The Mercer Men and Their Women (Part 2)
Jerry the Provider
Jeremiah Mercer watched through the kitchen window as Amelia and Daniela chased each other around the yard.
Camille was at work and he'd taken the rest of the day off to watch the girls. They were his heart.
Evelyn called him earlier and told him that Bobby had arrived from Chicago and was on his way over to visit him. Jeremiah was surprised but happy. It would be good to see his big brother again.
Bobby hadn't been to his home since Daniella was a baby and he didn't remember him coming to visit more than once since he had married Camille. The last time Jerry had seen Bobby was when he came home for Christmas several years ago. Even then, his brother hadn't stayed that long stating that he had to get back to Chicago to his business. He was now civil to Camille which for Bobby was progress.
Bobby and Camille tended to knock heads whenever they were around one another. Jerry felt that they were both two headstrong individuals. Bobby had always been protective of his brothers and their relationship. He felt that Camille would ruin that. Even while they were dating, Bobby would deliberately try to make plans for the four of them when he knew that he had plans with Camille.
Jeremiah felt that Bobby always seemed somewhat uncomfortable around his new family. He acted as if his marriage to Camille had been a betrayal of sorts. Jerry remembered that his mother had told him that she was going to try to convince Bobby to come to his wedding after he given him some lame excuse as to why he couldn't be there. Bobby's attitude about his pending marriage had hurt Jerry more than he let on and he told Evelyn that he'd rather Bobby just stayed away from him altogether if he couldn't be happy for him.
His mother would have none of their silent feuding and brought them both together a week before sthe wedding. She had tricked both of them in coming over to her house and before they could say anything, she demanded that they both sit down and listen to what she had to say.
"We're family, Jeremiah! We don't write people off because they don't act the way we want them to!" Evelyn snapped as she stood between her two sons with her hands on her hips. "You're brothers and you need to act like brothers!"
"Me?" Jerry scoffed. "He's the one refusing to come to my wedding! He's the one acting like I stabbed him in the back! He's the one that doesn't want to grow up!"
"You're pussy whipped." Bobby accused looking over his mother's head at his brother. "Why pay for the cow when you're getting the milk for free anyway?"
"Sonofabitch!" Jerry hissed hitting the air trying to get at his brother.
"That's enough!" Evelyn snapped shoving Bobby towards the table. "Both of you sit down now!"
They reluctantly sat at the table and Evelyn looked at Bobby and then at Jeremiah..
"Bobby, your brother is getting married. That's a good thing. Our family is growing. You're not losing him, you're gaining a sister. You should be happy and supportive. Your brother is in love and you need to respect his feelings. This is a major decision for him and he wants you to be a part of it!"
Bobby grunted unconvinced. "I hardly see him anymore now Ma!" he snapped looking accusingly at Jerry. "He's always off somewhere with her! He doesn't have time for us anymore! He doesn't need you and he doesn't need me now that he has his precious Camille!"
"That's not true!" Jerry snapped irritated. Why couldn't Bobby just be happy for him?
"She'll keep you away from us. She thinks I'm a bad influence over you" Bobby shouted accusingly. "I already know she doesn't like me. We were close, Jeremiah until that bitch came along!"
Jerry jumped up. "Watch your mouth! That's my future wife you're talking about!"
"Bobby, apologize to your brother" Evelyn said forcing Jerry to sit back down.
"Sorry" Bobby grunted.
"Look Jerry" Evelyn said "Your brother's just worried that you don't need him anymore now that you have a wife. You need to tell him otherwise. Can't you see that he's upset because he thinks he'll lose you?"
"Puh-leese!" Bobby replied avoiding Jerry's eyes. "I don't need him, Ma. I'll do just fine without him and his new wife!"
Jerry stared at his mother a moment and then looked at Bobby who would not meet his gaze. Jeremiah took a deep breath allowing his anger to evaporate. He knew that look of avoidance. Bobby was hiding something. Could it be the way his mother had explained? Did his brother really think that they wouldn't be a family any more?
"Look man" he said putting his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I love Camille, but you're my brother. Nobody is ever going to change that."
Bobby grunted again in disbelief.
"Look at me, man!" Jerry shouted. Bobby looked up at him. "I said, no one. Not Camille, not nobody is going to change us. We're Mercer's til the day we die. We stick together. We're there for each other. That's the way it was, and that's the way it's going to be for the rest of our lives. You have my word on that! I just need you to be with me on this, man."
Bobby's features softened. Jerry didn't give his word often and when he did, Bobby knew that he meant it.
"Alright, Jerry" he conceded. "If this marriage thing is what you want, I'll be there."
"You going to stand with me, right?" Jerry asked grinning. "You're going to be one of my best men. I have the tux all paid for and everything."
"Who the hell ever heard of three best men?" Bobby snapped shaking his head.
"It's my call. I'm not going to choose between the three of you." Jerry replied laughing. "Nothing is ever going to come between us brothers, not even a marriage ceremony! We're still family, man."
Jeremiah's thoughts were interrupted as he heard a car pulling into the driveway.
He watched as Bobby got out of he car and Daniela and Amelia eyed him warily as he approached them.
"Hi! I'm your Uncle Bobby" he said. The girls didn't say anything, but ran towards the house unsure about the friendly stranger.
Jerry walked out the door into the back yard and Daniela pointed to Bobby as she hid behind her father.
"He says he's my Uncle, but he's white!" she said crossing her arms across her chest.
"He is your Uncle, pumpkin" Jerry said and then turned to Bobby giving him a quick hug.
"Man, it's good to see you" Jerry said sincerely. "I've missed my big bro."
"I've missed you too." Bobby replied grinning. He looked at Daniela who was watching them curiously.
"See I told you. Your daddy's my brother. I'm your Uncle Bobby."
Daniela grinned shyly. "Hi Uncle Bobby."
Bobby looked up at Jeremiah as he stooped in front of Daniela. "She looks like you...poor girl!"
Daniela looked back at the car. "Where's your kids?"
"I don't have any" Bobby replied.
"You got a wife?" the impish six year old asked.
"No." Bobby replied grinning.
"You need a wife so we can have some cousins to play with" Daniela replied.
Jerry rolled his eyes. "That's enough, Dani. Now you and Amelia go in the house. There's a snack waiting for you on the kitchen table."
The girls giggled and ran into the house.
"I can see you have your hands full." Bobby observed.
"Well I do have a wife" Jerry snickered. "How long will my girls have to wait for cousins, Bro?"
"Shut the hell up!" Bobby snapped laughing as they walked into the house.