Come Share My Love

chapter Thirteen





“Hey man, you okay?” Felton asked when Zackary rushed through the door.

“Yeah I’m fine. Is Shyla in her room?” Felton began scratching his head. “What happened?” Zackary knew something was up. Everyone had a way they react when they’re nervous. Zackary had known Felton for years. Scratching his head was a dead giveaway that something was wrong or he was nervous.

“We had some words about what happened at your parents place and she’s pretty upset. Ess is trying to talk to her.”

“I know I’m not going to like this but let me have it. What kind of words?”

Felton told him everything including her threats to kill him and dispose of his remains.

“Felt I love you like a brother and if you weren’t around when Gloria did the things she did I don’t know if I could have survived. Yes I had my parents and family but you were there to see me at my worst when I knew that I couldn’t be that around my family, but this isn’t Shyla’s fault. None of this is.” Felton started to say something but he stopped him. “Just hear me out. Brennan likes to antagonize me, trying to get me back when I use to do it to him. That’s the reason I don’t trust him. He may or may not have been sleeping with Gloria.”

“No bullshit?”

“I don’t know how true that is. Gloria hinted but I don’t want to believe that my brother screwed my wife. After she left us I took the girls and got paternity test done. It was as much for me as it was for them. I wouldn’t have given them up but I needed to know. She was running around with lord knows how many different people. And if there was a chance that they were my brother’s then I would have had to do something about it. Brennan doesn’t even know that I know this.”

“Damn man. You’ve been keeping this in all this time?”

“Yeah, I felt stupid. I was supposed to be her husband and she took our vows and trashed them. I don’t think Shyla’s like that and I don’t think you do either. From now on just let me take care of things with Shyla.”

“Okay man. I’ll step aside and let you do your thing.”

“Appreciate it. Oh and I found out that she only spent about twenty minutes alone with Bren, she was with mom and Brax the rest of the time.”

“I know that’s a strain off your back.”

“You don’t know how much. I’m going to get dressed,” he says but Essence walks back into the living room before he takes his leave. “Is she going?”

Essence shrugged her shoulders and flopped down on the couch. “Your guess is as good as mine. She said she was going but she hasn’t attempted to get dressed.”

“Should I go talk to her?

“Ask yourself, “Do I feel lucky“, then, do the very opposite.”

Zackary chuckled. That was his Shyla. “I’m getting dressed. Give her another few minutes.”

Zackary was still in his room when Shyla resurfaced. She was wearing a yellow blouse and a pair of black jeans and yellow ankle high eel-skinned boots. Her hair wasn’t curled as it had been earlier that day it was flying freely over both shoulders with freshly cut slanted bangs covering a good portion of her left eye. It looked good on her.

“Don’t you look nice,” Essence said.

“Thanks. The boots okay? I thought about sandals but wasn’t sure.”

“It’s perfect.

“I guess I’m ready to go then,” she opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch. She wasn’t ready for another altercation with Felton, Essence or anyone else. The best thing for her to do was stay out of everyone’s way. She called Kemah and asked her that if she got a flight out tomorrow would she pick her up and she told her yes, but asked her why she was letting them spoil her time with Zackary. She didn’t have an answer. Kemah told her to think about it and if she still felt the same way tomorrow then call her and she’d be there.



Zackary was finally dressed. He had on a pair of black slacks with a black muscle shirt and a tan suede jacket. He definitely looked different when he went to work.

“Have you talked to her? Is she going?”

“Yes she’s going. She’s outside waiting.”

“Well we don’t want to keep her waiting, let’s move out.”

She was standing by his car looking like an orphan when they exited the house but she looked beautiful. Zackary reached her and unlocked the automatic doors. Felton and Essence got in back. He held the door closed before he opened it for her. “Are you alright?”

She looked around and then back at him. “Yes.” She wasn’t ready to leave him. People were making it more difficult for them. “I’m fine.”

He kissed her on her nose then opened the door for her. “You look very nice.”

She smiled. “Thanks, and so do you. I really love that shirt.” It was nice and fit him like a second skin. She pulled him by the jacket and gave him a soft kiss on the lips, then slid into the car. He closed the door after she was situated. Now that was the kind of greeting he wanted and needed from her. They were well on their way at least he hoped they were.

They found an empty table near Zackary’s parents. She was introduced to several people including Zackary’s Uncle Alonzo, who was quite a character.

“Hey boy, how you been?” He pounded Zachary on the back.

“Just fine, Unc. How’s life been treating you, sir?”

“You know your uncles old boy, but I can still hang with the best of you all.” He eyed Shyla twirling his hips to the music. “And who is this pretty young thing?”

“Uncle Alonzo. This beautiful woman is my friend Shyla. Shyla, Uncle Alonzo. We call him Lonnie.”

She held out her hand, he took it and kissed it. “Friend huh?”

“So you still don’t know how to work it,” he winked. Shyla hide her smile.

“We’re working on it.” He pulled Shyla’s hand from his uncle’s grasp and his wandering lips.

“You remember Felton and his wife Essence.”

“Of course I remember this pretty little lady.” He kissed her cheek. “And how are you doing young timer.

“I’m good Uncle Lonnie.” They shook hands.

“Now back to you. Shyla are you, shy?” he chuckled at his own silly joke.

“Not at all, sir.”

“Call me Uncle Alonzo or Lonnie, darlin’. Can you dance?”

“Uncle Alonzo, is that a challenge?” he nodded. “Well, I just love a challenge,” she said in her best southern drawl.

“Well get yourself up from that there sit down and show Unc whatcha workin’ wit.”

Shyla looked over at Zackary to see if he minded. He just smiled. “Come on darlin', he doesn’t mind a’tal. You’re safe with ole Uncle Alonzo.” He took her purse from her hand. “Take care of this for her, young blood. I’ll have her back in a jiffy.” And he did.

Shyla danced circles around his uncle and pretty much everyone else on the dance floor. Neither of them looked exhausted but Alonzo was feeling it. He heard Big Zack say, ‘little brother, you need to sit down before you fall down, trying to be young again. It’s not going to happen.’

He walked Shyla back to her table. “Thanks for the dance ma’am. See I brought her back in one piece.” He was still trying to catch his breath.

“What about me Uncle Alonzo? Don’t I get a dance?”

“Not if you dance anything like her. She’s going to be the death of me.” They all laughed. “When I get my fifth wind, I’ll take you for a spin on the linoleum.”

“Okay Uncle Lonnie. I’ll be waiting.”

He tipped his imaginary hat and found a chair to rest his old bones. He was tired.

“I can’t believe him. He actually thought he could out dance my girl,” Zackary said pulling Shyla to him.

“Not a chance,” he and Felton hit fist.

Before she could say anything else Braxton came to get her. “You ready to show these folks what you got, gal? They’ve already seen you dance.”

“Sure,” she excused herself from the rest of the group.

“Venice and Traci will be back-up depending on what you sing. I have four songs if that’s okay with you.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “That’s fine. What are they?

“Impossible, baby come to me, and at last.”

“That’s only three.”

“I know. Can you do a little blues for the old crowd?”

She laughed. “Braxton, your parents are going to kick your backside if they hear that coming from you, but yes, I guess I can do that. Down Home Blues alright?”

“Yes,” he praised.

“Good.”

“I want you to do, At last, last. It’s Zackary’s favorite and I’m sure he’ll love that.”

She turned and looked at him. He waved, she waved back. “Really? I didn’t know that. Why don’t you get the music cued for my guy before the last song? I have an idea.”

“You want him to know that he’s your guy and that you’re dedicating his favorite song to him?”

Shyla arched her eyebrow to him, “Are you a mind reader?”

“No. My Venice did something like that for me. You two are enough alike to be sisters, so I figured…”

He left the rest unsaid. She got the picture.

“Alright, alright, alright. I would like to thank all of my people for coming out just to hang at Club B Rax. We have a little live entertainment for you this evening. I had the privilege of hearing this young woman sing this afternoon and her voice knocked me to the moon and back. She can do it all, ladies and gentlemen. She came to us all the way from Los Angeles. That’s a lot of mileage y'all.” Everyone laughed. “I’d like to introduce to you, my future,” he nodded his head, “future sister-in-law, Miss Shyla Wilkes.” She came up on stage smiling. “This is Zackary’s woman fellas, so don’t get any ideas.”

He handed her the microphone and fled the stage.

“I want to thank Braxton for giving me this opportunity to put my music skills to work. I don’t get to do this very often just when I’m home doing nothing else. But I enjoy it. I’d also like to thank Mama V and Pop Zack for warmly welcoming me into their family. I am very happy to be here. And for you, Zackary Trellis Junior I have a surprise for you later.”

A host of oohs were in surround sound. “Get your minds out the gutter. It’s just a song. I’ll share it but it’s only for Zackary.”

Shyla began her rendition of Impossible. She and Venice did a beautiful job of it. They weren’t Alicia and Christina but they would have been a shoe in for runner up for a Grammy. When they did down home blues, the crowd went wild. They not only sang it they did the moves to go with it. Even the women in the audience began singing and moving their hips swaying to the music. Braxton looked around the club and even saw his mother singing the song to his father. They were having a little too much fun. But it was all worth it.

Shyla didn’t stop there. She gave the lead over to Venice and she sang Smooth Operator to Braxton while Shyla and Traci did back-up. When Venice swung her hips at Braxton he almost fainted. He tried to hide her but she moved right around him and continued her singing and dancing. When the song was over he whispered something in her ear, she looked down and laughed. She wouldn’t think it was funny if she was the one in that predicament. Thank God he had his back to the audience.

She continued to laugh when he moved away. She gave Shyla the microphone back. It was time for Zackary’s surprise

They started singing My Guy and she continued to point at him when she said the words, My Guy. But now the song was over, the surprise wasn’t.

“I’m going to ask the lighting team to please put a spotlight on that table right over there,” Shyla pointed to where Zackary sat. “Now can you make it just so it will be on him? No offence to the rest of you but this is just for the gentleman in the black and tan.” They flashed the light on him. “Cue the music fellas. I’d like to dedicate a song to my favorite guy, and it’s his favorite song, Shyla Wilkes style,” she winked. “Zackary this one is for you, baby.”

The music began, the spotlight hit her and the one over him remained in place, leaving the rest of the audience in darkness except for the candles that burned at the tables.



“Aaaat last,

My love has come along…”



He slowly took a sip from his drink then placed the glass in front of him giving her his undivided attention.



“And life is like a song…”



Zackary sat up straight in his seat beads of sweat lined his brow as she stood reaching out to him. His face took on a look that said ‘when this is all over I am going to make love to you all night long.’



“…wrapped up in clovers,

The night I looked at you.”



For years Zackary had been lying to himself, he thought. He finally found someone who could blow this song just like Miss Etta and she belonged to him forever and completely.



“…a thrill that I’ve never known…”



She pointed to him signaling him to come to her. A smile creased his face. She didn’t have to ask twice.



“You smile, you smile…”



They met in the middle of the dance floor.



“You are mine,

At last.”



Shyla pulled Zackary to her and planted a wet one right on the lips in front of the entire club. Everyone clapped, including big brother Brennan.

“Now, that’s how you do it, lil bro.”

“Well folks, that’s all she wrote. That’s it for tonight’s entertainment but the night isn’t over. There’s more dancing and karaoke for everyone.” Braxton announced. He looked back at Zackary and Shyla. They were still at it. He nudged Zackary in the back. “Shows over,” he nodded his head towards the audience and smiled.

“Let’s get out of here,” Zackary said and grabbed Shyla by the hand.

They walked passed their table to pick up Shyla’s purse and his jacket. He signaled to Felton that he hoped they had a way home and not to disturb them when they came in, if they came in. Felton nodded his head in understanding and patted his friend on the back. They were finally getting somewhere.