Ebony Angel (26 page)

“Cut the onion into wide strips, please.” She started dicing another tomato. “I want to apologize for how I’ve been acting lately. I know I haven’t been the most pleasant person to be around.”

“No problem.”

“I’m worried about you, Skeet. I’ve never seen you so withdrawn.”

He chopped the onion in half, quarters, eighths…The pieces got smaller and smaller as he kept whacking away.

“Pretty soon I’ll have onion juice instead of slices.” She waited for him to crack a smile, but it never came. She took his chopping board over to the stove and scraped the chopped onion into the stew-pot.

He took the potato peeler, pulled the trashcan between his legs, and began peeling carrots. “I’m angry at Trae.”

“Why?”

“I thought we told each other everything. I found out he’s been keeping a big secret from me. Now I’m pissed. He doesn’t trust me.”

“Of course he trusts you. You just seem to think everyone else’s business is yours.”

“But this directly affects me.”

She diced tomatoes. “Well, how did you find out about this secret?”

“He told me.”

“Skeet!” She threw a half tomato at him. He ducked. The tomato whizzed past his head and splattered against the edge of the counter, ending up on the floor. “How is he keeping secrets from you if he told you? Stop being a baby. People talk in their own time, not yours.”

He finally flashed a smile. “You’d better clean that up before Marissa gets home. He should have told me sooner.”

“Why don’t you ask him why he didn’t tell you sooner, instead of coming here pouting?” She tossed the tomato into the trash, and then sponge-cleaned the mess on the counter and floor.

“Because I already know why. I just don’t agree with it. I’m his best friend and business partner. He’s been preparing to leave our business for over a year, and only told me because he had to. What kind of crap is that?” He bit off a piece of carrot. “How can he hold out on me?” He was too busy rambling to notice Ebony was bending over the sink, shocked. He continued gnawing on the carrot.

It took Ebony a few moments to process his words. She shouldn’t have been shocked. She had noticed the gradual changes in Trae herself, yet was afraid to believe. But Trae actually taking steps to leave the drug life was big news. She bowed, silently thanking God for the miracle, and prayed Skeet would be next. This must have been the reason he said he wouldn’t allow her to adopt Crystal. He was actually going to be legit. She and Crystal would be free.

“Well he didn’t tell me, either. He only hinted around.”

“Ebony.” He blew out a long, labored breath. “Could you stop thinking about yourself for five damn minutes? Shit, woman, this is about me!”

She sat at the table, fighting to keep from laughing. Skeet needed her to be serious, but she couldn’t hold it in. She leaned back in the chair and laughed so hard her stomach hurt. She could barely catch her breath.

“This shit ain’t funny.”

“I know.” She giggled. “I’m sorry.” She rounded the table and hugged him. “I love you, Skeet. If you weren’t my cousin, I would marry you.”

He chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t marry you. I can’t stand self-centered people.” He tapped her nose with his knuckle. “I’m overreacting, ain’t I?”

“And being melodramatic. Why didn’t Trae want to tell you what he’s been up to?”

He smiled peevishly. “Because he thinks I talk too much. He doesn’t understand that it’s not what ya say, but who ya say it to. I know who I can say what to. I don’t just go blabbing all over the place. If I did, we’d of been dead years ago.”

“Why doesn’t he want me to know?”

“I don’t know. I think he doesn’t want to get your hopes up. He could always change his mind. Then there’s your safety. We’ve made a lot of enemies, and some in the organization won’t want him to leave. The only way to control Trae is through you and Crystal.”

A chill ran down her spine. “I’ve always feared someone would come after us. I’m so tired of all of this, tired of being scared.”

“I’ve got your back. I won’t let anyone harm my family.”

“I know you keep us safe. But the reason the protection is needed…I shouldn’t have to live like this.” She diced another tomato. Trae held all the cards, and made the rules to the game. She didn’t want to celebrate Trae’s conversion to a legit life too soon, just to be disappointed. “I’ll be glad when this is all over. When are you getting out?”

“I’m not. If Trae says I am, he’s wrong. I lied and told him I was leaving to make him think I’d kept secrets also.” He paused. “At least I was sort of lying. I’ve been thinking about getting out, but I haven’t acted on it.”

“Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me. Unlike you, I don’t have a big mouth.” She winked, transferring the diced tomatoes to a bowl. She took the bowl over to the stove and dumped the tomatoes into the pot. “You talk entirely too much.”

“I do not. I know you won’t tell anyone what I say. You should feel honored I trust you so much.”

She bowed slightly. “I’m honored. Now finish with the carrots.”

He peeled more carrots. “I know things that…oh, never mind.” He kept glancing over his shoulder at her, as if he wanted her to ask him something. “Is this enough?”

“Yep. Chop them into wedges and dump them into the pot. Nah, make them thin slices. They’ll have to cook fast. I should have put them in the pot earlier.” She took a bag of fresh spinach leaves out of the refrigerator and dumped them into the sink for cleaning.

“Don’t you want to know one of the things I haven’t told?”

“Not if I have to pry it out of you.” She turned on the faucet and ran cold water over the spinach.

A few minutes later, he put the carrots into the pot. “Where’s the ladle?”

She pointed at the far drawer. “Could you also take out the tongs and remove the meat from the bones?”

“I overheard something I shouldn’t have. They didn’t know I was in the room.”

“How can anyone miss seeing you?”

“I’d fallen asleep on the floor behind the sofa.”

She opened a jar of macaroni shells.

“No one knows I overheard.” Skeet stirred the soup as she poured in the shells. He proceeded to give her a word-by-word replay of Nonno and Stephanie’s conversation.

“Oh, my goodness. Poor Richard.” She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to help him, but he would refuse her help. She added the spinach to the pot, then sat at the table trying to think clearly. “Does he know?”

“Pay attention to the conversation, Ebony. I haven’t told anyone. He has no idea why his mother’s so batty. At least he won’t admit it. I’ve watched them for the past few weeks. He knows. They all know.” He shrugged. “It’s the strangest thing. The Stephanie I heard crying to her father is not the cold bitch I heard nagging at Richard. Phillip stays out of the line of fire. And Nonno. Well, all I can say is that man’s a trip. And don’t get me started on those bitches he calls sisters.”

Ebony remembered Richard saying his family life was like a Broadway production. She had tried to get him to open up about them several times, but he had always changed the subject or started cooking. “I wish there was something I could do to help him.”

“Call him.” He took out his cell phone. “It’s number three on speed dial.”

“He doesn’t want me to.”

“That never stopped me.”

“I’m not you.” She turned away from Skeet to hide her tears. “Crystal will be home soon.”

“Changing the subject doesn’t change anything. You two are in love with each other.”

She wiped away her tears. “Well, love isn’t enough.” She walked out of the room.

* * *

Richard sat in the rocking chair, absently watching the couple who lived in the ranch-style town house across the street from Nonno. The separation from Ebony was killing him. He couldn’t stand her thinking he didn’t want her. Skeet had continued bringing Crystal around. This had to tell Ebony he still wanted to be in the picture.

A few days ago, when he arrived in Texas, he hired a private investigator to find indisputable evidence that Trae killed the Collins boys. Once he had the evidence, he would tell his family the truth so they could leave the country until Trae was arrested.

He prayed the investigator found evidence before Trae had time to manipulate Ebony into taking him back. If Ebony felt even half as discombobulated as Richard, she would be easy pickings for Trae.

The older couple across the street slowly rocked on the porch swing. “That will be us someday, Ebony.”

“Who are you talking to?” Nonno walked across the bedroom with two large bowls and a paper grocery bag.

“No one.”

“You need to contact Ebony and tell her the truth.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “Get on over here and help me with these string beans. My hands have been hurting me.”

He chose to ignore Nonno’s remark. The man had been itching for a fight ever since he found out Richard would fully recover. “You don’t even like green beans. I think they’re the one food you hate.”

“Well, you and Stephanie love them.”

Richard took the bowls and bag from his grandfather. He set the empty bowl on the floor to his right, the paper bag to the left, and the bowl of green beans in his lap. “You spoil us. I’ll do the cooking while I’m down here.”

“You trying to force me into retirement?” He moved from the bed to the straight-back chair from the desk. “That’s much better. I’m too old for this.”

“You’re not old.” He snapped the ends off a bean, broke the bean in half, tossed it into the empty bowl at his side and the ends into the paper bag. Cast removed, it felt good to use his left hand again.

“You’re making me old. Apologize to Ebony, leave the country, get married, and make me some great-grandbabies.”

“It isn’t that simple.” He hadn’t told his grandfather about Trae’s threats against the family, or that Ebony didn’t have legal custody of Crystal.

“The hell it isn’t. What are you scared of, Richard?”

“Nothin’.” Unable to stand Nonno’s penetrating gray stare, he snapped the beans faster. “I’m not ready for a commitment right now.”

“Don’t hand me that bull. Your mother isn’t around. It’s just us. I’m sorry I told you to bring the cops into this. I’ll never forgive my…You’re miserable. Hiding from problems never works out in the end. We have to face this head on. Be straight with me. What’s going on? You love Ebony. I’ve seen you with Crystal. How can you walk away? What aren’t you telling me?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Explain it to me.” The snap, snap, snap of the beans was the only sound in the room. “I know you, Richard. That cock-and-bull story you gave us about Ebony not having faith in you didn’t pass the smell test. Trae’s the one who beat you, isn’t he? He somehow found out about the police.”

“No. That’s not it.”

“Get your head out of that bowl, look me in the eyes and tell me Trae didn’t beat you. Tell me he isn’t keeping you from Ebony. Tell me you’re not in love with her.”

The lie sat on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t force it out. “Nonno, please just drop it.”

“You could’ve been killed. I will not drop this.”

“Yes you will!” He stood, knocking the bowl of green beans to the floor. He dragged his hands down his face. “I’m sorry I yelled at you, but you will not interfere.” He knelt at his grandfather’s feet. “I know what I’m doing. This is my fight.”

Nonno’s face softened. He patted Richard on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”

“For what, disrespecting you?” He picked a few beans off the floor and tossed them into the bowl. “Making a mess of my life?”

“For finally standing up to me. My fighting your battles almost got you killed. I’ll never forgive myself. You’re a man. I should have let you be a man. Trae isn’t the only thing keeping you from Ebony. You need to stop bickering with your mother about this superficial stuff and get at the real issue. Stand up to her, and let the pieces fall where they will. You can’t build a future with Ebony when you’re stuck in the past.”

Richard sat with his legs crossed on the floor. “How’d you get so wise?”

“A wise man would have acknowledged his daughter’s pain years ago.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Take the blinders off. Don’t be afraid to face the truth. Speak with your mother. She’ll always love you.” He walked out.

Richard leaned back against the bed, searching within himself for the feelings he had buried: The ones that were emerging in the dreams; the ones that hurt too badly to acknowledge; the ones he needed to confront in order to have a real future with Ebony.

He picked the remaining string beans off the floor, wandering what Ebony was doing.
I miss my angel.

A few weeks later.

Instead of moping around, wallowing in self-pity, Ebony focused on the positives in her life: She only had one day of class left; she had accepted the position at Banks Consulting, and she received a larger bonus than expected; Crystal was happy; Meechie agreed to enter rehabilitation; Trae was making major strides toward turning his life around, and Skeet was on the brink of turning over a new leaf.