BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (74 page)

"Okay, so if you, Benjamin Caesar McPherson, should ever, really need me - and I mean,
me
- I will be there, I will come to you."

"Promise, do I have your word? Because I think, if you, give your word - nothing would stop you from following through, I know that about you."

"You're right, if I live, and I know that you need me, I'll be there." She lifted her glass waiting for him. Ben lifted his, looking into her eyes, they clinked their glasses, and without realizing what the other might do, they entwined their arms and sipped from the champagne glass. Both of them surprised and yet, not surprised. After sipping, they stood there in the moving limo, accepting that something was there between them. Accepting that as they exchanged glances they would always share a connection. Crystal took in the soft sincerity of his eyes and knew, that while he'd never said it to her, she was sure that he loved her; this was no act, of this she was certain. She felt it in every fibre of her being, and it hurt and saddened her, because maybe, if she had known him first, she could give into this new and different kind of feeling, once more, she felt herself reflecting back.

With Victor, way back when she'd first glimpsed a need in him to have her, she had felt different. She'd been shaky, unsure, afraid and defensive, curious and needing to know what it felt like to be held, kissed and yes, made love to. She'd given herself to him, and from that moment on, she'd never given a thought to anyone else. He was it. He had taken her virginity, wracked her young and inexperienced body with sensations that had taken her to a different place, far away from the world she knew. He'd done it again and again. She gave into him, because he was her first and all she wanted was what he made her feel. From that moment on, all she'd wanted was a new life for herself and to build it with him.

Now, years later, here she was, facing another man.

This was different. The feelings going through her were not the same. She wasn't shaky, but calm - yet stunned. No fear, just daring and energized. Looking at him, there was no insecurity or curiousness, but an absolute and powerful certainty of what he was. She felt that with him, she could say anything, ask anything, share ... anything, without the worry of him coming back at her condescendingly. With him, she felt, cherished, appreciated. With Victor, he'd often made her feel as though she should appreciate him, that the privilege had been all hers, not his. Ben looked at her, as if, he felt privileged, the revelation and contrast was surprisingly revealing.

"Wow, look at you. I would have loved to be able to read your mind just then. Where were you?" Ben asked.

"Can I be honest?"

"You already know the answer to that."

"I was, comparing what I felt, when I first met Victor and when I knew, that - well - he wanted me; to well, right now, how I feel with you."

"And how is that?" He asked with his heart racing.

"Comfortable, as if, there's peace, to be found here."

She looked away from him, sipped her champagne, waiting for him to say something, when a moment passed and still he said nothing, her eyes rolled cautiously back to his, he was struggling with something. Instinctively she knew what. "You don't have to say it. You don't have to struggle with it, I already know." She smiled.

He swallowed so his Adams apple bobbed with it, but still found he couldn't speak, if he did, he knew what he would say.

Crystal giggled, and crinkled her nose at him, "Stop it, don't think anymore, don't feel anymore, let's just - smile, have fun, laugh and be glad we're alive! Let's just glory in this moment, this night and know that no matter what tomorrow, or next week brings, this night, is ours. Okay? Do that for me please? I really, really need, you to do that for me, okay? Smile for me Ben, just smile as if all is - right in our world, and we are on top of it."

Ben drew in a deep refreshing breath with his eyes closed, and knew, he would do anything in his power for her. He exhaled low, opening them, he smiled, he smiled broadly and put on an entirely new face, one of fun and excitement, drawing her in.

"Okay, tonight, we'll sip some wine..."

"Yep, we gone sip some wine!" Crystal cheerfully added, happy that he knew what she wanted and complied, she was almost singing.

"Some champagne too!" He got in the mood, shifting his head and shoulders grinning broadly making her laugh.

"Right here," She held up her glass, "Some champagne too!" She repeated.

"We're gonna dance the night away..."

Crystal bust into a move, "We gone dance the night a-way..."

Ben laughed even more, singing now, "Together, me and you..."

Smiling wide, Crystal laid her head back, "Yep, just me and-..."

He couldn't have stopped himself if it meant his life, he stole a kiss, a quick peck on her lips before she knew what he was doing. It was because her head was back and positioned just perfect to receive it, he couldn't stand so close and not take advantage of that perfect opportunity.

She sucked in stunned, her heart went into overdrive, slamming so that her chest moved. Such a small, little kiss and yet, she felt as if she'd been up ended.

He looked like a naughty little boy who'd just done a no, no. "Sorre-e-e." And gave her cow eyes.

Crystal closed her mouth, giggled, shaking her head, "I see now I'm gone have to watch you."

Ben grinned, "I was quick wasn't I? See it didn't hurt, did it? Forgive me, I couldn't resist."

"Ben! Friends ... friends friends friends!-..."

Ben broke in, grinning, "So what's a little kiss between friends?" he joked.

"It's not the little kiss! It's the bigger things it can lead to!"

"Ohhh boy would I love to lead you to bigger things!"

"BEN! Now stop it! Now for the rest of this night, I want you to behave yourself! Especially when I get to drinking, I might get a little relaxed, don't be making no quick moves on me...." She warned sitting back down into the limo. He followed her, sitting as well as she continued. "... no, trying to cop a feel."

"Me!? Now would I do that?" He asked devilishly.

"You hear me don't you? No sugga cookies, no kneadin' the dough, you get me?!" She pointed at him, in warning.

"I promise to be - on my very best - gentlemanly behavior. Cross my heart and hope to die."

*

Chicago...

It had been a long, busy - but productive day, one that was equally fulfilling; 9:45 that evening they were finally done with Mr. Hunter's roof and ceiling. Jake and Paul had checked over everything thoroughly, father showing son what to look for, how to test things, and what order things should be built in to assure the level of maintenance was at its optimum. That roof and ceiling was now set for years to come.

Out of pocket, Jake had to purchase some materials to complete the job entirely. Because of the pride he took in what he did, he wasn't about to leave this man with a patched ceiling, although well done, he couldn't leave it that way, nor the crumbling stained wall that had been damaged with the bad leakage. So he'd sent Vivian and Kevin for ceiling tiles, sheet rock and paint to repair his wall and ceiling surface as well. Kevin repaired the wall, and fit the ceiling tiles while his brother and father worked in the attic and on the roof. When all was done, the four of them painted his dinning room where the damage had been done. Dennis and Sheila had popped back and forth checking their progress and feeding them for the rest of the evening so they could keep going. All during the work, Mr. Hunter had been happy, dancing, grinning and talking. After the last stroke of paint, he invited different neighbors that he knew, in to look at what they'd done for him. There were work lamps shining in the yard; Vivian, Sheila, Dennis, their kids, some other adults from a home here and there, along with Mr. Hunter, Jake, his boys, stood outside, having a few beers, now that work was done, talking about it. Jake had a bit of an uneasy feeling because there were quite a few people hyped by the work that they'd done. Paul, he noticed, was eagerly speaking with different ones, listening to things about their homes and smiling, he turned to Jake. Jake groaned inwardly, having a feeling that he'd started something there. Started something that they would end up having to follow through on because of the faces looking at him with expectation.

They all had faith in him, in his sons, in Vivian, his fiancée. Some, seniors such as Mr. Hunter, wanted him to come and look at things in their homes they needed, while some home owners, his age, were willing to pay him, but they were looking for a deal; looking hopefully to pay less while getting quality work done, because simply put, they didn't have the money sitting around to just peal off thousands of dollars. Before he knew it, he was following Paul, Vivian and different ones into their homes, so that he could see what they needed. He was hearing stories of scams pulled on some. Inferior shoddy work done in some others. In more still, things were needed and just couldn't be afforded while the landlords were neglecting their responsibilities to the renters. A few were so desperate to have their home improved, they were offering him food stamps.

Thanks to his bright idea of trying to find Vivian a while before, and Paul - he felt himself being pulled into the deep end. He didn't know how he could possibly fit this into his present life. Working overtime, redoing their new home, and on the road, while trying to secretly become a recording artists - and he was only one man. He stood listening, looking, checking what they were showing him and he could certainly see, they indeed needed things done. It was a positive and a negative situation. Positive, more would pay than not. Negative, the ones that couldn't pay, needed his help the most. Yet, he watched his son, his Paul, busy taking their names, writing down what they showed them, being exact in the details of his notes, smiling, being encouraging, nodding, "Yes, we can do that! Nobody does that better than my dad! He and his brother's, my granddad, they built my grandmother a house off of an old single frame house and you should see it now, no problem."

Kevin was watching the expression on Jake's face, just imagining what he was thinking. Vivian as well, could see that within one evening, her future husband was in definite demand. Because of what he'd done for Mr Milton Hunter, they surrounded him. Dennis shook his head, sympathizing with Jake's new dilemma.

Paul, was on top of the world, he felt this day, this evening to be a success. It's what he wanted to do, his wish was to spend his summer, with his father, doing this kind of work for people who couldn't afford it. Because Jake knew this, he couldn't find it in him to tell him no. He felt he needed to make up for the past with his sons and so, while making no promises, he told those asking, that he would see what he could do. And, because he'd come back to Mr. Milton Hunter, who was right there to say, "You can believe him too! He ain't lyin' to yah! Look what they done there, and I ain' give a dime, no! Now ya'll can't expect the same, no, you gone have to pay this man somethin'. But hey, look at my roof now, look in my house, look at that room." He built up their hopes, on Jake's side all the way and then turning to Jake, he promised, "By the time I get through talkin' t'folks, you gone have jobs lined up t'next year yeah, sho'nuff you can believe that!"

Jake smiled to the eyes watching, but groaned from within. There was one especially, a single mother, living in a rented house, waiting forever for her landlord to take notice of the things that needed repairing in the house she was renting. The house was old, had settled so, that the foundation in certain places caused the wall to pull away from the floor. Large cracks and plaster falling, leaving exposed beams. In the winter, it was so cold in the house due to settling, that the heat escaped driving up her heating bills and leaving them cold inside. Paul took that all down, and he promised her, that he would get the materials needed to fix all of that. He'd said it before Jake could stop him. She'd touched Paul's heart, which wasn't hard to do, because he was very soft hearted and always thought back to his own mother, a single parent, raising him all alone. She hadn't been as bad off as this woman, because she had Gert and Bart to help anytime she needed it. Plus, his father had always given her child support and then some, so they did okay. He wanted the same for other single mothers.

Back home, in their apartment, it was 11:30 at night. Vivian went straight for the kitchen to get it cleaned up, Paul followed her, trying to help. As she was starting to see, he was
that
way, very unassuming, gentle, grateful and always wanting to help. Jake and Kevin made their way there as well, with Kevin taking a detour to the bathroom, Jake started cleaning off the table. "So what do you think dad?" Paul asked.

"I think this is why I hate the city! Too many people, too crowded, too easy for a landlord, property owner to rent out and then disappear. Too easy to drag his feet to take care of things his property needs and the people that rent from him. In a small town, everybody would know his business and humiliate him for pulling what some are pulling here. Because no one hardly knows their neighbor, with this city so big, it's easy to hide and avoid what needs to be done."

Paul and Vivian paused a moment, staring at him, and then looked at each other, remaining quiet, Vivian ran dish water, and Paul, "Okay dad, but besides all of that, what do you think? I mean, it's not the renters fault, like that lady with the kids, it's not her fault the landlord is not fixing the place, why should they suffer? Can't we just do it for them? For her?"