Author's Note: In this chapter are references to two more (rather suggestive) songs: Madonna's Justify My Love and Cathy Dennis' hit from the early 90's, All Night Long (Touch Me), both used in the same scene. One, I don't own these songs, as usual. Two, I didn't copy and paste the lyrics here, what I did (cleverly) was take some memorable/important lines, and wrote them in as part of dialogue or narration actions. I hope this is acceptable, if not, I'll rewrite and re-post. Be forewarned, this chapter also contains suggestive actions. Please read and review.
Chapter 18
"And one more time," the photographer said to Jeremy. "Keep your head up, kid. Look straight at me." The back of Jeremy's head was somewhat rested on the back of his neck, so it wouldn't fall forward. He was somewhat slouched, his back looking like a turtle's shell.
It was Valerie and Jeremy's last full day in Los Angeles, two weeks after her birthday. They had already shot the commercial for Neapolitan Ice Cream Puffs cereal, now they were doing the photo shoot for the cereal box. Valerie smiled, and said to Peter Dempsey, "He looks so cute with that bowl of cereal in front of him. I can tell he's going to look very good in supermarkets across North America."
"Yes," Mr. Dempsey replied. "We've just started experimenting with new flavors, including the ripple flavors of chocolate, butterscotch and strawberry, as well as rainbow, and bubblegum flavors. We may even include tiger stripes. If this proves successful with our Neapolitan brand, we just might need your son back for more photo ops and commercials in the late fall, maybe early winter."
"Well, he'll be in school then," she said. "I wonder how we're going to schedule it all. I wish all ad agencies across the country would have sound stages in the buildings. Not that I don't enjoy it, but frequent business travel does get to me after a while."
Suddenly, after a few more shots, the photographer announced, "Yeah, and I think we're all done here. Wow, fifty shots of your son, Ms. Boston. The company's going to have a really hard time choosing just one picture. I can't believe how cooperative he's been."
"Hey, what'd I tell you?" Valerie asked. "Jeremy is the sweetest, most innocent boy you'd ever meet." They watched as Jeremy ate as much as he could from the bowl in front of him. "And that's all he's been eating for breakfast at our house since the print ad went through. In small bowls, though."
She checked her watch. Four-thirty in the afternoon. "And someone's going to have a late dinner tonight." Everyone laughed.
That night, Valerie activated her laptop to check her e-mail. Today was July 31st. She knew that Breath for Life Foundation infomercial was to be presented today, and she wanted to know that went. Mr. Sussex assured her that Elise would take care of it. She was delighted to see a message from him entitled BREATH FOR LIFE INFORMERCIAL, and clicked on it. It read:
Our meeting with the Breath For Life Foundation was a success. After watching the final product the morning of the meeting, we agreed that much of the credit should go to Matt Lynch and the video crew for their hard work in editing. Elise was responsible for much of the presentation, speaking on behalf of the team – and gave a brilliant, informative performance – while Matt took charge of the video. Prior to the meeting, we debated about whether Donna Grayson, Michael Hammer and Joe DiTorino should also participate, but after talking it over with Mr. Lancer, we decided that keeping them away should be part of their punishment for how they treated you during production.
BFL heads Lawrence Hyatt and Jeff Canada were especially impressed with the positive testimonies of people in Empire City Park. In the words of Hyatt, "If so many ordinary people like these candies so much, then this will be our most successful fundraising idea yet." Mind you, that part was a short 90-second bit (which was duplicated and shown twice throughout the infomercial,) so we could only fit fifteen of those in, out of the forty people you had sample. Needless to say, we saw a perfect record displayed on the tape, and that was enough to convince them. We were very pleased to pass on your report that out of all the people that participated, only three gave negative responses, informing of fruit and chocolate allergies. As a result, BFL accepted the infomercial immediately upon presentation.
The infomercial is now in the process of being copied so it can be distributed to television stations all across the country, in time for fundraising to begin on September 1. Congratulations, Valerie. You, Elise and Matt will be looking at pay increases as a result of this success.
She was very pleased with how things turned out on the infomercial. She decided to send a reply informing Mr. Sussex of her successful trip, as well as the new proposals Mr. Dempsey just brought up with her. She typed, I believe that for projects like this, we can use our agency as home base for filming, and invite Mr. Dempsey and all other out-of-town clients to Empire City. Therefore, I propose that we spend August and September looking at expanding our business for our own sound stage and necessary props, depending on the budget.
She closed her message and clicked on "Send." It sounded like a good idea. She hoped Mr. Sussex would agree.
The next afternoon, at the airport, Valerie and Jeremy sat waiting for their plane. She was talking on her cell phone, speaking with Mr. Sussex about his memo. She said, "I'm very happy that infomercial presentation went so well. I sent you a reply, and am wondering if you got it already."
"I did, and frankly, I wish your idea would be feasible," he said. "With all our office and work space for employees, there just isn't enough room. I think we went over this in the interview three months ago. I said there would be assignments that would require travel, and if Jeremy will be needed for more commercials later this year, I think he could sacrifice some school time. I'm sure the staff at the school you picked will be very understanding."
Valerie was about to reply when she heard her flight being called. She heard, "Those passengers with children under five, or passengers who need help with are required to board now." She said, "Listen, sir, I really need to go. They're calling for Jeremy to board now, at least." She hung up and sealed the phone in her purse.
Ten minutes later, they watched the rest of the passengers come on board. A light brunette woman carrying a magazine sat down next to them. Valerie said hello, but the woman just smiled and started reading.
However, by the time the plane was in the air, and the seatbelt sign turned off, the woman had reached Valerie's Neapolitan Ice Cream Puffs ad. She looked over at Jeremy, sitting beside the window, and saw he looked just like the boy in pictures. She said to Valerie, "Excuse me, I can't help but to notice your child looks just like the one in this cereal ad."
Valerie took the magazine, and was amazed and happy. "Oh, it's in magazines already?" she asked. "That's wonderful! This is the ad I created for Dempsey. And that's my son in these pictures, and he's sitting right beside me. We just finished commercials and a cereal box photo shoot."
"Hi there," Jeremy said.
"Well, you must be proud of yourself," the woman replied. "Your son's real sweet. He'll probably become famous, and he's what, five?"
"Ten, actually. He'll be eleven in several weeks." But Valerie was offended by that last comment. Five? she thought. How dare she assume my son is a little kid because of his size and slow rate of maturity! She just said, "Would you mind making some room? I'd like to get one of my carry-on bags." The woman did so, and Valerie retrieved her DVD player and Exchanging Vows movie. They never spoke for the rest of the flight.
They arrived in Empire City at a little past 9:30 P.M., local time. When they landed, the flight attendants told Valerie, "Ma'am, perhaps you should go ahead, and we'll help your child after everyone else is off." Valerie agreed and left, her bag on her shoulder. She wondered who would be waiting for her in the arrivals.
At the baggage claim, she was waiting for her suitcases when she heard a gravely voice call, "Valerie! Over here!" She turned to see Mace and Barricade waving at her, smiled and waved back, then gave a gesture telling them to wait a minute. But they decided to come to her anyway.
She kissed them both and said, "I thought about you and the others every day when I wasn't working, I swear."
Barricade looked around the area. "Where's Jeremy?" he asked.
"Oh, he'll be coming shortly," she answered. "The flight attendants were just helping him off after clearing the plane. In fact, we should be seeing him any moment now."
Soon enough, they saw a flight attendant walk through the doors holding Jeremy's hand. Valerie went to get him, thanked the attendant for the service, then he trotted to Mace and Barricade when he saw them.
"Hey there, lil' bud," she heard Mace say.
Just then, the carousels began to activate, and Barricade said, "Don't trouble yourself, sweetie. You just had a long flight. We'll take care of the bags."
She stepped aside, and Mace asked, "How'd your trip go?"
"It was fabulous," Valerie said. "Everyone at Dempsey headquarters just loved Jeremy. Everywhere we went – business dinners, the studios, the sound stage – he came with a sunny disposition, ready to work. Of course, he was also jumping on my bed to wake me up in the morning. Now they're talking about bringing us back for more as other flavors of Ice Cream Puffs develop. Peter Dempsey says Jeremy will be to Ice Cream Puffs cereal what that Mikey kid was to Life cereal in the 1980's. I'm sure he'll be talking with Mr. Sussex on Monday."
"Well, you sure picked a good week to be out of town," Mace said. "That damn Big Boss is at it again. He and his cohorts have been goin' around neighborhoods, breakin' into houses and kidnappin' children and teenagers to recruit into gangs. We've had enough problems with criminal youth without those crooks creatin' more gangs. What's worse is that he was also tryin' to control the youth gangs we already have."
"They were driving a stolen eight-wheeled cargo truck," Barricade added. "Inside, we found a collection of mind-numbing devices, knowingly built by Badvibes. We tried to confiscate them, but that gang quickly fired on us, right into a horrid shoot-out. And that was two days ago. Bowzer, Bullseye and Mirage, as well as several others, are still in the hospital for their wounds, and Blitz should be almost repaired."
"Oh my God," Valerie breathed. "Now I'm really too afraid to leave Jeremy unsupervised. I must take this to Karen as soon as I get home." She didn't have to look at her son to know he was scared; she just felt him clinging to her.
"Did… they… try… to get… Tyler… and… Brian?" Jeremy asked.
"Oh, Jeremy, they couldn't get to 'em," Mace said. "Tyler told Blackbelt that they came to his house with Mitch and Brian there. They saw Buttons McBoomBoom and Badvibes. Luckily, both Mitch and Tyler were able to fight 'em with their ninja skills. Then, Jon came home an' pulled a jackknife on 'em. He managed to apprehend 'em right in the house."
Valerie looked down to see Jeremy still frowning, and knew what it meant. "I guess this means Sundown's vacation is called off," she assumed. "This'll probably be a very important investigation for the whole C.O.P.S. team."
"Well, Bulletproof an' several others have already been on this since it happened," Mace said. "Sundown's holidays will probably be spared, as Bulletproof will likely call an emergency conference of police chiefs across the country. It's gettin' bad in other cities, too, with the gangs they have. Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Detroit, Miami, even in Los Angeles. You never had any trouble while you were there, didja?"
Valerie shook her head, seeming satisfied, then Barricade said, "Hey, Valerie, you remember when I told you I got my vacation time?"
She smiled. "Two weeks. Late August through early September, I remember."
"Well, the day after you left, I went ahead and booked two plane tickets to Washington D.C.," he said. "From the 26th to September 1st. And it'll be just Jeremy and me. You'll probably have to work, won't you?"
"Yeah," she said. "Especially now if we'll have to do commercials and print ads looking for police recruits. All departments and academies will probably want Lancer and Sussex's service."
"Actually," Mace said, "we were called to duty while filmin' a commercial with your company."
They walked past the airport convenience store on their way out, and Valerie saw a large magazine rack. She thought of the woman who sat next to her on the plane, and went inside. She searched through the row of women's magazines. What was the one her seatmate was holding, she wondered. What did the cover look like? She spied the current issue of Lilyfield with the current "hot" R&B singer, Vaneque, on the cover. She wouldn't tell Mace or Barricade, but she found her infamous ad on page 67. "Here it is, here it is!" she announced. "Here's my ad! The one in connection with my trip."
Mace and Barricade looked at the ad, studying Jeremy's face, and both smiled. "He does look pretty cute in this one," Barricade said, then showed the ad to Jeremy.
"Like I told ya, babe," Mace added. "That's gonna boost the boy's self-esteem sky high."
"Mr. Dempsey told me during business meetings on Wednesday that as soon as he arrived back in Los Angeles, he made appointments with all the family magazines in the city, showed them copies of the ad, and bought it immediately," Valerie said. "He said that Lilyfield thought it was so good, they put it in that issue at the last minute before it hit newsstands. I was so surprised." She took the magazine back. "A woman sat next to me on the plane here, and I think this was the one she was carrying." She went to the counter to buy it.
She opened it to her ad again. "Gentlemen, this very promotion is the highlight of my career." She really wanted to show it to Highway; he'd seen her finished product first.
Mace and Barricade kissed her right in the store, then they went directly out of the airport.
The following Monday, Valerie was eating in the company dining room with Cindy and Elise. They were filling her on in the previous week, when Mr. Lancer brought in a woman with her auburn hair in a bun. The new woman looked to be at least five years older than Valerie, and was dressed like a military lawyer. Valerie knew that Catherine Regis had to leave for medical reasons, after falling into another diabetic coma, but her replacement looked chilled and scary, like a typical office bitch. Mr. Lancer smiled and said, "Valerie, I'd like you to meet Kim Masterson. She has been hired to replace Catherine Regis while she takes a leave of absence. Her first day here was your first day out in Los Angeles, and she's been working on a commercial promoting the Empire City police force."
"Yeah, we're talking about that right now," Valerie replied.
Mr. Lancer continued, "Kim comes from a strong military background. Her parents were both in the Marines, and she worked with the military to pay her way through college. Although she's never served in any war, she has majored in government and political studies. And like you, she's a single mom, since divorcing her husband years ago. She says she's used these experiences as motivation to work hard. She has worked at ad agencies all over the country, and her references have given positive testimonials."
"Pretty impressive, isn't it?" Cindy supplied. "Although she can be a bit militant at times, she can be pleasant to work with if you do exactly as directed."
Kim finished her lunch, then waited for Valerie to finish hers. She excused herself, then took her to the ladies' room. Cindy, Elise, and some others were watching fearfully. Kim had a rather tight grip on Valerie's arm. There, Kim folded her arms and glared, like a peeved mother waiting for an explanation when her child broke something."
"So, Valerie Boston, I've heard so much about you," she said. "Especially with that disabled son of yours."
"Yes, well, I've been working hard to support him since my divorce," Valerie replied. She didn't feel like talking about Tom, so she just talked about Jeremy. "He'll be eleven soon, and has been wonderfully well-behaved since I first moved here, not sad, lonely and disoriented, like he was when we lived in Indiana. Shaken Baby Syndrome, do you know what that is? So severe, the doctors said he'd never function like other children his age. His physical and mental attributes are forever screwed up. And all because I made a terrible choice in marriage partners after he was born."
"I see," Kim replied. "What does he do around the house?"
"Oh, he just reads books. He loves to read. He also likes to watch TV, but he sometimes doesn't understand what's going on. So I basically endulge him in kid's shows, cartoons and educational stuff."
"Really? Because all my children have been doing laundry, dishes, and a slew of other chores from the time they were eight years old."
"Well, your kids were obviously never shaken at all as infants. Good for you." Valerie gave an approving, yet nervous smile, yet it didn't improve Kim's mood. "I'm afraid Jeremy can't do any of that. He's not tall enough to reach the top of an open washing machine, although he does take things out of the dryer. He can also pick stuff off the floor to put away, but that's about it. I'm afraid to even let him work a vacuum cleaner." She cleared her throat rather roughly. "One time when he was eight, he tried to help set the table for dinner, and he dropped all the dishes and cutlery. The cutlery survived, but I had to replace a set of eight dinner plates. I can't even tell you what my ex-husband did to him after that. It was so horrible, so unspeakable."
Kim immediately retorted, "Obviously, your ex-husband sounds like someone I'd love to have in my home."
Valerie was shocked to hear this and said, "You're joking me, right, Kim? Tom was a monster! In the first place, he never even wanted Jeremy. When I refused to abort, he stayed away from me until I gave birth, and was responsible for Jeremy's physical and mental problems. You think he'd want to date a woman with kids? Think again! At least you want to juggle career with parenthood."
"The point," Kim replied snidely, "is that at least this Tom tried to lay down some rules with your son. Disability should not have anything to do with it, no matter how severe."
Valerie rolled her eyes. "If you were to get to know Jeremy, you'd change your tune in a heartbeat. I only lay down simple rules that Jeremy can easily understand. Unfortunately, there aren't many. He knows he has bedtime at nine at night, and he goes directly to it without being told."
"Not acceptable, Valerie!" Kim snapped. "First of all, you SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINING your child ALL ALONG, not use his problems as a defense mechanism against your husband, and make him the bad guy and fix what YOU WERE BREAKING!" Her voice was loud enough to be heard all over the building. "That child is a spoiled brat with you coddling him, and I guarantee that if he isn't kept on a tight leash, and you're letting her get away with everything, he will be doing drugs, drinking, and driving recklessly just to spite any man who'll be in your life!"
"What crap!" Valerie interrupted. "Drugs? What would he be doing? And how would he have any strength to walk into a store and demand alcohol? I usually have to hold his hand when he's walking up a walkway to a house. And if I think he's trotting ahead too fast, I have to call at him to slow down, just so he won't hurt himself. And he won't be driving at any point in his life, I can tell you that right now. He'd be too unstable!"
"Shut the hell up!" Kim snapped again. "If you had ANY respect for your husband, you'd have TOLD YOUR SON to do what he is supposed to do – more than what you give him – and do it WHEN TOLD… not wait until he reached the 'in your face' stage! No wonder he finally walked out on you! Good for him!" She was being loud again.
"If you must know," Valerie said, her voice much calmer, "my ex-husband always went straight to the 'in your face' stage with Jeremy. He was also using his fists, and whatever he can find as weapons around the house. I left him, and you should've seen how quickly I filed for divorce. He filed a counter-suit and lost everything with his family. Quit lauding him as the saint he wasn't."
"And who was paying the bills, him or you?"
"He was." Then, before Kim could respond, "Granted, he insisted on looking after the family finances. I had to surrender my checks."
"Fine. Then he shouldn't have to live in squalor with a spoiled brat."
"Jeremy is not mean, and he is not dirty, if that's what you're trying to say. He has something of a problem with drooling, but it ends there. And quit calling him a spoiled brat. He's not the type to ask for everything under the sun just because other kids have it."
Just as Cindy came into the bathroom, Kim shoved Valerie against the edge of the sinks, and slapped her hard. She pointed her finger so it touched Valerie's nose. "Understand this, bitch!" she spat. "You are a shitty mother who is too lazy and weak to discipline your own child! You want to be the 'hero,' therefore, putting the burden of discipline on your ex-husband. Furthermore, at the age of eleven, your child should be doing his chores when he's told to do them, and not just picking up from the floor and emptying the damn dryer! I'm only repeating certain things because you're just aren't getting it!" She took her finger away. "My kids were doing their own laundry at their young ages, not because I was a tough 'bitch' of a mom…"
"Which you are," Valerie interrupted.
"…but I explained that if everyone helped with the chores around the house, we had more time for good times," Kim finished, ignoring Valerie's last statement. "You know about my military background and parenting situation. My ex-husband went to jail when my 16-year-old daughter was in pre-school, for crissake! Sex acts with a minor! I had to be everything to my kids, EXCEPT their buddies! My three kids are now–"
"I don't want to hear about your damn kids!" Valerie snapped back at her. She tried very hard not to cry. "Your three kids can actually understand what is right and what is wrong! My only child can't, and it's going to be this way all his life! That's why I'm BOTH mother and friend to him. I have no other choice! Accept it if you care to work alongside me."
"You fucking wimp!" Kim bellowed. "Donna told me last week all about that infomercial incident. I can't say how disgusted I am with that! And you call yourself a project manager! Obviously, you'll only work well with people who agree with your slacking styles of parenting. Just remember one thing: tough love works! Quit treating it like it's a fucking oxymoron! You had better step up to the plate and quit spoiling your son!" She shoved Cindy aside on her way out. "Shaken Baby Syndrome, my ass!"
Valerie turned around without looking at Cindy, and began to wash her face to re-do her makeup. Cindy went up to her and said, "I could hear everything from in here. Are you okay? Maybe when you're done, we can report this to Mr. Lancer. Don't worry, it's still fresh in my mind."
"She should be lucky she has the same position as me," Valerie lamented. "I'd hate to be working with her on projects! Stupid bitch, she has no idea what's it's like to raise a special needs child. Hardly anyone here does." She finished applying foundation, and started on the eyeshadow. "You can take this to Lancer if you want. I'll be fine."
"I'll wait until you apply lipstick," Cindy said. "Then we're taking this to Lancer together. Obviously, he and Sussex never told her anything about you. You can tell him what she said about your husband, I'll tell him about the assault."
Valerie sighed. "This'll be like that discipline meeting with Donna, Michael and Joe last month, only without the written complaint."
When she arrived at her sister's house after work, Valerie was almost exhausted. Karen frowned at this and said, "God, Valerie, I thought I'd never see you like this again after you cleared up that infomercial incident. Don't tell me it's those same three assholes."
"No, it's a new asshole," Valerie corrected. "You remember when I told you Catherine Regis took leave because of her diabetes? Her replacement is worse than they were. She started the day I left town. Apparently, she's heard some things and decided she doesn't like me."
"Well, dinner should be almost ready," Karen said. "Why don't you stay with us, and you can tell us about it."
Two extra spots were set up for Valerie and Jeremy, and when they sat down, Valerie told about the terrible lunch hour she had, specifically, the fight in the ladies' room.
"And when I told Kim what Jeremy could and couldn't do around the house, she started getting nasty," she said. "God, but I should've never brought Tom into the conversation at all. I told her about what happened when he tried to set the table, and Kim said that Tom sounds like the type of man she'd like to have."
"I shouldn't be surprised," Karen said. "She sounds like his kind of woman. I just hope he can handle her kids."
"And she had the audacity to suggest that the reason why Tom and I divorced was because I wasn't telling Jeremy what to do and when," Valerie continued, "and putting the 'burden of discipline' on Tom!" She bit into her corn on the cob. "Kim says her kids were doing their own laundry at age eight. Bravo for them! Jeremy can't even jump up high enough to reach the top of the damn washer. But does she even listen? Nooooo!" She ate some more potatoes. "I'm just a weak and lazy mother who spoils her son, and lets him get away with everything."
"I hope you went to Mr. Lancer," Bart said. "She's in an authorial position, yet that sounds like an abuse of authority. It really does."
"Well, Lancer admitted that he never told her anything about me," Valerie replied, "but he assured me that they'd have a chat. I hope this is something she thinks about."
She stayed until eight o'clock, then went to check her phone messages when she got home. The light was flashing once at a time. She played her message.
"Valerie?" the voice said. "Valerie, this is Kim from work. Listen, I want to say how sorry I am for how I talked to you at lunch today. Mr. Lancer talked to me about you after you and Cindy ratted me out. I realized I was wrong for treating you like absolute shit. But I wasn't wrong about the way you're raising Jeremy, and I told Lancer this. Call me at 508-6198. I think we need to talk – like adults."
Valerie sighed. She wouldn't call her back. She knew Kim was wrong about Jeremy. But Mr. Lancer never really met him; she wondered if Mr. Sussex had also talked to her. She wondered if Kim knew about that Ice Cream Puffs project. Maybe if she knew what Jeremy looked like, and how he made it successful, she'd have a little more sympathy for him.
She said to the boy, "Jeremy, go get your pajamas, and go to the bathroom quickly, please. I'll be there to run your bath in a few minutes." He nodded and left.
First, she tried calling Mace. She dialed his number and waited, but got his answering machine after four rings. She said to the machine, "Mace, it's Valerie. Listen, I had another not-so-good day at work. If you get this message before eleven, call me, please. I want to talk to you. I'll hear from you later."
Next, she called Highway, but got his answering machine, too. She said, "Highway! This is Valerie calling. Listen, remember that time I cried to you because people at work were criticizing my parenting? Well, I'm getting more shit – this time, from a new project manager. I really need to open my heart. Please call me if you don't get home too late. Bye."
Then she called Barricade, but got his machine as well. Valerie was starting to get frustrated. "Barricade! Barricade, it's Valerie calling." She almost said, "Where is everybody?" but she didn't want him to know that she'd called Mace and Highway, too. So she just said, "Listen, I had another rough day at the office, and of all the times for the man I love to not be at home. I'm going to be up until eleven, so if you get this, please call me back. See you."
She called Sundown next, but got no answer. She hung up after seven rings, saying to herself, "God, Sundown, invest in an answering machine! Flipping Christ!" She thought about calling Bowzer, but believed he wouldn't be at his home, either.
Suddenly, it came to her. "Maybe they're all at their headquarters, working on that shooting investigation," she said to herself. "And Bowzer must be resting in the hospital." She started towards the master bathroom. "This must be some case they're working on. Lord, but I hope this puts the Big Boss away for good. Maybe then, he and his asshats will leave me the hell alone."
"Who… are… you… talking… to,… Mom?" Jeremy asked.
"Oh, I'm just thinking aloud, Jeremy," she answered as she ran his bathwater and undressed him. "The loves of my life are working the late shift tonight, one of them being very sick. Hopefully, it'll help us get rid of that mean ol' Big Boss."
She spent twenty minutes washing him, including his hair. When he was dry and in his pajamas, she took Jeremy to his bedroom. They were in the middle of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Valerie read a new chapter to him. She said, "I know it's a bit early, but there probably wasn't anything you really felt like doing after your bath, was there?"
Jeremy thought about it, then answered, "Not… really."
She tucked him in, kissed him goodnight, then turned out the light. She went to the living room to see what was on TV. She saw a really good sitcom, The Playboy's Family, wrapping up an episode. She looked disappointed; she must've missed all the really funny parts. She turned off the TV, looking a little stressed. She changed into some workout clothes and went downstairs to the exercise room.
She spent the next two hours working out, stretches and yoga for the first twenty minutes. She spent twenty-five minutes on each machine. The whole time, she was listening for the phone upstairs, but it never rang. Valerie was disappointed that her men still didn't come home, but she seemed to understand.
"At the rate they're going, they'll probably be working until midnight, maybe one in the morning," she said to herself. "And no doubt some of the others are helping them. This must be some serious police work. I'll probably go down to the headquarters tomorrow after work."
She decided to go to bed. Even if her C.O.P.S. did come home within the next few minutes, she'd still have a lot to talk about, and she didn't feel like staying up so late.
"On my way from my meeting with a new client," Valerie said the next day, "Kim confronted me about why I never called her back, and I told her she was wrong about Jeremy. Then, all this shit about how mentally challenged children should not be treated any differently from normal children, and more shit about how I was spoiling him, and she hopes Social Services take him away."
She had stopped by the C.O.P.S. headquarters after another horrid day at work, telling her story to Highway and Barricade; the others were out on assignment. Barricade looked disgusted towards her new co-worker. "That bitch!" he exploded. "I hope you showed her your 'pride and joy' project."
"I did," she replied. She took her magazine from her briefcase, opened to her ad, and showed Highway. "I pointed Jeremy out and told her Dempsey took the ad immediately because of Jeremy. Kim had the nerve to say the ad should've been passed up, and she accused me of pushing him to do it to begin with. Then, she called me a hypocrite. I told her that Jeremy's face practically lit up when I asked if he'd like to be in it. Then, she changed her mind, and said I did it to give him special treatment. I can't tell you how good it felt to give her Tom's address in Parrish. Those two are fucking made for each other."
"I knew this ad would be successful," Highway said, then gave the magazine back.
"Thanks," Valerie said. "Now I'm working with a couple of younger guys, Austin Manning and Josh Slann, on a graffiti billboard promoting a new video game for the Loderunner Game Company. They have a new game for the Z-Cube system based on that cartoon that came on TV last fall, Animal Police. It supposed to come out sometime next month." She laughed at the idea. "Mr. Lancer said this would be a good thing for me. I told them this was Jeremy's favorite show. Too bad he has such a low attention span for video games like this."
Suddenly, she thought she heard Longarm say, "That's great, Valerie. Now I'll know what to give Brian for Christmas. She turned and saw him standing with Blackbelt. She grinned and said, "Hi, guys. Uh, Blackbelt, are you going to be getting that for Jon, Mitch and Tyler?"
"Perhaps," Blackbelt said. "Just as long as they don't get too attached to it. I wouldn't want it to get in the way of their martial arts training."
She nodded and asked the C.O.P.S., "So, how's the investigation coming? Bowzer, Bullseye and Mirage should be out of the hospital by now."
"We're almost wrapping up," Barricade answered. "It took a while, but we finally got a rather defiant confession from Berserko. You should've seen how disgusted the other crooks looked."
Valerie laughed a little. "I knew Berserko was a moron from the first time I saw him. I'm so glad he's not interested in me. I'd just die."
On her way home, she remembered Sundown had a birthday coming up. It was on the eighth, the day before he and Jeremy were to leave for vacation. She remembered this as she waited at a red light, and thought of the first time he and Mace came to her house. They had also seen each other some in between her birthday and her business trip, and reminders have come up at least once or twice. She'd just been so busy to do any shopping other than groceries lately.
She decided to take Jeremy to St. Charles Place. Dinner in the food court, then search the department stores for gifts. She didn't know about Jeremy, but she was thinking maybe some inexpensive cologne, some that will enhance sexiness. She had some grocery shopping to do anyway.
Valerie spent the next two days on Royal Empire Avenue, in between City Hall and the head office building of the local Boys and Girls Club. There was a special blank "billboard" wall often used for graffiti ads, where she and her team were working with professional graffiti artists and volunteering youth, on the video game advertisement. Valerie was impressed with the way the drawing and colors were looking: a bunch of angry-looking zoo animals dressed as police officers, group together amidst the city background. The gorilla character – named George – was holding the game package out. But the headline lettering was already outlined, yet Valerie was arguing with Austin Manning about it Thursday morning.
"'Get on the beast to help fight crime,'" he said. "Valerie, I hate to break it to you, but it sounds incredibly stupid."
"Well, it certainly sounds better than, 'If only the police were this beastly,'" she replied. "Police cars are going to be driving by this on their patrols. If officers see your headline, it's going to make them think they're doing an inadequate job. Bulletproof and the other C.O.P.S. would not be happy to see something like that endorsing a cop-themed video game." Austin looked like he was ready to sulk. "Look, notice how the word beast in really big lettering, so it stands out."
Suddenly, a certain black limo pulled up at the billboard. Valerie was horrified to see Squeaky Kleen getting out to open the back door. She stood almost frozen. It could only mean one thing.
As soon as they saw Big Boss step out, carrying a dozen real red roses, the youth volunteers stepped away, almost running back into the Boys and Girls Club. Big Boss was grinning at Valerie, and said, "Ah, Valerie, how lovely to see you here." He tried to give her the roses, but she wouldn't accept them.
"How lovely that you'd show up in the middle of my job assignment with such a clichéd token of love," she said sarcastically. "What do you want?"
"First of all," Big Boss replied, looking at the ad, "I don't know why you would be involved with an advertisement promotin' police. Ecch! You know the life of crime is where the real action is, sweetheart."
Valerie sighed and said, "I'd expect that kind of inane comment from Berserko. First of all, it's to promote a new video game. And if you came all the way over here just to ask me out again, you're out of your goddamn mind! Give me one good reason why I should go out with you. Not only are you a criminal, but you're not good-looking. You weigh about as much as a goddamn pig, your voice irritates me, and you have awful fashion sense. There are no two ways around it." She turned her back. "I'm sorry, but you're just too revolting for me to look at."
Big Boss frowned. "Yeah? Well, at least my gang and I can treat you the way you wanna be treated. Those C.O.P.S. are just usin' ya fer sex. Don't think I can forget the time Buttons, Crusher and Turbo walked in on you an' Sundown doin' it. If it weren't fer–"
Valerie was shocked and degraded. She snatched the roses from Big Boss' hand, then beat him over his head with them. Petals were flying all around him onto his head and shoulders.
"Asshole!" she screamed. "How dare you bring that up in front of my assignment team! I'm a fucking professional, and I do not appreciate you talking about my private life while I'm working!" She turned to see some of the youth disappearing into the Boys and Girls building. "See that? I'll bet those kids have gone inside to call Bulletproof right now. Now take that limo out of here before you get yourself nailed!"
"Not a problem!" Big Boss replied. "I'll just go back to my headquarters and brainstorm wit my gang. It could be another crime scheme with Mayor Davis, then again, it could be another way to git you, sweet Valerie. But I will be back. Believe me." He called for Squeaky, then the assistant open the limo door for Big Boss once again. When it drove off, Valerie was standing frozen as she had been before.
Austin rubbed her shoulder. "Valerie?" he asked. "Valerie, are you okay?"
She shook her head and answered, "No. That Big Boss just tried to intimidate me."
"It sure worked," Austin said.
"This isn't love I'm feeling from him," Valerie told him. "This isn't even passion. It's madness."
"Still, we can't let this get in the way of our assignment. Mr. Lancer and the guys from Lode Runner will be coming to look at this at nine tomorrow morning."
She turned to her concerned team member. "Yeah, Austin, you're right." She turned to Josh. "Josh, will you please go get the volunteers from the club building? We have to get as much done by the end of the day." Josh nodded and rushed to the Boys and Girls Club.
Valerie left the work site at around seven that evening. She and Jeremy came home in time to miss a call. She thought she heard Mace's voice on her answering machine. She went straight to the kitchen phone, to check the caller ID. She was only interested in the last person who just called.
Sure enough, it was Mace. Valerie picked up the phone, and it automatically dialed. After three rings, she was surprised to see him on the video screen. He looked as if he was shirtless, his body cut off at the shoulders. Still, she looked pretty interested.
"Hey, Mace," she said. "I barely caught your phone message. You look a little underdressed."
"Yeah, well, I just got outta the shower," he said. "All I got are just a pair of jeans on."
"I just got back from another long day of working on our graffiti ad today," she told him. "All we have left to do is put some color in the headline."
"Yeah! Longarm, Hardtop, and I saw it when we came to City Hall. It looks good." He coughed a little. "Someone called us over to the area because of the Big Boss, but he was gone when we got there. Was he harassin' ya again?"
"Yeah, that must've been one of our teenaged helpers. They all ran away when they saw him, to avoid being drafted, I guess. But that wasn't the reason he came to begin with. He was trying to ask me out on another date. He even tried to win me over with a dozen real red roses. You'd think he'd at least go for those silk ones you and everyone else gave me."
"Aw, you must be exhausted. I'm comin' over there, okay?"
"You're so sweet, Mace. I'd be delighted."
"Fine then. Just let me put on a shirt, an' I'll be over in a few minutes."
She accepted, said goodbye and hung up. She never bothered changing clothes, just took off her double-breasted jacket and heels. She vacuumed the living room quickly and dusted all the tables. Just as she finished, she heard the doorbell. She answered and saw Mace in black jeans, and white button-down shirt, untucked.
She took him in, and began to kiss him in the front hall. "You should tuck your shirt in," she whispered. "A girl just might rip it open if she's feisty enough."
Meanwhile, Nightshade was driving to Valerie's house, dressed in a trenchcoat. She had another plan to get Mace back, but got his answering machine when she called his apartment. She'd driven past C.O.P.S. headquarters to not find his vehicle in the parking lot. She'd remembered Valerie's home address from Dr. Badvibes, though she wondered if any of the other crooks had been there. Sure enough, she found Mace's car in Valerie's driveway.
She parked at the curb, and quickly got out of her car. She looked to see if anyone was around. She saw no one, so she darted over to the bushes just below her living room window. To her disgust, she saw Mace, Valerie and Jeremy playing some trivia game for kids.
Nightshade ducked behind the bushes. "So, you invite my man over just to put him in your little family," she whispered to herself. "Is that it, bitch? Well, I'm going to take care of that."
She stayed low, only to come up every five to ten minutes. Every time, it seemed like Valerie, Mace and Jeremy refused to leave to living room. The whole time, Nightshade was looking out for anyone who drove, walked or ran past the house. Anyone who drove past didn't seem to notice. However, there was a young couple who was walking their dog. The woman looked at Nightshade and said, "Excuse me, ma'am, but you're on someone else's property. I'd leave if I were you."
Nightshade crawled across the lawn to the family like a military recruit. She said, "Listen, lady, the very man I used to date not too long ago is in that house with a tramp! I'm going to sneak into the house when they're occupied, then seduce him back to me." The couple looked disturbed, and continued on their walk. Nightshade crawled back to the bushes and peeked at the living room window. Mace and Valerie still looked preoccupied, and Jeremy was jumping all over the room. He must've won the game, she guessed.
Fifteen minutes later, she peeked through the window again to see the living room empty. She let herself in as quietly as she could, removed her boots, took them as she tiptoed through the living room. She saw the bathroom light on, and overheard Valerie saying, "Okay, Jeremy, time to wash your hair. Close your eyes now."
Perfect, she's busy, Nightshade thought. She snuck past the hallway to the back hall, and put her shoes back on. She heard rock music playing in the basement, indicating that Mace was down there. She crept downstairs, and when Mace heard her footsteps, heard him say, "Valerie? Valerie, is that you?"
Nightshade appeared in the recreation room and took off her coat, revealing a red silk nightie. Mace was horrified. She was running her fingers through her hair, flirting lustrously.
"God, Nightshade, why won't ya leave me alone?" Mace shouted. "I told ya over an' over again we were through."
She kissed his lips forcefully, and he looked like he wanted to run. She said, "Maybe you thought we were through, but I don't. Mace, can't you see the feelings I have for you? You loved me once, I know that. This love was special, rare, unique, and I want that back." She kissed his lips twice more. "I want what we had back."
"You're outta yer mind," he whispered. "If Valerie sees us…"
"Then let her see us," she insisted. "I don't think about shit like that when it comes to getting what I want." She pushed him onto he sofa and ran her hands underneath his shirt. But he still looked scared and uncomfortable.
"Nightshade, I… I don't want to do this," he said.
"Oh, what's the matter, baby?" she asked. "You used to love it when I touched all over your body."
He sat up and got up from the sofa, running to the other side of the room. "Hey, it's Valerie's touch now. Don't you understand? I'm in love with someone else. She's upstairs with Jeremy now. Please leave out the back door before she sees you."
Nightshade looking like a puppy dog begging for table scraps. "Oh, Mace, but Valerie has made you so blind to the fact that there is an old flame that still burns for you. Since you've stopped loving me, I've been so lonely. And I know deep down, you still think of me and want me."
The song Mace had been listening to had already stopped, so Nightshade went to the jukebox for a selection. She found the perfect Madonna song that identified with her feelings, Justify My Love. She pressed the combination for it and watched the CD position itself on the player. When the music started, she turned toward him and made "sex kitten" poses, including licking her lips, and giving the "come here" motion with her finger. Mace just stood there, so Nightshade strutted over to him as she spoke the lyrics along with Madonna.
"I wanna kiss you in Paris," Nightshade said. She placed her hands on his shoulders. "I wanna hold your hand in Rome."
As she was "singing" along, she was unbuttoning his shirt slowly, removing it. She was touching all over his chest by the time she got to the first chorus. Then, during the musical break, she kissed him in a romantic sensual manner.
"Oh, Mace, please say you'll justify my love," she said. With that, she removed his socks and jeans. She wasn't singing anymore, but just staring at him, underwear-clad. She was more turned on, so she laid him down, climbed onto the sofa on her knees, and laid on top of him. She put her hands between his arms and waist, rubbing his back.
But she had been the one making all the moves. She said, "Oh, come on Mace, you're not even trying."
"Nightshade, I don't wanna…" he protested.
"Dammit!" she mused. "You're still thinking about Valerie, aren't you?" Then she realized her song had ended, so she said, "I have just the thing."
She went back to the jukebox for another selection. She chose something faster, Cathy Dennis' All Night Long (Touch Me). As the music started up, she started to dance around the room like a burlesque dancer. She was looking sexy as she lip-synched, and Mace was getting interested. She never took off her nightie, though. When she got to the first occurrence of, "Baby, let your conscious go," Nightshade brought him up from the sofa, and they started dirty dancing. She was pressed up against his back, her arms around him, groping his chest. She turned him around, and they were looking into each other's eyes. She was still lip-synching.
Just then, they heard Valerie from the stairs, "Hey, whose coat is this?" She rushed to the recreation room to catch something shocking to her.
"Nightshade!" she gasped. "How in the hell did you get in here! I never heard you come in! And what the hell are you doing with my date!"
"Winning his love back, what do you think?" Nightshade spat. "I still love this big man here, and I am determined to make him mine again. He'd already be into me if it weren't for you, you little slut!"
"Slut!" Valerie repeated. "Slut! You sneak into my house, you take off your clothes to reveal an outfit sexier than mine, you strip my date to his underwear for your own desires, you're bumping and grinding with him to some sexy fast-dance song – what the hell is that playing, anyway – and I'm the slut!"
She picked up the trenchcoat and threw it at Nightshade, then turned the song off. "Hit the road, you little bitch, before I call Bulletproof and have you arresting for breaking and entering!"
"Fuck you!" Nightshade spat. "Mace is leaving with me tonight!"
Immediately, Valerie ran upstairs to the kitchen phone. She quickly dialed C.O.P.S. headquarters and waited rather feverishly. She heard Mirage answer, but she didn't care. She just said, "Yes, I have an emergency. That jewel thief, Nightshade, broke into my house and has been cavorting with my date."
She heard footsteps running upstairs, and was horrified to see a vengeful Nightshade, poised to attack her. Nightshade snatched the receiver and hung up. She pushed Valerie all the way to the kitchen counters on the other side. Mace arrived shortly thereafter – having put his clothes back on – and ran over to separate the women. But Nightshade's on Valerie's upper arms was too tight, and she was shaking her violently.
"Stop it, Nightshade!" he yelled. "You're hurtin' Valerie!"
Nightshade let go just to throw herself around Mace, and hold him so tight, he could feel his blood circulation cut off in his chest. She screamed, "Mace! Mace, please take me back! I love you! I have to have you! Oh, Mace, I know you still love me just the same! Please say it! You don't love Valerie over there, you just want to suck her tits!"
He was squirming, and finally pushed her away. "No!" he insisted. "Nightshade, what don't ya get? There's no way you can really reform yourself. I was blind to that all along. An' I just want to tell ya–"
Just then, they heard several of his colleagues rush into the house to the kitchen. Longarm aimed his power cuff at Nightshade and declared, "Freeze, Nightshade! You're under arrest!" She threw her hands up, but he activated his cuff to get at her right wrist. She was immediately reeled in like a fish on a rod.
"No!" she yelled. "Mace, please say something! Save me!"
But Mace already finished his statement. "–I don't wanna see ya anymore."
Longarm took her away, but she was crying instead of screaming. Mirage and Bulletproof went up to Mace and Valerie, and she said, "Valerie, Mace, could either of you tell us what happened here?"
"Easy," answered Valerie. "I told Mace to go downstairs and entertain himself, while I got Jeremy ready for bed. I never heard Nightshade come into my house–"
Mace stopped her and said, "Lemme explain it, sweetness." He cleared his throat and turned to Mirage. "I heard footsteps comin' downstairs, and thought it was Valerie. I was shocked to see Nightshade. She had on this lusty red number, and I knew I was her prey." Then, he got into the more provocative details. He hoped this wouldn't end up as gossip in the headquarters coffee room.
At eight-thirty the next morning, Mace drove Valerie to Royal Empire – and the completed graffiti billboard. He whistled at it and declared, "Beautiful, Valerie! I think maybe I'll go out an' buy the game fer all my nephews."
She laughed and kissed him. "Thanks, Mace," she said. "I'm so glad the concept of zoo animals as cops has drawn you in." She kissed him again. "And I'm glad you decided to stay the night and take Jeremy to your work. You understood I had to get up really early, right?
"It's the least I could do," he grinned.
She went to the back to kiss Jeremy goodbye. Mace was taking him to breakfast, then to the headquarters again. When they left, she examined the billboard again. She was attracted to the "night in the city" background, but most of all, the headline. It was all in yellow except for the largely-lettered word beast; that was in red.
She pointed at that and said, "Now that's what I call standing out." She went to meet Austin and Josh, and the professional graffiti artists. Austin surprised her with a ham and egg muffin for breakfast. She accepted and said, "I like how you think about team morale, Austin."
At nine o'clock exactly, a gray limo pulled up, and out stepped Mr. Lancer with Mark Handel, advertising manager from Lode Runner Games. Handel looked interested and impressed, and he talked it over with his associates. After Valerie explained the ad, and how her team contributed, Handel said, "Well, Ms. Boston, we believe that this ad captures the spirit of both the Animal Police cartoon and the game itself. You have the whole main cast of good guys in their 'ready to fight crime' characters, and we love your decision to have old George Gorilla holding out the game for all to notice." He smiled at the headline. "'Get on the beast to help fight crime.' That is sure to draw the kids in. You sure captured the target audience there. Just out of curiosity, though – are those first four words supposed to be a play for 'Get on the beat?'"
Valerie nodded. "It is."
"Well, I like how you think, Ms. Boston," Handel replied. His associates were now setting up a camera. "We're impressed by your work, but it all depends on what the public thinks. So what we're going to do is we're setting up this camera to the TV in the limo. We're going to flag down some passers-by, show them this ad, and get their reactions. If you and your associates will follow Mr. Lancer and myself." Valerie, Austin and Josh followed the two businessmen.
They turned on the TV in time for the ad to be shown on the screen. The picture was in black and white, but it didn't matter. It was the public's reaction to the colors that mattered.
A few minutes into it, they saw a young African-American male come into view. After one thorough look at the ad, he was asked some questions. He answered, "This looks super fresh! The characters are so life-like, and the nighttime look makes it look extra good. And that caption up there, get on the beast. The beast, man, that is fly. Of course I'm goin' to be buyin' this when it comes out. I can't wait!" Valerie and her team cheered as he left the camera.
Next, a mother with dark hair came on with her two pre-teen sons. One of the boys immediately said, "Wow, Mom, how awesome is that. Can we please get this for our Z-Cube?" Valerie smiled, thinking of Jeremy then. Then the boys' mother said, "Well, the concept is very different and interesting. Certainly captures my eye. I've never seen animals dressed up like police officers before this. Luckily, these two love that show so much. They always get up quite early on Saturdays for this one." After another question, she said, "I think I'll get this for them." Valerie shrieked in victory again, for a second approval.
Many other passers-by who were teenagers and parents also gave positive responses. The only negative ones came from three couples. One of them couldn't relate because they had no children to give the game to. Two more objected because of the video game's violence factor. One disapproving mother loudly protested, "This very advertisement only endorses the type of violent trash that is harming our kids. This is exactly what I've been fighting to rid Empire City of for years. Let me say that I will not be driving down this street until that is painted over!"
Fuck off, you stupid conservative whore! Valerie wanted to say. But she kept her lips firmly together. She didn't want to sound un-businesslike during a meeting. After an hour and a half, the camera shut off and Handel smiled.
"Well, except for that one conservative woman who needs to lighten up," he said, "it seems the people think the ad is cool-looking enough to boost video game sales. Congratulations, Ms. Boston."
Valerie, Austin and Josh gave more victorious shrieks and hugged each other. Mr. Lancer quieted them down and said, "For the second part of this assignment, you – Austin and Josh – will create a print ad for this very game, to be placed in comic books and 'gaming' magazines. You will start on this when you get to the agency. Send it to Valerie for approval, and I will expect it on my desk by the end of Monday." They nodded and left the limo.
Soon after, Valerie asked Austin, "Is it okay if you could drive me to work? You saw me come here in someone else's car."
"Sure," he said. "For all the good work, it'd by all my pleasure." They both walked to his car.
"Mmm, that was a wonderful meal you brought over fer me," Sundown said to Valerie the next evening. "It was so sweet of ya to go to all the trouble." He kissed her.
She and Jeremy were over at Sundown's apartment celebrating his birthday. She had made a stroganoff casserole made with stewing beef and boneless chicken, and ordered a chocolate ice cream cake to be delivered at eight o'clock. She had also helped Jeremy pack a suitcase, because he and Sundown would be leaving for the airport from the apartment.
Sundown and Valerie stacked the dishes next to the kitchen, the she scooped the rest of the dinner into a container she brought along with her. "We're not doing any dishes until we've had some cake," she said. "No sense if there's going to more to do later on." She retrieved three smaller plates from the cupboards, and a cake-cutting knife from a drawer.
There was half an hour before the cake was to arrive, so Sundown put on a CD of romantic country music. He sat down with Valerie and started to cuddle.
"You've made this the best birthday I've ever had, Valerie," he said softly. "Thank you. I'm so happy to have you over here."
"Well, you really wouldn't have wanted to celebrate at my place," she said. "When I had mine, I was surprised that Mom and Karen had come over. I figured that with you guys and my whole family there, I thought I couldn't handle the full house." She started laughing. "I still can't get that scene of twenty people in my living room out of my head, all of you watching me open my presents, and that cake damn near took up the whole coffee table, remember. But it was that scene that made me realize that it would be foolish to celebrate my birthday in anyone's home but mine."
She picked up a taped bag from the floor beside her. "And speaking of presents, this is all for you. From myself and Jeremy."
He broke the tape and opened, and looked both surprised and happy. "Valerie!" he cried. "Wild Stallion cologne and aftershave!"
"The person at the store said it's supposed to make you smell sexy," she said.
"And a box of autumn-smellin' potpourri, with a Aztec-designed pot!" he added. "Oh, is this from Jeremy? Oh, but this'll look so nice right here in the livin' room. Thank you both!" Jeremy climbed up onto Sundown to hug him first, then Sundown kissed Valerie's lips, chin and neck.
She giggled and said, "Well, I thought a cowboy like yourself can only deserve things that match up with your Western roots, right?" Instead of answering, he kissed her neck more passionately. She laughed harder and said, "Slow down, cowboy! There's a child present!"
Sundown looked over at Jeremy, who was looking blankly at them. Perhaps he already understands, she thought. But still, it wouldn't be so good with him there.
Soon after, they heard the doorbell. Valerie excused herself and said, "Oh, that must be the cake I ordered." She went through her purse, and retrieved twenty dollars from her wallet. When she opened the door, she was greeted with a frozen chocolate cake, ten inches in round diameter. It had a picture of a cactus and sunset in a big light brown "rock fixture" with Happy Birthday, Sundown around the edge. The delivery person took her money, and Valerie said, "That's good."
"Aw, Valerie, you shouldn't have!" Sundown replied.
"I thought of baking one myself," she said, "but a look at the coupons said this was more special."
She put the cake in the middle of the table, and lifted the plastic dome. She cut it into six equal pieces, two servings for three each. She asked, "So tell me, Sundown, what time tomorrow are you leaving with my son?"
"Our plane leave at ten in the mornin'," he answered, "so I reckon it's best if we get up at seven, so we can be there by nine." He touched her hand. "Doncha worry none, darlin'. I already started my packin' when I got home from my day shift."
"Jeremy already finished his," Valerie bragged.
Sundown looked at the boy, eating his piece at a rather moderate pace, and the half of cake that remained. "Sure hope Jeremy can handle another piece," he said. "I already told Mama she shouldn't feed him so much when we go to visit."
"Speaking of which," Valerie said, "How'd she react when you told her I wasn't coming along?" She tried to mimic his mother's voice. "Sundown! What kind of gentleman doesn't bring his lady with him on his vacation?"
He laughed and replied, "And I told her, 'The type of gentleman whose lady has to stay behind to work.' I can't tell you how quickly Mama understood. Luckily, I sent her pictures of you, so she at least knows what ya look like."
When Jeremy finished his second piece, and used the bathroom, Sundown and Valerie decided that he should go to bed a little early. Sundown volunteered, "I'll tuck him in g'night, darlin'. Call it a part of my fatherly duty. Then we can see about these dishes." He took his cologne and aftershave to put in the bathroom. "Why doncha fill up the sink? I'll be right back."
"Just put him in his pajamas, okay?" she called. "We can have sleep out on the sofa here!"
Minutes later, they came back out, Jeremy in his "sports balls" pajamas. Sundown handed Valerie some blankets, and they made up a sleeping area for the boy. Valerie said to her birthday boyfriend, "You know, this obviously means that we'll have to go to bed ourselves. So you can wash, I'll dry, then we can listen to a few more songs before we go ourselves." He nodded, and she turned up the music, loud enough to hear from the kitchen, without having complaints from other dwellers.
By the time they were finished, Jeremy had already fallen asleep. Sundown tucked him in and kissed his forehead. Valerie smiled and said, "You really good with him, you know that? Just as good as Barricade, in fact."
In the bathroom, Sundown took his shirt off, and applied both the cologne and aftershave on his neck and chest. He slowly walked to his bedroom door and knocked. Valerie never answered, so he opened. She was standing near his bed in her bra and panties, yet the smell of the birthday gift she gave him had her moving towards the doorway where he stood.
They made out until they fell upon his bed. He let go of her so he could strip off his jeans, boots and socks. He pulled the bedspread back and brought her over to the pillows. When they were settled, they started getting passionate again. No words were ever exchanged, just faint moaning, the occasional squeaking of bed springs, and the kissing on each other's chests. It was the smoothest lovemaking Valerie ever had.
Sundown's alarm clock chimed at seven the next morning, and he once again volunteered to take care of Jeremy and get him ready. Valerie volunteered to pack a travel bag for him. Two hours later, after a small breakfast, Valerie was driving Sundown and Jeremy to the airport.