Page 45 of The Burdens We Share
“It’s okay. I made it my whole life’s mission to achieve his dream since he never got to. It always made me feel like I was honoring him,” I explain.
He asks, “Did your father teach you to play?”
“He did. He taught me everything I know.”
“Do you still plan on finding your way to Texas?” He asks, curiosity in his tone.
I shrug even though he can’t see me, “I don’t know. I was never supposed to stay in LA for long, but that was years ago and I can’t ever see myself leaving. Maybe one day I’ll just get a nice vacation home there and stay from time to time.”
“If you do, I can recommend some nice places for you to visit,” he responds.
I furrow my brows. I didn’t peg Dallas for a tourist. “You’re familiar with Texas?”
“I’m from there,” he explains.
Holy shit. I had no idea Dallas was from Texas. I guess that would make sense now that I think about it since his name is literally Dallas. “You are?”
“I was born and raised in Austin. My parents decided to move to California when I left for the military and then when I came back, I moved to California to be closer to them,” he explains.
I smile at how much information I’m getting from him. “I’ve only ever visited for shows and appearances. I never got a chance to enjoy Texas. Tell me about it.”
“You would love Austin’s livelihood. It’s bustling with bar life, comedy shows, music performances, all sorts of things. You can never truly be bored there,” he recites and it sounds as if it’s all coming from fond memories. He adds a moment later, “Tell meabout your dad.”
That request catches me off guard. I don’t get the chance to talk about my dad often. Sure, I’ve spoken to the girls about him from time to time, and my mom will bring up fond memories sometimes, but I don’t get to reminisce often because it makes my mom sad and my friends didn’t know my dad. “He was an amazing father. Have you ever met someone and thought, ‘That person was put on Earth to be a parent?’ That was my dad. He loved us so much, I don’t even think he knew what to do with all of his love. He was so patient with me, teaching me to play guitar, and when he wasn’t teaching me, he would play for me and write me little songs.” I smile at the memory. “For my sixteenth birthday, he told me he was gonna take me to Texas with him. We were gonna go for a visit together, just the two of us, and he was gonna play guitar at some bar he managed to get a live performance at. He wanted me to go and play with him and he even got me the pink boots and hat that I wear to this day. I was so excited to live his dream with him, you have no idea.”
I feel tears forming in my eyes at the end of the story. “But he died three days before we were supposed to go.”
Dallas reaches out and places a gentle hand on my cheek the way he’s grown to make a habit of, one I can’t say I don’t like. “He would’ve been so unbelievably proud of you, Ivory.”
A tear spills from the corner of my eye and lands on my pillow. “Thank you,” I whisper.
The room encases in silence and my eyelids start to grow heavier. As I drift off into sleep, I still feel Dallas’ hand on my cheek.
Chapter 16
Dallas
We came back toIvory’s so that she could apologize to her mother and also say goodbye before we head back to LA. I left the two women alone and ventured into the house only to find Sam doing homework at the kitchen table. He looks up at me over his shoulder as I enter the room, “Hey,” he greets.
I immediately remember the verbal lashing I gave the kid and I almost feel bad, but I don’t really because he needed to hear it. And look what came out of it? He’s hard at work on his homework and Tara hasn’t called Ivory with some new bad news to share about the kid’s actions. “Hey, kid.” I walk closer to where Sam sits and look over his shoulder at his open textbook and notes. It seems he has a lot of scribbles and eraser marks as if he’s been trying at the same problem for some time, but hasn’t quite been able to get it right. “What are you working on?”
Sam sighs, “Algebra.”
Computers, numbers, and code are three of my favorite things. The first of course, is the small brunette with the pink hair. I take a quick look at the problem Sam seems to be stuck on and nod as I have the solution in only a few seconds. “Want some help?”
He gives me a surprised look as if the concept of an adult knowing math surprises him. I guess it would considering Ivory’s strong suits lie in modeling, acting, and playing guitar and Tara’s are well…not math. “Please,” he asks.
I take a seat next to him at the table and start to help him work through the problem. I make sure not to give him theanswer because I want him to be able to figure it out on his own. It doesn’t take much help from me, and in a few minutes, he has the function solved and graphed correctly. “That was a lot easier now that you explained it.”
I nod at him, “Try the next one.”
Sam attempts the next problem and follows the exact steps I provided him with. He solves the problem in a few minutes and I nod my approval. “Nice.”
“Thanks for the help,” he says genuinely.
“You’re welcome.”
Sam smirks, “You know I always thought my sister was gonna end up with some dumb actor or singer that couldn’t even read, but I’m pleasantly surprised.”
