BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (25 page)

"He's just a baby, he'll get used to you. Right now, he's strictly mama's baby."

"Yeah, I suppose so."

"Can I ask you something?" Shawn poised a question.

"Sure, whatever."

"Why didn't you invite your girl to come along?"

Benjamin stared straight ahead for a moment and then turned to Shawn, "I wanted this to be ... about us. The family. That's why I didn't invite her along."

Shawn nodded, thinking, "And you sure, it has nothing ... to do ... with Crystal?"

"Crystal?"

"Yeah ... Crystal. You see, she's one hell of an incredible beauty, wouldn't you agree?"

"Well yeah, I agree. She is beautiful."

"And you've been looking at her, quite a bit. I've caught it quite a few times out the side of my eye. And she ... has been doing the same, looking at you. I don't miss much. So, am I right, or wrong?"

Benjamin swallowed, nervous but he wasn't going to lie, "Yeah ... you're right. It's hard to ignore her presence. She's lively, animated, funny, mischievous; a smile that lights up her face, putting a twinkle in her eyes, that is uh, hard to look away from. Yeah ... you're right."

Shawn hadn't expected him to be honest about it. He expected him to deny it.

"Before you say anything more, I want you to know ... that I would never, do anything to hurt her. I want to see her laugh. I want to see her get on Mundo's nerve. Play the imp. And deny it all." He laughed just thinking about her. "I want to see ... her happy, joyful, and having a good time. That's all." He admitted.

Shawn smiled. "Yeah, problem is ... you're young and attractive, full of men urges, and she's young and beautiful, needing a strong shoulder to lean on. I'd rather that shoulder be mine. Because on my shoulder, there's no confusion, there's no cloudy what if's. Your shoulder, will offer her nothing but confusion right now. She doesn't need that."

"I agree, she doesn't. But ... man to man ... I will not make you any promises, that I find myself unable to keep. Only thing I will promise you, is this ... I ... will never hurt her. I, like you ... promise, that I will do all I can, to protect her and see to it that she only finds with me, a reason to smile, laugh and feel joy. That is all I'm willing to promise you. At this stage between you and I, I'm not going to be lying to you and making false promises to make you like me. Or ... so that you,
don't
... like me. Should you be,
my
father or not, I am still a McPherson ... and as my grandfather drilled into my head, as well my brother's heads ... we don't ... hurt women. We protect them, honor them, cherish them. I'm a McPherson, and that is all ... I'm going to promise you."

"Then what about Gail?"

"I could ask you the same thing. What about Angela's mother? What about any of the women before Sylvia? What about them? You answer me about them and I'll answer you about Gail."

"You sonofabitch you." Shawn shook his head laughing.

"Yeah, I agree ... I am. So now, you gonna answer for your others? Or not? Since you're the senior here and I'm the younger, I'll make the first offer. Gail is a grown woman with her eyes wide open. I've made no promises to her. I've had needs that she was left with the decision of whether to fill them or not. Never forced, not once against her will. Neither was she a virgin when I met her. I respect her and I treat her good. However, I'm not in love with her and I don't think I'll be marrying her."

"So you're taking advantage of her."

"Are you trying to make me feel guilty."

"Damn right I am. As long as you're dating her, you tread carefully with Crystal, understand?"

Benjamin faced him squarely and then nodded. "Understood."

"Good, now let's go in here and blow them away." Shawn concluded there talk, pulling into the parking lot of Pen-tab publishing, grabbing there things out of the Hummer after parking.

Shawn hadn't been far off the mark, they'd certainly blown them away. And not from just the work, but seeing a double of him there; Benjamin presenting a very impressive portfolio of freelance work he'd done. It was a small gathering of those in the meeting room, since it hadn't been planned. Lowell James, the print press manager and those of his team. Everything had been accepted with no changes needed. Shawn was happy about that. The meeting was light and jovial. The disks containing all of the work they'd done was passed on, and Shawn launched the websites right then in the office, with the novels that were coming up soon as well and an excerpt of each novel supplied by Lowell. Leaving the meeting room, Lowell, Shawn and Benjamin gathered in his office.

"Okay, I'm dying to ask. What's the relation here?" Lowell started right off walking over to his refrigerator, offering both of them a beverage. Shawn chose a seltzer water and Benjamin a bottle of Lipton ice tea. Deciding to remain silent, he turned to Shawn to answer the question. They were both sitting in a chair before Lowell's desk.

"Funny you should ask that, you see - my life, our life - that of my family is a story in itself." He laughed informing his boss.

"Is that right, my wife would more than likely be interested in hearing that."

"Ah, sorry ... if the life and times of my clan becomes a story, I'm afraid I'm going to have to give my wife first stab at it."

"That good huh?"

"I don't know if anyone would consider our story good, its just that... well, she's a writer also, she's been working on a few stories here and there and unfortunately, I've become a major distraction to her getting anything accomplished."

"I see. So, back to the relations ... Benjamin Caesar McPherson ... brother, cousin or nephew?" Lowell asked looking from one to the other.

Shawn sighed, "Can I say this, that we're waiting to know for sure. Whether he's, nephew ... or ... son."

Lowell leaned back in his chair laughing and shaking his head. "Ah brothers! I have two and let me tell you, the stories I could tell about us." He smiled, needing no further explanation. He turned to Benjamin, "You looking for work in this line of business?"

"To be honest with you sir, I prefer to stay a free agent. I wanted to present my portfolio because if you ever have a need, or find that, ah, an extra hand, photographer, or artist would benefit you, well - here I am. I would prefer to work on individual jobs, than being under contract."

"Fair enough, that's the case with most artists. What do you think Everett?"

"I think you would do well to add him to your rolodex - but of course, I can always reach him should I need the help."

"Okay, here's the deal. As you know, the trilogy once completed and out of the way, means that we're now ready for her next two novels to be done. I'll send you all the details via email as usual. Cruise a bit why don't you, because more works coming your way. We just obtained copyright ownership of a load of out of print novels. They're all going to be needing new book covers designed for them. Nothing complicated, simple, consistent, familiar themed. And I'm going to leave it up to you to decide if what he can offer is what's needed. You just phone in whatever works he's done, and he'll be paid with a deposit to his banking account. How's that?" He asked both men, looking to Benjamin to see if he agreed.

"Works for me, I'm fine with it."

"Okay, if you would, step outside and fill out some important paperwork so that you're on our books and can get paid for any future work." He announced and then turned to his phone and paged his secretary informing her to set him up.

Benjamin was leaning forward in his seat, a smile on his face, awaiting word. Lowell turned back to him, "Okay, head on out and take care of that if you will."

Benjamin stood and shook his hand. "Thank you sir, this is fantastic. Any little work I can pick up here and there is welcome."

"From what I've seen today, I'd be a fool not to add you."

Benjamin looked down at Shawn as he turned to leave the office, Shawn smiled and winked up at him as he made his way out to fill out the necessary application forms and payroll slips. After the door closed, Lowell turned to Shawn.

"It's nice seeing you here in the office, why don't you relocate back here."

"Nooo no no no. California life, I've had my fill. I'm surprised not to find Mercy James in office today."

Lowell smiled, "She's off somewhere shopping for this evening. In fact, we need an extra couple to fill our table, we'd love to have you and your wife join us. With her being a writer, I'd think she'd enjoy it. We're meeting with two other couples, writers that we're considering bringing on. They've been published before with another publishing house, not happy, they're big sellers; I'd love it if you'd join us."

"You know what, I'll take you up on that offer, I know she would love to. Especially to meet Mercy James. What time and where?"

"How's 5o'clock at Morton's Steakhouse?"

"Let's see, it's 10:30 now, I better inform my wife, mind if I give her a ring?"

"By all means, I'll go check on Benjamin, show him around a bit. Join us when you're done."

"Will do." Shawn returned, taking out his cell phone and dialing home, it had to ring five times and then the answering machine clicked on, then clicked off, Angela answered in a hurry, "Hello?"

"Hey pum'kin, where's Sylvia?"

"We were all out by the pool, she's outside, I'll take her the phone daddy."

Shawn smiled waiting, listening as she rushed back through the house and then outside, he could hear her telling Sylvia that he was on the phone and then passing it to her. "Shawn?"

"We're going out to dinner tonight. Invited by Lowell James, so ... it's 10:30 now. We're meeting with them at 5 o'clock. You have until 4 o'clock, to get ready."

"SHAWN?! Out to dinner where?! What kind of restaurant?! I'm pregnant Shawn, I have no dressy maternity clothes to wear! None of my nice clothes fit!"

"Hey! You have a limo there at your convenience, go shopping. Get your hair done, whatever you need to do. But be ready for 4."

"Oh my God, Shawn! I don't know what to wear!?" She squealed panicking, "What kind of restaurant?"

"Get something casual dressy."

"Casual dressy?! What is casual dressy? What does that mean?"

Shawn chuckled over the phoned, just imagining the look on her face. "Nice dress, heels, classy hairstyle."

"Should I wear something black?"

"Black is safe, its up to you. White is good, wine, look - you don't need me to tell you what to wear. You're perfectly capable of fixing yourself up. 4 o'clock, don't be late." He hung up.

Sylvia clicked the phone off, looked at her daughter, Angela, Mundo and the boys and wondered where to go and what to do. Then it dawned on her, "Angela! What's your mother's telephone number?"

"Beautiful!" Deidre exclaimed.

"You sure?" Sylvia asked turning this way and that in the mirror trying to see herself from all angles.

"Absolutely positive! Charlie ... what do you think?"

Charlie looked at Deidre, then at Sylvia standing there waiting, Charlie looked back at Deidre, thinking,
'Now you know damn well not to be asking me no shit like that.'
But since she asked, she looked back at Sylvia, "It's too snug around your hips, yo'ass too wide to be wearing that. You need something that'll give a lil'bit for your ass."

Sylvia stood with her mouth open, "Ach! Is it really?" She asked, looking to Crystal and Angela.

"Charlie! It is not!" Deidre blasted her, she couldn't believe she said that.

"If you don't want the truth, don't ask me! What you ask me for?" She fussed back at Deidre, and then to Sylvia. "Stand straight in that mirror, now do a sudden move like you looking back over your shoulder, but keep your feet straight and don't move your ass, do it."

Crystal was trying not to laugh from the look on her mother's face. Angela's eyes were big, as well shooting daggers at her mother and then at Charlie.

Sylvia took a deep breath, stood still and then did the move.

"See! It snagged up on her ass, and twisted at the waist! Shit ain't supposed to fit you like that. The dress looks good on you, but you need to come up a size."

Sylvia looked back into the mirror sighed, and nodded her head, "She's right. It's too snug."

"You know what you need? When you got hips and ass, you need to wear shit that balances you out. Like this dress right here. A nice bow below yo'titties-..."

"Charlie!" Deidre barked again.

Crystal busted up laughing and Angela covered her own mouth trying not to laugh.

"What?! Okay, sorry, a nice bow below your breasts, and because you're small across the shoulders, a bit of shoulder pads will help to balance you out, make you look longer in the body, and not so wide in the hips. The pleat coming from the bow shows you've got a little loaf baking in the oven and gives you that look of ultra elegance even though pregnant. Now try it on and see. Black, classy, and a fabric that moves with you, not clinging to you to show ... that wide ass."

"Do you mind, not going on and on about my wide ass!" Sylvia snapped up at Charlie.