A few minutes watching them, his eyes started burning. He checked her hand, and the gauze, giving it a gentle pull, it released and he dropped it on the rest that he'd cut away. Next, used the cotton balls soaked in peroxide to clean her injury. Satisfied, he reached for the Neosporin and dabbed it on. Then rewrapped it in gauze and taped it into place. Looking back at her, she slept on. He sat, half turned on the bed, leaning there with his cigarette in his mouth, looking at her. By the time he finished his cigarette, he was needing to get some sleep himself. He wanted to crawl into bed with her, wrap himself around her, and doze off. Not yet.
Lifting her hand, he kissed it again and laid it back down, then leaned forward and kissed her brow, stood and left the room. Yawning, sleepy— he wasn't done yet. Checking the kitchen clock, it was 7:30 in the morning. He went out the front door, stretching long and hard. Stepping off the porch, he checked on the meat and Dennis. Dennis was fast asleep. Stretched out on the lawn chaise for him. Jake sat on his, thinking.
If he was going to get married. If she was going to be his wife. She was going to have to come here. He couldn't cope with city life. He wasn't cut out for it. Only problem he had, he hated that he only made so much money. He didn't want to bring her down from what she was used to. One good thing, at least, she had a houseful of furniture. Problem was, what would he do for a home? He thought about Meribel and Derrick. She'd lived with his parents while Derrick went to school. Jake shook his head. Derrick had been young, and so had she. It was acceptable to do that when they'd done it. It was not acceptable for him, not at his age.
Forty years old. He had no home. He had no true savings, other than what his mother held for him. He owed Shawn for the truck. He owed Benjamin for the vanity he purchased for Vivian. He was living with his sister. And the job he had, he earned plenty to take care of himself, under the circumstances that he dwelled under. One thing about him, he'd always lived simple. Jake ran his hand over his face. He ran through his skills as a laborer. He could build anything. Using wood or brick. He could do plumbing. Electrical, the entire lot. He knew it and knew it well. He sighed. Now he sat regretting that he hadn't gone further in school. Regretted that he hadn't attended college and gotten a degree.
"Jesus Christ. What the hell am I going to do? Why the fuck did I say I'd marry her? You stupid idiot, you don't even have a ring to put on her finger! Shit!" He sat thinking about the cost of jewelry. She worked in a bank. She'd basically kicked a doctor to the curb. A doctor who, if she took him back, could probably put a rock sparkler on her finger that represented her worth. No way would he shame her by putting a small diamond on her finger. "Jesus Christ." He murmured again. Within a few moments, of deep thought, Jake could feel the pressure. The stress. It all came back to one thing. He couldn't afford her. He couldn't afford to place a decent ring on her finger. He couldn't afford to put them in a home, because he— had no credit. Then he wondered what type of bills did she have? If he expected her to leave her job, come here with him, this would mean that he would have to pay her bills. He wondered could he afford to pay her bills? "Jesus Christ!"
"Hey, you...you needin' some sleep?"
Jake looked up to see Shawn standing across the pig from him. He smiled. "Yeah, I'm about burned. The pig's almost done."
"Looks great! Thanks! You looked deep in thought, you okay?"
"Yeah...just tired."
"Well, head on in, get you some sleep. I'm up, I'll see about it now. Won't be much longer, we can take it off. Derrick said he'd be here in about an hour or more, he can help me lift it off."
Jake stood and stretched. "Thanks..."
"You sure you're okay?" Shawn asked again.
Jake was tempted, so very tempted to tell him what was on his mind. But he knew Shawn. He'd go and fix his dilemma for him. He'd either give him the truck. Or loan him money for a ring, or buy another lot of land and build him a house too. Standing there, looking at his brother, he knew that he would do one of those things, because Shawn was like that. He thought they all, belonged to him. Jake stood, wishing he was more like him.
"Something's wrong…I can see it in your eyes. I know there's been some shit between us, but you're my brother, man. I love you, just tell me what it is." Shawn asked.
Jake smiled.
"Don't let that pig burn! I stayed my ass up all night for that pig! I'm going to bed, cuddle with my woman until she wakes and leaves me."
Shawn took a deep breath and nodded as Jake walked by him.
Shawn then nudged Dennis, sending him off to bed with Sheila - who would no doubt be waking soon.
Vivian yawned, and turned her head, unable to turn her body. Jake was behind her, fast asleep, holding her by the waist. He was snoring softly, dead to the world. She smiled. Imaging the day when they would wake every morning this way. Carefully, she moved out of his arms and got out of bed. Her hand felt funny, the bandages felt stiff, not loose as they'd gotten. She looked at it; fresh and clean. She stared a moment, trying to remember when had she done it. She hadn't. She looked up from her hand at Jake. Thinking back, she remembered now. He'd come in, sat by her, talked to her, tried to wake her. She dozed off and woke for a moment again and he was doing something to her hand. She'd smiled and dozed back off.
"Aaah, you..." She exclaimed gently. She picked up her bag from the floor and headed for the bathroom, but stopped first to kiss his temple and stroke his hair. "I love you." She murmured. Then left the room. A few moments later, after showering, changing, she stepped out to see a drowsy Shanna removing food from the refrigerator.
"Good morning." Vivian greeted her.
"More like it, afternoon. Look what time it is." Shanna returned, smiling, loading up the table with stuff for them to carry down to Sylvia's and Shawn's.
It was 1:30. "Wow...look what time it is!"
"I know. Shawn's been up since early. Derrick and Meribel's back. The tables are set up, and Sylvia's ready for us to start bringing the food."
"How long have you been up?" Vivian asked, helping her by grabbing a few things, just then Sasha and Angela ran in, waiting to take stuff down. They were chirpy and giggling with glee. Shanna handed something to Sasha, and then to Angela. Out they went.
"I just woke up an hour ago. Believe me, I was tempted to turn over and go back to sleep."
"I know. Jake just came to bed this morning; can we get everything out of here, so he can sleep uninterrupted. Is that okay?"
Shanna looked at her and smiled. "Sure, I think we can do that."
And they did. The kids all had to clean up their camp site and everyone moved to Sylvia's house so that no one was around making noise. It was a hive of activity. However, no one was so busy that they didn't notice a certain difference, and glow to Meribel. She was constantly blushing, grinning, and gazing at her husband, as if lovestruck. Sheila was having a ball with it.
"Look at'ha! Would you look at girlfriend! Now you know, ain't but one thang, put that kind of look on her face!" She joked and grinned, telling Sylvia, who was also teasing Meribel.
"Girl, you need to sit down somewhere, before you trip and hurt yourself. Looking at that man the way you are. You know you got to watch where you walking, too. You gone walk into something, break yo' nose."
And Shawn would glance at her, and then at Derrick and get tickled and started laughing, just imagining. Derrick would look at him, and Shawn would wink and nod! A sort of pat on the back. Derrick took it all in stride. He didn't care what they said, or how they teased. He felt different. He felt taller. More of a man—very similar to the way he felt upon losing his virginity to her. They were both having a hard time keeping their eyes off of one another. He didn't know if it were possible or not, but he felt more in love with her. She looked at him, like she was in love. It was a turn on. He'd made love to her twice last night. And was now trying to think of a way of getting her alone to make love to her again. Which was surprising, considering how long they'd gone in between each time. Now, it was like he was renewed
. Reborn, what they had, rekindled. He actually stood feeling lust, and he liked it.
The kids were up and running around. Shawn was barbecuing with Dennis' and Sylvia's assistance. Sheila and Meribel set up the tables and started laying out the food. Shanna and Crystal went for ice, soda, and more beer. Mundo, DJ and Marcus were setting up his mixing tables.
The first to arrive were Mundo's friends.
Then all of Crystal's friends.
Not long after that, Kevin and Paul showed up.
It was early evening and already, everyone was having a ball.
* * *
Lydia and Gert had risen early and were fixing breakfast. The men were out in the garage. While they, the women, were getting along just fine, as if they'd known each other all of their lives, the men were a different story entirely.
Bart had come to bed the night before, and after a few moments of laying there, commented to Gert, "Why do I get a feeling, this man has just come back to being with his wife?"
Gert had laid still, wondering where he was going with it. "What you mean, Bart?"
"How long they married?"
Gert sighed, "I'm imagining for years."
"He says, it's been a while since he seen his boys? Why is that?"
"If you remember, it was a while that we hadn't seen Shawn."
"That's cause he left home."
"True." Gert answered.
Bart lay thinking a while longer, then said, "He kept steering away from talking about his kids. Why do you suppose that is?"
"Maybe he didn't wanna talk about'em, Bart."
"What man don't like to talk about his kids!? His sons!"
"Obviously, there are some, Bart."
"It don't make no sense, he wasn't at his daughter's wedding to give her away. Why do you suppose that is?"
"Leave it alone, Bart, it don't matter."
"Now you know, I'm a patient man when it comes to some things, but I don't mix well in the company of men who walk away from their God-given—"
"Bart! They are guests in our home! Let's get through this weekend. It's none of your business."
"Hmph!" He grumbled.
In the guestroom, where Lydia and Lucas had lain for the night.
"I know I should'na come here! I just know it! That cracka' ask me one mo'thang 'bout my family, he gone get tol'!"
"I thought you was enjoying yourself, Lucas?"
"He too nosy! Askin' me, 'bout my boys! Where they at? How they doin'? What they do? Tellin' me stories, braggin' 'bout his own, then want me to tell him some. Ain't got no stories to tell!"
"Lucas, it's what people do. Talk about they children."
"They just bein' nosy, all in yo'business! Lookin' fo' a reason to look down they nose at you. I got's a mind to leave, I'm tellin' you that now! I ain't gone put up with no nonsense!"
Lydia sighed.
"You hear what I say?!"
"Yes, I did, Lucas."
"Well?!" He grumped.
"Well, what?!" Lydia asked.
"I'm thinkin' we need to leave!"
"We can leave tomorrow, Lucas."
"Naw, I'm thinkin' we need to leave right now!"
"Tonight?!"
"I'm thinkin' 'bout it!"
"Lucas, please do not start."
"I'm thinkin' 'bout startin' my car! Gettin' the hell on up outta here!"
"Lord have mercy! You just determined to make this more difficult than it is."
"I don't like no white folks, no way! You know that!"
"Lucas, that ain't the problem. I know that ain't the problem, and you know that ain't the problem."
"Oh, I see, so you on they side now, hmph?!"
"Lucas, can we please, just get through this weekend? Is that too much to ask?"
"I'm tellin' you now, that cracka' gone get tol'! Mark my words...I warned you."
"Lord Jesus, please—give me strength."
"Em-hm, you bes' pray this white man don't rub me wrong, that's what you best be prayin'."
That had been what the two women went to bed with.
Now this morning, both of them were talking, yet, they both were alert. Listening. Each knowing the state of mind of their husband the night before. Neither too sure they should be trusted outside without their supervision. And as if proving what they feared to be true, the shouting outside sent their hearts up into their throats, as they looked at each other shocked and each rushed for the door. What greeted them when they made it outside to the porch, was to see both men outside the pole barn, yelling back and forth at each other, one talking over the other.
Bart, "...THERE IS NO REASON....THERE IS NOOO REA—SON..."
Lucas, "...YOU GODDAMN CRACKA'!! WHO THE HELL—IS YOU?!?..."
Bart, "...FOR A MAN...TO LEAVE HIS FAM'LY...FOR A MAN..."
Lucas, "...WHO YOU? GOD? YOU THINK YOU THE LORD? WHO YOU TO JUDGE ME?!..."
Bart, "...TO LEAVE HIS SONS! A WOMAN—CAN NO MORE—RAISE SONS TO BE REAL MEN—"
Lucas, "LYDIA!!! LYDIA—LET'S GO! YOU HEAR ME?!" Both women were in a panic as they ran down off the porch toward them, trying to calm them down.
"WHAT'S GOIN' ON?! BART, WILL YOU STOP THAT YELLIN'!" Gert ran to him.
"LYDIA! GET THEM BAGS! GET IN THIS TRUCK! LET'S GO!" Lucas demanded.
"Wait a minute, what happened, Lucas?" Lydia tried to talk to him to calm him down, with Bart shouting over from them.
"...THAN A LAMB CAN BRING UP A LION—TO ROAR...IT IS A MAN'S GOD-GIVEN..."
"I AIN'T 'BOUT TO STAND IN THIS CRACKA'S YARD—AN' BE PREACHED AT—JUDGIN' ME!" Lucas shouted.
"BART!" Gert yelled to get his attention.
"...RESPONSIBILITY—TO CARE FOR HIS WOMEN! IT IS A MAN'S GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY..."
"...YOU SEE WHAT YOU DONE DONE!? BRUNG ME UP HERE! I TOLD YOU, DIDN'T I!? CRAZY ASS WHITE MAN!"
"Wait, Lucas!" Lydia pleaded as he rushed to his truck.
"...TO BE A FATHER TO HIS SONS!!! THAT'S IT—RUUUN! THAT'S WHAT YOU USE TO—RUUUN!"
"BARTHOLOME-E-EW!!! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MI-I-IND!!!" Gert shouted to get over his booming voice. His arms were out by his side, his face pointed to the heavens, as he railed over and over.
"RUN?!! I AIN'T RUNNIN'—I AIN'T RUNNIN'—YOU'ON SCARE ME! GONE PUT YO' SHEET ON—YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WANNA DO!!"
"DON'T NEED NO SHEET! AIN'T GOT TO CALL YOU NAMES!! 'CAUSE YOU CAN—RUN—FROM—ME! YOU CAN RUN FROM—THE—TRUTH..."
"THAT'S IT—YOU GET THEM T'RIDE YOU! I'M GONE! THIS IT! I'M DONE WIT' THE WHOLE LOT!"
"Lucas, wait!" Lydia called to him, moving toward the truck.
"THAT'S RIGHT—RUN, YOU CHICKEN!!! BURRRK, BURK, BURK—BUK-KUHHH—BUK-KUHHH!" Bart started doing the chicken dance, making wings with his arms and strutting in circles, while making chicken sounds. Gert covered her mouth and stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. "BART!!! I SWEAR FO'GOD, YOU NEED COMMITTIN'!!"
"I AIN'T RUNNIN' FROM YOU!!! I'M LEAVIN'! I AIN'T GOT TO TAKE THIS SHIT! NOT OFF NO WHITE MAN!!!"
"CAN'T 'SPECT A RUNNIN' CHICKEN, TO FACE A MAN—LIKE A MAN! BUK-KUHHH, BUK-KUHHH!"
"YO-O-OU CRAZY!!! YOU CRAZY ASS CRACKA'!! WHAT YOU KNOW 'BOUT ME!?"
"KNOW YOU A RUNNER! RUNNIN' NOW! TAKE ON OFF! I SEE TO YA' WOMAN FOR YOU! GONE!!! BUK-KUHHH—BUK-KUHHH!!!"
"YOU CALL ME A CHICKEN ONE MO' TIME! I'MO TAKE THIS FIS' OF MINE—" Lucas came from around the truck, putting his fist up.
"LUCAS!!! DON'T YOU DARE!!!" Lydia shouted.
Bart smiled, balled his fist up, too. Both of them rolling their fist, with the women standing between them yelling and screaming at them.
"MOVE OUT THE WAY! COME ON...I'M READY FOR YOU! HOPE YOU CAN TAKE IT LIKE A MAN, 'CAUSE I'M GONE LAMB YOU LIKE ONE."
"YOU BES' DO YO' BES'! BRING IT ON—BIGGER THEY ARE—HARDER THEY FALL—ONCE I POP YO'ASS—THAT'S GONE BE ALL!"
Gert and Lydia stood back to back, facing their men, yelling and trying to get them to stop.
"GERTRUDE! GET OUTTA MY WAY!"
&nbs
p; "NO! I DEMAND YOU STOP THIS NONSENSE RIGHT THIS MINUTE, BART!!"
"Lucas Henry Martin...you stop this, right now. I mean it! Enough, now! You a old ass man! Too old to be fightin'! End up in the hospital, actin' a fool!"
"Actin' a fool?! You call me a fool in front of these white folks! See what you think about me—don' I!?" He turned and walked to his truck, got in and started it up.
Looking back at him in the truck, Gert turned back to Bart. "You best stop him, Bartholomew! You best make it quick!"
Lydia stood watching him back up, and as she stood there, she wondered how in the world, she would explain this to their daughter.
Chapter 174
Lucas Henry Martin had not driven all of this way for the type of harassment he faced just moments earlier. With all that had taken place in his past, with his kids, it was battle enough to live with. He didn't need anyone to send him on a guilt trip, when he saw himself off on one regular enough. He had barely taken hearing the truth from his daughter when she confronted him with it; was only willing to take so much from Lydia if she brought it up. No doubt, should his sons reappear, having to face them would be plenty enough. But one thing he could not take, was for a know-it-all white man, who already thought he was better than him—the way Lucas saw it, using something against him that he was truly guilty of. It was a shame he could not bare. A past he could not erase, repair or make go away. No...there were enough people and accusations he had to endure because of it, but nowhere did this man figure into it. No way. On top of it all, he was feeling angry, humiliated and hurt—because Lydia hadn't stood up for him; he'd taken off. Taken off because there was little he could say in his own defense. What he knew, and had always known, was that while maybe—he had been justified in leaving his wife, there was no excuse for stepping out of his children's lives. To hear Bartholomew McPherson stand and talk about his sons, mostly the first two—he did note that he didn't go on and on too much about the last one, Jake. However, having to endure that, and then the awkward silence that drifted between them when he paused to let him tell something, set up a burning within Lucas. Next, he launched an assault talking about his girls. Lucas loved all three of this children, he had been a proud father of sons, and when his little girl had been born, she was indeed, daddy's little girl. Bringing in the daughters, with Lucas having Sylvia on his mind, and what he'd walked away from, was the last straw. In a rage, he'd gone off on Bart until the other man was left with little choice but to rage back, using what he'd detected about Lucas.
BOMAW 7-9 Page 41
