“No.”
“Don’t worry, Chris. I’ll be a little more diplomatic than that,” Tavarus said, and dialed the phone. “Hey, Tyhedra, it’s Tee. How you doing?”
I was surprised that she answered, since she didn’t take my calls anymore. I literally held my breath while the two of them made small talk. Then the question came.
“Hey, Tyhedra, I need to ask you something.” Tyhedra said something and then Tee said, “Oh, okay, well why don’t you stop by the club tonight before the show.” Tavarus listened for another second or two. “See you there.” Tavarus ended the call. “That was easy.”
“So she’s gonna meet us there?” Zack asked.
“Before the show,” Tavarus said, and turned to me. “You don’t have to go if it’s gonna be too painful a reunion for you.”
“That’s all right, I’ll be there,” I said, because there was a part of me tha
t needed to know, too.
Later that night, the three of us were seated at the club when Tyhedra came in. As she always does, Tyhedra looked fantastic. Tavarus stood up and waved her over to the table. Both Zack and I had our backs turned so she couldn’t see our faces when she walked up.
“Hey, Tyhedra,” Tavarus began. “I want you to meet some friends of mine.”
“Any friend of yours—” It was obvious from the shocked expression on her face that she had no idea that we were friends. That made me feel a little better.
“Hello, Tyhedra,” Zack said, and got up to hug her. I said nothing and she avoided making eye contact with me.
“I was about to say that any friend of yours, is a friend of mine, but I didn’t know how true that was,” Tyhedra laughed a little and sat down between Zack and Tavarus. “I’m gonna need a drink.” She flagged down a nearby waitress and told her what she was drinking. “So—you guys are friends, huh?”
“Best friends,” I offered.
“I was telling a friend, Maritza,” she turned to Zack, “you remember her, don’t you?”
Zack smiled, practically blushed and I wondered why. “Yeah, I remember her.”
“I was just telling her last night that Atlanta is really a big/small town. I can’t believe you guys are friends,” Tyhedra said, as the waitress returned with her drink. She took a sip and then a deep breath. “So, how uncomfortable a situation is this gonna be, guys?”
“I can’t speak for them, but I just wanted to say thank you,” Zack said.
“Wasn’t expecting that.”
“Me, too. I wouldn’t be getting ready to go onstage if it wasn’t for you. I owe whatever success I have with my music to you.”
“No, Tee. It was your hard work that got you here. All I did was give you a little push in the right direction,” Tyhedra said graciously.
“A big push and a lot of help and encouragement.”
“Now, Zack, what are you thanking me for?”
Zack looked at me and Tavarus, then whispered something in her ear.
“Wow. See, I knew there was more to it. Do you want Maritza’s number?”
“No, but thank you, I got that covered for the time being.”
“I’m just glad I was wrong and that you decided to pursue it, and especially that I could help.” Tyhedra finally made eye contact with me. “Look, guys, that’s all I was trying to do is help. That’s just who I am. I like helping people see their dreams. I’m sort of a Muse.”
“A what?” I asked.
“A Muse,” Tavarus said. “In Greek mythology, the Muses are a sisterhood of goddesses who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music, and dance.”
“Very good, Tee,” Tyhedra said and patted his hand.