Sabre was extremely bright, but she didn’t get along well with the other children. She thrived in kindergarten and she seemed to be forming an attachment to her mother. Tina picked her up from school every day. Together they prepared dinner, read books, played music, and watched television.
When Sabre was promoted to first grade, Tina took on additional hours at the hospital. Over time, the job became boring and routine, so she lost interest. She was either late or called in sick, missing days at a time until she was fired. Once Darren resurfaced and moved back in, Tina was doing crack again—depressed with her course of life.
Darren hung around for several years, but Sabre had little to do with him. He was always yelling because Tina was drunk or high. Sabre entertained herself with books and music in the bedroom. When Darren was arrested and sent to prison for selling drugs, Tina, alone again, sought the company of an older neighbor. Mr. Rufus was a quiet man who drove a bus. Tina liked him because he had a weekly paycheck and purchased drugs for her and a bottle of Seagram’s for himself. They would spend the night getting high while Sabre stayed in the bedroom.
Since Tina had followed the family tradition of Catholic school, Sabre knew how to dress herself in her uniform for school. She received breakfast and hot lunch at school, and hoped there would be dinner at home if Tina hadn’t sold the food stamps for drug money.
Sabre would never forget her eighth birthday. Tina was sober when she arrived home from school. She had bought Kentucky Fried Chicken and strawberry soda and announced they were having a celebration. No one had ever given Sabre a birthday party. It was the best night of her life. She and her mother were playing music and doing the latest dances when Mr. Rufus knocked at their door. When Tina let him in, Sabre immediately went in the bedroom. She was angry with Tina for allowing him to come over and spoil her party. She turned on the radio, but she could still hear Mr. Rufus’s irritating, drunken laughter. She would know it anywhere.
It was several hours before things were quiet in the living room, and Sabre knew they had both passed out. She was asleep when she heard someone enter her room.
“Tina?” Sabre called out. “Is that you?” She felt someone get into her bed and fear raced through her young body. She couldn’t stand being touched, not even by Tina.
“Your junkie mama passed out so I came in here to spend a little time with you,” Sabre heard Mr. Rufus say.
“What do you want?” Sabre moved over as far as she could in the bed. She didn’t like sleeping in the bed with anyone, especially after living in a home where all the children were forced to sleep in the same bed. If she didn’t get pissed on, one of her foster brothers was always pulling down her panties throughout the night. She tried to tell her foster mother, but no one ever did anything about it. She did tell her social worker and she was removed from the home. It was the last home she was placed in before she came to live with Tina.
“I came in here to spend a little time with you.” Mr. Rufus slurred his words and his breath smelled like alcohol and cigarettes.
“I don’t want company.” Sabre scooted over until she almost fell out on the floor.
Mr. Rufus laughed as he grabbed her by the ankle and pulled her back across the bed to him.
“Tina!” Sabre screamed as loud as she could.
Mr. Rufus put his hand over her mouth, and she bit down hard on one of his fingers and he slapped her.
“Shut up, you little bitch.” He pulled her pajama pants down and she screamed out again for Tina. He raised his hand to slap her again and she whimpered. He traced her lips with his finger as he pulled off her pajama pants. “You’re a pretty little thing. I’ve been waiting to get to you for a long time. It was definitely worth the wait.”
He pinned her hands down under his. Sabre twisted and turned beneath him while he touched, fondled, and licked her in places where no eight-year-old should have ever been touched. It was an abomination. Shortly afterward, Sabre went to live with her grandmother, Marisol. She never saw or heard from Tina again.
Sabre stood under the running water of the shower still scrubbing her skin. She had managed to push that night and Mr. Rufus out of mind until Victor made her remember. She knew if things had gone any further, she would have killed Victor when it was really Mr. Rufus she wanted dead.
Chapter 9
The grand opening of The Diamond was a festive occasion. It began Saturday morning with a blood drive for Chocolate Affair, the foundation established by Nina and Keisha to raise funds and awareness for sickle cell disease research after Niki was diagnosed with the blood disorder.
“Can you believe all the people?” Nina, Kyle, and Niki were the first to arrive. Nina was wearing her pink, her favorite color. She had also dressed Niki in the same. Kyle was too handsome in a pink Nike sweatshirt. Nina had found it in Atlanta. Despite everyone warning her that Kyle would never wear the shirt, he had loved it.
He looked at the line of people wrapped around the building. “I’m impressed. All of these people up and out on a Saturday morning to give blood. Keisha really hooked this up.”
“You should see the spread Jade set up outside.” Sean placed a tub filled with an assortment of juices and ice on the floor. He hugged his brother and kissed Nina. “Everyone who donates blood gets free breakfast. It’s been on Power 106 all week. They’re gonna be here all day broadcasting live.”
“Great marketing.” Kyle opened a Snapple and drank it in a few seconds. “I knew there had to be a catch.”
“Uncle Sean, Uncle Sean.” Niki was too excited as she extended her arms to her uncle, and Sean plucked the little girl out of his brother’s arms.
“How’s my beautiful niece today?” Sean smiled and Niki melted.
“Can you believe this?” Kyle looked at Nina and pretended to be mad. “Now I know how Kirk felt when his daughter, Kyrie, was a baby.”
“Some of us just got it like that,” Sean said, and smirked.
“They just love your behind because you’re a big old kid,” Kyle teased. “They think you’re the same age as them.”
“Good morning, everyone.” Jade came out of the kitchen with a huge tray of scrambled eggs with cheese.
“Dang, girl.” Kyle was practically drooling. “Where are you going with those eggs?”
“Out on the deck with the rest of the food.” Jade laughed as she led the procession through the restaurant and outside. “You guys have me feeling like the Pied Piper up in here.”
Topaz and Germain looked up from making plates for themselves when the others arrived. Topaz flashed a dazzling smile and added a few slices of bacon to her plate.
“Hey y’all, good morning,” Germain greeted them cheerfully.
“I was wondering if y’all had scrambled eggs.” Topaz helped herself as Jade inserted the tray into the chafing dish.
“Can you believe these two? Out here feeding their faces as usual.” Kyle shook his head and laughed. “You’re supposed to give blood first, then eat.”
“Okay, Kyle,” Germain replied a little too softly. “Aren’t we looking too pretty in pink today.”
Sean, who was helping himself from Jade’s mouth-watering buffet, paused to laugh at his brother.
“The doc is just hating. He knows I look good,” Kyle declared, and everyone laughed.
“Hey…. What’s goin’ on out here? I was wondering where all of you were.” Keisha put the covers on all of the chafing dishes. “You’re not supposed to eat until you give blood. Now get in there, all of you. You’re supposed to be setting an example.”
“I tried to tell them that,” Sean said as he shoveled more eggs into his mouth.
“Sure you did. That’s why you got egg all over your face?” Keisha forced herself not to smile as the others howled with laughter.
Eric lifted a lid off the chafing dish. “What’s happenin’, people?”
“Man, your woman is tough.” Kyle was all set to spear a couple of slices of French toast when Keisha shut down the food. He too
k Nina by the arm and picked up Niki, who was playing with Baby Doll and Chris. “Come on, baby. Let’s do this so I can come back and finish eating.”
“Baby, why don’t you go first?” Nina suggested ever so sweetly. She glanced inside the club where tables and cots were set up.
“You’re scared,” Kyle realized.
“I am not.”
“Are too.”
“Whatever.”
Kyle laughed as he watched his wife march up to the table, close her eyes, and stick out her arm. She screwed up her face expecting to feel the prick of the needle.
“Have a seat, Nina,” a female voice politely requested. “I need you to fill out these forms first and then the nurse needs to check your blood pressure.”
Nina’s eyes popped open and locked on the face in front of her. “I know you,” Nina said out loud as she tried to recall how she knew the woman.
“Dr. Rosalyn Lawrence.” She held out a hand to Nina. “I’m Dr. Nichols’s research assistant. We worked with you guys on the very first Chocolate Affair.”
Keisha’s father, Melvyn Nichols, a renowned hematologist, operated the largest research center in the country for sickle cell disease.
“That’s right.” Nina smiled, still thinking that wasn’t how she knew the woman. “Thank you so much for traveling all the way from Atlanta. We really appreciate your running the blood drive for us.”
“No, we appreciate you. Do you know how many lives you’ll save?” Dr. Lawrence stuck a needle into Nina’s vein and began withdrawing the unit of blood.
“I know how important your work is. I thank God because my little girl hasn’t been sick since she was diagnosed. You will always have my support until you find a cure.”
“If more people thought like you, we’d have a cure. Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“No, it wasn’t.” Nina’s BlackBerry vibrated. She checked it and smiled at the doctor. “One of my artists.”
“Are you working in music again? If I remember correctly, the last time we were together you were working on your first novel?”
“Yes, I am back in music. I’m running Revelation Music.” Nina was surprised by how much the woman knew about her. She did work with Dr. Nichols, who was one of her foundation’s board members.
“That’s impressive and a lot of hard work, I’m sure. You must be extremely busy.” Dr. Lawrence quickly shuffled through a stack of paperwork.
“I am, but I have an understanding husband and a lot of help.”
“Isn’t Revelation Music Jamil’s old label?”
“Yes. A lot of people in the business can’t even remember that Revelation used to be called Suicide or either they still call it Suicide.”
Dr. Lawrence laughed. “I read a lot when I’m not working. I’ve always been fascinated by the music business.”
Nina took a business card out of her purse and handed it to Dr. Lawrence. “One of my artists will be showcasing here next week. I don’t know how long you’ll be in town, but give my office a call if you’d like to come.”
“I will be in town for a few days visiting family. If Dr. Nichols can spare me out of the lab a few more days, I’d love to come.”
“Great.” Nina smiled warmly. Dr. Lawrence put a Band-Aid on her arm. Baby Doll and Niki ran over and climbed into her lap, and Nina laughed. “Say hello to Dr. Lawrence, you guys.”
Nina smoothed Niki’s hair as both little girls spoke. “This is my daughter, Kendall Nicole, but we just call her Niki,” Nina offered proudly.
“And I’m Baby Doll.”
“She insists that everyone call her that.” Nina tried not to laugh as she spoke. “Her real name is Turquoise. She’s my cousin’s daughter.”
“So you two are cousins?” The doctor smiled at both of the girls.
“Yes,” Baby Doll answered for them.
“Where’d you get a name like Baby Doll?” Dr. Lawrence was terribly interested in her.
“From my brother and my daddy.”
“Your daddy?”
“Yes.” Baby Doll looked directly into Dr. Lawrence’s eyes.
“Humph. Well, it’s a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl.”
“Come on, Niki, let’s go see Daddy.” Baby Doll was bored with the doctor, so she grabbed Niki and they raced away.
“They are so beautiful with those golden eyes. They could almost be sisters.” Dr. Lawrence focused on Nina.
“They get that all the time. They’re cousins who fight and play like sisters.”
Nina found Kyle outside with a stack of French toast and bacon. “I knew you’d be out here. Give me a bite of that.”
Kyle cut a square of toast and Nina opened her mouth. He grinned like a little boy as he pretended to feed her. He could barely contain himself when Nina chomped down on nothing when he quickly pulled the fork out of her mouth.
She hit him with her napkin. “You are so wrong.”
“Okay, here.” Kyle held the French toast for her again.
“I don’t trust you.” Nina saw Sabre strut across the room out of the corner of her eye and focused on her. She had arrived alone and was working the party. She was terribly overdressed but looked fabulous in a Dolce & Gabbana dress that would have been marvelous for the party later that evening.
“What are you doing?” Kyle was disappointed that his wife had lost interest in him already.
Nina signaled with her eyes for him to watch Sabre, who was drooling all over Dwyane Wade. There were quite a few ballplayers in the room now who had come to the event at Sean and Eric’s request.
“Isn’t that your girl?” Kyle was also interested in Sabre’s charade.
“Humph.” Nina rolled her eyes. “She’s not my girl.”
“Did I tell you she hit on the doc the night of the Baby Phat party?”
“Sabre hit on Germain?” Nina was in shock. “You never told me that.”
“It must have slipped my mind.” Kyle watched Sabre with renewed interest as she struck up a conversation with LeBron James.
“She must have a death wish.” Nina laughed.
“The doc was clueless and she was throwing him major action.”
“It would take an army to keep Topaz off Sabre if she ever tried to hit on Germain in front of Topaz.”
Topaz walked through the restaurant. LeBron stopped talking the moment he laid eyes on her, and the smile faded from Sabre’s face.
Topaz paused to speak and the cameras flashed like crazy as the NBA superstar posed with both of the ladies. Sabre had more moves than one of America’s Next Top Models. Nina and Kyle were all over themselves with laughter.
“Your girl Sabre is hilarious.” Kyle shook his head.
Photographers gathered to take advantage of the photo op, and more celebrities were added to the group; Sean, Eric, Magic Johnson, and Baron Davis posed while the ladies remained front and center. Tyrese also joined Topaz and Sabre for photos. Sabre was all over herself when the handsome actor gave her his brilliant, trademark smile and said he liked her music. Topaz was about to walk away when he pulled Topaz to the side, much to Sabre’s dismay.
She needs to take her old ass somewhere else. This is my time to shine and I just know that sexy ass Tyrese was feelin’ me. That damn Topaz is seriously blockin’ my action, Sabre thought as she watched Topaz laugh and converse with Tyrese, who was telling her about his latest film project. He thought she would be perfect as the female lead in the movie. Topaz looked at Germain standing on the side, waiting patiently, and wished she had never agreed to take the first photograph, but she wanted to help with the blood drive any way she could. She could see Sabre through her peripheral vision trying to steal the show. It was the first time Topaz was that close to her for a long time.
That dress is totally inappropriate, but it really looks good on her, Topaz thought. She was very familiar with the garment because it was by one of her favorite designers. She had even tried the dress on, but it did nothing for her figure. Sabre was tiny b
ut curvaceous, and it looked absolutely perfect on her. Topaz could tell she had been working out and surmised that she probably was a size 2. Possibly even a zero. Topaz sucked in her stomach and stood up straight as she cast Sabre a sideways glance. I remember when I used to be her size.
When the last photo was taken, Topaz approached Sabre. “Nice dress.”
“Thank you.” Sabre smiled warmly at Topaz, thinking the two of them might become friends yet.
“Who’d you steal that from?” Topaz flipped her hair over one shoulder and sauntered over to Germain and kissed him.
Sabre stood there with her mouth hanging open, still trying to think of a comeback line. She watched Topaz and Germain kissing until Baby Doll, Chris, and Niki interrupted them. Germain picked up both of the little girls. A photographer took several pictures of them. Keisha and Eric joined them for more photos with their daughter, Kendra, and their son, Eric Jr.
“Look at you, Kendra. You are growing up too fast. You look just like your mom when she was your age.” Topaz pulled the ten-year-old into her arms. “Doesn’t she look just like Keisha, Germain?”
Sabre tried to be inconspicuous as she watched the “Black Friends.” Jade and Sean joined the group with their six-year-old, Kobe, and finally Nina and Kyle. The friends seemed oblivious to the paparazzi, choosing instead to enjoy one another.
“Are you not talking to Nina?” Keisha whispered to Topaz. “That is so unlike you two.”
Topaz looked at Nina, who was posing in photos with Jade. “She seems to be a little full of herself ever since she became Miss Revelation Music.”
“You know how Nina throws herself into her work.” Keisha smoothed Baby Doll’s hair. “She’s probably just very nervous about taking over for Jamil and wants to do a good job.”
“Humph,” Topaz grunted.
“You know that’s the little sister you never had.”
“You’re right.” Topaz sighed. “Gurl, where is my mind? I didn’t give blood yet.”
Keisha laughed. “You’d better get in there.”
Topaz passed Sabre sitting at a table alone when she headed into the club, where people were still giving blood. A nurse handed her a form to fill out and told her the doctor would be right with her. She was looking around for Germain when she heard “How’s my beautiful niece, Turquoise, Topaz Lawrence?”
Diamond Revelation Page 6
