BOMAW 7-9

by Mercedes Keyes

  "Jake…" She called his name gently as she headed back for the kitchen.

  "Hm?" He answered.

  "I want a divorce."

  He looked at her and burst with laughter, "Not yet, darlin', first we get married. Do two years and then you can ask me that again." He corrected her, throwing her a kiss. Vivian went back into the refrigerator and decided to do a spinach, bacon and egg quiche. Which was quick. She took out a can of Pillsbury croissants, popped it open and arranged them on a cookie sheet, clicking on the oven and then took out fresh romaine lettuce, cucumber, carrots, tomatoes, green onions, fresh garlic, fresh mushrooms, and the parmesan block of cheese and made him a salad putting it on the plate. Putting all of that away, she took out the ingredients for the quiche, made it and put the croissants in the oven to bake. Thirty-five minutes later, all was done, she sat it on the table for him. Satisfied with how she set it up, she called him, "Your food's done. You can come and eat."

  He looked up, sat up and rose walking into the kitchen then stared down at it.

  "Look at that, I'm beginning to think everything you do is perfect." He pulled his chair back and sat down, grabbing up his fork. Vivian turned away and walked back to their room thinking, I can't pick men. In fact, I suck at it! She thought to herself, feeling petulant and ornery. She knew that he must have deliberately waited until she was in the room and then called her, "VIVIAN!"

  She'd been sitting on the bed, had a remote in her hand, and turned to the door thinking ugly thoughts. She stood, put the remote down and walked back down the hall, to look at him. He looked up at her, "No salad dressing?"

  "You know what, you tryin' to make me cuss you out. I know you are." She announced as she went to the cabinets, looking for the salad dressing.

  "I think they're in the refrigerator." He said.

  She turned to him, hand on her hip, "If you knew that, you should have got your butt up and got it then!"

  "I want you to get it for me, Vivian."

  She went to the refrigerator, found them, "Which do you want?" She snapped, he grinned, "What's in there?" He asked.

  "Jake, don't mess with me."

  "If I can't mess with you, who can I mess with?" He was obviously amusing himself at her expense.

  "Italian, French, Thousand Island, Blue Cheese or Ranch?"

  "Emmmm, let…me…see-e-e-e…ohhhh, I think I have a taste for…ohhhh, what the hell, blue cheese."

  She grabbed the bottle and walked to him setting it on the table. He grabbed her then, "Gotcha!" He crowed, backing the chair up to pull her onto his lap. Holding her there, he wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her close. "What's this I hear about you wantin' a divorce? From me? A catch like me? Surely not?" He was man handling her, easily shifting her on his lap, pulling her legs up so that she had to grab him around the shoulders or else fall back. "JA-AKE!" She squealed. He was grinning, making faces to bring a smile to her face, it was working as he brought her close against him.

  "Would you let me go! You play too much!"

  "You like it." He purred, his large hand cupping her rear, caressing it.

  "Hmph, you must have me mistaken for someone else." She said as snooty as she could.

  He only laughed, trying to force her to make eye contact with him. "We'll see." He finally said.

  Vivian looked at him, "We'll see…what?" She asked carefully.

  "You know—dammit! Don't make me say it!"

  She bit into the inner flesh of her mouth not to smile, had to bite really hard, because the smile was hard to keep down. He was staring at her, at the twinkle in her eye. "Don't you be thinking I'm going to be giving in all the time. I haven't said I'm giving in, I just said, we'll see. That's all I said."

  "What? I ain't—said nothing—okay... we'll see."

  He stared at her longer, then tilted his lips up to her, Vivian leaned into him and kissed him. A long stirring kiss. She was the one to push away. "I cooked, so you gone have to eat."

  "I'd rather eat something else." He replied with oozing lust.

  "No, Jake, not tonight. I'm sore, really I am." She informed him softly.

  "Well, licking it and kissing it ain't gonna hurt it none."

  "What is it with you and doing that?"

  "I just love the taste of pussy—"

  "JAKE!" Vivian squealed, covering her face.

  He laughed, "I do—especially yours. Like the smell of it too, it gives me a hard-on."

  "Jake, why do you have to say stuff like that?" Vivian complained.

  He only smiled, his blue-gray eyes twinkling up at her, "I would stay up and lick you all night."

  "Stop talking about it, Jake!"

  "Did the Chinaman talk to you about it?"

  "Nooo! Jake, your food's gonna get cold." Vivian tried to think of anything to take his mind off of sex.

  He stared at her a bit more, she could see that he was thinking of sex, knew he was because he was semi-erect right then. "I'll eat, if you go slip into something sexy." He tried.

  "Nooo, 'cause you're gonna start messing with me."

  "Let me take care of you and then I'll take care of myself."

  Vivian made a face that closely resembled a whimper, a whine. "You can't expect to lay pussy like yours—"

  "Stop saying that word!"

  "Sorry…okay, you can't expect to lay something like that on me, and I not want it again."

  "Well, eat first, and then…we'll see."

  "I'd rather eat that later, eat something else now."

  "UGGGH! No! Eat that first, now let me up!"

  He did, but before she could step out of his reach, he pulled her back and kissed her on the butt and ran his hand over her. Vivian felt her heart slamming in her chest. She was a bit intimidated by him. When she finally got away from him, he scooted back to the table and ate his food, his eyes following her until she slowly walked down the hall to their room. Inside the room, her mind started, Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! Now what do I do, mama? I think that done backfired on me! She thought that morning would be it for a while. The whole time she was with Laek Chan, they had only come together once a week, and there had been times when a month went by before they went to bed again. And when she went away with him on some of his business trips, it had been once every other day. Not everyday. She hadn't wanted it everyday and Laek Chan hadn't pushed it. In fact, as much as he had pleased her in bed, he was not really sexually driven, while he liked it like the next man, it was not the top of his list. She was afraid this was not so with Jake. Doubled with the fact that he was so well-endowed and he liked going down on her. Once he got there, he didn't like to turn her loose. Vivian was worried that she may have bitten off more than she could chew with him.

  She was scared now, because honest and truly, she was good and sore. Even her lower belly ached from him. She changed into her nightie and then went into the bathroom and washed up for bed, just in case he insisted, how could she deny him? When she came out, he was at the bathroom door. "I'm done, the food was fantastic. Thanks. I cleaned up my mess too."

  She smiled and nodded, and walked by him to let him into the bathroom. Jake stood a moment with a perplexed look on his face and then turned and entered the bathroom. Vivian climbed into bed, under the covers and waited for him to get done and come to bed. He came out of the bathroom, clicking the lights off in the house, checking the doors again. She looked up at him when he walked into the room. He closed the door and immediately pulled off his shirt. Tossing it to the floor by the door, and then his pants came off and then his underwear. Vivian thought she would faint as her heart took off, he was going to want her again. He came to bed, pulled the covers back, getting under them and leaned, looking at her.

  "What's wrong?" He asked.

  Vivian burst into tears, "Please don't make me again tonight, I'm really sore."

  Jake sighed, he felt like a heel for making her afraid of him that way, "C'mere, you think I would force myself on you?" He asked, making her slide down in the bed t
o lay on his arm, he pulled her against him, then reached to wipe at her tears, looking down at her. "I'll get used to you, I know, but I just need a little more time to."

  "I would never, no matter what—force myself on you. Hurt you. I love you." He bent down and kissed her nose, and then her lips. "We'll lay here, cuddle, watch some TV, okay?"

  Vivian smiled and nodded.

  "Can I get the remote?" He asked.

  She laughed and passed it to him.

  They lay there for awhile watching TV when Vivian called his name again, "Jake…" He'd had enough experience with women to fully decipher that pitch. He stared into her eyes, "What?" He asked with dread. Vivian took a deep breath and then said, "When you take me home, I want you to meet my family. My mom and dad, okay?"

  Jake groaned.

  Chapter 187

  Gert was for once glad that Bart had to leave town on business. Usually she liked going with him, and when he stated that Shawn would be going, she saw this time as an opportunity to check on their daughter. She would go to Madison, but she had to check on Kathy Ann first, that was more important than anything at that moment. It had driven her nuts to patiently wait through Jake, Vivian and Shanna's visit all night the other night. She couldn't tell them about what was happening because of the sensitivity of the matter. When they left the next morning, she'd called Kathy Ann's to check on her, but there had been no answer from their phone. That had driven her even more crazy. For once, Bart hadn't left to go check on matters in the field, he was in his study on the phone with Shawn, making plans for this short run out of town she supposed. For that, she was eternally grateful. One thing for certain, she had to check on their daughter. His daughter. Bart was mean protective when it came to his daughter's. He loved his girls, they were his pride and joy.

  That was one of the things about him that she loved so much. As her father had loved and doted on her, so had he been that way with their Kathy Ann and Shanna. Even with Kathy Ann turning out as she had, meant nothing to Bart. To him, she was still his first baby girl after having three sons and he loved her to death. Couple of years later Shanna was born, and he was in heaven. That was when Gert got on the pill and stayed faithfully on it. She'd taken it with the others, but she'd neglected to take it daily, sometimes missing it for a few days at a time and sure enough, she'd be knocked up again by him, time after time. With all their problems, one thing was certain with Bart—when they went to bed, he turned to her expecting her to submit and she had, because he had always been pleasing in bed. Even with the size of him, his gentleness once he entered her body sent her into a frantic, crazy frenzy of pleasure. It was no wonder that within a few years of marriage, they'd had five children. It had been Gert that brought a halt to things, deciding no more, not him. He would have carried right on, getting her pregnant over and over had she not put a stop to it herself. The thing is, he'd wanted more daughters and no more sons. Well, he'd gotten two daughters, that was it—Gert put a halt to having more.

  Years later, she was glad that she had. Because their bunch had put some strain on her through the years, in many cases, because of Bart. She'd always been pulled in multiple directions trying with all her might to see to the needs of each one. To hug, kiss and discipline each one, according to their need - that included, guarding and protecting them. Standing between siblings when they fought. Standing between father and son, when Bart was too heavy-headed with Shawn and Derrick and much later, Jake. How many times had she been startled by Kathy Ann running into the house screaming, "MOMMA, MOMMA … DADDY'S WHIPPING ON SHAWN…DADDY'S WHIPPING ON SHAWN…AND DERRICK TOO!" She'd have to take off out of the kitchen, dropping whatever she was doing, to rush out to the barn where Shanna stood crying, banging on the barn door, "DADDY, LEAVE'IM ALONE!"

  Only for him to come to the door, pull it open and order them, "You all get on back to the house now, leave me to my boys!"

  "What has he done? What has he done now, Bart?" She would scream, trying to see in, trying to see them.

  "Gertrude, you raise your girls, I'll raise my boys—now go! And - where is that Jake?"

  Gert remembered staring up at him with hostile eyes, refusing to answer. "Yeah, well, shielding that one, he'll turn out good as nothing." And the barn door would slam shut.

  Gert had to pull over, blinded by her tears.

  "Lord God! I did the best I could with my children!" She sat for a moment, blowing her nose, wiping at her eyes; thinking back, feeling hurt and regretful about her decisions. She felt she owed Bart for the wrong she'd done him. He'd gone off to war, and she'd spent that time running around behind his back. Had given her virginity to another. Had even held secret desires that his own son was the product of another man. Guilt made her stay. Plus, she loved him. A man who loved her as he had, could not have been all bad. What bad there was, happened because of that war. At night, she remembered going into the boys room, when they all slept together. She would slip in quietly, check on Shawn as he lay in bed beneath the window. Sitting beside him, she'd stroke his hair back from his forehead. "Shawn? Honey, you okay? He didn't…hurt you…did he?" She would whisper.

  "I'm okay, momma." He would whisper back.

  "You're a strong boy, son, and he's…he loves you…he just…wants you to be the best at whatever you do. So when he tells you things, you gotta do what he says, do the best that you can. Don't fight him son—"

  "I don't, momma, it's just that—"

  "What?"

  Her son had clammed up. Whatever he'd been about to say, he swallowed it back, shook his head and said instead, "Okay, momma, I'll do my best, I promise. I won't let him down. I won't let you down, I promise."

  "That's my good son, you go to sleep now."

  She remembered standing and turning to see Jake leaning up on his elbow watching her. She smiled at him, "Go to sleep." She whispered, and he laid back down, turning over. Checking on Derrick, he was sound asleep. From her boys room, she would enter her daughter's room, when they too shared a room. Shanna would be fast asleep. And one night, the first time she should have known that something was not right, Kathy Ann had been wide awake and crying into her pillow.

  "What's wrong, child?" She had asked, sitting next to her on the bed.

  "I'm gonna run away from home." She'd wept.

  "Why?" Gert asked patiently.

  "I am, that's why!" She returned in a fervent whisper, "I'm taking Shawn with me too! So he don't have to get whoopin's no more!"

  That had been before Gert knew the extent of her feelings for her brother, at that time she thought it the passionate cries of a little sister wishing to protect her older brother. "Well, where will you go? Where you gonna live?"

  "Don't matter! Long as daddy can't get to him! He…he treats him like…like a…a slave, like a nigger or something!"

  "Young lady, you say that again and I will slap your face for it!" Gert threatened,"Don't you ever say such a thing again! I won't stand for such an ugly word coming out of my children! You hear me?"

  "He does! He acts with him, like I seen them do on the TV when you make us watch them King marches! Why does he have to be so hard on him? Why can't he just leave him alone, just let him breathe for once!" Kathy Ann had cried.

  "He's not like that all the time, Kathy Ann. There are many times when he's good with your brothers, takes them fishing."

  "Well…sometimes. But, other times, I just…sometimes I just wanna—"

  "What?" Gert had asked.

  "I don't know…I love my daddy, I do…but…I don't like how he treats my Shawn."

  "Your Shawn, huh?" Gert had stroked her hair and smiled, kissing her brow. "He'll be okay, because I'm looking out for him."

  "Well, you sure as hell better!"

  That got Kathy Ann her first slap across the face, not a really hard one, just enough to shock her, even so, the fire was still in her, "I don't care if you beat me black and blue!" She'd cried, "I'd rather you beat me, that he beat me, than him! Know this mama, I'm lookin' out for hi
m too! An' every time daddy starts, I'll be comin' for you—you bes' get him to leave'im alone! Or else, I'm leavin', and I'm takin' him with me!" She had not cared about the slap to her face. That had been so many years ago.

  Gert sniffed. Looking at the flashing lights of the cars as they whipped by. She couldn't help but wonder if that was the cause of Kathy Ann being in love with her own brother? Out of sympathy, her compassion and need to protect, somehow got twisted into a fantasy, some whimsical dream moved to another level; to her taking ownership of him in a way that no young girl should claim her own brother.

  Gert had a headache thinking about it. She needed to find her, needed to make sure she was alright. Minding the traffic, Gert pulled back out heading for her daughter's home. When she pulled up, she could see Dwight's truck parked there, but not Kathy Ann's. There was another car there, looked like Jenny Lee's boyfriend. Gert stepped out of her Lincoln and up to the door, knocking. Jason, Kathy Ann's 14 years old son, came to it. "Hey, grandma." He greeted her, unlatching the screen door to let her in. The house smelled of cigarette smoke, beer and tacos.

  "Hey, grandma." Jenny Lee called from the couch where she sat with her boyfriend, the one responsible for getting her pregnant. He looked up at her, with a head of wild cut black hair, packed with wax or gel sending spikes off to the right and covering over one eye. He looked like an electrified, gothic rooster to her. "Ma'am." He greeted her. Gert smiled and nodded at him.

  "Where's your momma?" She asked her grandchildren.

  "Don't know, we ain't heard from her all night. She was supposed to be bringing home that refrigerator, but never did." Jenny Lee answered.

  "And how come no one is on the phone trying to find her?" She asked, feeling a bit of panic. That's when Dwight came out of the back of the house, having heard her there.

  "She's all right, grandma. Sometimes, she don't come home—for two days." Jason informed her.

  Gert looked from them to Dwight; he was coming towards her, "Good evenin', Mrs. McPherson, can I talk to you outside a bit?" He asked politely.