After All Read Free Page B

she's knocked back so much wine she sloshes when
she moves. There's no reasoning with her.”Thomas came into the
large den and shrugged off his coat. Powerfully built, Michelle's
father look easily ten years younger than his age at
fifty-five.
    “ Home before two in the
morning. My goodness and it's not even a school night for little
Gloria,” Annette said.
    “ Go sleep it off, Annette.
I'm not in the mood.”
    “ Go to hell, dear.”Annette
walked out on unsteady legs.”Michelle, come to my room before you
leave?”Her voice was plaintive.
    “ Be there in a minute,
mama.”
    Thomas rubbed his eyes with a weary
gesture.”She gets worse every year.”
    “ Why can't you at least try
to treat her with some respect?” Michelle chided him.
    “ Who do you think you're
talking to, girl? What's between your mother and me is personal,”
Thomas snapped.
    “ Staying gone all the time
doesn't help whatever your problems are. And your ongoing battles
didn't do much to make things easier for Brian, Dominic and
me.”Michelle tried to maintain her bold tone but withered under his
scrutiny. Even to her own ears, her voice took on a little girl
sound.
    “ You don't understand, and
I'm not going to explain. Thomas held up a hand to forestall her.
He started up the stairs then stopped.”I hear Anthony is going to
be on Channel Twelve. He's done well with his business. Have you
talked to him?”
    Michelle twisted a lock of hair, more
than ever feeling like a child caught being naughty.”Yes, but only
for a minute. I don't want anything to do with him,” she said with
force.
    “ He was a fine boy, and he's
become a fine young man. Got a good reputation as a fair
businessman. Like I told you six years ago, don't judge him by what
his uncle does. His mama's done a fine job balancing Ike's
influence.”
    “ He thinks Ike hung the
moon. No way do I want any part of either of them. Since Ike ruined
your business, you and mama have--”Michelle bit her lip. The dark
look on her father's face stopped her.
    “ You have no right to
interfere, Michelle. I will not discuss my marriage with
you.”
    Michelle looked down unwilling to let
him see how close she was to tears.”I'm sorry, Daddy. It's just I
hate to see you so unhappy.”
    “ I know,” Thomas spoke
softly. He stood for several seconds looking as if he wanted to say
more, then seemed to decide changing the subject was better. He
started back up the stairs and spoke over his shoulder.”By the way,
I saw you tonight. Not bad, but don't talk so fast next
time.”
    “ Thanks for your support,”
Michelle mumbled at his retreating back.
    She chafed at the grudging compliment.
Just once she wished her father could unbend, give more of himself
than in small doses. But Michelle was as tough as Thomas. She
minded more for her mother whose stinging remarks masked her deep
need for constant reassurance she was loved. Once she was in her
car driving home, she felt relieved to be out of the tension filled
house. Then she felt guilty for feeling relieved. Had her parents
ever been happy together? Seeing them now, it was difficult to
believe. Yet Michelle remembered those times, years ago, when they
shared laughter easily. Those precious days when they were all
together as a family, before Ike Batiste almost destroyed her
father's business. Michelle gripped the steering wheel thinking of
his arrogance. Worse still, she could hear Anthony's voice, his
defense of what she saw as something indefensible. No handsome face
or ingratiating smile could make her forget. Anthony Hilliard had
no place her in her life. And she would never allow herself to
weaken again.
     
    ***
     
    “ I just got a call from a
source in the DA's office. There's something fishy going on with
the Housing Authority. Some big names have come up.”Nathan, the
assignments editor, sat forward frowning in concentration. His
bushy white eyebrows an unbroken line above his blood shot blue
eyes.
    Ten reporters sat around the