Stone de la Bru Familia by Peter Mack Page A

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    Stone watched the buoyant girl skip across the hardwood floor and turn to him with that smile that reminded him so much of her deceased mother. He shooed her away to be about her mission, but it was too late. Lillian was at the top of the stairs, invading his private space with her look of wonder and amusement. 
     There was always something new to see when she entered his room. She'd seen the electronic money-counter in action and the six foot fireproof safe tucked into an alcove held money and treasuries easily worth several million dollars. 
    Serena looked back at Stone apologetically, questioning if she'd failed her mission. 
    "Make sure mama put just as many pancakes on my plate as you get," he said to free her of her guilt. 
    "Okay," Serena responded breathlessly with a child's glee before brushing by Lillian on her way to the narrow stairwell. 
    "Don't run Serena! Be careful before you fall!" Lillian called after her before turning to her younger brother. "And good morning to you too. What was all that about?" she asked.  
    Stone feigned ignorance, watching casually as his pecan complexioned sister sauntered to his bed. She was the lightest of the family, inheriting some obscure creole gene from generations back. She was also the most refined, affecting the mannerism of someone born to privilege, though hardly of the Sweetwater clan. 
    "Wassup sis," Stone said, feigning a renewed wariness as she plopped her thin frame onto the side of his bed. Her ass rocked against his leg. He moved them slightly so that she could have more room. 
    "Nothing," she breathed out as she scanned his room. There was a new picture of him hugging Coretta at Disney World in Orlando. They'd spent seven days and six nights there.  "You really like her, hunh?" she asked, looking from the glass-top table to Stone. 
    “She’s cool.” 
    Her hand came down to his chest with a playful slap. "Everything is just cool to you." She became pensive with this statement, her brow slightly furrowed in thought as she looked through the pyramid shaped window above his head. Outside a red chested bird navigated a high wire. 
    Fleeting thoughts passed through Stone’s mind. He had to piss, but wasn't ready to disturb the comfort he felt being near his sister; the social worker would come today to check on Serena; he had to stop by his apartment unit, Sweetwater Manor, to collect the rent; he had to contact Misty to help find Candi’s killer. 
    "Why is it that things come so easy to you?" Lillian wanted to know, lowering her eyes to the sedated, cool expression of her brother. His afro was smashed in on the side. She wanted to grab the afropick, with its clenched fist handle, and puff his hair out. 
    Stone shrugged. "Do the work earn the perks," he offered. Lillian smiled. 
    "Seriously, Stone… You've never worked a day in your life and I'm sure that some people would be glad to know where you are…"  
    Stone's eyes brightened with this last statement, bringing her thoughts to a halt. She knew her mistake immediately.  
    "Not like that. I mean… Here it is I went to college… Opened my own business and...” She lifted her dainty hands to the air in subtle frustration.  She looked to Stone for an answer that didn't sound like it came from a pimp manual. 
    "We get what our hands call for," he replied. He didn't want to tell her that she was chasing waterfalls. She wanted a picture perfect life. She’d had a perfect looking husband, but she failed to look into his soul. There was a reason he didn't want children. There was a reason he spent more on facial products and hair care than she did. There was a reason he’d shaved his chest hair. 
    Lillian looked at him sharply with his reply. "Can't I just get a straight answer?" 
    Now he turned his head to her so that his eyes looked at her straight on. "I've been telling you the bizness since day one, but you wouldn't listen." This reached her.