Page 24 of After Him, There Was You
His cousin Zuri and her son, Tatum, were across from us with tear-stained eyes. Zuri was much younger than us, and she was far from the young girl I remembered Marjorie taking in and raising as her own. From what I remembered, Zuri was Marjorie’s niece’s daughter. I wasn’t sure of the specifics, but I knew Zuri’s mother lost custody of her, and Marjorie, just as kindhearted as she had always been, stepped in so she wouldn’t be raised by complete strangers.
When I looked up at Zuri, my heart went out to her because although she wasn’t losing her biological mother like Zane and Zeke were, she was losing the woman who raised her.
I found myself wanting to make copies of myself so I could console all of them, but I was only one woman, and I was in place to console one man. The moment he told me he would be missing work because of her worsening condition, I didn’t hesitate to use one of my vacation days so I could be by his side.
Earlier in the morning, I dropped Jaedan and Raegan off at school, picked up breakfast for the both of us because I was sure he hadn’t eaten, and I came over immediately after. Aside from the few times I had to relieve my bladder, I hadn’t left his side. I was there to stay because he needed me. He called, and I answered just like I always would.
A singing phone gained all our attention, making us look up in Zuri’s direction.
“Sorry, Tyson is calling to let me know he’s outside,” she stated, dabbing at her tears. “Tatum, say goodbye to Granny.”
“When can I come back to see her, Mommy?” Tatum innocently asked, causing tears to run down my face.
You’re here for moral support, Tara. Zane doesn’t need you to have a breakdown. You are here to be his strength.I mentally fussed, quickly wiping away the stray tears.
“Let’s get you outside with your dad, and we will talk about it later,” Zuri advised. “Give her a kiss but be careful not to hurt her.”
My heart broke as I watched what was sure to be the last kiss Tatum would share with his Granny. Doing her best to push her emotions to the side like all mothers had to do in situations where your children needed you more than you needed yourself, Zuri put on a smile, grabbed Tatum’s backpack, and walked him outside to where his dad was parked.
I didn’t personally know her sons’ father, but he owned majority of the car dealerships in North Brooke Port, so I knew exactly who he was.
Unknowingly, Tatum took both innocence and comfort out of the room when he walked out, and we were stuck with the gravity of the situation.
Caressing Zane’s hand, I wished there was something I could do to take his pain away, but I knew there was no such thing. It was mind blowing to know we were at the beginning of what would more than likely be one of the darkest times in our relationship, and we weren’t technically in a relationship.
Although our interactions mimicked being in a relationship, nothing had been declared or set in stone. Zane had fallen into the habit of buying us lunch and eating in my classroom every day and staying on the phone at all times of the night until we fell asleep, and it was little things like that which let me know we were effortlessly headed in the direction of being together.
Unfortunately, the closer we were getting, the harder Jason was trying to work his way into my bed and seemingly my heart. Even with me telling him I slept with him out of nothing more than hurt and revenge, he still made it seem as if there was a chance to reunite something which was dead beyond resuscitation.
“Hey,” Zeke greeted breathlessly as he rushed into the bedroom we were seated in.
The look of detriment on his face was one I never wanted to experience, but I knew if I lived long enough, my time would come.
“Hey,” Zane greeted in response with a look mirroring his brother’s, and not because of their strong physical similarities but because of the unmatched hurt in his eyes.
“How is she?” Zeke asked to no one in particular as he stared at the woman who gave him life.
After Shannon checked Marjorie’s vitals, she let us know she didn’t think Marjorie would make it through the night.
“If you need to go be with Jaedan and Raegan, go ahead and go. Thank you for being here with me, but I understand you have responsibilities.”
“Zane, you are a priority for me. My kids are old enough to be alone for a few hours, but they are with Jason, so they’re fine,” I assured.
Leaning over in my direction, he placed a quick kiss on my lips. Smiling in response, I hoped the kiss provided him as much comfort and reassurance as it did for me because more than anything, I knew he needed it.
Chapter 12: See You Again – Zane
A Few Hours Later
Relatives had been coming in and out for the past few hours to say their goodbyes to my mama. Zuri had taken up the burden of letting the rest of our family know what was going on because Zeke and I couldn’t find the strength. Much like us, every relative was shocked to know she’d made the choice to keep us in the dark about her diagnosis.
It was draining to see each aunt, uncle, and cousin break down the moment they laid eyes on her. The selfish part of me wanted to shut down their access so my brother, Zuri, and I could grieve in peace. However, my mama did so much for every single member in our family, and I knew if she could do more than bat her eyes, she would go off on me for even giving the thought consideration.
Had it not been for Tara remaining by my side, I was sure the little morsel of strength I had would have been out of the window. She was my peace in the middle of a situation I would have given my own life to avoid facing.
Even when I told her she could leave, she remained by my side, and I knew without a doubt because of her sacrificing her day, there would never be anything she could ask me for and not receive. Tara didn’t owe me anything, yet she was being everything I needed even when I didn’t know exactly what I needed.
“Oh Lord!” Aunt Mildred, my mama’s oldest sister said when she rounded the corner. “Lord, why?” she hollered, falling to the side of mama’s bed.
