BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (40 page)

"Ain't you supposed to be at work?"

"I decided not to go in today, with the phones being installed-..."

"He as' me to look after that, you suppose to be at work!"

"I'm aware of that Ms. Earthaleen, however since I'm here, I'm seeing to it."

"Well in that case, you should'ah said somethin', I got other thangs I could'ah been doing, sides waitin' round here for nothin'!"

"I apologize Ms. Earthaleen, you're right, I should have told you."

"Em hm, I s'pose you gone be living here all the time then?"

"Just another couple of weeks ma'am and I'll be gone."

"Gone where? Where you goin'?"

"I'll be joining Jake in Wisconsin, we have a home there now."

"A home?"

"Yes ma'am, he's bought us a house, I'll be moving there to be with him in that house."

"Emph! And you ain't married to that man yet, but you gone take yo'tail all the way there, live with him, let him get all the married privileges, but ain't married?"

"We're engaged Ms Earthaleen, we'll be getting married pretty soon."

"Hmph, that's what they all say! You bes' not believe it 'till you walking down the aisle wit' him waitin' by the preacher."

"Ms Earthaleen, if you don't mind, I was about to fix myself something to eat, I know how busy you are, so I won't hold you up any longer."

"Yes, I am busy! And nex' time, you bes' be tellin' me when plans change." She fussed, turning in the door to head back up the stairs.

Closing the door, Vivian had a conniption fit of frustration right there by the door, grinding her teeth quailing the need to shout. By the time she stopped what looked like a jogging in place fight with an invisible opponent, and looked around her, she was embarrassed to see the white technician standing staring at her like she was crazy. "Uh, you okay? Everyone all right?"

Knowing how ridiculous it must have looked, she broke into a smile, "I'm sorry about that, I couldn't help myself. But have you ever talked to an old person that just grated on your nerves so bad you wanted to scream? You know you have to be polite and nice, but they sure don't make it easy to be."

He started laughing right away, "Are you kidding me, in this business, I deal with them almost everyday. Now, I understand."

"Well, that's what that was, I assure you, I'm not entirely crazy - even though she makes me feel that way."

With a smile and a wink, he went back to what he was doing. Grinning, Vivian turned back to the kitchen.

Two hours later, all was done and she was connected to the Internet via modem and all phones were in. She sat through the rest of the morning on the Internet doing research on the area that would be her new home. Checking out the banks in the area - businesses and what opportunities there might be for her. While on, she emailed Sheila, Sylvia and Shanna - telling them pretty much the same thing - giving them their new telephone number and that she was online, inviting them to a super chat when they found the time. Having done that, she was left sitting there with an entire day left in her hands and not sure what to do with it.

She missed Jake.

She was so tempted to jump in the truck and head for Wisconsin - if she left now, she would be there long before he was off work. She smiled, boy would he be surprised. She looked at the clock, it was 10:30. She knew that he was staying at Sylvia's because they were all out of town. Then reality set in, she slumped in her chair realizing how irresponsible that impulse would be considering the fact that she still had to work tomorrow. There was no way she could justify calling in the next two days left of her week and if she drove to Wisconsin today, she knew she wouldn't want to turn around and come right back, so she reigned in the impulsive urge and settled for having a day to herself. So walking around the apartment, she decided to do a little bit of redecorating. Rearrange and remove all evidence of the boys decoration ideas and put her own stamp on the place. It needed a few pictures, non of which she had of her own. They were all in Wisconsin with her furniture. She decided to head off to Pier-One Imports, and decorate the place with that style in mind. She'd always liked the Pier One themes, however because of the antique style of her home already existing there was very little there that would fit into her decor. This apartment however, was another matter entirely, it was in fact a blank canvas. Enthused by the prospects of her day, off she went with credit card ready.

While she was walking around looking at all the various color schemes and possibilities, her mobile rang. Fumbling in her purse, she glanced at the display, Jake. A smile burst upon her face answering it, "Hi baby!"

She could hear him chuckling at the other end, "Emmm, don't you sound in a good mood. You're on my mind lil'girl, you off to lunch?"

"Nooo, I uh, called in today."

"You called in?"

"Yeah, I didn't feel like going in."

"You know what, just quit that fuckin' job and get your ass up here, you might as well - obviously you're no longer motivated."

"I can't Jake, it's not how I do things. It's only a week and a half left, then I'll be done."

"Come up here." He urged.

She giggled, "Nooo, I've already fought that battle in my head today, because I started to, but you know - if I come there, I wouldn't be returning for work tomorrow."

"Shit, you come here, you might not be returning for work period! I'd lock you away somewhere for the next two weeks, feed you on good food and lots of lovin'."

"Emmm, sounds tempting." She flirted.

"Hm, not tempting enough though, so how's my baby?"

Vivian smiled, "I'm just fine-..."

"I'm talking about my truck!" He erupted into laughter.

"Your truck?!" She gasped and then starting laughing, "You wrong, that was just wrong, I see how you gone be." She fussed tartly, tickled within to hear his laughter on the other end of the phone, she loved hearing him laugh.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist, you walked so perfectly into that."

"Em hm, and your truck is just fine. I'm taking good care of it, however, it is not - your baby - I am." She corrected him.

"You better believe it, anything I can do to talk my baby into that truck and here by dinner time?"

Vivian sighed, "You're coming down this weekend aren't you?"

"In other words, no. I suppose I will be." He gave up, switching gears he asked, "They connect the phone today?"

"Yep, they did, I have our new number on me, want it?"

"You bet I do, hang on, let me get a pen." He asked, and then when ready, she read off the new number to him; she was carrying it with her just in case she went somewhere that day needing it for whatever.

"So uh, where are you exactly?" He asked, curious.

"I'm at Pier One Imports."

"What's that?"

"Its a home decor store, where you buy odds and ends, large or small to decorate your home."

"I see, shouldn't I get done with the house first before you start buying things to decorate it?"

"Yep, however - I'm not buying anything for the house."

"Oookay, then what are you buying?"

"Things for the apartment here, it needs sprucing up - right now its too plain, I need to make my mark on it." She stated browsing the aisles letting her imagination warm up.

"Hmmm, and how much exactly is it going to cost me for you to make your mark on it?"

"Excuse me? Cost you, its not going to cost you anything."

"I take it you're paying cash then?"

"Well ... no, I'm putting it on one of my credit cards."

"Whoooaaa there missy, lil'girl, that means, I'm paying for it. Remember, you'll be unemployed in the next week and a half, which means, that bill will be coming to me. So, with this house needing to be done, I think the apartment there is fine as it is. Therefore, kindly back out of that store, don't touch anything, don't break anything, keep your hands by your side, and move towards the exit."

"Excuse me? I know you trippin'."

"No, you're the one who's tripping. We don't need anymore bills added to what's existing. Any money to be spent on a home, will be spent on the one here. We're not even going to be at that apartment enough to justify decorating it."

"Jake! I want to, it needs some things."

"Bullshit! It has a refrigerator, a stove, a shower and a shitter - that's all it needs, the rest is just extra luxury. Now back your ass out of that store!"

"I still work you know! I get paid every two weeks, meaning a check next week, I can pay it off then."

"No! Save that money for here, or to put in the bank. Now listen up, here me loud and clear, no - more - charging! You hear me? The credit cards have now been retired. No more unnecessary spending. Any spending to be done it will be on what we need here, now that's that."

"Don't tell me that's that!
Ask me
if that's that - but you ain't gone tell me - no - that's that - I do still have a job you know, I haven't quit it yet."

"You know what, you should have gone into work, had you done so, you wouldn't be standing in the middle of that store arguing with me about what you know is right. We're starting a family, we have a home to restore, a wedding to plan for, and if you wish, a honeymoon to go on, why don't you save that charge for something like that?"

Vivian sighed, standing where she was, surrounded by so many incredible things she had had every intention of choosing from to fix up their apartment. Yet, as hard as it was to swallow down and accept, he was right, after next week, the place there would be closed up until they came up to visit Sheila and Dennis, or her folks.

"Well? What are you doing?" He asked on the other end of the phone.

"Turning, pushing the cart back to the others and ... leaving the store." She offered begrudgingly.

"That's a good lil'girl. You obviously have some energy to burn, you still on?"

She was walking out of the store, heading for the truck, her lip poked out. "No I'm not still on."

"You want me to come down there?" He asked toying with the idea.

"No! Stay where you are, you have to work in the morning and doing overtime - both of us can't be taking off work."

"I won't take off work. I can get there by nine tonight, stay the night, leave in the morning at seven, and I'll just start a bit later, it'll be fine."

At the truck, she unlocked it and climbed in, "Jake, you can't be up and down that highway like that, you're going to wear yourself out doing that."

"Are you kidding me, I'm a trucker baby, a driver - the highway is my friend. Besides, I'll be doing a lot of driving with the new contract. I'm coming, and at about 9:45 - so will you be!"

"JAKE!" She squealed laughing, "Is that all you think about?"

"No, of course not. But the boys will be with me on the weekend, so we won't be able to indulge. And I really, really - need to make love to you, I mean, really."

Vivian's heart took off from a bit of anticipation and from a bit of worry. She wasn't sure when she would get used to him, and to hear that he was feeling so randy, it made her nervous because once he loaded all of what he carried into her, making love to her, there was no stopping him, the last time they made love, she thought he would never reach his climax, stroking deep and to the hilt.

"Hey? What's up? You went quiet?"

"I'm okay."

"You don't want me to come down?"

"Are you crazy? Of course I do, I love you. I miss you."

"But?"

"I'm just going to have to get used to you, that's all."

"Used to me, how?"

"You know."

"No, tell me."

"The - um - size of you, you know - when you get going."

"Em, I see." He took a deep breath. "Okay, I think I'm going to have to get a hold of something Shawn suggested, I thought maybe, we wouldn't need it, but I guess we do."

"What is that?"

"You'll see. Lunch is almost up, I'll see you tonight, nine - okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you lil'girl - I never want to hurt you, I just wanna take care of you, you believe me?"

"Yes, yes - would you like me to have something for you to eat when you get here?"

"No, I'll pick something up for dinner, no worries. See you tonight."

"Yes, tonight."

*

L.A....

It had been a good idea to stay by the James' for the night. They'd talked, reminisced about the past, laughed out loud long into the night until they woke the kids from stories shared. The setting had been wonderful, the Jame's loved to slow dance with one another and was not shy about putting on soft music, nor dimming the lights and leaving Shawn and Sylvia to join them, or retire to the guest room where they could do a bit of private dancing of their own; which was the choice they made. Right off of their room, they had a cozy little patio where they went, to dance in private. Shawn wearing what was given him to get comfortable in as well Sylvia, a golden, comfortable little number that was appreciated by both of them. The night was theirs and when they finally went to bed, both slept as is if given a room along heavens corridor. So the day was well along by the time they returned to the condo.