Authors: Yessi Smith
Our a Cappella (8 page)
Trent
Erin sits silently by my side as she grips my hand in her own, which is kind of an improvement from her wringing my hands with hers. Tonya sits by her, holding her other hand. Unable to take the silence Nate’s Pop and Sofia left for the cafeteria over an hour ago.
Has it really been that long?
The surgeon said it could take up to six hours, but I hadn’t realized until today how long a mere sixty minutes actually was. I watch the seconds tick by on the clock on the wall and want to ram my fist into it. Taking a breath, I compose my emotions so as not to let Erin know how I actually feel.
The waiting’s lethal though. The not knowing, the stupid waiting game. I want to pace but stay seated, where I am needed and of some use.
As a police officer, I’m not used to feeling so useless. There’s usually something I can do to help. To be of some use. But here, right now, all I can offer is my hand.
“What’s Nate’s favorite color?” Tonya asks, still staring at the wall in front of her.
“He says blue,” Erin answers. “But he secretly likes orange.”
“Orange?”
“You know the color of the sun sneaking through the clouds as she sets?”
“Figures,” Tonya nods. “He’s such a country boy,” she snorts and Erin laughs.
“You gonna buy him flowers?” I joke and Tonya snorts again.
“Nah, I’m thinking about making him a sign.”
“Like a
Get Well
sign?” Erin asks skeptically.
I don’t blame her skepticism. Tonya isn’t the touchy-feely type to buy flowers or make signs.
“No,” she says shaking her head at us. “Like a
Yay! You’re gonna be a daddy sign
,” she says and stares at Erin, who chokes on her own saliva.
“Nate’s gonna be a daddy?” I ask, rubbing Erin’s back, and Tonya nods her head.
“That means you’re gonna be a mommy!” Erin shouts and jumps on Tonya’s lap, hugging her.
“That’s about the jist of it,” Tonya admits with a big smile.
“Why the Hell didn’t you tell him before the surgery?” Erin wants to know.
“I wanted him to just focus on coming out the surgery okay, you know,” Tonya says simply and Erin and I nod our heads in agreement.
Well, shit. I’m gonna be an uncle.
Nate
I know I’m dreamin’, but I want it to be real so bad I don’t think I ever wanna wake up.
“You done good, son,” Momma tells me and although I’m grown and too big to sit on her lap, she taps her lap and I go to her.
I’m too big to fit on her lap, but in my dream I go back to being a boy. Long before Momma got sick and the cancer broke Pop’s and my hearts. I sit on her lap and she smooths my hair back, kissin’ my forehead as she holds me tightly to her chest.
“You done so good, love,” she says again and I feel myself beam at her.
I always loved makin’ Momma proud.
“You got a big fight ahead of you an’ just ‘cuz I couldn’t beat it, don’t mean you can’t. Ya hear me?” she asks and I nod.
I know the fight she’s talkin’ about. I know what the cancer will do to me.
“You were so strong, Momma,” I tell her, still the image of a little boy sittin’ on his Momma’s lap.
“You’re stronger,” she tells me and I feel her words strengthen my resolve to fight. “You’ll win,” she says and I nod. “You got too much hangin’ on ya not to.”
She’s right. I got Tonya and I ain’t
losin’ her. Not to cancer, not to anythin’. I found my perfect song and there ain’t nobody but me dancin’ with her.
“I miss you,” I tell her, not ready to leave her when I hear the doctors calling my name, willin
’ me to wake up.
“I’m with you, Nate,” she tells me, cuppin
’ my chin with her hand. “I never left you,” she says and kisses me on my forehead. “You have to be strong now, Son, and wake up.”
I do as Momma tells me and open my eyes ready to keep on goin’.
Acknowledgments
I am blessed with the love and support of a village that continues to grow.
My husband, whose love anchors me. He doesn’t just listen to me ramble about my characters, but keeps up with them and cares about them, making him as crazy as me. Without you, I’m just a silly little female who talks to the voices in her head. As I said in Life’s A Cappella, you are my foundation.
My son, who proudly tells his friends that his Mommy writes stories, although my stories aren’t as fun as Spongebob or Minecraft.
My family: my parents, sister, grandparents, in-laws and cousins. I’m proud to call you all family and love you dearly.
My beta readers and friends: Lee, Ty, Jodie, Amanda, Nat, and Mady. I feel that a book is only as good as the input received. So thank you for calling me out on my bullshit and any mistakes you found.
The two Sex Gurus, who will remain anonymous unless they tell me otherwise. If not for you, Nate’s sexual ventures wouldn’t have gone much further than him sticking his manhood into Tonya’s lady bits.
My street team: Amanda, Carol, Jen, Jill, Jodie, Lee, Lori, Mady, Nat, Tara, Vane, Yolanda, and Alissa. You girls rock!
Most importantly, God. Not just for the drive to write, but for the people in my life, inside and outside of writing.
About the Author
I’m a Hispanic living in South Florida with my redneck husband from Texas and our “half breed” son, who is actually the reason I started writing again after years of celibacy. My son loves stories, but not the kind you can read in an existing book. No, he’d rather make up a story, complete with our own illustrations. So, thank you, Son, for igniting a flame I had let go out.
I also live with two dogs: a neurotic Border Collie we call Nitro and a midget Rottweiler named Nisa.
I have always found my sanctuary at the beach and in music and writing. I wish I could write rhymes so I could become a famous rapper, but rhyming is completely lost on me.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Human Resource Management. I have held several jobs, from picking up dog crap to upper management positions. And now I am hoping to leave the business world behind so I can live full time in a world that does not exist until I place my fingers on a keyboard and bring them to fruition.
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