by Taylor Hyer
“Stop asking so many questions,” I laughed. “Just be along for the ride.”
As I spoke, I parked the car on the side of the road. Parker looked around, noticing the coffee shop across the street.
“You’re taking me out to my favorite coffee spot?” she asked hesitantly.
I ignored her question and walked around to open her door. We walked hand in hand toward the front door. As we entered the shop, the crowd inside erupted. Everyone was yelling and clapping for Parker. Parker jumped back with surprise.
“Congratulations!” everyone yelled. A few people even popped confetti around us.
Parker looked toward me. “What is going on?” she asked.
Just then, Parker’s dad appeared and handed me a book. “This is what is going on,” I smiled, showing the novel to Parker.
It read: Take Me With You.
A novel and compilation of stories by Parker Kenton.
Illustrations by Rosie Maxwell.
Parker’s eyes widened. “My book!” she exclaimed. “How is my book here?”
Jackson appeared in front of us and yelled, “I stole your pages like Daddy and RJ told me to!”
We all laughed. “We knew you were done with the book so quickly, but we also knew you’d need a push. We asked a few English professors at a few local colleges that my dad has ties with to edit it for you. Then, we self-published it. You are officially a published author.”
Parker
I started to cry. Almost everyone I had interviewed was standing in the very coffee shop where my novel came alive. Marvin stood behind the counter with a smile that spread across his face. Rosie was near the window, holding a copy of the book in her hands. All eyes were on me.
I looked at the book. It was all mine. I flipped through the pages, looking intently at the art as each new section started. Rosie was so talented. Each chapter had a new life to it as her art began. It was such a beautiful sight. I was in shock; speechless.
“What do you say?” my dad asked. “Can we get a read aloud from the author herself?”
My eyes darted toward him. “You want me to read the book in front of the people that I wrote about?” I exclaimed.
Everyone began to cheer. “Yes! Read it!”
I could feel my heartbeat quicken. RJ grabbed my hand and stroked it with his thumb. “Your words matter. Your mom would be so proud. Read it so she can hear it.”
The cheering slowed down as I wiped my eyes and moved toward one side of the coffee shop. Marvin handed me a microphone attached to a small speaker. Everyone moved their chairs in my direction and listened intently as I began to speak.
“I can’t believe this is all happening,” I said. “Thank you for believing in this project that Rosie and I came up with. I know Rosie is such a talented artist, and she really made these pieces come alive.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you!” Rosie yelled from across the shop. “Your words mean something, and I just wanted to help enhance them.”
I smiled and continued, “thank you. I wrote this book because I was going through a really tough time. I lost my mom, and I have lost so much else along the way. I finally found people that helped guide me to where I want to be, and many of them are sitting in front of me right now.”
I looked toward RJ and smiled, “I found a love that I never thought was possible, with a person I never expected to like. I did everything in my mind to not love him, but the heart doesn’t care. I want to thank everyone for coming out here and for believing in me. Thank you for sharing your stories with me and for letting me express them in writing. I did this so people could see how important it is to keep going at your life day by day; how important it is to never give up. My mom would have been so mad at me if I just gave up after she died. I did so much of this for her. I hope she’d be proud of me.”
Everyone started clapping. When the clapping died down, I opened the book and started on page one: How can one move past such a tragic event in their life? How can you overcome a barrier that you must face every day? Who do you turn to when you have no one left? In this novel, I will be going through many different real-life stories of people who have overcome some sort of adversity or tragedy. Read on to help find your own peace. Read on to make your day a little bit brighter, and your breath a little bit lighter.
I looked up and saw RJ. His perfect almond-eyes were staring back at me, shining in the light. I mouthed, I love you to him before I continued reading. He did the same back. I couldn’t help but smile. I looked up, knowing my mom was watching me as I lived out my dream.
This one's for you, I said in my head. I’m living for the both of us.
“I wrote a lot of poetry about my mother after she passed. Before I share all of these amazing stories, I included one of them in this prologue,” I said to my invested audience.
Her memory will live on
Within the pages of this novel
In every mirror I come across
Within the ever-changing sky
In the constant beating of my father’s heart
Within the innocence of my brother’s mind
And most importantly,
Within the deepest pieces of my soul.
The sun was fading, and a cool orange entered the coffee shop. I could feel the warmth on my face, knowing my mom was right there with me. She changed the sky to show one of the many beautiful sunsets she was always painting. It was one of her prettiest pieces to date.
About The Author
Taylor Hyer
Taylor Hyer lives in Tampa, Florida with her boyfriend, Russell, and three rescue kittens, Prescott, Asher, and Coal. She is a 9th grade Language Arts teacher who is very passionate about teaching reading and writing to her students.
Taylor is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, and hopes to meet Dak Prescott one day.
This is her first novel, and she hopes to write many more in the future.