“No wonder you’re still glowing. An old love, that’s nice,” Charisma said.
“No, more like a new one.”
“I think this is where Nada comes in.” Tangie nudged Charisma, joking.
“So you’re ready to reveal his true identity?” Charisma smiled.
“Uh-huh,” Heather admitted, taking a deep breath. “Only it’s not a he, it’s a she.” She paused for a few moments to let it sink in.
Tangie and Charisma were silent for a moment.
“Heather, why didn’t you tell us?” Charisma asked.
“We’re your girls,” Tangie said.
“I know,” Heather said. “I guess I was afraid you’d judge me. This is all so new to me.”
“Listen, Heather. We love you. We just want you to be happy,” Charisma told her.
“Life is short, Heather. You’ve paid your stress dues. Just do you. Do you,” Tangie told her.
“It takes a lot of courage to keep it real and live outside the box. I admire you,” Charisma admitted.
“Thanks,” Heather said, draining her glass. “You don’t know how much you both mean to me.” She stood, leaned over and hugged them both. “I gotta run. Love you.”
“Love you too,” Tangie and Charisma told her.
“Call us before you leave,” Tangie insisted, watching her go.
“Our girl is something else,” Charisma said.
“That she is,” Tangie agreed.
“So how are things with you?”
“Incredible. You know something, Charisma?” she asked.
“With every good-bye, you learn. Tony has taught me more about life than you will know.”
“Kind of like a guardian angel, right?” Charisma smiled.
“Exactly.” They both smiled.
Charisma checked her watch. It was 4:15. “I gotta get going.”
“I thought we were gonna hang out,” Tangie said.
“I know, but I have an appointment with Dr. Vale.”
“Follow-up?” Tangie asked.
“Yeah, she wants to make sure everything’s healing nicely.”
“How do you feel?”
“Great,” Charisma reassured her, taking one last sip of her martini and standing. “Maybe we can get together this weekend. I’ll give you a call.”
Charisma stopped at the light, the doctor’s words still fresh in her mind. Could she make it home? For a moment she sat in disbelief, unsure if she could trust herself to even breath, afraid of breaking the spell. Slowly, she began taking small breaths, completely unaware of where one ended and the next began.
As the light turned green, the tears that had welled up in her eyes began chasing each other down her cheeks—big, fat, juicy tears. With the back of her hand, she wiped them away, but not before they splattered her jacket.
Charisma was expecting a baby! Through tears of joy she realized that life is about unity and connections—not separation and division. And that we are all more alike than different, needing love and acceptance.
A New Testament Bible verse came to mind—Matthew 5:9. As a child she had held it near. Somewhere along the way it had gotten away from her. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Like an epiphany it was all revealed. Finally, she understood. Joyfully, she understood. Blacks are not the privileged sect. Whites are not the privileged sect. The children of God are the privileged sect.
Urban Books, LLC
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Cheesecake and Teardrops Copyright © 2009 Faye Thompson
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ISBN: 978-1-6016-2313-3
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