Ebony Angel (9 page)

“Ebony, wait.” His heavy sigh came over the line. “I know his type better than you. Won’t you trust my judgment on this one? I haven’t led you wrong yet.”

“Your judgment is clouded with racism.”

“And yours is clouded with love.”

“I’m a big girl. I survived a broken heart before and will survive
if
it happens again. You two have a lot of common interests. Give him a chance.” She should have known Trae wouldn’t get over the color issue so easily. Taking second seat to a white man had to be hard for him.

“You’re in love with him?”

“Yes. I’m in love with Richard.” The long silence worried Ebony. Jessica had a point. The other men Ebony had dated posed no competition for Trae. She shrugged it off. Trae wasn’t a complete monster. He loved their child, and someday would choose life instead of death. He had moved on relationship-wise, and was just protecting her from the
big bad white boogieman
.

“Smoke. If he’s hanging out with us, he has to be called Smoke.”

“I think we can manage that.” She curled her feet up on the couch and reached for her artificial intelligence book. Dealing with Trae’s racist eruptions would be easier than dealing with jealousy
and
racism. Maybe half the battle had already been won.

“I’ve already told everyone to leave him alone, but don’t get your hopes up. I know he’ll break your heart.”

“Yes, Daddy. I have studying to do. When are you coming home?”

“Thursday. Someone smoked the Collins boys last night.”

Her index cards fell to the floor. “That’s horrible. Who did it?”

“Wasn’t me. I’m just glad they’re gone. We already have enough heat in the neighborhood without all of the stupid stuff they would stir up. I owe someone a dinner.”

“You need to seek professional help. We’ll talk later.”

She knew he was joking, but him saying something so cold and callous still bothered her. She set the phone down, then walked over to the window and waved for Meechie to come inside for breakfast. Maybe today would be the day their little talks would sway him to the side of rehab. Meechie wasn’t the first person she guided toward rehabilitation, but he was sure proving to be the most difficult.

* * *

A tiny elbow jabbing his gut woke Richard. Crystal had taken over his right side; Ebony, his left side.

After shopping and dinner, they watched a video at Ebony’s. He gently moved Ebony over then carried Crystal to her bedroom. The faint glow of the nightlight kept him from bumping into anything.

Ebony had told him she didn’t allow men to stay at her place overnight. She also never introduced Crystal to her dates.

Crystal woke when he put her on the bed. “Smoke?”

“Yes, baby,” he whispered.

“This isn’t my bed.” She pointed to a barely visible door. “That’s my room. Where’s Mama?”

“On the couch. She’s a little too big for me to carry. I’m sure she won’t mind if you sleep in her bed tonight.” He and Crystal had hit it off instantly.

Trae’s gang ties were unknown to her. All she knew was he owned a few car washes and barbershops. She called Trae by his name, yet by the way she had talked about him over dinner, Richard could tell she loved and respected him.

He thought about his own father, Phillip Dubois. Phillip didn’t even object when Richard announced he was going to legally change his last name to his grandfather’s last name, Pacini, as a graduation gift to himself.

Phillip was too busy climbing the corporate ladder to take any role in Richard’s life, let alone care he needed protecting. He shook off the feelings of woe. Those days were over. Now he had a chance at building a family of his own.

“I had fun today. Are you taking us out again?”

“Of course I am.” He covered her with the comforter. “But you have school in the morning, so tonight you need to sleep, and I need to head home.” He kissed her forehead.

“I wish you, Mama, Trae and Skeet could get married and we could all live here.”

“Don’t you think it would be a tad bit crowded? And I’m pretty sure that’s illegal in just about every country in the world.”

She looked upon him, her face scrunched in thought. “It doesn’t matter anyway. Mama says she doesn’t love Skeet and Trae in the marrying way.”

“How old are you? You sound grown.”

She giggled. “I turned seven last month.”

“Well, my Christmas baby,” he tapped her nose with his finger, “go to sleep. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Smoke.” She rolled over.

Richard brushed his lips over Ebony’s until she woke.

“Tease,” she whispered.

“Who, me? You seduce me and kick me out, then have the nerve to call me a tease.”

“Where’s the baby?”

“I put her in your bed.” He stroked her braids behind her ear. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving me a chance with Crystal. She’s great. You have done a wonderful job.”

“You don’t know how relieved I am she likes you.”

“That makes two of us.” He kissed her gently. “I’d better go before we end up naked. What time should I pick you up?”

“Six should be early enough. That way I can chat with Nonno.”

“You trying to make a move on my grandpapà? Note to self: Change calling time with Nonno.”

Ebony sat on the locker room bench lacing her shoes. “He didn’t shoot anyone, Jessica. You heard wrong. And I don’t appreciate the way you made me sound like some sort of thug groupie. What if he believed you?” When Richard dropped Ebony at school, Jessica made it her business to stress that Ebony “loved her some thugs.”

She waved Ebony off. “I didn’t tell him anything he didn’t already know. Go ahead. Protect your man. He’s a cutie.
Almost
makes me want to cross over. Why didn’t you tell me he’s one of Trae’s boys?”

“Because he isn’t. He’s the regional manager of an investment firm.”

“Yeah, right, and I won the lottery last night.”

“What made you think he works for Trae? And lower your voice. I don’t want the whole world hearing my business.”

Jessica rolled her eyes. “Come off it, girl. Trae wouldn’t let some white boy have his woman. I love you, but everyone knows this is a business deal. Trae needs a clean-up man for his money. Smoke is the perfect man for the job.”

Ebony fell off the bench, laughing. “My God, you’re making my stomach hurt. Whew. Where do you get this stuff?” She remained on the floor, holding her stomach.

“No one believes you just bumped into this perfect white guy on the train. You all could have put a little thought into your story.”

“This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Ebony grabbed her towel and headed for the aerobics room. “Richard doesn’t work for Trae. I’m not discussing this further.” She giggled. “Wait until I tell him.”

“How do you keep attracting these high rollers?”

“What are you talking about? I broke up with Trae years ago. I grew up, and he became a drug dealer. Maybe it’s time for you to grow up.” Frustrated with this rerun of their previous arguments, she increased her pace. “Never mind. I’m past sick of this line of questioning, officer. Move on.” It had taken Ebony years to convince Jessica to try for her bachelors. It was looking as if it would take another few years to convince her drug dealers don’t make good relationship material.

* * *

Richard couldn’t believe what Ebony was telling him. “You all’s grapevine on the west side is out of control. First I am a crazy white guy, next I am working for Dan, then I smoked the Collins brothers, now I’m laundering money for Trae?” He laughed. “I’ve been a very busy boy since meeting you.” The rumors were bad enough, and he hated to think what realities lay before them. This was the only life she knew, but shortly he would show her a better way. He would save the angel.

His cell phone beeped, indicating the battery was extremely low. “I’m not trying to rush you, but I want to buy Crystal a bedroom set for my place. The next date may end at my condo. I don’t want you driving late at night. Purple’s her favorite color. Maybe we can paint her room this weekend.” He searched his drawers for the charger, then remembered he wasn’t in his downtown office or using his own car.

Clark cleared his throat. Richard spun around in his chair to face him. “Duty calls. I’m ready whenever you are…Love you, too.” He disconnected. “What’s up?”

“With her two days and already talking street,” Clark cracked, his voice thick with sarcasm. “What next? We all have to take a crash course in Ebonics?”

“Don’t start with me,” Richard warned. “You can go back to Texas if you don’t like how I’m running things here. Otherwise, you have an invitation to butt out of my private life.”

“Do your parents know you’re shacking up with Miss Ghetto-fabulous USA?”

“Do you have business with me, or did you want to see how far you can push me before I leap over this desk and put my foot up your ass? If it’s the latter, you’ve just about reached my limit.”

Clark tossed a folder on the desk then backed away. “Why did we open a site out here? Read the demographics report. People in this income bracket don’t invest.”

“The days of our customers coming to us have passed.” Richard rounded the desk and hung his suit coat in the closet, dropping the dead cell phone in the pocket. “We must be aggressive and find new markets. Yes, these people do invest. These are the working-class people. You know, the people whose buying stimulates our economy.”

He crossed the room, pointing at the busy shopping plaza through the window. “Check out the cars, clothes, jewelry, hair. We’re an investment option with higher returns. Chicago’s a gold mine, Clark. Think outside the box.” He walked back to his desk. “We want everyone to come in out of the cold and invest with us.”

“Nickels and dimes won’t help us.” Clark rolled a chair from the conference table. “We need to focus on the Gold Coast, the Magnificent Mile. Downtown has money. The suburbs have money. Even the north side has money.” He leaned his lanky body forward. “If you want oil, drill where there’s oil.”

Richard stared into Clark’s murky green eyes. “You’re being lazy. Yes, we’ll have to put in all of the front-end work, but with bigger risk come bigger returns.”

“Or losses. Mark my words. In this case, it’ll be a loss.”

“Can I count on you to give it your all? If not, I’ll assign you to a different project.”

“You honestly believe this’ll work?” He ran his hands over his short red hair.

“I know it will.”

Clark rocked in the chair, looking around the room. “You haven’t led me wrong yet. I’m in.” He released a nervous laugh. “Now it all makes sense. You’re with Ebony to appeal to our new demographic. You’d better hope this works. The Austin office won’t tolerate your smudging the company name.”

Another rumor making its rounds was the last thing he needed. “Let me make something perfectly clear to you. I am with Ebony because I love her. Some day I’ll bring her and her child to the office. I expect you to show them the utmost respect. If I ever catch you disrespecting them, I’ll fire you. And the main office is as welcome to my private life as you are.” The one lesson his father had taught him well was what happened when you put your career before your family.

“But, Richard…”

“No buts. Are we clear on this?”

“Yes. Have you told your parents about Ebony?”

“I didn’t tell my parents about my other girlfriends. Why would I tell them about Ebony?” He sorted through the file Clark had tossed on his desk. “Did you need anything else?”

“I guess not.” He headed out. “I’ve known you a long time. You’ve changed.” He leaned against the doorframe. “I don’t know if you’re in love or lust with Ebony.”

“Love.”

Clark held up his hands slightly. “Okay, let’s say you love her. Can you take her to business dinners? She can be the most eloquent-speaking woman in the world, but if she walks in looking like Bonequesha, no one will hear a word she says, and you’ll lose credibility. Business is business. We both know the real reason you haven’t told your mother you’ve found
the love of your life
.” He left, closing the door behind him.

Richard leaned back in his chair, placed his hands behind his head and put his feet on the desk. He dreaded telling his mother about Ebony.

Stephanie Dubois never liked his female friends. Even in high school, she hounded him about his choice in women. She wanted him to date daughters of CEOs, CFOs or at least presidents within corporations. He wanted to date girls he liked. By the time he entered college, he had quit introducing his female friends to his mother.

Thinking about how his mother would react to him dating a beautician’s daughter brought a wicked smile to his face. Humor of the situation lost, he closed his eyes. Telling her about Ebony would force him to make a choice and face realities he wasn’t ready to face. Tired of the unending battle, he faded into sleep.

* * *