Ebony Angel
Page 25
“I’ve always feared this day.” He closed his eyes. “I’ve been running from it for years. I can’t do it anymore. I don’t want to.” He rested his hand on her waist. “I’m exhausted, but relieved it’s over.”
“I want to do something, but I don’t know how to help.”
“Love me. Marry me.”
“I do.” She kissed the tip of his crooked grin. “And I will.”
“You’ve saved me again.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Dan checked his watch, then did a head count and position check of everyone in the condo. He loved Trae, but he had to be stopped before he could harm anyone else. Ebony, Richard, and Crystal were painting the master bedroom. Dan pulled on Ebony’s bandana. “You have more paint on you than the wall, little girl.” She was covered with multiple-colored splotches of paint.
She set the roller in the pan, wiped her hands on her jeans and straightened her long-sleeved T-shirt. “I’ll have you know this is the latest fashion.”
Crystal stood beside Ebony, copying. “Yes, this is the latest fashion.”
“Get back to work, my painted queens.” He went into the spare bedroom. Marissa, Genevieve and Oscar were painting it forest green.
“When you gonna start helpin’, Dan?” Genevieve asked.
“Wait a second.” He stepped into the living area. Trae was taping baseboards, and Skeet was painting. “Trae, I left my phone on the charger in my car. Would you get it for me?” He held up his keys.
“Sure.”
Dan tossed the keys to him, then went to help his sisters. Soon it would all be over. “Okay, women, let’s do this. Where’s my roller?”
“Get the ceiling edges for me,” Marissa said.
He moved the ladder to the corner, set the paint and edger on the top rung, then climbed.
“Do you all have more tape in here?” Trae asked.
Dan whipped his head around. “I thought you were getting my phone.”
“Here you go.” Marissa handed Trae a roll of tape.
“Ebony was going outside anyway…”
“No!” Dan tried to hop off the ladder and slipped, toppling the ladder and spilling the paint. He reached for Trae. “Save her,” he pleaded.
Trae ran as fast as he could out of the condo. Everyone else ran into the spare bedroom to see what the commotion was about.
* * *
Ebony saw Trae tear out of the condo. His panicked green eyes were more than enough to tell her to run. She quickly surveyed her surroundings. There weren’t any trees, cars or anywhere close enough to hide. She ran for the condo.
“Lie down!” Trae yelled.
Ebony could hear the car’s engine revving as it quickly approached. A few more feet and they would both be safe. She reached out for Trae. As Trae grabbed her hand, the shots rang out. The first shot tore into her shoulder; the second her arm. She cried out in pain.
Trae turned their bodies, holding her close. She could feel the impact against her chest as the bullets riddled his back. His weight and the force of the shots sent them both crashing to the ground.
* * *
Skeet ran out of the condo, gun drawn, running down the street shooting. He hit the rear window of the car. The car crashed into a large oak tree.
Richard handed a crying Crystal to Marissa. “Keep her safe.” He ran out of the condo to Ebony and Trae. “Oh, God, please, please help me.” He didn’t know where to touch. They were both covered with blood and unconscious.
Dan lifted Trae’s lifeless body off Ebony. “What have I done?” he whispered.
Oblivious to Dan, Richard held Ebony in his arms. He saw where her shoulder was shot, but wasn’t sure if there were more wounds. He ran his shaking hand along her back, checking for wounds. “It’s gonna be all right, angel.” He saw the wound on her arm. “I’m here, angel.” He rocked her.
Skeet ran up and knelt beside Trae. “I got ’em, dawg. I got ’em.”
“You have to leave, Skeet,” Dan said. “Take my car. The police will be here soon.” He picked his keys off the ground and dropped them into Skeet’s outstretched hand.
“Is Ebony…” Skeet cut his question short.
“She’s alive,” Richard said. “She’s alive.”
“I’ll meet you at the hospital.” He took off toward Dan’s car.
Richard held Ebony close, his heart breaking. “You are my heart, my life, my ebony angel.”
EPILOGUE
Fifteen months later.
Ebony swore her back ached worse than the wounds she had sustained from the drive-by. She set the clock on the nightstand. “Honey.” Though she felt like punching him, she gently shook Richard until he woke. “My water broke.” The contractions were a little over three minutes apart.
“No thanks. I’m not thirsty,” he said groggily.
She dropped her feet over the edge of the bed as she massaged her lower back with her hands. Her nightgown was soaked. “I said water broke.” The pain gripped her again, refusing to let go. “Richard!”
He hopped out of bed. “What? Is the baby coming?” He ran around to her. “Is Savannah Pacini ready to make her debut?” He grabbed her overnight bag, then helped her stand. “Crystal, it’s time!”
Contraction over, she could speak normally again. “I can’t go like this. I need a new nightgown. And you’re only wearing briefs.”
He helped her clean and change to her gown, then he dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and led her out of the bedroom.
Crystal jumped up and down. “We’re having the baby!”
“Yes, sweetie. Call Skeet.”
“I did, Papà. I knew Mama screaming had to be Savannah. That baby’s already a trouble maker.” She giggled.
Skeet ran into the house as if he lived there. “I think Ebony should drive with me. You drive too slow, Smoke.”
“Just take care of Crystal, and make the calls for us.” He put Ebony’s gym shoes on her feet. “Having babies takes hours. I’ll call when Savannah arrives.”
“Can I call Nonno and tell him?”
Stephanie still had a long way to go, but she had changed noticeably over the past year. Ebony silently thanked God the family counseling was working. “Sure, darling.” She knew Nonno would inform Richard’s parents.
Richard gently kissed Ebony. “I love you.”
He led her to the car. Another contraction attacked. She leaned her head back, biting her lip and praying the contraction would end soon.
“Five minutes, angel.” He pulled off.
The pain subsided, and she could breathe again. “I need to focus on something. Anything.” She opened the glove compartment and sorted through the papers. She found a packet of photos. “Oh, cool. I can’t believe this. You really need to clean out your car.” She looked through the pictures. A contraction grabbed her, causing her to almost drop them.
He massaged her leg. “Hang in there with me, angel.”
The pain slowly subsided. She saw a picture of Skeet, Richard, and Trae playing pool in the basement of her mother’s salon.
She traced Trae’s image with her finger. The drive-by shooters were from a rival south side gang. She figured it was probably the same guys who had beaten Richard. She thanked God Skeet left the life before it claimed him, also. Even Meechie cleaned up well. He was now the senior counselor at her non-profit outreach program.
“How you feeling over there?”
“Like I’m having a baby.”
He pulled into the lane marked for the emergency room entrance. “Well, let’s go have our baby.”
She smiled, truly happy. “Yes, let’s go have our baby.”
Discussion Questions:
1. Was Richard passing (denying his black blood to be accepted as a white man)?
2. Was Stephanie ashamed of Richard?
3. What was Stephanie afraid of and why?
4. Why didn’t Ebony tell Dan or Skeet about Trae’s refusal to give her legal custody of Crystal?
5. If yo
u were Ebony, what would you have done about Trae?
6. Had Ebony become tainted?
7. If you were Richard, what would you have done about Trae?
8. Did Richard save Ebony?
9. Was Richard betraying his friendship with Skeet?
10. Why didn’t Richard ever tell Ebony he was trying to obtain “proof” of Trae and Skeet’s illegal activities?
11. Had Richard become tainted?
12. Was Trae in love with Ebony?
13. What do you think should be done with confiscated drug money/property?