Nobody's Son by Zaria Garrison Read Free Book Online

to him.”
    Rip laughed. “If I don’t know anything else I know that my cousin loves you more than a fat kid loves cake. He would never cheat on you. If you saw him with a woman it was probably a contact for a story or something.”
    â€œYou’re probably right, Rip. I’m just so worried that I can’t think straight.”
    â€œListen, I’m sure he’s fine. Like I said, I’ll see if I can find him, and then I’ll call you back. Oh, by the way, how is your sister?”
    â€œJenise is fine, I suppose. I’ve been babysitting Aaliyah all weekend for her. I’ll see her tomorrow when I drop Aaliyah off. I’ll be sure to let her know you asked about her.”
    â€œNo, that’s not what I meant. I saw her taken away in an ambulance about an hour ago while I was out taking my walk. That little jerk she married left shortly after that, but I don’t think he was going to the hospital. I was just checking to see if she was all right.”
    â€œOh my God, I had no idea. What happened?” Ellen held on to the phone tightly afraid to keep from dropping it in shock.
    â€œI’m sorry, I thought you knew. Reggie said she fell.”
    â€œI bet she fell—right after he pushed her,” Jenise said. “I’m on my way over there now, Rip. Call my cell phone if you hear anything about Semaj.”
    â€œI will, Ellen. You just take care of your sister, and I’ll take care of Semaj.”
    After hanging up the phone with Ellen, Rip immediately called Gwen.
    â€œI took Semaj to meet his dad, and it didn’t go well at all,” she told Rip. “It’s not my place to give you all the details, but all I can say is that he was pretty upset by the whole thing.”
    â€œDo you know where he was going after he dropped you off?” Rip asked.
    â€œHe didn’t say, but I could tell he needed some time alone. Is everything okay, Rip?”
    â€œI’m sure it is. I think I know where to look for him. Thanks for your help, Gwen,” Rip said before hanging up the phone.
    Two hours later, Rip pulled into the gravel driveway of the home in rural South Carolina that Semaj had shared with his grandparents. Rip was not surprised to see Semaj’s car parked haphazardly in the backyard. After his grandparents’ deaths, he’d refused to sell the house or even rent it out. Rip had asked him about it once, and he’d told him that he just didn’t have the heart to get rid of it. Instead, he’d allowed one of the town’s residents to put a house trailer in the back field in exchange for being a caretaker of the house. Semaj paid the utilities, and whenever he needed to get away, he always came to the one place that he considered home.
    When Rip walked into the unlocked back door, he found Semaj seated at the kitchen table eating a plate of fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans that the caretaker, Miss Minnie, had cooked for him.
    â€œYou want some?” Semaj offered. “Miss Minnie made plenty.”
    â€œDon’t sit there acting like everything is perfectly normal. What’s going on with you, Semaj? Ellen is frantic. Why haven’t you returned her calls?”
    Semaj took a bite of his chicken leg and slowly chewed it before answering. “I can’t talk to her right now. I needed some time to myself. Is there anything wrong with that?”
    â€œYes, there is, when you disappear like a thief in the night after missing an appointment with the woman you are supposed to marry in a few weeks.” Rip pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. “Look, Gwen told me that you met your dad and it didn’t go well, but you can’t hide out here eating chicken and pretending it didn’t happen.”
    â€œSays who?” Semaj answered, and took another big bite of his food.
    Rip sighed, realizing getting through to Semaj was going to be much harder than he had