Forever My Lady
Page 20
“With the power invested in me by the state of Nevada, I hereby declare you . . . man and wife.”
Dio couldn’t breathe. The only thing that kept him from passing out was seeing Jennifer’s face as her fiancé lifted the veil. She was more beautiful than ever.
He’d never seen Jennifer so happy. Not even when she was with him. She really did look like she was in love. How could that be possible?
He loved her more than he’d ever loved anyone. Didn’t she see that? How could she do this to him?
The ice sculpture melted like it was on fire.
His heart raced as he reached for the .45 caliber in his pocket. He could hear the rain pounding against the stained-glass windows and the roof. His sweaty hands pulled for it, his heart in his throat. He crossed himself, closed his eyes, and prayed he was about to do the right thing.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Everyone stopped. A baby was crying, Dio’s baby, in Jennifer’s sister Desiree’s arms. Jennifer blushed, then grabbed the baby from her and rocked her.
It was the first time Dio had laid eyes on his baby daughter and it did something to him; he didn’t know what. It was like that cry, his daughter’s cry, was a wake-up call to him. It knocked him out of the rage he was in, and as he looked at Jennifer so lovingly rocking their baby, she looked like an angel again, like a perfect mother.
Dio sighed. What was he thinking? How could he even think it?
He got up to leave and snuck through the crowd to the back of the church. He passed by the ice sculpture. It was almost completely melted—just like his heart.
Baby Crystal kept crying, no matter how many times the priest tried to wrap up the ceremony.
“I’m so sorry,” Jennifer said, interrupting the ceremony.
She swept Crystal away in her arms and down the aisle.
Dio was just feet from the door. He put his hands in his pockets and was starting to head out when he ran into Jennifer, who hadn’t noticed him.
“I’m sorry, I . . .”
But then she froze. They both froze, just looking at each other, each not knowing what to say. Dio collected himself.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“Thanks,” she responded. She looked down at Crystal, who had stopped crying all of a sudden, and smiled.
“Say hello to your daddy, mija.” She handed her to Dio. She was so small that Dio was almost afraid to hold her, but he did and couldn’t help the tears that welled.
“Hi, mija. I’m your daddy.”
He let her little fingers grab hold of his pinky as he played with her little pouty lips. He smiled and Jennifer smiled with him.
“You’re a natural,” she said.
He looked at her and cleared his throat. “Anything you need, I’ll be here. I want to be a good dad.”
“I know. You will be.”
They looked at each other endearingly, then . . .
Honk! Honk! Dio looked at the door. He knew it was Spooky.
“I better go.”
“Yeah, me too,” she said. “Kind of in the middle of something.”
He handed Crystal back to her, started to kiss Jennifer good-bye on the lips, but instead kissed her on the cheek.
“See ya.”
“Oh.” Jennifer fought her tears. From the guestbook on a little table, she tore a sheet of paper and scribbled her new telephone number. “Call me. ’Kay?”
“Yeah.”
He started for the door again, then winked. “No matter what—siempre, eh?”
She smiled, as her tears welled up. “Forever.”
Acknowledgments
SPECIAL THANKS TO GOD (ALL THAT IS) FOR HELPING ME REALize I’ve always had exactly what I needed in order to succeed. First of all, I have to thank the most amazing kick-ass agent in the world, Jenoyne Adams, who has always been a ball of energy and believed in my book from the very beginning. Without her, there is no way in the world this would have happened. I prayed for the perfect agent who would finally “get it” and to say she’s the answer to my prayers is an understatement. There is no one better. The Levine Greenberg Agency rocks!
To my incredible family and friends, especially my little brother, Stephen, who will always be my creative inspiration and those who believed in me from the get-go. To my dad, Lee, for getting up early in the morning every day and going to work to provide for us. I always noticed it and will never forget it, even if I didn’t mention it to you.
Also, thank you for those who didn’t believe in me, laughed at my dreams, and talked about me behind my back (we both know who you are) because without you I never would have been motivated to prove to you and to myself that I could do it.
To Jose “Dire” Mercado for providing that great book cover design. I wouldn’t have had this success without you. To Sergio, Miche, and Andie in Las Vegas for being there at the very beginning. To Rick Gil for helping me make this book as authentic to the Chicano experience as possible.
Thank you also to Cyd Madsen, the godmother of my creative works, for her creative and moral support; to Johnny C. Taylor, who first gave me the idea of turning the Forever My Lady screenplay into a novel. To Doug Brown for lending his advice and knowledge on boot camps; his wonderful wife, Tona, for making those great cheesy potatoes they know I love; to the real-life Louise and her son, my late best friend Benjamin Resmann. To the thousands of incredible die-hard fans who made Forever My Lady a success in self-publishing and the wonderful online community who made that possible, like Brownpride.com, Chaleonline.com, and especially Sal and Vero at SoyChicano.com.
To my personal cheerleader and proud father, JJ; my close friends Jonelle Ali, Angel Priest, Sam Whitten, Terry Harris, David Meza; Granma Barbara and my late adopted grandfather, Mr. Knighten; my Auntie Jackie Carlyle; Virginia Wilkins; Claudio; Aunty Cheryl who still inspires me; Uncle Eddie for teaching me what it means to create an emotional roller coaster.
Thanks, big brother Ernie and Uncle Louie, for lending me the rent money when I needed it. Foster Boom, Tree, Romina, and “Mum” for introducing me to my personal spirituality. To the many teachers in my life; to Miss Jill Simone Herman, Bruce, and my entire family at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton South Beach for always being so supportive.
Of course, special thanks to my wonderful editor, Andie Avila, and the Warner Books family for fighting to make sure this story is seen by the world. You made my dream come true, Andie!
To Kathy Wilson, who believed in me from the time she met me, when I was fourteen, and mentored me and was patient with me. To the godfathers of my creative works, Joe Wheeler and Ned Barnett, who endured my constant phone calls and questions when I was seventeen but always treated me as an equal. Also to Lenore Baldwin, Daryl Wayne for “the box,” and to the beautiful A. A. Lopez—thanks for everything. I’m sure there are some very important people I’m forgetting but just know that I do appreciate you and you know who you are.
And last, but not least, to my grandparents, JoAnne and Horatio Strother, for not only creating the most wonderful mother in the world but also for lending their support in spirit.
Mom, remember when I was fourteen and we had to get up in the middle of the night and clean that doctor’s office every night? We’ve come a long way from living in our car and I thank God every day for having such a beautiful mother.
Reading Group Guide
1. Why do you think Dio was caught up in gangs instead of staying out of trouble?
2. In his letters, Dio insists he would rather work at McDonald’s than return to his old ways. But Jennifer became a prostitute in order to survive on the streets. What do you think led Jennifer to make this decision? Did she have other options?
3. Dio and Jennifer fell in love at a very early age. Was it true love or was it puppy love? What is the difference between these two kinds of love? Why do you believe their relationship is one and not the other?
4. Simon comes from a wealthy background, yet he has just as many personal problems as the trainees who gr
ew up poor. What kind of home environment do you believe Simon experienced? Why do you believe it led him to become so insecure?
5. Senior Jackson reveals that he lost a son to gang violence. What do you believe he saw in Dio that began their bond and led Jackson to become a father figure?
6. Louise is reluctant to say much about her estranged relationship with her husband. From what you know of her story, why do you believe she considers getting back together with him?
7. Why do you believe Groissant hates Dio and Simon?
8. Who in your life—whether family or friends—is most like one of the characters in the book?
9. Why do you believe young people should read this book?
10. If you were to recommend this book to one person in your life, who would it be? Why?
About the Author
JEFF RIVERA was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. He has been writing since the age of six and has made it his personal mission to change the way the world thinks in a positive way. “Thought is the beginning of everything,” he says. This is his first novel. He lives in Miami, Florida.
The author invites you to visit his Web site at
www.JeffRivera.com.