BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (113 page)

With the food done, Sylvia decided that a bit of change to the music was due and left them to go in her room, in her case of CD's. One in particular that she played a lot, maybe - too much, due to the fact that it had a tendency to put her in a certain attitude or mood. She had played the music back in the days of being with Armundo; all had been on cassettes. He had hated hearing it, had even taken it out of the stereo on one occasion and broke the cassette because all the songs were about freedom, leaving, the thrill being gone, having enough. Since then, during the time that she'd been alone, she'd re-created that music, this time on discs. She'd played it to death when she'd taken off on Shawn after their wedding and now that they were back together, every now and then still. Here she was, once more, when she played it, husband number two, didn't particular care for it. Shawn always gave her a certain look, his brows drawn as if questioning why she would play that kind of music. It simply had to do with her mood, and - she liked it.

Tonight, she brought out her disc and announced to the Joyful bunch, "Time to eat! Crystal, set the table, enough of this music, giving me a headache." Turning it off, she put her CD in and forwarded it to a certain group of songs, the first one to start was by
Denise Williams, "Free"
. The moment the tinkling chimes began, Shawn looked up at her, as well Crystal, because she knew the song. Sylvia looked at her daughter, straight into her eyes, and started bobbing and moving, singing along with Denise, and making sure her daughter got it. To make sure she walked right by her, singing it to her, emphasizing the word,
"Fre-e-e!"
hitting those notes in the song just as Denise did, because she could. Crystal's mouth dropped open, she knew her mother, and knew the message within, it could not be mistaken.

Mundo also got it, and started laughing, rolling his fist in the air, so cracked up he had to take it outside, especially when he saw the look on Ben's face as it dawned on him what was happening, the significance of the song.

Sylvia picked up the salad, still singing along, paused to tell Angela, "Get the garlic bread out for me sweety." And walked to the table with the large bowl of salad, avoiding making eye contact with her husband. She didn't need to look at him to know what his eyes would be saying to her right then. Without a word, letting the song do it for her, she basically let him know; let Ben know; let Crystal know; that right now, it was best for her to be free. She sat the bowl on the table, stood straight, placing her hand on her hip as if bracing to look at her husband and sure enough, when eye contact was made, he was sizzling, his eyes were on fire. Sylvia threw him a kiss and continued on listening to the next song,
"Rose is still a rose." by Aretha Franklin and Lauryn Hill
, taking her daughter's hand and bopping with her to it until she laughed, shaking her head. "Mama, you something else!"

Speaking intimately to her, Sylvia returned with, "No, my baby girl,
you
- something else; something special ... give yourself the time you need, to figure that out, and then; make up your mind what you wanna do. But my
rose
, before you do anything - give yourself time." Sylvia spoke low to her; pulling her close, palming the back of her head, she gently kissed her forehead. "Mama will never tell you wrong; I just want you to be happy - but, be the kind of happy, that will last you forever, and not the kind that's just a memory, okay?"

"Yes, mama." Crystal smiled, blushed; because she could feel Ben's stunned eyes on them, as well Shawn's.

Sylvia, acting as if nothing untoward had taken place turned to everyone, "Well? Sit down you all, eat."

With narrowed eyes, Shawn's pierced his wife's, promising a discussion about this later; walking to the stereo, he switched from the CD player to the radio, an easy listening station. While at the table having dinner, Sylvia decided to break up the awkward silence by asking Ben, "Where'd you learn to dance like that? I must admit, I was impressed."

Wishing to get beyond that moment that caught them off guard, he went into talking about his love for Latin music and the first times he attempted dancing that way, how he made Kevin dance with him. It wasn't long before everyone around the table was laughing and sharing stories that matched the topic. Shawn's phone rang while they were eating, it was Deidre letting him know they were on almost there to collect Angela. She had just enough time to finish eating before her mother arrived. Starting to rush, she kissed her father, Mundo, Ben and Crystal on the way to the door with Sylvia, who greeted them; Charlie was with her at the door when Sylvia invited them inside.

"Not tonight I'm afraid, but thank you. I made plans to take Angela to a play and if we get going right away, we just might make it."

"Oh that sounds like fun, okay, see you Angela, have fun." Sylvia bent, giving her a hug and kiss, seeing her off. When Sylvia came back into the kitchen, Crystal had cleaned off the table and was the first one to get in the shower to end the night. Mundo and Shawn were outside on the deck, with Ben inside doing the dishes. The moment Sylvia saw him there, she instinctively knew he was there waiting for her. "Look at you; I thank you, but I don't mind doing the dishes."

"Me either, I'm fine." He responded, rinsing a plate.

"Okay, how about I help then." She commented reaching for the dish towel. "So tell me, you here to do the dishes, or - are they the device you needed to talk to me?" She saw no reason not to get right into it.

He blushed at being caught out, because of course it was true and passed her a plate, looking her in the eyes saying, "I'm that transparent?"

"Not necessarily, but I am a mother, I have raised a daughter and son, so, not
everything
gets by me."

Nodding as if agreeing, he took a breath and decided to get right to it, "I'm not out to hurt her. She's not a game that I'm playing. I've said as much to Shawn, but I've neglected to talk to you, make you aware of my intentions, I suppose now is as good a time as any."

"Oookay, let me say first of all, that I'm happy to hear that. It's nice of you to share your intentions with me."

"That song you put on - was about me, right?"

"Wrong, that song I put on, was about
her.
That song was also, about
me
- being her mother and looking out for her best interest. As you may well know, Crystal left home after school, from my care - went into college, where she met Victor and
bam
- found herself in a predicament. Because of it, she married him. Now, things are as they are - with her getting a divorce. I don't want her going from him - now - to you. I don't want her to start up a cycle of behavior that will lead her into one relationship after another, triggering weaknesses and emotions that make her believe she absolutely must have a man in her life, at the sacrifice of everything she needs for herself; which should come first. It should have come first back then, before him, before her children. And now, there exist her children, two little boys, that now, must come first and then herself. I don't want her, getting involved with someone else until she has a firm hold of herself, her life, their lives. It has nothing, what-so-ever, to do with you. So, as hard as it may be for you to do - you need to separate what I say, what I do, what I feel, when it comes to being
her
, mother. No matter who comes and goes in this family, she is still my daughter. And as for you, you are still welcome here. That man out there is still your father, you are his son, you belong here. Yet, my priority is still to her, first. Because right now, her situation, is the most pressing, the most urgent, okay? Do we understand each other?"

Ben inhaled deep, and blew it out, nodding, he answered, "Yes, ma'am."

"Good, I just want you to understand where I'm coming from."

"I do, but - is it okay if I say just one last thing?"

"You sure can." She consented, finishing up drying and putting away the last of the dishes.

Ben's thoughts caused a pause of silence, trying to put his words right when he shared them. Finally, when Sylvia stood leaning back against the counter waiting for him; her eyes on him, feeling shivers over her skin, because he looked so much like Shawn, even his gestures, expressions, and voice, were his father's. "Um..." He started, "... you may not believe me, I know you think what I'm saying bears no weight, or - validity, even so, I want you to know, that - I love your daughter. What you've done, is made this incredible, dynamic exciting person, that - makes it impossible for me, not to want, what I see, in her. She was meant to be with me. The way that I think, you were meant to be with Shawn. There are things in me, that my life, experiences, environment and insight, has molded my make-up and who I am, to fit just right, into what she is and what she's about, strengths and weaknesses. He, Victor, will never love her, the way that I love her, and those boys for that matter, the way that I love them. You know, first hand, that just because a man father's a child, doesn't mean, he's going to love her, them, the way they need to be loved. You know that, first hand. Like you, she is, my priority too. And I'm going to fight to win her, to the very end. I just wanted you to know that, so that between us, there are no, mysteries - no guessing games. Right?"

'Shit!'
Was the first response within her mind, at that point, what else could she say? "Right, no mysteries, between us. And as for the rest, time will tell."

*

Madison - earlier that evening

Derrick's family sat in a circle on a picnic blanket as he shared the decision that he and Meribel had come to.

"The whole summer!? Ah come on, not the whole summer! That's too long!" Shawn2 flapped, complaining, with Sasha following on his heels.

"What are we gonna do for the whole summer there?" She whined.

"
Miho
-
Miha
, I can't believe you two are carrying on like this! You sound like a couple of brats! You'll have plenty to do there." Meribel corrected them.

"I don't wanna be there the whole summer, that's not fair!" Shawn2 maintained his position, crossing his arms across his chest, face drawn in displeasure.

"Is it because of that stupid lady that keeps calling the house!? That dumb woman? Somebody needs to kick her ass!" Sasha fumed.

"SASHA!" Derrick barked, shocked by his daughter's mouth and behavior. "Don't you let me hear you talking that way again, understand?!"

Lip poked out a mile, she nodded, looking like Shawn2, arms crossed over her flat chest, back slouched, legs stretched out before her so, they expected her to start kicking any second. However, the look from her mother, discouraged any thought of that.

Derrick turned his attention to her older brother, "All right Shawn, what's the real problem here, huh? Don't give me that, there's nothing to do there; there is plenty to do. You've spent the summer with your grandparents before and there was never any problem, so what's going on?"

Luis leaned over teasing his younger brother, "He don't wanna be away from Ma'Keiba - can't sneak out to get hugs and kisses all the way from grandpa's!"

Shocked, Shawn2's eyes grew round like saucers as he turned on his brother, punching him in the arm, "I have not been!" He denied.

Luis punched him back, even harder, "Liar!"

"HEY! You two, cut it out! What's this I'm hearing Shawn2?" Derrick demanded.

"He's lying!"

"Dad, he's been sneaking out of the house at night to talk to her, and whatever other things she might let him."

If looks could kill, the look that Shawn2 shot to his brother would have made him crispy brown toast by now.

Sasha shook her head, of course she knew this as well, because Ma'Keiba was her friend and told her about him showing up at her house.

"You mean to tell me, after all I've been doing to keep you busy and out of trouble, you're sneaking out of the house, going to the Clarke's, when you've been told about that?! Is your entire young life going to be spent on punishment?" Derrick tore into him.

"He's lying on me, dad." Shawn2 mumbled with a whine.

"Not likely." Joseph, the baby commented, laying on his stomach next to his mother, chin propped up on the heals of his palms.

"You shut up, mama's boy! Titty baby!" Shawn2 blasted him next.

Joseph rolled to his side, looked up at his mother and shook his head as if she had his sympathies, making Meribel laugh, smile, stroke his hair while Derrick responded to that.

"What was that I heard young man? Get over here!" Derrick directed, gesturing with the pointing of his finger, his intent clear.

"No dad, tell'em to leave me alone." He whined pushing back against Luis, who tried to push him to their father.

"I said, get here, now!"

"You gonna hit me?"

"Hard! Real hard!"

"Mommieee..." he cried for help.

Meribel sighed, smiled in sweet bliss as if she couldn't hear him.

"Dad you want me to pop him for you? I'll make sure it's good and hard! Want me to give him a Charlie-horse? I'm good at delivering those!" Luis volunteered.