ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴛ | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ

ꜰᴏʀᴛʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

ᴛᴀʀᴀᴊɪ ʜᴇɴꜱᴏɴ
ꜱᴇᴘᴛᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 13, 2020

i knew we weren't pulling up to a restaurant the second the car slowed.it wasn't the valet. it wasn't the blacked-out building. it wasn't even the way fantasia kept glancing over at me with that barely-there smile like she was trying not to give herself away.

it was the way my stomach dropped a little. this wasn't dinner. she parked in the side lot and got out quickly, not giving me time to ask questions. laila was already halfway out her seat, grabbing my hand and pulling like she was in on it. i didn't fight. i let myself be led.

the door we walked up to was tall, glass, and glowing softly from inside. the building looked like one of those studio spaces people rented out for weddings or art shows—minimal, clean, but with just enough character to make you nervous about what was behind it.

fantasia paused in front of it and looked back at me.

"you trust me, right?"

i blinked. "with my whole life. but you got me on edge right now."

she grinned, nodded once, then opened the door. the lights hit first. soft white and champagne tones, bouncing off walls draped in linen. music floated in the background, something old school but smooth, like donny hathaway or anita baker slowed down just enough to make you feel it in your ribs.

then the voices. "surprise!"

i stopped cold. laila squealed, her little legs kicking in excitement as she ran toward the nearest balloon arch, grabbing a streamer on the way. my eyes didn't know where to land.

a table set for dinner..long and elegant. flowers and candles running down the center. cupcakes stacked on towers. lights strung high above like stars you could touch. then the people. people i hadn't seen in years.
faces i loved once but hadn't dared to call since the bottom fell out. a few of my old girls from way back like mika, ronee, even tiff, all standing near the photo wall. it had my name on it in gold cursive script: taraji's night.

my throat tightened. i turned slowly, trying to catch my breath.

fantasia's hand found my waist. "you okay?" she asked softly.

i couldn't answer right away. i just nodded, lips pressed together, overwhelmed. "you... found them?"

"mhm," she whispered. "i made a few calls. took a few risks but yeah. i found them."

tab gave a gentle wave from across the room. she looked like she wanted to hug me but didn't want to push. i nodded back, eyes already misting.

but then— i saw him. standing near the far end of the room. tall. gray at the temples. a button-down tucked into his jeans, hands wringing in front of him like he was afraid to move. his eyes were red and watery but clear.

my chest went still. "daddy?"

the room faded. all the noise became background static.

he stepped forward slowly, as if he didn't believe i was real. his mouth opened once. closed. then opened again. "baby girl..."

i covered my mouth with both hands. i hadn't seen him since before laila. before the shelter. before my whole life cracked open but it was him. my daddy. clean. standing. sober.

fantasia let go of me and stepped back. i walked forward like my legs didn't belong to me. he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, framed photo. it was worn but protected. laminated edges. a picture of me, him, and my mama. her smile big and proud, her arm wrapped around both of us like she knew we'd lose her too soon.

"i've been trying to find you for years," he said, voice shaking. "i been clean, baby. i been clean for a long time, and i didn't want nothing but to see you smile again."

my knees buckled, but i didn't fall. his arms caught me fast, tight like a man afraid to let go twice. i buried my face in his chest and let the years fall out of me in tears. nothing about this night was what i expected but damn if it wasn't everything i needed.