Read Online Lundyn Bridges by Patrice Johnson - Free Book Online Page A

was slow, she was coming along.
    I stopped in the cafeteria to get coffee and noticed Kiarra sitting by the far window. I made her a cup of raspberry tea and joined her.
    â€œHey,” I said sitting down across from her. “What’s going on?”
    â€œI broke up with him.” She spoke slightly above a whisper and continued to stare out the window. “I just need to find me. I’m losing me.”
    I grabbed her hand. “Are you okay?”
    As Kiarra turned to face me, I noticed the hand print in her face. “Did he hit you?”
    She never answered, but her tears confirmed he had.
    â€œDid you tell your dad?”
    â€œMy dad would kill him.”
    â€œDid you tell your dad?” I repeated.
    Kiarra shook her head no.
    Lost for words, I just stared at her.
    Kiarra broke the silence. “Can I stay at your place tonight?”
    â€œYou can stay as long as you need to.” I smiled because she finally looked at me. “I’ve been asking you to be my roommate for almost a year.”
    â€œThanks for the tea.” Kiarra forced a smile.
    â€œYou have the key. I’ll see you when I get home.”
    â€œI’ll be here until at least three – I have to catch up on some paper work.”
    I left Kiarra sitting at the table sipping her tea. My mind was racing, and I couldn’t believe Xavier hit her. I didn’t know what to do and felt I should have saidmore or done more in the cafeteria. I was sipping my cold coffee when Francine appeared at my door. She came in and sat down before I invited her.
    â€œDo you know what today is?” She asked out of the nowhere.
    â€œDo you mean the date?” I responded, trying not to sound sarcastic.
    â€œMy son was buried today. Nine years ago today.” Tears swelled in Francine’s eyes. “I was forty-five minutes late for Antonio’s funeral.”
    I was curious about Francine’s children and let her talk.
    â€œEveryone knew Antonio died of AIDS. Maybe if I had been there for him. Maybe if he had spent time with his father. Maybe if I hadn’t made excuses for him when I didn’t want to deal with the truth that he was using drugs. He was my kid, he should have known better.”
    I handed Francine a box of tissues and sat directly in front of her on the edge of my desk.
    Francine wiped the lone tear that freely fell from the corner of her left eye and continued. “When I got to the funeral home I just sat on the steps. The last time I saw Antonio I told him not to ever call me again. I told him that the only reason I didn’t kill him right then was because he was my son. I disowned him that day for stealing cocaine from my stash. No one stole from Francine!”
    Nothing in my graduate program prepared me for Francine. Her heart was wrenched, and I asked God to give me the right words.
    â€œAntonio left home when he was seventeen. He went to live with Sandy – Ms. Sunshine, as she was known around the way. He became her ‘sweet thang’and she supplied him with anything he wanted. She even bought him a car even though he never had a license. She gave him everything – including the dirty needles and AIDS.”
    Francine continued telling me she was sorry for lying to Antonio about James being his father. He always suspected Tommy was his dad, and Francine always denied it. After all, her relationship with Tommy lasted less than an hour in the back of his Jeep one night in Highland Park. The truth would have ruined her already failing marriage to James.
    â€œI prayed the whole time I was pregnant,” Francine added. “I prayed every day, and I prayed hard.” Her tone became less intense.
    â€œWhat were you praying for?”
    â€œI begged God to let this baby look like me, just like my other two kids, but like I told you before, prayer ain’t never worked for me. Antonio looked just like Tommy when he was born – high yellow with sandy