by Bailey West
“Zora wants to start a free clinic, Dad. She wants it to be non-profit. I told her that I could introduce her to Sister Jones since that is her area of expertise.”
“Of course, Sister Jones is the church administrator, and she is also a lawyer. She knows all the ins and outs of the not for profit. I’m sure she would be happy to help.” My dad smiled.
“That’s a wonderful idea, Zora.” My mom complimented.
“Thank you, First Lady. I just want to help people. I don’t believe that just because you don’t have insurance that your treatment should be sub par.”
“I agree, Sweetheart,” my dad smiled.
Between Zora and BJ, my parents were entertained the whole dinner. Zora relaxed, and BJ commanded the conversation for most of dinner.
“Ezekiel, don’t let me forget to give you a box of Roman’s things that we found in the house.”
“Yes ma’am, I will remind you.”
“Ezekiel, I like her a lot!” my mother confessed.
The day after my parents met Zora and BJ, I went to my parent’s condo to have lunch with them. My mother had prepared a fresh salad topped with grilled chicken. She made me a pitcher of cherry Kool-Aid.
“And that BJ. He is such a little charmer. And boy is he smart! You almost forget you’re talking to a three-year-old.” She continued.
“I know,” I smiled. “He’s getting smarter every day. I love having both of them around.”
“What are your plans for her, son?”
“I don’t have it all figured out Dad, but I want them in my life. I want Zora and BJ to share my life and my world. Like I told Mom, I don’t know if I’m ready to be married, but I want them in my life permanently.”
“She’s a great choice. I didn’t think you would ever make one,” my Dad chuckled.
“Me either,” my Mom cosigned.
“Bluette men know when we’ve found the one. Make sure you make her number one. No one or nothing should come before her. She is successful and strong. Let her be those things but still treat her like the most precious thing in your life because she is. Guard her heart and always consider her feelings. Pray for her and for Braeden. When the time is right, make her your wife.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the advice.”
“Ezekiel, do you think that Zora would like to come over for dinner before we leave for New York? I would love to spend some time with her again and BJ.”
“I will ask her and let you know.”
Zora
“Tell me about your family, Zora.”
I was in the kitchen of First Lady Bluette’s condo helping her with dinner. She had invited us over before she and Bishop go back to New York.
I wish she would have asked me about anything else other than my family. I hate this subject.
“Well, First Lady, can I be honest with you?”
“That’s the best way to be.”
“Okay, I haven’t spoken to my family since I was seventeen years old. So almost ten years.”
“Why?”
“I left home and moved to New York by myself. My home life was a disaster and I felt like leaving was the best solution. My mother hated me. My dad disappeared behind the pulpit, and my three brothers got old enough, left home and never looked back.”
I don’t know why I just bared my soul to her. I don’t want to have to pretend. Either she is going to like me, or she isn’t.
“I didn’t have the best relationship with my mother either. She never really understood me. I didn’t understand her either. It was not until I was older and she was sick that we had a conversation about our feelings for each other. She was jealous of me because of the attention that my father gave me. I was the only girl. She asked for my forgiveness for competing with me instead of being my mother. I forgave her. We had a couple of good years together before she went home to be with the Lord.”
I don’t know why her story made me cry, but it did.
“I tried to reach out to my family, but it didn’t work out.”
She pulled me into a hug. I cried on her shoulder.
“You are going to be just fine. I believe that God will restore those severed relationships. In the meantime, I would love to get to know you.”
“You would?”
“Yes, I would. My son is an excellent judge of character. Zanetta believes you walk on water. If they think you're amazing, then I do too.” She winked.
“Sissy! He proposed!”
“WHAT! WHEN?”
I was awakened by my phone vibrating on the nightstand. I reached for it hoping it was not some emergency at the hospital. It was Zanetta.
“Last night, at my auntie’s birthday party!”
“WHAT!”
“What!” Ezekiel sat up in the bed. My screaming startled him.
“Blue proposed to Sissy,” I said to him while holding the phone away from my ear.
“Oh, yeah. He said he was. Tell her I said congrats.” He laid back down, pulled the covers over his head and mumbled, “I thought something was wrong.”
“So, tell me what happened,” I lowered my voice.
She told me all the details of his proposal from picking out her dress to wear to the guys singing to her while he got down on one knee. She sent me a picture of the ring. It is huge. He did a great job picking it out. We talked a little longer before we hung up.
“It looks like we are going to a wedding, Zeke.”
No answer.
“Zeke…you sleep?”
Is he ignoring me? I know he’s not sleeping that hard. I know what will make him respond.
“I wore that ass out last night. You should be tired.”
I turned to lay down, but before I could, Zeke had me pinned on my back.
“You talking a lot of stuff for someone that tapped out.”
“Tapped out? The last thing I saw you doing last night was sucking your thumb all balled up in a fetal position.”
He laughed as he moved down my body.
“Let’s see how many jokes you are cracking in a few minutes.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will still be cra….”
My words were lost when I felt the first swipe of his tongue on my bud.
“You still talking? I can’t hear you?”
I wanted to respond and say something smart, but he knew exactly how to shut me up. I sat up a little and rested on my elbows, giving me the perfect view. I massaged my breasts while I watched him pleasure me.
“Damn, Z, you taste so good.”
I moved my hips in concert with his tongue.
“Oh, Zeke, you are so good at this. Yes, baby. Just like that.”
He wasn’t down there very long before I felt my release coming. With every lick and flick of his tongue, I felt myself getting closer to my ascension.
“Zeke!” I called out his name as my body started to convulse. It took me a minute to calm myself down enough to open my eyes.
He smiled and said, “Now go back to sleep.”
After Roman proposed, we all went into planning mode because they decided they wanted to have the wedding a few weeks later. Nette arranged to have the wedding in Saint Louis and only invited close family and friends.
I felt some kinda way about going back to Saint Louis. I hadn’t been since the night of my high school graduation almost ten years ago. I wouldn’t have to worry about seeing my parents because they weren’t on the guest list but I still have a little anxiety about going back.
I was sitting in Nette’s apartment while she finalized the last details of the trip back to Saint Louis.
“I am going to fly in a few days early. Roman and the rest of the family will be there the day before the ceremony. When are you coming?”
She looked at me waiting for my response.
“Um…”
“Oh my goodness, Sissy! I didn’t even think about how this will impact you. I know you haven’t been back to Saint Louis in so long. How are you feeling? Why didn’t you say something? We could
have done something here.”
She stopped what she was doing and sat down next to me.
“I would never ask you to compromise your dream or happiness for me. I’m a big girl. I will be fine. I’m just so excited for you that I hadn’t thought about it until Zeke and I were discussing our travel plans. BJ and I are coming in with the men unless you need me earlier.”
“No, I understand your schedule is tight. Your dress will be ready when you get there. If any adjustments need to be made Philip will do them on the spot. I love you so much for being uncomfortable for me.”
We embraced.
“I will do it a hundred times more for you. I’m so hyped that we are living in the same city again, but do you want to know what I’m most excited about?”
“What?”
“You ‘bout to get some. You ‘bout to get some.”
I stood up and started dancing to the made-up song I was singing. She stood and danced with me.
Ezekiel
We sent Roman and Nette off on their honeymoon the morning after their wedding. Paxton flew out with the rest of our family, but Zora, BJ and I spent the day after the wedding driving around Saint Louis. Zora hadn’t been back since she left. She wanted to see how things had changed. I thought that she would have wanted to get back to Houston but she requested that we stay an extra day, so we did.
“Where are we headed to first?” I asked after pulling off the hotel parking lot.
“I want to go to Forest Park first.”
She put the destination in the GPS, and I followed the prompts to the park. We arrived at the huge city park and found a parking space.
We walked down the sidewalk while Zora pointed out things to me and BJ.
“Over there is the Muny Amphitheatre.”
“What’s an pampatheter, mommy?”
“It’s an AMPhitheatre baby. It’s a place where you watch plays outside. Remember when we went to see Sesame Street Live?”
He nodded.
“It’s like that but outside not inside a building.”
“Oh! I like-did Sesame Street.”
“I saw the Little Mermaid at the Muny when I was a little girl.”
We continued walking as she pointed out other sights.
“Oh, Zeke look, boats! Can we get on the boats, Zeke?”
BJ could barely contain his excitement in seeing the paddle boats. He and I had gone on a paddle boat during one of our outings.
“If your mom says it’s okay.”
“Can we Mommy?”
“Sure baby.”
We went to the small boat dock. I paid for one of the boats that Zora and I would have to paddle with our feet. We put BJ’s life vest on him and sat him in the seat between Zora and me.
Paddling those boats will give you a serious workout! We paddled out and back. It took us about an hour. BJ clapped and screamed the entire time. He really enjoyed himself. That’s because he wasn’t paddling.
After we docked back at the Boathouse, I went to turn in BJ’s life vest.
“You have a beautiful family,” the lady behind the counter commented.
I turned around to see my Lady and my Lil Dude waiting on me. I smiled.
“I do. Thank you.”
“Now I’m hungry. I want to go and get pizza.” Zora said.
I followed her directions to a pizzeria named Imo’s.
“Just so you know, this pizza is not like the pizza in New York, but it’s delicious.”
“New York has the best pizza, but I will try it.”
“This was one of my most favorite things to eat.”
She ordered a pie (pizza) for all of us to share. The pie came to our table straight out of the oven. It looked different.
“Why is it so flat and cut into squares?”
“That’s how they make it. Just try it, Zeke. You will like it.”
I watched the elation on Zora’s face when she bit into her first piece. I was happy to see her enjoying herself. I followed her lead and tried a piece of the square pizza. It was delicious. She also ordered some toasted ravioli which is also a Saint Louis staple. Those were good too.
We finished our pizza and toasted ravioli.
“Where to now?” I asked while we walked back to the rental car.
“I want to show you where I grew up.”
That surprised and concerned me. It surprised me because she’d mentioned not wanting to run into her family. Seeing where she grew up could possibly mean that we would run into her family. It concerned me because I didn’t want to see her sad. Anytime we talk about her family she gets so melancholy. I don’t like to see her sad.
She put the address to her childhood home in the GPS. I followed the prompts until we were driving into a neighborhood of old stately homes.
“That’s it, right there.”
She pointed to our left.
Her childhood home was a Tudor style brick house. The architecture of the house put you in the mind of a small castle.
“It hasn’t changed a whole lot,” she said while examining the house.
“This doesn’t look like the neighborhood were Nette grew up. I thought you lived close to each other?”
“No, we didn’t live close to each other. We went to the same private school. This is the Shaw neighborhood. Nette and her family lived in the Central West End. It’s about a fifteen-minute drive from here. That’s why I really didn’t go anywhere when I lived here, because I didn’t have friends in the neighborhood.”
I could see the sadness in her eyes.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
I pulled away.
She gave me directions to her father’s church. We rode for about ten minutes before we pulled in front of a large white-washed brick church. Pool of Siloam was illuminated on the sign attached to the front of the building.
There was a flash of sadness in her eyes when I asked, “Do you want to go in?”
“No, I’m good. This short trip down memory lane was enough. I don’t want to end this trip on a sad note.”
I pulled away from the curb and headed down the street.
She perked up when she said, “Look, that’s the basketball court where I schooled many dudes that thought I couldn’t play because I was a girl.”
“You’re lucky I didn’t bring any recreational clothes because I would see you on the court.”
“Zeke, I wouldn’t do that to you. I know how fragile your ego is. I wouldn’t want to shatter it out there.”
“Whatever, Z. We will play when we get back home.”
“Okay, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
“I want to play on the playground mommy,” BJ said from the backseat.
“Okay baby, you can run around for a little while.”
We stopped at the small playground that was next to the basketball court. Zora and I found a bench under a tree while BJ ran to the slide.
“So, how are you feeling?”
I straddled the bench and pulled her between my legs. I wrap my arms around her waist while she rested her back on my chest.
In the not so distant past, I would have never asked a woman how she was feeling. I didn’t want to know what she was thinking. I could care less if something was adversely affecting her. With Zora, I need to know what she is feeling. It’s like her feelings are connected to mine. As strange as that may sound. When she is happy, I’m happy. When she is not, I’m not.
“I feel okay. Actually, I feel good. The air is different here. I don’t know if you can tell, but I feel like I can breathe. Not that I wasn’t breathing before, but I don’t know. Being here is refreshing. I thought that I would be sad and depressed, but I’m not. I mean, I would love to clear the air with my family but right now, sitting here in your arms, watching my son play…I’m happy.”
I bent down and kissed her cheek.
“I’m happy too, with you and BJ.”
She turned her body to face me.
“You are?”
“I am,” I s
miled. “Preparing for this tour with Lyrica has been difficult for me. I’ve never had anyone else to consider when leaving for months at a time. Now I have you, and I have BJ. I don’t want to leave you.”
I touched her face with my hand. She moved into my touch.
“I’m so glad I’m not alone in feeling the same way. I know its work for you but the thought of being away from you for six months makes me sad. Not because I don’t think that we can handle the separation but because I’m going to miss you.”
That’s exactly how I was feeling. I leaned in and kissed her. When we separated, BJ was standing next to us smiling. He walked over to Zora and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you, baby,” she smiled.
“Are you ready to go Big Man?”
“No, I want to be pushed on the swings.”
“I got you.” I took his hand as he led me to the swing set.
I’ve never been that dude that wanted this: family, responsibility, and love. Now I realize I might not have wanted it, but I needed it. BJ has become an essential part of my life. I anticipate our daily conversations and interactions. His hugs make me feel invincible. When he says, ‘My Zeke,' I feel important. I crave Zora. I adore the feeling of her next to me in the bed. I prefer the smell of her body wash in my bathroom. I love the scented trail of coconuts and jasmine she leaves behind when she moves. My life is better with them in it.
Once we arrived back to Houston from Saint Louis, my schedule was jammed packed with meetings, rehearsals and studio time. I was preparing for the release party of my signature drum kit. The drum company is going all out for the party. They are live streaming it on their social media sites as well as mine. The guest list is packed with all the coldest musicians in the game right now. I began rehearsals with the band for Lyrica’s tour, and I am working on some new music. My schedule is hectic.
I have figured out ways to incorporate BJ and Zora into my schedule no matter how hectic it gets. They have become my number one and number two priority. Some nights while I am working in the studio, she and BJ will come to the studio and have dinner with me. If they can’t make it to me, BJ and I will Facetime so that we can say our prayers together. I spend some nights with Zora at her house, and then other nights she and BJ will stay at my house.