Shattered Trust Read Online Free Page B

skillet.
    â€œYou’re doing it all backward,” Jamal said with a sheepish grin.
    â€œI am not!” Najira practically hollered. “I know what I’m doing. I know how I feel, and—”
    â€œIf you don’t start the other stuff, first, the eggs are gonna get done before the sausage, is all I’m saying.” Jamal reached down a black, cast-iron pan, issuing Najira a sly wink, and began helping her cook. “Timing is everything.”
    â€œI know what I’m doing,” she said in a testy tone, snatching the pan from him.
    â€œI ain’t trying to cook for your man or get in between it,” he said grinning. “All I know is, you need to have a real conversation with Pop before he gets down here.”
    She stopped moving about, nearly paralyzed. “Did he say he was coming?”
    â€œDo it matter?” Jamal said, raising an eyebrow.
    â€œStop playing,” she whispered.
    â€œAw, girl, no. He didn’t say he was coming, just that I know James and cuz are trying to get him down here with the quickness.”
    Najira let out her breath and turned off the flame beneath the pan. In jerky, halting motions, she flung sausage links into the pan Jamal had reached down, and then spun around to put biscuits in the microwave.
    â€œI don’t understand why all of a sudden there’s this big rush to get Dad to come down here and whatnot.” She opened the refrigerator door and leaned in, hunting for guava jelly, fussing at the shelves. “There’s no good reason for the man to be uprooted from his neighborhood and friends, if that’s what he doesn’t want to do—besides, if he’s dead set on staying put, and hates to fly, why can’t they leave well enough alone? I mean, Jamal, the man won’t halfway take the money we send him, let alone pack his bags for an extended stay.” She stood quickly and placed her hands on hips, still staring at the semi-vacant shelves for what no longer existed. “Give me one good reason.”
    Najira stepped back quickly as the refrigerator door seemed to close on its own and Steve’s sudden presence gave her a start.
    â€œFor his safety, hon,” Steve said carefully.
    Najira placed a flat palm on her chest. “Don’t do that. Lord have mercy, Steve!”
    â€œShe’s just a little edgy this morning, man,” Jamal quipped, and then headed for the door.
    â€œHold up, J,” Najira said. She immediately turned her attention to Steve. “What do you mean, for his safety?”
    Jamal shrugged. “Might as well tell her, seeing as how you got enough ammo to go against SWAT in the garage. If it gets hot up in the tip, at least she should know to duck from shells flying before pulling her cute little Jeep in there.”
    Steve closed his eyes and sighed as Najira blanched.
    â€œWhat ammo, Steve?”
    â€œAw, dude ... c’mon,” Steve said, letting his breath out hard and going to fix a pot of coffee. “Not first thing in the morning.”
    â€œWhat ammo, Steve?!” Najira said again, her voice becoming strident.
    â€œAnd the super security system,” Jamal added, nonplussed, taking a swig of juice directly from the juicer.
    Najira whirled on him and snatched the container from him, sloshing juice on the floor. “We already have an alarm system.”
    â€œNot like the one your boy is getting rigged to work on monitors over at James and Laura’s joint.”
    â€œOh, shit ...” Najira walked away from the stove and sat down in a kitchen chair.
    â€œThat was just about the smoothest delivery I’ve seen in all my life,” Steve said sarcastically, glaring at Jamal.
    â€œJust being real, man,” Jamal said with a shrug, beginning to sample the cooling eggs in the pan. “The girl needs to know what time it is, just like you need to know that, if Pop decides to come here for a long visit, y’all gonna have