BOMAW 7-9

by Mercedes Keyes

  Bart stood watching, scratching his head, "Where does he sit when he comes over?"

  "He sits on the furniture, long as his clothes are clean." She answered.

  "What about when he gets home from work, too tired to clean up first and just wants to have a sit, then where?" He asked.

  Vivian stared with a blank expression a moment, envisioning him coming home from work, clothes full of saw-dust and no telling what else, going for her sofa. He wouldn't dare!

  "She better do what I do, lock the front door to'im, open the back. Sit his butt at the kitchen table to rest a minute, then to the bathroom, clothes off, in the shower and even after that, Dennis head for the basement. I don't let nobody sit in my living-room." Sheila admitted.

  "True that! And you just stood here talkin' about I barely let you sit on mine, when the truth is, that's the scenario in your home, not mine." Vivian turned to her to say.

  "You don't have no kids! Nobody live at your house but you! Well, not anymore sista', you got you a man now, a dag-blasted lumberjack!" Sheila teased grinning.

  Gert stood with a smile on her face enjoying this interesting point of view concerning her son's new life, with his soon to be new wife. She loved it, they were as different as night and day, in so many ways. Vivian as bright as day, and Jake, dark as night. Yet, a lot alike in so many ways. She loved the way this plan of hers had come together for her baby boy.

  Bart looked back to Vivian, stating, "Young lady, I'm thinking you're gonna have to invest in some - well, more man friendly furniture. Something a man can relax on, sit back on, kick his feet up after a hard days work."

  Vivian stared up at him, and then at the next piece that was being picked up and carried out, the discomfort on her face could not be missed.

  "Well we'll just worry about that bridge when we come to it. That's down the road a bit still." She answered.

  "Not that far down the road. He's told us already to start making wedding plans, where exactly is it you plan on getting married?" Gert asked, "We need to get that ball rolling, ain't that right Bart?" She continued.

  "That's right, get things moving. See Shawn and Sylvia didn't waste no time, got it done up good style! We need to get the same done for you two. When's the date?"

  Gert started laughing, this seemed so familiar to her, it had been the same with Derrick and Meribel, Shawn and Sylvia, and now, he was doing it with Vivian and Jake.

  "The ... date?" Vivian stammered.

  "That's right, the day you plan on tying things up. Getting married, when? No sense in dragging things out."

  "I've been trying to get her to set one dad, she's dragging her feet." Jake announced coming in the door, wiping his brow with a handkerchief, they all needed a rest, they were half done with the big stuff. Vivian looked at him as he approached them to join in on the conversation, Dennis following behind.

  "Well son, I imagine with you being the catch, it's understandable."

  "Bart don't start!" Gert dug gently into his side.

  "Don't mean nothing by it, don't mean no harm son, but the truth is, a woman's gotta be mighty sure taking you on."

  Jake stood staring at his father and sighed, not about to get riled when he knew his father and his opinions of him.

  "You sure about this young lady?" Bart asked.

  "Huh? Ah, well ... yeah, sure I'm sure." Even though in her stomach, she really wasn't so sure.

  "Don't you worry about a thing my precious black velvet..." Gert grabbed her chin, squeezing her lips as would an adoring relative, "... you've got just what he needs. You can handle'im, just give'em everything you got and then some, he'll be straight in no time."

  Jake looked at his mother with skeptical eyes, "Just what do you mean by, give'em everything you got and then some?"

  Sheila and Dennis both started laughing, because they had a good idea of what Gert meant, Dennis, grinning turned and whispered in Jake's ear, "You step out of line, I think mama Gert done give her the green light, to set yo'ass a'fire there boy!"

  "Yeah, I get the feeling you're right." Jake muttered back, eying his mother down, who threw him a kiss, grinning.

  She stroked Vivian's arm and said softly to her, "Whatever you do darlin', just don't kill'em."

  "Gertrude!" It was Bart this time, slapping her on the rump.

  Sheila and Dennis were looking at each other laughing lightly, trying not to rib Jake too bad.

  "There is nothing quite like a mother's love for her son." Jake quipped.

  "Nor a mother's knowing of her children." Gert returned, giving him the eye as well.

  Vivian looked at all standing present and thought it was a good time to ask, in order to change the subject, "Where exactly will my furniture be stored? As I pointed out this morning, it is Sunday."

  "It'll be safe and sound young lady, we're gonna lock it up right where its being packed, and kept in the back of my vehicle barn until you two have a home to move it to." Bart informed her.

  "In - in Wisconsin, on - on your farm?" She stammered.

  "Yep, that way you won't need to pay storage fees. You two get married, get yourselves a place, won't have far to take it, it'll already be there." Bart answered.

  "That's right honey, you don't need it here. You moving into my son's basement apartment, taking some things there you need. The rest, will be there in Wisconsin safe and sound waiting for you." Gert joined in with her husband to inform her.

  "But ... it may be ... a while, before I'm there."

  "We'll keep it as long as you need." Bart returned.

  "Oh no it's not going to be a while. Remember, our first will be born by sometime around April, May - maybe." Jake wasted little time to remind her of that.

  Gert did a jump and started clapping happily, "Oh my goodness! That's my boy! Ain't he the devil? If there's only one thing they all got like their daddy, it's swimmers that mean business! And my Jake, I wouldn't be surprised if first time he lays'em on you, you don't end up with twins!"

  "Gertrude what I tell you about that kind'o'talk?!" Bart groaned, shaking his head.

  "Leave me alone Bart, I'm happy, they wanna keep me happy, let's see some twins here!"

  Jake grinned, winked with a nod as if to say, the deeds good as done. Everyone chuckled, enjoying the show, all but Vivian, not so sure of what she was getting herself into. All of a sudden, she stood realizing that right now, he had possession of her things, her most precious, expensive, costly, furniture. She envisioned marching down the isle under duress, her furniture held hostage until the vows were said and she produced twins for them, and according to Jake, girls. She looked at them all surrounding her, and all of a sudden, they looked like extra's from Hee Haw, even Sheila and Dennis; frayed straw hats on their heads, a wheat stem hanging out their mouths, wearing overalls cut off mid-calve, no shoes on. All of them standing with ashy ankles and bare, dusty feet. Jake smiled at her and she saw him with a tooth missing and freckles on his face.

  She put her hand on her stomach, almost grunting, "My stomach hurt, just a minute, I'll be back." She gasped heading for the bathroom.

  Inside, she closed the door and sat on the toilet having a mild panic attack.

  Gert looked at her son, "You haven't gotten that started already have you?" She asked, wondering.

  "No, not yet. I better go check on her."

  He went to door, his ear pressed up against it listening, what he heard was faint sounds of heavy breathing, he sighed, tapped on the door, "Hey, its me, can I come in?"

  Vivian sat on the toilet, reluctant to answer. Maybe if she was quiet, didn't make a sound, they would all just go away. Everything was moving so fast, this family and everything about them reminded her a rapidly, speeding, river current, don't you dare get too close, or before you knew it, you'd be taken off your feet and swept away by it, by them. Of course, she knew she was being ridiculous, they were not going away, and this is what she had wanted, had wished for, prayed for. Moaned and groaned and whimpered and cried for. Wore She
ila's ears out about it. She had been an emotional wreck with wanting this man and now she had him, lot, stock and barrel.

  So what was up with the panic attack?

  "Stop being ridiculous." She whispered to herself, took a deep breath, stood and unlocked the door then returned to the toilet.

  Jake slowly opened the door and at first peaked in, saw that she was not really using the toilet, he came slowly in, and closed the door behind him. They stood in the small, white enamel and black checker bath and stared at one another for a moment.

  "You having second thoughts about me?" He asked softly. "Or, you just scared?"

  "I don't understand what's the big hurry with everything, why does everything have to happen, right now. I mean, I just got this place; I just signed the lease, what about that huh? I'm breaking a lease agreement here! And, and, and what about all the stuff you just did to this place, I mean, you trimmed the bushes and manicured the lawn, and, and, you did the windows! You stripped and painted all the windows, and the front and back door frames too! I mean, this place looks really good now! I thought after that, I'd be here for a while. Now, all that work you did, for what? Somebody else to move in here and, and, and benefit from the fruits of your labor! I mean, come on, what kind of sense does that make?"

  "The work I did will be small compensation for you moving out at the top of your lease, he'll keep your deposit. If you want, I'll talk to him, explain things, so he understands."

  "I, I don't want you to explain things, I want you to, to just slow down. Why can't we be like normal couples who are engaged for a while and then slowly plan out their future, not just rush into things."

  "What difference is that gonna make Vivian? It's a fact, that half of them still end up in divorce court anyway. Dated for years, engaged for two years more, and then divorced. While you have old timers from home, celebrating their 50th and 60th anniversary and when they got married, they'd only known each other for two weeks some of them. They met, fell in love and knew what they wanted, wasted no time and got married, they're still together today. Its simple Vivian, we either know this is what we want, or we don't. If you don't know if this is what you want, say it to me now. Say it to me, I'll go out of here, tell them all bring it back in, and we're out of here."

  "Why do you have to threaten me with that? Why do you have to pressure me?"

  Jake came away from the door and knelt before her, staring up into scared features.

  "You - you told me ... all ... or nothing. You said that to me, remember? All or nothing. Well I'm given you all I've got to give, and lil'girl, you can believe this, there will be more to come. I'm not perfect, I'm not Shawn, I'm not that goddamn Dr. Chan. But I can tell you this, neither of them will give you all I plan to give you. I can be an asshole sometimes it's true. I'm not gonna lie and as you've stated, you know me. That's a favorite line of your father's isn't it? I like that, makes a lot of sense, that line." Jake stared up into her amazing dark features, he could never get enough of looking at her. Where on earth, was there any woman any where to match her? He knew, kneeling there right then, he wanted her with every fibre of his being. He wanted to be the man that laid claim to her; the man who could say, "She's mine, that one."

  He took her hands in his, looking down at them, her hands were thin, skinny, small compared to his, and so dark. He lifted them and kissed them, looking back up at her. "I'm not letting you go. I can't. I tried. I tried to dismiss you. But you know what, you do, belong to me. You were, meant to be mine. I have no doubts about that. You know it too, don't you? No matter what, you know we belong together. Bastard and fuck up that I am, no matter what comes down the road, you and I are permanent, you hear me, this is for good. You're not ever, going to leave me Vivian. There's no way you could, knowing what you do about us. Besides, you love me too much, you know it's true. So ... you ... splash your face. Take a deep breath and come on and let's get this done. We have a life together to get moving on."

  Vivian stared down at him and felt a shiver of fear looking at him. She knew he meant every word, that no matter what, he really expected her to stay with him and endure all, no matter what that might be. So much went through her mind, she had to say it, "You know what, I'm in love with you and you know it. But you, you're in competition with Shawn and Dr. Chan, and you're in it to win. Do you - love ... any body?" She asked realizing right then, what she was up against. Yet, just as she said, she was in love with him. She couldn't walk away right now, if God himself, up in heaven spoke from his lofty throne, telling her directly, without a doubt, he's gonna hurt you one day. Even if God did, she couldn't walk away. The truth of that hurt her more right then, than anything he might come to do to her, because she swore that type of woman, she would never be. Yet, she had a aching that was starting to throb, telling her, her turn had come. She thought about what she'd put Laek Chan's wife threw. The memory made her close her eyes in fear, she wanted to weep, because she could feel it in the air.

  "I love you Vivian Cooke ... I love you. You think I'd be willing to marry you, go through all of this if I didn't?"

  "You said it yourself ... I know you. I do ... there's something in you, put in you, by your father maybe? A little bit by Shawn maybe? By those you grew up around maybe? You need to prove to them, that they, don't know you ... know what you're made of. Know what's in your heart, in your mind, what drives you. What you're capable of. You need, to show them, to prove to them, just who Jacob Patrick McPherson is. I know that about you, because I am ... you." She had tears in her eyes and finally realized that was the reason she couldn't walk away from him, they were indeed, the same, one.

  Jake stared at her, watched the tears gather in her eyes after saying something that sent a shiver clean through him. Yes, she indeed knew him, but what he also knew and she wouldn't believe, is that he did love her. Right now, he needed her, like he needed his next breath.

  He reached up with large rough hands, gently cupping each side of her face, his thumbs stroking at the tears rolling. "I want you to dry your eyes, my lil'black velvet, lil'girl. All that you said is true, but one thing ... I do love you. I know that now, more than ever. You are, my next breath. You ever leave me, you'll take my breath away. So don't. We don't need time, for this - we just need to get on with it. " He spoke softly, passionately, lifting a hand towards her and pulled her mouth to his and devoured her. The way she made him need to, his tongue filling her mouth, making her take in the very essence of him this way, if unable to the other. The kiss, was hard, deep, long and desperate. Made to fuse them in a way that left her with no doubt, he would never give her up, no matter what. He shook with his passion, sucking from her every breath she tried to take in the kiss. He held her head firm, his own twisting, meshing with hers as if he could merge them into one. When he finally ended the kiss, her mouth, her lips were throbbing, her heart was tripping up, leaving her more tortured than ever before.

  She saw it as clear as day, Jacob Patrick had taken possession of her, in a way that left her weak without a fight. Later, there might be regret, but as for now, she was without the means to fight him, to fight this.

  He stood from the floor, looking down at her, his hand came to her face, gently caressing her cheek, his thumb stroking the moisture left on her swelling lips. He tilted her head back looking down into her eyes, "You are mine ... until the day that I die." He stepped away and opened the bathroom door, "Wash your face and come on, we have a lot to do before I leave here."

  * * *

  "Ma'am, breathe slowly, it's going to be okay." The stewardess assured Sylvia who was having a panic attack, scared to death of flying. She'd never been on an airplane before, ever! She was surrounded by her husband, two stewardesses, and her kids.

  "Breathe in, now exhale into that slowly, it's just a little oxygen, feeds the blood cells, should help you to relax."

  Shawn felt awful, he saw it happening but thought she would get control of it. The closer and closer time came to boarding the plane, the more nervou
s she'd become. The kids were all excited. It was also Crystal's first time, as well Mundo's, but they were hyped without a care in the world. Benjamin had flown before and of course, Angela. Darren and Isaac were absolute chatter boxes with the idea of getting on an airplane. As for Shawn, for the sake of all present, he maintained his cool, he'd flown before, but each time he did, it worried him because of all the what ifs. As for his wife, for the sake of everyone else, she was trying not to bolt.

  "Come on mama, we gone fly! Up, up and awa-a-ay, in my beau-ti-ful, my beau-ti-ful-..." Mundo was singing to her, when Crystal cut him off.

  "Balloon foool! Balloon, the song about a balloon! Not about no airplane!" She corrected him.

  "Same thing! They both go up in the air!"

  Crystal shook her head, "Mama come on, its gone be okay. I just know it is, we all together, just relax and breathe." Crystal stood behind her seat, rubbing her shoulder to soothe her.

  "Would you like a drink maybe? That would help calm you some." One of the stewardesses suggested.

  "She's pregnant." Shawn informed them.

  "A little wine is fine."

  "I don't think so." He went on to say.

  "Well its up to you, but I have two children and I sipped wine for dinner with both of them, I assure you, they're healthy and strong."

  Sylvia nodded her head, "Just a little please, to sip, I've had a glass of wine before when pregnant Shawn, its okay long as I don't do it all the time. I had some at the barbecue remember?" Sylvia answered. She really did need to relax, fear was shooting around in her so she had to control herself not to stand up and ask to be let off the plane.

  Shawn didn't want her drinking anything but he supposed it was okay since she wasn't a regular drinker. In fact, one glass would do the trick with her because she didn't drink hardly at all. The stewardess that offered, left to get it for her. She was back in no time, "Here you go, this is a really good natural red wine. I want you to sit back, relax and sip it slowly. My name is Sarah, if there is anything you need, I'll be at that station over there. I'll be seeing to everyone in this area, that includes you."