BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (55 page)

Vivian smiled, "Of course."

He bent and kissed her mouth and was out of the shower leaving her to finish as he dried himself and prepared to get on the highway for home. Before going he promised to be back down Friday evening and was off.

At work, Vivian sat in her office realizing that soon she would be off into another life and this would all be behind her. She sat reminiscing of her humble beginning there and then found herself staring at her engagement ring with the knowledge that her life was about to take on a whole new challenge, being married to Jake. A tap sounded at her door, "Come in."

To her surprise it was Alec Ore -(pronounced, O-rie), her boss.

"Oh, hi Alec, what a surprise."

He was smiling as he entered, always happy to speak with Vivian, he came in and took a seat before her desk. "Just wanted to come in and check on you, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You've had a bit of a bad luck run lately and I'm afraid its worked against us, you know I really hate to see you go. I was a bit fearful that yesterday would have been it, that you might not be coming back."

"Are you kidding me, you should know me by now, my record speaks for itself."

"Yes it does, and there's nothing I can say or do to keep you with us?"

"I'm getting married soon and my life will be in Wisconsin, my fiancé is impatient enough to get me up there."

"He's from Wisconsin?"

"Yes."

"What part? Madison, Milwaukee?"

"Nooo, further North I'm afraid - small town, farming community."

Alec set back laughing, "You're kidding me, a city girl like you, going off to the farm."

"It's true, it's true, he's already found us a home, one that he'll be renovating and when I go down, I'll be helping of course."

"So will you be going right to work? What will you be doing?"

"He doesn't want me to work, he wants to start a family right away."

"He sounds like quite a man, I hope he knows how lucky he is to be getting you."

"Thank you for saying that, I think he does."

"Well, I just wanted to drop in and let you know we're going to hate giving you up, but I suppose it was bound to happen. Just so you know, I'll be writing you out a glowing recommendation entailing all contributions you've made here, should you ever need a job - they can call me and by the time I'm done singing your praises you'll be back in top position again." He stood.

Vivian followed suit, "Thank you so much for that, it was my biggest fear with leaving."

"Fear no more, you earned that. I'm not giving you anything you didn't work hard for, and though it's to be a surprise I felt I needed to tell you so you wouldn't skip out on us early, we're throwing you a party next week, so be here!"

"Ohhh, you better believe I'll be here! Thank you so much!" She sighed going around her desk to hug him, he returned the gesture and soon left her office.

Vivian smiled, speaking to herself, "I'm glad I stayed."

She was on her way back around her desk when her door opened again, Janna stuck her head in, "Good morning, mind if I come in?"

Vivian sat and nodded, "Sure, come on in."

Closing the door behind her, Janna sat, smiling - studying Vivian, Vivian was doing the same in return, waiting.

"How have you been?" Janna asked.

"Still alive and kicking."

"Still with - Jake?"

Vivian lifted her hand turning it to wag her ring finger bringing attention to her ring still in place.

"I see, so the move is still on, the whole relocation thing huh?"

"Yep, we have a house now as well, so he's uh - getting everything in order."

"Emmm, a house, I see. Renting? Buying?"

"Bought. A wedding gift from his parents."

"B-bought? Wow - I - I just thought that, well - with Laek trying to contact you so badly that he-..."

"You can sit there and say his name to me when you know what he did to me? What he pulled on me in this bank right down stairs? Are you the one that gave him my new address and phone number by the way?"

"Look, he came to me - begging, pleading - swearing his undying devotion to you, I thought he meant it."

"I'm with Jake - as you know! While he was begging, pleading and swearing his undying devotion, why didn't you tell him, that I am perfectly happy where I am, as any real and true friend - would have done!"

"I didn't know that he would do what he did Vivian, I was as shocked to hear it as everyone else, I mean, he was just bluffing after all, he didn't really do anything did he?"

"I beg your pardon! Didn't do anything? Well no Janna, short of scaring the living hell out of me! I sat down there in that office thinking I was about to die! But in your eyes that's not really doing anything is it?!"

"Hey wait a minute here, don't blame me for what he's done to you! You're the one who chose to be involved with him! Even after you knew that he was married, you carried on with him! Now, that his life is torn apart and his wife is taking him for everything he has, you're going on to the next man!"

"And that's the rub isn't it Janna? That I've learned my lesson in life, as hard a lesson as it was - even so, it galls you that I've come back and have gotten myself another one, and a damn good one at that and of all men, a white man! Tall, fine and up and down that highway constantly for this here black ass nigger - oh shit - something is not right in this world! That it Janna?"

"Oh no you don't pull that racist shit with me, I've never thought any such thing, not ever!"

"Bull - shit! You don't think people around this office talk Janna? Be careful with whom you stab people in the back to, the grapevine is filled with, he say, she say, founded on certain truths and facts. You and I started here at the same time. I was always promoted before you; I was always chosen to deal with certain business matters over you; and I was given this position along with the pay, over you. And all the time you and I shared lunch, chit-chatting about this and that, I always had this gut feeling that in truth, you resented me and how far I've come, over you!"

"I don't know what you've heard, but I never resented you anything."

"Don't lie Janna! It's okay and just so that you know it, I told Alec when I put in my notice that he should consider you for this position because I know how much you want it. After all, you always felt that the only reason I got it was because of the color of my skin."

"Well let's face it, there is some truth in that, isn't there?" She finally fired back.

"Perhaps, but it also helped that I worked my ass off to prove that I was more than capable! Obviously they felt it to their advantage to utilize my commitment to this job as well my abilities to get the job done without someone standing over me and directing me. If you should get this position, I wish you all the best in it."

"You think you're so smug don't you, think you're so damn smart! Just because you're black you think people should cater to you and just hand you what you want-..."

"No! You think because you're white - that should be the case for you! Cater to you, hand you, serve you, give you top picks! And because the times have changed, there is still a number of you spinning and buzzing - wondering what the hell is going on! I'll tell you what's going on! Slowly, by agonizing creeping speed, times are coming, where you all will have to work just as hard as we always have had to, and I do mean, double time and maybe ... harder! We can tell you all about it, I know it's foreign to you and bitter to a palette like yours that has been accustomed to getting all the best served to you first ... but'ah, times are changing baby - times are changing. Accept it. Including, that tall, fine, white, specimen of a man that you feel I have no damn business with, yeah ... I got his ass too! And there ain't shit - you - can do about that. Don't let it eat you up Janna, don't let it consume you. Preserve your energies for the battles ahead - because in this one - I am the victor. Congratulate me - don't hate me. I don't hate you ... but I do feel sorry for you. Just a word of advice, let it go ... just ... let it go." Vivian finished sitting back in her chair, crossing her legs and smiling. "I'm done, oh... wait, coming to my party next week? If you are, I need to know - that way I can bring my own food and beverage."

Janna came to her feet, "Fuck you Vivian - the sooner I see the back of you, the better."

"Finally... the truth."

*

L.A...

"So what'll we do?" Shawn asked, cuddled up snug to the back of his wife spooning early before rising, talking in low whispers. "It seemed, every time I glanced his way, he would be gazing at her, with this... look in his eyes."

"I know, I talked to her. She says they're just friends, I told her that wouldn't be possible. One of the friends, is always sure to fall."

"And he's taking her to that ball."

"Which sounds like just the thing she needs. Deidre stated its a very glamorous and fun event - my daughter's never been treated to anything so nice, other than her school prom."

"I went when we were married, she's right, believe me, bankers lay it out like no one can."

"Deidre was so excited that she accepted the tickets she let Crystal choose a gown from her closet, its beautiful, velvet crimson, fits Crystal beautifully, just needs hemming a bit."

"Really? Didn't know that."

"She doesn't want anyone to see it until she's wearing it. I've never seen her so joyful."

"Also, our little Angela has been stirring those fires."

"Are you serious?" Sylvia asked turned her head sideways stunned.

"Oh yeah, I cornered her after dinner last night because I kept seeing her checking them and happy when they came together. You know what she said to me."

"What?"

"She said, dad, he's a McPherson - Crystal should be a McPherson - who is better for her than us?"

"Oh my goodness, that child is definitely you and Gert - and I'm thinking, maybe a bit of Mr. McPherson himself, your father. I hope she's okay, spending the night with her mother."

"She'll be fine, once her friends are there, she'll be having a good time. She'll have plenty to talk to them about, especially Crystal."

"Well I just want both of them to be happy right now, Crystal is, she's so different, happy."

"That's always good, but tell me, is that due to the ball? Or to Ben taking her?"

"Maybe both. I'm scared for her at the same time that I'm happy for her. I just hope and pray she can stick to being just friends with him."

"So you don't like him?"

"I think he's fantastic Shawn, but - her divorce is not final yet. She needs time to get herself together. There's so much going on with her, because of me."

"Hey, let's not go down that path okay? Why should you shoulder the blame for him?"

"Shawn, if I had somewhere to go, if I could have gotten away from him - I swear I would have left him. I just, I had no where to go." She cried feeling her stress rise once more. Shawn turned her to her back, "Baby come on, don't do this. I know, they know that, she knows that."

"But it doesn't change anything - does it? My children have suffered-..."

"Stop right there okay. It's all in the past. He's gone. I'm here. We're all in this together and I swear to you, on my life - no one will ever harm them again. I give you my word, I will protect them with all my soul. Our children, our family - no one will tear us apart."

Sylvia sniffed, letting her husband wipe the moisture from her eyes, she gazed up at him. "Never leave me Shawn, please love me always."

"Ahhh baby, are you kidding me?" He palmed her head, kissing every inch of her face, "You and I - we are one. I could not bare the thought of not having you with me here, just like this, I could not bare it. Sometimes what I feel for you, for our children - is so strong it frightens me. I have moments when my imagination puts me in a place where I see one of you being harmed and I get angry and tense, and it's - just my imagination. So, never leave you? Only when I die, only when I die."

Sylvia wrapped her arms around him holding him tight as he kissed, touched her and held her. They didn't make love, but it surrounded them so completely it was if they just had, touching and being so close was tantamount to the deed, but some how, more intense.

They were the first ones up, Sylvia in her kitchen cooking breakfast for everyone. Shawn in his den doing some work when the phone rang. They answered it at the same time. "Hello?"

"It's me! Gert, how you two doing? How you liking California, Sylvia?"

"Hey mama Gert, I love it, having a good time."

"So glad to hear it! I've been by the house, the building work is coming along fine, son they've got your studio up and putting on the roof of it while I was there, it looks good."

"That's good news, everyone there doing fine?"

"Hang on, Gert ... I'm gonna let you go on and speak with Shawn, I have breakfast on and if I burn it, I won't hear the last of it from this man."

Gert laughed, hearing Shawn laugh on the other end and then the click of Sylvia hanging up.

"So what's going on mom?" He asked sitting back in his leather chair, relaxing. Sylvia walked in with a cup of coffee for him, threw him an air kiss and left back out closing the door.

"Nothing too much, everyone is fine - I um, actually called to talk about Ben, he around?"

Shawn set forward leaning on his desk now, "He's still in bed, sleeping. What about him?"

"Son, the test results came back. I'm not about to apologize for opening it, because I had to know."

"I see, so... what's the verdict?"

"He's your son. Benjamin Caesar McPherson, is yours, not Jake's."

Shawn blew out a long breath, swallowed the moisture in his mouth. "Oh my God, she lied! She lied! All this time - oh my God! She had to have known, she had to!"

"Whether she knew for sure or not, she knew there was a possibility of him being yours. I will never forgive her for what she's put my Jake through. I am simply furious! Because of her, my son was forced out of furthering his education and maybe, just maybe - he could have been happier than he was all those years your father rode him! Had she told the truth, you would have been home, raising your own son! Instead of all those years you spent in California. I'm telling you now, I'm going by there-..."