BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (121 page)

Now, as they sat, he'd lowered his paper to say something to her, he smiled - and then looked to Deidre, whom she noticed widened her eyes with a slight shake of her head. He gave a slight nod as if in agreement and pushed his chair back from the table. "I have a few phone calls to make, I'll leave you two to enjoy your breakfast." folding his paper under his arm; stood and left the room. He would be staying with Deidre through the next few days, deciding to conduct whatever business he could from her home. He had all he needed, his lap top and briefcase - because he wanted to be a support to her. She was getting more and more nervous, worried because the time had come to deal with Angela and then, Shawn would follow.

Because their behavior could not be mistaken, Angela asked right away, "What's going on?"

Deidre took a few deep breaths, pushing her plate away to clear an area before her where her elbows went to the table and her chin resting on the knuckles of her hand. She looked at her daughter, right into her eyes. Her stomach tightened.

"Well?" Angela pressed again.

Deidre gave a gentle smile, "Have you been enjoying yourself here? This time?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just asking, and what do you think about Jeremiah?"

Angela shrugged, "He's okay I guess."

"He really thinks you're cool."

"What is this about, you gonna marry him or something?"

"I wouldn't mind marrying him, but - that's not what this is about." She saw her daughter physically brace herself, sitting back in the chair, hands gripping the sides of the seat.

"If not that, what then?"

Deidre took another deep breath, "Remember me being in the hospital a while back?"

"Yeah, when you got shot."

"Yes - when I was shot. You see Angela, the problem is - we think someone went through a lot of trouble to set me up that night. I can only guess at the plot, but either way, it no doubt had to do with money. I'm worth a lot of money, meaning, we have access to a great deal of it, do you know what that means?"

"No I don't know what you mean, what are you getting at? What does that have to do with me?"

"You're my daughter Angela, you're a Wherrington-..."

"I'm a McPherson! I'm not a Wherrington, maybe you are, but I'm not!"

"Either way Angela, lots of people know that we are descendants of Wherrington's, regardless of exterior ties, such as your father. People know, that I - have a daughter, you."

"So." Angela returned, drawing further away from her mother into the chair, as if it would keep her away from her. Her eyes were growing wider, worry was already starting to transform her features.

"Angela - they know - or - will assume that you are the most important thing in the world to me. A correct assumption I might add. Knowing that, they also figure that I'll do anything possible, whatever it takes, to keep you safe - a - alive. The motivation behind things they might do to challenge that knowledge is money, something many people want and need. Those that feel they need it the most, sometimes do desperate things to get it. What happened to me Angela - we believe was a desperate act. We don't understand it fully yet, or who was behind it, but - it didn't turn out the way they planned it. And - they may be planning something - again. Only, they're more than likely, giving a little time to go by, and perhaps, better plan, or go in another direction. Are you following me so far?"

Eyes round as saucers, she nodded quietly.

"Angela, one of the most often used, desperate acts to get a person's money, is to hold for ransom, something - or - someone they most treasure. Those that will do this, are willing to go as far as necessary to succeed, in getting paid the value of what they hold. Or - else. It's the or else, that makes many pay the price. Do you know what I'm getting at?"

"No." She couldn't get herself to give in to what this discussion was leading to.

"Come on Angela, you must know what I'm saying to you. You're a little girl, but you're a smart one. You've been around enough to hear things, see things."

Growing upset, she fired off, " I don't know why you're telling me this!"

"Angela, you - are worth - a lot of money! Lots of it. I'm saying, that those same people who tried to hurt me, might try once more, but this time - they may go after you. They'll do it Angela for the money - and they don't care about anything else but that."

Her eyes started to well up, because now she knew where it was going.

"Angela ... oh honey, I can't - I can't take a chance - as your mother - on letting anyone - hurt you - kidnap you. I have to do all that I can, to protect you."

"My daddy will protect me!"

"I know he would Angela, your father loves you more than anything in this world. He would protect you with his dying breath. Problem is Angela, once he gives up his - last dying breath to try and save you, the people after you, would still get you - and Angela - your father, Shawn Everett McPherson - would be gone - for good this time Angela. Never to return. Angela, they will kill him. To get you from him, they would have to kill him."

"Noooo - don't say that!" She began crying.

"Angela! That's the way it is! That's the world we live in! You know your father better than anyone - no one loves him more than you - that's why - I know - just as he would do all to protect you - you - Angela - will do all you can - to protect him. He will not hesitate, he will take whatever is-..."

Angela shot up from her chair running from the room.

Deidre stood, "ANGELA!!! Angela please..." She rushed after her, as she darted up the stairs, "ANGELA!!!" Deidre called up to her.

"I HATE IT HE-E-E-ERE! I HATE BEING A WHERRINGTON AND I - HATE - YO-O-O-OU!!!" She screamed hysterically rushing towards her room where she locked herself in.

Deidre stood mid-way up the stairs, her eyes filling with tears. Gathering below, Jeremiah, Charlie, and the new bodyguard, Angela's bodyguard. They were all quiet, waiting. Deidre turned looking down at them. Tears ran from her eyes that she swiped at, looking to the new bodyguard, selected by Jeremiah and Charlie she ordered, "Please, go - guard my daughter."

The new person, Ivory Saitama - son of a black mother and Japanese father, in his late 20's made his way silently up the stairs to position himself as guard over her. He'd been in training of the martial arts since he could stand on his own two feet. And it was in one of his classes that was attended by Jeremiah, that he was approached by him four years ago saying to him, "You should be a bodyguard, your speed, your skill - you could practically name your price."

Four years of specialized training later, there he was.

Deidre passed him on the way down, "She didn't mean that Deidre." Jeremiah tried to console her.

"Yeah, she did. She is, Shawn's daughter - all I did was bring her into the world, he's done the rest."

"But she doesn't hate you, she's frustrated, hurt and angry. I'm sure you can relate."

"Kind'ah - but you see, I never had a father like Shawn. No child, no little girl, with a father like him, should be forced to part from him. If I were her, I would hate me. Oh well, no matter, that was mild. That was nothing compared to what we'll face when he's here. I'm just going to - relax for a bit, give it some time, before I call him."

Jeremiah nodded, turning to look at Charlie.

"Are you sure, this is the only way we can protect her?" he asked, now starting to feel a bit of the pressure himself.

"What do you think? You know what they'll do to get her."

Jeremiah nodded, yes, he did know.

*

L. A. Condo

By the time Shawn came out of the shower, most in the house were up and at it. His wife on the other hand, was still in bed. "Hey you, you okay?" He inquired, drying off, one towel around his neck, the other around his waist.

"Em hm, just sleepy. I tossed and turned a lot last night, couldn't stay asleep. I'm telling you now, we gone catch hell with your Jesse James, his lil'butt was moving around all night long. I'd dose off and he'd wake me up again. But he just as still as he can be now. Is it okay if I get in another hour?"

Smiling, hearing about his son, Shawn climb on the bed to lean over her, "Are you kidding me, of course. You stay in bed as long as you need. You want me to bring you anything?"

Sylvia turned into him, snuggling against his body on her side, "Nooo, I'm fine, just wanna get s'more sleep. Emmm, you smell so fresh, smell good." She smiled groggily. Shawn leaned down, kissing her temple, to her ear, on the side of her neck, "I'm - sorry about last night, I didn't mean-..."

"That - is not even, on my mind, gone and forgotten." She murmured with her face tucked into his neck, a soft kiss followed the dismissal.

Shawn exhaled, "Would you like me to climb back in bed so you can smell more of me." He flirted.

Chuckling, she shook her head, "I said I wan' some sleep."

"All right, all right - get some sleep. I'm gonna find Crystal, have her give me another haircut."

"You don't need no haircut, just a trim maybe - it's just starting to get back to the length I like."

"I like it short, no trouble. Go to sleep woman!"

Sucking her tongue, "Tsk - you just like looking menacing."

"Menacing?! Me? Menacing?" He grabbed her and started tickling her, "I - your humble husband, look menacing to you..."

Sylvia squealed out, curling inward laughing, trying to catch his hands and pull them away from her, "Stop - Shawn stop!"

"Take it back!"

"You're not menacing! You're not - I'm talkin' crazy!"

He stopped, hugging her closer beneath his one arm as his other hand gently caressed her temple, her hairline, smoothing it back away from her face, which he couldn't resist kissing once more, her forehead, her brow, "Oh I love you - I love you so much." He squeezed her, watching her drift towards slumber. "I love you too, I'll be up in a hour - just a little more sleep." She yawned, then reached out for his hand, pulling it to her breasts, intertwining her fingers with his and holding it close to her heart, "Stay with me 'till I drop off." She mumbled, not far from being asleep as he watched her. He didn't answer, but stayed, laying over her, adding his weight to her as if it comforted her, allowing her to easily fall asleep. Fifteen minutes later he carefully pulled his hand free from her grip and eased from the bed. Quiet as could be, he dried off, dressed, and left the room.

Downstairs he found Crystal at the kitchen table on Ben's laptop. "Mornin' Pumkin'."

Crystal smiled brightly looking up at him, "Mornin'." She greeted back.

"What you doing?" He asked, curious.

"Setting up an email account. Ben says that it makes no sense that at my age and the times we live in, that I have no computer with my own email account."

"You must be joking, you don't have a computer? Or an email?"

She laughed because Ben's expression was almost exactly the same.

"I had an email in college, the one they issue you in computer science. But there was no reason for one otherwise because we didn't have a computer. I never worried about it, because it was something we couldn't afford, besides, I have a telephone."

"So how did you do school assignments and research?"

"Library, there are computers there. Books, you know, the old fashion way - it still works, just have to walk around collecting whatever books you need. School was expensive enough, so there was no room for adding a computer, no big deal."

Shawn stood looking at her with his mouth partially open, Crystal cut a glance his way and busted out laughing again, "Stop looking at me like that. I'll get one eventually. See, and I've made the first step that way, because I now officially have an email, [email protected] - done! Now, the question is, who's gonna be emailing me?" She joked, and groaned inwardly because she could see and read what he was thinking.

"You know I can't have that right?"

"Papah-Shawn, no no no now! You've done enough for us. I'll do hair or something, a few weaves and start saving to get me one, I'll have-..."

"Crystal Bella, first rule of this house - what papah says, that's what goes! You'll have plenty of time later after you finish school to start paying your way, when you're earning top dollars. I can't believe you don't have a computer, or one in storage with your things, I can't believe it."

"Why is that such a big deal and so hard to believe?"

"It's just - unheard of in our day and time." He returned.

"Papah-Shawn, not everyone - can afford a computer. It's a luxury. Thousands of people don't have that kind of money just laying around. When you're trying to make ends meet, a computer is out of the question."

"It's not a luxury, it's a necessity. You mean to tell me Victor couldn't see to you having a computer?"

"I never asked for one. Besides, I learned the hard way, when it came to money, I was better off making my own and spending only that on what we needed."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, that menacing look his wife commented on, sprung to life right there.

"Just that, well - there was his money - and there was my money. Let's just leave it at that."

"That's bullshit! The man makes the money, for the whole family, whatever the wife makes on the side, she needs to use for whatever little things she wants for herself, or whatever it is that women do with their money! But there should be no, your money, my money! That's bullshit! So did he, have enough money that he could have provided you with a computer?"

Crystal's brow drew in, sensing something in him, something not good directed towards Victor, "I'm not sure," She lied to avoid where the truth might lead, "What's wrong with you this morning?" She asked, picking up on his obvious mood.

"Nothing," he grumbled, "When you're done there, give me a haircut?"

"I'm done now - finished." She rose closing Ben's laptop and putting it away in his case where he'd taken it out to set before her, insisting she register herself an email address, with that accomplished, she put it away on the way to her room, to get her barbering case.