by Shana Burton
Elvin Battle, E’Bell’s father, had never been an easy man to read, except when it came to his disapproval of Kina’s handling of E’Bell’s death. He and his wife, Brenda, made no secret of the fact that they held Kina responsible for his son’s demise and wanted nothing to do with her once E’Bell was buried.
“You look good! You lost weight. Back to looking like you did the first time my son brought you home.” He smiled as if he was as happy to see her as she was infuriated to see him. “How are you, daughter-in-law? How’s my grandson?” asked Elvin, evading Kina’s question. “I bet he’s as big as me now. Is he home?”
Kina crossed her arms in front of her. “Kenny is fine. He’s at school. Why all the sudden interest in my son?”
“He’s not just your son, Kina. He’s my oldest grandson and the only piece I have left of my son E’Bell.”
“Kenny is nothing like his father, so don’t insult him by drawing those comparisons. Why are you here? In fact, how do you even know where I live?”
“I called around. I hope that’s okay.” He grinned. “You’re a big star now, I see.”
“Is that why you’re here? You looking for handouts?” quizzed Kina, now furious. “I hate to break this to you, but the money is almost gone, and whatever’s left is put up for Kenny’s future. So if that’s all you came for, you can go.” Kina began to close the door.
Elvin prevented her from shutting him out. “I didn’t come here for money, Kina.”
“Oh, really? You don’t show your face for five years and then magically appear after I win a quarter of a million dollars on TV? I wasn’t born yesterday, Elvin!”
“I admit I heard about you being on some kind of reality show, but that’s not the reason I’m here. Kina, we’re family. Don’t you think it’s time we started back acting like it?”
“No, I don’t. Your family disowned my son and me after E’Bell’s death. You blamed me for Kenny shooting him.”
“We were upset, Kina, and rightfully so. My son was shot and killed, and nobody could give us a straight answer as to why it happened.”
“It happened because your son was abusing me. I probably would’ve died that night if Kenny hadn’t been there.”
Elvin was skeptical. “I know you say E’Bell was abusing you, but—”
“There is no but, Elvin.”
“I’m just saying that’s not a side to him we ever saw, and you never mentioned it in all the years the two of you were together.”
“Did you think that he was going to come out and tell you that he was going upside my head every time he got mad or that he’d be crazy enough to beat me in front of you?”
“I know my son, Kina. E’Bell was far from perfect. Like everybody, he had his demons, but I have a hard time believing that it was as bad as you say it was.”
“You hardly knew E’Bell at all!” alleged Kina. “You didn’t even know he couldn’t read, when he was living right there under your roof. How do you expect to know what he was doing once he got out of your house?”
“Look, I don’t want to argue with you and upset you. I just wanted to see you and see my grandson. Now that my Brenda’s gone, y’all are the only family I got left.”
Kina softened toward him. “I, um, heard that your wife died last year. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. I know she would’ve wanted to see Kenny one last time, but she never got around to it. The last thing I’d want to do is leave this world without at least even trying to get to know my grandson again.”
Kina raised an eyebrow. “So that’s the real reason you’re here? To see Kenny?”
“Yes.”
“Why now? Are you dying or something?”
“Not that I know of. I just want to talk to him. It’s important that he knows this side of his family.” He paused. “I also think it’s important for him to get to know another side of his father. He needs to know that his daddy wasn’t all bad.”
“I haven’t been filling his head with horror stories about E’Bell, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“I never said that, but there’s a lot about E’Bell that only his mother and I know. I think Kenny needs to know these things. He ought to know that his father wasn’t a bad person.”
Kina put her hand on her hip. “Things like what?”
“Things like his dad being a Boy Scout when he was younger or leading his football team to the city play-offs when he was thirteen. He should know that E’Bell and his mother used to cook together every Sunday and that the two of us would go fishing during the summer and that E’Bell could build things, that he was good with his hands. He even saved his grandmother’s life when he was fifteen. Her house caught on fire. He rushed in and brought her out. He received second-degree burns, but he saved her life.”
“I didn’t know,” revealed Kina, a bit uncomfortable. “E’Bell never said anything about that.”
“Maybe you didn’t know my son as well as you think, either. Kina, Kenny needs to know the whole story about his father, not just the ending. I’m one of the few people who can tell him the truth about him.”
Kina looked down at her watch. “He’ll be home in a few minutes. I guess it’ll be all right if you wait for him here.” She let him in.
“Thank you.” Elvin looked around the town house. “Nice place you’ve got here.”
“Thanks.”
Elvin sat down. “I’m glad you’ve been able to make a good life for yourself and my grandson.”
“God has been good to us, no doubt about that.” Kina stood in front of him, arms folded. “So you still didn’t say how you found me. My address isn’t listed, and I know none of my friends or family would tell you where I live.”
Elvin looked up at her. “Tell me, Kina, do you believe in fate?”
“Not where you’re concerned, no,” snapped Kina.
He laughed. “You’re kind of feisty, ain’t you? You’ve changed from that quiet, timid young girl you used to be.”
“I have, so there’s no point in you trying to run game on me or my son. If your intentions aren’t honorable, I suggest you leave now, before anyone gets hurt.”
“I’m here for one reason only, Kina, and that’s to get to know my grandson again.”
“The jury is still out on that.”
Elvin laughed again. “Still don’t trust me, huh?”
Kina frowned. “No. Why would I?”
“I told you I’m on the up and up.”
“So you say. . . .”
“I guess there’s only one way to find if I’m telling the truth.” He grinned. “You’ve got to try me out and see!”
Chapter 14
“A girl can’t even slip into a coma these days without the
whole world going crazy in her absence!”
–Sullivan Webb
“Reggie’s married, and Namon is about to be a daddy?” repeated Sullivan in disbelief after Lawson and Angel filled her in on all she’d missed during the past week. “Good grief! How long was I out?”
Lawson fluffed Sullivan’s pillow and stuffed it back behind her. “A few days, but it felt like a lifetime.”
“Dang, a girl can’t even slip into a coma these days without the whole world going crazy in her absence!” Sullivan took a sip of juice. “How is Reggie, by the way?”
“She’s a little nervous about the surgery. She’s in pre-op now, and the laparoscopy is scheduled for tomorrow. It sounds like a fairly simple procedure. Hopefully, they can find out what’s going on with her, treat it, and everything goes back to normal.”
Sullivan nodded. “In the meantime, how are you handling the new normal? Reggie being Mrs. JaMarcus Vinson.”
Lawson brushed it off. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Angel gave Lawson the side eye. “Lawson, be honest. I know you felt some type of way when Mark announced that he and Reggie had eloped.”
“Yeah, I was surprised, but that’s about it. I don’t know why you all keep trying to make something out of Mark and
me that isn’t there.”
“Lawson, all three of the blind mice can see there’s something there!” quipped Sullivan. “But the state of denial seems to be where you feel most comfortable, so stay there.”
Angel laughed. “So when are they springing you out of here?”
“The doctor said I should be ready for release within the next few days. I’m walking now, the concussion is being treated, and my broken rib is healing, but I’m not leaving here without my son.”
“Sully, Christian may have to be hospitalized for several more weeks,” Angel reminded her. “Is the hospital going to let you stay that long?”
“I’d like to see them try to kick me out!” avowed Sullivan. “I’ll go home when Christian does.”
“How’s his breathing?” asked Angel. “He should be getting stronger every day.”
Sullivan smiled. “He is, Angel. I can tell. Of course, I haven’t been able to hold him yet, but I go to the neonatal unit as much as I can and sing to him and talk to him. I pray over him nonstop. I want him to know that I’ll be here however long it takes for him to get better.”
Lawson smiled. “You’ve turned out to be quite the awesome mom, Sully.”
“Thank you. I know you all had your doubts.”
“And you should also know that we kept child protective services on speed dial for the first year of Charity’s life!” revealed Angel.
“Being a parent changes you. I’m living proof of that.” Sullivan glanced over at Lawson. “It’ll change Namon and Shari for the better too.”
There was a knock on the door. Reginell and Kina poked their heads in.
“Can we come in?” asked Kina.
Sullivan invited them in. “I think I’m the only one at this hospital who gets this much company. If I didn’t know better, I’d think y’all loved me.”
“Of course we do,” Angel confirmed. “And we will make this hospital room as much fun as a middle school sleepover, except instead of talking about boys and braiding each other’s hair, we’ll talk about men and work each other’s nerves!”
“Indeed!” Lawson turned to her sister. “How did the pre-op go, Reggie?”
Reginell settled down at the foot of Sullivan’s bed. “It was cool, mostly blood work and paperwork.”
Angel checked the door. “Where’s your shadow, Kina?”
“If you mean Des, she does have a life outside of tracking my every move. She doesn’t follow me twenty-four-seven. Matter of fact, she should start following you all around soon to gather info for the book,” replied Kina.
“So what did we walk in on?” inquired Reginell. “It seemed pretty intense.”
“I was just telling Lawson that Shari and Namon may turn out to be better parents than she gives them credit for,” said Sullivan, recapping their conversation.
“I told her that, but she won’t listen. You can’t tell her nothing,” replied Reginell. “She’s still trippin’ because her innocent little boy isn’t as innocent as she thought.”
“Is it so wrong that I was hoping his first time would be on his wedding night, the way God intended?” lamented Lawson.
Sullivan raised an eyebrow. “You mean like yours was?”
Lawson twisted her mouth into a frown. “Very funny. I wish I had waited, though.”
“Then you wouldn’t have Namon. He was a direct result of you losing your virginity,” Kina pointed out.
“Obviously, I don’t regret having my son. I was destined to be his mother. However, I do wish I hadn’t lost my virginity to a guy I met at a party three hours earlier!”
“Lawson, you are not the first person to have a one-nighter,” said Reginell. “I can’t speak for you, but I could tell when Namon started having sex. You can always tell with boys. They start acting different. Plus, that facial hair began creeping in, and you know what they say about that!”
Lawson crossed her arms in front of her. “No. What do they say, Reggie?”
Reginell laughed out loud. “It means he must be eating something new!”
Angel tried to comfort her flustered friend. “Don’t worry, Lawson. Medical science has yet to confirm that. It’s just an ole wives’ tale.”
“Whatever,” said Reginell. “I know for a fact that that’s when my first real boyfriend started getting facial hair.”
“You still remember your first?” asked Sullivan. “I’m shocked that you can still think back that many men.”
“I do believe that this is one of those ‘pot calling the kettle black’ moments,” snarled Reginell. “Besides, I remember very well who I lost my virginity to. It was Montee Jackson, my first love.”
Lawson sucked her teeth. “I believe what you meant to say is your first thug! That dude was nothing but trouble. He had the rap sheet to prove it.”
Reginell sulked. “You all just didn’t understand him.”
“Neither did the elderly couple he robbed at gunpoint! Nor did the judge and jury who convicted him.”
Reginell disregarded Lawson’s comment. “I never saw that side of him. He was always kind and gentle with me, especially that first time. We were in the back of that old Caprice.”
“The back of an old hooptie?” squawked Sullivan. “How romantic! What did he do for your first date? Take you to the 7-Eleven to pick up snacks?”
“Shut up, Sullivan. I wouldn’t expect you to know what it’s like to be with a man without getting paid for it. Montee and I were just kids, but we were definitely in love.” Reginell shrugged. “At least as much in love as you can be at fifteen. It all seems so insignificant now compared to what I have with Mark.”
“I don’t think we have to ask if you and Mark waited until you got married,” stated Lawson.
“Um . . . we waited as long as we could!” replied Reginell, snickering.
“Which probably means halfway through their first date,” commented Sullivan.
“No. We waited until we were sure that this was the real deal. Mark made sure everything was perfect. It was a night I’ll never forget.”
“I guess we all know Miss Goody Two-shoes over here waited for her wedding night, like a good Christian girl is supposed to,” jeered Sullivan, gesturing to Angel.
Angel nodded. “I did but . . .”
Reginell was intrigued. “But what?”
“We . . .” Angel bit her lip and shook her head. “It’s too embarrassing!”
“What?” said Sullivan, pressing. “You didn’t pray first? Duke was in and out in under two minutes? Did you give him a little sloppy toppy?”
Angel came clean. “No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that Duke and I . . . we didn’t do things the traditional way for the first time.”
“Huh?” Lawson was dumbfounded. “How was it nontraditional? Shoot, you waited until your wedding night. It doesn’t get more traditional than that!”
“What are we talking about here, Angel? Positions? Toys? A third party?” interrogated Reginell.
Angel exhaled. “He didn’t enter the traditional way, if you know what I mean.”
Kina wrinkled her brow. “Didn’t enter the traditional way? There’s only one way in and one way out unless . . .”
“Unless someone sneaked in through the back door!” Sullivan howled with laughter. “Dang, chick, I didn’t think you had it in you—literally, it seems!”
Lawson’s eyes bulged. “Seriously, Angel? That’s how you lost your virginity?”
Angel pouted. “Now, y’all are making me feel like a dirty little whore.”
Sullivan recanted. “Hey, Duke was your husband. It was your wedding night. Who are we to judge?”
“Besides, with the right guy and a good lubricant . . .” added Reginell, ribbing her.
Lawson covered her ears. “Reggie, please spare us the how-to tutorial. I think we can all figure that much out.”
“I’m just saying . . . don’t knock it till you try it!” advised Reginell.
Angel turned to Kina. “What about you, Kina? Was E’Bel
l your first?”
Kina nodded. “Yes, it was after the prom. We were in a hotel, but we had to share the room with his cousin and his prom date.”
Sullivan wrinkled her nose. “So it was an orgy?”
“Not exactly, but it wasn’t an ideal situation, either. To be honest with you, I wanted to wait until I got married, but I was afraid of losing him if I didn’t do it.”
“It wouldn’t have been much of a loss,” muttered Sullivan.
“Sully, even you have to admit that E’Bell was the man in high school,” said Kina.
Sullivan took another sip from her juice. “Obviously, our standards were much lower then.”
“Sullivan, I’ve got to ask.” Angel blushed. “Was Charles a virgin when the two of you got married?”
Sullivan snickered. “Hardly. My husband wasn’t always a preacher, you know. That didn’t come about until he was well into his twenties. I don’t think he was ever a man whore, and, of course, I had to teach him a few things, but he’s seen his share of lady parts—trust me!”
“You’ve got so much to say about everybody else, but what about your first time, Sully?” asked Reginell, probing. “Whose husband deflowered you for a small fee?”
“Yeah, Sully, you’ve never told me about that,” added Angel.
Lawson thought back. “Wasn’t it with that guy who lived around the corner from us? I think his name was Steve or Sean—something like that.”
“It was Sean.” Sullivan seemed reluctant to talk about it.
“How old were you?” asked Angel.
Sullivan lowered her head. “I was young—too young, really.”
“We’ve all gotta start somewhere,” said Reginell. “Some of us start in high school, and some of us in preschool, like Sully.”
Sullivan swatted at Reginell. “Not that young! To be truthful, I would’ve preferred to wait, but it wasn’t in the cards. I guess I must’ve started developing early, because Vera’s boyfriends started taking an interest in me. I couldn’t have been any more than thirteen or fourteen when her new man, Skeet, started coming around. He was a total perv, always looking at me and finding reasons to touch me . . . hugs that lingered too long and kisses that were a little too close to my lips or neck. I don’t know how Vera didn’t see it. Maybe she didn’t want to.”
