a hundred grand of tainted money your company has accepted. How many other clients with tainted money do you have?” She folded her arms over her chest.
“We didn’t know.”
“And why is that?” she asked rhetorically, with an attitude-filled roll of the neck. “The drug money and property seized by officials is used for everything from beefing up their budget to community projects to lining pockets. I’m just cutting out the middle man and helping those who need help.”
He could see they would go in circles on this issue until Bill Gates ran out of money. It was time for solutions. “I’ll give you the money for Meechie.”
Her facial features softened, and she lowered her hands to her lap. “You’d do that for Meechie?”
“I’m doing it because I love you, but I can’t afford to put all of Chicago into rehab. Maybe you can obtain grants, or find company sponsors to help pay for the good works you do.”
“You’re the greatest.” She reached over and took his hand into hers. “Thank you for doing instead of just standing in judgment. I’ve tried for grants and to find a sponsor, but I think no one wants to give me funding because I don’t represent a non-profit organization.”
“Well, for now you concentrate on Meechie, and I’ll worry about future funding. You’re not in this alone any more.” He prayed the gratitude and love in her eyes remained after they tackled the next subject.
“You need to move out of the neighborhood. You can’t allow your pride to interfere with what’s best for you and your child. If you still think it’s too soon to move in with me, I’ll help you move somewhere else. I know Dan would help you out.”
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but you don’t understand.”
“Explain it to me.”
“Mom made mistakes raising me, but I’m proud of her. I didn’t know Dan paid our bills. My parents had become dependent on him. After my father was murdered, Mom wanted nothing further to do with the drug world. Instead of taking money from Dan, she cleaned herself up, then worked two jobs to support me the best she could. She saved enough to put herself through beauty school and eventually bought her own shop. The flat we live in is hers.”
She held her hands to her chest. “I’m proud of my mom, and I’ve learned from her mistakes. I’m not about to be dependent on anyone to provide for me and my child. I love Dan, but I needed him. Leaving the drugs alone wasn’t easy for Mom, and I know she banned him from coming around, but he should have done something. My aunt Genevieve should have done something. I don’t know.” She leaned against the backing of the chaise. “I guess that’s why I can’t stand by and do nothing when I see something is wrong. I graduate in a few months. Don’t worry. I’ll find a good job and be able to move shortly.”
The sad tone of her voice alerted him to delve deeper. “Don’t you want to move?”
“Of course I want to move. But, that doesn’t ease my guilt for abandoning people in need. The neighborhood needs good role models, like Mom and Dan, who have turned their lives around, but I choose saving my child over saving the neighborhood.”
“I know you want what’s best for Crystal.” He hesitated, then said, “Trae isn’t best for Crystal. As long as Trae is in the picture…” Her explanations for why she allowed Trae to stay in her life always flowed so easily. As if she’d convinced herself these were the reasons, and was now just repeating them.
“And what do you suggest I do? Are you so naive that you believe Trae will just walk out of our lives because I ask?”
Holding in his frustration, he stated the obvious. “Ebony, he’s a drug dealer. Call the cops.”
Ebony laughed. This certainly wasn’t what he expected.
“And what do I tell them?” she asked after she calmed. “I have no evidence, no proof. All I have is what I see when I walk through the streets. The cops know more
“We didn’t know.”
“And why is that?” she asked rhetorically, with an attitude-filled roll of the neck. “The drug money and property seized by officials is used for everything from beefing up their budget to community projects to lining pockets. I’m just cutting out the middle man and helping those who need help.”
He could see they would go in circles on this issue until Bill Gates ran out of money. It was time for solutions. “I’ll give you the money for Meechie.”
Her facial features softened, and she lowered her hands to her lap. “You’d do that for Meechie?”
“I’m doing it because I love you, but I can’t afford to put all of Chicago into rehab. Maybe you can obtain grants, or find company sponsors to help pay for the good works you do.”
“You’re the greatest.” She reached over and took his hand into hers. “Thank you for doing instead of just standing in judgment. I’ve tried for grants and to find a sponsor, but I think no one wants to give me funding because I don’t represent a non-profit organization.”
“Well, for now you concentrate on Meechie, and I’ll worry about future funding. You’re not in this alone any more.” He prayed the gratitude and love in her eyes remained after they tackled the next subject.
“You need to move out of the neighborhood. You can’t allow your pride to interfere with what’s best for you and your child. If you still think it’s too soon to move in with me, I’ll help you move somewhere else. I know Dan would help you out.”
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but you don’t understand.”
“Explain it to me.”
“Mom made mistakes raising me, but I’m proud of her. I didn’t know Dan paid our bills. My parents had become dependent on him. After my father was murdered, Mom wanted nothing further to do with the drug world. Instead of taking money from Dan, she cleaned herself up, then worked two jobs to support me the best she could. She saved enough to put herself through beauty school and eventually bought her own shop. The flat we live in is hers.”
She held her hands to her chest. “I’m proud of my mom, and I’ve learned from her mistakes. I’m not about to be dependent on anyone to provide for me and my child. I love Dan, but I needed him. Leaving the drugs alone wasn’t easy for Mom, and I know she banned him from coming around, but he should have done something. My aunt Genevieve should have done something. I don’t know.” She leaned against the backing of the chaise. “I guess that’s why I can’t stand by and do nothing when I see something is wrong. I graduate in a few months. Don’t worry. I’ll find a good job and be able to move shortly.”
The sad tone of her voice alerted him to delve deeper. “Don’t you want to move?”
“Of course I want to move. But, that doesn’t ease my guilt for abandoning people in need. The neighborhood needs good role models, like Mom and Dan, who have turned their lives around, but I choose saving my child over saving the neighborhood.”
“I know you want what’s best for Crystal.” He hesitated, then said, “Trae isn’t best for Crystal. As long as Trae is in the picture…” Her explanations for why she allowed Trae to stay in her life always flowed so easily. As if she’d convinced herself these were the reasons, and was now just repeating them.
“And what do you suggest I do? Are you so naive that you believe Trae will just walk out of our lives because I ask?”
Holding in his frustration, he stated the obvious. “Ebony, he’s a drug dealer. Call the cops.”
Ebony laughed. This certainly wasn’t what he expected.
“And what do I tell them?” she asked after she calmed. “I have no evidence, no proof. All I have is what I see when I walk through the streets. The cops know more
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