BOMAW 1-3 (112 page)

In L. A...

Dressed, Deidre gave herself one last check in the mirror. Smiling, she checked her clock, it was time to go. Grabbing her bag, she opened it to make sure her cell phone was inside, satisfied that it was, her keys and her digital camera was picked up next and made her way out the door, down the stairs and out to the parking lot of the expensive warehouse flats. Dusk was upon her, she was glad now that Jeremiah was meeting her there... maybe... just maybe, she would invite him back to her place. Maybe. She walked to her car, unlocked it and climbed inside. Sitting down, she placed her purse and camera on the seat next to her. Shifting her keys, she inserted one into the ignition switch and turned it.

Nothing

"What the..." She made a face, wandering what was going on. She turned the key again.

Nothing.

"Oh great... not tonight! What in the world is going on?" Uncertain of what could be the problem, she turned the key again. Nothing was happening. No power whatsoever. She sat for a moment wondering what to do.
'Call Jeremiah... see if you can catch him.'
She thought, picking up her cell phone, she dialled his number and waited for him to answer. After the fifth ring, she clicked the button and ended the call. She hit the steering wheel, "I can't believe this!" Just for the sake of trying, she turned the key one more time, still the same nothing.

Gathering her purse, camera and snatching the key out of the ignition, she got out of her car and walked back through the parking lot and into the warehouse building again. Entering her apartment, she went to the phone and pulled out the phone book.

Searching through it, she looked for the number to triple A, found it and gave them a call.

"My car is dead in the parking lot where I live. I've tried to start it and nothing. Just silence, no lights, no clicking sound... nothing. Can you get someone out right away please, I need to be somewhere... and I'm going to be late as it is."

"Oooh, the soonest we can have someone there is in about an hour." The person on the other end said.

"An hour?! I don't have an hour! Oh forget it... I'll take a cab and arrange for someone to get it tomorrow. Bye!"

She hung up and figured, what the heck, get a cab there... Jeremiah could bring her home. She looked for a taxi service and dialled the number for it, ordering a taxi. The dispatcher said they'd be there in ten minutes.

Deidre hung up the phone and could do nothing but stand and wait.

"You're on! You know the plan... you know where to take her! Let's go!"

The command was given and the yellow cab pulled out from the four different vehicles sitting and waiting just in case she called for either of them.

Cutting the cake and dancing...

Sylvia held a piece of cake for Shawn to take a bite, he was laughing and watching her closely, his eyes daring her to be bad and she was, shocking him and all who watched by bringing the cake to her own mouth, taking a big bite, chewed it once and then leaned towards his mouth. The act was so erotic, that Shawn readily leaned forward and stuck his tongue into her mouth lapping up some of the delicious cream frosting. Sylvia wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down and they kissed, and enjoyed the cake as well.

"Lord... what the hell this man done to yo'mama?! We gone have to send the kids home in a minute." Sheila exclaimed to Crystal who was standing next to her with a drink, grinning as she looked at her and shrugged. "Oh my goodness... how much you done had to drink... you grinning awful funny." Sheila observed over the whistles and wolf calls for the couple.

"All right, keep it up... you asking for it... that is mean... this behavior of yours continues, I'll be forced into the men's room to shift it up to my waist not to be seen." Shawn warned Sylvia who chuckled and backed away from him winking and laughing.

She felt so happy and carefree. She was on top of the world as she licked the remaining cream from her lips. Shawn watching closely, groaned as camera's flashed. The photographer's assistant was now following everyone with his video camera to capture everything they could. They also had two stationary camera's available capturing footage from the dance floor, the door and the stage. The cake was cut, passed out to all in attendance and then the floor was cleared of the tables and chairs. Sylvia was standing by her friends talking to them and caught sight of Shawn accepting a beer, and then a shot glass of whiskey with his friends. Her brows drew in stunned because Shawn did not often drink. To see him about to drink
that
as he laughed, downing the shot then chasing it with his beer as he stood in the company of his friends and brother disturbed her. She chided herself for being silly, of course he was celebrating. He was happy and carefree and was just wanting to enjoy himself and have a good time. She turned away and fought back her unease.

"All right ya'll you know what time it is now. I'm Armundo Payne, son of the bride... and its time to clear the floor for some serious gettin' down. Everybody been eatin' good, I know I did - its now - burn off time! We gone start slow though - get warmed up by playing the first song of the evening from papah-Shawn's dedication list. Dustieees... I'm tellin' you now - we had to blow off the dust for his list... mama's too... that's okay though, let's get it started... come on papah-Shawn... your first one's up." Mundo started as Shawn turned looking across the room for Sylvia. Spotting her, he smiled and made his way to the center of the dance floor, his arms up and out inviting her in. Smiling Sylvia sashayed her way to him just as the first song from his list came on,
'Forever mine - by the O'Jays'

"Woooo-we! I can't believe it! I come wit'yah'll ass, I should'ah brought my man with me!" Sheila squealed.

"Shit... I'm callin' Jose's ass! Tell him bring his ass here!"

"Girl is you crazy! By the time he get here, damn reception be over!" Edwina stated.

"Just goes to show... never go to a wedding reception with your girlfriends!" Vivian stated.

"How you girls doing? You all having a good time?" Gert asked stepping up and surprising them as Shawn and Sylvia danced slow holding onto each other.

"Yes ma'am... thank you ma'am." Vivian was the first to answer her smiling.

"I'm so glad. Chile... I got to say something to you, you are just gorgeous! And this red dress! You wearing this dress girl! Lord I've been trying to reach my other son on the phone so he can see you! I got another one you know... these two here taken, but I got one more... thank the lord!"

All four of them looked at Gert like she was crazy.

"Um, okaaay... I - um, see." Vivian responded with wide eyes.

"Don't you worry sugga... mama's got a plan... first thing I need to know... are you married?"

Ellen and Edwina's eyes grew huge, trying not to laugh. Sheila was laughing, and spoke up, "No ma'am... she not. She wore that red dress cause she fishing!"

"Well let me be the first to tell you, you got that hook baited baby with the right lure ... believe me you do! So you not engaged either are you?"

Vivian was so stunned she just stood with her mouth gaping, then shook her head. "Um, no ma'am... I'm not."

"Good answer, next question, you looking for something serious or you just messing around?!"

The more questions she asked Vivian, the more animated Ellen and Edwina's laughter at her. Sheila was just looking back and forth from Gert to her. "Girl don't stand there with your mouth open... answer the lady! I know I taught you better than that! You best get vocal here!"

"She ain't slow is she? Sometime when they that pretty, they vacant at the top." Gert said to Sheila. Sheila threw her head back and laughed so hard she had to take steps back and forth.

"No I am not slow! Just stunned! No offence ma'am... but I'm not into being fixed up. I like to be the one choosing, not that I'm not flattered you understand, I really am... but no thank you."

"Chile listen to me... pay attention... you see my two son's here?" Gert asked. All four women were gathered around her.

"Yes ma'am, I do."

"Handsome as the devil ain't they?!"

"Yeah... they are... really nice looking."

"Well I can tell you now... you ain't seen shit!"

"DAI - AM mama Micky!" Sheila was laughing until her stomach hurt, slapping Ellen and Edwina's hand in the air, they couldn't believe her. "You too much! What you say mama, she ain't seen shit?!" Sheila had to repeat. Gert nodded her head, reminding them all of Lena Horne with her mannerisms and talk.

"She - ain't seen - shit! I repeat... because my youngest boy... if I could only find his tail, you will see what I mean. So Miss Vivian... if you ready for long term, park yourself in reserve, and get ready... now I must warn you... he somethin' else! He ain't the marrying kind... but if you play your cards right, you could probably be the very one to finally straighten him out and get him to the alter. 'Cause I'm telling you now... he a handful... but you... I know you a handful too! Oh yeah you are... I been praying all day long 'bout you black velvet! You just let me take care of everything. I got to go now... I gotta find out where he is. Have fun!" With that Gert was gone on her mission.

"She call me black velvet!?" Vivian asked still spinning from her encounter with her.

"She sure as hell did! I ain't never seen no shit like this before. Where white folks hunting us down to marry they sons... something ain't right here - Stephen King shit!" Edwina said with wide eyes.

Sylvia and Shawn danced through two more songs,
'Anita Baker's Good Love'
and'Natural High, by Bloodstone', as other's started joining in on the dance floor. The feeling was wonderful to be held in each other's arms. "You okay baby... feeling alright?" Shawn asked leaning low to Sylvia's ear because of the volume of the music. She looked up into his face and nodded. His eyes were starting to show signs of the drink he had. "You alright?" She asked. He smiled, "Now I am... holding my wife." He answered.

"I'm surprised... you usually don't drink - I can't believe you're not feeling that drink you had." She brought to his attention.

"Oooh I'm feeling it baby... I just wanna have a good time tonight okay? Is that okay?" He asked looking into her eyes. She smiled and nodded, discarding her growing apprehension. She really didn't want him to drink, but since he hardly ever, she wouldn't make a big deal out of this one time... it was their wedding night after all. "So... you gonna drink anymore?" She asked unable to resist.

"I'll just have a few beers with my friends... oooh I love you so much! We're finally married... husband and wife! The first day of thousands more to come." He muttered leaning down to hug her close to him, kissing her neck, rubbing her back, his hand rubbing down over the cheek of her butt.

"Shawn... don't... I don't like that..." She complained softly.

"Oops, sorry... I'm sorry baby... I'll behave. Oooh but I love you so much... can't help wanting to touch you."

"Well you can touch me later... when we're alone." She simpered.

"You better believe I will." He kissed her, Sylvia braced herself accepting the kiss, but just in a blink of an eye, she realized she felt different about his attentions. She'd been okay until seeing him drink. The song stopped and everyone clapped. She backed out of his arms smiling, wiping the moisture from her lips. "I'll be back babe... I need to use the ladies room." She said.

"Okay... go on, I wanna watch you walk away in that dress." He inhaled deep and winked at her.

Sylvia turned away and walked off, feeling suddenly self-conscious. She stepped through the wide double doors over into the bar section where a lot of family and guest were gathered. She stopped and talked politely to them on the way, shaking their hands, thanking them for the gifts piled in the corner. Smiling as she walked along, she finally passed the bar and walked down a narrow hallway towards the ladies room, she would have to pass the men's room on the way, just as she reached it, Jake was coming out.

She froze staring up at him with wide, shocked eyes. She thought maybe, he wouldn't come. Had in fact hoped that he would not come. But there he was, standing tall before her, his eyes intently staring into hers.

Jake stepped from the door closing it, maintaining eye contact. "Wow... you're stunning. Absolutely breathtaking... look at that dress on you. My brother's lucky."

Sylvia felt the blood pumping through her veins so rapidly, her blood pressure rose, making the pulse in her neck throb heavily.

"Please Jake... don't cause any problems here tonight... please... we're married now. I'm happy... Shawn's happy."

"Well that's nice to know, that everybody's happy... excuse me... I need a drink."

He walked around her exiting the hall and went to the bar ordering one. Sylvia walked down the hall and into the ladies room with her heart pounding so hard, she grew light headed. She sat on one of the velvet seats against the wall, taking deep breaths. She could hear the music playing, an upbeat tempo was playing. Repetitively she inhaled, holding it and then blowing it out. Her heart was racing, she felt an anxiety attack coming on. She inhaled deep again, held it and then let it out slow. The entire time, holding her eyes closed as she prayed for just a little more time.