Page 11 of Dragon in Denial
Henri giggled and then sobered. “Don’t you live far away?”
Ketu nodded. “In a place called Detroit. It’s really cold there at this time of year. And there’s snow on the ground.”
“I wish it would snow here.Granmésays I won’t have to go to school if it snows.”
“Are you already in school?”
He didn’t look quite school age yet, but Henri nodded vigorously.
“Preschool,” Antoinette supplied. “He starts kindergarten in the fall.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but there has to be a whole lot of snow for the kids up north not to go to school.”
Those big eyes widened again. “A lot of snow sounds awesome.”
Ketu chuckled.
“How come you haven’t visited until now? I’m four years old and I’ve never met you before. How come?”
Ketu’s mom was right. The kid was smart as a whip. Damn it.
“Well, uh…”
“He’s been very busy,”Mamásupplied. “But we’re so happy he’s here now. Maybe he can help your mom with her business. And then we’d all be happy.”
“Mamá,” Antoinette said, a warning in her voice.
“What business?” Ketu asked.
“Nothing,” Antoinette snapped, butMamáwasn’t having it.
“It’s not nothing at all. It’s dangerous to be out there by yourself, and you know how much we worry.”
What was she talking about? The dragon’s blood? Surely, his parents were not aware of the fact that Antoinette was a dealer? They’d never accept that, not after Eulalie.
“I can handle myself,” Antoinette said, her teeth clamped together, her hand fisted around her fork.
“Think about Henri,”Mamásaid.
“I do. Every day,” Antoinette said, slamming her fork onto the table next to her plate. “Why do you think I do this? I don’t want him to turn out like Eulalie. I don’t want anyone to.” She leaped to her feet, swiping what Ketu suspected were tears from under her eyes. “I need to go. I need some air. Can you watch Henri for me, please?”
“Yes,mija,”Mamásaid quietly.
Antoinette hugged the little boy and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be home in a little bit, okay, baby?”
His bottom lip quivered, but the child nodded solemnly, and Antoinette straightened and rushed out the back door.
As soon as it slammed shut behind her, Ketu glared at his parents and said, “You know what she’s doing?”
“It’s not our place to say.” His mother shook her head, her features sagging. “You need to ask her.”
