Ebony Angel Page 12

  “Don’t you know how much I love you? I want nothing more than for you to be Crystal’s father, and my husband.”

  “I love you, too. Tell me what’s wrong? We’re a team now.”

  “I just…What are we going to do about Trae?”

  Richard watched as she paced from the closet to Crystal’s room. Something about the adoption had upset her. Something she wasn’t ready to talk about. “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to help him all night,” he said.

  “There has to be a way to convince him to give up the drug life,” she said.

  “How many years have you been trying?”

  She stopped pacing long enough to smile weakly. “Too many to count.”

  He reached out as she passed and pulled her onto the bed. “Listen up, little lady.” He rolled her over, lying on top of her. “I love you and have to put you and Crystal first. I put the finishing touches on Crystal’s room yesterday. We can move you in next weekend.”

  Ebony bit her lip.

  “You’re gonna bite that thing off.” Her grin sent his libido soaring. He licked her bottom lip, sucked it into his mouth. “Does your door lock?” he whispered. A hint of the sweet pea shower gel on her skin brought back fond memories of their first meeting.

  “You’re not playing fair.”

  “All’s fair in love and war.” He locked the door and returned to bed. “Move in with me. Don’t make me wait.” He feather-kissed along her neckline down to her collarbone. “I’m buying you new nightclothes today.” He pulled down the collar of the nightshirt. “You get nothing else from Chadwick’s.”

  She laughed.

  He tried acting indignant, but her laughter was contagious. He flashed his famous lopsided grin. “I’m trying to make love here. You could kill a guy’s self-confidence laughing like that.”

  She rubbed against his hardness. “You feel pretty confident to me.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Ebony handed a bottle of beer to Skeet and a Pepsi to Mr. Loren, then sat at the dining table next to Richard. Richard had said he had something important to tell her about his family right before their uninvited guests showed up.

  “This condo is sweet, Smoke. Once you two marry you should move to a larger place so I can have this one.” Skeet took a swig of beer. “Anyone live in the condo downstairs?”

  “You aren’t moving in below us, Skeet.” Ebony watched Mr. Loren closely. He wore wrinkled jeans, a red and tan checkered flannel shirt, busted down boots and carried a big ol’ filthy tackle box. He resembled an ice fisherman more than a jeweler, but she kept quiet. After all, she and Richard were dressed in jeans and matching Navy Pier T-shirts. They had told Skeet that they didn’t want his assistance in procuring wedding rings; as usual, he acted as if they hadn’t said a thing. At least this way she would have an idea of what she wanted when they went ring shopping.

  Richard caressed her hand under the table; she relaxed.

  “What’s the deal with that purple monstrosity back there?” Skeet motioned toward Crystal’s room. “Don’t ever take decorating tips from a seven-year-old.”

  Mr. Loren turned the tackle box to face Ebony and Richard. Ebony’s mouth dropped as the tackle box turned into a display case lined with royal blue velvet. Each compartment of the top two shelves held separate diamonds of different shapes and sizes, sixteen diamonds in all.

  Skeet chuckled. “I hope your bank account is fat, Smoke. Look at her.”

  Richard lovingly watched Ebony finger the diamonds like a child over Halloween candy.

  “Wow! I can’t wait to see your whole rings.” She rummaged through the bottom of the tackle box, but only saw tools and miniature catalogs.

  “Switch your mind off ghetto mode. You’re having a ring made.” Skeet took a catalog of designs from the bottom of the case and handed it to her. “If you don’t see something you like in there, Loren can design something for you. You just need to give him a few ideas of what you like.”

  She glared at Skeet. “I’m not ghetto. Don’t make me cut you. What’s the price range of these, anyway?” She pointed her favorite diamond out to Richard, thinking she might as well get the price range.

  “Five to ten thousand,” Skeet said before Mr. Loren could answer.

  Her mouth dropped wide open. “Thousand!” she complained. “I can buy two whole sets for half that, Skeet.”

  Richard caressed her cheekbone. “It’s all right.”

  It never ceased to amaze her how even his slightest touch calmed and warmed her at the same time. He had already spent more than she wanted decorating Crystal’s room. She couldn’t allow him to sacrifice his bank account for the most beautiful diamond she would ever see in any lifetime.

  “Where are the ones normal people can afford?” She rested her hand on Richard’s lap, seeking reassurance he freely provided.

  “Smoke can afford ten grand for this,” Skeet said.

  Though gold was her thing, she knew diamonds were expensive. Why he would bring the most expensive diamonds around was beyond her. She wanted a diamond like the one Skeet showed her, but didn’t want Richard’s male ego to feel obligated to purchase something he couldn’t afford. Biting her bottom lip, she peeked into his smoky blue eyes. Love and amusement danced playfully in them.

  “If you want this diamond, it’s yours,” Richard whispered.

  She narrowed her eyes on Richard. They had agreed not to purchase anything from Skeet’s connections, because they were most likely fronts for his laundering activities. There had to be a reasonable explanation for Richard veering off the path. She would have to wait until they were alone to find out what it was. Until then, she’d play along.

  Skeet handed her the oval diamond she had pointed to. “This ain’t cubic zirconia or that cheap, substandard crap you buy at the mall.” He handed the European Gemological Laboratories certificate for the diamond to Richard to read over. “That little baby there is three and a half carats, flawless, colorless, has exquisite symmetry…” Richard choked. “Damn, dawg, get some water.”

  Richard abruptly stood. “My room now, Skeet!”

  Ebony’s brows rose. Richard looked ill, but she didn’t blame him. Ten thousand was way too much to pay for a clear rock. She shook off the disappointment.

  “Thumb through the catalog. Give her anything she wants, Loren.” He followed Richard into the bedroom.

  * * *

  Richard couldn’t speak, not yet. He pointed at the chaise lounge, then poured them both a brandy at the mini-bar. Seeing Ebony light up whenever she looked at her engagement ring would be worth any amount of money, but the moral price was too high. He gulped down his brandy, then poured another.

  “Hey, stop being greedy.” Skeet rose.

  “Sit!” He pointed at the chaise.

  “What’s wrong with you? She loves the diamonds.”

  “I love Ebony with all of my heart, but I’m not made out of money. I can’t afford a hundred grand for a diamond. Hell, I still have to pay for the wedding.” Though the diamond was large, he didn’t realize it was that large, and he thought it was a lower-quality stone. The price Skeet had given them would fit his range. Once he saw the certification, reality slapped him. The diamond was worth a heck of a lot more than ten grand. He groaned. Ebony would be disappointed that he couldn’t afford a similar diamond, and this could lead to proof that Skeet was laundering.

  Now that the opportunity to get evidence of illegal activity was within his grasp, he hesitated. It was so easy to stand on moral high ground when he wasn’t in Ebony’s shoes, so easy to pass judgment.

  Skeet wrinkled his face and hunched his shoulders. “Don’t tell her. Humph, I thought there was actually something wrong. I spoke to Dan this morning. He’s paying for the wedding, so that’s already taken care of.” He took himself off time-out, crossed the room and grabbed his drink. “Did you see the way her whole face lit up?”

  He’d never forget. Her look was why he had misspoken and said he would buy t
he diamond from Skeet. Disgusted with the situation, he asked, “How could you show her a hundred thousand dollar diamond?” but wanted to ask, “Why won’t you give up the life? Why are you making me do this? Why?” The previous summer, Nonno had sent Richard diamond ring shopping for Stephanie’s sixtieth birthday; Nonno always wanted the best for his daughter, thus Richard had learned a lot about diamonds.

  As if the conversation at hand bored him, Skeet swirled his brandy in the glass, settled on the chaise and stretched his long legs. “For one thing, it is worth a hundred and twenty thousand dollars, and you don’t have to pay retail. I’m a dealer. I’m giving it to you wholesale.”

  Richard’s anguish was reflected in his derisive laugh. “Oh, Lord, he really is crazy. Don’t play me for stupid. There isn’t that much markup in the world.”

  Skeet chewed his inner jaw. “So I’m giving you an additional discount. What’s the problem?”

  “You just don’t get it, do you?” He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bamboo bed.

  “You really need to loosen up.” Skeet scanned the room for the remote control. “What if I told you I own a diamond mine in South Africa?”

  “I would say you’re lying.”

  Skeet flashed a million-dollar smile. “And you’d be correct.” He grabbed the remote off the nightstand. “I buy directly from mines. I am all of the middlemen. I get these babies at an amazing price. You won’t find better quality.”

  “Not that amazing.” Richard lay back in bed, calculating how to raise the money to legally purchase Ebony a similar diamond without jeopardizing them financially. He still had to pay for Meechie’s future rehabilitation, and now that he would be able to adopt Crystal, he was seriously contemplating opening his own firm in a different state. One night Ebony had confided in him that she had never traveled further than the suburbs of Chicago. He knew it would be difficult to convince her to leave the known for the unknown, but he also knew she would see things his way in the end.

  Asking his parents for a loan was out. He liked his brother-in-law, but asking him was out. Asking Nonno had possibilities, but he wouldn’t lend that much money without strings attached. He grumbled. Strings he didn’t want to deal with, such as trying to make up with his parents. Strings he had foolishly considered telling Ebony about.

  “Okay, you win. I won’t launder any money on this deal.” Richard remained silent. “I’m serious. I’ll contact a totally legitimate dealer and make the arrangements.”

  Richard sat up. “I’ll find my own dealer.”

  “I want Ebony to have that diamond. Ten thousand. I’ll pay the difference.”

  “No thanks. I want to buy her ring.”

  “You’re pissing me the hell off,” Skeet snapped as he threw the remote at him.

  Richard barely ducked in time. The remote crashed against the headboard and broke apart—much like Richard felt like doing. He laughed at the lunacy of it all. Never had he imagined his life could become so crazy.

  “What the hell are you laughing at?”

  “I’ve never seen you angry before. It’s amusing.” He picked up the batteries and backing for the remote.

  “Well your goody-two-shoes ass has pissed me the hell off today, so laugh hearty.”

  Richard watched his big friend stalk across the room to the wet bar and take out his anger on the brandy. “Try to see this from my side, Skeet. I can’t allow another man to buy my wife’s engagement ring.”

  “I’m giving you the opportunity to buy your own damn ring!” He slammed his glass down. “This is ridiculous. Do whatever.” He stormed out.

  Guilt ridden, Richard sank onto the chaise. He didn’t have concrete evidence yet, but was close. Now he had to find something on Trae.

  Ebony poked her head into the room. “You alright?”

  “Not really.” He motioned for her to join him.

  She sat across his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. “Why did you say you would buy the ring from Skeet?”

  “I got carried away. Then when I realized what I’d said, the reality of Skeet laundering money hit, and was too much for me.”

  “Boy, do I understand.”

  “I’ll buy you any ring you want, but not from Skeet.”

  “Agreed.”

  He prayed she had forgotten about the talk they were to have about his family. He needed more time to decide what exactly to tell her, to figure out how he felt, or if he would tell her anything. He stretched his long legs out. “Why don’t you come to New York with me? We can give hump day a whole new meaning.”

  “I have my first interview Tuesday. On Wednesday I have a test.”

  “I’m sorry. I was thinking the interview was next week.”

  “The interview isn’t a big deal. I thought I should test the waters before I get serious.”

  He felt her heart beat rapidly against his arm, heard a nervous twinge in her voice. She had mentioned the interview only once a week or so ago. She had quickly changed the subject. “I’m always interviewing. Tomorrow let’s role play.”

  “It’s no big deal…really.”

  “I wish I could skip this trip to New York. You need me here.” He nudged several stray braids behind her ear. If she wanted to be hired in corporate America, it would take a lot more than an afternoon of role-playing. Maybe the reason she couldn’t find a job after she earned her bachelor’s degree had something to do with her style. The job market was so tight a few years ago companies would seize on any reason to cut potential employees. “Let’s go interview-shopping tomorrow.”

  She could pass with the hair, but the twenty rings, huge hoop earrings, long curling nails and—he ran his fingers over her gold bracelets—at least ten bracelets on each wrist would have to go.

  “I know how to dress. This is no big deal. It’s practice for the real thing.”

  She tried to hide her case of nerves, act like she didn’t care, but he knew better. “Treat every interview as if it will lead to your dream career.”

  “Yes, Papà Smoke.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “What did you want to tell me about your family?”

  He stroked her hair. “I’m sorry, angel. I need a little more time.”

  She caressed his face. “I’m here when you’re ready.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Ebony sat in the waiting area of Banks Consulting, a small, minority-owned software firm located in downtown Chicago. She kept telling herself the interview was only practice.

  She twisted her engagement ring around her finger. They had found the perfect ring for well under ten grand. Thoughts of Richard filled her mind, and she calmed down slightly. Role-playing removed fear of the unknown, but did nothing for her nerves. Treat every interview as if it will lead to your dream career, resonated in her mind.

  She held her hands out for inspection. After she’d dropped Richard off at the airport, she had her long acrylic nails changed to a basic French manicure. She shook her arms. The bracelets slid down, bunching at her wrists below her sleeves.

  She stood, smoothing out her navy blue skirt and blazer. She stepped up to the reception desk. “Excuse me, ma’am. Where is the restroom?”

  * * *

  Ebony groaned at her reflection in the mirror over the restroom sink. She wanted to appear more conservative. She removed jewelry: first the dangling, multi-hoop gold earrings; next, all of the rings except her engagement ring; last, the numerous bracelets.

  She stuffed the jewelry into her purse, then took her microbraids out of the ponytail and used the scrunchie to work her hair into a bun. It wasn’t the best bun, but it would have to do.

  She examined herself in the mirror. Skeet was right, some dark-skinned women looked great with blonde hair. Her face soured. She wasn’t one of them. She reached into her purse, found the diamond earrings her mother had given her for Christmas, and put them on.

  She stepped away from the mirror and smiled at the businesswoman in the navy blue suit she saw in the reflection.


  The middle-aged receptionist gave Ebony an approving nod and escorted her into senior partner Darryl Beacon’s office.

  “Please take a seat.” Darryl motioned to the chair in front of his desk.

  “Thank you.” Heart pounding in her ears, palms clammy, nerves on edge; Ebony tried to imagine the short, balding, pot-bellied black man across from her was Richard, and they were role-playing again. She watched him nudge his glasses up on his nose. There’s not that much imagination in the world.

  “Is something funny, Ms. Washington?”

  Her eyes flew wide open in horror. “I’m sorry. I have a bad case of nerves.” She willed the jumping beans in her stomach still.

  His warm smile helped put her at ease. “This is your first interview, isn’t it?”

  “Am I that bad?” She had never made it to the interview before when she job-hunted. The economy was so bad she never stood a chance.

  He chuckled. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll make this as painless as possible.”

  Ebony felt as if she had a copy of the final exam a week early. Question after question was some version of the ones she had practiced with Richard. An hour later, Darryl had shown Ebony around the office, introduced her to the other engineers, and offered her the position.

  Overwhelmed by Darryl’s generosity, she sat across from him, searching for right words. Turning down a job offer was one scenario she hadn’t practiced. “To be honest, I don’t know. I need a few days to consider my options.” Though a small firm, Banks Consulting had offered her an extraordinary package. Confidence at an all-time high, she knew she could expect more from a large corporation. With the extra money, she could move out and build Crystal a sizeable college fund.

  Her heart swelled with pride. It took six hard years, but she would be leaving grad school in a few months with a high-paying marketable skill. She would never have to choose between keeping her baby warm or fed. She could care for her child without anyone’s help.

  He nodded slowly. “I like that. Never rush into major decisions.” He fumbled with the card dispenser on his desk. “Take your time. If you have any questions, call me directly. I’m sure we can work something out,” he added.