BOMAW 7-9

by Mercedes Keyes

  Everyone looked up at him then,

  "Oh, you have children huh? Ex-wife, alimony and child support and all to pay I bet?" Betty leaned to the side, liking the way this was going.

  "No ma'am, happy to say, never been married. I have two sons by one woman from school and another from a party I probably should have never attended."

  "Em hm, how old are they?"

  "My oldest is 22, that would be Benjamin, the next is Kevin, 20 and the last is Paul, he's 18."

  "You don't seem old enough to have sons that old." Lacy stated.

  "I was young and dumb and into things I shouldn't. It happens." Jake replied.

  "I see." Betty chimed in. "Who took care of them financially?"

  "Betty that ain't none of yo'business." Milton stated. "That's between him and them women and his boys."

  "I don't mind Mr. Cooke." Jake inserted gently, "Mrs. Cooke, financially speaking, I supported all three of my boys. My father saw to that. He was a very strict disciplinarian and one thing he would not abide and that was his sons being irresponsible and not taking responsibilities for what they'd done. I worked and supported all three from birth."

  "Fantastic, you must admit mama, not many men doing that now days. Most have to be chased down to pay their child support." Again Lacy running to his rescue.

  "How you meet Vivian?" Ella asked, not liking to be left out.

  "At my brother's wedding-..."

  "Actually, it was at that Kwik Trip remember?" Vivian cut him off smiling.

  Jake smiled back at her, "Ah yes, correction, I saw your sister for the very first time, wearing one incredible red dress. I stood by watching as a few other men were frozen in time, they couldn't believe their eyes and I admit, neither could I. She was on her way to my brother's wedding."

  "When I first saw him, I had no idea who he was or that he was connected to Sylvia in any way." Vivian added.

  "I remember Sylvia, how is she?" Lacy asked.

  "Married to his brother and very happy to be, they have a baby on the way."

  "Who Sylvia?" Ella asked.

  Impatiently Vivian looked at Ella, "You mean to tell me you don't remember Sylvia? She and Sheila used to bring me home all the time."

  "She the fat one or the skinny one?"

  Jake looked at Ella and felt resentful that she referred to Sheila as fat. Just like that. Fat. Sheila in his eyes was a very desirable woman whose looks were stunning. "You know, there was a time and day, that Sheila's figure was heralded as what most men desired."

  Vivian glanced at him, stunned by his quick response to defend her.

  "So you know Sheila?" Betty asked.

  "Yes, I know Sheila and Dennis, we're good friends. Of course that would have to be the case considering how much they love Vivian."

  Betty nodded her head, not for once loosing her narrowed eyes of distrust; she was fighting hard to figure him out, his true motives.

  Ella stared at Jake a moment, then looked at Vivian, "So, Sylvia the fat one or the skinny one?" She repeated, Jake's word gone right over her head.

  "Sylvia was the smaller of the two, yes."

  "She married to his brother?" Ella asked again.

  "Yes, she is Ella."

  "Oh I see, so cause she marry one, you wanna be like her and marry the other one? Well what was you gone do if there was no other one?"

  "Ella! Would you please think before you say stuff." Betty snapped, impatient with her already.

  Finally Milton, after sitting, listening, eating and watching everyone, without warning called out.

  "Jake..."

  Everyone looked up.

  Still eating, Milton asked, "What the hell is you doin' wit' my daughter?!" He looked Jake right in the eyes.

  Vivian sucked in stunned, she hadn't thought that her father would ask such a thing and that way. "Daddy why would you-..."

  "Your name Jake?" He cut her off asking, looking to her next.

  "No."

  "Ah'ight then. Last time I check, Mr. Tall, white and wonderful here was name Jake. That's who I'm talkin' to; that's why I started out with the name, Jake. When I start out with the name Vivian, that's when you respond. Until then, you sit there and be quiet. An'fore you think to argue with me, talking about, I ain' do this with the other one; if you remember correctly, you ain't bring his Chinese ass here, did ya'? No you didn't, 'cause I'dah cussed his married ass out. Let's just put it on the table. I didn't approve, yo'mama didn't approve, 'cause we tried not to raise no fools. Don't always work out that way, but that was our intent. Now, I'm asking him, this man here named Jake; that is your name ain't it?" He looked back to Jake.

  "Yes sir, that's my name."

  "Ah'ight then. Now that that's been established, back to my question. What the hell you doin' with my daughter?"

  Jake shifted in his seat and then sat back, looking Milton Cooke in the eyes. He thought about what he'd want to hear if the roles were reversed. Were she his daughter, in fact one of the daughter's he planned on having with her. It was a no brainer.

  "Sir, I'm with her because I'm in love with her. Were I not, I can guarantee you, I would not, be here. Since she is your daughter, I don't need to tell you what an incredible person she is. Mr. Cooke, I'm 39 years old and never once considered marriage. Not once. Why now? Well sir, your daughter, she's the marrying kind. She's beauty, class and intelligence. With a self-respect and dignity you should be proud of. She's a woman that knows what she wants out of life and is not afraid to go for it. She demands respect and is one of the few I've encountered in my life who deserves it. I do the best I can to give her that. I asked her to marry me. After 25 years of playing the fields sir, I know the genuine article when I see it. I know women sir, I'm not going to lie, I've been with a few. I've watched them and listened to them. With Vivian, I fought it sir, yes I did. My problem was, hell I'll be honest..." He paused to think before going on, "... I'll be damned if I was going to let another man get her when I'd been given the chance to get her. As you said, you've done your best not to raise no fools. Well, by the same token, this is the case with my own parents, they've done their best not to either. Sir, I'm no fool, well let me correct that, I've had my moments, don't get me wrong. But this one here, sitting next to me ... your last daughter, the baby, this lil'girl? I'm with her, because out of life, I want the very best ... may not always deserve it, but that's for damn sure what I want. That Mr. Cooke, is why, I'm with your daughter."

  He was pissing Betty off, "And I suppose it helps that she makes good money; more than you."

  One moment Vivian sat next to him fighting back tears, on top of the world, and in a blink of an eye, her mother reached up, grabbed her roughly and snatched her right back down, slamming her hard against the ground.

  Jake looked at Betty Cooke, sighed again with resignation. "Won't help for long Mrs. Cooke, you see; she's giving up that fancy high paying job at the bank. Once we're married, she'll be living off of what I bring in. Whatever that might be."

  "You expect my daughter, to give up her good job, making what she makes a year. To live off what you make? Where might this be?" She crossed examined.

  "That's exactly what I expect Mrs. Cooke. Where? Wisconsin."

  Betty sat back and shook her head, "Yeah, I can see her now, barefoot, pregnant behind a stove, in some sorry ass trailer. Or do you all call them mobile homes? I forget which?"

  Vivian turned her head to Jake and murmured softly, "Let's go."

  "What did you say Vivian?" Her mother asked, "Say it so we can all hear it."

  Vivian turned to her mother and said, "I just said, that we should go."

  "Ain't nobody going nowhere." Milton decided, he turned once more to Jake, "You talkin' about draggin' her off to Wisconsin, what's your plans for her there?"

  "My plan is for her to be my wife. Pregnant? Yes indeed, don't you doubt it sir, ma'am." He looked from one parent to the other. "As for the trailer park or mobile home? I hadn't quite planned on that. I have something e
lse in mind. However, as my wife, she's going to have to have enough faith in me to believe that I would provide nothing less, than the very best. That's my plan, the very best for her."

  "How soon you talking about marrying?" Milton asked.

  "As soon as possible." Jake returned.

  "What's the hurry? She ain't pregnant is she?" Milton asked.

  Jake smiled, "I wish she were, my brother's got a head start on me."

  "Jake!" Vivian gasped and then stared at him.

  Jake smiled, "Sorry about that sir, no disrespect intended."

  "Like I'm stupid enough to believe ya'll waitin' until the wedding night."

  Vivian was still staring. Now she understood why he wanted her pregnant and now. He was still competing with Shawn. Sylvia was pregnant, so naturally, he felt that he had to get her pregnant! She sat looking at his profile realizing that more than likely he would never grow out of trying to compete with Shawn. Trying to outdo Shawn. Whatever Shawn had, he had to have or better. He must have felt her eyes on him, because he turned to look at her. With the lift of his brow, he was asking, 'What's wrong?' She shook her head and went back to her plate of food that she didn't want.

  "Well I guess it come down to what Vivian want. She grown and been taking care of herself for some time now, that's for sure." Her father stated, she glanced at him and he was looking her straight in the eyes for once. Not looking through her. His one daughter, dark black like him. "What is it you do for a living Jake?" He asked, slowly pulling his eyes from her back to him.

  "I work at a lumber company. I have been for years, straight out of school in fact. You name it, I do it there. Everything to do with forestry and lumber. I also do large cargo deliveries. Its in the grapevine that we're in the middle of negotiating a contract with a few DYI companies, if that goes through, I'll be going for the position of delivering; I'll be making a substantially greater income than now."

  "With that one you gonna need it." Milton went on, warming up to Jake.

  "Oh sir, believe me I know it. I have ways of making extra money when needed. My brother's and I are jacks of all trades you see. Given to us by our father."

  "Such as in what?"

  "Anything in building."

  "Anything? You can build anything?"

  "Well, if I put my mind to it, I could build a house from the ground up."

  "You can?!" All three boys asked amazed by that.

  Jake smiled at them, "Yep, I sure can." He turned back to Milton, "My brother's and I, helped my father build on most of my mother's home. All three of us are good. We do the plumbing, the electrical, foundation and structure. Carpentry is my specialty because I love to work with wood."

  "Hang on here..." Milton shifted in his seat, turning to Jake, he wasn't thinking about no one else at that table at that point, "... so you saying, anything to do with a house, inside or out, you can do?"

  "Yes sir, I can."

  "For instance, let's say I had a basement I been planning on finishing for years now, ain't quite got around to it yet, you could look it over, hear what I want and do it? Is that what you saying?"

  Jake smiled, "Why? Are you saying you have a basement that needs finishing?"

  "As a matter of fact, I do."

  "Let's go look at it." Jake invited pushing his chair back.

  "Let's do!" Milton suddenly became animated, mood changed, eyes big.

  "Milton Cooke, we in the middle of dinner!" Betty pointed out.

  "Daddy can't you let him eat first?!" Lacy stated before Vivian could open her mouth.

  "Jake, your foods gonna get cold." Vivian stated looking up at him.

  "You can heat it up for me when we get back up here." He told her, then turned following Milton. Not wanting to be left with the women, Andrew pushed his chair back to go and join them. The boys tried to follow suit, "Sit - back down and eat!" This order from their grandmother. Making faces, unhappy each one did as was told.

  Turning back to her plate, Vivian shook her head, then smiled. She glanced up at her mother and the message she sent her way could not be missed. Vivian's eyes twinkled with victory. Resenting the look, Betty leaned forward, "I don't care if he can build a castle with a bridge to the moon, I still don't like him. I still don't trust him."

  Vivian kept her smile in place and carried on eating.

  "Mama you may not like him, but you must admit, you really don't have anything to go on for not liking him." Lacy brought to her attention.

  "Time will tell. I am not about to make up my mind from a few words spoken on a short afternoon."

  Twenty minutes later, the men came back up from the basement talking. Milton and Jake mostly, with Jake stating, "After dinner, we'll go back down and make a list of what's needed, once you have it all, I'll get my sons to help me and we'll get it done in no time." He promised. They walked back to the table, Milton stopping by his wife's chair.

  "Come here for a minute." He requested.

  She leaned to the side and looked up at him. "What you want, I'm eatin'?"

  "I said, come here." He stood waiting for her to stand up. Showing her displeasure, she pushed her chair back and stood following him from the room to the back porch where he led her. Closing the door to, to keep it private he turned to her and stated.

  "Not one more mean or rude thing do I want you to say to that man, understand?"

  "What? Come again?"

  "You heard me the first time. Now I let you do your thang with the girls and have your say, I'on get in the middle. But this time, I'm gone have to stop you in your tracks! I been wantin' to get my basement done for years. Now its gone get done."

  "Oh I see, you ain't sticking up for him, you just want your basement done, is that right?"

  "Look, you can cut that up, season it, cook it any goddamn way you want to, don't make me no difference. Ain't too often something come through my door that I get something out of. I'm gettin' my basement done out'ah that one - you hear me? Don't you say one more mean goddamn thing to him, I ain't playin' ... you know me."

  "He might be talkin' shit for all you know. I can't believe you willing to sell your own daughter so you can have your basement!"

  "I ain't sellin' shit! What's gone happen gone happen any goddamn way! I might as well get a basement out've'it! I ain't playin' now; don't you do shit to cause them no problems. When he come here you make him feel at home, understand?"

  "Milton Cooke you can just kiss my ass, 'cause you know me! I ain't suckin' up to nobody just so you can have a rec-room."

  "Goddammit Betty, so what he white! So damn what! You part that your damn self! She could walk through that door with a whole lot worse. Some good for shit something that ain't good for shit! I like him, he can do stuff! Stuff that cost big money to get done! And until my stuff get done, you leave him the hell alone! When we get inside, you gone serve him ice cream!"

  "I ain't servin'im shit!"

  "Yeah you is"

  "I ain't-..."

  They stopped in the doorway with it open, Milton looking back at her, "You wanna go to Las Vegas in two weeks with them friends of yours? With the money I'm gone give you? You gone serve him ice cream goddammit shit. You wanna go to Las Vegas, I want my basement done. You gone be nice, or you go be at home in two weeks, gettin' on my nerves."

  "That enough ice cream for you Jake?"

  "Yes ma'am it is, that little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg on top is a nice little touch, never had it that way."

  "Em, well... enjoy." Betty finished sugary sweet, turning back towards the kitchen she rolled her eyes.

  Vivian looked at her father with a knowing smile, and for once, he winked at her. That was nice. She then looked at Jake, he too had a knowing smile on his face.

  "Mama, bring back that nutmeg and cinnamon, I wanna try that." Ella asked, and then to Jake, "It taste good?"

  He smiled up at her, "It tastes wonderful."

  Lacy smiled happy for her sister, she looked back at her own dish of ice cream and allowed he
rself that little place within her heart that made her wish she'd found him first. Of course in that little place it would always stay. But the truth was, wasn't often a man like that crossed your path, this close to home. With a sigh, she squelched any further thoughts in that direction. Her little sister deserved to be happy and she hoped that he would follow through in making her.

  * * *

  Chapter 218

  That evening in Madison...

  Derrick was really in a mood. On the way home from the hotel after the episode with Shawn things were coming over him. He'd had Marcus stop so he could pick up a case of beer, so very unlike him. Marcus noticing his father's brooding mood, made the stop. Now at home, he rushed inside to get ready for a night out with his cousins. Derrick had gotten out of the van sitting directly on the front porch. Not bothering to go inside his home. He sat, his case of beer between his feet, now on the third and feeling it.

  Meribel had come out to see what was going on with him, asking... "Derrick? You okay? Why didn't you come in?"

  "Didn't feel like it." He'd answered staring off into their front yard at nothing in particular.

  "You okay?" She'd asked coming further out of the house to stand at the porch rail, noticing the beer Marcus and the boys told her he'd purchased.

  "No, leave me alone." He said simply.

  Meribel hadn't known what to say or how to respond. This was not her husband, not the one she'd been used to dealing with. She stood a moment with her mouth partially open on the verge of saying something more. Closed it, her mouth and decided against it, saying anything more. She took a deep breath, turned and walked back into her home. A few moments later, Kathy Ann came out. She walked out and sat down next to her brother, looking at him.

  "See you bought beer."

  "Yeah I did."

  "Mind if I have one?"

  "Yes I do mind. I bought this for me."

  "You gonna drink all of that?"

  "I paid for it, that being the case, I can drink all, or not."

  "Its not nice not to share." She gently teased.

  He sat a few moments ignoring her, not bothering to say any more and finished off the beer he'd been drinking when she walked out there. On the step up behind him were the empty cans he drank out of. He reached in the box, pulled out another, passed it to his sister and then took one out for himself. "Don't think because I'm giving you a beer, and because I'm sitting here drinking myself this is going to be a new thing. What I told you still stands."