Temptation Island

Chapter 5: Shanti

I didn't know if it was fear or the need for comfort that put me in front of my parents' house. Our family home was where I'd grown up. I stared at the front door for a while, not knowing why I didn't go in. Maybe it was because I was ashamed. I hadn't told my parents about my first run-in with the deadly disease, because I just knew I'd beaten it. And I had, temporarily. I knew it was possible for the cancer to come back, but I thought I'd be one of the cases where it didn't. I couldn't help but feel punished for being so foolish to think I was favored. I knew I didn't have the strength to fight alone this time. But still, I hesitated at that front door. Instead of walking through it, I looked around and took in everything nearby.

I could still feel the tickle from the grassy glade as I ran barefoot as a girl and the gusts of wind on my face as I went as high as I could on our tree swing. Everything had changed, but at the same time it hadn't. My parents had kept up with their home and their property, but there wasn't enough money in the world that could make them take down that swing. I probably couldn't count how many photos we'd taken by it. They always joked and told me that when I had a daughter, the tradition would continue.

The lump in my throat sprang up on me as I thought about the possibility of not being able to give them grandchildren. My mama and daddy were the finest people I knew, and they would make amazing grandparents. I straightened up before I lost my nerve altogether and knocked on the door. It didn't take long for it to swing open and for my daddy to be beaming down at me. My daddy, aka Kenny Vincent, was an ox of a man. He stood at six foot three and didn't look a day over 50, although he was pushing 70. Everyone knew that black didn't crack unless you were on it. He was still handsome as ever, with his smooth brown skin and radiant smile. I remember when I was growing up that Mama had to whoop a few women behind him. These were stories that she told proudly to the day.

"Suga!" he exclaimed and held out his arms.

"Hey, Daddy," I said and let him pull me into a hug. When he let me go, I smiled up at his fresh haircut. "I see you're finally letting the grays come through."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said and gave me a warning look that made me laugh.

For years he thought Mama and I didn't know he was dying his hair in secret. But we knew. However, the one thing my mama taught me at an early age was to never take away a man's youth. Let him grow old on his own. She gave me a lot of man advice, actually. Funny how my marriage fell apart before I barely got to use any of it.

"Is Mama home?" I asked, stepping into the house.

"Yup. Back in the kitchen. You must have known she's whipping up a pot of seafood gumbo for dinner tonight."

"I didn't, but I'm glad I picked today to come by!"

He chuckled and locked the door behind me. We walked back to the kitchen together, passing all of our family portraits on the walls. Growing up, I always felt that we had a television sitcom house. Everything was staged perfectly. But I guess that just spoke for my mother's superb decorating and coordinating skills. Her back was to us when we entered the kitchen, and I smiled watching her petite frame move around the kitchen. She was humming, something she did when she was in a good mood. It almost made me sad, knowing what I'd come to tell them. My daddy cleared his throat, and she turned her head quickly around.

"Hey, Mama," I said.

She dropped the seasonings she was holding on the marble counter and came over to me. Happy wouldn't be enough to describe the expression on her face when she saw me. The way my parents treated me whenever I came over, a person would think I visited once a year instead of a few times a week. Mama hugged me tightly, and when she let me go, she cupped my cheek in her hand. I tried not to look too long into her eyes, knowing she had the power to sense when something was off about me. However, once she fixated on me, I could see her mind start to go to work.