A Sister's Power. Cydney Rax

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СКАЧАТЬ safe now, Elyse. You don’t have to go through all that abuse anymore. And it’s okay to feel good about that, even if that sick ass man had to die.”

      Coco pulled Elyse into her arms and hugged her until she herself began to relax.

      “Thanks,” Elyse whispered, grateful for her support.

      “Maybe it is wrong to be happy that someone is dead,” Coco continued, “But there’s no telling what Nate would have done to you if he was still alive.”

      “I know,” Elyse replied. “Sometimes I wish I didn’t know so much. Knowing a lot can get you in trouble.”

      “Ha, you don’t have to worry about the police questioning you. But what I know might get me in trouble.” Coco had to laugh at the absurdity of the entire situation. Because Coco knew that’s how deep, dark, family secrets worked. They had just found out that Elyse, raised to be their sister, was actually Alita’s daughter.

      Alita Washington was her oldest, divorced sister. Second in line was Burgundy Taylor, the entrepreneurial sibling, and the one people turned to when they were in trouble. The next sister was Drucilla, the intelligent, level-headed one who seemed to dodge trouble if she could have her own way. Then there was Coco, the wild and wayward one of the bunch, who often wore her heart on her sleeve and who made impulsive decisions which caused her to unearth great feelings of regret.

      “Coco, you could be right though. I might have to start thinking like you and being ready to give my statement just in case. For all I know, I’m next on the list,” Elyse muttered. “I just want to be left alone. I just want to be with my man and enjoy true love for the first time in my life.”

      Gamba Okore had become Elyse’s knight in shining armor. He was a strong, dedicated, knowledgeable man who had won Elyse’s heart.

      “What should I do, Coco? Please tell me what to do if they contact me. What should I say?”

      “Don’t worry yourself out, Sis.” Coco laughed at her mistake. “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting you’re my niece. Not my real sister. It feels so strange. I got to get used to this.”

      “It’s alright. We all have to get used to me not being Baby Sis anymore.”

      “Except Burgundy still doesn’t know about you being Alita’s daughter, and she still doesn’t know about me and her husband, and that’s what scaring me to death,” Coco admitted.

      “When you think you gonna tell B about you and Nate?”

      “Girl, please. I have worse things to think about than that.”

      “But you can’t keep this a secret forever, Coco.”

      “Why can’t I?”

      “Because,” Elyse said in a stubborn tone. “It wouldn’t be right.”

      “I’m sorry. I just can’t tell her. I just can’t. It would kill her. Burgundy would hate me even though it was just one little stupid mistake. Plus, I’m still on her payroll. She would probably fire me. Then what would I do for extra money? Noooo, Elyse. I want to take this secret to my grave.” Coco walked over to Elyse and pointed a stiff finger. “And I’m telling you right now, you’d better not say anything to B, either. Ever! If I find out she knows something, I’m blaming you. And it’s going to be ugly from then on,” Coco resumed her pace. “I’ve let you come live with me. And it’s been cool so far and I want things to stay that way. And I let your little military man come over here and chill with you all the time. I know how much you love Gamba and he ain’t in no position to take you in since he’s usually on some government assignment; and Alita is still down to one job after losing two damned jobs in the past year. And you forget about Dru. So, looks like you’re stuck with me, Elyse. Stuck with me and my rules, you hear what I’m saying?”

      “I hear you.”

      “You promise me you won’t tell B anything about me and Nate?”

      “I promise.”

      “Pinky swear.” Elyse walked over to Coco. She lifted her delicate slender finger and wrapped it around Coco’s thick one. But Coco was a bigger woman and doing a pinky swear with her was a struggle. Elyse tried but her skinny finger kept slipping off.

      Frustrated, Coco took her other hand and smashed Elyse’s finger hand against hers.

      “Now it’s official. You just gave me your word. I now feel that I won’t have to worry about you or this topic ever again. Right Elyse?”

      The only thing Elyse could do was nod and quickly back away from her Aunt Coco.

      “Now that I’ve sworn to be loyal, does that mean I can trust you to fix me something good to eat?”

      For the first time that day, Coco let out a hearty chuckle. And it was true that under normal circumstances, the woman would have prepared a tasty lunch or supper by then. It was one o’clock in the afternoon. Her daughters, Cadee and Chloe were in class, attending the local elementary school. Cypress, her youngest child, at twenty-eight weeks, was peacefully resting in one of her three bedrooms.

      Three-year-old Chance was hanging out with Q, one of Coco’s past lovers. He also was a former friend of Calhoun. At one time, Coco lied and told Q that he was Chance’s father. Even after he bonded with the little boy just to find out that Chance did not share his DNA, he wanted to be a father figure to Chance. Coco was fine with it.

      “It’s time that I relax and stop worrying so much,” Coco said. “And the one thing that gives me peace is doing the things that I know how to do best.”

      Coco sashayed to her kitchen. In no time at all, the woman was defrosting steaks, slicing up potatoes and onions, and preparing to cook a pot of holiday rice. After they ate a hearty meal, Coco appeared somewhat like her normal self: the joking, happy-go-lucky woman who tried not to let things bother her as long as her man was by her side. But as the giggles subsided and reality settled in, Coco knew she’d have to think like a man. Or at the minimum, she’d be forced to pretend like a man was by her side and that everything would turn out fine concerning all of her latest problems.

      * * *

      A couple of days had passed and now it was early Sunday morning right after the sun had risen.

      Coco had been out in the front yard trying her best to pick up the toys that her kids had forsaken in the driveway. She was squatting and trying to collect all the toys when she heard a car enter her driveway. Coco looked up. It was Burgundy’s big, luxury SUV. The headlights were on and Coco froze solid as she peered into the blinding lights. The car slowly inched forward heading directly at Coco.

      Does my sister even care that she’s about to run over me?

      With the car only inches away, Coco hastily scooted to her feet. Burgundy glanced up, honked, then waved. Coco frowned.

      I know that heifer saw me. But what else does she know?

      Burgundy rolled down her window.

      “Sorry, Coco. I got distracted. I didn’t see you.”

      “I hope you won’t make a habit of popping by here on Sunday mornings. You being a faithful church member and all.”

      “Coco, СКАЧАТЬ