After a 30 minute drive from the airport, Zachary Taylor was two blocks from the house where he took his first steps. If he didn't know these streets like the back of his hand the way he did, the smell of budding honeysuckle bushes in the air would help him find his way. The familiar aroma re jogged memories that made him smile while others still broke his heart. Behind the wheel of his tinted Range Rover, he drove past R.E Mcnair highschool from where he graduated the top of his class. He made his grandparents proud to witness their only grandson receive multiple honors along with being awarded both academic and basketball scholarships that guaranteed him a full ride to a college of his choice. Even though he loved the sport, it wasn't in his heart the way music was.
He recalled the stories about the word spoken over his life on the day he was christened, 3 months after Vanessa Taylor left her newborn son with her parents and never returned. She had just given birth 2 weeks before but the streets called her name louder than the responsibilities of being a mother to her son. Fortunately for Zac, his grandparents never left his side and with their unconditional love and the support of the entire congregation from the church where he first touched a set of black and white keys, he packed up and left his Atlanta stomping grounds to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Zac spent the last 7 years of his life as a Boston resident and the last time he was in Georgia was to bury his first cousin, who was more like the big brother he needed to get him through his school years. That was one of those painful memories that still felt fresh.
Due to the constant demand of his profession, his schedule never allowed him much free time to book a flight to Atlanta for a few days like he wanted. He regretted not at least trying especially with the current circumstances being as bad as they were.
The red brick family style home looked just like he remembered. Ofcourse there had been upgrades and improvements over time but the hidden gem never lost its original charm. Zac parked in the driveway behind his grandpa's '87 blue Ford pickup truck and shut off his engine, grabbing his carry on from the passenger seat. A smile broke across his face when he heard the screen door swing open, squeaking from the same hinges it's been swinging from for a while.
"Is that my Bam Bam?!" her soft voice called from the front porch. Zac shook his head at the use of his childhood nickname he hasn't heard in years. He would be in Georgia for the next three months so he prepared himself before he got there."Yeah grandma. It's me" Zac grinned from ear to ear, finally reaching the top step to wrap his wraps around his grandmother. Her 5'3 to his 6'1 would be intimidating
to some but she squeezed his waist and she shoulders shook as they held onto each other for a while. Once she dried her tears of joy, she grabbed Zac's hand. "You can get the rest of your things after you eat" she patted the top of his hand twice, "you hungry? Let me feed you" she shuffled in the house and to the kitchen. There wasn't a thing out of place but that was normal for his grandmother. He laughed at her favorite pink house slippers with the tiny bow on the top she always had on her feet when she was home. He took the deepest breath he could pull through his nose to breath in the mouth watering aroma of his grandmother's country style cooking.
"This a lot of food. You think I ain't eatin in Boston Rosie? You thought I was still skinny didn't you?" he chuckled, washing his hands at the sink. "I can tell you eating..look at these arms and everything" she laughed and pinched his shoulder as she walked behind him to take something else from the oven. "You told me your flight was gonna land at 8, I knew you would be here around 9,9:15 so I started cooking..I hear airplane food isn't always that good and I had to make sure you got you something to eat" she paused and placed both hands on her hips "Oh yeah! the apple jelly..hold on baby" she said scurrying towards the pantry before Zac could stop her. It wasn't like she was gonna listen if he tried anyway.
