GRIT (The Silver Nitrate Series Book 2) (36 page)

“If you are shooting up, get some help for your addiction, but in the meantime, don’t share needles. You’re important, your life is important. If people who follow all these guidelines can
still
contract it, and we know it’s happened, then it can happen to anyone standing here. Most of us standing here are over the age of eighteen. Most of us have been attracted to someone and we took that attraction to the next level… and then, things happen.” He shrugged. “No one here is more special than anyone else; we are
all
special, our lives and health are important, and the people who love us, want and need us around, are important, too.” He walked over to his drums and untied the balloons, but held them for a moment, standing in reflection.

More clapping erupted, along with words of encouragement.

He looked up at the sky, raised his arm high, then slowly released them, garnering more applause.

“Those are my parents floating up there now! God bless you, Mom and Dad! Talise and Degan, you are amazing!” He blew a kiss into the air, causing the crowd to grow even more animated. “I call out your names! You have a legacy that honors you! I love you! I remember you! And I thank you for giving me life!”

…A few weeks later

“What’s wrong?” Javier
asked as he looked down at his phone. He stuffed another French fry in his mouth and rolled his eyes.

“She has to work late, again… I’m jealous of her job, man. I’m jealous because lately I have to compete with it.”

“How so?”

“Silver promised she’d be home tonight! She knows we go on tour again in a few weeks. This time together is valuable. Not only that, the house has to be painted, decorated, and furnished.” He sighed, shook his head. “It’s always something… I just miss her. Silver is a damn workaholic.”

Javier slurped noisily out of his soft drink straw and put the cup back down.

“You are, too.”

“I know! That makes it worse but I just feel like at this point, I’m trying a bit harder than she is.” Two women rushed over to them, waving their phones.

“Oh my God! Are you Javier and Zen from Pure Grit?!”

Javier nodded lazily. Zen did the same.

“Can we take a picture with you guys? Oh my God!” the young ladies squealed.

“Yeah.” Zen scooted over in his booth seat and allowed room for them to sit next to him. Both had selfie sticks and took several shots. Javier received the same treatment, only he seemed to be enjoying every second of it. They signed a couple of napkins for them, then watched them walk away; they were undoubtedly posting the photos on social media right then and there.

“So—” He got ready to complain some more, make use of the listening ear before him, but his cell phone rang.

“Hey, baby?” he answered on a sigh.

“Hey, I need you to go to the house and meet the electrician. I totally forgot he was coming. He is putting the lights in the closets today.”

“What?! You asked a contractor to come over and do that and you’re not even going to be there? Silver, what if I had some shit to do tonight?”

“Boy, please. You don’t have shit to do. I was supposed to be home with you tonight, remember? You got stood up; now take your ass over there please before we end up living like cave dwellers for the next two weeks. This was the only appointment time he had available.”

“What do you mean you know I don’t have shit to do because you stood me up, so my schedule should be free when you blow me off, huh? That’s some cold-hearted shit, you know that? We need to have a talk and you aren’t going to like it! I’m telling you right now that this shit doesn’t fly. We’ve been getting along real good and you just couldn’t stand it, could you? Silver, that…Silver?”

Javier’s eyes were large as saucers as he seemed to savor the juicy argument, and the last drops of his soda, too.

“She hung up on you, didn’t she?”

“Hell yes… I have a good mind to not go over there. This is a low blow even for her. She doesn’t stand me up; she’s always dependable but then to schedule this, man, on our date night and not be there?!” He hit the table and grabbed his coat. “I’mma check her ass and check you out later.” They bumped hands.

“Bet. Don’t let that woman get away with this!” Javier broke into a laugh, being the instigator that he was. “She wearin’ the pants ’nd shit while you vacuuming with rollers in your hair. Made you into a pussified punk, man!”

“Javier, don’t start this shit.”

“Awww, I’m just kidding, ma’am… Look, if it’s any consolation, we all love her, but she is just a
tad
bit bossy, wouldn’t you say, Mrs. Zenitha?” The man put up his fingers as if he were trying to pinch a grain of salt.

Zenith stormed off, got into his truck, and hightailed it to their new house. He cursed the entire way, rehearsing his spiel to her, making sure he hit all the key points about how she wasn’t holding up her end of the bargain and that hanging up shit was going to be dealt with, too. Yeah, he was going to lay into her real good and
this
time, there would be no angry sex as a patch up job to tide them over.

As he drew closer to the home, however, he noticed some of the first floor lights appeared to be sporadically flickering on and off. The truck tires crunched on the unpaved gravel area, and he took note that no work vans or vehicles of any sort was parked nearby.

“What the fuck is going on here…?” he mumbled. He got out of his truck and approached the near empty house. He walked up the steps and peeped in the windows. The blinds were drawn, obstructing much of his view, but lights were definitely twinkling inside. Sliding his key in the door, he stepped inside and was greeted by a succession of lit candles. Silver came from up the steps, a long, sheer emerald gown flowing around her body. He walked up to her, took her in his arms, and placed a kiss upon her lips.

“What in the world are you up to? You know you had me mad as hell!” He laughed.

“You should know I would never schedule anything on date night, but I needed an excuse to get you over here a bit earlier and I figured I’d mess with you a little, too,” she teased.

“Keep playing like that; you’re going to get hurt.” His thoughts migrated to what they were going to do in the bedroom. Hell, all around that damn house…

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Mmmm, I like the sound of that…” He kissed the side of her neck and roamed her body with eager strokes of his hands. “Baby, something smells good in here, too. What are you cooking?” He kissed her cheek, keeping her steady in his embrace.

“Something you’ll love. Come with me.” She took him gently by the hand and led him to one of the few pieces of furniture they had in the place, a cream chaise. He sat down, and she sat beside him, then she placed what appeared to be a greeting card in his hand. He slowly opened it up; the thin, hazel colored envelope smelled of lilac and lavender. Inside was a handwritten note.

“Read it aloud…”

“Okay… it says, ‘
Dear Zenith, I really shouldn’t call you that, it’s inappropriate, but I’m doing it all the same
.’” He looked at her in confusion.

“Go ahead, finish it,” she urged.

“
I wanted you to know that something has happened. Sometimes, people get so busy and wrapped up in their lives, they forget why they love each other in the first place. I don’t want that to happen to you. I appreciate your efforts to make your marriage strong and lasting, so much so that you’ve invested overtime, despite being really busy. You send flowers, text, call often, Face Time, and even send plane tickets. You’re dedicated, and when time is spent with you, it is quality, the kind that lasts a lifetime. Speaking of quality time, some may say it was a bit too much; I’m evidence of that. Because this isn’t a letter from your wife. It’s a letter from your unborn child…
”

He stared at her, completely speechless. Unable to utter one word even though his mouth was hanging open. Silver busted out laughing and covered her mouth with her hands to stifle the outburst. He looked back down at the letter.

“
Congratulations, Daddy…My due date is October 27
^th
. It’s a celebration!”

“Oh shit!” He grabbed her in his arms and squeezed her tight. “Oh my God, are you serious?!” Reluctantly, he let her go and looked in her eyes.

“Yes!” She laughed.

“Okay, I mean, wow!” He slumped against the couch, grabbed her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Well, remember we said we would just let it happen if it was going to happen? No pills, no condoms, no nothing. I’m a little surprised, too…we’d been getting away with it for awhile but…” She shrugged. “I’m happy, too.”

“Oh, damn!” he said incredulously. “My mind is officially blown. Come ’ere, baby.” He gave her another big hug and kissed her cheek. “So, everything cool? You’ve been to the doctor yet?”

“Yes. I’m only like seven weeks, but here’s a picture.” She handed him a black and white fuzzy sonogram photo.

“Ha! Looks like a tiny teddy bear… little arm and leg buds, right?”

She nodded.

“Damn… that’s amazing. I love you so much, baby.” He reached for her once again, pulled her close and hugged her tight. “We’re having a baby… that’s what’s up!” he cried, joy flooding every nook and cranny of his being. “Hey, let me call Javier right quick… Wait, maybe I need to slow my roll. Have you told anyone?”

“Just my mama, but you can call him.”

“Alright, hold on.” He took out his phone, unable to wipe the smile off his face. “Yo, Javier, guess what, man? Who wearin’ the pants
now
, mothafucka?! My name isn’t no damn Zenitha, but your new name is tha Godfather!”

One year later

G
reyson had arrived
two days after his due date. The baby boy was a serious sort, more interested in taking toys apart and studying them versus learning to crawl and fussing for his next meal. Zenith held him close as he slept in his arms, and he peered over the soft bundle of beauty’s head of black curls to read another article on his iPad.

He shook his head in amazement, still not quite comfortable with their sudden fame. Article after article showcased photos of them playing to sold out audiences, from Texas to Japan. The fame, the fortune… none of it meant a damn thing to him though if he didn’t have Silver and Greyson Zenith Hiawatha Taylor in his life… Yes, the boy was given two middle names. Zenith woke up most mornings in amazement at his good fortune, and with a little baby drool on his shoulder from time to time, too. What many speculated wouldn’t work, actually did.