A Stronger Love (Jacquees) [Discontinued]

Family Talks.

LaToya's Point of View ~ Tuesday, 12:45pm

Sitting at the edge of the stage, I let my legs dangle over the edge as everyone ran off stage to enjoy their lunch break. We're having rehearsals here, in this large arena-like building because it resembles the one in New Jersey. The thought of how long and hectic this tour will be came to mind. We're going across the country and then we're coming back here for the concert in Madison Square Gardens. I blew out a breath at the thought as a familiar voice echoed throughout the arena. I looked to see the only man that could make me happy, walking up to the stage. My father himself with a huge grin plastered across his face, "My little girl is putting in some work, I see."

He managed to jump up onto the stage and sit next to me. We hugged for a very long time before pulling away. He looked at me and smiled, "How you been?" I nodded, looking out at the arena, "I could be better but I'm thankful for life." He gave me a sad smile as I continued, "How have you been?" He nodded, "Pretty good. Are you excited for your first, personal tour?" I gave him the most fake smile ever and I'm glad he didn't notice how fake it was, "Hell yeah." Laughing, he looked out at the empty seats before turning to me, "Can I ask you a question?" I knotted my eyebrows before giving him a weird look, "Of course." He sighed, "How was it?" My weird look stayed on my face, "How was what?"

He laughed, noticing that he had me lost, "How was living with Jazmine? Like what was she like?" I laughed, "Oh, mom? She was the best." He looked at me in.. I guess adoration as I continued, "I remember when I was eight and was scared of hospitals so she took me to one. Her friend was a nurse and she made me stay the entire day, saying that I'd love it by the end of the day. Of course, it ended up being one of my first career choices." Something else came to mind as he shook his head with a smile, "Oh yeah.. The first concert of yours I remember going to was in LA. She took Lissa and I there for summer vacation. I was like.. ten years old. I saw you out there and I was singing while standing beside her. I remember how she bent down to my level and started singing terribly in my face. Of course I laughed.. but she really couldn't sing for her life."

Laughing, he agreed with me, "I know!" Giving him a real smile, more memories came floating back, "She taught me how to ride a bike when I was twelve. I had the whole tricycle stage but I wasn't really interested in riding bikes until I was twelve. I remember in seventh grade how some kid glued something into my hair and she cussed his momma out." He nodded, "She told me about that and how you were so down because she had to cut that piece of your hair." I nodded in agreement, "I punched the kid right in the eye, I remember that part vividly." Laughing, he turned to me, "I wish I was there to give you your '10 Reasons Not to Hit Boys' speech." At this point, I couldn't control my laughter but it died down once I noticed how hurt he was. "Dad, if I'm not bothered by it, why are you?"

He sighed, "I never got to watch my first daughter grow up into the beautiful young woman she is today. I missed her first words, I missed out on teaching her how to walk, I missed out on stopping all them lil **** boys from talking to you.. I missed everything a dad should've been there for. I'm just thankful that God made you the way you are because most women would've hated their fathers for that." Smirking, I agreed with him, "You d-mn skippy but I got some opportunities that some basic girls didn't. Their dads didn't send them $1000 for their birthday every year or write songs about them. Their dads didn't have them on stage while accepting awards either." He smiled, "Thanks.. I hear you talk about your mom and you two seemed like you had the perfect mother-daughter relationship.. I can't imagine how you and your real mother would've been."