Ebony Angel (34 page)
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.”
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 you 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?