Gumbo

by Tiana Laveen

  “We even have grape and red Kool-Aid at the drinking station.” The room erupted in laughter. “Hey.” She shrugged with a smile. “I wanted to make it authentic… bring you into my grandmother’s kitchen, if only for one night. Food can bring people together; it can heal broken hearts. Food can cure illnesses and make you believe in love again. So as you taste these various Southern dishes, most of them inspired from Grandmama’s family’s roots in Louisiana, please keep all of that in mind. There is one star of the show though… The special for tonight is Grandmama’s famous gumbo.”

  People whistled and seemed to get excited in their seats.

  “According to Tony, my grandmother fed him some one day when I hadn’t gotten home yet. Around that time is when he realized he loved me and wanted to know more about me. So he asked her some questions, and my grandmother, seeing as she liked Tony a whole lot, answered all of them. But what struck him the most about that conversation is when she told him how the gumbo reminded her of him and me.

  “She said we were both different ingredients, and we were just fine on our own, but so much better together.” Some people dabbed at their eyes with a tissue, clearly moved. “And she was right. Tony and I are like Grandmama’s gumbo, fine apart but so much tastier together. Again, we just wanna thank all of you for coming here and riding shotgun with us… rejoicing in the name of love, life, and laughter. God bless each and every one of y’all! Let’s eat!”

  Music began to blast and people started chatting amongst themselves as the servers grabbed their serving utensils and the wedding coordinator gathered the crowd in sections so everyone could be served in an orderly fashion.

  Tony seized her and squeezed her ass, making her squirm and flush.

  “Stop! You are out of control tonight, you know that? You can’t be doing that in front of all of these people!” she hissed.

  “Why not?” he whispered in her ear. “I think everyone pretty much knows what’s about to go down tonight. I’m gonna tear that little pussy up! And fuck you in the ass, too.” Shooting him a glare, she shooed him away with a playful shove to the arm. But before she got too far, he caught her wrist and pulled her to him once more. As he slow danced with her to the soft jazz music, he could smell her hair, her light perfume, and feel her soul flirting with his.

  “Cassidy… you saved my life, baby.” He kept moving, dancing, his lips close to her ear. “I doubt I would have survived without you.” He felt her smile. “You made me want to not succumb to peer pressure. You encouraged me to strive to do better, be better. It could’ve been me that was dead, on drugs, still in prison… I was no better than anyone in our crew. In some ways, I was worse. Love changes things though. Love feeds a broken spirit. Your love was bigger than life because you believed in me when no one else did. Baby, you changed me. I am a better man because of you. Angel Eyes, I love you. I loved you from the first time we kissed when my brother dropped us off at the movie theater. I never stopped loving you. Not even for a second. I fell in love with you and stayed in love with you because you loved me… when I couldn’t even love myself…”

  EPILOGUE

  Three years later…

  “Danica, I’m done talking to you!” Cassidy cackled. She was sitting in the middle of the living room floor watching her best friend fuss over the baby.

  “I’m serious!” Danica chuckled. “Why didn’t you name this precious child Danica, like you promised?”

  “Because he’s a boy! You are a mess. I’m not going back and forth with you about this foolishness.” Cassidy grinned and got to her feet to head to the kitchen, leaving Tony on the couch with his laptop off to the side.

  Danica held their two-week-old son, Antonio Maize Romano, with steady hands and adoring eyes. No doubt she was in love, being his godmother and all. The Fugees’ ‘Ready or Not’ played through the speakers while the room glowed in the candlelight, infused with the fresh, delicate scent of white linen.

  “Tony, now that Cassidy’s sensitive ass is out the room, I can be honest. This baby looks just like you! You spit this boy out!” Danica whispered, drawing closer to him, rocking their son back and forth like the pro that she was.

  “I think so too…” He grinned. “He’s got Cassidy’s nose though.”

  “You’re right… he does, but everything else is all you.”

  Danica began to dance with the baby, around and around the room, sashaying her hips to the beat of the music. Tony watched the two of them, exhausted and happy as he was.

  Danica had come to visit as soon as she’d heard Cassidy was in labor and wished to stay for a few weeks to help out. Cassidy had been on cloud nine when Danica finally told her she and Kevin were considering moving to California, but it wasn’t etched in stone. That caveat still didn’t deter his wife—the carrot had been dangled and she’d taken hold.

  Cassidy returned to the living room, a glass of juice in hand. She took a sip from it then placed it down on the coffee table. The baby began to fuss so she took him from Danica and sat back down on the floor, leaning up against the couch.

  “He must be hungry,” Cassidy mumbled before discreetly slipping her breast out of her shirt and coaxing the baby to latch onto her nipple. “There you go, honey, my love… Mama’s here.”

  Danica sat close to her on the couch.

  “Baby, is your sister still coming up?” Tony asked, going through a series of articles he’d been assigned to illustrate.

  “Yeah. Ebony emailed me her flight information. Said she’ll be here on Thursday. She’s going to stay for three days.”

  Tony smiled. Things had definitely changed.

  Over the course of time, Cassidy reached out to the siblings she knew she had based on Grandmama’s note by making several posts on social media outlets, detailing the little she knew about her mother. Lo and behold, her sister’s friend saw the post, told Ebony about it, and the two connected, talking on the phone for hours at a time.

  Ebony shared countless photos of their mother, explaining that everyone knew of Cassidy’s existence but was only given a nickname their mother used to call her: ‘Honey Bear.’ She’d also confirmed that their mother had a drug problem off and on for years, and it had never been fully resolved; the woman had been in and out of treatment, but relapses kept happening. Cassidy also had a brother, but he was incarcerated. She had plans to go down to Miami and meet him as well.

  “I think he’s satisfied now,” Cassidy said. She stood again, cradling the baby in her arms. Danica followed suit, pulling at her tunic top.

  “I’mma go to the bathroom and then call Kevin, check in with the kids. I’ll be back.” The woman left the room.

  “Dinner will be ready in a little bit, baby,” Cassidy said around a yawn.

  “It smells good, whatever it is. Are you sure you don’t need any help, baby?” He reached for the child, and she placed his son in his arms.

  “Nah, I got it… thanks though.” Cassidy walked off in the direction of the kitchen.

  The baby’s dark brown, straight hair looked interesting in contrast with his light tan skin. His gray eyes were large and glossy, pure and innocent… His fat cheeks had dimples, noticeable when he smiled. Tony grinned at the little guy and cuddled him in his arms.

  “Look at you, huh? You’re perfect, you know that, right? A perfect blend of Italian and Black… can’t get any sexier than that.” He chuckled. “A while back, I didn’t think I’d ever have kids. I had been out there so much, ya know, doing things you’re too young to know the details about but let’s just say I got around and nobody said I’d ever made a baby before, so I thought maybe something was going on with me… I did get checked out at the doctor when I got out the pen though and he said I was fine.

  “Then I read a note from your great grandmother and uh, I realized, yeah… I can make babies. From the looks of you, beautiful babies, too.” He pressed his lips to his son’s forehead and blinked away tears. “We’re a family, all right? I’m going to do everything I can to be
a good father to ya. I want to give you brothers and sisters, too… your mom and I discussed it, and we’re gonna try to have another baby after you’re about a year old. That way you’ll never be alone, like me and my brother when we were kids. Speaking of that, you’ve got a cousin, you know that? Her name is Chloe. She’s my brother’s kid, your Uncle Dante’s daughter, about ten months old.

  “Antonio, son, family is important, okay? You can come and talk to me about anything, okay? I’m always going to be here for you. Just know that no matter what I say or do that you may not like or agree with, I only want the best for you. I love ya, kid… you’re my first born… you’re a Romano… you’re tough. You’re built to last.”

  “Tony, Danica, dinner is ready!”

  “All right, baby.” He got to his feet, cradling the newborn close to his chest. As he walked towards the dining room, he paused and peered at his son. The lights in the room captured him perfectly at that moment. He memorized that instant in time, capturing it with his eyes as if they were cameras, and decided to draw him just like that, later on that night…

  Son, you’re a flawless blend of a mother from Heaven, cast down into Hell on Earth to be a walking testament to all who meet her, and me, your father, a sinner who fell from grace but damn sure got back up. I refused to be knocked down and stay there. If I did, I would’ve missed out on creating my best masterpiece yet: YOU.

  Don’t ever give up on life, son. Always fight for what you believe in. Never give up on love, either. It belongs to you as long as you are open to receive it, but most of all, like my father used to say, ‘Always help and protect the ones you love.’

  You’re sweet as perfume spilled in a Dungaree pocket…

  You’re the essence of Earth, made of Belle Glade and New Jersey clay…

  You’re the beachy sand beneath bare feet and the tenderness of young love, sealed by the gift of a promise ring…

  You’re the seasoning of life…

  You’re perfectly prepared gumbo…

  ~The End~

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  MUSIC DIRECTORY

  I have included a music directory to be used as an aid in the enjoyment of this novel. Sometimes, re-reading the scenes you appreciated with the songs that are mentioned, provides a whole new layer of satisfaction and understanding.

  Please bare in mind that songs listed below may not be in the exact same order as they appear in the book. If you enjoy any of the songs listed, please purchase a legal copy of the tune and support the artist(s) whom created it. I am certain they’d appreciate it.

  Gumbo Music Directory

  1. The Bangles – ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’

  2. El Debarge – ‘Who’s Johnny’

  3. Cameo – ‘Word Up’

  4. Bruce Springsteen – ‘Brilliant Disguise.’

  5. Force MDs – ‘Love is a House.’

  6. LL Cool J – ‘I’m Bad’

  7. Too Short – “Freaky Tales”

  8. Public Enemy – ‘Public Enemy No. 1’

  9. Public Enemy – ‘My Uzi Weighs a Ton’

  10. Dana Dane – ‘Cinderfella’

  11. Starship – ‘Nothings Going to Stop Us.’

  12. Taylor Dane – ‘Tell it to my Heart’

  13. Tracy Chapman – ‘Fast Car’

  14. Brenda Russell –‘Piano in the Dark’

  15. Keith Sweat – ‘I Want Her’

  16. De La Soul – ‘Buddy’

  17. Johnny Kemp – ‘Just Got Paid’

  18. Pebbles – ‘Mercedes Boy’

  19. Teddy Pendergrass – ‘Joy’

  20. Surface – ‘Shower Me with your Love’

  21. Beastie Boys – ‘Hey Ladies’

  22. Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers – ‘Tumblin’ Down.’

  23. Too $hort – ‘Don’t Fight the Feeling’

  24. D.O.C. – ‘The Formula’

  25. Anita Baker – ‘Giving You the Best that I Got’

  26. Calvin Harris, Rag’n’Bone Man – ‘Giant’

  27. Prince – ‘Get Off’

  28. Kanye – ‘Jesus Walks’

  29. Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feeling

  30. Jodeci – ‘Freek’N You’

  31. Monica – ‘U Should’ve Known Better’

  32. Joe – ‘All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do)’

  33. Monica – ‘Angel Of Mine’

  34. Master P – ‘Break ’Em Off Somethin’’ (ft. UGK)

  35. Alegre All Stars ‘Consuelate (Descarga)’

  36. Janet Jackson – ‘Any Time, Any Place’

  37. Marvin Sapp – ‘Never Would’ve Made It’

  38. Niykee Heaton featuring the Migos – ‘Bad Intentions’

  39. Chrisette Michele – ‘A Couple Of Forevers’

  40. Boyz 2 Men – ‘A Song For Mama’

  41. Bone Thugs and Harmony – ‘Crossroads’

  42. The Fugees – ‘Ready Or Not’

  43. Baby Shark

  44. M.C. Shan – ‘Kill That Noise’

  45. isa Lisa and Cult Jam – ‘Head to Toe’

  46. Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Feff – ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand.’

  47. Sade – ‘Paradise’

  48. Freddie Jackson – ‘Nice and Slow’

  49. New Edition – ‘If it isn’t Love’

  50. De La Soul – ‘Say No Go’ from De La Soul’

  51. Al B. Sure – ‘Nite and Day’

  52. Biz Markie – ‘Just a Friend’

  53. Special Ed – ‘Got it Made’

  54. Mazzy Star – ‘Fade Into You’

  55. Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Under the Bridge’

  56. SWV – ‘Weak’

  57. En Vogue – ‘Giving Him Something He Can Feel’

  58. Tevin Campbell – ‘I’m Ready’

  59. 2Pac – ‘California Love’

  60. Cat Stevens – ‘Father and Son’

  About the Author

  Tiana Laveen is a USA Today Best Selling author. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, though her soul resides in New York.

  Tiana Laveen is a uniquely creative and innovative author whose fiction novels are geared towards those who not only want to temporarily escape from the daily routines of life, but also become pleasantly caught up in the well-developed journeys of her unique characters. As the author of over 45 novels, Tiana creates a painting with words as she guides her reader into the lives of each and every main character. Her dedication to detail and staying true to her characters is evident in each novel that she writes.

  Tiana Laveen lives inside her mind, but her heart is occupied with her family and twisted imagination. She enjoys a fulfilling and enriching life that includes writing books, public speaking, drawing, painting, listening to music, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

  If you wish to communicate with Tiana Laveen, please contact her on Facebook.