The Double Life: A Novel By Shea Lynn by Shea Lynn

Author:Shea Lynn [Lynn, Shea]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Womyn Publishing
Published: 2012-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Aaron

On Saturday morning, we had a family barbeque at the house. Sidney’s parents, Karen, my parents, Darnell, and a few of our closer friends from church and back home were there. It was a beautiful day, just right for manning the grill.

I was standing by the grill with my father and Darnell. I looked at the smoldering charcoal in the pit and said, “Dad, you think it’s ready yet?”

My father looked at it, a crinkle lying across his dark brown forehead, his eyes creased with intensity. “Yeah. It’s just about ready. Darnell, you got the ribs? Let’s put them on first.”

“I got ‘em, Unc. Put ‘em on now?” asked Darnell.

My father nodded. “Yep. Put ‘em on there.”

Darnell nodded and proceeded with his task.

Now, I’m my father’s only son, but sometimes, I felt like maybe I was adopted. Like maybe there was a mix-up and Darnell was his real son. I got along with my dad, but Darnell adored him. They even look alike and they’re not even blood related. My father was pretty tall before his back started acting up and his skin is a smooth dark chocolate that looks a lot like my cousin’s.

I came out looking more like my mother than anything with fairer skin and these light brown eyes. I do have Dad’s height, but not much else. Darnell even has my father’s temperament. Two peas in a pod. But I never minded. I always knew that Darnell needed a father too and I was glad we could share mine.

As Darnell followed my father’s orders to a tee, I looked around the backyard of my home and found my wife. She and Karen were at a table by themselves, away from everyone else. Their conversation had carried a mix of serious and silly expressions and I was happy that my wife seemed to be enjoying herself

My father gave a short grunt and rubbed his back. “Dad, you need me to get a you a chair?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No. I’m fine. I’m a man and I’ll stand here like a man. I love standing here with you boys. Feels like old times.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. It does.”

Our families struggled growing up. I mean really struggled. My father drove a yellow cab and my mother worked at the grocery store with Darnell’s mother, Auntie Rose. My parents had me young, but they kept at it together and made it work. Darnell wasn’t so lucky. His day-late daddy took off before he was even born.

That just left Darnell and Auntie Rose. She was really sweet. Supportive. Understanding. It hurt my heart when she first got sick. But nobody was hurt like Darnell.

Her being sick was the reason he didn’t go to college like me. And the funny thing is, he was always the smart one. He was a freshman at the University of Chicago when they found her cancer. Had an academic scholarship and everything.

His mother begged him to stay in school, but he just couldn’t do it.

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