Read Online Firestone by Claudia Hall Christian - Free Book Online

all of her life. The one you showed me?”
    “ I gave it to Jammy.”
Jeraine nodded.
    “ You did?”
    “ I’m going to fight,
Tanesha,” Jeraine said. “This is my child. I thought she was a
great mother and he was better off with her.”
    “ She’s not,” Tanesha said.
“He’s not.”
    “ Not anymore.” Jeraine
nodded.
    “ What about the other
one?” Tanesha said. “Jeraine Junior.”
    “ His mother called after
seeing the broadcast,” Jeraine said. “I guess Jammy talked to her
earlier in the day. She was really angry. Her mother’s coming on
Monday with JJ. She has school, so she can’t come.”
    “ School?” Tanesha
asked.
    “ She’s been studying to be
a radiology tech,” Jeraine said. “She was just eighteen when she
had JJ. She’s been in school most of his life.”
    “ Very liberated,” Tanesha
said.
    “ Don’t be like that,”
Jeraine said. “She told me once that having a baby by some rich man
is the only way girls like her get out of the ghetto.”
    “ She’s the one who tricked
you,” Tanesha said.
    “ Holes in all the
condoms.” Jeraine nodded. “She’s apologized for it a couple times.
And before you say it, it’s my fault. If I didn’t always have my
dick out, I wouldn’t have been in that situation.”
    Tanesha gave him a curt nod.
    “ I’m really trying,
Tanesha,” Jeraine said.
    “ I know,” she said. “So
both kids will be here Monday?”
    “ And we’ll be in court
first thing Monday morning,” Jeraine said.
    “ And tomorrow?” Tanesha
asked.
    “ Just us,” Jeraine said.
“Heather said we could spend the whole day with Jabari.”
    “ Good,” Tanesha said. “He
needs clothes and . . .”
    Jeraine grinned.
    “ My mom wants to spend
time with him,” Tanesha said.
    “ He thinks she’s his
angel,” Jeraine said.
    “ She did save him,”
Tanesha said. “And got all this in motion. How’s your head? Usually
stress gets it going.”
    “ I’m okay,” Jeraine
said.
    “ Good,” Tanesha
said.
    She slipped off her clothing and got into
bed with him. He shut his laptop and turned off the light. She
kissed him. He watched her close her eyes and drift off to
sleep.
    “ I love you,” Jeraine
said. “I don’t know why you love me, but I hope you never
stop.”
    He put his arm around her and followed her
to sleep.
    ~~~~~~~~
    Sunday morning — 7:35 a.m.
     
    “ Why do I have to get up?”
Charlie whined and pulled his comforters over his head.
    “ We’re going to a
meeting,” Aden said, and pulled the comforters off him. “You laid
around here all day yesterday. It’s time to get moving.”
    “ Just because you have to go to a
meeting, doesn’t mean I . . .” Charlie caught a look
at Aden’s face and stopped talking. Under his breath, he muttered,
“Just saying.”
    When he was sure Charlie was up, Aden turned
away and grinned at Charlie’s grumbling. He went into the kitchen,
where he made a couple travel mugs of coffee and warmed up a couple
of muffins. Charlie came out a few minutes later.
    “ You’re chipper today.”
Charlie scowled.
    Aden shooed him through the apartment, down
the stairs, and out to his Saab. He gave Charlie the coffee mug,
and Charlie smiled. Charlie took both muffins, and Aden grinned. He
started the car. They turned up Colfax Boulevard toward York
Street.
    “ I have to go to work
after this,” Charlie said.
    “ I know,” Aden said. “I
figured I’d drop you off when we’re done.”
    “ Cool,” Charlie
said.
    Charlie drank some of his coffee.
    “ You hear what happened
yesterday?” Charlie asked.
    “ With Jeraine’s son?” Aden
asked.
    “ That was wild, but no,
that’s not what I meant,” Charlie said. “I mean, who would be
stupid enough to put all that crap on television?”
    “ Exactly,” Aden said.
“What did you mean?”
    “ Oh,” Charlie said, and
put an entire muffin into his mouth. He tried to talk, but Aden
stopped him. After a bit of chewing, Charlie said something