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“God! I told him to leave you alone. He’s one crazy bastard,” Dad said. “At least the other ones know to stay away because you’d beat their ass.”
“That could be the reason.” I laughed. “Or it could be that they don’t want to get involved. I told everyone why I was leaving when I left, so there is absolutely no reason they should bother me now. I don’t want to be a part of a group that would condone kidnapping a woman and attempting to murder her, simply because someone close to us was in love with her.”
“Son, there are a lot of things you just won’t understand, and neither will I.”
“Well, do you understand how your behavior toward Tameka is just a watered down version of Uncle Chad? It’s still hate; you’re just not physically violent.”
“I understand, and I want to change it.”
“Really, you’re not just saying that?”
“I had my day of doing things I’ve had to atone for. God knows all the wrong I’ve done, but after a certain point, I didn’t want to do harm to others anymore. I still hold my beliefs about races sticking together because I feel it’s the only way we will survive; the only way to preserve the white race. But—” He clasped his hands together and took a deep breath. “I’m willing to try to see it another way.”
“It’s not the only way to survive, Dad. The world is going to get browner.” Especially when I get my seed inside of Tameka. I smiled as my thoughts ran away from me. “We all have to learn to live together without judging people by their skin color,” I added.
“You’re smiling, so I assume you think that’s a good thing.”
“It’ll be a damn good thing when we can all get along without being concerned with what color is doing what. That’s what I know.”
“Where did I go wrong with you?” Dad asked as he smiled.
“I searched out the truth and did right, Dad. So think about whether you really want to be a part of me and Tameka’s life, and when you make your decision let me know. I hope you decide to have an open mind because nothing would make me happier than to have you at my wedding tomorrow, but I understand if you need more time.”
Dad stood up and walked toward the door, avoiding eye contact with me. Then, he turned around and faced me. “You have my blessings, Son. If you still will have me, I’d like to come to the wedding.”
“You’re still invited. There’s always a seat for you in your rightful place as my father.”
“Thanks, Son.” He reached out a hand to shake mine, but I pulled him in for a good and long hug. It felt good to know there was a possibility of having a relationship with him, my new wife, and kids as one.
“No, thank you, Dad. For trying. I know this will be hard for you.”
He nodded and walked out of the door. I plopped down on the bed and thought about Tameka calling my father and how that conversation might have gone. She never ceased to amaze me. Then, I thought about Mom and how she would feel about Tameka. Surely, she too would have come around after she got to know her.
Thoughts of my beautiful wife crossed my mind. Her oval-shaped brown eyes, round face and soul-piercing smile helped me settle into bed. I closed my eyes with one thing on my mind—tomorrow.
Chapter 13
Tameka
Weddings have a way of making people believe in the magic of love and romance. So as I sat at the bridal vanity staring into the mirror, why did I feel like tossing the makeup artist off the premises, firing my wedding director, and screaming at the caterer?
“Breathe, Tameka. Everything is going to be alright,” Kemara said as I obsessed over whether Shaniqua had applied too much makeup to my face.
“No, it’s not. I look like a clown!” I said, and the more I looked at it, the worse it got.
When Shaniqua had finished applying it, I just sat in the mirror trying to figure out what the deal was with the makeup. I had gone to her salon last week for her to test out the look I wanted, and she had done it perfectly. Sitting here with only a few hours before the wedding, I didn’t know if my eyes were playing tricks on me, or if I was just losing it.
“You don’t look like a clown,” Kemara said, sighing.
“I don’t care. I don’t want this much makeup on my face. It was supposed to be a natural look to match my nude colored gown,” I said, attempting to speak civilly, but really, I was going into a tailspin.
The things that had gone awry included my wedding director being an hour late for final rehearsal this morning, and the caterer calling to let me know that she also would be running late. What was the point of planning an event, if everyone’s just going to come when they get ready anyway?
There was a knock at the door, and Alise’s voice called out, “Can I come in?”
“Come on,” I answered.
“Hey, what can I do to help?” she asked as she walked in looking like a true beauty.
