Page 77 of Trial of Deceit

A grave so well-kept, it shone beneath the sun’s rays.The white tiles got polished every weekend, of every week, of every month, for the past seventeen years.Fine marble was engraved with stylish gold letters: his mother’s name, and her death date.

Jediah’s brows pulled together as he stared hard at the headstone.He’d been here so many times, the curve of every letter was embedded in his mind.He was ashamed to admit that he didn’t know as much about his mother as he’d like to.

Her name was Malia Richardson.She had him at nineteen, excelled at chess, and was from Kingston.

From what Kayon allowed Jediah to know, that summarized his mother’s life.

From what he’d learned by himself through the years, her only concern was knowing his likes.His wants.Everything that ensured she was an active mother in his life.

One such duty included listening.

“I’m under so much pressure, Mom,” Jediah said.“I’m the one keeping this family running, and everybody’s still trying to pull me in every direction by telling me what they think is best.Sometimes, I don’t know how I manage to pull this off, but I do.Nobody gives me credit that the Valcourts haven’t taken over.I’m just coming from jail, but don’t worry, they didn’t find anything.I won’t let anyone sniff around your grave again—” He snapped his mouth shut, looking over his shoulder as he heard thesqueakof a gate.

Reine guiltily smiled.“Mi think—”

“English,” Jediah said.

“You said I only have to speak English at school and appearances.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“A dat yu seh.”

“Just speak English, Reine,” Jediah snapped, and Reine’s eyes widened.Jediah’s jaw clenched tightly before he heaved a breath, about to apologize.

“I’ll speak English.”Reine turned her back and closed the gate.“No need to begin a lecture about why it’s important for me to know how to act,” she whispered mockingly.

Jediah briefly narrowed his eyes on her before he looked back at the grave.He tucked his hand in his pocket while Reine stood at his side.“I don’t care about the gate, so I haven’t bothered to tell Kayon.”

“Daddy will throw a fit about that,” Reine laughed.

Jediah scoffed.“He only concerns himself with how her grave looks.It’s the only thing he can see from his room until he’s man enough to come down here.”

“You should cut him some slack… Malia was his wife.”

Jediah sneered.“And my mom.”

“Mine, too,” Reine whispered.

He sighed, his sneer disappearing as his gaze softened at his sister.“I know.Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she said with a small smile.“Malia meant more to you guys than I can ever begin to imagine, that’s why I figured you were here instead of where you should be.Eli’s complaining.”

“He’s going to give himself a stroke,” Jediah muttered, and Reine chuckled.

“As long as he doesn’t die.Howie would be too sad.Iyana said one of her teeth’s shaking.”

“I hope Howie doesn’t yank it out.I’m tired of telling her that she should allow a tooth to fall out by itself.That little girl’s going to drive me crazy,” Jediah playfully complained, and Reine grinned.He smiled a little.“Have I ever told you that you have a slight resemblance to her?”

Reine’s eyes brightened.“Really?”she asked, and he nodded.“I wish I could’ve seen more of her pictures.”

Jediah looked back to the grave.“I told you already: we lost everything in the crash when we were moving here,” he lied.

“I know,” Reine grumbled.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her cross her arms.Jediah would’ve chuckled at her childishness if the situation wasn’t the opposite of amusing.How could he ever tell his little sister that their father made him watch as he burned every picture of their mother when he’d refused to follow an order?

“How are we going to get out of this?”Reine asked.

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