BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (168 page)

"Pippa, I'm talking to you."

She looked up from the floor at her father once again.

"Did you hear what I asked you?"

She shrugged and shook her head.

"I asked, if you would please, give tonight a try, be on your best - and - give Francis a-..."

"I don't like Francis, he's not my type."

"Okay, I won't force him on you, but at least, be on your best behavior. No smirking at the guest, no rolling your eyes, no sarcastic retorts, and please restrain from saying and doing things to embarrass Vanessa, of the two of you, one would believe she was the older one. You look nice by the way - see you downstairs in a bit."

Chaka nodded, looking away, thinking her father had left the room, surprised when his hand was there suddenly lifting her face by her chin. She gazed up at him with dark eyes, full of so many things he wished he could decipher.

"I do love you Pippa, and - I want the best things in life for you, all the best. And I can give you all the best, but - you have to be willing to - accept it. I'm thinking perhaps, the best way, for you to appreciate all that you have, is by taking it away. My daughter, you either get your life in order, or - I'm going to strip you of everything and send you out in the real world, not to play, but to see it for what it really is. A job, not recommended by me, a place, not paid for by me, but - by the money you earn yourself. Is that what it's going to come to Pippa?" He instantly saw the error is mixing his statement of love with something that had long been on his mind, as a final means to reach her. Her eyes narrowed defiantly.

"It's your money daddy, do with it what you will. I'm your daughter, do to me, what you will. I am who I am, and I will not change who I am, even for you." She moved back, taking her chin from his fingers, took her cane, stood and hobbled from the room leaving her father standing there - realizing that soon, he just may have to do, what he'd always feared doing.

*

Camp Daniels, Wi.

As the construction crew added the final touches to the studio, Deidre stood listening to Shawn praise their work, and she agreed, they did an incredible job. He soon joined her, "This is going to be great Shawn, I'm so proud of what you're doing, this has always been a dream of yours, now - it's coming true. This is where you'll definitely shine - in your own studio."

"Thanks for that, can you tell I'm excited? I cannot wait to take my first photos. I can't get over how they've done it to the letter."

"That's a good thing, especially with the changes you'll need to incorporate for the security measures. They're going to have to work with the firm that'll be installing the panic room and escape way - so of course, we're talking new layout plans. The sooner that is done, the sooner I can be out of your hair."

Shawn felt a pain of guilt hearing that, prompting him to correct it, "Deidre..." He gently took hold of her arm leading her into one of the empty rooms, closing the door behind them, and turning to her, "...I need to - clear the air with you. I have been, such an asshole to you - and - I know it. Not to mention, being a bit overbearing - I just - I've been angry, for so long about it all - and there's no need since I've moved on; and I'm happy that you've moved on. The past is just that, nothing from it can be retrieved. I'm sorry Deidre, for everything; I really am. I need to stop hitting you over the head with it all and just - chill out I guess. You've given me, such a precious gift, my daughter, and uh, that makes you family, always. I just needed to say that."

Deidre stood, stunned and then smiled, "Wow - look at you. That's the last thing I expected to come from you."

"Well then, it was long overdue - forgive me?"

"Are you kidding? Of course I forgive you. I'm the one guilty of letting things happen that shouldn't have."

"And I'm the one who had the affair, so - we're both to blame, but now - I just wanna make things right. I want us to move forward on a clean slate, work together, keep our daughter safe and make her happy, we should be able to work that out."

"Oh yes please, I'll take two." She smiled, and couldn't resist hugging him tightly, and it was returned. Ironically, a hug that was tight, strong and real, she could feel it. He let her go finally, she stepped back, "This alone, made this trip worth it. Now does this mean, you're willing to compromise and work with me no matter what? I mean, money wise Shawn? I can afford whatever it takes, please don't let your pride block that - I just want to make sure, she's going to be alright, and that means, giving you all the support you need, to keep her safe and your family safe. For instance, the thing with the bodyguards, please Shawn, work with them?"

"They told you?"

"Yeah, they told me."

He sighed, finally giving in, nodding, "Alright, alright - I know. I'll try, it's not gonna to be easy - but I'll do my best to adjust."

"Good, and just so you know it, Charlie and I have done our research, there's a great deal of land around here, land behind Sylvia for sale, and one more adjacent to you, five additional acres, let me buy that land so we can use it, to provide a place for her guards, right on the property."

"Here we go!"

"Shawn come on, they need to be set up on one or the other."

"All right, but I want to buy that land back from you."

"You'll have to take that up with your daughter, because - well - I've already purchased it and it's in her name. You being her father, and guardian means you have full control until she's of age. I'm sure you two can handle that between you - just leave me out of it." She grinned.

"So it's already a done deal?"

"Paperwork and closing contract will be ready Thursday, you have full authority to pick it up at the lands and deeds office."

"I take it that's that?"

"That's pretty much, that." Her expression was one of apology.

They left the office collecting the builders and leading them all to the house and into the basement, to his office to re-discuss what would take place with the house now that Angela's safety and the families had to be figured in. He assured them, that once the core builders from the security firm were done, they would be expected to pick up from there, which meant for them, an extension on their building completion target, however, monetarily, they would be better off due to the intricate changes. Also, as they stood around discussing what would have to be done, each contributing and suggesting, they realized the foundation was not big enough and the home would have to be moved further back from the road to make room for a stone wall around it with an entry gate.

It was a highly motivated discussion with Charlie, Samuel, the other bodyguards, construction workers, Deidre and Shawn redrawing the layout - before the day wore on, they had the new lay out drawn up. Deidre rolled it up, taking it with her to consult the security firm she hired - she was ready to get the ball rolling. She wanted as much done as quickly as possible, and maybe by staying busy, the time would rush by and soon Jeremiah would be there to join her. He'd made it in time for them to spend a few moments together before she'd needed to get going, promising that he'd be there Thursday. After she left with her bodyguards, Shawn sat in discussion with the builders, writing them out a check for the work on the studio, with no idea of the storm gathering outside.

When Victor turned down the familiar block, heading for Sylvia's, he was met by vehicles parked everywhere; yet, while there were plenty of cars and trucks about, he saw no people. He knew they were back from the message on his phone, and due to Mundo's blazer parked on the side of the house, Shawn's navigator next to it, as well Crystal's car and others; they had to be somewhere. However, no Crystal. He pulled into the drive to see the garage door open, Sylvia's red Mustang parked with the front end pointing at him. He thought he'd better not block her and backed out and pointed his car towards the way that he came; backing close to the far curb to park. He sat for a moment looking around, then stepped from the vehicle, glancing at the new studio that was up, impressed with it wondering what the structure was about. Stepping around his car, he walked up the drive towards the house, heading for the new door that cut into the new connection between the house and garage and was about to knock when he heard voices.

The voices he heard were from Crystal, Angela and the boys, all laughing along with Ben from having crossed the field behind her mother's home, climbing thru, each one between the barbed wire fencing that Ben held apart until all passed safely in between and into the large back yard. They were laughing because when it had been Ben's turn to climb through the fencing, Angela hadn't been able to hang onto the tightly strained wire, losing her grip it sprung lose, caught his shirt, scratching him, making him shout, "HEY! Oh that's great, do me in already why don'cha! And here you had me thinking you liked having me for a big brother!"

Angela was in fits of giggles, apologizing, but laughing as Crystal teased, "Aaah, here we thought you were such a big strong guy, crying over a little barbed wire digging into your flesh, just a scratch, man up already. Little blood shed never killed anyone."

"Thanks a lot! My little sister is peeling my flesh and do I get any sympathy from you?"

"Em mm." Crystal grinned shaking her head, trying not to laugh.

"Cold! Totally hardcore - bet you're into whips and chains - yeah, I know the type."

They were coming up from the far side of the garage, Isaac walking between Crystal and Angela as they held a hand, swinging him, and Ben, holding Darren. Crystal cracked up laughing as they turned the corner in the lead, Ben bringing up the rear with a happy Darren at his side, sitting on his arm, making their way towards the front door. Having so many men around, they hadn't paid the figure to the right of them any attention, assuming he was one of the men coming out of the house, until he called out, "Crystal - what the hell? What's going on here?" Victor demanded, immediately hot at the sight of his "wife" laughing and carrying on in the presence of Shawn's son - someone he already did not like, especially after leading him on and losing him, making a fool out of him.

They all stopped and turned to look at him, stunned to see who it was. Right away, Ben's eyes locked on him, watching as Victor drew closer to them, his eyes going from Crystal and then back to glare at him - who also remembered leading him on a merry chase, he couldn't bite back the smile to save his life; making Victor's face burn even more.

"Victor?!" Crystal gasped, "What are you doing here? Why didn't you call me?"

"Yeah right, I'm sure you would've liked that - so you could hide what's going on here?" He accused, instantly angry at seeing her in the presence of another man, laughing, smiling, looking incredible, her hair hanging straight, blowing in the summer breeze.

"Hide what's going on here? What's that supposed to mean?" She responded right away.

"What the hell is he doing with my kid?!" Victor carried on, marching up to Ben, "Give me my fuckin' kid - now!"

"His name is Darren, not kid - save the hostility for when they're not around, okay?" Ben returned, correcting him while holding onto Darren.

"Fuckin' give'im here now!" Victor bit out, grabbing Darren, snatching him from Ben; he immediately started crying, looking around and reaching for Ben to take him back.

"Victor don't be snatching on him like that! Why the hell are you tripping? Put my baby down now!" Crystal demanded.

Darren kept reaching for Ben, crying, which was quickly riling him, "Hey man, chill in front of the kids."

"You know what dude, stay the fuck out of my business, he's my fuckin' son!" Victor hissed at him and then to Crystal, "What is he doing with my son?" He asked while trying to keep a hold of Darren, shaking him up and down to calm him, but he was squirming to get out of his arms.

"First, don't come here trippin' like you have lost your mind, second, put - him - down!" Crystal bit out.

Because Darren didn't want to be held, he had little choice, the moment his feet hit the ground, he rushed back to Ben.

"What the fuck is this!? What is this?" Victor demanded, close to shouting, pointing at Darren rushing for Ben.

"What do you think, he likes Ben, isn't it obvious?!" She snapped back, "If the sight of it upsets you so, maybe that will inspire you to spend more time with your sons!" She was now on the verge of shouting, the pitch in her tone getting higher.

"Oh yeah, that' makes sense, when you're off in California some where, without asking me could you take them! I do work everyday you know!?"

"STOP FIGHTING!" Isaac starting yelling up at them from the ground, moving between them.

"What about before we went to California Victor, where were you then? You had time for other things then! But no time to pick up your boys!"

"STOP FIGHTING!" He yelled again, hitting his father's leg, and then Crystal's.

"If you remember correctly, I have taken my boys off with me! But they were little, and only cried!"

"They weren't crying because they were little! They were crying because you don't know how to handle your own sons! That's why they cried!"

Isaac started pushing at Victor's legs, "GO HOME DADDY! GO HOME! STOP FIGHTING, MAKIN' MAMA MAD!!"

"Your goddamn mother makes me mad too! What about her, huh?!" He yelled down at Isaac.

"Man why the hell are you including your son in on this? Don't talk to him that way about his mother!" Ben couldn't keep quiet a moment more.

Victor turned and jabbed Ben hard in the chest with his two fingers, "Who the fuck are you?! Stay the hell away from my family!"

"Dude, I wouldn't do that again if I were you!" Ben warned him. "Angela, take the boys in the house." He ordered her, his gaze heated, set on Victor.

"What the fuck are you gonna do if I do!? And don't take my boys anywhere!" He ordered turning from Ben, to Angela.

Angela stopped mid-stride of pulling the wailing babies away. "Angela, ignore him, take them in, now! Go on!" Crystal ordered, stepping between her and the boys and Victor, for him to demand from her, "What have you been doing? Why is he here, hanging around you and my boys, getting familiar with them?"