she kept walking and sped up a bit, she had just a half a block to get through, cross the alley and she would turn onto her street. The moment she stepped onto the alley, it happened.
She was shoved forward so hard and fast, all she could do was scream as she felt her purse being yanked from her arm. She hit the ground with her hands going forward to break her fall, and was rewarded with a shard of glass embedding itself in her palm. She flipped around, still screaming out to see her purse in the hand of her assailant as he sped down the alley, running like lightning.
She sat and watched him disappear, and couldn't bring herself to get up. She sat with skinned knees and torn stockings, bleeding hand and, that was enough. She dissolved into sobs. Someone in the house of the wall she sat against had heard the commotion and her screaming, and came out to investigate. Vivian could barely hear their inquiries of her, for her uncontrollable sobbing. Holding her hand outward away from her face as it bled. She sat on the alley curb, unable to get up, feeling for the moment... too weak to even try, the rush of adrenaline and fright made her body feel like liquid.
Chapter 147
"Ma'am, under the circumstances, we agree with your friend here. Instead of going back to your home, as she said, you should stay here a few days." The officer stood in Sheila's living room over Vivian, after taking a full report on the purse snatching. "I don't have any clothes here." Vivian replied, confused, shaken and unsure of what to do.
"When your landlord gets here with the keys, we'll get you some things, but you staying here tonight. Whoever took that purse, got your keys and know where you live! You ain't going back there... not tonight!"
"Oh man, what about all my stuff, what if they break into my house?"
"Vivian! Forget that stuff! What about your life?!"
"Again, we agree with her. Second, your hand is still bleeding, we should take you in for that. I believe you're going to need a couple of stitches."
"It'll stop."
"It's been bleeding non-stop since you got here Vivian! You need a couple of stitches." Sheila blurted.
Vivian dropped her face into her palm and started crying. She couldn't believe what had happened to her. All of the fear and horror of what could have happened to her was going crazy in her mind. While she was relieved that he'd only wanted her purse, something worse could have happened. The whole incident, on a day that was not one of her good days, when she'd already been feeling as she did - made it all that much
worse.
"Come on now, don't cry. You all right." Sheila pulled Vivian into her arms, tears in her own eyes over the thought of something like that taking place in their neighborhood, down the block and around the corner from them and then happening to Vivian. It had always been a nice area. Hardly anything happening. Yes, you'd hear of an occasional break-in, or maybe some scattered domestic violence, but it had been a long time since anyone had been robbed or assaulted around there.
"Should we call an ambulance in for her?"
"No thank you m'man, we gone take her on in." Dennis announced coming from the bedroom, having gone there to dress. He could see her hand running with blood as they questioned her, and automatically went to put on some clean clothes to take her in. He stood with his jacket on and keys in hand. "Come on Vivian, let's go, I'm ready." Dennis announced, upset by it.
"All right, good idea. Ms. Cooke, we'll be filing this report at the police station. Chances are, your purse will turn up somewhere and if you're lucky, all of your contents will be returned to you absent any cash. You need to call the 24 hour hotline to get those credit and debit cards closed. Just give them your police report number and they will be immediately shut down. Let's pray they aren't already making purchases on them." The officer furthered, as his partner stepped outside to answer another call.
"I can't go to the hospital, I need to do that first." Vivian sniffed, lifting her face to Sheila and then to the officer that stood over her.
"Look, I'm taking you to the hospital! Sheila, you can make them calls for her while we gone." Dennis petitioned his wife.
The officers needed to leave, they had another call to respond to. "All right, Ms. Cooke, we have to go. I'm sure you'll be fine in the care of your friends. Take it easy and give yourself some time before you go rushing back home."
"Don't worry about her, she ain't going back there no time soon! Thank you officers."
The last one leaving waved and was out the door.
"Let's go." Dennis ordered, his son Zachary was going with them.
"I need to wait for the landlord." Vivian cried, standing.
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