Day of Atonement by Yolonda Tonette Sanders Page B

ability to help with the case. I believe this dude is going to finally help us find answers. Is he expensive?”
    â€œThanks to Jeff, he’s cutting us a break, but even with the discount, he’s not cheap.”
    â€œI told you I would help. Let me know what you need.”
    â€œI have what I need right here, man…you. Thanks for being here.”
    Normally, Troy would have teased Elvin for being too sentimental, but this was not the time. He nodded and gave El a reassuring pat on the knee. Then B.K. returned.

Chapter 9: The Curse
    U nfortunately, Nate’s first ice skating adventure involved an injury. Though she knew her boy was rough as he’d gotten many scrapes and bruises along the way, Natalie’s heart still ached for him and his protruding lip. Seeing him tumble to the ground and then get up a screaming, bloody mess, kicked her mommy instincts into full gear. Diane had to hold her back from going to get him and let Alyssa bring him to her. “Girl, you will fall and hurt yourself out there tryin’ to walk on ice with those heels,” she had said.
    Natalie knew that Nate’s injury looked much worse than it actually was, and though she, too, was crying inside, she managed to hold her emotions together as Troy had told her many times to do in front of him. “You are going to make him soft by overreacting every time he gets hurt. He’s a boy. He’ll be all right.” And Nate was. Big-lipped and all, he stopped crying after a few reassurances from his mom and grandmother that he was a big boy and all would be okay.
    Alyssa was very apologetic.
    â€œIt’s not your fault, honey,” Natalie had said to her. She’d seen exactly how Nate’s fall had happened and after the crying and bleeding stopped, she scolded him for his actions.
    â€œCan I go back out there?”
    If Natalie had been the one to fall, she would have been doneskating for the day, maybe even for life, but Nate’s persistence did not surprise her. She reluctantly agreed, despite the urge to continue coddling him. Troy would be proud. She did issue a very stern warning that his skating days would be over if he did not follow the rules.
    Nate’s accident ended the heart-to-heart she and Diane had been having. Natalie was willing to talk about God all day long with her mother-in-law, but sex was one topic that was strictly off-limits. They engaged in small talk…the weather…what they would do later in the week. While Natalie kept a close eye on Nate, ready to yell at him for the slightest act of defiance, Diane’s thoughts ventured to the game plan for Christmas dinner.
    â€œI think we should start on the desserts tomorrow or first thing Monday mornin’. There’s no tellin’ how long the funeral will last that evenin’ and I ain’t tryin’ to be up all night. My heart really goes out to Lilly. I can’t imagine losin’ one of my children, not like that.”
    â€œMe either. I’m a little nervous about meeting her. I don’t know what to say. I wish it was under different circumstances, but I know being there is important to Troy.”
    â€œBoth he and Elvin had a hard time when Elana first disappeared. I kept Elvin a lot at first because Lilly had a nervous breakdown after a few weeks. Reed and I were separated at the time, so bein’ able to help someone else kept me from dealin’ with my drama. Those boys had a tough time. They blamed themselves.”
    â€œI know. Troy has shared some of his feelings with me. I’ve tried to tell him that it wasn’t his fault.”
    â€œHe blamed everyone, even me for not pickin’ him up. To this day, Troy thinks that I got busy and lost track of time. I never had the heart to tell him that I’d called Reed the day before at workand left word for his father to get him. Troy already had enough animosity for his dad. I didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.