CHAPTER 2

 

 

He had to be crazy. That was the only reason Sin could give himself for his presence here. From the moment he heard about the death of the boys’ mother, he knew that he should forget it, write these two boys off as a good deed done and not think about getting further involved. He shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place. What he should have done was give that oldest kid a butt kicking and sent him off to steal somebody else’s merchandise. The kid would have survived. He was from the streets. Survival was all that he knew. Sin was familiar with that.

He had been on the streets since he was eight years old. Pimps and hustlers had been his role models. After his mother died, and he ran away from the last foster care home he had been shuttled to, those pimps and hustlers became the only family he had.

Yes, he knew the streets, and he knew how hard and uncompromising they could be. When he looked in Colin’s face that day, he’d seen the first signs of hardness that would one day claim him, if not kill him. Something inside of Sin had snapped then. It had been something that he still couldn’t explain. All he knew was that he wanted to fight for this child. He didn’t want the streets to claim another one.

Behind dark glasses that he wore, Sin studied Colin’s bowed head. The boy had been stoic throughout the graveside service, showing no emotion, even when Sin made his unexpected appearance. However, Trevor’s joy at seeing him had been apparent as a welcoming grin spread across his tearstained face. The older couple sitting beside the boys, the Simpsons, he assumed, had eyed him curiously, but gave welcoming nods, as did the boys’ social worker, Miss Charles. He had met her when he had taken the Christmas presents to her for the boys.

Sharon Mays, who he had met when foster home arrangements for the boys had been made, was present, as was Reverend Nedra Davis, the officiating minister. That was it. There were eight attendees gathered at the graveside of a twenty-five year old woman to say goodbye. That was more then had attended his own mother’s funeral. These boys were lucky.

Sin’s gaze went back to Nedra as she rendered a final prayer for the woman who had lived hard and died young, and for the two innocent lives she left behind. She was draped in a clergy robe, accented by a flowing scarf made of kente cloth. Her shoulder length hair, usually worn in a chignon pulled back from her face, was piled on top of her head in a loose bun, stray tendrils had escaped and trailed down both sides of her face. Her makeup was light, but becoming. Her eyes were hidden by lowered lids as she prayed for the soul that had been lost. Those magnificent eyes had registered shock at his appearance, but quickly recovered with a welcoming gleam that made his heart beat double time.

It was dangerous what he was doing, and he knew it; but, he couldn’t seem to help himself. He was as drawn to her now as he had been in the past—a past which he was certain she didn’t remember.

He had known that when he went to the church that day to ask for help for the boys. How could she remember him? Their paths had crossed so briefly, and so much had happened to them both over the years. Yet, he had never forgotten Nedra Davis. Young, beautiful, eager to embrace life, she had been a breath of fresh air, a saving grace, a lifeline when he needed one.

He closed his eyes, the simple act transporting him back twenty years to Kansas City, Missouri, where he had enrolled in a G.E.D. class. His enrollment hadn’t been a magnanimous one, motivated by wanting to do something better with his life. If only it had been. Instead, basketball had been his motivation.

The community center in which he played had mandated that anyone under twenty-one, without a high school diploma, could not play basketball in their league unless enrolled in a G.E.D. class, that the center just so happened to offer. He was seventeen, and hadn’t been to school in so long that he couldn’t recall the last time, but that center’s basketball league was the best in the city, and he loved playing basketball. What choice did he have? His love for the game overruled his aversion to school. Reluctantly, he had enrolled. It turned out to be the best decision he ever made. It was there that he had met Nedra Davis.

She was a sophomore in college and home for the summer. She had volunteered to tutor at the center and from the moment he met her, he found her fascinating. His life on the streets had never put him in such close proximity with someone like her. She not only looked good, but her diction was perfect and she didn’t curse. She carried herself like a queen and spoke about things like Black Pride and self-worth—concepts that were foreign to him. He didn’t always know what she was talking about, but she excited him and she frightened him. As he often did when he was in such a predicament, he struck out. Nedra became his target.

His vulgarity didn’t repel her as he had hoped it would. When he cursed her, she hadn’t cursed back. She simply flashed him a heart melting smile and informed him that it was sad that such intelligence was being wasted. She said he was smart and could be anything he wanted to be.

Smart? Him? Nobody had ever said that to him before. Nobody! He had no defense against her.

With a sigh, Sin was transported back to the present. Opening his eyes, they settled on Nedra. He didn’t want to remember the street hardened young man he used to be—with all of the hatred, the anger, all of the less than honorable things that he had done in his life. That existence had been too real, and was still a part of his nightmares.

The service concluded, Sin followed the small group of mourners to the mortuary limo. It was there that Trevor gave him an emotional hug before climbing inside. Before following his brother, Colin provided a semblance of a handshake, avoiding eye contact in case they revealed his emotions. Sin was familiar with the tactic.

He watched as the vehicle drove away, leaving him alone with Nedra and Sharon Mays. Sharon was the first to acknowledge him.

“It was kind of you to come, Mr. Reasoner.” She was impressed that he had displayed such concern.

“It wasn’t a problem.” Sin spoke calmly, his voice contradicting the nervousness he felt at Nedra being so near. He shouldn’t have come here.

Nedra stepped forward and extended her hand. “I’m sure the boys appreciated your presence, Mr. Reasoner.” She noticed that his hand was warm and clammy. Was he nervous too?

She knew that her own nervousness started when his tall, dark clad figure appeared at the gravesite. Her heart had skipped a beat. Maybe it was his attire. He was dressed head to toe in black—a black shirt, black finely creased slacks, black tasseled loafers and an expensive black leather jacket hugging his sculptured frame. The only hint of color was a sterling silver, hoop ear ring dangling from his left ear. He looked mysterious, and dangerous, with his eyes hidden behind mirrored sunglasses that kept her from seeing his eyes. During the entire service she had been aware of those eyes being fixed on her.

There was an awkward moment of silence as the three of them stood looking at each other. Sharon took charge.

Turning on the charm, she gave Sin her most engaging smile. “I’m sure the boys would appreciate it even more if you would drop by the Simpsons’ place. Some members of Mount Peter have fixed dinner for them.”

Noting his hesitancy she quickly added, “Nedra and I are headed there now. You’re more than welcomed. Isn’t he?” She turned to her friend with an innocent smile.

Nedra could strangle her right here in the cemetery where they wouldn’t have to remove her body, just toss it into a hole. She knew exactly what Sharon was up to and she did not appreciate it one bit! With no hint of the embarrassment she felt at Sharon’s blatant effort to fix her up, Nedra forced a smile.

“Yes, Mr. Reasoner, I’m certain that the boys would appreciate you being there.” She stunned herself as the words tumbled from her lips so effortlessly. That wasn’t what she had meant to say.

Sin was tempted, very tempted. With deep regret he said, “I’m sorry, ladies. I appreciate the invitation, but I have a previous engagement.”

Sharon didn’t try to hide her disappointment. “Too bad, but let me jot down the address in case you change your mind.”

Nedra watched with narrowed eyes as her friend wrote the address. Did the woman have any shame? She was willing to use two innocent boys as a smoke screen for a dating service.

Nedra was glad that Sin declined the invitation. His presence was unsettling and she didn’t like the feeling.

Both women watched as he walked toward his late-model Jaguar. Climbing into the powerful vehicle, he drove away.

Sharon sighed. “What a butt!”

Nedra fumed. “I will kill you dead, Sharon Mays! I have never been so embarrassed in my life! How could you?”

Sharon’s gray eyes widened innocently. “How could I what? Admire a fine man’s butt? Child, you’re the preacher, not me. I don’t have to pretend that the male species doesn’t exist.”

Too angry to address her further, Nedra stomped off to her car. A chuckling Sharon followed at a safe distance behind.

 

****

 

Sin sat outside the two story, framed house on 62nd Avenue berating himself for the decision he had made. Why must he play with fire? The old adage about getting burned had proved to be true too many times. What was it about Nedra Davis that had brought him to the Simpson’s front door? He had dated prettier women. Hell! He had dated women so fine that men had salivated over them. Yes, Nedra was pretty—actually she was more than pretty—but, she was a minister! This was insanity!

As he stepped out of the car, he told himself that he had business to attend to, serious business. He had been on his way to do so, when he made the U-turn that would bring him to this doorstep. He had no clue why he turned around. What reason was there to madness? All he knew was that he had canceled his appointment, and here he was. With one gloved finger, he rang the doorbell.

Nedra sensed his presence before she saw him. The energy in the room had changed. All attention had shifted toward him, the stranger among them—the handsome, mysterious stranger. The reason for being at the Simpson home seemed to be forgotten as the sisters of the church inundated him with offers of food, drinks and conversation.

Sharon had rescued him, delighted that he had changed his mind. She introduced him to the boys’ foster parents, after which Trevor, a handsome child with a cinnamon brown complexion and eyes nearly the same color, had planted himself firmly in Sin’s arms. By the time the two of them worked their way into the dining room where Nedra sat with Colin, her heart had stopped racing and she had regained her composure. Colin showed no visible reaction to Sin’s appearance. She fought to do the same, as Sin took an empty seat at the large dining room table, shifting Trevor onto his lap.

“Glad you changed your mind about joining us.” Nedra was pleased that there wasn’t a quaver or a quake in her voice. She could get through this.

“I’m glad I came,” Sin replied, with a quick wink at Trevor. He returned the wink with one of his own. Sin turned to the solemn child sitting next to Nedra. “And how are you doing, my man?”

Colin, who was small for his age, with a complexion much like his brother’s, and dark brown eyes that slanted upward at the corners, shrugged his thin shoulders. “All right, I guess.” He kept his eyes on his plate filled with food that he hadn’t touched.

“Just all right?” Sin looked at him closely. This kid was suffering. “Well, do you think you’re doing ‘all right’ enough to go for a little ride with me? That is if Mr. and Mrs. Simpson will let you.”

Shrugging again, Colin didn’t respond. Sin’s eyes met Nedra’s eyes, each noting the other’s concern for the boy.

“I’m certain if I ask them, the Simpsons won’t mind if Colin goes with you,” she ventured. “He could use a little break.”

“I wanna go too!” Trevor spoke up, intent on not being left out.

“Not this time, buddy, but I promise I’ll do something with you another time.”

His words stopped the tears Sin was certain would have flowed if some sort of compromise hadn’t been offered. The Simpsons gave Sin permission to take Colin for a ride and Nedra watched as the man and boy walked through the gathering and out the front door. She exhaled slowly, unaware that she had been holding her breath during the short time that Sin had been near.