Page 70 of Awakening
“I didn’t show you the best version of what a man is, hell, even what a good father and husband should be. I’d love to call them mistakes, but how I treated you, how I behaved as the man of our house was ignorance fueled by intention,” he said. “Treated you like who you loved made you less of a man. I was wrong. I was scared. Scared of what people would think, of what I didn’t understand. I was a coward.”
My throat tightened.
“I see you now, and I am sorry, I am so damn sorry, son.”
He opened his arms, and something inside me cracked as I broke down again. James Sr. had apologized several times at this point and vowed to continue doing so for as long as necessary, so that I could heal. I fell into his arms and sobbed like the little boy I used to be, the one who never felt quite enough.
“I need you to know that despite the pain you have carried for all these years, you have found the courage to radiate love and kindness, down to your career choice,” his voice shaking, “you are the type of man I aspire to be and I can only hope you give me a chance to learn you and learn from you.”
I continued to cry, and by the end of the session, I was emotionally wrung out, clinging to the last threads of composure.
Then James Jr. stood, grinning like a Cheshire Cat, “So, um… we’ve got some news.”
“Oh shit, what now?” I said, half-laughing, half-expecting another family secret.
“We’re moving to Winston Hills.”
I blinked. “Uhhh, All of you?”
My mom nodded, “Your dad’s retired. I’m retired. James Jr. just accepted a job as the resident engineer. We figured if we plan to show you we mean what we say, we need to be where you are.”
I blinked again, too stunned to speak.
“No more distance, no more delay,” James Sr. added, “If you’re willing to give us the chance, we want to be here for you.”
And just like that, the ground I thought was crumbling beneath me started to feel a little more solid. Maybe this was what healing looked like. Imperfect, hard to face, but honest, and that was all I could hope for.
I didn’t plan on being at the hospital that night, but when one of the night shift nurses called out, I offered to cover. Figured I’d restock meds, check on post-ops, and be back home in time to catch the last of whatever show Ajaih and Knox were bingeing.
But the universe had other plans. I’d just finished logging vitals when I turned a corner and nearly ran into Dr. Layanna Black.
Based on the board, she was coming off an emergency transcatheter aortic valve replacement, TAVR for short. I could tell she just changed out of her blood-spatteredscrubs into a clean set, with her curls in a high, slightly messy bun that somehow made her look like a goddess who also just finished saving a life in the middle of the night. A few loose curls clung to her damp temples, and there was a glow about her, one born from adrenaline and living a life filled with purpose and joy. The kind of glow you earn after pulling someone back from the brink.
“Damn,” I said before I could stop myself, “You look like you just saved a life and took someone’s soul at the same time.”
Layanna chuckled, dropping her gloves into the bin. “Seventy-eight-year-old with a full occlusion. We got her through. My back’s going to file a lawsuit in the morning, though.”
I smiled. “You hungry?”
She paused, turning to me with that sharp, unreadable look she’s famous for, “You buying?”
I nodded, “Always.”
Ten minutes later, we were at a 24-hour diner a few blocks from the hospital. The kind of place that smelled like old coffee and fry oil, where the booths had stories and the servers knew the regulars by name, but the food was always outstanding. As soon as we walked in, the older Black waitress behind the counter lit up.
“Well, well, well,” she drawled, setting her notepad down, “If it isn’t my favorite heart snatcher.”
Layanna rolled her eyes fondly, “Hi, Miss Carla.”
Then Carla’s eyes drifted over to me, and her whole tone changed. “And who is this snack?”
Before I could respond, Layanna laughed, “This is Nurse Maverick Carter. Be nice, Carla.”
“Oh, I am,” Carla said with a wink, “I might need acardiologist myself if he keeps smiling like that.”
Layanna turned back to me once we slid into a booth and whispered with a smirk, “You really are clueless about how fine you are.”
“Me? Clueless?”
