by Eric Pete
“I think that changed his life.”
“Baby, I know it did. I lost one son, but was delivered another. Now he’s gone too.”
I walked to the window. All I could see was another section of the hospital and the cloudy sky. “He was turning himself in to the police,” I said. “He had wanted to confess to you first though.”
Mrs. Dumas held her hand out and motioned me closer. “Did what happened at the park today have anything to do with you?”
“. . . Yes, ma’am. You could say that.”
“Be careful. Enough people have been lost to madness on these streets. Don’t let it take you.”
“I won’t.”
I knew Vaughn would be found and caught eventually. There was going to be a bonus though. When they went through his belongings, they would find Renika’s driver’s license hidden in his wallet. After Renika was questioned about her attack, the police had made a list of things stolen from her purse by her “attacker.” The license was among those items missing. She may have been too scared to admit Vaughn beat her, but sometimes things have a way of working out. My brief moment of pride ended when I thought of things that go horribly wrong.
“Ma’am,” I continued, “I have to go.”
“How is she?”
“Not good. She’s in surgery.”
“Go be with her. She’s the one that really needs you. We’ll talk later, baby.”
Val’s parents were talking when I returned. I didn’t see Bobby around and assumed somebody had taken him for a walk or something. They didn’t know what was going on, but it didn’t look good. People had been running in and out of surgery and weren’t telling them anything. I tried to reassure them, but I was fronting. I felt just as lost and helpless. Looking at Val’s mother, an older version of my woman but with more pronounced freckles, I took some comfort from the fact that her daughter had her strength. I had something to grasp and I was going to hold on for dear life.
Someone eventually came out to give an update. They only wanted to speak to immediate family members, but her parents vouched that I was Val’s husband. We were told that not one, but two bullets had hit Val and that they were having trouble getting to one of them. There was also a lot of internal bleeding that was complicating matters.
Mrs. Lewis wavered a little, then almost fainted from the news. Mr. Lewis caught her and we walked her to a nearby chair, while the doctor fetched a cup of water.
“Val’s going to make it,” I uttered as I looked into her mother’s eyes. “You’ll see.”
More of Val’s people had come to cluster around her parents and lend their support. I moved out of the way to give them space. The sunlight was gone, leaving pitch-black sky outside now. On the windows, you could see rain starting to roll down your reflection.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spied someone standing apart from the group further down the hall. She seemed nervous and tentative. I guess losing your boyfriend would do that to you. She had probably been waiting for me to notice her. I assessed everything, making sure my new family didn’t need me, then went over to talk.
“You changed clothes,” I said, more out of idle observation than real conversation.
“Yeah,” she grinned. “I can’t go anywhere looking a mess.”
Her entire arms were trembling. I looked into her eyes and saw the distant stare most people from the park were now wearing. She had been seriously traumatized. I took her in my arms and we held each other briefly, mourning the loss of Akhet together as only the two people closest to him could.
“I . . . I don’t deal with death very well,” she chuckled. “The big jerk’s gone. He’s really gone.”
“Do you need somewhere to stay? I mean . . . I don’t want you staying alone in that house after this. Besides, Melvin’s still out there too.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” she said, wiping what was left of her tears off my cheek. “I won’t be needing that. I’m leaving.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m going back to the Bronx. I fly out tonight. Some time with my family will clear my head.”
“But . . . the funeral. I’m going to need you—”
“I’ve been at the coroner’s office. I’ll lose my mind if I stay around here any longer. I just came by to check on you and to say bye.”
“I guess I can’t talk you out of it, huh?”
“You know me,” she said with one of her confident smirks that didn’t look quite as confident as it used to. “When have you ever been able to talk me out of something?”
“Never.”
“So . . . I guess this is it.”
“One question.”
“Shoot. . . . Bad choice of words.”
“Did you love him?”
“Remember what I said that night I came back to town? You’ve got to have a heart to be lovesick.” She took two steps then, turning back, she continued, “Let’s just say I’m feeling kinda sick right now. I hope Val makes it, Lance. And that y’all have a big family.”
I watched her leave and knew it would be years before I would see Kyne again. She would blow back into town eventually and find me. I might be shooting pool again at The Hole, or maybe in line at Wal-Mart even, but she would find me. She always did.
I hated goodbyes and turned to head back.
“Lance,” she called out from down the hall.
I looked back. I saw her mouth the words I Love You as she put two fingers to her lips and kissed them. She then spread her fingers into a peace sign.
I stood there looking at her for a moment, not certain of what I should do next.
“Lance!” Val’s dad shouted out to me. I saw something was seriously wrong as he and his wife were talking with the doctor again. Mrs. Lewis had begun screaming at the doctor, her fists clenched. Looking back one last time, I saw Kyne was gone. I came back to earth and ran to them.
“Noooo! Not my baby! Nooooooooooo!” Mrs. Lewis pleaded hysterically as she looked up. She had fallen to her knees by the time I reached her.
During surgery, Val’s heart had stopped.
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“A lot’s happened since your last birthday. I don’t know where to begin,” I said as I spoke to the picture on the gravestone in the cemetery.
“Vaughn’s on death row at Angola. His attorney is trying to appeal it, but a park full of witnesses kinda hurts his case. NOPD’s checking into some of his shady dealings while he was on the force too.”
“Daddy, when are we leaving?” Bobby asked as he ran into my leg. We had come straight from church and he was dying to get out of his good clothes.
“In a minute. Now go watch your sister. Don’t let her run around here. She could get hurt. Bring her to the car.”
I watched Bobby guide my beautiful daughter through the aboveground plots to the car where her mother was waiting in the passenger seat, sunglasses on. She smiled and opened the car door for the little one to jump in. Val lowered her sunglasses and blew me a kiss. I let her see my smile.
Miracles do happen. They managed to get Val’s heart started and she eventually pulled through. We were married in the hospital a month later. She’s really had my back since. She even waited on me until I got out of jail.
Oh yeah. You don’t know about that.
Remember that car I stole? The one I didn’t burn? Well, I should have. I left my fingerprints in it and they matched them to me from my prior record. They got me for the stolen car, but not for any of the other stuff I did. It was a little rough being locked up again, but it wasn’t very long. Val and Mr. Bourgeois stepped in and kept my computer business going in my absence, so I have them to thank for that.
I can’t mention the car incident without bringing up Renika. Renika moved to Lafayette and was doing very well for herself last time we paid her a visit. She has a new boyfriend who treats her with the love and respect she deserves and they’re talking about wedding bells in their future.
I finished my conversation with Akhet, as I d
id every year on his birthday. I told him about how On-Phire Records was now under federal investigation and that the IRS had just filed charges against them for tax evasion. The wildest news was that Melvin turned up dead. Yeah, his body was found in the woods off Old Gentilly Road with one in the head inside a burnt car. No witnesses and no suspects. Big surprise. It’s just my opinion, but I think Jason North finally stepped up to assert himself. He was now taking the credit as well as the praise for AK’s album, which had gone triple platinum since Akhet’s death. My boy had hit the big time, but would never see the fruits of his labor.
Akhet left us with one big surprise. A library and rec center were going to being built in the lower Ninth Ward with the last of his money and would be started in a few months. Momma D was going to be on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony as the facility was going to be dedicated in the name of Kevin Dumas and built on the site where he had died.
As I got into the car with my family, I gave my wife a kiss and made sure Bobby and Whitney were belted up in the backseat. I was driving away, when a young kid in an Infiniti passed, music bumpin’. Akhet’s gravelly voice bellowed out for all to hear as the kid played Track 6 of his album. It was a little number titled “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright Today.”
With a tear in my eye, I smiled, looked up at the sky, and spoke.
“Fo’ sho,” I answered to the question heard by none but me. “Fo’ sho.”
Dedicated to all who have lost their lives needlessly and to the people they left behind. It’s your life, so live it . . . and love it.
JWP Studios
Eric Pete is an award-winning author and one of the hottest voices in contemporary fiction today. His first two novels, Real for Me and Someone’s in the Kitchen, have been featured selections of many book clubs across America. He has also contributed short stories to the erotica anthologies After Hours: A Collection of Erotic Writing by Black Men and Twilight Moods: African American Erotica. A graduate of McNeese State University, he resides with his family in the New Orleans area, where he is currently working on his next novel. Visit his Web site: www.ericpete.com.
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READERS GUIDE
A CONVERSATION WITH
ERIC PETE
Q. What inspired you to write Gets No Love?
A. With my other novels, I’ve focused on places such as Los Angeles and Houston. I live in New Orleans, so I’ve received tons of requests for a story set here. With each novel, I try to capture a certain vibe while still dwelling within the dynamics of relationships. I think I straddled the line in that Gets No Love has a harder, urban edge to it. This is simply a reflection of the world the characters Lance and Akhet grew up in. I want my characters to have a “real life” quality to them. This story came from simply observing things going on around me and from things my generation has experienced. It’s my wish that this story attracts people who wouldn’t normally pick up a book, while still appealing to my core group of readers, my family.
Q. Are the characters in Gets No Love based on real people?
A. No. The book is a product of my imagination, sprinkled with certain real locales and background characters to add authentic elements to the illusion. I’m sure somebody will come up to me at a book signing swearing they know these people. Only my friend Karen the Blessed Poet is intentionally added to honor someone who knows all about the struggle we go through as “creators.”
I’d like to think my characters’ experiences are mirrored by people out there. Like Lance and Akhet, there are many people who came up without guidance or that strong authority figure, but who are trying to “do right.” They wind up learning through trial and error, which isn’t always pretty. Like Valerie, there are single mothers who have to be everything to their children. Like Renika, there are women stuck in abusive relationships simply because they feel “some” love/attention is better than no love at all. Like Kyne, well . . . um . . . Kyne is Kyne. I don’t know who out there is just like this person, the lovable rogue that she is.
Q. Who did you create first, Lance or Akhet?
A. I created Lance first. The origin of his name and his whole “savior complex” kind of drove everything. Akhet came next, but his story and world shaped so much of the tale. True to most of my secondary characters, Akhet winds up stealing the show at times.
Q. How would you describe your journey since writing your first novel, Real for Me?
A. Amazing. I still remember those first words I typed. Now, several thousands of words later, I’m working on my sixth novel and have contributed to a few anthologies. A whole new world has opened up for me. I get to meet wonderful people every day, and I’m taking great joy in sharing these worlds I’ve created with the readers. It’s a door I’m glad I walked through.
Q. Anything else you wish to share with your readers?
A. Thank you for your support. I promise you there’s a lot more to come. Peace.
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READERS GUIDE
QUESTIONS FOR
DISCUSSION
What lessons or ideas did you take from this story?
Who is your favorite character? Why?
Almost everyone has heard of “baby momma drama/baby daddy drama.” Do you know anyone in a similar situation as Valerie was with Lance and Robert?
If you were Valerie, would you have called off the wedding with Lance? Do you think she had a valid reason(s)? Why?
Despite her uninhibited, devil-may-care attitude, do you think Kyne has unresolved feelings for Lance? Or vice versa?
After the lakefront altercation, Lance shooed Kyne away when he saw Val’s car by his apartment. Do you think things would have worked out differently if he didn’t let Akhet take Kyne home?
Lance had a unique way of handling of the domestic abuse issue with Renika and Vaughn. Do you consider it appropriate or extreme? What do you think about Valerie knowing about it?
What do you think of Mrs. Dumas’ reaction to the revelation about Akhet killing her son?
What feelings do you have, if any, about the hip-hop subject matter present in this story? Did it make any difference as you read it?
Did anything surprise you while reading the story? Did you know it was Akhet who had died in the beginning?
What do you think of how Kyne left in the end?
If you’ve read Eric’s other novels, Real for Me and Someone’s in the Kitchen, how do you feel this novel compares?
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Contents
Acknowledgments
1 Now
2 Then
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46 Years Ago
47 Then
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50 Now
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s Imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is
http://www.penguinputnam.com
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
1 Now
2 Then
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46 Years Ago
47 Then
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