090: Rafe

While Aubrey was in the bathroom getting ready, Ben came up to me as I was about to get off the bus

"What's up, buddy?" I smiled at him.

"You guys are good together, Rafe." He said without a smile.

"And that's a good thing?" I prompted with a grin.

"It is, yeah. It's a really good thing. Don't screw it up."

"I'm not screwing it up, Ben."

He looked sheepish. "You might. You're not used to giving it up for anyone. But you need to learn to sacrifice."

I swallowed hard. This, coming from my best friend was getting a little personal. Nobody else would ever talk to me like this. "What are you saying?"

"She's a virgin, Rafe. Stop pushing her. Learn her--- think like her--- make her feel you."

That was so profound--- so like him--- he was a profound guy, and had gotten more profound as he made the decision to start a family and go back to church.

"Did she tell you that?"

"No--- it's written all over her." He grinned and slapped my hands. "And you're not."

I knew that--- I mean I get what he's saying. Why would she want to be with me when I have been so promiscuous? My attitude about sex has been casually defiant, and brutal in some cases. Cruel would be a better word. Like Bowie said. And my attitude about church--- well, it speaks for itself, although I'd been caving and hiding when it came to Aubrey--- I still had very strong opinions about the church and Ben well knew it.

"Just don't screw it up. She could be the best thing that's ever happened to you." He looked down, fairly characteristic of him, that kind of fake big dumb guy BS, or the fake humility. He was neither. But then his eyes snapped back up. "I think Troy sent her to you, Rafe."

I could barely breathe. Troy—ahhh. Troy....

He turned and went back inside the bus and I stood there at the van door. I stared at the sky, that darker blue of twilight sky, with wispy clouds, and orange at the base of the horizon over the strange open spaces where we'd parked. I felt my breath catch. I wasn't superstitious, I was spiritual. I'd told myself that a hundred times, a thousand. The mention of the mantle and the spirit had struck me hard. Now the mention of Troy--- from Ben. It hit even harder and in the same vein. I had a hand on the van and a hand on my hip, staring, but what I saw was Troy--- and Jesus.

It was a very powerful vision.

I turned as Aubrey came out of the bus.

Okay.

Okay....

For a moment I thought I was seeing an angel. The dress wasn't red, it was white. It was sexy--- way sexier than the black one. Form fitting, but not tight, it molded to her gently, with a high neck and sleeves of course, but it glittered like stars. Her hair was down in the back, and it was longer than I'd ever seen it, curled riotously like her mother's, and she'd pulled it back tight in front--- her eyes were luminous. She had to know the effect she had on me. She smiled hesitantly, not completely comfortable in this get up, but I knew she could see the admiration in my eyes.

Mack was driving the van tonight, and Lavon and Manuel came around the corner wearing suits and carrying. I could tell. The other van pulled up loaded with Tim and Aidan, and two other guys I didn't know. But as the van door opened, Aubrey squealed and started walking as fast as her dress would let her. I was chagrined that she wasn't instantly in my own arms, as I saw her running now to this big, tough looking older black dude with dark glasses and a bald head.

"Jake!" She cried and threw herself into his arms. And he grabbed her unashamedly. The other three guys stood close by, all scanning the area carefully. "Jake!"

I let my eyes speak my confusion and slight irritation. Nice introduction. Who was Jake now? I saw Tim disengage himself from the foursome.

"Jake has been with the family since Tracy was--- her age. He's technically retired, but--- well, this assignment takes precedence."

"You really think we are in danger?" I asked suspiciously. I didn't think yesterday's incident was that threatening.

"No. I don't. And the further south we get the less danger I perceive. But that doesn't matter if Richard wants his girl protected. He doesn't ever, ever take chances."

"I'm honored this guy is here to look out for us then." I said, watching Aubrey with her arms around Jake's shoulders as he kissed her cheek as if she were his own adopted baby girl. That queer sense of annoyance permeated my thoughts. I really, really didn't like other guys touching her. Any other guys.

She disengaged herself, wiping her customary tears circumspectly. I heard Jake talking to her like a favored Uncle might—again.

"What's all this white dress stuff, baby?" He asked and stared at her hard, as she swung her hair, I saw his own eyes light with remembrance. I knew he was seeing her mother years ago in her place.

And Aubrey looked a lot like her mother. I think she had another sister too--- of course, Braylyn--- she'd mentioned her once. Braylyn sang--- was really popular in a different genre--- right now. How could I have forgotten? Because--- I reminded myself again. She went by Shaylie. One word. If you wanted to get technical, she went by Shaylyn Allen. Huge diva. Not as big yet as her mother, but with a voice like Mariah Carey.... Yeah.

Lavon cleared his throat and Aubrey turned to me, her eyes light. "Jake, I want you to meet my fiancé, Rafe Stryker. Rafe this is my Uncle Jake."

I nodded as I shook his hand with as firm of a grip as I could manage in his big bear paw. "Another Uncle?"

I didn't know she had an African American side of the family...

"Honorary Uncle." Jake grinned, with these huge white teeth. "This is ma baby girl."

Aubrey looked at him adoringly, and I chuckled. "We gotta go guys."

"I'm ready sir." Jake said, all business, the most drastic change in demeanor I'd ever seen, and I realized he was very seasoned. He'd done this a lot.

I escorted Aubrey to my van, half sure she was about to ride with Jake and catch up on old times. But she didn't even look back. She managed to get in without help, that not too tight dress and the not too high heels. Fashionably chic. She did me proud.

We sat together in the middle seat, and Lavon and Manuel sat behind us, with Holli in the front with Mack. I put my arm up along her shoulder and the seat.

"Do you like my earrings?" Aubrey said, very uncharacteristically. I don't think she had commented on her own clothing since the very first time she'd worn that bumblebee get up on our first date. I looked at them--- clear glass tear drops with a diamond hanging from the bottom, very pretty and petite.

"Yeah, I like them."

"Jeff just gave them to me."

"Jeff? My Jeff?"

"Yes, your Jeff. He put them on me as well. He said to take care of you."

"My Jeff?"

"Yes."

Cuss words of surprise and disbelief came to my vocal chords and I had to choke them back in favor of: "Shoot baby, why?"

"He said it was a gift he picked up in Tijuana."

"For you?" I was absolutely floored---- floored.

"It might have been for Ronda, but I had the dress. They go, don't you think?"

I swallowed hard, and looked her in the eye. "You accepted a gift from another guy?"

Her grin was very quirky. Her nod caused her beautiful curls to fall on my arm. "A guy you consider your brother in every aspect of brotherhood. Yep."

I let my head fall back. Courting Aubrey was challenging in every way. Not one guy in the band had ever given a gift to my woman of choice before, and now after what--- four days? Three? Ben and Jeff--- the ones that mattered the most--- were giving her gifts and cautioning me not to screw it all up.

Three vans drove out of our designated parking lot. It was a relief.

******