BOMAW 7-9

by Mercedes Keyes

  Jeanine smiled.

  * * *

  Gert was in her huge pantry off of her kitchen, it was set up like a miniature store. She had three center shelves with short aisles in between. Large pots on the shelves against the wall surrounding the pantry, that was stocked with enough food stuffs and preserves to last up to three years. She was sorting through preserves for Vivian to take back to Chicago with her. She had all types of homemade preserves, strawberry, apple pie filling, blackberry, cranberry, and bottles of their maple syrup. While in there taking out various ones for her, she ended up rotating and dusting things off, deciding to take some things out and make up a few pies to pass out to her kids. She'd give Shawn and Sylvia a few pies, now that they had a house full of kids; they'd love them. She'd made some for Derrick, have Vivian and Jake deliver those, when he took Vivian home. She might do a couple for Shanna and Kathy Ann's kids as well. It had been a while since she'd done a bunch of pies and passed them out. It was a good time to clear her pantry of preserves that should be used.

  She heard someone come into the house while she was in there. Bart was out, at the co-op—so she was alone. Vivian had already called and said she and Jake would be by a little later, she didn't think it was them, but asked, "JAKE? VIVIAN? THAT YOU?"

  "No…it's me, momma." Kathy Ann answered, standing in the middle of her kitchen when she came out of her pantry.

  Gert stood staring at her a moment and asked, "You been drinking?"

  "Not yet."

  "What's wrong with you then?" Gert asked, coming out with her arms full of various jars to dust off. She stopped at her table and set them there, and then looked back at Kathy Ann, who was breathing hard staring at her. "Girl, what is your problem now?"

  "You…you talk to…to Shawn, momma?"

  Gert froze, swallowed and answered, "Why you askin'?"

  "I wanna know…if you…talk to Shawn, momma?"

  "I talk to him, just about—three times a week. Why?"

  "Momma, don't play games with me. I wanna know, have you talked to Shawn…about…some things…that…momma…I pray to God you didn't."

  "When did you see Shawn?" Gert asked.

  "Not long ago. He…told me…not to come back…to his home…again. To get some help. Why would he…say that to me, momma?"

  "Kathy Ann—fact is—you do need help. I've been tellin'—"

  "Momma—what did you tell Shawn!"

  "Kathy Ann—drinking like a fish—day in and day out—is not gonna fix—"

  "WHAT DID YOU TELL SHAWN—MOM-MAAAAAAA!" Kathy screamed at the top of her lungs.

  "Get out of my house! Get—out of my house—now!"

  "Mom-maaa, ple-e-e-ase do-o-on't—you didn't tell him, did you, momma?" Kathy Ann pleaded, leaning against the counter, feeling as if she would collapse from the horror of her brother knowing the truth. "Ple-e-e-ase, momma—I'm beggin' you, you didn't tell him — did yo-o-ou?"

  "Kathy Ann—you listen to me now! He needed to know! He would have gone on and on and on at you until you said or did something foolish! With the drinkin', Kathy Ann, and the way you get—I told him!"

  "NOOO, NOOO, NOOO! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT—HOW COULD YOU, MOMMA—I WAS HANDLIN' IT, MOMMA! YOU DIDN'T—YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL HIM! OH, MY GO-O-O-OD!" Kathy Ann sobbed falling down against the cabinets, rocking and banging against them in agony. "Oh, my God—oh, my God—oh, my God! What am I gonna do? Momma—oh, my God! Do you hate me that much, momma? Do you hate me so much? Oh, my GOD!"

  Gert swallowed, a bit afraid, seeing her daughter so torn up. "Kathy Ann, listen to me now. You need to get help, Kathy Ann. Those feelings you had for him, it's not right." Gert pleaded, walking to her.

  "I know that, momma…don't you think I know that? I would've never said anything momma…I would've never—never said anything—I swear I wouldn't. No wonder he couldn't look at me. No wonder…oh, my God!" She started weeping heavily.

  "Look, Kathy Ann, we'll go together, okay? I'll go with you."

  "Nooo, no." She turned away from her mother, hiccupping and sniffing. Her face red, wet, nose running, she used the back of her hand, wiping her nose as she made her way to her feet. Wiping at her eyes and face she walked from her mother's kitchen.

  "Kathy Ann? Where're you goin'?"

  She didn't answer, just went out her front door and down the steps. Gert followed her out. "Kathy Ann? Please! Answer me!" Kathy Ann walked to her truck, climbed in, slammed her door, started it and drove out of her parent's yard. Gert stood watching her leave. "Oh, my God, what have I done? What have I done? Oh, Jesus." Gert sank to her porch steps, staring off into her empty yard, wondering what to do. Who to call, and if she did, what did she say? She couldn't even call Dwight, Kathy Ann's husband. What in the world could she say to him? "Please, Lord, I beg you. Don't let her do anything stupid…please…don't let her do anything stupid." Gert stood, realizing she had to pull herself together. The others would be over pretty soon and she didn't want them asking her questions about what was wrong.

  Chapter 185

  Sylvia returned home from the Dells with the kids. Derrick and his family went home to Madison and her parents got back on the highway for Chicago. Mundo went to visit with his friends, getting out of the SUV and into his blazer, he left. Darren and Isaac were both knocked out, Angela helped Crystal carry them in and put them to bed, and tired herself, she climbed into her bed and was out like a light. Crystal came to her mother's bedroom door and tapped on it. Sylvia rushed to it with her finger to her lips. "Shhh, Shawn's napping." She told her coming out of the room. "Sorry, mama. Mind if I take off for a couple of hours? The boys are sleep, they'll be out for the rest of the night."

  "Sure, Crystal, go ahead. Be careful out there and ring us when you're on your way home, so we can look out for you. With that fool running around, I don't want you taking any chances. I'm gonna hit the sack myself, I'm exhausted. But make sure you call and wake us up."

  "I won't be out too late." She hugged her mother and was out the door.

  Sylvia turned back to her room, entering it. Her husband was sleeping peacefully. She figured he must be tired out from the previous nights before, he rarely took a nap this late in the day, it kept him up most of the night if he did. She was too tired to worry about it, she was dead on her feet. She hadn't noticed any lights on at Shanna's and she wondered where she was, as well Vivian and Jake. She couldn't think about that, as heavy as her eyes were. She quietly washed up, changed into a little sleeper shirt and gently climbed into bed. The moment she went beneath the covers, Shawn knew she was there. He moved up behind her and pulled her into his body. She was too tired to talk, to ask where everyone else was. She could only cuddle in cozy with him, and then with his arms around her, she was off to sleep.

  Shawn lay dozing back once again. Resting as he was, his mind was calm. He talked Shanna into leaving with Vivian and Jake to visit at his parent's house. He also convinced Jake to stay late. In fact, stay the night. Shanna took some things, Jake took some things. Laying with his arms around his wife, Shawn could rest at ease. Shanna was safe, so was Vivian and Jake. He drifted back off after a brief kiss to his wife's neck. It was 8:30pm.

  * * *

  John Sykes paced in his room back and forth, over what to do. He needed to make up his mind. He was trying to make sense of what happened last night. Who was there? Where in that place was Shanna? Would they be looking for him now? What were the odds of them thinking he'd come back again right away the next night? If they were thinking like he was thinking, they would think there was no way he would come back right away. They would figure they'd scared him off, that there was no way he would return right away the next night.

  "That's where you wrong! I'm coming back! I give you time to plot against me, I'll never get her." He was sure if he left the area, went all the way back to Ohio and then came back, they'd be waiting for him. "No, no, no, no, no. Not gone give you time." He then stopped and wondered, What if they send her someplace else tonight? He knew
that was a possibility.

  "Lord Jesus! Why me? Huh? Why me? Where is she at? Where?" He pleaded in quiet menace as if all his plans going wrong were the Lord's fault. "I can't keep coming back here! I can't keep this up! It's costing me too much money! Too much time! It's gonna have to be now! Or else I'll never get a hold of her. Hell with it. I'll go in that window tonight. In that laundry room. Quiet as can be, I'll creep through there, till I find where she sleeps. May not be there herself, but at least I'll know if that's where she lives. Then I got the next night to catch her there." John stopped again, thinking, seeing the holes in his plans. None of which made any sense. "What am I supposed to do? Huh? I come all this way! I'm not going back! She not gonna win in this! She not gone win! Dammit! In this stinking room all day! Waiting, waiting and not showing my face! She there! I know she there! Right there, right where I can get her. She there." He repeated to himself, over and over again. Then ran and punched the wall. "What if she stay gone the whole time? UGGGH!" He growled and tossed himself about in circles, going mad with all the possibilities. He went and sat on the bed, staring at the digital clock. It was midnight. He sat there, staring the whole time, looking back and forth from the clock to the TV and back at the clock again. "It's gone have to be tonight. I don't have no more time to wait. Shoulda caught you in that parking lot!" He growled, using the gun he pointed into the imaginary vehicle and pretended to blow them away. "I woulda shot you dead if I'd gotten there fast enough! Shot you both dead! Got me sitting in this room, going crazy! Think I'm gonna be up and down this highway after you? I got a life too! Just as soon as I snuff yours out, you ungrateful bitch, I can get on with my own!" He sat steaming. He finally laid back on the bed, closing his eyes for a moment. Then suddenly they popped open. He sat up and looked at the clock.

  It was 3:00am.

  John Sykes smiled.

  He hurried and got himself dressed. All while he gathered his things, deciding to check out that night, because he had a feeling that she was there and he would be done with her. To hell with bringing her back with him. That was foolish thinking on his part. He would go in, put a pillow around his gun to silence it and then over her head and pull the trigger. That—would be that. Seeing the deed played out in his mind, repetitively. John soon checked out of his room.

  This time when he went by where her Jeep was parked, he turned his headlights off going down the road. He drove by real slow, not to make too much noise and saw it parked there again that night. He smiled. She was obviously alone, because the truck was gone. Again he wondered if she might be gone. He couldn't back out now, he had to know. He couldn't waste the night. He couldn't waste this time. He could not come back there again. It had to be now or never. He went back and parked in the same spot again. Got out, leaving his keys in the ignition so he could jump right back in, start it and go. No one knew that it was parked there, but him. Checking everything around him, he crept with caution back through the yard again. Back behind the house and then he went further afield this time, just in case. Made his way back around, stopping every so often to look and listen. Not a sound. He finally went to where her Jeep was parked and then onto the deck. He moved ever so quietly, back to the window. His heart was tripping over itself. He needed a moment to rev up his nerve. He blew, taking a couple of deep breaths, pulled his switch blade from his pocket to cut open the screen when he felt a sudden breeze and heard the slightest sound; breaking out in a sudden sweat, he jerked around to look behind him.

  * * *

  Sylvia yawned and knew she needed to get up. For once, she just didn't want to. Suddenly it occurred to her, that she'd slept through the night and didn't remember her daughter calling to alert them. She sat up in bed and looked at the clock. It was 7:45am. She was in bed alone, Shawn obviously rose earlier. She scooted to the end of the bed, going straight to the bathroom using it. Washed her mouth out and then went back into their bedroom, donning a robe. She left and went down the hall, looked into Angela's room. She and Crystal were there, sound asleep. She sighed in relief. Went next to the boy's room and peeked in. Mundo was sleeping with Isaac up-side down in the bed, turned with his legs over his uncle's. Sylvia smiled and shook her head. She yawned again and went looking for her husband. She found him in the basement, in his office working. He looked up at her, smiling.

  "Morning, sleepy head." He greeted her with a smile.

  Sylvia smiled walking up to him, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, hugging her close, then kissed her growing bulge. "How's my little man this morning?"

  Sylvia hugged his head to her breasts, "He's doing just fine. How long have you been up?"

  "You know me, a few hours; I took a late nap."

  "Em-hm, you did." She mumbled, standing in his arms, holding him to her breasts, loving him.

  "You know, it wouldn't hurt you to sleep in every once in a while. No school today."

  "I know, but I needed to get up." She yawned again.

  "Why is that?" He asked, pulling her onto his lap, holding her there.

  "'Cause I have stuff to do, Shawn. And so do you, can you please—please—put a door back in on that side, Shawn. I hate having to always come in the garage to come into the house."

  "All right, all right, all right, I will, I promise. Anything else, ma'am?"

  "Yes, and the kitchen…when you gonna finish it?"

  "Have you ordered the appliances for it? Do you know what you're putting in there? I can't build cabinets in until I know what I'll be fitting them around."

  "See, told you I have stuff to do."

  "Yep, Mrs. McPherson, you do. So once you order them and they're delivered, I can finish the kitchen. Okay?"

  "Yes, dear."

  "You hungry? What me to whip you up one of my famous, delicious breakfasts?" He asked, swinging his legs and rocking her to and fro. He was making her sleepy again, she laid on his shoulder, her face tucked in close to his neck and was about to kiss him on it when she saw something small, dark and round along his hairline. "ACH! Shawn! There's a tick on you! Hold still! I hate these things! You got to be careful and check yourself, babe. You been walking in the woods?" She asked, using her nails to pinch down as close to his skin as possible and then yanked it out. It hadn't been attached long. "Look at that! I hate'em!" She held it for him to see.

  "This time of the year, there's no telling where I picked that up. They're everywhere."

  "I know. Turn and let me see if there are any more on you."

  "I should stand up and take my shirt off so you can look, huh?"

  "Yeah, you should." She agreed and stood off of his lap. He stood and pulled his shirt up and off so she could check his back. "SHAWN! There's two more! Hold still. Can't you put something on the lawn? I can just imagine the kids outside playing and getting ticks all over them. I bet they're going to be bad again this year. I don't know what's worse, these or mosquitoes." She fussed, snatching the other two off of him and then checking down in his pants at the top of where his butt crack began.

  Shawn laughed, "Hey, hey, hey, watch it there. You think you're slick!"

  "I'm trying to check your butt for ticks! You best hold still. I don't need no excuse to look at your butt! You mine, I can look anytime I want to." She bragged. "All clear." She slapped him on it, holding the three ticks she found on him in her fingertips. He turned around and looked down at her, simpering, winking and making her laugh. "Don't be looking at me like that. Here, do something with your parasites." He opened his hand, she dropped them in. They were still alive. "Little blood suckers!" He muttered looking down at them.

  "Yes, they are. Can you see if there is something you can spread on the lawn to kill them, Shawn?"

  "Yeah, I'll see. I'll check while I'm in La Crosse." He answered following her out into the kitchen, she was heading for the refrigerator. "La Crosse? What are you going to La Crosse for?"

  "Jake and I are going, might be taking Shanna too."

  "For what?"

  "Don't be so
nosy."

  "Don't even start. You goin' to spend some money? And if so, how much? Time for us to get back on budget, baby."

  Shawn laughed, "Uh-oh, here it comes! I was wondering how long it would take before you started back on that again."

  "Well? Are you going to spend some money?"

  "Not really, no. I'm taking Jake to spend some, maybe…depends on if he can get Vivian to stay a couple of more days. We'll see."

  "So, what is he going to spend money on?"

  Shawn laughed again, "Stop being nosy."

  "Nooo, tell me."

  "Okay, he's going to look at some rings."

  Sylvia gasped and covered her mouth, "NO! Is he really? Oh, my goodness!" Sylvia did a little happy dance, making Shawn laugh as she stopped with wide eyes asking, "Does she know?"

  "No, she doesn't, so keep it to yourself."

  "Oh, my goodness! I'm so happy for her, Shawn! She loves him so much!"

  "Well, I can tell you now, he's got it bad for her as well. I mean, in a big way."

  "I'm gonna call Sheila and tell her!" Sylvia sang chipper and bright, dancing in her robe, making Shawn's eyes water watching her, that was what he needed to see. His wife happy, safe and happy. She picked up the phone, "Hey!" He called to her, "Shouldn't you wait until we actually go for the ring? Wait until she actually has a ring? Don't you think?"

  "Excuse me, Mr. McPherson, you best get dressed so you can take him and get it! In the meantime, I'll be telling the goodies."

  "Well, here's another one for you to keep a secret and not tell Vivian."

  "Oh, yeah, what?"

  "He's writing her a song."

  "WHAT? A song? As in, a song you sing?" She asked stunned.

  "Yes, I'm afraid so. A song you sing, and guess what it's called?"

  "What?"

  "Vivian."

  "The song's called Vivian?"

  "Yep."