by Unknown
“I scared myself too. I’m sorry you had to leave work for this.” His eyes were filled with regret.
“Don’t say that daddy. Nothing is more important than you or our family. I love you more than anything, you know that right?”
Her father smiled weakly at her and nodded, his eyes filling with tears. “I love you too baby. I’m so proud of you. I know I don’t act like it or tell you enough, but I am. I can’t be selfish pushing my dreams on you. You have to follow your own dreams, and you’re doing it.”
Satra’s heart tightened in her chest and tears were now falling down her cheeks. Shane was right. He was so right. She wished he were there so she could hug him and thank him. Her father finally said what she had waited many years to hear. She bent over and gently kissed her father on his cheek.
“You don’t know how much hearing those words mean to me, daddy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to hear from you.” Satra sobbed in his ear.
“That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have waited so long to say them. It’ll never happen again,” her father whispered back.
They didn’t know that Sharon Sinclair was awake and witnessed their touching moment. Satra heard her mother sniffle, and when she looked over at her she saw her wiping away tears.
“Great, now all of us are crying,” Satra said smiling as she turned her attention back to her dad. “I’m going to go get some coffee for me and mama. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She kissed her dad on the forehead and left the room so her parents could have some privacy. Satra paused at the door and saw her parents embrace lovingly. Her mother was still crying silently as she kissed her father all over his face. Their love and devotion to each other was so deep and strong. Satra could only hope that she could love someone that deeply for the rest of her life.
She took her cell phone out of her sweater pocket and decided to send Shane a text message:
“You were right. My dad and I had that conversation.
Words can’t describe how much that meant to me…
Thank you, Shane Evans
For being so sweet, kind, and understanding. –SS”
Shane was in the middle of yet another boring meeting when his phone alerted him to a new text message. When he saw that it was from Satra, his eyes lit up. He read it, and his heart swelled with happiness. God, how he wished he was with Satra to hold her and tell her how happy he was for her. Mr. Gordon saw Shane smiling happily to himself. He knew it had to be a message from Satra for him to smile that way. He shook his head. ‘That man has it bad,’ Mr. Gordon chuckled to himself.
Shane discreetly replied back and said: “I’m so happy for you. I told you things would work out…no need to thank me. Shane”
Satra was heading back to her father’s room with her and her mother’s coffee when she got Shane’s text message. She smiled. Typical Shane. Always so sure of himself. She wished she could be so confident about herself in everything she did. What most people didn’t know about Satra was how shy she was as a child and teenager. She didn’t come out of her shell until her junior year in high school. She still struggles with her shyness now, and those who know her know how far she has come over the years.
Shane put his phone away but felt eyes watching him. When he looked up, it was Mr. Gordon staring at him, giving him a knowing look. Shane simply smiled and focused his attention on the person that was speaking even though his mind was still on Satra, just as it has been since the first day he met her.
The test results finally came back from Satra’s father’s stroke. Her brothers were all at the hospital along with Satra and her mom when the doctor gave them the news.
“Mr. Sinclair, your cholesterol is very high and that is very concerning to us. You have eighty percent blockage in your right main artery, and I highly recommend having a stent put in sooner rather than later. We’re going to get you started on some cholesterol medication and a restricted diet that you must follow closely once you get home. You will also need physical therapy, and I’d like that to start right away.”
No one said anything as they let the news of their father’s health sink in. The doctor continued.
“More testing will need to be done to see if there was any significant damage done to your brain, so I’d like to keep you for another day or two. If you want to be around to see your grandkids have kids, I highly recommend you sticking to your new diet and take your medication as prescribed. There is no negotiating that. He’s going to need all of your help too.”
They all nodded in agreement. A cloud of relief came over the room replacing the cloud of uncertainty and fear. Their husband and father were going to be fine, with some lifestyle changes and having a stent put in to open up his artery. These were all manageable things, and that was all Satra cared about. After they thanked the doctor they all sat and talked about the changes that needed to be made and how each one would help out. Satra promised to come home to visit more to spend time with her dad and family. It was something she always felt guilty about not doing for so long. Her father’s medical scare made her realize even more how time and life is guaranteed to no one. Family is more important than any job. Satra, her mom, and brothers, Sam Jr., Sasha and Sidney, went to the hospital cafeteria while one nurse took blood from their father and another checked his vitals.
“So what’s been going on with you baby girl? I heard you won a huge account recently, congrats!” Sam beamed at his little sister.
“Yeah, that’s the latest and greatest thing going on right now,” Satra said smiling.
“I was in South Carolina helping with the whole transition/takeover from the agency we bought out.”
“That sounds like a lot of work. Were you there by yourself?” Her middle brother Sidney asked.
“No, another gentleman from the company that helped us take over Vandalay came with me. His name is Shane Evans.”
“Why does that name sound so familiar?” Satra’s mom asked as she tapped her chin with her index finger.
“Well, he’s well known in the business world. He handles business acquisitions for Di Amato and Associates,” Satra said before taking a bite of her Caesar salad.
“No, I’ve heard his name from someplace else. I think his parents are very well to do people. They give very generously to many charities, and I believe they give to breast cancer and children’s education charities. I would see his name on some of the checks as well when I volunteered at those organizations.”
Satra stopped chewing on her salad. She had just realized that in all of her conversations with Shane he had never mentioned what his family did for a living. Trying to hide her surprise she said, “Oh wow, that’s really nice of him and his family. I didn’t know that. Well, not that I would need to know something like that. We just met not too long ago.” Now her thoughts were on overdrive. ‘Did he think I’d become more interested in him because of his family’s wealth? I hope not!’
“So are you seeing anyone yet?” Sam Jr. asked, always the blunt one who got right to the point. He and Shane would get along fantastically, Satra thought to herself.
“No Sam, I’m not seeing anyone and believe me, when I am you’ll be the first to know,” Satra said sarcastically.
“Hey, I gotta check on my baby sis. Especially after that last jerk you were seeing. I don’t want a repeat of that idiot,” Sam said as he folded his arms and sat back in his chair. A look of disgust came across his face at the very thought of Matt.
“Oh, we better not have a repeat of that ass…. I mean that idiot,” Sidney said almost forgetting that their mother was present.
Sharon Sinclair shot him a “You better watch your mouth boy” look to which Sidney quickly said, “I’m sorry ma.”
“You don’t have to worry about that again either,” Satra said rolling her eyes.
“Enough about me. How are my sister in-laws and nephews doing?” Satra asked smiling. “I loved the pictures of Tristan that you emailed to me. He is so cute, and he’s gotten so BIG
!”
“Jackie and the boys are doing great,” Sasha said as he pulled out recent family photos that they took.
Before Satra could ask where hers was, he handed her a large envelope. She smiled and clapped her hands giddily.
“We just took them so don’t accuse me forgetting to send you any because we didn’t forget.”
Sam Jr. and Sidney also gave her updates on their wives and families. They spent time talking about the kids and exchanging funny stories. Satra noticed her mother seemed distracted.
“I’m going to head back to your father’s room to see if they’re done with him,” Her mom said as she stood up.
“I’ll walk with you ma,” Satra said as she turned to look at her brothers letting them know with her eyes that she wanted to be alone with their mom. Satra looped her arm inside her mother’s. “We haven’t had a chance to talk since I’ve been home.”
They began to walk and talk slowly. Satra filled her in on some of the funnier moments while in South Carolina, and she told her about Mr. Gordon’s wife.
“Oh my goodness, what a small world! I remember her, I always thought she was so nice and pretty.”
“She still is,” Satra said. “And her husband is white, and he’s the president and CEO of Vandalay. They are such a cute couple.”
“That just goes to show that you can’t always control who you fall in love with,” Satra’s mom said in a serious tone. “I fell head over heels in love with your father, and we couldn’t stand each other in the beginning!” She laughed. “But there was something about that man that was so sweet, kind and genuine that always drew me to him. I tried to fight it, I really did. But after seeing how miserable I was without him I couldn’t fight it anymore, and neither could he. That’s why I can’t imagine my life without him. I hate being away from him even more now.” Satra saw her mom’s eyes watering, and her heart melted at the immense love her mother has for her father.
“I’m gonna get on his nerves smothering him but I can’t help it. I love that stubborn mule so much.”
“Awwww, ma,” Satra said as she stopped to hug her mom. “He knows it and believe me he loves you just as much, if not more.”
They continued to walk and talk, and Satra shared with her mother how much it meant to her to hear her father say how proud he was of her.
“He’s always been proud of you, Satra. Always. You know your father isn’t big on what he calls ‘mushy words,’ but he boasts about you to anyone that would listen about how successful you are in New York. Chest all poked out, proud as a peacock. He just figured you knew, but I always told him that you needed to hear it, just like a child needs to hear their parents tell them ‘I love you.’”
Satra smiled. “Well, hearing those words from him means the world to me.”
Turning to look her only daughter in the eyes, Satra’s mom got serious. “I want to change the subject a bit, and I want you to be honest with me, Satra. Have you met someone? I heard what you told your brothers, but I also saw how your eyes lit up when you talked about this Shane Evans. What’s really going on baby?”
Satra’s eyes got wide as saucers and her mouth dropped. Her mother always knew her like the back of her hand, and she could never pull the wool over her eyes.
“Mom, seriously – there is nothing there. I’ve only known him a month, and we work together – that’s it. He was with me when you called me on my cell, and he was very nice to me and supportive. He’s the reason why I was able to get here so fast. He booked my flight and everything.”
Her mother just looked at her with a knowing eyebrow raised.
“Ma, please stop it with the look. He’s a nice man. We’ve been getting to know each other since we’ve been in South Carolina, and he’s an intelligent, kind man from what I’ve learned about him so far. He’s also single…”
Mrs. Sinclair listened and watched her beautiful daughter sing this man’s praises, her eyes bright with excitement yet claiming she has no feelings for him. She almost laughed out loud until she heard the word ‘single.’
“AHA! He’s single - that’s good right?” Satra’s mom said interrupting her daughter, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
“No ma, it means nothing because we work together and I don’t want to start things off with some office affair with the CEO of a company that we just partnered with! He has a business reputation to look out for and so do I. Besides it just wouldn’t look right.”
Satra was growing more irritated with this subject by the minute, and she desperately wanted to change it.
“Is it the black-white thing? You know your father and I raised you and your brothers to not judge a person by their skin color. Love is blind, remember that.”
“Ma, have you forgotten about Tabar from college? Tabar is West Indian, so no it’s not the color or cultural thing with me. I meant that it wouldn’t look right in the office. That kind of thing is frowned upon.”
Satra’s mom stopped at some seats in a waiting room and sat her daughter down and looked her in the eyes.
“Let’s put the whole working together and business part of it to the side. You like him, don’t you? And be honest, Satra.”
Satra rolled her eyes heavenward and took a deep breath. She looked down at the floor for a moment before meeting her mom’s inquiring gaze.
“I do like him - as a person. He’s a nice guy and would be a wonderful catch for some lucky woman, but that woman isn’t me. And as much as I like him as a person he drives me nuts too. I swear he does it on purpose sometimes just to see how upset he can get me,” Satra said as she began to get caught up in her own thoughts about Shane Evans.
Her mom sat back and smiled at her, shaking her head. “Sweetie, you’re not fooling me. You don’t like him, you’re in love with him.” Satra buried her head in her hands and moaned out loud.
“Please don’t say that again because I’m not in love with this man! I can’t possibly be in love with a man I just met and barely know!”
“It’s possible. It happened to your dad and me. Who put a timetable on falling in love anyway? Who says you have to know a person for one month or one year before you fall in love with them? Love just happens baby, that’s what I’m trying to tell you, and there’s nothing wrong with falling in love with Shane Evans.”
“Mom, this is the last thing I need in my head. Don’t you understand? I have to work with him, and I don’t want things to be awkward between us. Besides I’m not sure I’m ready for another relationship after what Matt put me through. I mean I do want to fall in love and get married and have some kids, but my willingness to give my heart completely to someone and trust that this person will treat me right…I’m scared. I’m very, very scared,” Satra said with sad eyes.
“It’s that fear that has you fighting against your feelings, and I understand that. But don’t fight so hard that by the time you give in he’s gone. For all you know he’s probably scared too and probably came out of a bad relationship himself.”
“He did,” Satra mumbled.
“See! That’s one big thing you two have in common, but just remember that this time around can be different for the both of you. Just go with the flow baby and don’t fight so hard. That’s all I’m saying. Think about what I’ve said okay?”
“I will, ma,” Satra said as she stood up and took her mother’s hand. They continued their walk to her father’s room talking about everything under the sun. Satra managed to get through the rest of the day not thinking about Shane. She willed herself not to think about him until a beautiful flower arrangement came to her father’s room. Her mother read the card. It was from Shane. It also came with a huge gift basket full of things that her dad could use to occupy his time while he was on bed rest in the hospital and recovering at home. A long back scratcher, the latest edition of sports illustrated, a bass fishing magazine (how he knew her dad loved bass fishing she had no clue. No wait – Grayson told him!), crossword puzzles, a deck of cards, and host of other things that
her father clearly enjoyed. Her father’s eyes lit up as his wife showed him the various things in the basket.
He weakly gave a thumbs-up approval of the basket. Satra could hear him saying, “That’s what I’m talkin’ about, a manly basket!”
‘Only a retired police officer would say something like that.’ Satra laughed to herself and shook her head. She was surprised but very touched at Shane’s thoughtfulness. Seeing her father beam the way he did was priceless, especially since it wasn’t that long ago that they didn’t know if he was going to make it. The very thought made her choke up a bit, but she quickly gathered herself. Her mother was watching her, and when Satra met her gaze her mother winked at her.
“Tell Shane Evans I said thank you. We’ll have to have him over for dinner one of these days,” Satra’s mom said smiling.
“Oh no,” Satra moaned to herself.
Her mother chuckled and said, “Oh yes we will.”
The gifts and flowers and well wishes kept flowing in that day. Another beautiful bouquet of flowers came from Mr. Di Amato and another came from Grayson and his wife along with a gift basket full of warm socks, comfy house shoes, a plush robe, a very expensive electrical shaving kit, and some other nice things that her father could use. Mrs. Lucas was even thoughtful enough to include a gift basket for Satra’s mom. She was so touched by everyone’s kindness.
“This is really something, Satra,” her mom finally said.
“They must really think highly of you to do all of this for your dad and I.”
“They’re the best bosses a person could ask for and the best company a person could work for,” Satra said smiling.
Later that evening one last delivery came. It was in a long white flower box with a beautiful pink ribbon tied around it. Satra’s mom accepted it and saw on the envelope attached to the box that it had Satra’s name on it.
“Oh. Who could these be from?” Satra asked out loud as her mother handed her the box. Her mother shot her a “Do you have to ask?” look that Satra ignored. She honestly thought they came from the girls at her job or Grayson and his wife. When she read the card it was hand written: