BOMAW 1-3 (110 page)

"You ain't gone see him again, because we going to the reception! You should have got his number!" Sheila announced about to back out.

"How the hell would that look?! I don't ask for numbers! They ask for mine! Wait Sheila... I gotta see him one more time! Wait till he come out!"

"Hell wit' that! We got to go!"

"Come on Sheila wait! I wanna see his ass too! I wanna see if he look better than Sylvia's." Ellen pleaded.

"It don't matter what he look like! She didn't get his number, and he didn't give up his! I'm out'ah here!"

"Sheila please... just wait one more minute." Vivian asked, just as she did, Jake exited the store.

"There he is." She gasped, "Get the map out, get the map out... pretend we looking over a map."

"It's in the glove in front of you fool! Get it!" Sheila ordered eyeing him.

Vivian quickly snatched open the glove compartment and yanked out the map, unfolding it and looking down so he wouldn't see her looking, he was walking right past the front of the van.

Jake looked to the right and spotted the van filled with women. All black. In the front passenger side seat was the lady with the red dress on, looking down at something in her lap. She lifted a large paper and Jake recognized it as a map. That made sense, so they
were
from out of town. He was tempted to stop and ask if they needed any help, but something told him not to do it. He knew how he was when it came to women. He would flirt... especially with that red dress. Next thing, he'd be getting her number. They'd end up in bed, and his life would end up taking him on a journey he should be avoiding. Although... he was mighty tempted. The one driving nodded at him smiling, he nodded back, smiling as well, making his way to his truck parked at the end of the walk. Opening the door of his '98 Chevrolet Silverado, taking his cowboy hat from his head, he placed it on the seat and climbed in. Starting it up, he backed up and pulled out of the Kwik Trip parking lot.

"Is he gone?" Vivian asked looking at the upside down map.

"HIS - ASS - WAS - FOI - INE!!! Oh my goodness! You see his tall ass!? Wearing goddamn cowboy boots, two inch heels if he ain't tall enough!" Edwina blasted excited.

"You see his ass in them jeans?! His hair too long though, I'on like no long hair on no man!"

"What the hell you worryin' 'bout it for, you got a man!" Sheila asked.

"Is he gone?!" Vivian asked again.

"YEAH!" All three yelled.

"Gurl you can forget that one. That's long gone now! Yo'ass should'ah got his number." Sheila put the van in reverse. "Oh well, better luck next time!"

*

Sylvia had been right. The marriage vows, the putting on the rings, the signing of the marriage certificate and license had changed him. It changed her as well. They were deeper in love. Couldn't stop touching each other. Could not resist looking into each others eyes. Strange how making their partnership official could have such a mental impact. To know that she was now his wife,
Sylvia McPherson
was riveting. Something about taking on and carrying his name, and standing before man, reverend and God and declaring the remaining of her life to him gripped her in a way that could not be defined with words. She kept thinking back to when she married Armundo - it had not been like this. It had not felt this way. Breathless, heady, intoxicating and dreamlike. A dream... that's what it was. An incredible dream. She touched him at every opportunity that she could, she laid her hands on him. Caressing him, holding his hand, looking into his eyes, eagerly accepting his sudden need to kiss her. Her heart had been beating in an up tempo since they turned in the church as husband and wife. Now they pulled into the parking lot at the hall, with Derrick's van, Paul & Diane's car, Dj's car, his friend's car, from school, Crystal driving the truck with Angela and Sasha riding with her, and Shawn's parents bringing up the rear. Mundo had gotten a ride with Shanna so he could set up his dj table and equipment that had been dropped off earlier before going to the church. All the vehicles sounded their horns through town, taking the long route to the hall. The SUV was decorated with streamers, flowers, tin cans galore and a huge just married sign on the back.

Shawn pulled in and parked; cutting the engine he turned to look at his wife beside him.

"You love me?" He asked grinning.

"Too much!" She responded immediately grinning.

"How much is that?!" He asked.

"That - much!" She answered giggling stretching her arms wide as she could get them.

"That's all!? That's not much!" He complained good naturedly.

"That's - what you mean man? That's as far as I can stretch'em - I can't stretch'em no more!" She laughed.

"Hold'em right there... don't move'em!" He ordered laughing, jumping out of his side of the SUV as everyone pulled in, parking. Running to her side of the SUV he opened the door, she turned laughing with her arms still stretched out as he ordered. He reached in and scooped her up, pulling her out into his arms.

"SHAWN!!!" She squealed laughing.

"Now wrap them arms around me baby!" He ordered hauling her up high in his arms. Sylvia was on top of the world, laughing as she wrapped her arms around him. "You love me?" He asked again, breathless and proud, kicking the SUV door closed and walked towards the hall with her high against his chest. "So much, I'm gonna burst from it!"

"Kiss me!" He ordered.

"I can't, you're walking, you gotta see where you're going." She giggled.

He stopped right in the middle of the parking lot with her in his arms, "Kiss me now." He ordered.

She complied to the cheer of everyone standing outside watching, camera's snapping photo's from every direction.

Shawn growled as he kissed her back totally uninhibited, practically having sex with her mouth using his tongue.

"Holy mackerel! You guys gonna make it through the reception!?" Derrick asked laughing, watching his brother's tongue and mouth devour his wife's mouth. Diane gulped and looked away, her heart beating fast in her chest. It was turning her on to see him in action, only problem she felt was that he was holding the wrong woman in his arms.

They were both breathing hard by the time they ended the kiss, for good reason. Shawn could feel himself growing hard, he thanked gooness Sylvia's long gown hid the evidence.

Angela and Sasha stood with their mouths wide open having witnessed the kiss, then turned to each other, covered their mouths and giggled.

"Shall we go inside?" Shawn asked with his heart hammering.

"I think we better... ou..." Sylvia gasped trying to catch her breath, holding onto him, one arm around his shoulders, the other at his chest, their foreheads meeting.

"I am so much - in love with you... don't ever forget that." He breathed taking steps again heading for the door of the hall. Derrick and Paul ran before him, opening both doors wide so he could walk right in with Sylvia and did. Inside, all the guest that were there already and waiting for them started clapping and taking pictures. The photographer took amazing shots of them walking thru the doors; husband carrying his wife, not in any hurry to lower her to the floor. He walked through the bar area and then through a second set of double doors into the main hall where the tables, food and everything else was set up and waiting for them. Dead center he stopped and turned to everyone, "In case anyone cares to know... I GOT MARRIED TODAY... MEET THE WIFE!!!" She shouted out laughing, giving her a little toss up, making Sylvia laugh and squeal. Hyped, everyone starting whistling, cheering him on.

"I know it was short notice,..." He started saying, they quieted down to hear him. "...but it brings us joy that all present, made it here anyway, and for that... my wife and I thank you! This is the happiest day of our life... isn't it baby?" He turned to her asking.

Sylvia was too choked up to speak, so nodded.

"And... I just want you all to ... have a good time, enjoy yourselves and if you will... I ask that you please excuse me, because I need to dance with my wife right now before anything else is done." Shawn turned toward the stage where Mundo was already set up, he nodded his head and the music started playing,
'Wildflower, by Skylark'.

Sylvia gasped, her breath lodged in her chest as her husband slowly lowered her feet to the floor, looking into her eyes he said, "I have always loved this song, from years and years ago... always wondering, what kind of woman inspired them to such lyrics.. now I know... now I know." He whispered pulling her into his arms as they ignored everyone else and began swaying to the music. Shawn stepping softly in time to the beat, leading her as they wrapped their arms around each other and danced. Sylvia felt weak and mesmerized.

"Excuse me, but... aren't they suppose to have the dinner first... then after cutting the cake... they dance?" David whispered to Jessica, who, feeling mushy inside ordered, "Shut up David."

In L. A...

Deidre stepped from her shower, drying off, looking at the clock. She had plenty of time. Wrapping her hair in a towel, she lotioned her body, then wrapped a towel around herself and walked from her bathroom through the apartment to her kitchen area and started her water kettle. The phone rang. She smiled, thinking it Terra.

"Hello?"

"Hi... its ummm, me... Jeremiah. I uh - hope you don't mind me calling."

She was pleasantly surprised.

"Not at all."

"Have you time to talk?"

"Sure... a bit."

"I was thinking about you that's all. It's a Friday, and well... I figured hey - maybe we could - maybe... get together or something if you wanted to." Jeremiah spoke soft, coaxing and sexy.

Deidre smiled.

"It does sound tempting, however... I have a previous engagement that I'll be going to."

"I see... well - can't blame a man for trying."

"No... you can't..." Deidre chewed on her lip tempted to invite him along to the awards ceremony, she fought back the sensation - not wanting to encourage anything right now. She needed more time.

"So... this previous engagement... another man?"

She chuckled softly into the phone, taking down a cup from the hook, then grabbed a tea bag from the canister of them, dropping it into her cup. "No... not a man... just a friend. She's a chef, tonight there's a big awards ceremony for restaurant owners and chef's... she's one of the nominees. I'm going to lend her my support."

"Ah... I see. Going alone?"

Deidre laughed as she poured the hot water in the cup. "Yes... I am."

"Surely there's a better way than going alone... I mean... all by yourself." He grinned, she could tell that he was grinning.

"For the time being, there's no other way."

"There's always another way. I mean, an incredibly attractive woman like yourself - attending functions such as that alone? Come on... what's this world coming to."

"It's not that I wouldn't mind you coming... it's just that ... well... I don't really wish to start anything that could go too far too soon."

"I see. How about this... how about I meet you there? We go in together, enjoy ourselves - then as it concludes... we go our separate way? How's that. No pressure, no long drawn out goodnights. I get to find something to do with myself for a couple of hours. You get an escort - your friend gets your backing and support. Come on, what'ah'yah say... sounds like a win win situation to me." He enticed.

Deidre smiled, admitting to herself, that she really wouldn't like to show up alone. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled, "Okay... I'll meet you there. Have a pen handy? I'll give you the address."

*

Dinner & Toasts...

Derrick stood at the long table down from his brother and bride, using his knife to tap his champagne glass, getting ready to make the first toast of the evening. All in attendance turned towards the long table at the front of the hall where the small wedding party sat with family. All were in attendance, including Sylvia's friends, the arrival of which had all the men turned momentarily topsy turvy when Vivian made her solitary entrance. Letting Sheila, Edwina and Ellen enter and go to their table as she claimed a need to go to the bathroom, situated out near the bar and entrance. Of course her timing was impeccable as she made her way down the center of the tables toward the front where Gert had marked a table for them.

Not a man in the room could control himself. They had to look, there was no way they could not. Even Shawn's jaw went slack at the sight of Vivian Cooke. Making Sylvia snap her fingers near his ear, "Ex - cuuse me! New bride here! Eyes here!" She joked. She knew Vivian, and knew as well that no matter where they went, if she was dressed up, she commanded the attention of all males present.

"Who - is - that?!" Shawn blurted, still amazed. He missed her because they'd sat far in the back of the church, entering at the last minute, so the heads of many blocked his view of her. But now... he could see her - and that red dress.

"Would you like a divorce already?" Sylvia joked. Actually she was tickled at the look on his face. Vivian was her girl. Much younger than herself, Sheila, Edwina and Ellen - but they all loved her just the same. She remembered when they were younger, how she used to be, always running from a butt whopping. Tagging behind them because her dad, mom or one of her sisters was looking for her. At first they'd tried to send her home, after all, they were teens and she was just a little girl, who acted like a grown woman, who had just attached herself to them. She had very few girls her age as friends because she always wanted to be in the midst of
them. It wasn't long before they stopped shooing her off, and started letting her be with them. She and Sheila often gave her advice. Encouraging her to be better than what people expected of her. Helping her with her homework, and praising her for accomplishments. She was like their collective little sister, both of them very proud of the way she turned out. She and Sheila had always hugged her and told her that she was beautiful and when she finished growing up... she would be a knock out. Sure enough,
that
- she was.