BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (224 page)

Chad stopped and turned back to Shawn, "The moment you picked up that phone, and asked for my help, and I agreed to give it, an agreement was contracted. What you say to me, will only spill out to others, if you - tell them, because I never will - otherwise, how can I ever possibly help you?"

"Has there ever been a scenario where you broke confidence and told the authorities on a client?"

"Yes, there are two such scenarios where what was disclosed to me, I could not live with, and told the authorities. And it was to do with child molestation. Your scenario, Shawn McPherson, I can sleep with at night." Chad smiled. "One day at a time."

"Thanks - I'd like another meeting then, if we could."

*

Vivian's and Shanna's day had begun pretty early. They'd wanted Sylvia to come along, but found that she'd already headed out that morning before they'd had a chance to invite her to their wedding gown shopping venture. Shanna had been up, listening to the radio to hear an announcement about a bridal gown shop having up to sixty percent off sales. And of course, she'd gone knocking on Vivian's door, excitedly telling her about it. Once Vivian got herself to moving, shaking off the heavy sleep that was gripping her tightly of late, worse and worse it would seem, with each day, they ate and headed off to Madison.

Their first stop, was to visit Meribel in the hospital. The good news was, that if all went well, she would be released by that Sunday to finally go home. Granted, with half of her body in a cast, she would need the help of her husband around the clock, but he was not going anywhere - Derrick was beyond willing to be her nursemaid. After an hour of telling them why they were there, they took off to hit the bridal shops. Keeping the one with the sale going on for last, just to see what was out there and at what price. Vivian made a note of the ones she liked, the style of them, with a plan to go to the sales shop to see if something similar was there to purchase at sale prices.

That had been the plan, Vivian and Shanna walked into the bridal shop with the sales with good intentions, however, all went out of the window when Vivian walked in to see a gown sitting in back from the window display. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever laid eyes on. She went from gazing at it, to Shanna. "Oh Shanna."

"I know, it is beautiful, and look, it's one of the ones at sixty percent off."

"I see, but from what price? I'm scared to look."

"Want me to look?" Shanna volunteered.

"Not yet, let's guess, what do you think the tag will say?"

Shanna walked around the glorious full gown, noticing all the detail to it, it even had a fur shawl wrap to it, with other amazing accessories, the fabric was a rich silky brocade that they both knew would only come at top dollar. Shanna rejoined Vivian, sighing she guessed, "I'm gonna say, anywhere from $12,000.00 and up."

"No, it's more than that, easily. I know clothes okay? I know the real deal when I see it, even if that's more by only a few more thousand, it's higher than that."

"We gonna look at the tag?"

Vivian sighed, finally shaking her head, "No, my limit is $2,000.00 - we know that gown ain't no where close to that. Let's just, see what else they have."

And so, they continued to look around, with one of the ladies in the shop soon joining them. One thing was certain, the shop had top of the line styles for wedding gowns and brides maid's gowns. On display by many gowns were pages from the Bridal magazine to show they carried many sought after arrangements. However, no matter how many gowns Vivian looked at, her eyes kept straying back to the one that caught her eyes when she walked in. The sales lady smiled, commenting, "That one gets a lot of attention, you want to try it on?" She asked.

"How much to try it on?" Vivian asked.

"Fifty-five dollars." The woman answered.

Vivian stood towards the back of the store staring at it across the way.

"Vivian, you're only going to get married, this big, once." Shanna spoke up, because she could see how much Vivian wanted it.

"It's what I've always dreamed of." Vivian spoke up. Because she knew she'd be trying on gowns, she'd given herself two French-braids down the side, and wore a beautiful silk scarf matching her summer outfit, a semi-short dress she only had to step out of and cute matching sandals.

"At least try it on." The saleswoman encouraged.

Vivian nibbled on her lip, staring at it. "No, I can't - I can't..."

"Vivian come on, let's just see you in it." Shanna pushed.

She couldn't fight the urge, "Okay." She opened her purse, and paid the fifty-five dollars just to put it on.

With the assistance of salespersons, they brought another gown, it's exact duplicate from the back, there were only two in the shop. Vivian stepped into the fitting room, stepped out of her dress, now wearing only her bra and panties, "Oh my god! Would you look at her figure! What I would give to be shaped up like you." One of the women exclaimed. She was pretty herself, brunette, blue eyes, well made up and in her early thirties.

"I know! And it's my brother that she's marrying!" Shanna spoke up bragging.

The other two women, both white, gasped and then smiled, almost clapping in excitement; the older of the two also joined in bragging, "My daughter's husband is a black man! Handsome as can be! They have two children, I've got to show you their pictures, boy and a girl, beautiful beyond words! Remind me when you're done trying on the gown!" She chirped with a beaming smile.

Vivian smiled, nodded and with the help of the ladies, stepped into the gown for them to pull it up and fit it on her. It was a tad bit roomy, especially around the waist, but holding the bodice up she looked at herself in all of the mirrors that surrounded her.

"Oh my goodness, that gown was made for you! Honey, personally, I think you're done looking." The shop owner praised and urged. The two gowns had been there for a while, because of the price tag on them, they weren't moving too fast.

Vivian made eye contact with Shanna, "What do you think?"

"No, the question is, what do you think?"

"I think I should have never stepped into it."

"You love it?" Shanna asked.

"Yes - oh Shanna, yes."

"Well, I'm with her, she's right - it is absolutely stunning on you. When Jake sees you coming down the aisle wearing that, it's going to take his breath away."

Vivian stood staring at herself, then took a really long deep breath, looked down for the tag, took it in hand, took another deep breath, and flipped it up. "I knew it." She murmured softly.

"Honey, that gown is sixty percent off that price." The shop owner pointed out.

"Which makes it, let's see..." Vivian calculated in her head, "...after the deduction, a little over $8,000.00 dollars."

The shop owner smiled, "Yes, a little over is right."

Vivian looked at Shanna, "Told you it was more than twelve."

Discarding that, "What do you wanna do, Vivian?"

"I want to pay for this gown and wear it on my wedding day!"

"Okay, well let's look at it this way, with all that I'm doing to build up your wedding, making the arrangements..." She stopped, looked at the shop owner, "...oh, by the way, I'm a wedding planner, can I leave a card and brochure with you?"

"You most certainly can! I would love for you to."

Then back to Vivian, "As I was saying, because of me doing your wedding as a gift, and also to build up my portfolio - you're saving a great deal of money there! I will also help you cut corners in other ways - Vivian - get the gown you want. Get that gown."

"What I'll do is, put the two thousand that Jake gave me on it, and pay the rest with my credit card. And I'll just have to do something to make money to pay it off. Get a part-time job or something."

"And if you're pregnant, which you are."

Both women listening, almost clapped again, hearing this.

"Shanna, I'm not going to be the first pregnant woman to work."

"True, but they aren't going to be married to my brother, are they?"

"I'll cross that bridge, when I get to it."

"Knowing Jake, you will never cross that bridge, but good luck!"

Vivian looked at the shop owner thinking about it some more, prompting her to ask, "Well?"

"I'll take it - let's do the fitting."

"Yes!" The shop owner cheered, "Good for you - it's your wedding day!"

Vivian sighed, thinking about Jake.

Shanna leaned and whispered in her ear, "He never has to know, we'll think of something."

*

Even though he had to work that night, Crystal talked Victor into sacrificing at least an hour for his sons. They arrived at the house and he chose to stay in the car, while Crystal got out to look for everyone. She had checked her phone, but hadn't received any more texts from Ben. She was a bit queasy about him possibly coming on the scene, so text him to make him aware that Victor was going to be at her mother's to see the boys. She never received a text back from him about it, so she wasn't sure what that meant.

She didn't find anyone at home in the house, so crossed the road to go to the studio, that's where she found Shawn, working, getting it completely set up.

"Yooo-hooo, anybody here? It's Crystal!" She called out, entering the studio, noting that it was open to enter.

"Hey sweety, I'm in here!" He called back.

She made her way to his office, he had his decorations up, lots of pictures that he'd taken, and pictures of her mother, all over the place, including on his desk. "Wow, looks good in here."

"Thanks, since I've been home alone all day, wanted to get a lot done. I'm pretty proud of it."

"You should be." She answered looking around, and then caught a picture of her and Ben, when they were dressed to head for the ball. Her eyes got wide, stuck on it, it was beautiful, they were beautiful together, but - Victor! She was worried about him seeing it. Shawn turned to see what she was looking at. He instantly knew, "Forget it, I'm not taking it down."

"Shawn!"

He turned in his seat, shocked, "Excuse me? Shawn?" He asked, clearly offended.

Crystal wilted, "Sorry, dad - you know you're my dad!" She walked over to him, hugging him from behind as he sat, kissing his cheek loudly and sloppily, making him laugh, "That's better! And as I said, not taking that down, it's one of my favorites of you."

"But Ben is in it with me."

"And?"

"Dad!" She called exasperated, still leaning down, holding onto him.

"Shit for brains ain't gonna see it!"

Crystal started laughing, shaking her head she stood away from him, "That is not nice, besides, shit for brains is out in the car, waiting to see the kids."

"Long as he doesn't step foot in here, I don't care. So there is no reason he'll ever see that picture."

"He's trying dad."

"Bull! How hard did you twist his arm? You threaten to leave him, to come back home to get him to conform?" He asked.

She blushed, hating that in a small way, his words were true, "Nooo, I didn't have to do all of that." She fibbed a bit, sitting on his desk. "Know what time everyone is coming back?"

"Mundo says they're all on the way back home now. Just so you know, Ben stayed behind at his grandparents with his cousins, Sasha and Joseph; who are also staying back." He informed her, watching her expression. She went quiet and contemplative, her eyes drifting a bit. While she was relieved Ben would not be coming back with them, therefore, no problems with him and Victor, yet, she was still disappointed.

"Penny for your thoughts." Shawn murmured gently.

She gave a soft smile, looking down at him, "Nothing on my mind."

"Liar."

"No really."

"Liar liar. You miss Ben?"

She hopped off of his desk, "Would you stop that! Don't say stuff like that! I'm gonna go wait outside."

"You can run from the truth, but you can't hide from the truth, go - ass wipe is waiting!"

She stopped in the door and fussed, "And stop calling him names!"

Shawn half smirked, half grinned, winking at her, "Go lil'girl, sir foolish one awaits!"

"You have to at least give him a chance!" She fumed.

Shawn gave her a bored stare, in other words, don't hold your breath.

She gave up, "I'll be outside."

He waved her off, turning back to work on what he was doing.

Outside, Crystal walked back to the car, Victor had gotten out and was leaning against it. Just as she was crossing the road, the Hummer pulled up with Mundo, Angela, Isaac and Darren, they pulled into the drive way and all climbed from the vehicle, calling for her, Angela first, and then her boys.

"Crystal! Oh Crystal!" She called, rushing up to her to give her a hug, "Hey gurl, whassup!?" Crystal greeted hugging her back.

"Missin' you! That's what's up!" She wanted to say more, but Victor was there, and remembering to be polite, she turned and waved at him, "Hi."

Victor nodded, eyes on his boys and Mundo. He had them by the hand, they were obviously happy to see Crystal, but were eyeing him warily, as if they didn't trust why they were there. Turning to them, Crystal held out her arms, "My babies! Come here to mama! You miss me?!" Darren was the first to make it to her, she scooped him up into the air, making him laugh out, then lowered him to rain loud kisses all over his face and neck. "Mama miss you sooo much! I love you baby! I love you soooo sooo much! Come here Isaac, didn't you miss me?" She asked him. He was not so quick to respond, busy watching Victor with wary eyes. He then suddenly turned to his mother, rushing into her arms with her kneeling on the ground towards him. "I miss you mama." He murmured low for her ears only, hugging her, while she kissed and hugged him.

"What you been doing today?" She asked the question before her brain engaged and she wanted to kick herself.

Mundo hurried with, "I took'em to the movies to see Iron Giant, they enjoyed it. Right lil'man, you enjoy it?"

Isaac nodded, his eyes still on Victor.

Crystal turned and looked up at him, "Well Victor?" She didn't understand why he was just standing there, she would have thought he'd come down and grab one of the boys, to hug them. Her saying that, snapped him out of his seeming, daydream. Smiling, he knelt, "Hey, come give dad a hug." He reached for Isaac. Crystal held her breath, and to her surprise, he walked to him to be hugged. Victor smiled, hugged him tightly and stood, picking him up with him. "How about we go get some ice cream or something?"