“He is not.”
“It’s unfair. His older sister is singing with him while I only have the tape. People will think he’s better.”
Well, David has a point. Performing with someone live is better.
Performing live, huh?
Suddenly, my eyes rest on someone’s guitar and I have an idea.
“David?”
“What?”
“What if I perform with you?”
His eyes grow wide. “You’ll do that?”
I approach the nearest teacher. “Is it all right if I sing with my son?”
She glances at David then at me with a puzzled expression, as if she can’t believe David is my son but she nods.
“Yes. The kids can perform with a family member.”
I go to the boy with the guitar. “I know your guitar is very important to you but do you think I can borrow it for just a little bit?”
The boy nods.
“Thanks.”
I take his guitar, strumming it as I go back to David.
“Do you even know how to sing?” he asks, the look on his face doubtful.
I smile as I pinch his cheek lightly. “I guess we’ll find out.”
Family
Randall
“She told me she could sing but wow, she really blew us all away, didn’t she?” I shake my head in disbelief at David as I squeeze Sabrina’s hand, all three of us sitting at the corner table of one of Houston’s finest restaurants.
I still can’t believe that Sabrina performed with David. I was surprised when I saw her suddenly on the stage with a guitar. I thought she only talked to David and that she was taking so long because she went to the restroom. I was starting to worry about her, in fact.
The moment she started strumming that guitar, I could feel the magic in the air. As soon as she opened her mouth to sing, I felt like the whole world just stopped. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I was just staring, gaping, completely mesmerized. She hit every note perfectly but that wasn’t what amazed me. Rather, it was the passion with which she sang and how comfortable she was standing up there, like she was born on stage.
I was so amazed by her performance that, at the end of it, I just got up on my feet and whistled and cheered. I wasn’t the only one, though. Everyone was aware that they had heard something extraordinary. Everyone was in awe of Sabrina’s talent.
I still am in awe. I knew there was something special about her but this? It makes me want her even more, makes me even happier that she’s mine. How on earth did this amazing woman walk into my life?
Now, I understand why she wanted to pursue music. She should. With her talent, it would be a crime not to. She deserves a recording contract. She deserves to be heard. She deserves to be a star.
In my eyes, she’s already a star.
“She was so cool,” David says, pride and admiration in his eyes and in his voice as well. “Everyone was talking about her.”
“Oh, shush.” Sabrina says, lifting her hands and waving us off. Then she turns to David, pinching his cheek. “And I was only good because I had the best drummer in the world.”
David smiles.
“That you were,” I tell him, squeezing his hand. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Did you get to talk to Josh?” Sabrina asks. “What did he say?”
“He said you were cool and that I was cool.”
“Cool.” Sabrina gives him a high five. “I guess that makes you friends again.”
“Yeah. He was asking if he could come over to the house so he could play drums with me and hear you sing some more.”
“And what did you tell him?” Sabrina asks.
David’s eyebrows crease. “That I’ll think about it.”
“Okay.”
“How did you learn to sing like that?” David asks curiously. “Did anyone teach you?”
I must admit I’m curious to know, too.
“No. I just started doing it. I just kept singing, usually alone. I guess I got better as the years passed.”
Maybe but something tells me she was already immensely talented to begin with.
“Can we do that again?” David asks eagerly. “Please?”
Just like that, Sabrina has won him over. To think that she didn’t have to do all those challenges. All she had to do was sing.
“Hey, before you ask Sabrina anything, aren’t you supposed to tell her something?” I remind David.
The smile on his face disappears as he bows his head.
Sabrina opens her mouth, about to console him, but I lift a hand to stop her.
There are just some words that need to be said.
“I’m sorry about the mean things I said,” David says softly.
Sabrina shakes her head. “It’s all right. I understand how you felt.”
“And thank you for coming to my recital and for singing.” David looks at Sabrina. “It was so much fun. Can we do it again?”
“Of course.” Sabrina hugs him. “And you’re welcome.”
David’s face lights up again.
I feel a warmth in my chest. Finally, David has someone he looks up to and trusts. Finally, he has a friend, who also happens to be his stepmother.
David’s happy. Sabrina’s happy. I’m happy. This really calls for a celebration.
Just then, our food arrives – steak for me, prawns for Sabrina and some roasted chicken with lots of gravy for David.
“That looks delicious,” Sabrina says as she looks at David’s plate.
“You can have some if you want.” David pushes his plate toward her.
“How sweet.”
What a big change, indeed. Now, this is how everything should be.
Suddenly, I have an idea.
“Before we eat, I’d like to propose a toast to Sabrina.” I lift my glass of wine.
Sabrina and David lift their glasses, too – Sabrina’s with champagne and David’s with a fruit shake.
“To the woman who’s just full of surprises,” I say.
“To the best singer in the world,” David adds.
“To the two most charming men,” Sabrina says, glancing at David before looking at me.
“To our family,” I say.
Sabrina pauses, disbelief in her eyes. Then they glisten as she smiles.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers!” David lets his glass clink with Sabrina’s then mine.
“Cheers,” I say before taking a sip.
Sabrina does the same, our gazes meeting over our glasses. I can just see the warmth, joy and gratitude in hers.
I set down my glass. “Well, since we’re a family, why don’t we do something as a family? What do you think, David?”
“Great.” David’s face lights up again. “What do we do?”
“What do families do?” I touch my chin.
“We can go somewhere,” Sabrina suggests as she eats a piece of prawn. “Somewhere fun like an amusement park.”
“I know.” I pick up my utensils. “We can go to the Downtown Aquarium.
***
The Downtown Aquarium is one of the top attractions in Houston. It’s like an arcade, a restaurant, an aquarium and an amusement park in one. We decide to see the exhibits first – the Sunken Temple, the Shipwreck, the Louisiana Swamp and the Rainforest, which David particularly likes.
“I want a pet frog,” he says as he looks at the colorful rainforest frogs. “Can we bring one home?”