BOMAW 7-9

by Mercedes Keyes

  "You want some to take home for you, mama? I'll just write your name on whatever you wanna take back. Once it's frozen, it'll keep until you heat it up."

  "Naw, chile, I got a freezer full o'food now, I'm trying to get rid of. Ain't nobody but me and yo' daddy. I just wanna help you get all this put away." Her mother replied.

  "What about you, Meribel?"

  "I'm good, mami—you and Sheila split it if you want. I'm like your mom, I got two freezers full of food."

  "Look like you and Dennis gonna get plenty then, girlfriend." Sylvia informed her.

  "Well, lil'girl, I can honestly say—we had ourself a good'ol time. Especially yo' daddy, considerin' how things was this morning." Lydia voiced her thoughts.

  "I cannot believe—they got into it over there." Sylvia stopped to put her hands on her hips, reeling from what her mother told them when they came into the basement, bringing in the food to clean up for the night. Once they were over the shock, they were laughing over how the two men argued.

  "Thank the Lord they gettin' along now. I tell you why I'm disappointed. We ain't gettin' to see my great-grandbabies, next time ya'll know we comin', you keep them here."

  "I know, mama, when we get done, I can show you pictures."

  "I wanna see the real thing, I bet they gettin' big."

  "Yeah, they are, and Isaac! Mama, that boy, let me tell you now— he tell every-thang —you cannot get away with anything with him around. Boy tickles me to death, and love him some Shawn, they call him grandpapa-Shawn now. Fact is, I think they prefer him over me, because he rides a motorcycle."

  "Aaah, I bet they as precious as they can be." Lydia chimed, when little did she know, her desire was coming to be, because outside, as Crystal and her friends sat talking in the garage, they saw headlights pull up into the yard.

  Crystal stood, stunned—immediately recognizing Victor's new car. "What the heck?" She muttered out loud, walking away from her friends towards the car. As soon as she got within hearing, she quickly surmised the problem. Darren was in the back seat, screaming his head off. Victor looked harassed and weary as he cut the engine, opened the door and stepped out. With the door open, Darren's screams filled the yard.

  "Darren—baby, what's wrong?!" Crystal walked past her husband to the back seat, opening that door. Hearing his mother's voice and seeing her, got him really going. His arms shook and flailed to be taken. His legs pumping as the volume of his screams hit its highest volume yet. "Aaah, baby, mama's baby—what's wrong—okay, okay—mama getting you, mama getting you. Aaah, baby—shhh, shhh—mama's here." Crystal worked the buckles and straps to get him out, as soon as she could pick him up, and did so—he grabbed a hold of her like a lifeline. She stood from the car, his arms wrapped around her neck tight, his legs clamped at her waist for dear life, still crying. Had been doing so for so long, he couldn't stop. His body was burning hot, soaked from perspiration.

  "How long my baby been crying like this!?" She demanded, upset over the state of him.

  Victor had gone around to the other side to let Isaac out of his seat. The moment he came around the back of the car, he answered his mother's question. "Mama, he been cryin' and cryin' and cryin'—some more!"

  "Why didn't you call me!" She snapped at Victor hearing that.

  "He hasn't been crying the entire time. He was okay the first day; but then that first night—he started calling for you—and…well, then he started crying."

  "Wait a minute! He been crying since then?!" She asked, patting his back, trying to calm him down, bouncing and wiping his forehead. He was now hum-crying, his voice shaking, broken with, "Ma—maaa—ma-maaa—ma—maaaa."

  "He cry himself to sleep, mama!" Isaac went on to tell her.

  Crystal gave Victor the dirtiest look she could muster, and that could be pretty bad. Needing to explain, he said, "I was with him the entire time, trying to calm him down. He wanted nothing to do with me, kept asking for you."

  "Mama—that lady Ja-nine, she try and calm him down, mama—and Darren pop her in'na face, mama! He said, "Not m'mama!"

  Victor turned red, wiping his hand over his face.

  "So, my baby cried all night!?"

  "He—went—to sleep, Crystal." Victor emphasized.

  "He cry his-self to sleep, mama! He was goin'....ouuuu—ouuuu—mamaaaa—mamaaaa—tha's what he was doin', mama! I tol' daddy—we should go home."

  "Isaac! Can I tell her, please?" Victor snapped impatiently.

  "Don't get mad at him, because he got more sense than you! Got my baby all hot! When you knew it wasn't gonna work, you should've brought him home! In fact, you didn't have to do that—all you had to do was call me—I would have come and got my baby, my damn self!"

  "Crystal! I thought he would calm down! I thought after a day or so, he would be okay." Victor explained, taking their things out of his car. "I had to carry him around everywhere. For a moment, I thought he was going to be okay, but as the day wore on, he started asking for you again—and then—slowly—gradually—the crying started again. I tried feeding him, he wouldn't eat."

  "He hasn't eaten?!" Crystal blasted next, hearing that. "What do you mean, he wouldn't eat?!"

  "Mama—mama—mama..." Isaac stood by her, patting her hip to get her attention, Crystal looked down at him. "...Darren ain't had no food—to eat—at all! Since the udder day, mama!"

  Victor sighed, glaring at his son, and then looked up at his mother, explaining—once again, "That's why I brought him home. He hasn't eaten all day, ate very little yesterday, and he's been crying non-stop—fo-o-or the last so many miles back home."

  "Mama—mama—mama..." Isaac pat her hip, Crystal dragged her evil eyes from Victor down to her son again. "...hours, mama—he been cryin' for hours—he been cryin' forever and ever and ever—I try everythin', mama—he just keep on cryin'." Isaac shrugged his shoulders, turning his hands out as if to say, we didn't know what to do.

  "Isaac! He hasn't been cryin' forever!" Victor denied.

  "Em-hm-umm, forever and ever and ever, mama."

  Shaking her head, Crystal headed for the house, leading the way to the basement, fussing at her husband as he brought up the rear, Isaac between them, giving out other bits and pieces of information. Like, "Grandma Nat'lie—she say, she say—you make us brats, mama..."

  "Isaac—shush!" Victor tried to hush him.

  "An', mama—she say—she say—we gots no did-a-pan." He went on, ignoring his father.

  "You mean discipline, baby?" Crystal asked, holding the outside screen door open for him to walk through, "Yeah, mama, did-a-plin." He answered, going carefully down the stairs as she let the door go on Victor, that caught him right on the funny bone of his elbow. The expression on his face showed it, as he struggled with the door and Isaac's bag, and Darren's bag and the portable playpen. Crystal turned away, heading through the basement door that was wide open because everyone was in and out of it.

  "HEY, GRANDMA!! I'M HOME! Grandma—grandma! Darren's been cryin' and cryin' and cryin' forever and ever and ever—and he had—nothin' to eat—never ever—and he starvin' to death! I'm hungry, too—can I have somethin' to eat?!" He started right away.

  Crystal turned back to Victor who struggled in the bottom door, red in the face, sweating, elbow smarting, and embarrassed because the basement was filled with company. Of course, Crystal lit into him about that. "You ain't fed him either?!"

  "No, mama—I told you—we had to go 'cause Darren won't stop cryin' and we had to go."

  "Ooooh, my babies are home. Come here, baby, grandma feed you! Look who's here, Isaac, your great-grandma Lydia. Say hi." Sylvia encouraged.

  Isaac smiled at her, then suddenly grew a case of bashfulness and shrunk into his grandmother's arms as Sheila and Meribel ooooh and aaahed them. Darren was calming down, now that he was in his mother's arms, but he wouldn't let her put him down. Victor brought their things in, so she could go through them to get the wipes out to wipe his face down. It was wet, feverish and red as coul
d be. His nose running as he continued with hiccups and gasping from trying to come down from a long cry.

  Sylvia looked up at Victor and smiled. "You hungry, too? We got plenty of food, wanna get something to eat?"

  "He not here to stay, he just dropping off my babies and then going on about his way. His family is waiting on him, and somebody else..." She rolled her head to him, finishing with, "Right?"

  Victor sighed. He was hungry. He was also tired. The last thing he wanted to do, was drive all the way back to where his parents were.

  "Excuse me, my daughter—but he has a mouth, he can talk for himself. Don't start none—won't be none." Sylvia finished softly, eying Crystal with warning, and then back to Victor, "Now, again—are you hungry?"

  "Yes, ma'am, if you don't mind?"

  "Have I ever turned you away, Victor?"

  "No, ma'am."

  "All right, then. Sheila, Meribel—this is my daughter's husband, Victor."

  "Soon to be ex-husband." Crystal muttered that clarification. Sylvia heard her and gave her another look.

  Victor shaded up again, a rosy red, but nodded to the two women with a smile, "Nice to meet you." He shook Sheila's hand and then Meribel's.

  "Victor, come on over here and have a seat, Isaac, climb up in that chair, grandma feed her babies."

  "Mama, make a bowl for Darren first, please? Some potatoes, greens and corn, and half a hot dog. He ain't had nothing to eat since yesterday." She finished off resentfully. There was no need to look at Victor for that shot, he got it exactly as it was meant.

  Sheila looked at Lydia, "Lo-o-ord—them boys white as can be!" She whispered, sending Lydia into fits of laughter. "Now, you know ain't no way in the world, that man can deny them boys! Neither one! Oh, my goodness!"

  "Sheila, I hear you over there talkin' 'bout my babies!" Sylvia fussed from across the basement, fixing plates.

  "What!? What I say!? Just tellin' the truth! Them some sho'nuff lil'white boys!" She then looked at Victor, "No offense, chile! Don't get me wrong, they as cute as they can be, but they all yours—that's for sho', you spit them boys!" She declared before him.

  Blushing, Victor nodded, "Yes, ma'am—no doubt about that."

  "I know ain't no doubt! Look at'em! Shit, they whiter than you!"

  Sylvia cracked up laughing as did Lydia and Meribel, "Look at'em! I ain't lyin'."

  "Sheila! Leave my babies alone, now!" Sylvia called in between laughter, sitting a bowl down at the table before Crystal who was still holding Darren. Sylvia bent down and kissed his forehead, "Messin' wit' my babies - they startin' to tan a little."

  "They'on look like yo' babies! You can't spank they end in public, fool around go to jail! Kidnap and child abuse!"

  "Sheila, don't start!"

  "Start nothin'! Victor, what your mama and daddy think?"

  Embarrassed, he gulped.

  "They don't like me. Never have." Crystal answered for him.

  "Ooh, shoot!" Sheila muttered. "And why is that?!" She asked, miffed already.

  "Sheila! Leave it alone! Crystal—don't say nothing else! You all are not gonna make him feel uncomfortable." Sylvia defended him.

  "I ain't tryin' to make the man feel uncomfortable! I just hope they ain't gettin' a divorce 'cause mommy and daddy don't wear black! That's all I'm sayin'! 'Cause in the end, it don't matter what mommy and daddy want! It's about these babies sittin' here! It's about these two young people! Ain't that right, Ms. Lydia!?"

  "Yes, indeed—sho'nuff!" Lydia agreed.

  Sheila stood up, "Shit! Excuse me my language, Ms. Lydia, don't mean no harm! But that lil'girl might as well be my chile! I ain't have no girls, I spent many a nights up with that one right there! Didn't I, Sylvia?!"

  "Yes, Sheila." Sylvia agreed.

  "That's right, so I know doggone well, ain't nobody sayin' she ain't good enough! Lo-o-ord — don't get me started!"

  Victor looked up at Sylvia, "Maybe I should go?"

  "No you not! You sit right here!" Sylvia looked up from him after she sat a plate before Isaac. "Sheila—I need you to drop the subject. Really. It's between them, they have to work it out. Okay? It's too late in the day, and tomorrow is another one—let it ride."

  "All right! I ain't tryin' to offend nobody. Victor! Don't get me wrong, baby! I ain't got nothing against you...so, you just sit there, and get you something to eat. I'm gone go outside, so you can eat in peace." She stood and headed for the door, eyes on Sylvia - rolling that she didn't care for what she'd just heard.

  Victor found that he'd now lost his appetite. He sat staring across the table at Crystal, who was trying not to look at him. Her focus was on Darren, who was eating like he was starving. Going from eating mouthfuls of food, to drinking apple juice and smacking his mouth, looking happily up at his mother going, "Aaah—good, mama!" Crystal laughed, hugged him to her, kissed his brow, "That's good, baby? You miss your mama, man? Mama miss you, too. I love my babies...emmm-um!" She hugged him, kissed his brow and then fed him another mouthful of food.

  Victor sighed.

  Coming in through the windows from outside, was a song that made his heart take off. It made Crystal pause a spoonful of food to her son's mouth. Savage Garden'sTruly, Madly, Deeply. It was their song. They'd danced to it at a school party. They'd made love to it for the first time, when he took her virginity. By the time they'd come together, it had already been an old song, but it was new to them. New to two young people, so much in love, they couldn't see anything but each other. Crystal continued feeding her son, fighting back tears with every fiber of her being. If she stood up and ran out of the room, her son would start crying and everyone would know—that for all of her bravado, she was still in love with this man who sat across from her. If she stayed sitting there, she would embarrass herself. Determined, she kept her face down, kept her eyes off of his.

  Sylvia placed a plate before Victor, watching them. She looked up at Meribel and her mother and nodded towards the stairs. They took the hint, rose and followed her up. Victor picked up his fork, picking at the food. He was no longer hungry. He looked over at Isaac, he was nodding at the table, in danger of tumbling from the chair. "I think we need to put him to bed." He spoke up, looking from his son to Crystal.

  She couldn't look up right then, her eyes were flooded. The wrong move would send tears cascading down over her lashes onto her cheeks. If she blinked, they would fall. No matter how still she held, the volume was becoming too much, and over they spilled. There was no way of hiding it. She looked up at him, sitting across from her.

  "I need you to leave, please. Take the food, take it—and go. Please. I can't—I can't take you sitting there—across—from me…I need you to go."

  Victor had tears in his own eyes now. "What if I told you that I didn't wanna go? What if I told you—that I wanna stay here—right here—with you, with our boys?"

  Crystal shook her head, sniffing. "No...you don't know what you want! If you did, you wouldn't have taken my boys off and been with that— that Jeanine! The only reason you came back here—was because of Darren. If Darren had been a good boy for you, would you be here now? Would you?" She asked softly, tears still rolling.

  Victor gulped, because he knew, that if it hadn't been for Darren, crying non-stop—he would still be with his parents, with Jeanine and her parents. Yet, sitting there with her, seeing her, knowing how much she loved their sons, knowing what a good mother she was, set up a longing in him to be back with her again. It was the same as always. She excited him. She stirred him. The moment he set eyes on her, he wanted her in bed. He wanted that wonderful sensation to course through his body when he laid on top of her, moving between her thighs, pushing deep and knowing nothing in the world felt so good as being inside of her. Looking down into her eyes, seeing the ever-changing expressions on her face, her hands moving up and down his back as it flexed with moves as old as time.

  "Look at you, Victor. It's all about sex, isn't it? I can see it in your eyes. I can feel what you're
thinking."

  "Is that so wrong?" He asked with passion filled lungs.

  Crystal gave a sad smile, "It's all we have together, when you think about it. Our boys, and sex. The only two good things we share. Did you ever love me, Victor?"

  "I love you now!"

  "No, you don't. If you loved me, you wouldn't have left us. If you loved me, there would be no Jeanine. Have you been to bed with her?"

  He blushed red again, and looked away.

  "Oh, my god!" Crystal covered her mouth. "You have! Get out of my house!"

  "Listen, Crystal!" He pleaded, unable to deny it. The question surprised him, taking him so off guard he reacted. There were times when he hated being white and not being able to hide the truth.

  "No...take the food and go! Oh, my Go-o-od..." Her voice was a keening sob, feeling as though he'd stabbed her in the heart, it hurt so bad there was no way for her to hide it. "Oh, my God...I would have never—never done that—to you—oh, my Go-o-od...go-o-o." She sobbed softly. Turning in her chair away from him as she held Darren, who, looking from her to his father, started getting upset again.

  Victor stood, wiped at his own eyes. Looking down at Isaac, he picked him up and walked him to the sofa, laying him down. Crystal sat, softly crying. He stood back straight, staring at her back. Now, for the first time—real fear shot through him. Fear that if he didn't do something and soon, he was going to be crossing the bridge from where there would be no return, if he hadn't done so already. He quietly left the basement.

  Chapter 179

  Deciding not to go far, Shawn grabbed two lawn chairs, leading the way before his mom to join him on the back deck of his house. It was just about empty inside and no one would be around there. Everyone was across the road, or down by Shanna's. He noticed that whatever it was she needed to tell him, was pretty intense by her mood. It had been a long time since he'd seen his mother quite this way. His curiosity was only heightened by it.

  They were on the back deck now. He was sitting, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his fingers loosely laced. His mother stood at the deck, looking out at the moon and stars. "Look at the sky, son, so clear tonight. You can see just about every star. Everyone seems to have had a good time. All except for that fight. Who was that young man?" She asked, warming up with small talk.