A Sister's Power

Book 3: Reeves Sisters

by Cydney Rax

Genres: African American Women's Fiction; Family Life; African American Romance

Synopsis

For the five Reeves women, nothing is more important than keeping their family bond tight and their communication flowing. But honesty isn't so clear cut when it could blow up everything they've fought to build....

Already reeling from betrayal, middle sister Coco is fed up with lies — including her own. If she has her way, someone else's neck needs to be on the line for a change. But soon, Coco's in deep trouble with the law, her future hanging in the balance.... Now the only thing that can save her is revealing one last devastating truth.

Struggling with unthinkable loss, Coco's sister, Burgundy, finds comfort in a colleague's arms. But her seven-year-old daughter wants no parts of him. She wants the life she enjoyed when her father was alive. As Burgundy fights to move on from the shocking tragedy of her marriage, she seeks a silver lining. And against all odds, she wants herself and all her sisters to win. In spite of secrets, lies, deception, and hurt, she will do whatever it takes to support and empower her family. Even if it means risking everything that's important to her.

Now between revenge, grief, and forgiveness, these siblings will challenge themselves — and all they think they know about each other — in a showdown that may leave them united — or cause them to forever fall apart....

Release date: October 29, 2019

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 352

Sample

The Reeves family was still mourning the loss of Nathaniel Taylor. Six weeks ago, he was found unconscious in a bedroom of his house. Coco was one of the last people to see him alive. When he first died, the police conducted a probe to determine what happened. Coco voluntarily gave the police a brief statement, however, the results of Nate’s autopsy had just come in. And things weren’t looking good at all.

It was the first Friday in October. The day sizzled with a combination of intense heat and unbearable humidity.

Coco was at home trying to stay cool. Wearing two house slippers that slapped against the dusty floor, she walked from one end of the tiny dining room to the other; her glassy brown eyes took in everything, yet saw nothing.

Elyse stood nearby and watched.

“I don’t know why you’re doing all that walking, Coco. And you’ve been praying like crazy . . . nonstop crying and praying for the past hour. Seems like you’re very worried.”

“I can’t help but worry. The results of Nate’s autopsy got mentioned on the fucking Internet. Can you believe that shit would make the news?”

“And so? Worrying won’t solve anything. And crying like a crazy woman is a waste of time too.”

“But what else can I do?”

“Try sitting down. All that pacing makes me feel dizzy.”

“Don’t look.”

“And all that crying makes you sound weak.”

“Cover your ears then.”

“You don’t have to be rude,” Elyse gently told her. “I’m concerned about you. I don’t want you to give yourself a heart attack.”

Coco sped up even more; her feet slapped the floor hard and furious.

“Chill out, Coco.”

“I can’t.” Coco coiled her thick fingers tightly around her neck as if in deep thought. “I have rehearsed this thing over and over in my head. Ever since I found out Nate died, I knew that everyone would somehow twist it around and point their finger at me. And only because I happened to be in my sister’s house the day her husband died. But you were there too, Elyse.”

“I know that, but—”

“But what?” Feeling like a caged animal, Coco needed someone to pounce on. She was twenty-nine years old and had made many mistakes in her life, but none as severe as those involving Nathaniel Taylor.

“I don’t know why you’d bring up my name,” Elyse told her.

“In my opinion, if the police try and get me to answer more questions about what happened, then you should be on that list of people too—”

“I don’t think so,” Elyse stubbornly told her. “You know way more about what happened than me. We left the house and went outside to sit in the car. Me and Natalia waited on you to come out of there. We waited a real long time. And because you were there in that house, only you know what happened to him, not me!”

The fact that twenty-year old Elyse, who was normally calm and composed, was now speaking up for herself with dignity and force, made Coco want to lash out even more.

In a bout of nervousness, Coco yanked at her thick mass of hair which was in her usual style: a long part that went straight down the middle of her snarled and knotted strands. Her two big Afro puffs were stuffed in ponytail holders. She smelled of hairspray and cocoa butter, and her exotic-looking eyes threatened to fill with tears.

“Why are so many bad things happening to me?” Coco muttered in a hoarse voice.

“I dunno,” Elyse replied. “I think I’m the last person who would know why bad things happen.” The past seven years of Elyse’s life had also been troubled. Elyse hated how Nate molested her since she was fourteen, yet she had mixed feelings about his death.

Coco understood where Elyse was coming from. Yet she felt inconsolable. “I’ve made a few mistakes here and there. We all do. But why do I get sucked into the most miserable shit anyone can ever imagine? Look at me. Four kids. No man. No prospects. I’m struggling to pay these bills all by myself.”

“Calhoun helps you out with the kids. That counts for something.”

“Oh really? I see you’re trying to be helpful by giving my baby daddy some credit.”

“That’s because you act like he does nothing for his kids, and you know that’s a lie.”

“He may be a good daddy, but he was a fucked up fi-ancé. I swear, I still don’t know why he dumped me at the altar after eight years of being together. I wasn’t the type of woman that he’d live with off and on. That man was in my bed every night.”

“Every night?” Elyse asked.

“Okay, he was there just about every night. And one thing I know is that Calhoun promised to marry me. We both went to that courthouse to apply for that marriage certificate. Yet he flaked out on me, then up and married that African bitch.”

“Samira Humphries is her official name,” Elyse calmly reminded her.

“She’s that African bitch to me.”

“Oh, Coco, I know you’re still hurt, but you can’t blame Samira for what happened.”

“I sure as hell can. As far as I’m concerned, she schemed and plotted to take Calhoun. I have a mind to pay back that African bitch for what she did to me. Stole all my dreams, my whole life, and now look at me.” Coco continued to weave a foot-stomping path throughout the dining room.

“In fact, I can blame both her and Calhoun. Because if his bitch ass hadn’t done what he did to me that night, before—”

Coco’s voice fell silent. She glanced warily at Elyse, a young woman who was petite, yet shapely. Elyse was stunning in appearance, and fiery in nature.

“Wait, what did you say, Coco?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re lying. You said Calhoun did something to you that night. What did he do?”

“N-nothing. I meant to say that Nate did something to me, not Calhoun. That’s what I meant.”

“Okay, so you’re saying that Nate did do something. And I can believe that. Because of all the abuse I took off of him. I hope he’s rotting in hell.” Elyse gasped as if surprised by her own admission. “Is it wrong to say things like that, Coco? If a man abuses a woman and then he dies, and you feel happy about it, does that make you a bad person?”

“Good question,” Coco said. She decided to stop focusing on her own hurt and offer to Elyse what she wished she could have.

“Considering the circumstances, in a way, Nate got what he deserved. He hurt you when he was alive, and I can never be down with that.”

“You’re right. I can’t ever forget what he did to me.”

“I’m just happy that you’re 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, look, I’m sorry. I know I should have called first. But I’ve been having a tough morning. Natalia and Sidnee have been up since five. They were crawling up the walls, and barely wanted to eat breakfast. And we got dressed and started going for a drive. We took a nice little joy ride and before I knew it, we ended up here.”

“Oh, I see.” Coco’s face was emotionless. Then she watched the rear window roll all the way down.

“Hey Auntie Coco.” That was Natalia. At eight years old, she was the oldest. Sid was six.

Coco waved at both of her nieces.

Burgundy continued. “I promise this won’t become a habit. But is it okay if I leave my girls right now so they may hang out with their auntie and favorite cousins?”

“How long we talking?”

“A couple hours maybe. Three or so?”

“I guess it’ll be okay. I have nothing special planned. I was just going to cook dinner and—”

“Yayyy.” Before she knew it, Natalia had popped the locks and was at Coco’s side, and squeezing her hand real tight. “I want some cookies. Remember how you promised me the day my daddy died that you were going to bake me some cookies? But you didn’t. You lied to me. And—”

Coco yanked her hand from Natalia’s grip.

“What did you say, Natalia?” Burgundy asked.

“I was saying—abet Co-cooo, whadda u-doing. Dob it.”

By then Coco had clamped her hands over her niece’s lips. That’s because Coco knew that Natalia was there in her parents’ house the night before Nate died. Even though Nate wasn’t around to tell his side of the story, in Coco’s mind it seemed like one person’s death could cause more deaths. Hers, or anybody else’s. And she did not want that.

Burgundy gazed at Coco in wide-eyed confusion. Her daughter was still mumbling and trying to yell through Coco’s hands.

Natalia’s screams sent tingly vibrations against Coco’s palm.

“Why are you covering my daughter’s mouth? Can’t she talk?”

“Of course, she can,” Coco told Burgundy. But her hand remained flatly pressed against Natalia’s moving lips.

“I’m just playing with her. She talks so much. Always yapping nonstop.”

“Let me go,” is what Natalia tried to scream, but Coco prevented her from speaking.

“Sis, you’re too old to be acting like a kid. What’s wrong with you,” Burgundy asked. “Why won’t you let my daughter talk? You trying to hide something?”

Tears sprang to Coco’s eyes.

“Um, you know that girl has tons of energy. She’s probably ‘bout to talk my ears off. And my babies are still asleep and I want it to stay that way for as long as possible. But anyway, looks like you’re in a hurry, so yeah, I will gladly take the kids.” Coco removed her hand from Natalia and smiled at her.

“Don’t be mad, niece. It was just a little game I wanted to play.”

“I don’t like those kinds of games,” Natalia said.

“I don’t either,” Burgundy replied.

“No problem. I won’t do it again. Game over,” Coco promised.

After Burgundy was assured that the children would be safe, Coco waved goodbye and let Natalia and Sidnee inside of her house.

“I don’t mind y’all being over here but you’re going to have to mind me. If you push me over the edge, I will have to make you behave just like I do with my own kids when they act up. You got that?”

Natalia nodded then ran off.

Coco headed to the kitchen to get started on her Sunday dinner. As soon as she placed a pot of chicken in the oven, she went to search for Natalia.

She found the girls in the backyard. Natalia and Sid were seated on a metal swing set that Calhoun had purchased and assembled several years ago.

“Oh, this is where I find you girls. Why am I not surprised?” Three seats made up the swing set; plus there was a sliding board along with a hanging trapeze. Coco decided to sit on the other empty chair.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this type of thing. It’s kind of fun,” she said, as she gripped the grass with the tip of toes. She stepped backward as far as she could go, then allowed her feet to let go of the ground. Coco felt the chair move forward and she got lifted up in the air, clumsily at first due to her weight.

“You’re too big for that swing, get off,” Natalia told her.

“And you’re too young to be in grown folks’ business. Stay out,” Coco retorted. She was self-conscious about her size and felt insulted. “Don’t think I won’t spank you for being bad.”

“I never get spanked. I’m too old for that. Plus, I don’t do anything wrong.”

“Oh really? You mean to tell me that your daddy never took a belt to your behind? Because as quiet as it’s kept, we know you like to act like you all perfect and goodie-goodie, but Natalia, nobody is that good. Not you. Not me, and not your creepy daddy. Get what I’m saying?”

Sidnee gasped then suddenly took off running.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Natalia finally answered. She kept swinging higher and higher as if she did not have a care in the world. The birds were singing and fluttering nearby, but a group of dark clouds started to loom above them and caused the large backyard to look gray and lifeless.

“Let me tell you what I’m talking about. You’re my niece and I love you. But there’s something going on. It has to do with your daddy and the night that he died. And see, it’s like this. The police might want me to answer a lot of questions about what happened to your daddy. And I’m supposed to tell them everything I know—”

“I don’t want to hear you talk. I just want to swing. Will you go and finish cooking my food so I may play by myself?”

Coco knew she was pressuring her niece, but she didn’t know what Natalia knew about her father’s death and the way he died.

“Wow, I can’t believe you. That smart little mouth of yours is gonna get you in trouble one day.”

“I’m not getting smart. I don’t want to play with you right now.”

“First of all, if you’d stop being so rude and obnoxious.”

“Spell obnoxious.”

Coco hopped off of her swing and sharply grabbed Natalia by the arm. She twisted it hard enough for Natalia to yelp. “Stop it. You’re hurting me.”

Coco covered the girl’s mouth until she quieted down. Then she let go.

“You promised my mommy that you wouldn’t put your hands on my mouth. But you just did. And it hurt. And I’m going to tell her.”

“The only reason I did that is because of your sassy attitude. Who do you think you are asking me to spell a word? Why don’t you spell obnoxious?”

“O-B-N—”

“Hush up, Natalia.”

Natalia burst into tears and nursed her arm.

“Look, don’t cry, please. I didn’t mean it.” Coco hated to see the girl cry. And she realized that the stress of the entire ordeal was causing her to act out of character.

“I’m sorry for twisting your arm and for putting my hand over your mouth. I could have handled that better because I am the grownup. You may not believe this, but I got smacked quite a few times when I was young. I would imitate Alita. She was always mouthing off. And I wanted to be like her so bad.”

A nervous smile formed on Natalia’s face.

“Long story short, trying to be like someone else who is doing wrong will get us in trouble. It would be a tragic situation. For both you and me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Auntie Coco.”

Coco stared at the girl. “I know you don’t. And I apologize for even expecting you to understand. You’re a kid. And I need to remember that. I’ll try to do better. That sound alright?”

Natalia nodded.

“Do you still want to swing by yourself?”

She nodded again.

“Oh well. I guess I deserve that,” Coco said. “And I will leave you alone, but first I want a hug.”

Coco got off the swing and held out her arms.

“Can I get some love?”

Natalia stared at the sky. She gazed at it so long that both of them ended up laughing.

And this time when Coco spread out her arms, Natalia bounced off the swing and flew into her aunt’s bosom.

“Love you, niece.”

“Love you back, Auntie. But you better not put your hands on me again. They taste like chicken.”

The two burst into soft giggles, and Coco promised to keep her adult hands to her adult self.

Burgundy picked up her daughters from Coco’s, then decided to make a stop at Super Target. Her destination was the lingerie section.

When they reached the aisle where the intimate apparel was located, Natalia loudly asked, “What size bra are you looking for?”

“Um, what?” Burgundy said.

“I heard you talking to Dru on the phone yesterday. And you said you needed some new bras. I want to help you find some. What size?”

“Um, I wear a thirty-six, B cup.”

“Ok, you want black or white? Or you like pink or blue?”

“Uh, um. Black will do. Other colors are fine too. T-thanks, Nat.”

Natalia spun around to begin her search. She gazed at each rack that was low enough for her to view. She groped through a wide selection: pushup bras, sports, bustiers, and more. She mostly play-guessed at which ones to pick. And she instantly rejected those she thought her mother wouldn’t like.

Burgundy stood frozen in the aisle, startled with disbelief. In that moment, she felt like the kid and Natalia was the mother. “This is unreal,” she said out loud. “Things shouldn’t be this way. How’d they get this way?”

Natalia had always been the type of child who seemed wise beyond her years. At times she’d be silly and infantile, but other times she could grow keenly observant, outspoken, and developed an ability to repeat phrases that she’d often heard from adults. She could even mimic them as children were prone to do. Her behavior had become more noticeable ever since her fat. . .